Debra Killalea

Vladimir Putin has been steadily winding back the clock on Russia’s democracy. Independent media outlets have been shuttered, Western businesses have left and free speech has effectively been stamped out.

From Tony Abbott’s “shirtfront” vow to wild press conferences with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin always brings drama to global summits. But this year, the risks are too great for him to leave the Kremlin unattended.

While its northern rival has a nuclear vessel at its disposal, South Korea is relying on another strategy to scare its neighbours: an elite special forces operation unit trained to work behind enemy lines. Here’s how it works.

From a brutal axe murder to a defector making a desperate escape for freedom in a hail of bullets, these are just a few of the violent incidents that have occurred in the DMZ.

The elevation of Kim Jong Un’s female relatives coincides with the growing economic and social power of women living inside secretive North Korea.

A proposal to strengthen ties between Europe and Australia in the face of increasing global instability could prove to be a major boost for both allies. But questions have been raised over a potential defence pact with Brussels.  

The parade for the US Army's birthday — which coincides with the US president's birthday — is on the same weekend the country will see hundreds of protests on immigration raids.

For some it's about money, for others it's regaining fame or relevance. For basketball star Lauren Jackson the decision to step out of retirement had nothing to do with either reason, and instead was all down to a happy accident. Getting back to super star fitness level was no easy task though.

The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was such a closely guarded secret that few outside the North Korean elite would even have guessed anything was amiss.

Health-conscious Australians may be thinking twice about having that first or second beer, but not all of us are getting the message when it comes to alcohol and risky drinking.