'Don't want to live in Yangon anymore': Skilled workers leaving for jobs abroad 2 years after Myanmar coup - CNA

“There are so many problems and it’s a very difficult situation for so many people to survive in our country,” said another Myanmar expatriate, Ye Thu Aung, 38.

His family operates guesthouses in the mountainous town of Kalaw, Shan State. They used to welcome both international and domestic travellers but that changed after the coup.

“Now, there is no one coming from abroad,” he told CNA. 

“I was very disappointed in the situation. I felt like we’d lose our future in our country. That’s why I changed my life plan to come to Bangkok.”

Ye Thu Aung left Myanmar in February last year, hoping to find a job or a business opportunity in the Thai capital. His parents and two siblings remain in Kalaw to keep the guesthouses running.

Eventually, the family plans to move their business to Thailand and provide hospitality services to Myanmar travellers. 

“For Myanmar people, the future is difficult to survive,” he said. 

“There are so many jobless people in Myanmar. So, our young people go abroad.”

Despite his two degrees in technology and business development, plus eight years of experience in the hospitality sector, Ye Thu Aung was not able to secure a job in Bangkok. 

Like many Myanmar expatriates, he cannot communicate in Thai and only holds a student visa, which does not allow him to work. 

Currently, he is studying interior design and relying on financial support from his family. He has no plan to return home. Even if the military regime comes to an end, he believes Myanmar’s economy will still take many years to recover.

“I’ll stay here or try another country if I can find a job with a visa,” said Ye Thu Aung.

THAILAND SEES A SURGE IN MYANMAR PROPERTY OWNERS

Myanmar has a long history of military rule. It was governed by the military for 49 years, following a coup led by Ne Win in 1962.

The country enjoyed a decade of civilian rule before another military takeover reversed its course in 2021.

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2023-01-31 22:02:00Z
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Viral video puts spotlight on issues faced by breastfeeding mums in China - The Straits Times

BEIJING - New mother Geng Zitong remembers vividly the helplessness she felt when she had to breastfeed her four-month-old son in public to soothe his loud cries, despite her desperate attempts to find a nursing room.

“I was almost in tears when the only nursing room I found in the mall, after searching three floors, was locked though there was no one inside,” said the 30-year-old, as she recalled the September 2022 incident where she was out alone with her son.

“I felt very frustrated, and we were drawing a lot of stares because my son was crying so loudly... I decided to find a quiet corner near the toilet to feed him,” added Ms Geng, who lives in Beijing. “Before that, I had held him closer, patted his back and rocked him gently, but nothing worked.”

The adequacy of China’s public nursing rooms – and the general lack of support for breastfeeding mothers – was in the spotlight earlier this week after a video of women stepping up to surround a mother breastfeeding her child at a bus terminal in Beijing went viral on Sunday.

In the 30-second clip, a mother is seen trying to calm her crying baby, who is strapped to her front, by pacing around her seat while carrying a big backpack and a waist pouch. A black luggage bag is parked next to her.

She then sits down and starts breastfeeding her child, drawing glances from nearby passengers, when another woman approaches her. The two women speak briefly before the second woman starts using the luggage bags belonging to the two of them to form a barrier.

More women then join the “wall of love” – as netizens called it – to give the mother privacy as she feeds her baby. 

A hashtag on the video has so far received more than 300 million views and sparked more than 160,000 comments on microblogging platform Weibo, with netizens calling for more support for breastfeeding mothers.

China, whose population fell for the first time in more than 60 years in 2022, has been trying to encourage couples to have more than one child by loosening birth restrictions and rolling out policy changes including cash stipends and longer paid leave days. 

The National Health Commission (NHC) has also been encouraging women to purely breastfeed newborns in the first six months – which is in line with World Health Organisation recommendations – and to continue nursing till the baby is 24 months old, even after introducing other foods.

But the lack of nursing rooms at workplaces and in office buildings is a major hindrance to working women who want to express milk after their maternity leave ends, noted Dr Wang Fang, a gynaecologist at a public hospital in Inner Mongolia.

“It is very rare that a mother would not try breastfeeding, but it can be hard to go beyond six months because they have to go back to work,” she said. 

“What is most important is to provide support at public places such as malls, transport hubs and offices to those who are willing and able to breastfeed.”

Ms Geng, who has watched the viral video, said: “I could understand perfectly how the mother felt when she decided to breastfeed in public. At that point in time, the priority was to feed her baby, and not so much about ‘modesty’.”

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2023-01-31 12:58:04Z
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Japan and NATO pledge 'firm' response to China, Russia threats - CNA

The previous day in Seoul, Stoltenberg asked South Korea to step up military support for Ukraine, which was invaded by its neighbour Russia nearly a year ago.

But on Tuesday, he praised the "strong position" and "substantial support" offered to Ukraine by Japan.

Tokyo has imposed sanctions on Moscow along with its G7 partners and has taken the rare steps of sending defensive equipment and offering refuge to those fleeing the conflict.

Stoltenberg said he and Kishida also shared concern over North Korea's "provocative behaviour", from nuclear activity to ballistic missile tests.

He said China was "not our adversary" but warned of its growing military presence in Asia "including nuclear weapons, bullying neighbours and threatening Taiwan", as well as spreading disinformation about NATO and Ukraine.

Kishida said Japan would establish an independent representative office for its dealings with NATO as part of efforts to deepen ties.

The country will also consider regular participation in high-level meetings held by the alliance, Kishida added.

In December, Japan announced its largest shake-up to its defence and security strategy in decades.

The new strategy includes plans to raise defence spending to two per cent of GDP by fiscal 2027, bringing Japan in line with NATO member guidelines.

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2023-01-31 12:22:01Z
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China's Sichuan frees unmarried people to legally have children - CNA

Until now, the commission had allowed only married couples who wanted to have up to two children to register with local authorities.

China's population shrank last year for the first time in six decades, a historic turn expected to usher in a period of decline. That prospect is pushing authorities to roll out incentives and measures to boost the population.

A nationwide registry system for couples to register with local authorities ensures maternity insurance to cover medical bills, while letting married women keep their salary during maternity leave.

These benefits will now be extended to single women and men in Sichuan, which ranks seventh in the nation in terms of those older than 60, or more than 21 per cent of its population, government figures show.

Much of China's demographic downturn stems from its one-child policy imposed between 1980 and 2015.

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2023-01-30 07:45:51Z
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Khairy - "Umno lost its way" remarks in GE15 election campaign meant for party leadership - New Straits Times

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

1. Khairy - "Umno lost its way" remarks in GE15 election campaign meant for party leadership  New Straits Times
2. Khairy taking time to consider political future, will not appeal against Umno sacking  The Straits Times
3. Malaysia Politics: UMNO's Purge of Senior Leaders Fortifies Zahid's Grip  Bloomberg
4. LETTER | Smoking peace pipe good for you, Hishammuddin  Malaysiakini
5. Of sackings and suspensions  The Star Online
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2023-01-30 01:49:59Z
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Israel seals synagogue attacker's home as violence rages - CNA

JERUSALEM: Israel on Sunday (Jan 29) prepared to demolish the east Jerusalem family home of a Palestinian man who killed seven people near a synagogue, as part of measures to punish the relatives of attackers.

