World
Middle East
From the Archives: US bid to rescue hostages in Iran ends in disaster
In April 1980, the US Government launched Operation Eagle Claw to rescue 52 hostages held in the US embassy in Iran. The operation was a failure.
- by Creighton Burns
Latest
World politics
Voters offered rides, food in Egypt referendum on el-Sisi
Constitutional changes that would allow President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi to stay in power until 2030.
Libya
Hundreds killed in fighting over Libya's capital: UN
The UN health agency says at least 15 more people died in fighting over control of Libya's capital in the past two days, bringing the total to 220 dead including civilians.
Human rights
More Saudi women are running away. Georgia is helping the latest pair
Two Saudi sisters who fled their country and appealed for international protection earlier this week have received an offer of help from Georgia.
- by Umberto Bacchi
Opinion
Israel
Melissa Parke incident raises difficult questions about Israel
Labor candidate's decision to step aside over her comments about Israel makes one query the boundary between acceptable criticism and alleged prejudice.
- by Tony Walker
War
Trump vetoes Congress resolution to end US involvement in Yemen war
Trump said the landmark resolution by Congress was a "dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities".
- by Deb Riechmann
Exclusive
Islamic State
We helped you defeat Islamic State now please help treat our wounds, say Kurds
Kurdish soldiers who lost limbs fighting the so-called Islamic State in Syria have been rebuffed in their efforts to get medical visas allowing them advanced care in western countries.
- by David Wroe
Islamic State
The secret hostage: New Zealand nurse Louisa Akavi held captive by Islamic State
Hope is fading for a Kiwi nurse held hostage by the Islamic State in Syria for more than five years. The details of Louisa Akavi’s terrifying captivity have been a closely held secret - until now.
- by Tracy Watkins
Islamic State
Louisa Akavi, the hardy Kiwi nurse with the skills to survive
Akavi spent more than 20 years working on frontlines as a nurse. That resilience may have saved her.
- by Tracy Watkins and Stacey Kirk
War
A NZ nurse and her drivers have been missing in Syria since 2013
The three stopped while travelling in a Red Cross convoy delivering supplies to medical facilities in Idlib. She has been held longer than anyone in the organisation's 156-year history.
War
Sick of bloodshed, Iraq seeks to ban video games for igniting violence
A draft law seeking to ban "battle royale" genre games was submitted over the weekend by the cultural parliamentary committee.
- by Sara Elizabeth Williams