Canada’s Liberal Party is set to elect a new leader on March 9, following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation. The winner will replace Trudeau as party leader and prime minister, potentially triggering an early national election.
Unlike Australia and Britain, where party legislators select prime ministers, Canada requires party members to vote in special leadership contests. Trudeau’s resignation in January automatically triggered the race.
Polling suggests ex-central bank governor Mark Carney holds a strong lead over former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, whose resignation last December contributed to the Liberal Party’s internal crisis. Former cabinet minister Karina Gould is also in the race but is considered an underdog.
The contest is open to all registered Liberal Party members, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Membership is free, and as of January 30, around 400,000 people had signed up to vote.
The ranked ballot system distributes votes across 343 parliamentary constituencies (ridings), each carrying 100 points. Points are awarded based on the percentage of votes received in each riding.
If no candidate secures more than 50% of the points in the first round, the lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated, and their votes are reallocated based on second-choice preferences. This process repeats until a winner surpasses 50%.
The winner will be announced on March 9 at a Liberal Party gathering in Ottawa. The new prime minister could call an early election or face a confidence vote in Parliament later in March. If opposition parties unite against the Liberals, the government could collapse, forcing a national election before the scheduled October 20 deadline.
The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, remains ahead in polls, though the gap with the Liberals has narrowed since Trudeau announced his resignation. U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threats of tariffs on Canadian imports have further added to political uncertainty.
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Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), just days after the country's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade claimed at least 82 lives.
The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football team retained its Champions League title at Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Saturday night, after overcoming Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw following extra time.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Thousands of people gathered across Colombo on Saturday night (30 May) as Sri Lanka's capital came alive with light and colour for Vesak, one of the most important festivals in the Buddhist calendar.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), just days after the country's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade claimed at least 82 lives.
Thousands of people gathered across Colombo on Saturday night (30 May) as Sri Lanka's capital came alive with light and colour for Vesak, one of the most important festivals in the Buddhist calendar.
The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football team retained its Champions League title at Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Saturday night, after overcoming Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw following extra time.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) travelled to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday (30 May), urging communities to seek medical care quickly and follow safe burial practices as authorities work to contain a rapidly growing Ebola outbreak.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 31 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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