The step comes as violence rages in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which also saw dozens of Palestinians killed this month, sparking global alarm.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged all parties to avoid feeding a "spiral of violence" during a telephone call on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the president's office.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss steps for de-escalation, while Pope Francis on Sunday deplored the "death spiral".

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also urged "maximum responsibility" in calls with his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts.

In the wake of two shooting attacks targeting Israelis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet moved to punish "the families of terrorists that support terrorism".

The government is planning to rescind the rights to social security benefits of attackers' relatives and has also considering easing access to guns for Israeli civilians.

In the first concrete move, Netanyahu's cabinet said the east Jerusalem home of Khayri Alqam, 21 - who was shot dead by police following Friday's attack - "will be sealed immediately ahead of its demolition".

An AFP correspondent saw Israeli forces on the property after they shuttered its entrances, with Palestinians clearing out their belongings.

Alqam's mother was one of five people who remained in custody on Sunday, police said, out of 42 suspects arrested after the shooting in the settlement of Neve Yaacov.

Although Israel already routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians who kill Israelis, the process requires prior notice to families and allows for an appeals process.

Dani Shenhar, a legal expert at Israeli rights group HaMoked, said sealing off Alqam's home overnight demonstrated the government's desire for "revenge against the families".

The measure was carried out "in complete disregard for the rule of law", he charged, adding that HaMoked would launch a protest with Israel's attorney general.

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2023-01-29 15:28:00Z
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Najib's son offers to contest for deputy Umno Youth chief post - The Star Online

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

1. Najib's son offers to contest for deputy Umno Youth chief post  The Star Online
2. Najib's son offers to contest deputy chief's post in Umno Youth  The Straits Times
3. Najib's son to contest Umno Youth vice-chief post  Malaysiakini
4. Najib's son eyes Umno deputy youth chief's post  Free Malaysia Today
5. Najib's son Nazifuddin eyes Umno Youth deputy chief post  New Straits Times
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2023-01-29 11:43:00Z
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Singapore strongly condemns 'abhorrent attack' outside Jerusalem synagogue - CNA

The ministry added that Singapore is "deeply concerned about the escalation of violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank".

On Thursday, 10 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces on Thursday during a raid on the crowded refugee camp in the northern city of Jenin - the deadliest raid in the occupied West Bank in years.

"We mourn the loss of innocent lives and injuries to Palestinian civilians in Jenin," said MFA, and urged all parties to "exercise maximum restraint and de-escalate tensions to prevent further loss of civilian lives". 

"Both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in peace and security," it added.

MFA advised Singaporeans in Israel to exercise caution, monitor the local news, and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Singaporeans travelling to Israel are strongly encouraged to e-register with MFA if they have not done so.

Singaporeans who require consular assistance should contact the Singapore Embassy in Tel Aviv or the 24-hour MFA Duty Office at:

Singapore Embassy in Tel Aviv:

Tel: +972 3 7289334
Email: singemb_tlv [at] mfa.sg

MFA Duty Office (24-hours):

Tel: +65 6379 8800/8855
Email: mfa_duty_officer [at] mfa.gov.sg 

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2023-01-29 08:12:33Z
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No need to declare flood emergency in Malaysia, says DPM Ahmad Zahid - CNA

MERSING: The Malaysian government has no intention of declaring a flood emergency for now as only certain districts in several states are affected, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Saturday (Jan 28).

The states of Johor, Pahang and Sabah have been hit by flooding amid continuous heavy rain brought about by the northeast monsoon. 

Nearly 14,000 people in the three states were in temporary flood relief centres, Bernama reported on Saturday morning, but that number fell significantly by evening. 

“I don’t think a flood emergency should be declared because it only involves certain states and districts. The state disaster management committees have taken proactive measures together with the district disaster management committees,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the Central Disaster Management Committee.

“The aid provided has been given to all the heads of families and, at the same time, we have other matters that need to be carried out, including post-flood assistance,” he told a media conference after visiting a temporary relief centre in Mersing. 

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2023-01-28 13:42:00Z
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'You're not alone': Parties reach out to axed Umno leaders - The Straits Times

PETALING JAYA, Selangor – Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders have reached out to the leaders who were suspended and sacked by Umno on Friday to tell them that they are not alone.

Arau MP Shahidan Kassim, a former Umno top gun who himself was sacked from the party recently, called Umno “a mad party which is eagerly sacking everyone”.

“Those who were sacked, stay patient. We will defend you. Long live Perikatan,” Datuk Seri Shahidan posted on Facebook early on Saturday morning after the announcement was made.

Mr Shahidan was dropped as a candidate of the Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition for the last general election, prompting him to seek a PN seat. He was then sacked by Umno, along with a few other party leaders who went rogue last November.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu also told those who were sacked that they were now free.

“Dear brothers, your wings are no longer clipped. Now, you can soar even higher. May God bless your holy struggle,” tweeted Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal, the former Tambun MP.

Meanwhile, former Ketereh Umno division head and former Ketereh MP Annuar Musa posted a lengthy note on Facebook, stating that the suspension and sacking were done to silence those who spoke the truth.

“Be calm and patient. Sacking those who do not agree with your views is the easiest way to stay in power. Truth has a high price... and remember that even though these people are in power, there is a higher power.

“If there is a wrong leadership and the goals have been cast aside, the struggle has gone astray. When that happens, there is no need to be sad if you are no longer there (in the struggle). There must be a blessing in disguise,” said Tan Sri Annuar, who himself was sacked after the last general election, together with Mr Shahidan.

Mr Annuar further stated that voters gave Umno indications of what they wanted but the leaders were “in denial”, referring to the fact that Umno gained the least number of seats in the party’s history in the last election.

“The cleansing that they are doing will only produce more dirt as the dirt is still stuck within the party, even though the party is being destroyed.

“They created lies and finally, they believed in their own lies. Let Umno be their own personal armour, we continue our struggle in our own way,” said Mr Annuar.

Meanwhile, Gerakan is the first party to openly court Mr Khairy following his sacking from Umno on Friday.

Parti Gerakan Rakyat’s acting youth chief Wong Chia Zhen said Mr Khairy would be a perfect fit for the party.

“Umno’s supreme council has decided to sack former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin for breaching party discipline due to offences during the 15th General Election.

“In my opinion, the decision of the council is not appropriate because Khairy is a politician of calibre and succeeded in putting pressure on his opponent in Sungai Buloh during the last election,” said Mr Wong in a statement.

“The majority won by the PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) candidate was reduced from 10,000 to 1,000, proving to be the only Pakatan Harapan stronghold that almost lost.”

Mr Wong added: “We believe that at the lowest point in his political career, we can support him.

“The ideology of our party is based on simplicity and with the credibility he has, I am sure this will give Khairy a new lease of life.”

Meanwhile, PKR will have a discussion first if any sacked Umno leaders express interest in joining their party, said the party’s deputy president Rafizi Ramli.

