Misplaced loyalty to a superpower 'ally' is not a good enough reason to stay.

The Government has agreed for Kiwi troops to work in a wider radius outside Bamiyan province after two soldiers were killed there on Saturday.

Prime Minister John Key has revealed the two dead soldiers were both in their 20s and did not have a lot of family in New Zealand.

Kiwis are talking about the news Corporal Willie Apiata is stepping down from the military.

A new phase in the Syrian conflict appears to have begun, with the Red Cross today declaring it a 'civil war' and fierce fighting in Damascus. We have the latest updates.