The Australian Prime Minister survived yesterday's leadership tilt, but can still expect to be grilled today by emboldened MPs.

"He's one dumb knighthood away from oblivion." Pundits from both sides of Australian politics say Tony Abbott's days are numbered after yesterday's spill attempt.

What drives Putin is a grab-bag of emotional motives. His man in Kiev got overthrown, and he doesn't like to lose face, writes Gwynne Dyer.

Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, was guilty of a bad case of wishful thinking when he declared the Liberal leadership issue "behind us" after surviving a party ballot yesterday.

Sydney cafe siege survivors and families gathered solemnly as Australia's parliament honoured the victims.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott remains the leader of the Liberal party after a secret ballot on a motion to spill the leadership.

Diplomats have warned Europe could descend into war if the West does not stand up to Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

"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.