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2023-01-28 07:45:25Z
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US police officers seen punching, kicking Tyre Nichols after Memphis releases footage of deadly beating - CNA

TRAFFIC STOP BEGAN CHAIN OF EVENTS

Police have described the circumstances of Nichols' arrest in vague terms. Even Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, who sought the officers' indictment, was circumspect when announcing the charges.

After Nichols was pulled over for reckless driving, "an altercation" ensued in which officers doused him with pepper spray, and Nichols tried to flee on foot, Mulroy said. "There was another altercation at a nearby location at which the serious injuries were experienced by Mr Nichols."

Davis said her department has not yet been able determine whether there was probable cause for the officers to pull Nichols over for reckless driving, a traffic stop which set in motion the violent events that followed.

Crump said the speed at which the criminal charges were brought against the officers - fewer than three weeks after Nichols' death - should be a standard for police-involved killings.

In some other high-profile cases, such as the police killing of Laquan McDonald in Chicago in 2014, more than a year elapsed before the release of police video and the filing of charges.

"We want to proclaim that this is the blueprint going forward for any time any officers, whether they be black or white, will be held accountable," Crump said. "No longer can you tell us we got to wait six months to a year.”

Lawyers for the family also called on the police department to disband the special SCORPION unit focused on violent street crime to which at least some of the officers were assigned. Davis has said the department will review SCORPION and other specialized units.

Crump compared the encounter to the 1991 videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King by four police officers whose subsequent acquittal of criminal charges sparked days of riots in Los Angeles.

All five officers - Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith - were fired from the police force on Jan 21 after an internal investigation found they breached multiple department policies, including use of excessive force.

Four of the officers have posted bail and have been released from jail, a CBS affiliate reported on Friday. A lawyer for Mills, Blake Ballin, said it might be another two weeks before the defendants make their initial court appearances.

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2023-01-28 00:46:00Z
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UMNO expels former Malaysian health minister Khairy, suspends ex-defence minister Hishammuddin - CNA

The Friday supreme council meeting was keenly watched after UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said a day earlier that the party will undergo “mass cleansing" to get rid of "saboteurs" and those who have "shot themselves in the foot".

He said this included members who allegedly sabotaged the party and its candidates during GE15, 10 of whom Ahmad Zahid identified by name during the party’s recent general assembly from Jan 11 to Jan 14.

The 10 politicians, who included Mr Hishammuddin, had sided with Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin in forming the new government, Ahmad Zahid said.

Mr Shahril had resigned as information chief in the immediate aftermath of GE15, urging Ahmad Zahid to take responsibility for the party’s defeat by stepping down.

Mr Noh resigned as the chief of UMNO’s Selangor chapter in November after saying that he no longer had confidence in Ahmad Zahid.

Mr Khairy had been a vocal opponent of a motion tabled during the recent party general assembly. The motion was to block UMNO’s top two posts - party president and deputy president - from being challenged at the party’s internal elections, which must be held by May.

Rumours of such a motion had swirled as some prominent party members came out to say they preferred for the posts to remain uncontested, citing the need to maintain party unity as it rebuilds following its dismal performance at GE15.

Ahmad Zahid said during his party policy speech on Jan 13 that he was confident in the democratic process and would leave it to the delegates to decide on the issue. He had consistently maintained that he was ready to defend his position.

When a no-contest motion was first tabled by an UMNO delegate from Negeri Sembilan later that day, it was met with boos in the convention hall.

But the motion was passed by the general assembly the next day in a majority vote, paving the way for Ahmad Zahid and his deputy Mohamad Hasan to serve at least another term. 

Mr Khairy alleged in a TikTok video on the same day that some delegates’ seat tags at the convention hall were removed, to be replaced with those of "imported" delegates who would push through the motion.

This prompted a rebuke by UMNO Sungai Besar division chief Jamal Yunos, who told reporters on Saturday that Mr Khairy was tarnishing the party by spreading baseless claims.

UMNO’s most recent leadership contest, in 2018, saw Ahmad Zahid fend off challenges for the presidency from Mr Khairy and former veteran MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Mr Khairy was a three-term MP for Rembau, Negeri Sembilan before he was moved to contest in the urban constituency of Sungai Buloh in Selangor during the GE15 on Nov 19. Urban seats are considered Pakatan Harapan (PH) strongholds. Mr Khairy eventually lost in a seven-cornered contest.

In a tweet after the party’s announcement on Friday night, Mr Khairy wrote: “Tonight I was sacked by the party I loved, that I was loyal to.

“Unbowed, unbent, unbroken.”

The BN coalition - led by UMNO - emerged a distant third in the election by winning only 30 seats, behind PH’s 81 seats and PN’s 74 seats.

But PH, BN and other parties have formed a unity government while PN - comprising Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and other parties - is in the opposition.

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2023-01-27 16:50:00Z
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Singapore maid agencies welcome proposed Indonesian law protecting its domestic workers - CNA

According to Indonesia’s Cabinet Secretariat site, there are about 4 million Indonesians who are domestic workers. There were reportedly about 120,000 Indonesians working in Singapore as helpers as of 2020. 

MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION 

Two maid agencies in Singapore said this is a move in the right direction. 

“The ratification of the law is a good step. It’s a step in the right direction and the impact on the industry or employment of migrant workers should be a positive one,” said Mr David Bensadon, managing director of We Are Caring Agency. 

“Every scene that is set up and implemented to enforce the safety of workers goes in the right direction.” 

Similarly, Mr Ryan Ng, managing director of Master Employment Agency, said that “proper recognition and protection” will be good for the long-term sustainability of hiring migrant domestic workers. 

“That said, the measures should be fair, and not penalise or inconvenience any good employers of Singapore, and also not to jeopardise good helpers who are in need of a job to support their family,” he said. 

DEALING WITH CHANGES 

If there were to be changes for maid agencies in Singapore, Mr Ng said he hopes that firms like his will receive support from the Government. 

“If there is a lot of additional paperwork or manpower that is required, I hope that the Government will also (give) support in this role,” he said.  

“Because as small organisations, SMEs, we often face a shortage of manpower, and we do not have the financial resources to employ people just to be able to comply if there are too many specific measures in place,” he said. 

Mr Bensadon noted that for the bill to result in real changes on the ground, coordination between the governments of both Singapore and Indonesia is needed. 

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2023-01-27 12:45:32Z
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Five US officers charged with murder over beating of black man - The Straits Times

WASHINGTON - US authorities on Thursday charged five officers, who are black, with second-degree murder over the fatal beating of a black man in the eastern state of Tennessee following a traffic stop.

Mr Tyre Nichols, 29, was stopped on Jan 7 for what the Memphis Police Department (MPD) said was reckless driving.

After a chase ensued, “police brutalised him to the point of being unrecognisable”, said family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci.

The five officers were fired after an internal police investigation found them to have “violated multiple department policies, including excessive use of force, duty to intervene and duty to render aid”, the MPD said last Friday.

Mr Nichols was taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to police, where he died on Jan 10.

“These officers were found to be directly responsible for the physical abuse of Mr Nichols,” Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said on Wednesday.

“This is not just a professional failing, this is a failing of basic humanity towards another individual. This incident was heinous, reckless and inhumane.”

