Syria's civil war has driven almost a third of the country's population from their homes, causing the humanitarian calamity of the century, says the United Nations.

Why did US President Barack Obama delay planned air strikes on Syria after the chemical attack last month?

Amid signs in Washington of deep anxiety about unintended consequences and unforeseeable outcomes.

Shame' over colonial history is seeing valuable threads of the nation's story left to crumble into ruin.

The lucky ones move in with relatives; the poorest sleep under bridges. Others find themselves crammed into the old Palestinian refugee camps of south Beirut.

The Syrian crisis and Opposition leader Tony Abbott's competence to deal with international affairs have become a central issue in the fight for power in Australia.

British defence figures admit evidence of Syrian gas attack growing stronger as US repositions military assets in Middle East.

Editorial: Barack Obama said Syria's use of chemical weapons would be a "red line", yet flicking the issue of a US response back to Congress looks a lot like passing the buck.

David Frost, who died on Sunday aged 74, sat down with many big names over half a century.

Western powers' best option for responding to regime's gas attacks in Syria is to arm selective rebels, writes Alexander Gillespie.

The British Government was accused of "breathtaking laxity" in its arms controls after it emerged that officials authorised the export of two chemicals to Syria.

Nelson Mandela has spent his first night back home after being discharged from hospital, with his home turned into a private intensive care ward.

Prime Minister John Key says a proposal to give Fijian coup leaders immunity for crimes and human rights abuses is not a "deal breaker" for New Zealand.

Slashed from all sides by polls predicting his doom, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was channelling Monty Python's Black Knight yesterday.

US President Barack Obama has lifted the threat of immediate punitive air strikes on Syria, announcing he will seek congressional approval for any military action.

The American and British governments should have seen this coming.

Australian correspondent Greg Ansley outlines 5 reasons why Abbott should defeat Labor's Kevin Rudd.