A ceasefire between Ukraine and separatist rebels began last night and appears to still be in place following a five-month bloody conflict left more than 2,000 dead.

The Ukrainian government and separatist rebels agreed to a ceasefire amid flickering hopes of peace.

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.

The Foreign Minister is to be investigated over his decision to withhold papers relating to the Malaysian diplomat case.

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.

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.

The Green Party is offering a simple answer to child poverty: give beneficiary parents the same wage subsidies paid to low and middle income earners with children. That, the party calculates, would give beneficiaries an extra $60 a week.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange last night argued that it was time he should be allowed to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

Russia is scouring the world for produce ranging from Chilean salmon to Egyptian oranges to fill a big hole left by its ban on Western food imports.

Russia's defence secretary has assured his US counterpart that there are no military personnel in its controversial aid convoy for Ukraine, the US says.

When the federal senator for the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party, Ricky Muir, sounds like the voice of reason, you know you have a problem.

Australia is considering joining the United States in a limited military operation to rescue as many as 30,000 Iraqi refugees trapped on a barren mountain in the north.

The authorities in Pakistan are readying themselves for what could be a huge demonstration of anti-government feeling.

Cigarette-style warnings should be placed on wine showing its health risks and the number of calories it contains, a group of British MPs has said.