"Urgent. Soldiers of the Islamic State captured 21 Christian crusaders," was a barely noticed statement issued on social media last month by Isis - not in Syria, Iraq, but in Libya.

Tony Abbott's fate will be decided this morning after he brought forward a backbencher motion for a leadership ballot.

It was a day of bluster and speeches, but also paralysis over how to end the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine.

Tony Abbott has moved to stare down backbench dissidents, warning their spill motion will fail and he'll take that as an endorsement of his leadership.

Labour leader Andrew Little has proposed looking at giving Maori greater self-governance, possibly including the ability to make some of their own laws.

Tony Abbott is well on his way to being a political feather duster after his speech to the Canberra Press Club bombed, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Tony Abbott came to power promising Australians "mature" and "stable" government. Just 17 months on, a possible leadership ballot next week could see him toppled by Malcolm Turnbull.

As spill-prone as a pissed kangaroo pouring cocktails, Australia could soon see its fourth change of Prime Minister in four years, writes Toby Manhire.

A document from an all-female wing of Isis spells out what's expected from women living under the strict regime - starting with marriage from age nine.

A senior Australian politician says he "can't rule out" the possibility there'll be a leadership spill on Tuesday aimed at ousting Tony Abbott.

The Isis group's release of a video showing its fighters burning alive a captured Jordanian pilot sparked street protests calling for vengeance and threatened to draw Jordan's usually low-key monarch towards ever more direct confrontation with radical Isl

The Republican Party was on the defensive yesterday after two of its leading presidential hopefuls indicated that they had sympathy for parents unwilling to vaccinate their children against infectious diseases, even in the midst of a dangerous outbreak of

Disturbing images appear to show a man charged with having a homosexual affair being stoned to death after he survived being thrown off a building.

The widow of poisoned spy Alexander Litvinenko has told the public inquiry into his death that her husband accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of being a paedophile.

Jordan yesterday renewed its offer to swap a convicted terrorist for the return of its air force pilot held captive by Isis.

It would've paid new mothers their full salary for six months, but now Tony Abbott has had to pull his signature paid parental leave scheme off the table.

Japan says the death of journalist Kenji Goto is an 'atrocious act' as Isis threatens to kill a Jordanian pilot if a female prisoner isn't returned by Friday.

Tony Abbott's address to the National Press Club today is being seen as a leadership make or break event.

The Labor party is on the brink of a stunning return to power in Queensland just one term after it was crushed by the Liberal National Party.

Saudi officials deny they blurred out US First Lady Michelle Obama, but her decision not to wear a headscarf, and don blue, not black at the late King's funeral, is controversial.

Another tale of Russian spooks operating in the US has emerged, described by the former CIA analyst Mark Stout as a "classic case of espionage".