Australia and Oceania

Jacinda Ardern replaced by Chris Hipkins as New Zealand PM

by Ryland JAMES Agence France-Presse WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Hundreds gathered to applaud Jacinda Ardern as she left New Zealand’s parliament to resign as prime minister on Wednesday, before Chris Hipkins was swiftly sworn in as her replacement. Ardern said last week she no longer had “enough in the tank” after steering the country through natural disasters, its worst-ever terror attack and the Covid-19 pandemic. Hipkins was sworn in by Governor-General Cindy Kiro during […]

Grateful Ardern makes last bow as New Zealand PM

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday she was grateful for her time in office, insisting that a sustained barrage of online abuse was not the reason for her shock resignation. The 42-year-old said last week she no longer had “enough in the tank” after a turbulent five years, during which she steered the country through natural disasters, its worst-ever terror attack and the Covid-19 pandemic. Her resignation, less […]

Next New Zealand PM slams ‘abhorrent’ treatment of Ardern

Wellington, New Zealand | AFP | Sunday 1/22/2023 by Daniel GILHOOLY New Zealand’s incoming prime minister Chris Hipkins criticised the “abhorrent” treatment endured by Jacinda Ardern and vowed on Sunday to shield his own family, three days after her shock resignation. Hours after being unanimously endorsed by Labour Party MPs as the party’s leader and the nation’s next prime minister, Hipkins attacked the personal abuse suffered by Ardern during her more than five years in […]

New Zealand PM Ardern announces she will resign next month

Wellington, New Zealand | AFP | Thursday 1/19/2023 New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Thursday she will resign next month. “For me it’s time,” she said at a meeting of members of her Labour Party. “I just don’t have enough in the tank for another four years.” Ardern, who became prime minister in a coalition government in 2017, then led her centre-left Labour Party to a comprehensive victory in an election three years later, […]

Qantas flight lands safely in Sydney after mid-air mayday

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Ambulance services scrambled at Sydney airport on Wednesday to meet an incoming Qantas plane that issued a mid-air mayday alert with engine trouble before landing safely. The flight — QF144 — was carrying 145 passengers from Auckland, New Zealand, a statement from Qantas said. The Boeing 737-800 plane landed without incident on the runway at Sydney airport, said an AFP reporter at the scene, and will now be inspected by engineers. […]

Russia and Belarus flags banned at Australian Open after Ukraine protest

MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Tennis Australia on Tuesday banned Russian and Belarusian flags at the Australian Open after Ukraine’s ambassador demanded action when one was sighted among the crowd. The red, white and blue stripes of Russia were seen Monday during a first-round clash between Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl and Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova on day one. “Flags from Russia and Belarus are banned onsite at the Australian Open,” Tennis Australia said in a statement. “Our initial […]

China warns Australia: ‘Be careful’ of Japan

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — China on Tuesday said Australia should remember Japan’s war crimes during World War II before cozying up to the regional power. Australia’s center-left government has been trying to repair its relationship with China, which soured considerably under the former conservative government. But it has also recently signed a new security pact with China’s regional rival Japan, seen as an attempt to limit Beijing’s muscle in the Pacific region. China’s ambassador to […]

Ex-US Marine questions ‘political nature’ of Australian arrest

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A former US marine accused of illegally training Chinese military pilots believes his arrest was politically motivated and will fight extradition from Australia, his lawyer said Tuesday. Daniel Edmund Duggan was arrested in Australia late last year and now faces extradition to the United States, where he is accused of violating an arms embargo. The 54-year-old was a highly-regarded jet pilot who spent 12 years in the US Marine Corps, reaching […]

7.0-magnitude quake strikes Pacific nation of Vanuatu

#Earthquake (#séisme) confirmed by seismic data.⚠Preliminary info: M7.0 || 25 km NW of #Port-Olry (#Vanuatu) || 10 min ago (local time 23:32:43). Follow the thread for the updates👇 pic.twitter.com/ZtMmoXG2GW — EMSC (@LastQuake) January 8, 2023 Sydney, Australia  (AFP) Frightened villagers fled to higher ground fearing a tsunami when a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck late Sunday just off the coast of the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. The violent quake’s epicentre was in the sea just off […]

Fiji govt accused of stoking fear to stay in power as troops deployed

SUVA, Fiji (AFP) — Fiji’s opposition on Friday accused the government of sowing “fear and chaos” in a bid to stay in power, as the military began deploying to the streets of the capital Suva. AFP reporters witnessed a small number of military vehicles on patrol, a day after Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced their mobilization to maintain “law and order”. The scene was otherwise calm with people going about last-minute holiday shopping. Formal naval […]

N. Zealand’s amended cow burp tax plans still stink, say farmers

WELLINGTON, New Zealand AFP – New Zealand’s government on Wednesday outlined changes to controversial plans to tax the farts and burps of livestock, but a leading farmers group said it was still opposed to the emissions reduction scheme. New Zealand is planning a “world first” levy on emissions of methane and nitrous oxide, produced by the nation’s six million cows and 26 million sheep as a step towards tackling climate change. Under the proposed scheme, farmers would […]

Australia urges release of citizens in China

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday urged the release of citizens held in China, as she prepared to embark on a landmark visit to Beijing. Wong is set to be the first top Australian diplomat to visit China in four years, a trip aimed at thawing troubled relations. She will depart Australia on Tuesday for a meeting with Chinese state councilor and minister of foreign affairs, Wang Yi, and indicated […]