Latest from International Politics

Election rout has Sarkozy on rise again

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy bolstered his chances of a return to France's top job after his conservatives gave the Socialists one of their greatest election thrashings.

Republican top guns fire the same lines

There are 15 major contenders for the Republican presidential nomination. Together, they own at least 40 guns.

Minority Qld govt hangs in balance

Queensland's six-week-old minority government hung in the balance yesterday after Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was forced to expel one of her MPs, opening up the possibility of a byelection that could hand power to the Liberal-Nationals.

NSW win may help Abbott

Mike Baird's comfortable victory in Saturday's New South Wales election has taken some of the heat off Prime Minister Tony Abbott, according to pundits - but has also highlighted the differences....

Voters defy militants

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for democracy in Africa yesterday as Nigerians resolutely cast their votes amid shootings by Islamist militants and technical glitches.

'Teflon Mike' expected to duck trend and retain premiership

Exemption bid in TPP leak

Grapevine astir over Obama florist's exit

Big-name departures are a fact of life for US Presidents as their influence wanes in the second term, but few White House exits in recent memory have caused as much intrigue as the departure of the Obama Administration's chief florist.

Coalition buoyed by Newspoll upswing

Fukushima battles food fear factor

Government ministers, foreign press and ambassadors including New Zealand's Mark Sinclair are sitting in a glitzy conference room in downtown Tokyo, looking at stunning photographs on powerpoint of a....

Netanyahu in trouble on home turf

With portraits of the late Menachem Begin on prominent display, the bustling Jerusalem market should have been comfortable home turf for Benjamin Netanyahu.

GCSB had Solomons post, papers show

The GCSB not only spies on the Solomon Islands using its Waihopai satellite interception base - it also had a secret listening post inside the country, according to documents provided by the United States National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snow

Cricketers urged: Play Pakistan at home

A visiting Pakistani cabinet minister has made a plea for international cricket teams to return to playing Pakistan in Pakistan.

Abbott backs off over death row pair

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he won't be picking a diplomatic fight with Indonesia over death row inmates.

Bali Nine 'human tsunami' threat

Indonesian minister threatens to unleash a "human tsunami" of asylum seekers towards Australia over fight to prevent execution.

Editorial: Abbott pushing too hard in clemency bid for Bali Nine ringleaders

Australia's Prime Minister is going to extraordinary lengths to save the lives of the ringleaders of the "Bali Nine" drug smugglers facing execution in Indonesia.

Changed Abbott still can't win over voters

Coalition backbenchers who tried to unseat Prime Minister Tony Abbott last month say he is a changed man. Voters are less impressed.

Isis jihadi, 18, from Melbourne

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says his Government is doing all it can to stop Australians travelling overseas to fight with extremists.