Australia embraces royal couple\, New Zealand Opposition party in turmoil\, and other news in pictures

Australia embraces royal couple, New Zealand Opposition party in turmoil, and other news in pictures

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex receive native flowers from Finley Blue and Dasha Gallagher, left, at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia on Oct. 16, 2018. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are on a 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex receive native flowers from Finley Blue and Dasha Gallagher, left, at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia on Oct. 16, 2018. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are on a 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific.   | Photo Credit: AP

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9:30 am

Australia embraces royal couple after pregnancy announcement

Crowds thronged the Sydney Opera House and shores of the city's sparkling harbour on Tuesday to catch a glimpse of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan during their first public appearances in Australia since the announcement they were expecting a child.

Kensington Palace said on Monday the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were expecting their first baby in the northern spring. The child will be seventh in line to the British throne and Queen Elizabeth's eighth great-grandchild.

The royal couple started their official tour of Australia on Tuesday and were ferried across the harbour to greet cheering crowds packed in front of the Opera House, which was opened by Harry's grandmother almost nearly 45 years ago.

8:30 am

New Zealand lawmaker accuses Opposition leader of corruption

New Zealand opposition leader Simon Bridges speaks to reporters on October 16, 2018, in Wellington, New Zealand.

New Zealand opposition leader Simon Bridges speaks to reporters on October 16, 2018, in Wellington, New Zealand.   | Photo Credit: AP

 

New Zealand’s conservative Opposition party was in turmoil on Tuesday after one of its own lawmakers accused leader Simon Bridges of corruption for hiding a donation from a wealthy Chinese businessman.

Jami-Lee Ross made the allegation and then said he was resigning from Parliament. Mr. Ross said he regretted his own complicity in a scheme to split the party donation into a series of smaller amounts to avoid it being publicly disclosed.

Mr. Ross said he planned to provide evidence to police and to release a phone conversation with Bridges that he’d secretly taped. “I believe Simon Bridges is a corrupt politician,” Mr. Ross said.

(With inputs from Agencies)