Scotland Yard has launched a full investigation into allegations that Conservative politicians were members of a paedophile ring which abused British children in care the 1980s.

Vowing to "put everything into this", President Barack Obama has unveiled the most sweeping proposals in 20 years to tighten gun control in the United States.

Editorial: British foreign secretaries have not been frequent visitors to New Zealand. When the relationship was so close that New Zealanders referred to the "mother country", they probably did not feel the need to visit.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted he "felt like an ant" while grappling with political problems as Governor of California.

Editorial: A large number do not understand the consequences of not finding a job. They leave for Australia without realising they will not have access to most of that country's welfare safety net, including dole and disability payments.

Across Australia, the young and talented children of expatriate Kiwis find their careers stunted when they leave school, cut off from higher education and government apprenticeships by costs and policies.

Until last weekend, most Australians knew little about Peta Credlin, Tony Abbott's 1.8m (6ft) tall, fiercely loyal and formidably bright chief of staff.

President Barack Obama's ready resort to "fiscal cliff interruptus" does not address the US' entrenched economic problems. It is simply a stop-gap measure that does not face up to America's basic problem of spending far more than it earns.

As Presidents cannot seek more than two terms, the political focus will inevitably be beyond them. This overall domestic policy context means Obama, like other 2nd-term Presidents in the post-war era, is likely to turn his focus towards foreign policy.

Cabinet documents released today reveal the diplomatic, political and military agonies Australia tried to balance because of New Zealand's non-nuclear policy.

Markets in this region yesterday shrugged off the threat of economic disruption from the looming "fiscal cliff" in the United States.

The Queen looked past scandal that has at times this year shaken the royal family to send out a global thanks to those who helped celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.

Three weeks before the ceremony and the [Olympic Stadium] was packed with thousands of people all doing things impressively.

And so this is Christmas, and what have you done, New Zealand business?

Egypt's Islamist-backed constitution received a "yes" majority in a final round of voting on a referendum that saw a low voter turnout.

France is discovering that, when it comes to wealthy taxpayers, you win some - and you lose some.

Vice president Mahmoud Mekki's resignation was announced with more than five hours to go of voting in the second and final phase of a referendum on a disputed, Islamist-backed constitution.