Malaysia has reportedly given the go-ahead for diplomat Muhammad Rizalman bin Ismail to return to New Zealand to face sex and burglary charges.

American drones are being flown over the Syrian stronghold of Isis (Islamic State) for the first time, in an effort to target the jihadi group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a dramatic intervention in the Scottish independence battle.

In the two-year Scottish referendum campaign, Whitehall and Westminster have been in denial about the prospect of Scotland voting Yes to independence.

As the Nato summit in Wales ends, Simon Tisdall assesses their choices.

The people of Scotland are to be offered a historic opportunity to devise a federal future for their country before next year's British general election.

The Green Party's policy to lift the minimum wage by almost $4 to $18 an hour by 2017 is undoubtedly smart politics.

The "Yes" campaign fighting for Scottish independence took a shock lead in the polls last night just 11 days before the country's referendum.

In the sleepy Fijian town of Rakiraki, Dami Naidu was waiting for a glimpse of the man he regards as the nation's saviour.

When dawn breaks tomorrow on the one-year anniversary of his election, Tony Abbott will be at 12,000m, returning from yet another stint abroad as Australia's increasingly globetrotting Prime Minister.

Rob Naidu, a Fijian of Indian descent who lives in Manurewa, is thrilled that he is able to vote in Fiji's first election in eight years.

Russia's decision to play hardball with Western food producers could not have come at a worse time for the New Zealand dairy sector as the season starts to get into full swing.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has touched down for a two-day visit, but won't be drawn on NZ's chances of securing a seat on the Security Council.

Russia is "practically in a state of war against Europe", with the crisis in Ukraine rapidly approaching "the point of no return", warn EU leaders.

Britain faces the "greatest and deepest" terror threat in the country's history, Prime Minister David Cameron warned yesterday as he pledged emergency measures to tackle extremists.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says his Government will carefully consider the risks and objectives before agreeing to take part in further military action in Iraq.

The senior politician who caused outrage by comparing Italy's first black minister to an orang-utan now claims he is under siege from vengeful African spirits.

The psychiatric evaluation of the Malaysian diplomat facing sexual assault charges in New Zealand has reportedly been completed.

Power of monetary policy to drive global growth is nearing its limit. Further progress depends on government leaders.

Viewed from the vantage point of Standard & Poor's global chief economist the world economy does not seem too inhospitable a place right now, but not without risks either.

Russia widened investigations into McDonald's restaurants in what looks like a tit-for-tat retaliation against American interests after the West imposed sanctions over Ukraine.

As Muammar Gaddafi's regime began to unravel in 2011, amid chaotic fighting between Libya's military and rebels, foreign nations rushed to withdraw their citizens.