New Zealand politician, foreign affairs minister, long-time NZ First leader
New Zealand lawmakers who visited Taiwan have been banned for a year from China, Hong Kong and Macau. The move prompts diplomatic friction as Wellington defends parliamentary travel to Taiwan as longstanding practice under its One China policy. Officials say the ban is a China-driven reaction to cross-strait diplomacy.
China has test‑launched a long‑range ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine into the South Pacific carrying a dummy warhead. Beijing has said the launch was routine and that relevant countries were notified; Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Pacific states have condemned the test as destabilising and said notice was insufficient.
India is expanding data centers as part of its AI push, with Visakhapatnam becoming a focal point for a Google-backed megaproject. Critics warn energy and water use may outpace long-term job creation, while officials hope the investment spurs regional manufacturing and foreign investment.
Luxon has secured a caucus-backed renewal of leadership ahead of the November election, while facing ongoing questions about his grip on the National Party amid a string of missteps and weak polls. The party declares unity, but observers warn the underlying tensions persist.