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By Sarah N. Lynch, Reuters Former chief of staff to the US secretary of defence Kash Patel speaking during a campaign rally for US Republican president-elect Donald Trump. Photo: AFP / REBECCA NOBLE Republican president-elect Donald Trump said he wanted former National Security official and firebrand loyalist Kash Patel to lead the FBI, signalling an intent to drive out the bureau's current director, Christopher Wray. Republican President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday local time he wanted former National Security official and loyalist Kash Patel to lead the FBI, signaling an intent to drive out the bureau's current director, Christopher Wray. Patel, who during Trump's first term advised both the director of national intelligence and the secretary of defense, has previously call...

By Lauren Day, ABC South-East Asia correspondent This factory outside of Vientiane is believed to be the source of the methanol poisoning. Photo: ABC News A document from the Laos Ministry of Health's Department of Food and Drugs orders the prohibition of selling or consuming Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky and the closure of the factory that makes the two products. The ABC visited the factory and was told by locals that it had been closed after visits by health inspectors and police. The owner of the factory, as well as three more foreign nationals who were working at Nana Backpackers Hostel, have been arrested but no charges have been laid. A Laos government document obtained by the ABC suggests the source of a methanol poisoning outbreak that killed six tourists is a rundown fac...

It is understandable that human errors - like the one that led to the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui - happen, a Samoan official involved in the recovery and clean-up says. An interim report released on Friday found that the grounding of the New Zealand Navy ship in early October was due to a series of human errors, including the crew not turning off the ship's autopilot when they should have. Afioga Fui Tupai Mau Simanu, who is the chair of Samoa's Marine Pollution Advisory Committee, said he had been briefed about the interim report by the New Zealand Defence Force's representative in Samoa, Commodore Andrew Brown. "We're humans and those things happen," he said of the interim findings. "We just appreciate the fact that the New Zealand government continues to be transparent and is upfron...

By Doug Dingwall Pacific Islanders have led the campaign for the ICJ to consider states' obligations to prevent climate change. Photo: ABC News: Doug Dingwall The International Court of Justice is set to begin two weeks of hearings on Monday in a landmark case on the obligations of states to protect the climate from greenhouse gases. The idea for the case came from a group of students studying law at a university in Vanuatu. Experts say the court's findings could bolster the cases of nations taking legal action against big polluters failing to reduce emissions. A landmark case that began in a Pacific classroom and could change the course of future climate talks is about to be heard in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The court will begin hearings involving a record numb...