Latest from International Politics

Jay-Z Cuba trip challenged

Republican lawmakers have asked for an investigation into Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z's visit to Cuba for their wedding anniversary.

John Key, Bill Gates discuss future of the world

Bill Gates may be only the second richest man in the world, with a net worth of US$67 billion ($79.7 billion), but he is assuredly the most generous.

Blair knew Libya bigger threat than Iraq WMDs

Hitherto unseen evidence given to the Chilcot Inquiry by British intelligence has revealed that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was told that Iraq had, at most, only a trivial amount of weapons of mass destruction.

French radicals sense an opening

Radicals both right and left are sensing that France's political tide is rising in their favour, driven by a President plumbing record unpopularity less than a year after taking office.

Frugal leader hosts light lunch

John Roughan: North Korea, the disaffected child

Each time it makes a threatening gesture to its sister in the south, the US and China respond like different parents. But a sibling often knows a troubled child better than either parent, says John Roughan.

Nth Korea on everyone's agenda

The North Korea security crisis will be high on tomorrow's agenda when Prime Minister John Key meets new President of China Xi Jinping on the Chinese tropical island of Hainan, at the Boao Forum for Asia.

Sam Clements: Orators enrich a troubling world

Geo-politically, socially, environmentally, economically, financially and spiritually, the world and state of human affairs is in a state of unparalleled flux and change.

Storm rages over UK welfare cuts

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, will launch a scathing attack on churches and charities that oppose the Government's welfare cuts.

Asylum seeker deaths deepen Gillard's woes

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 betrayed agents: report

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.

Gillard pushes on with new posts

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.

Interviewer puts mayor under the blowtorch

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.

Fast-changing climate 'threat to Oz security'

The changing climate will increase security threats to Australia, including the possible collapse of fragile states in the region and resource wars, a new report has warned.

Cyprus secures financial rescue package

Cyprus has secured a package of rescue loans in tense, last-ditch negotiations, two EU diplomats said, saving the country from a banking system collapse and bankruptcy.

Ross Robertson: It's high noon in New York for global arms trade

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

Smith defends Albanese's Cabinet place

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

D-Day for island on the verge of economic ruin

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