The five officers – Justin Smith, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr – were additionally charged with aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping. All are now in police custody.

“The news today from Memphis officials that these five officers are being held criminally accountable for their deadly and brutal actions gives us hope as we continue to push for justice for Tyre,” the family’s lawyers said.

Officials have said a video of the episode exists and will be released sometime after 6pm Central time on Friday (8am Saturday in Singapore).

“I expect you to feel outrage in the disregard of basic human rights,” Ms Davis said.

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2023-01-26 22:32:19Z
1732556083

'No mercy' for firms responsible for forest fires in Indonesia: Minister - CNA

JAKARTA: Indonesia will take stern action against firms that are found to have caused forest fires in the country, Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar warned on Wednesday (Jan 25).

She was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara that there will be “no mercy” for those who are caught.

“If forest fires happen because of (the activities of) the private sector, there will be no mercy (for the firms),” Ms Siti said at a press conference.

She added that firms will be “immediately given a warning” once a fire hotspot has been identified on their land.

“As soon as a hotspot is detected (in the area owned by them), we will immediately give a warning (to them),” she was quoted as saying by Antara.

The country’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin also called on firms that deal with forest management to help in handling the forest fires.

"If (a disaster) happens, the consequences or losses that arise will also befall the companies," Mr Mahfud reportedly said. 

Antara on Wednesday also reported that the Indonesian government has been taking firm action against the perpetrators of forest and land destruction in the country.

It cited a recent lawsuit the government won against PT Agri Bumi Sentosa in which 1,500 hectares of land was damaged in South Kalimantan in 2019.

The company was required to pay material compensation of 160.69 billion rupiah (US$10.7 million) and environmental restoration costs of 591.55 billion rupiah. 

During the 2019 Southeast Asian haze, thousands of fires were started in Indonesia in order to clear land for crops. Media reports then stated that some 900,000 Indonesians reported suffering from acute respiratory infections as a result of the haze in the first nine months of that year alone. 

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2023-01-26 09:51:04Z
CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9pbmRvbmVzaWEtZmlybXMtZm9yZXN0LWZpcmUtbWVhc3VyZXMtYWlyLWdyb3VuZC1vcGVyYXRpb25zLTMyMzMzNTHSAQA

8 dead, including 6 Chinese nationals, after ship sinks near Japan - CNA

China's Consul General in the city of Fukuoka, Lu Guijun, told state broadcaster CGTN on Thursday that of the 13 people found, "eight have been confirmed dead, of whom six are Chinese".

"Five of them - including four Chinese crew members - are not in life-threatening conditions," he added.

"We express our deepest condolences to the unfortunate victims."

The Japanese coast guard later confirmed the toll given by Lu, adding that the other two dead crew members were from Myanmar. Nine more people remained missing, it said - four from China and five from Myanmar.

Officials from local Chinese missions visited the Nagasaki coast guard, the Fukuoka consulate said, where they laid flowers for the dead crew members and expressed their condolences.

They also visited survivors, conveying a message from China's ambassador to Japan, Kong Xuanyou, while providing clothing, food and drinks, the consulate said.

The accident came as a cold snap hit much of Asia, with daytime temperatures in some Japanese islands nearest the rescue site reaching just 3 degrees Celsius.

The 6,651-tonne Jin Tian is registered in Hong Kong, Japan's coast guard said.

In 2020, a cargo ship with 43 crew and 6,000 cattle on board sank off southwestern Japan after being caught in a typhoon. Two crew survived.

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2023-01-26 08:31:34Z
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Russia slams German tank decision as escalation of conflict, betrayal of history - CNA

Kyiv and its Western allies say Russia's invasion of Ukraine, launched on Feb 24 last year, amounts to an unprovoked war of aggression aimed at seizing territory. Moscow says the West is using Ukraine to weaken Russia's own security.

"HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY"

Germany's decision on tanks followed weeks of agonising by the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, prompted by concerns about escalating the war and provoking Russia.

More than 80 years after their country invaded Soviet Russia and Ukraine in World War II, some Germans recoil at the idea of sending tanks into a new conflagration there, out of a sense of historic guilt that the Russian embassy statement directly tapped into.

"Berlin's choice means the final refusal of the Federal Republic of Germany to recognise its historical responsibility to our people for the terrible, timeless crimes of Nazism during the Great Patriotic War, and the consigning to oblivion of the difficult path of post-war reconciliation between Russians and Germans," Nechayev said.

"With the approval of the leadership of Germany, battle tanks with German crosses will again be sent to the 'eastern front', which will inevitably lead to the deaths of not only Russian soldiers, but also the civilian population."

Kyiv has for months asked for Western tanks that it says it desperately needs to give its forces the firepower and mobility to break through Russian defensive lines and recapture occupied territory in the east and south.

Russia has repeatedly said foreign tanks will "burn" in Ukraine. It says they will only extend the war and prolong Ukrainian suffering, and that the West is "deluded" to think otherwise.

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2023-01-25 15:37:00Z
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Germany approves sending heavy Leopard tanks to Ukraine - CNA

BERLIN: Germany will supply its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, it announced on Wednesday (Jan 25), overcoming misgivings about sending heavy weaponry that Kyiv sees as crucial to defeat the Russian invasion but Moscow cast as a needless provocation.

Pressure has been building for weeks on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government to send the tanks and allow other NATO allies to do the same ahead of expected spring offensives by both sides that could help turn the tide of the war.

Scholz's government had stalled on the decision, wary of moves that could prompt Russia to escalate or suck the NATO alliance into becoming party to the conflict.

Germany's decision paves the way for other countries such as Poland, Spain and Norway to supply their stocks of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

"This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability. We are acting in a closely coordinated manner internationally," Scholz said in a statement.

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2023-01-25 10:54:00Z
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Germany to approve sending heavy battle tanks to Ukraine: Report - CNA

Ukraine and the West call Russia's actions an unprovoked land grab to subdue a fellow former Soviet republic that Moscow regards as an artificial state.

Earlier on Tuesday, Poland upped the pressure on Scholz to make a decision, saying it had formally sent a request to the German government to allow it to send some of its Leopards. Defence procurement rules mean Berlin must approve re-exports of the NATO workhorse tank by its allies.

And two US officials told Reuters Washington may drop its opposition to sending some of its M1 Abrams tanks.

While the Abrams is considered less suitable than the Leopard for Ukraine due to its heavy fuel consumption and difficulty to maintain, such a move would appear designed to make it easier for Germany - which has called for a united front among Ukraine's allies - to allow the supply of Leopards.

The Pentagon declined to comment on any coming announcements on the Abrams. It also declined comment on whether Germany might green light deliveries of the Leopards.

LEADERSHIP PURGE

Separately on Tuesday, Ukraine dismissed more than a dozen senior officials including governors of several major battlefield provinces, part of an anti-corruption drive by Zelenskiy's government made more critical by the need to keep its Western backers onside.

Among Ukrainian officials who resigned or were dismissed on Tuesday were the governors of the Kyiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and adjacent Dnipropetrovsk are frontline provinces now. Kyiv and Sumy were major battlefields earlier in the war.

