Ex-Australia PM Rudd wants UN secretary general job

Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd revealed on Monday he wants to succeed Ban Ki-moon as the next UN secretary general, asking Canberra to endorse his nomination. A growing list of candidates have declared their interest in becoming the world's top diplomat, including UNESCO chief Irina Bokova of Bulgaria and former New Zealand prime minister and head of the UN Development Programme Helen Clark. The Mandarin-speaking Rudd, who is based in New York as head of the Asia Society Policy Institute, served as Labor prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and again in 2013. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Monday he had officially asked for government backing, with the cabinet to consider the request. Candidates must be nominated by their governments, with Ban due to stand aside on January 1.