Auckland-based Scottish "tribal" musicians hoping to drum in an independent homeland tomorrow claim highland games organisers are shunning them for being too rabble-rousing.

Voreqe Frank Bainimarama, the man who seized power to become prime minister of Fiji in a 2006 military coup, could be retaining his position.

You see it in place names like St Kilda and Blairgowrie. Or in the sometimes miserable weather.

Across Scotland, dinner table talk is getting heated as families argue over how to vote in Scotland's independence referendum.

British Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to announce air strikes as early as next week .

David Beckham has added his voice to the campaign against Scottish independence, urging voters not to ditch a bond which is "the envy of the entire world".

Tony Abbott, Australia's Prime Minister, has moved into a tent in a far-flung stretch of Outback bushland to govern the nation for a week from a tiny Aboriginal community.

When Scotland's polling stations close their doors at 10pm local time on Thursday, a moment of nervous calm will settle on the lands north and south of Hadrian's Wall.

Nadi taxi driver Vinod Kumar says he "cannot wait" to have his say on who will form the next Fijian government.

Welfare payments will be stripped from people in Australia suspected of supporting terrorism.

He strode out. He spoke well and he "My Fellow Americans-ed" with the best of them. But this speech was one US President Barack Obama never wanted to make, writes Jack Tame.

Britain faces a period of severe economic turbulence if Scotland votes for independence this week, economists warn , as the prospect of a yes vote threatens a new financial crisis.

"Why do you think you can be King of Scotland?" shouts a heckler as supporters of Scottish independence and a media pack surround Alex Salmond, the man who might just astonish the world by breaking up the UK.

Australia's terrorism alert level has been raised from medium to high. The change announced by Prime Minister Tony Abbott today means a terrorist attack is now considered "likely".

There are few villages in Scotland more steeped in history than Scone.

New Zealand would back United States airstrikes against Islamic State jihadists in Iraq, Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader David Cunliffe say.

While most eyes are on our local election, diplomats are still focused on October 16, the day for voting on New Zealand's bid for a UN Security Council seat.

Nicola Sturgeon is about to set off to knock on doors around the deprived Glasgow suburb of Easterhouse when she is distracted by a loud shriek from across the street.

Ministers are under pressure to explain how they would respond if Scots vote for independence.