‘Finest foreign minister’: Australia’s Julie Bishop to retire from politics
Australia’s former foreign minister, Julie Bishop, will retire at the next election, she said on Thursday, joining a wave of lawmakers leaving a government that faces defeat in the poll, due by May.
Taiwan unveils Asia’s first draft law on same-sex marriage
Taiwan on Thursday proposed a draft law to allow same-sex marriage in Asia’s first such bill, but the legislation was criticized by rights activists and conservative groups amid a heated debate over marriage equality.
Australia’s former foreign minister Julie Bishop will not fight next election
Australia’s former foreign minister, Julie Bishop, will retire from politics at the next election due by May, following signs that the ruling government will retain power, she said on Thursday.
Heavily armed foreigners arrested in Haiti sent to United States, officials say
A heavily armed group of foreign nationals, who were arrested in Haiti on Sunday after days of massive anti-government protests, were handed over to U.S. authorities on Wednesday, Haitian and U.S. authorities said.
Netanyahu’s strongest challengers form alliance in Israeli election
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest challengers in an election in April joined forces on Thursday, adding more potency to the centrist candidates’ bid to end the right-wing leader’s decade in power.
Australia’s former foreign minister Bishop to retire from parliament
Australia’s former foreign minister, Julie Bishop, will retire from politics at the next election, she said on Thursday.
British aide to Malaysian ex-PM charged with money laundering: state news agency
Malaysian authorities charged Paul Stadlen, a British national who had worked for disgraced former prime minister Najib Razak as a media adviser, with two counts of money laundering, state news agency Bernama reported on Wednesday.
Bangladesh building fire kills at least 70, toll could climb
The death toll from a fire in a centuries-old area of the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka, jumped dramatically to 70 on Thursday, a fire official said, and could keep climbing as fire fighters combed the wreckage of the destroyed building.
No history of defaults, says Australian firm in asylum center dispute
A little known security provider at the center of a political storm over why Australia gave it a lucrative contract for a remote Pacific detention center denied on Thursday media reports of a history of improper payments and contract defaults.
China’s desire for close Iran ties unchanged, Xi says ahead of Saudi prince’s visit
China’s desire to develop close ties with Iran will remain unchanged, regardless of the international situation, President Xi Jinping told the speaker of Iran’s parliament, ahead of Thursday’s visit to Beijing by Saudi Arabia’s crown prince.
