Kevin Rudd

Australian backbenchers can vote out their party leader

Emboldened by Canada’s defeat, Australia now seems well-placed to win a seat on the UN security council. Alas, their bid is almost certainly doomed by a disloyal opposition.

So the Labor caucus in Canberra will vote at 9 a.m. — soon — on whether Kevin Rudd should remain as the party’s leader and therefore as Australia’s prime minister. The betting is, he’s toast — vegemite toast, mate — and his lieutenant Julia Gillard, who had of course denied any such ambition, will replace him. Australia news front pages here, here and here. A very basic blog post to help you get up to speed is here.

AARON WHERRY reports from Canada 150: today the party tackles the world

Abbott likes to be photographed in Speedos and called PM Kevin Rudd a ‘toxic bore’

Indian students have been victims of violent attacks

Why some leaders’ approval ratings keep rising, and not others

Here is how our Prime Minister reacted yesterday to the plunging stock market.

Is this Stéphane Dion?

A day of many words. And perhaps some promise.