sydney

Australia's conservative Coalition government announced on Monday (7 June) that it is nominating one of its main political opponents, Gareth Evans, to become director general of Unesco when the post becomes vacant later this year. The surprise move pitches Evans against a lengthy list of nominations, including that from Japan, Koichiro Matsuura (see Nature 398, 554; 1999).

Evans, aged 54, has wide international experience. He brokered the Cambodian peace settlement, and was once touted as a potential secretary general of the United Nations. He served as foreign minister in Australia's Labor government until 1996 and was deputy leader of the opposition until the October 1998 election, after which he did not stand for office.

Full text: http://helix.nature.com/wcs/a39.html