The Sultan of Brunei, one of the world's wealthiest rulers, will this week oversee his country's transition to a system of Islamic law with punishments that include flogging.

Thousands of anti-govt protesters marched through Bangkok yesterday, reviving their whistle-blowing, traffic-blocking campaign to force the resignation of the PM.

After a rush of emergency meetings to frame its strategy, the West is now scrutinising the impact of a first volley of sanctions against Russia but doubts persist whether Europe will swiftly follow the United States in hiking up the pressure.

Russian forces have completed their takeover of the Ukrainian navy's assets in Crimea with the storming of the minesweeper Cherkessy.

Australia's federal Attorney-General George Brandis is serious when he says on his watch, "people do have a right to be bigots".

China has embarked on a process of financial liberalisation and the sheer numbers involved mean it will have profound implications across the region, writes Brian Fallow.

On the edge of a Kabul neighbourhood an election poster of presidential candidate Abdul Rasoul Sayyaf is damaged, partly scraped away by someone trying to remove it.

After three decades and amid a mix of anger, derision and praise, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has resurrected the titles of knight and dame.

He was caught with his trousers down and stripped of credibility, but Craig Thomson remained defiant yesterday after being jailed for stealing union money to pay for sex with prostitutes.

Concern is growing that Western pressure, including a suspension from the G8, has failed to dent Russian President Vladimir Putins military ambitions.

The far-right National Front (FN) has sent shockwaves through France's political establishment.

It is unfortunate that some Government sloppiness about business relationships has clouded the coverage of John Key's trip to China, writes Liam Dann.

New Zealand's modest travel sanctions over Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine are largely symbolic, says Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

Selling tea to China might not be a good business proposition, but Northland professional golfer Gareth Winslow expects selling a good tee shot will be a different story.

Jolted by a sense that history has changed course, Western leaders meet this week to ponder a strategy for neutralising the threat of virulent Russian nationalism.

Russian armour smashed into a base of Ukrainian troops yesterday in the first serious military action in the confrontation over Crimea.

Ukraine warned its conflict with Russia had entered a "military stage" and authorised its troops to open fire in self-defence after suffering the first casuality since Crimea was seized.

Moscow extended US$415 million ($485 million) in assistance to the Crimean Government yesterday.

The corruption that fatally afflicted New South Wales' former Labor government has crossed both state and political borders.

An American-style pursuit of wealth has finally defeated the British obsession with social class, claims author Martin Amis.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott faced tough questioning from a group of smart high school students about the carbon tax, gay marriage, immigration policy and his women’s minister.

There has been much water under the Bridge of Sighs since Napoleon Bonaparte marched into Venice, ending 1100 years of independence in the city state.

With a sweeping Liberal victory in Tasmania and another hanging in the balance in South Australia, Prime Minister Tony Abbott faces two more major tests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's Crimean gamble will face its biggest test tonight, when the EU and US ready sanctions to punish him for a land-grab.

In a row reminiscent of a notorious incident just before a key federal poll, the Labor Party has been accused of whipping up racism against a Liberal candidate standing in a marginal seat.

Just imagine what would happen if Labor's Bill Shorten proposed a referendum to change Australia's flag.