President Barack Obama, working to persuade sceptical lawmakers to endorse a US military intervention in civil war-wracked Syria, hosted two leading Capitol Hill foreign policy hawks for talks.

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.

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.

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.

Broadcaster David Frost, best known for his interview with ex-US President Richard Nixon, died of a heart attack aboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship.

Don Payne, a retired aircraft engineer, had one thing to say to David Bradbury, Labor MP for the ultra-marginal seat of Lindsay.

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

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.

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.

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