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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Candidates to replace Jacinda Ardern to start making their bids - CNA

WELLINGTON: Candidates to replace Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand's prime minister after her shock resignation are expected to emerge on Friday (Jan 20) ahead of a leadership vote on Sunday.

Ardern, 42, said on Thursday she had "no more in the tank" to continue leading the country, and would step down no later than early February and not seek re-election.

Chris Hipkins, a minister in her government and a top contender for the job, told news organisation Newshub on Friday that he expected Labour lawmakers to reach a consensus on a new candidate, but declined to say whether he planned to run.

"We do have a responsibility to make sure that we're making these decisions in the best interests of New Zealanders," he said. "They will absolutely know who the next leader is going to be as those conversations finally conclude."

If a candidate is unable to secure two-thirds of the available votes on Sunday, the leadership contest will go to the wider membership.

Commentators point to several Ardern ministers as possible candidates for the role, including Hipkins, the former COVID-19 minister and current Minister of Education and Police, and current Minister of Justice Kiri Allan.

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2023-01-20 01:30:00Z
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