The Russians are coming, but the Australian Government isn't about to panic. Four Russian warships are exercising in the Coral Sea before this weekend's G20.

The graphic contents of an anonymous letter in which the Federal Bureau of Investigation called Martin Luther King a "filthy abnormal animal" have been made public.

She might not be Bo Derek but in political terms, John Key rates visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel as high as 10.

PM John Key met new Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Myanmar today, and foreign fighters and boat people were on the agenda.

This month we receive onto our shores the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, undoubtedly the most dominant political figure in the EU.

It was all business for John Key at NZ's new consulate in Chengdu yesterday, but it was all pleasure for his wife, Bronagh - a little bundle of it called Xing Yu.

One leader is staying in a luxury suite that costs $2782 a night, while another will be bunking down in a relatively cheap $344-a-night room.

The polling stations were makeshift, the election officers all volunteers and the whole process suspended twice for being potentially illegal, but Catalonia's much-disputed unofficial referendum on independence from Spain finally went ahead.

The euphoria associated with Barack Obama's elevation to the United States presidency six years ago is now just the dimmest of memories.

Ed Miliband's leadership of the British Labour Party was plunged into fresh crisis as senior Labour MPs revealed that at least 20 shadow ministers were on the brink of calling for him to stand down.

I am losing my health insurance. Apparently I have Obamacare to blame, writes Jack Tame.

The coalition of young and minority voters that handed President Barack Obama both of his election victories failed to show up for the Democrats in the US midterms as Republicans celebrated their first black female member of Congress.

The Government has taken its time to decide New Zealand will not join Western allies in military action against the terrorist group that has taken over part of Iraq and Syria.

Three NZ Defence Force personnel have already left for the Middle East to scope out a role for New Zealand forces to help train Iraqi forces fight ISIS.

The Prime Minister's landmark speech on national security has two messages for New Zealanders, but they are somewhat discordant.

The Cricket World Cup and the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings are being treated as potential terror targets by New Zealand and Australian Governments.

Democrats in the United States are bracing for punishment in tomorrow's midterm elections as voters express their dissatisfaction with President Barack Obama, who mostly stayed away from the campaign....

The US midterm elections are about to take place, but what are they, and what is likely to happen? Nick Sheppard answers the key questions.

A Hawke's Bay Muslim man has come out in support of terror group Isis, and is trying to spread his beliefs through social media.

Despite clocking up more than 1000 flights in his time as President, Barack Obama still lopes up Air Force One's steps with his trademark bounce, exchanging banter with journalists and the public....

He has been called "a scaly old dude" by former US President George W Bush and derided as a "sick old man" by Zambia's opposition, but yesterday Dr Guy Scott assumed a rare title: Africa's only white leader.

A 'massive mystery explosion' shook residents outside of London, before two RAF jets reportedly escorted a Russian-made Latvian cargo jet into Stansted airport.

Everything hinges on a deal on agriculture and automobiles between the US and Japan, writes Jane Kelsey. Despite intense negotiations for more than a year, they remain poles apart.

British PM David Cameron's security detail is under investigation after a passing jogger ran right into him.

Clinton was in North Carolina to urge support for Kay Hagan, but it is clear that 'she's taking a second chance for herself': Hillary Clinton is going to run again.

Pro-European parties look to have swept Ukraine's first parliamentary vote since the revolution that toppled Viktor Yanukovych's Government in February.

Queensland's Health Minister is not aware of any deaths linked to defective software that manages medication for some of the state's most ill patients.

In a few weeks, Australia will welcome leaders of the world's major economies to Brisbane for the G20 Summit.