A deputy defence minister, a deputy prosecutor, a deputy head of Zelenskiy's office and two deputy ministers responsible for regional development were among the others who left.

Some, though not all, had been linked with corruption allegations. Ukraine has a history of graft and shaky governance, and is under international pressure to show it can be a reliable steward of billions of dollars in Western aid.

Zelenskiy aide Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted: "The president sees and hears society. And he directly responds to a key public demand - justice for all."

The purge came two days after a deputy infrastructure minister was arrested and accused of siphoning off US$400,000 from contracts to buy generators - one of the first big corruption scandals to become public since the war began 11 months ago.

The Defence Ministry said Deputy Defence Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov, responsible for supplying troops, had resigned to retain trust after what it called untrue media accusations of corruption. It followed a newspaper report that the ministry overpaid for food for troops, which the ministry denied.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy chief of staff in Zelensyiy's office, announced his own resignation, also citing no reason. He had helped run the president's 2019 election campaign and more recently had a role in overseeing regional policy.

As the shake-up unfolded in a series of announcements, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told a cabinet meeting that Ukraine was making progress in its anti-corruption campaign. "It is systemic, consecutive work which is very needed for Ukraine and is an integral part of integration with the EU," he said.

The European Union, which offered Ukraine the status of candidate member last June, welcomed the development.

"As a general rule we do not comment on ongoing criminal investigations but we do welcome the fact that the Ukraine authorities are taking these issues seriously," an EU spokeswoman said.

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2023-01-24 21:22:00Z
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New Zealand's Ardern bids emotional farewell on last day as prime minister - CNA

WELLINGTON: Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday (Jan 24) bid an emotional farewell on her last day as prime minister, speaking of the kindness and empathy New Zealanders have shown her, but said she was ready to be a sister and a mother.

Days after stunning the world by announcing she had "no more in the tank" to lead the country and would step down, the 42-year-old arrived at a gathering of politicians and Maori elders in the small town of Ratana, north of the capital Wellington, and was instantly surrounded by supporters seeking photographs.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the greatest privilege of my life," Ardern told the gathering in a speech.

She will resign on Wednesday and be replaced by the new Labour party leader, Chris Hipkins.

Ardern, along with Hipkins and opposition politicians, were making an annual visit to Ratana, where a weeklong celebration is held for the birth of Maori prophet Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana.

Wearing a black dress with her shoulders covered in a traditional Maori cloak, called korowai, she led members of her party onto the community grounds as a brass band played. The speeches and accompanying songs and dances that followed saw elders speak with humour and warmth about Ardern.

"Thanks so much for teaching us to love quickly," one elder told Ardern.

Ardern responded, saying she that hadn't planned to speak but that those there refused to give her an out.

"My overall experience in this job of New Zealand and New Zealanders in this job has been one of love, empathy and kindness,” she said.

The left-leaning global icon gained attention for bringing her baby to a United Nations meeting and wearing a hijab after a massacre targeting Muslims. Although she became a target for hate and online abuse by right-wing extremists on social media, she said she was leaving the job with love in her heart.

"I want you to know I leave with a greater love and affection for Aotearoa New Zealand and its people than when I started."

Before heading onto the grounds, Ardern faced the media for possibly the last time as prime minister, smiling broadly as declining to answer political questions, saying they were now the responsibility of her successor.

"I am ready to be lots of things. I’m ready to be a back bench MP (member of parliament). I’m ready to be a sister and a mum,” she said.

Her daughter Neve is 4 years old and starts school in June.

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2023-01-24 10:05:04Z
CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vd29ybGQvbmV3LXplYWxhbmQtbnotamFjaW5kYS1hcmRlcm4tcHJpbWUtbWluaXN0ZXItbGFzdC1kYXktZmFyZXdlbGwtMzIyNzUyNtIBAA

7 dead in new California shootings, Asian farm worker arrested - CNA

"HOSTILE"

On Monday, a picture began to emerge of the culprit in Monterey Park, a man who, according to his marriage licence, had immigrated from China, and who had been a regular at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in the past.

Tran's ex-wife told CNN that the couple had met there two decades ago when he offered to give her informal lessons.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said they married a short time later, but the relationship did not last, with the divorce finalised in 2006.

She said that Tran, who sometimes worked as a truck driver, was not violent, but could be impatient.

A man who said that he had previously known Tran said he would complain about dance teachers, who, he claimed, would say "evil things about him", CNN reported.

He was "hostile to a lot of people there", the man told the broadcaster.

Detectives who searched a mobile home where Tran had been living in Hemet, 140km east of Los Angeles, recovered a rifle, electronics and ammunition, Luna said.

Earlier this month, Tran had made "fraud, theft, and poisoning allegations involving his family in the Los Angeles area 10 to 20 years ago", police in the city said.

"HER LAST DANCE"

The family of 65-year-old My Nhan said that the tragedy was "still sinking in".

"She spent so many years going to the dance studio in Monterey Park on weekends," a statement said.

"It's what she loved to do. But unfairly, Saturday was her last dance."

Amid the grief, one tale of heroism has given hope as 26-year-old Brandon Tsay revealed how he grappled with Tran as the elderly man arrived at another dance studio, in what police believe was a planned second attack.

"He was hitting me across the face, bashing me in the back of my head, I was trying to use my elbows to get the gun away from him," Tsay told ABC.

"Finally, at one point I was able to pull the gun away from him, shove him aside, create some distance, point the gun at him, intimidate him, shouting: 'Get the hell out of here. I'll shoot. Get away. Go.'"

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2023-01-24 03:35:00Z
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Death toll from California massacre rises to 11 as police look for motive - CNA

MONTEREY PARK, California: An 11th victim died from injuries on Monday (Jan 23) after an elderly gunman's deadly rampage at a Los Angeles-area dance hall, California police said, as authorities were still searching for a motive behind one of the state's worst mass shootings.

Police identified 72-year-old Huu Can Tran as the suspect in the massacre, which took place during a Lunar New Year celebration at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, a dance hall popular with older patrons of Asian descent.

Tran allegedly killed 10 people on Saturday night and wounded 10 others, then travelled to another dance hall where his attack was thwarted. He later fatally shot himself.

An 11th person had died on Monday from injuries sustained during the shooting, Monterey Park Police Chief Scott Wiese told reporters. All of the deceased were between the ages of 50 and 80.

On Sunday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said "everything is on the table" in terms of identifying the reasons for the shooting.

Officers in Hemet, about 80 miles east of Los Angeles, were assisting the county Sheriff's Department in a search of Tran's mobile home in a gated senior living community, said Alan Reyes, spokesperson for the Hemet Police Department.

Hemet police said in a statement on Monday that Tran had come to the department twice in early January alleging "past fraud, theft and poisoning allegations involving his family" dating back 10 to 20 years. Tran had said he would return with documentation regarding his claims but never did, the police statement said.

Tran had an active trucking license and had owned a company called Tran's Trucking Inc with a post office box address in Monterey Park, according to online records. He had lived in the Los Angeles area since at least the 1990s and moved to the mobile home in Hemet in 2020, address records showed. A neighbor in his gated community described him as "meek" in an interview Monday.

