World
Asia
Philippines’ new president Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos makes secret trip to Australia
Days after winning the presidential election in the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos jnr has quietly flown to Melbourne, where his youngest son is said to be enrolling to study.
- by Chris Barrett and Matilda Finn
Latest
Sri Lanka only has one day’s petrol as economy tanks
New Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is printing money to pay salaries, selling the national airline and using Indian line of credit to buy more fuel.
- by Alasdair Pal and Uditha Jayasinghe
Tattoos, illegal in South Korea, thrive underground
Tattoo artists, long treated as criminals for their work, say that it is time to end the stigma against their business.
- by Christine Chung
‘Great turmoil’: Dozens die in North Korea as Kim admits scale of COVID outbreak
Authorities in North Korea, which does not have a vaccination program, have blamed the deaths on “careless” citizens taking unapproved medicines.
- by Josh Smith and Byungwook Kim
India bans wheat exports as supply crunch looms during Russia-Ukraine war
The decision to halt wheat exports highlights India’s concerns about high inflation, adding to a spate of food protectionism since the war in Ukraine started.
- by Pratik Parija
Sri Lanka appoints new prime minister in bid to stop civil unrest
Ranil Wickremesinghe has been prime minister of the island nation five times before.
- by Krishan Francis
Unvaccinated North Korea reports first COVID outbreak, goes into lockdown
The North’s government has shunned vaccines offered by the UN-backed COVAX distribution program, possibly because those have monitoring requirements.
- by Kim Tong-Hyung
Hong Kong police bail Catholic cardinal arrested on national security charge
Cardinal Joseph Zen and three others who helped run a now-disbanded Hong Kong fund for protesters were arrested on charges of “collusion with foreign forces”.
- by James Pomfret and Jessie Pang
‘We don’t think it’s sustainable’: WHO questions China’s zero-COVID strategy
The comments come after researchers warned that China was at risk of unleashing a major Omicron wave if restrictions are lifted without boosting both vaccination rates and access to treatments.
- by Sarah Newey
Sri Lanka’s prime minister rescued as troops ordered to shoot violent protesters
Mahinda Rajapaksa had to be rescued from his official residence after rioters broke down the gate after he resigned.
- by Krishan Francis, Bharatha Mallawarachi and Krutika Pathi
Analysis
World elections
There is a new Marcos in Manila and he wants a maritime deal with China
Western powers will have to engage Ferdinand Marcos jnr despite his family’s past to ensure the Philippines does not stray into Beijing’s orbit.
- by Chris Barrett