The US presidential election has become an object lesson in everything that ails a country long seen as a beacon of freedom and hope.

A US tabloid allegedly paid $150,000 to a former Playboy playmate for exclusive rights to her story about having an affair with Donald Trump.

New Zealand shares fell, the index's correction from a record high on September 7, as investors fretted that valuations weren't supported by earnings growth.

Are you starting to wonder where all the outstanding leaders are in the world? And why it's so hard to find them in public office

Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trump's campaign manager quarreled with Whoopi Goldberg over what's "nasty" - Hillary Clinton's tactics or those of the GOP nominee.

COMMENT: Rhe person that best captures the mind-boggle of it all is neither Trump, nor Ms Bono, nor novelty shrimps, but Peter Thiel.

COMMENT: The state has come a long way since racial segregation. Chris Reed reports on the Democrats' fight against apathy

Iran's supreme leader says the statements made by the frontrunners in the US Presidential race are proof of the destruction of human values in the United States,"

Trump swerved back on script, showing flashes of a cohesive closing argument in the final stage of a presidential campaign, but will this last?

FBI Director James Comey's decision to notify Congress about renewing the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server went against protocol.

Hillary Clinton is ignoring the FBI's decision to examine more emails in the controversy over her private email server. At an Iowa rally, she hammered Donald Trump, saying he's trying to depress the vote in the upcoming election.

Donald Trump has decided the US election isn't actually necessary. His solution? Just award him the victory now.

Donald Trump didn't always think of Hillary Clinton as a "nasty woman". In fact, he used to be downright effusive in his praise of her.

THE BIG READ: What is the long-term effect of Donald Trump?

Donald Trump demonstrated his thin grasp of the facts, while Hillary Clinton was, once again, more factually accurate.

Australia's Next Top Model host Jennifer Hawkins is cancelling a slate of interviews so she won't have to talk about Trump.

COMMENT: This campaign for arguably the most the world's most powerful political job has been nothing short of a disgrace!

"I will tell you at the time," Donald Trump said after being asked whether he would accept the election results. "I will keep you in suspense."

Hillary Clinton ran her first presidential campaign at the age of 16 ... when no girl had held the job before.

Republican states - notably Arizona, Georgia and Utah - could now be the target for presidential hopeful as Hillary Clinton tries to slam dunk Donald Trump.

Trump is not really running a campaign for president anymore, instead he is is simply following the politics of grievance to its natural, unseemly end.

Donald Trump has been caught in the act yet again as more questionable footage of the presidential candidate continues to come to light.

WikiLeaks released another batch of hacked emails from inside Hillary Clinton's campaign and with them came another round of embarrassing headlines.

The first lady seems to be taking this election personally - and it comes across on the campaign trail in support of Hillary Clinton.

A lot of celebs are fleeing the sinking Trump ship after that recording, but some are still #withhim

A buoyant Hillary Clinton promised yesterday to give Americans "something to vote for, not just something to vote against".

At Donald Trump's rallies he is still winning, but even his most devoted supporters are starting to realise he could lose the election.

Top Republican all but concedes Hillary Clinton will win the presidential campaign.

EDITORIAL: Donald Trump is already a monster in the popular imagination - especially in this country.