But Adam Hood, a longtime tenant of the alleged gunman at a property in the Los Angeles area, told Reuters he had known Tran to be an aggressive and suspicious person with few friends. Tran had liked ballroom dancing, largely his only social activity, Hood said.

Hood said Tran complained that people at the Star Ballroom studio were talking behind his back.

"He was a good dancer in my opinion," Hood said. "But he was distrustful of the people at the studio, angry and distrustful. I think he just had enough."

TRAGEDY AND A CHASE

Tran's rampage could have been worse. About 20 minutes after the shooting in Monterey Park, he entered the Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio dance club in the neighboring city of Alhambra. There, Brandon Tsay, who operates the family-run dance hall, wrestled a weapon away from the shooter before he could get a shot off.

"That moment, it was primal instinct," Tsay told the New York Times, saying that the gunman fled the scene after a 90-second struggle. "Something happened there. I don’t know what came over me."

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2023-01-23 20:37:00Z
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Mass shooter's motive elusive as Monterey Park mourns 10 dead - CNA

About 12 hours later, police officers in the city of Torrance, 32km south-west of Monterey Park, approached a white cargo van Tran was driving. As officers neared the van, they heard a single gun shot from inside when Tran killed himself.

Luna did not identify any of the victims but said the five men and five women appeared to be in their 50s, 60s and beyond. The sheriff said the pistol Tran used was likely illegal in California, where state laws ban any magazine holding more than 10 rounds.

"We want to know, we want to know how something this awful can happen," Luna told reporters.

The shooting took place around the location of a two-day Lunar New Year celebration where many downtown streets are closed for festivities that draw thousands of people from across Southern California.

As news about the shooting spread, some in the tight-knit community of Monterey Park feared it was a hate crime targeting Asians. The city has for decades been a destination for immigrants from China. Around 65 per cent of its residents are Asian, according to US Census data.

Chester Chong, chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles, described the city of about 60,000 people as a quiet, peaceful, beautiful place where everybody knows each other and helps each other.

"People were calling me last night, they were scared this was a hate crime," Chong said at the scene.

The gunshots were mistaken by some for New Year fireworks, according to Tiffany Chiu, 30, who was celebrating at her parents' home near the ballroom.

"A lot of older people live here, it's usually really quiet," she said. "This is not something you expect here."

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2023-01-23 11:24:13Z
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Russian spy service says HIMARS, other weapons deployed at nuclear power stations in Ukraine - CNA

Russia's foreign intelligence service (SVR) accused Ukraine on Monday (Jan 23) of storing Western-supplied arms at nuclear power stations across the country.

It provided no evidence and Reuters was unable to verify the claims.

In a statement, the SVR said US-supplied HIMARS rocket launchers, air defence systems and artillery ammunition had been delivered to the Rivne nuclear power station in the northwest of Ukraine.

"The Ukrainian armed forces are storing weapons and ammunition provided by the West on the territory of nuclear power plants," it said, adding that an arms shipment to the Rivne power station had taken place in the last week of December.

Ukraine's many nuclear power stations have been the focus of attention since the start of the conflict.

Russian forces seized the defunct Chornobyl nuclear power plant less than 48 hours after troops invaded, and also captured the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - the largest in Europe - early in the war.

Both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of shelling Zaporizhzhia and Ukraine says Russia is using the site as a de facto weapons depot.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog has expressed grave concerns over attacks near the plant, warning of the risk of a nuclear disaster.

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2023-01-23 07:41:35Z
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Suspect in Lunar New Year mass shooting is dead: Los Angeles police - CNA

A CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY

Residents stood gazing at the many blocks sealed off with police tape on Sunday in Monterey Park. Chester Chong, chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles, described the city of about 60,000 people as a quiet, peaceful, beautiful place where everybody knows each other and helps each other.

About 11km from downtown Los Angeles, the city has for decades been a destination for immigrants from China. Around 65 per cent of its residents are Asian, according to US Census data, and the city is known for its many Chinese restaurants and groceries.

"People were calling me last night, they were scared this was a hate crime," Chong said at the scene.

The Star Ballroom Dance Studio opened in 1990, and its website features many photographs of past Lunar New Year celebrations showing patrons smiling and dancing in party clothes in its large, brightly lit ballroom.

Most of its patrons are middle-aged or elderly, though children also attend youth dance classes, according to a teacher at the studio who asked to not be named.

"Those are normal working people," the teacher said. "Some are retired and just looking for an exercise or social interaction."

A flyer posted on the website advertised Saturday night's new year party, running from 7.30pm to 12.30am Sunday.

The gunshots were mistaken by some for new year fireworks, according to Tiffany Chiu, 30, who was celebrating at her parents' home near the ballroom.

"A lot of older people live here, it's usually really quiet," she said. "This is not something you expect here."

President Joe Biden condemned the killings in a written statement and said he had directed his Homeland Security adviser to mobilise federal support to local authorities.

The attack in Monterey Park was the deadliest since May 2022, when a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at a school in Uvalde, Texas. The deadliest shooting in California history was in 1984 when a gunman killed 21 people at a McDonald's restaurant in San Ysidro, near San Diego.

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2023-01-23 03:34:35Z
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China Covid-19, Coronavirus and Vaccine News: January 22, 2023 - Bloomberg

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1. China Covid-19, Coronavirus and Vaccine News: January 22, 2023  Bloomberg
2. China prays for health in Chinese New Year as Covid-19 death toll rises  The Straits Times
3. China sees thousands of deaths after ‘80 per cent of citizens catch Covid’  South China Morning Post
4. China says COVID-19 outbreak has infected 80% of population  CNA
5. Expert rules out Covid rebound in China  Bangkok Post
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2023-01-22 23:24:56Z
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Next New Zealand PM slams 'abhorrent' treatment of outgoing leader Ardern - CNA

New Zealand's incoming prime minister Chris Hipkins criticised the "abhorrent" treatment endured by Jacinda Ardern and vowed on Sunday (Jan 22) to shield his own family, three days after her shock resignation.

Hours after being unanimously endorsed by Labour Party members of parliament (MPs) as the party's leader and the nation's next prime minister, Hipkins attacked the personal abuse suffered by Ardern during her more than five years in the top job.

Ardern sparked a national debate about the pressures she faced when she revealed on Thursday that she was stepping down just nine months before October 14 general elections, saying she no longer had "enough in the tank".

Politicians and other public figures have lined up to criticise the "vitriol" Ardern was subjected to as prime minister, notably on social media, although she did not mention it herself.

"The way Jacinda has been treated, particularly by some segments of our society - and they are a small minority - has been utterly abhorrent," Hipkins said.

"It does not represent who we are as a country," said the 44-year-old, who is also New Zealand's education and police minister.

Men have a responsibility to call out such treatment and say "it's not ok", he said.

The future prime minister, best known for leading a national crackdown on COVID-19 for nearly two years, said he understood that putting himself forward as leader meant he was "public property".

"But my family aren't," he told reporters.

Hipkins said he wanted his six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter to grow up with a "typical Kiwi kid life", adding that his amicable separation from his wife was his own business.

