Prime Minister John Key has mounted a scathing attack on the failings of the United Nations and the permanent members of the Security Council, saying it gets bogged down in arcane detail and had become hostage to the interests of the most powerful.

The Indonesian Navy has slammed the Australian Government's plans to turn back asylum-seeker boats, warning that the policy is "too risky" and could cost lives at sea.

Bono has spoken about being chased down the street by German anarchists wielding placards shouting "Make Bono history!"

Germany's Social Democrats threw down the gauntlet to Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday .

In routing her opponents to earn a third term in office, Chancellor Angela Merkel has joined the ranks of Germany's most popular politicians.

The rich and powerful's 'free market' manipulation to their own advantage is a threat to Western democracy, writes Bryan Gould.