Rachel Pannett

Sydney

Rachel Pannett writes about global news for The Washington Post.

Education: Massey University, BA in Social Anthropology and Journalism

She started as a journalist in her home country New Zealand, and has reported from around the world including Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Vietnam, East Timor and Papua New Guinea. She has covered wildfires and terrorist attacks, elections and political upheavals, and traced the journeys of Myanmar Rohingya refugees and Afghan migrants seeking a better life abroad. On a less-serious note, she has also written about beer-can boat races, Elvis impersonators in the Outback and Australia's 'Route 66'. She joined the Post's foreign desk in 2021 after more than a decade with
Latest from Rachel Pannett

LGBTQ groups celebrate Latvia electing E.U.’s first openly gay president

The selection of Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, an outspoken supporter of Ukraine, underscores the divide between Russia and the country it once occupied.

June 1, 2023

Chinese vessel accused of looting U.K. warships that sank after Pearl Harbor

Malaysia detained the cargo ship suspected of pillaging the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, the gravesites of Royal Navy sailors killed in late 1941.

May 31, 2023

Ukraine live briefing: Russia continues to strike Kyiv; Ukrainian counteroffensive coming soon, official says

This is the 16th air attack on Ukraine's capital this month. Ukraine announced plans to implement sanctions against Iran for a 50-year period.

May 29, 2023

Ukraine live briefing: Russia launches drone raid on Kyiv; Ukraine suggests counteroffensive is imminent

One person was killed after the attack on Ukraine's capital, its mayor said. Kyiv signaled that a counteroffensive aimed at taking back captured areas may be underway.

May 28, 2023

How a 1993 Tina Turner biopic created a new generation of fans

The 1984 song “What’s Love Got to Do With It” revived Tina Turner’s career. But she had mixed feelings about the similarly named movie starring Angela Bassett.

May 25, 2023

Guam homes flooded, power cut by one of the worst typhoons in decades

“This is about as bad as it gets,” the National Weather Service said as the Pacific U.S. territory faced one of its worst storms in decades.

May 25, 2023

Deadly Guyana school dormitory fire was deliberately set, official says

A fire that engulfed the dormitory of a girls’ boarding school in Guyana killed at least 19 children.

May 23, 2023

Ukraine live briefing: Kyiv focuses attacks on Bakhmut’s outskirts; G-7 summit yields more aid

Ukrainian forces are hoping to encircle Russian troops in the eastern city of Bakhmut, where Ukraine’s presence has dwindled.

May 22, 2023

Ukraine live briefing: Damaged Patriot system in Kyiv has been fixed, U.S. says

Explosions rocked Kyiv as Russia continued barrages of airstrikes on the Ukrainian capital.

May 18, 2023

New Zealand hostel fire kills at least six people

Six people have been confirmed dead in a fire that broke out in a Wellington hostel, officials said.

May 16, 2023