"I have seen the enormous scrutiny and pressure placed on Jacinda and her family and so my response will be to keep my family completely out of the spotlight," he said.

"HUMBLING"

Ardern said she had been exhausted after leading New Zealand through the COVID-19 pandemic, its deadliest terror attack - the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings - and a volcanic eruption that same year.

"I am human. We give as much as we can for as long as we can and then it's time," the 42-year-old said.

Hipkins said he would be sworn in as the nation's 41st prime minister by the governor general on Wednesday after Ardern formally steps down.

New Zealand under his leadership will switch its focus from COVID-19 to bolstering the economy, Hipkins said.

The cost of living, rising inflation and workforce shortages have been blamed in part for Labour's decline in the polls since 2020, now surpassed by the centre-right National Party opposition.

"COVID-19 and the global pandemic created a health crisis. Now, it's created an economic one and that's where my government's focus will be," Hipkins said.

The incoming New Zealand leader promised to tackle rising crime levels, too.

"We know we've got more work to do when it comes to re-engaging young people, to tackle the underlying causes of criminal offending."

Hipkins also announced the country will have its first deputy prime minister of Pacific Islander descent, Carmel Sepuloni.

The 46-year-old Sepuloni entered parliament in 2008 and has been New Zealand's minister for social development since 2017.

Sepuloni said her father, of Samoan and Tongan heritage, arrived in New Zealand in 1964 to work on the railways.

That his daughter would become deputy prime minister of New Zealand "is very hard to comprehend", she said.

"I want to acknowledge the significance of this for our Pacific community."

About eight per cent of New Zealand's 5.1 million population identifies as Pasifika - a New Zealander of Pacific Islander descent.

Grant Robertson, deputy prime minister under Ardern, is expected to remain as finance minister.

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2023-01-22 11:30:57Z
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Chinese pray for health in new year as COVID-19 death toll rises - CNA

BEIJING: China rang in the Chinese New Year on Sunday (Jan 22) with its people praying for health after three years of stress and financial hardship under the pandemic, as officials reported almost 13,000 new deaths caused by the virus between Jan 13 and 19.

Queues stretched for about 1km outside the iconic Lama temple in Beijing, which had been repeatedly shut before COVID-19 restrictions ended in early December, with thousands of people waiting for their turn to pray for their loved ones.

One Beijing resident said she wished the year of the rabbit will bring "health to everyone".

"I think this wave of the pandemic is gone," said the 57-year-old, who only gave her last name, Fang. "I didn’t get the virus, but my husband and everyone in my family did. I still think it's important to protect ourselves."

Earlier, officials reported almost 13,000 deaths related to COVID in hospitals between Jan 13 and 19, adding to the nearly 60,000 in the month or so before that. Chinese health experts say the wave of infections across the country has already peaked.

The death toll update, from China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, comes amid doubts over Beijing's data transparency and remains extremely low by global standards.

Hospitals and funeral homes have been overwhelmed since China abandoned the world's strictest regime of COVID controls and mass testing on Dec 7 in an abrupt policy U-turn, which followed historic protests against the curbs.

The death count reported by Chinese authorities excludes those who died at home, and some doctors have said they are discouraged from putting COVID-19 on death certificates.

China on Jan 14 reported nearly 60,000 COVID-related deaths in hospitals between Dec 8 and Jan 12, a huge increase from the 5,000-plus deaths reported previously over the entire pandemic period.

Spending by funeral homes on items from body bags to cremation ovens has risen in many provinces, documents show, one of several indications of COVID-19's deadly impact in China.

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2023-01-22 05:39:00Z
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Chris Hipkins to be New Zealand's next prime minister, replacing Jacinda Ardern - CNA

Known as "Chippy", Hipkins built a reputation for competence in tackling COVID-19 and was a troubleshooter for Ardern when other cabinet ministers were struggling.

First elected to parliament in 2008, he became a household name fronting the government's response to the pandemic. He was appointed health minister in July 2020 before becoming the COVID-19 response minister at the end of the year.

Hipkins named Carmel Sepuloni as deputy prime minister, New Zealand's first deputy prime minister of Pacific origin.

Sepuloni, 46, is of Samoan, Tongan and New Zealand European decent and lives in Auckland. She holds a number of portfolios, including social development and employment and arts, culture and heritage.

Hipkins said the rest of his team would be announced later.

TOUGH ROAD

Hipkins said he has seen the media focus on Ardern's personal life, and wants to keep his two young children and his family out of the limelight.

He said a year ago he and his wife decided to live separately. “She’s still my best friend but we have made that decision in the best interest of our family.”

Local polls have shown Hipkins was the most popular potential candidate among voters. While Ardern was popular early in her five and a half year tenure, her ratings have slid on a backlash to strict COVID-19 curbs, rising living costs and mortgage rates, and concerns about crime.

Hipkins has a tough road ahead with Labour trailing the opposition in opinion polls and the country expected to fall into recession next quarter before a general election on Oct 14.

Hipkins acknowledged that he was taking on the job at a challenging time, and said his government will focus on "bread and butter issues".

"Over the coming week the cabinet will be making decisions on reining in some programmes and projects that aren't essential right now. We will be focused on middle and low income New Zealanders and the small businesses that are (finding) it tough to get by," he said.

The economy is in sound shape, he said.

"Our books and our economy are in a better shape than many around the world and we are absolutely resolved to help the New Zealanders through these tough economic times," he said.

Before Hipkins becomes prime minister, Ardern will tender her resignation to King Charles' representative in New Zealand, Governor General Cindy Kiro. Kiro is to appoint Hipkins to the role and he will be sworn in on Wednesday. 

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2023-01-22 00:49:00Z
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Ukraine says 'global indecision killing more of our people' - CNA

The pleas came as the Russian army said its troops had launched an offensive in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, where fighting intensified this week after several months of an almost frozen front.

In its daily report Saturday, Moscow's forces said they had carried out "offensive operations" in the region and claimed to have "taken more advantageous lines and positions".

Russia also said it had held a training exercise on repelling air attacks in the Moscow region, using an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system.

Ukraine's defence ministry reported 26 air strikes and 15 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems Saturday.

"The enemy does not abandon its aggressive plans, focusing its main efforts on attempts to fully occupy the Donetsk region," on Ukraine's border with Russia, it said.

FUNERAL

In Kyiv, Zelenskyy attended the funeral of his interior minister and other officials killed in a helicopter crash outside the capital Wednesday.

The seven coffins were hoisted into the echoing hall in central Kyiv by military pallbearers in full ceremonial dress, to the sound of a lone trumpet and a snare drum.

Denys Monastyrsky, one of Zelenskyy's top aides, is the highest-ranking Ukrainian official to die in the war that Russia launched on February 24, 2022.

Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska wore all black and carried floral tributes.

"Ukraine is losing its best sons and daughters every day," Zelenskyy said in a statement.

"It hurts to think about it, it hurts to talk about it now," he added in his evening address.

The cause of the crash that killed him and 13 others when the chopper fell near a kindergarten is still being investigated.

US officials said Ukraine still faced an uphill battle against Russian forces who occupy one-fifth of the country 11 months after invading.

