All of the New Zealand universities to feature in the QS World University Rankings have seen a drop in their placing this year, with the exception of Lincoln University which made the list for the first time.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad goes on American TV to warn Washington to brace for retaliation if US forces attacked his war-torn country.

History will treat the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Labor Government harshly, not for what it did or didn't do, but for how it conducted itself.

Former SAS commando Barrie Rice has been a bodyguard for the Sultan of Brunei's family, a security contractor for Blackwater in Iraq and now teaches gun skills to Hollywood actors.

News of a change of government for Australia drew a largely ho-hum response from local financial markets yesterday.

Facing the most perilous passage of his presidency, Barack Obama is to redouble his efforts to persuade the American public to back strikes against Syria.

Downing Street has denied any security breach after David Cameron left his ministerial box on a train table while he travelled to a wedding.

Why do Russians continue put up with being ruled by Vladimir Putin, asks Gwynne Dyer, when there are alternatives available?

American air strikes against the Syrian Government would not allow rebels to topple Bashar al-Assad .

Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott will today start bedding down the shape of his new Administration.

The reality is that Abbott will be influenced by his Catholicism in the same way as Gillard was influenced by her womanhood, writes Greg Craven.

Shattered by its worst vote in almost 80 years, the Australian Labor Party is set to start with a new generation tasked with shaking free of past demons.

Prime Minister John Key may make a fast visit to Australia within a fortnight for early talks with new Prime Minister Tony Abbott.