New Zealand’s Labour Party scrambles to find PM Ardern’s successor
Jacinda Ardern’s shock resignation sparked a push on Friday for New Zealand to choose its first Maori prime minister, as a small pack of candidates emerged for the top job.
Asia Pacific
Xi’s authority dented by sudden Covid U-turn but iron grip on power is undimmed
Analysts say Xi has consolidated power so successfully that he is in effect the Communist party. With no opposition, it doesn’t matter if he makes mistakesJust a few months ago, the thought of questioning the strength of Xi Jinping’s leadership was inc…
In from the cold? Australia and China eye first meeting of trade ministers in more than three years
Officials move towards virtual chat as Don Farrell pursues removal of hefty tariffs on Australian produceGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralia and China are in discussions about arranging a virtual meeting b…
‘An inspiring leader’: world reacts to Jacinda Ardern’s resignation as New Zealand PM
‘The difference you have made is immeasurable,’ says Canadian prime minister Justin TrudeauThe US president, together with the prime ministers of Canada and Australia, have paid tribute to their New Zealand counterpart, who shocked the world by announc…
EU lawmakers push to blacklist Iran’s Guards as bloc mulls new sanctions
Iran warned the European Union on Thursday against listing the Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity, a day after EU lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to blacklist the powerful force over its role in the repression of protesters and the supply …
Fears the Year of the Rabbit could bring about a wave of abandoned pets
Animal welfare groups in Malaysia and Singapore have urged consumers to not buy rabbits on an ‘impulse’ and to look into what it takes to care for themPet welfare groups in Malaysia and Singapore have warned consumers not to buy rabbits to mark lunar n…
Thailand’s tuk-tuks go green amid rising demand for electric models
Travel without the combustion-engine fumes and noise is increasingly popular in the country with some of the world’s worst air pollutionThailand’s iconic, gas-guzzling tuk-tuks are being replaced by a greener, more energy efficient model, offering trav…
Maria Ressa: Nobel-winning Philippine editor keeps a ‘go bag’ in case of arrest
After beating tax-evasion charges, Rappler news chief says that cases against her have left her ‘living on quicksand’Nobel laureate Maria Ressa says she keeps a prison “go bag” with bundles of cash for bail and runs simulations of police raids with her…
Don’t appease China, warns Taiwan’s likely presidential successor
William Lai urges Taiwanese to unite in the face of ‘the expansion of China’s authoritarianism’, in first comments since taking party leadershipAppeasing China will not bring peace, Taiwan’s vice-president has said, days after he was elected head of th…
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern announces shock resignation
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that she will not contest this year’s general elections.