The death of a man who set himself on fire on the National Mall was the result of his long fight with mental illness, not a political statement, his family said.

John Key has raised the issue of two Kiwi protestors being held in Russia with Russian President Putin - but it was not by way of protesting their treatment.

It is unfathomable that a nation that prides itself on its democratic ideals, capitalistic prowess and business leadership has dug itself into such a gigantic mess, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says it's "perfectly legitimate" for the public to pay for travel expenses related to his participation in community sports events.

Recent events at home and abroad suggest Obama's requiem as a 'lame duck' may come sooner than we could ever have imagined, writes Geoffrey Garrett.

Governments ignore warnings of antibiotic-resistant strains, and the feeding of drugs to animals, at their peril, writes Sue Kedgeley.

Mortars and roadside bombs have exploded near the inspectors, says UN leader.

Prime Minister John Key will seek an opportunity today to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of Apec in Bali.

The absence of US President Barack Obama from the Apec leaders summit leaves a gaping hole, and a lot of disappointment, if not misery, writes Audrey Young.

Better to have patience and aim for a comprehensive trade pact, PM says.

US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew has issued a categorical warning that the United States will default on its US$16.7 trillion debt.

Eighty per cent of the Republicans in the House of Representatives don't have to worry about what the general public thinks, writes Gwynne Dyer.