Ex-Obama chief of staff will go to Japan after deal for vote on Russia pipeline sanctions ends Republican Senate resistanceThe former Obama White House chief of staff and Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel was among more than 30 ambassadors and other Biden nom…
Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai and activists jailed for up to 14 months for Tiananmen vigil
Media tycoon and seven other democracy campaigners sentenced for commemorating victims of massacreThe Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and seven other pro-democracy activists have been sentenced to up to 14 months in prison for organising, taking part …
Iran nuclear deal pulled back from brink of collapse as talks resume in Vienna
Cautious optimism as Tehran revises its position after pressure from Russia and ChinaEfforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal have been hauled back from the brink of collapse as Tehran revised its stance after pressure from Russia and China and clear wa…
China accuses Australia of ‘political posturing’ over diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics
Scott Morrison says athletes will compete in next year’s Games because sport and politics should not mixGet our free news app; get our morning email briefingThe prime minister, Scott Morrison, has confirmed Australian officials will not attend the Beij…
Indonesia: death toll rises to 13 after eruption of Semeru volcano
Dozens more were injured when the highest volcano on densely populated Java island spewed a huge cloud of ash into the airThe death toll from the eruption of the Semeru volcano on Indonesia’s Java island has risen to 13, with nearly 100 more more inju…
Activists call for revolution in ‘dated and colonial’ aid funding
Aspen Institute’s New Voices want donors to exercise humility and trust those receiving grants to know what their communities needAid donors are being urged to revolutionise the way money is spent to move away from colonial ideas and create meaningful …
Older unvaccinated people should delay travel, says WHO, as Omicron restrictions spread
US, Japan and Singapore tighten rules for travellers but WHO says ‘blanket bans’ won’t contain the new Covid strainFollow updates in the pandemic hereSee all our coronavirus coverage hereThe World Health Organization has said those not fully vaccinated…
Solomon Islands unrest: New Zealand to send dozens of peacekeepers
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern says she is ‘deeply concerned by the recent civil unrest and rioting in Honiara’New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has ordered police and troops to join an international peacekeeping mission in the crisi…
With $3B expected in 2021, Singapore is becoming a fintech capital
Despite its small size (less than 5 million total population), Singapore is quickly reaching investment levels of countries many times its size.
Peng Shuai backlash leaves IOC facing familiar criticism over human rights
Analysis: Olympic committee is accused of engaging in a ‘publicity stunt’ by taking part in video callAs human rights organisations and the world’s media questioned the whereabouts of the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, the International Olympic Comm…