A radical leftist party that wants to cancel Greece's European Union debts of more than 200 billion ($300 billion) went into today's election with a seven-point lead.

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia has died at the age of 90, bringing to an end the rule of the world's oldest monarch.

The PM's halfway up a mountain in the Swiss Alps when he takes a break from his deliciously cliched fondue dinner to explain the Davos experience over a dodgy phone connection.

King Abdullah, who has ruled Saudi Arabia since August 2005 and sought to modernise the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom, has died.

America's most unrepentant news network has issued a string of on-air apologies for broadcasting erroneous information, including an expression of regret.

Former National MP Michael Cox says Anzus conflict in 1984 will hurt chances of Helen Clark becoming United Nations secretary general.

John Key and his wife joined a private family celebration with David Cameron at the British PM's retreat at Chequers, ahead of talks dominated by the issue of terrorism.

Four years after he officially gave up his role as Britain's roving trade ambassador, the Duke of York is still racking up more air miles than any other member of the royal family.

After closing for its annual maintenance period in early January, the London Eye reopened this weekend as the Coca-Cola London Eye.

Derided as gutless and indecisive two weeks ago, Francois Hollande has gained admiration for the sure-footed leadership he has shown during France's greatest terrorism crisis.

Surely it can't be so. How can a man who proved such an inept candidate in two previous tilts at the White House possibly be readying himself for a third?

David Cameron has said he "profoundly disagrees" with the leaders of the Church of England after they accused the Coalition of creating a country in which the poor are being "left behind".

Writer Salman Rushdie, who knows a thing or two about attacks on freedom of expression, calls them the But Brigade: those who deplored the Charlie Hebdo massacre.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's new-found love of "free speech" was too much for surviving Hebdo cartoonist Bernard Holtrop to stomach, writes Brian Rudman.

New Zealanders living in Australia have chalked up a small but important victory for expats after being accepted for trials with the Australian Defence Force.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs has welcomed the peaceful elections in Sri Lanka and congratulated the country's new president after a shock election result.

The Prime Minister of Britain, David Cameron, has refused publicly to support the Duke of York in the wake of allegations that he "sexually abused" a teenage girl.

New Zealand has taken its seat at the heart of international decision-making for the next two years.

Bob McDonnell, the former governor of Virginia, has been sentenced to two years in prison for taking nearly US$170,000 ($219,000) in money and gifts in exchange for promoting a dietary supplement....

For the women of Pakistan, it was cause for mourning. For the conservatives in the Muslim nation, it was cause for anger. But for the man himself, it was cause for celebration.

When the Tongan monarchy relinquished much of its power in 2008, it seemed the path to a working parliamentary democracy would be relatively straightforward.

We examine the history between Prince Andrew and the maths tutor-turned-billionaire financier now at the centre of sex slave claims.