Latest FromInternational Politics
![Belgium defies pleas on child mercy killing](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Belgium defies pleas on child mercy killing
Belgian MPs are to press ahead with a child euthanasia law that critics say challenges the very basis of civilised society.
![Security forces hold evacuees from Homs](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Security forces hold evacuees from Homs
The fate of dozens of men detained by the Syrian security forces as they left the besieged city of Homs is continuing to cause international concern.
![Don Woolford: On closing the gap, speeches from the heart](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Don Woolford: On closing the gap, speeches from the heart
Tony Abbott, on a matter that transcends conventional politics, becomes an interesting politician.
![Hillary saw affair as 'lapse' - papers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Hillary saw affair as 'lapse' - papers
New papers reveal Hillary Clinton believed her husband's affair with Monica Lewinsky was merely a' lapse', dismissing the White House intern as a 'narcissistic loony toon'.
![John Key labels Cunliffe an 'idiot'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
John Key labels Cunliffe an 'idiot'
Prime Minister John Key has called Labour leader David Cunliffe an "idiot" over his comments about Kiwis' entitlements in Australia.
![Editorial: Competitive answer to 'buy Aussie' campaign](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Editorial: Competitive answer to 'buy Aussie' campaign
A buy-Australian campaign in two Australian supermarket chains is a sobering lesson for the Green Party and anyone else in NZ who advocates the same thing here.
![Labor retains seat despite swing](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Labor retains seat despite swing
Labor has survived in former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Brisbane seat of Griffith with the help of Greens' preferences.
![US hacked - leaked phonecall curses EU](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
US hacked - leaked phonecall curses EU
An embarrassing phone call in which a top US diplomat cursed the European Union's response to the Ukraine crisis.
![Taliban enters talks to end terror in Pakistan](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Taliban enters talks to end terror in Pakistan
The Pakistan Government met the Taliban for the first time yesterday in a last-ditch attempt to end the group's seven-year campaign of terror.
![Sibling rivalry becomes political in Abbott family](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Sibling rivalry becomes political in Abbott family
When Tony Abbott picked up one of Australia's major daily newspapers on Monday he would have seen his youngest sister on the front page passionately kissing another woman.
![Key: 'We're trying to do a balancing act'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Key: 'We're trying to do a balancing act'
Prime Minister John Key does not expect much progress in his talks with Australian counterpart Tony Abbott today in the key issues of discrimination against expatriate Kiwis and the major supermarkets' move to shed New Zealand products.
![Kiwis after a fair crack of the whip in Oz](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Kiwis after a fair crack of the whip in Oz
Expat Kiwi advocates have launched another bid to win support from Australia's human rights watchdogs in their campaign to end discrimination against NZers.
![China, Russia set pace in spending](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
China, Russia set pace in spending
Soaring defence budgets in China and Russia mean that global military spending is growing for the first time in five years, according to forecasts.
![Syrian group not linked to us: al-Qaeda](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Syrian group not linked to us: al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda has disavowed its offshoot in Syria, seeking to distance itself from a group too extreme even for the organisation founded by Osama bin Laden.
![Political heir throws cultural party](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Political heir throws cultural party
The son of Benazir Bhutto opened a new front in the war against extremism in Pakistan, with a glittering gala of music and fireworks set against the illuminated ruins of a Bronze Age city.
![Officials accuse Kerry of 'anti-Semitic' approach](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Officials accuse Kerry of 'anti-Semitic' approach
The US Secretary of State was accused of supporting anti-Semitic interests yesterday after warning that Israel faced an economic boycott.
![Tense Thai poll pushes ahead despite protests](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Tense Thai poll pushes ahead despite protests
Areas where voting blocked mean result will almost certainly be inconclusive.
![Terrorism's forceful reminder to Oz](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Terrorism's forceful reminder to Oz
This week the agonies of Syria and much of the Mid-East came sharply home to Oz, where the reps of 60 countries met in Sydney for Interpol's inaugural global security and counter-terrorism convention.
![Editorial: Leader of the world? Go for it, Helen](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Editorial: Leader of the world? Go for it, Helen
Kiwis, regardless of political leanings, can applaud the fact that Helen Clark has been touted internationally as the next Secretary-General of the UN.
![Congressman to journo: 'I'll break you'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Congressman to journo: 'I'll break you'
A US Congressman who threatened to “break” and throw a journalist off a balcony has defended his actions.
![Politician 'related' to Sherlock actor?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Politician 'related' to Sherlock actor?
She is the granddaughter of Caribbean immigrants to the US, who has just been appointed to a top job by New York's new mayor. He is the dashing star of Sherlock.
![Govt will back Clark if she wants UN job](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Govt will back Clark if she wants UN job
John Key says the Govt would throw its weight behind any bid by Helen Clark for the top job at the UN in 2016, but said it would be a tough ask for her to secure the post.
![Oz building officials under probe](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Oz building officials under probe
Massive corruption involving union officials, businesses, organised crime figures and bikies has been alleged in the Australian construction industry.