The Princess of Wales pub in Pyla looks as if it has been flatpacked and flown in from a town in the UK, complete with British pensioners who tuck into roast beef.

His upbeat oratory reflected his country's innate optimism, despite the turbulence of the times.

British ministers came under fire over benefit cuts as the independent body representing 1200 English housing associations described the controversial bedroom tax as bad policy.

It has become an ominously frequent ritual. Officials announce that Nelson Mandela, 94, is in hospital.

The deaths of two more asylum seekers off Australia's Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island has again focused attention on the complexity of the dangerous crossing.

Prisoner X, the Mossad agent who hanged himself in Israel's highest security prison two years ago, was the country's "biggest traitor" according to a new investigation.

Boris Johnson's past troubles finally returned to haunt him yesterday when he gave what senior Conservatives called a "car crash" television interview which they said had dented his hopes of becoming Conservative Party leader.

Julia Gillard has elevated two key supporters to the Cabinet, expanded the jobs of three frontbenchers and made four new ministers after a "self-indulgent" leadership dispute.

According to Oxfam, nearly 750,000 people die each year from firearm-related violence.

Will investors keep their money in Cyprus? Or will they trigger a banking collapse and the first ejection from the euro?

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith supports Anthony Albanese remaining in the Cabinet in the post-leadership ructions reshuffle.

The bats are loose in the parliamentary belfry. But then came the shenanigans from across the ditch, says Kerre McIvor.

Julia Gillard has survived as Australian Prime Minister after ousted predecessor Kevin Rudd refused to stand against her in a sudden leadership spill.

A decade after Australia joined the invasion of Iraq, demands are still being made for an inquiry into the decision to go to war amid fears the nation could again be dragged into a future conflict in Asia or the Gulf.

"Who should bear which liabilities in the event of a banking collapse?" asks Bryan Gould. "The NZ proposal is an astonishing assault both on the property rights of depositors and on confidence in the banking system."

Two senior Iraqi politicians told Western intelligence that Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction on the eve of the 2003 invasion.

Another week, another disaster. Prime Minister Julia Gillard, again crashing in the polls after a brief respite last week, is now staring at the almost certain defeat of a major reform package.

The joint US-South Korean military exercises known as "Key Resolve" and "Foal Eagle" have got under way, and so far the heavens have not fallen.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and New Zealand ambassador to the US Mike Moore will speak in Washington next week about protecting the Antarctic's Ross Sea.

After an immensely long labour, Australian Communication Minister Stephen Conroy has produced a media policy mouse with a modest roar.

Prime Minister John Key has wrapped up his tour of Latin America with a meeting with Brazil's "Iron Lady".