But they spoke of a possible Ukrainian counter-offensive in the coming weeks to retake parts of its territory.

But the Kremlin warned Friday that Western tanks would make little difference on the battlefield.

MEDIA WARS

"One should not exaggerate the importance of such supplies in terms of the ability to change something," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

On the media front, Russian news agencies quoted foreign ministry sources saying Moscow would retaliate against French media in Russia after the bank accounts of RT France, the French arm of its state broadcaster, were frozen.

Hours later, the director of RT France announced that it would be shutting down in France following the assets freeze.

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2023-01-21 22:54:00Z
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Germany faces backlash over refusal to give Ukraine tanks - CNA

Berlin has been hesitant to send the Leopards or allow other nations to transfer them to Kyiv, with reports earlier in the week saying it would agree to do so only if the US provided its tanks as well. Washington has said providing its Abrams tanks to Ukraine is not feasible, citing difficulties in training and maintenance.

But expectations had grown ahead of Friday's Ukraine Contact Group meeting of around 50 US-led countries that Germany would at least agree to let other countries operating Leopards transfer them to Kyiv's army.

US Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina who is currently visiting Kyiv, called on both sides to supply the machines.

"To the Germans: Send tanks to Ukraine because they need them. It is in your own national interest that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin loses in Ukraine," he said.

"To the (US President Joe) Biden Administration: Send American tanks so that others will follow our lead."

The pleas came as the Russian army said its troops had launched an offensive in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, where fighting intensified this week after several months of an almost frozen front.

In its daily report Saturday, Moscow's forces said they carried out "offensive operations" in the region and claimed to have "taken more advantageous lines and positions".

"VERY POSSIBLE" TO RETAKE TERRITORY

In Kyiv on Saturday, Zelensky attended the funeral of his interior minister and other officials who were killed in a helicopter crash outside the capital Wednesday.

Denys Monastyrsky, one of Zelensky's top aides, became the highest-ranking Ukrainian official to die in the war that Russia launched on Feb 24, 2022.

The cause of the crash that killed him and 13 others when the chopper fell near a kindergarten was still under investigation.

US officials said Ukraine still faced an uphill battle against Russian forces who still occupy one-fifth of the country 11 months after invading.

But they spoke of a possible campaign in the coming weeks by Ukraine to retake parts of its territory.

US Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley pointed to the substantial amount of equipment - much of it armoured vehicles and artillery - that Ukraine was being pledged at Ramstein, as well as the large-scale training of its forces by allies.

"I do think it's very possible for the Ukrainians to run a significant tactical or even operational-level offensive operation to liberate as much Ukrainian territory as possible," Milley said.

But the Kremlin warned Friday that Western tanks would make little difference on the battlefield.

"One should not exaggerate the importance of such supplies in terms of the ability to change something," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

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2023-01-21 13:25:51Z
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Ramstein summit fails to agree Leopard tanks deal for Ukraine - CNA

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany: The United States and its allies failed during talks in Germany to convince Berlin to provide its Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine, a key demand from Kyiv as it tries to breath new momentum into its fight against Russian forces.

As protesters in Berlin called on their government to provide the tanks, the talks among military leaders at Ramstein Air Base ended without any such agreement.

Berlin said it would move quickly to allow allies to transfer Leopards in their own arsenals to Ukraine, if a consensus was found. But even that appeared to be inconclusive.

As the talks concluded, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged Kyiv will have to keep fighting to ensure it has enough heavy armour. But he said the Ramstein meeting, which ended with billions of dollars in commitments, would strengthen Ukraine's resilience.

"Yes, we will still have to fight for the delivery of modern tanks, but every day we make it more obvious that there is no alternative to taking a decision about tanks," he said.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose Social Democrat party is traditionally deeply sceptical of military involvements and wary of sudden moves that could cause Moscow to escalate further in Ukraine, insists Germany will only move in concert with allies, a position echoed by new defence minister Boris Pistorius.

"There are good reasons for the (tank) deliveries and there are good reasons against, and in view of the entire situation of a war that has been ongoing for almost one year, all pros and cons must be weighed very carefully," he said, without elaborating on the reasons.

"There clearly is no unified view. The impression that has occasionally arisen, that there is a closed coalition and Germany was standing in the way, this impression is wrong."

He said Germany would start preparing tanks so they were ready to go if allies did agree to send them. It was unclear whether any country other than Germany opposes the move.

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2023-01-20 20:11:00Z
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E-gates at Johor land checkpoints open to Singaporeans, says Malaysian home minister - CNA

On Monday, Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said that continuous heavy traffic through the Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints is expected over the upcoming Chinese New Year holidays. Tailbacks are also expected from Malaysia.

In October last year, crowds of Causeway bus travellers from Singapore were seen at Malaysia's immigration building in Johor Bahru ahead of the Deepavali long weekend.

Videos shared on the Facebook page Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers showed a crush of commuters jostling for space at the bus platform, where shouts were heard as people pushed forward to walk up the escalator and staircase into the arrival immigration hall. 

ICA said traffic flow through the land checkpoints has returned to pre-COVID levels during peak hours.

"During the year-end holiday season in 2022, more than one million travellers passed through both land checkpoints, with about 361,000 crossing daily."

The authority added that during the peak of the Chinese New Year period in 2019, the average waiting time for travellers departing or arriving by car via the land checkpoints was about three hours.

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2023-01-20 08:51:00Z
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Singaporeans can start using immigration e-gates at Johor checkpoints: Malaysia minister - The Straits Times

JOHOR BAHRU — Starting Friday, Singaporeans can use the electronic gate (e-gate) facilities at the two land entry points in Johor Bahru, said Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

“Previously, the e-gate facilities were only limited for the use of local Malaysian passport holders. From today, we are providing access to the e-gate facilities for Singaporeans who use e-passports,” Datuk Seri Saifuddin was quoted as saying in the Malay Mail.

He added that the new measure is one of the short-term solutions aimed at relieving human congestion at both checkpoints. Mr Saifuddin was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting on Tackling Congestion at the Johor Causeway at the Sultan Iskandar Building’s Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex on Friday.

Singaporeans who want to use the e-gate facility must hold e-passports with a validity period of at least three months, said the minister.

“In addition to that, Singapore visitors need to submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online three days before travel,” he said, adding that first-time users also need to verify their biometrics at the Immigration counter.

Mr Saifuddin was accompanied by other government officials when he visited the Johor Causeway at 5am on Friday.

He said the immigration department will also expand the use of e-gates to travellers from other low-risk countries such as Brunei, Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) also provides automated lanes for eligible Malaysians who may be enrolled on the spot.

Since May 2022, the ICA has implemented the Automated Clearance Initiative which allows eligible Malaysian citizens to be enrolled for the use of automated lanes at all checkpoints in Singapore.

Enrolment is done automatically during immigration clearance at the manual counters. Travellers who are enrolled will be notified via their electronic visit pass (e-Pass) sent to their e-mail address provided in their SG Arrival Card submission.

Previously, eligible Malaysian citizens needed to approach the enrolment centres separately to be enrolled for the use of the automated lanes.

• Additonal reporting by Jessie Lim

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2023-01-20 06:49:27Z
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