Domestic Politics
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Labour party is expected to win a second term in office through a coalition government with the Greens during elections later this year. [Newsroom]
International Relations
During a call with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised her for advocating for the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Both Kiwi and British troops are stationed at Camp Taji, a US airbase in Iraq that was struck by an Iranian missile attack in response to the US' killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. The two also discussed a free trade deal. [NZ Herald]
Society
Official figures from New Zealand show that MÄori babies are five times more likely to end up in state care than non-MÄori babies. The rate of urgent entries of MÄori babies into state care has doubled since 2010. Over that same period, 61 MÄori babies were ordered into state care before birth, compared to 21 for their non-MÄori counterparts. [Newsroom]
Environment
A “massive rain event” is forecasted over the next week in Australia. Humidity levels have been rising along the east coast and have moved down south as well. Meteorologists predict heavy rain, wind gusts, flash flooding, and perhaps a “supercell storm”. [news.com.au]
Business
161 retail stores have closed since the turn of the New Year in Australia, due to what financial experts have termed “tough market conditions and pressure from online competition”. [news.com.au]
The Australian bushfires have caused the tourism industry roughly $1 billion, with cancellation rates reaching 60% in certain areas. In areas directly affected by bushfires, cancellation rates are closer to 100%. [Sydney Morning Herald]
Prior to the bushfires, the Australian government signed a deal with Forestry Corp to lease parts of New South Wales' forestry assets. However, the fires have destroyed roughly 50,000 hectares, or 20% of the assets. The $1 billion deal has now been delayed until at least the middle of the year. [Sydney Morning Herald]
Science & Technology
Research conducted at the University of New South Wales calls for a new vaccine to be developed for whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory disease, which they say has become "smarter at colonizing and feeding off unwitting hosts-whether they have been vaccinated or not". [9 News]
Image Source: She Knows