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☆ New Zealand recovers $300 mln of cocaine floating at sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] A view shows bricks of cocaine said to be recovered by New Zealand Police, Customs and NZDF at sea, in New Zealand, in this undated handout image released on February 8, 2023. New Zealand Police/Handout via REUTERSSYDNEY, Feb 8 (Reuters) - New Zealand authorities said on Wednesday they had recovered 3.2 tonnes of cocaine worth more than $300 million, believed to be bound for Australia and found floating at sea. New Zealand Police said it a statement it had collected the drugs from the Pacific Ocean in a joint operation with the New Zealand Customs Service and the New Zealand Defence Force. The seizure has a value of NZ$500 million ($320 million), according to New Zealand Customs Service Acting Controller Bill Perry. ($1 = 1.5815 New Zealand dollars)Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

BENGALURU, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Adani Total Private Ltd expects to receive 2.2 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at its terminal at Dhamra on India's eastern coast during the year ending March 2024, the company's chief executive told Reuters on Tuesday. Adani Total has a 20-year take-or-pay contract to provide regasification services to state-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS) for 3 million tonnes of LNG per annum at the Dhamra terminal. Government-run gas distributor GAIL (India) Ltd (GAIL.NS) has a similar 1.5 million tonnes per annum deal. The energy-hungry country expects deeper penetration of city gas distribution to drive LNG demand in the coming years. Global LNG prices eased off record highs in the second half of 2022, amid ample inventories in North Asia and Europe.

☆ Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon preview
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Mike Andronico | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon fleshes out the franchise’s backstory in the form of a pastel-colored adventure that challenges you to control two characters at once as you solve puzzles and take down enemies. Bayonetta Origins, which casts you as a young girl named Cereza (who, spoiler alert, would eventually become Bayonetta) is decidedly not that. The takeawayNintendoI came into my Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon demo with mild expectations, and came out itching to spend more time with Cereza and Cheshire. If you own a Nintendo Switch, it should be on your radar — even if you’ve never played a Bayonetta game before. Bayonetta Origins is up for preorder now and hits stores on March 17, and we’re already looking forward to playing more.

☆ Australia PM pushes for bipartisan support on Indigenous referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will push for bipartisan support on a referendum that aims to set up an Indigenous consultative committee in parliament, when it meets on Monday for the first time this year. The landmark referendum, to be held later this year, will establish an Indigenous "Voice", that can make representations to parliament on policies affecting them. If passed, that would add language to its constitution - which cannot be amended without a referendum - to recognise Australia's Indigenous citizens for the first time. "It might just make some people's lives, some of the most disadvantaged people in our country, their lives better." The federal opposition Liberal Party has not yet backed the referendum but a group, which includes some prominent Indigenous Australians and lawmakers, have launched a campaign against it.

[1/2] Jan 15, 2023; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Nick Kyrgios of Australia during a practice session on court 16 at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY SportsSYDNEY, Feb 3 (Reuters) - A common assault charge against Nick Kyrgios was dismissed in a Canberra court on Friday, despite the tennis player earlier pleading guilty. The charge related to a 2021 incident involving his former girlfriend Chiara Passari. "Just recovery, get back on court," said Kyrgios outside court when asked by a reporter about his immediate plans. "I respect today's ruling and I'm grateful to the court for dismissing the charges without conviction," he said in an Instagram post.

☆ Australian Cardinal Pell's funeral marked by arrival of protesters, mourners
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] People queue to enter the pontifical requiem Mass for Cardinal George Pell at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, February 2, 2023. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts via REUTERSSYDNEY, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Protesters gathered and mourners began to arrive in Sydney on Thursday ahead of the funeral service of Australian Cardinal George Pell, a former top Vatican official who was acquitted in 2020 of sexual abuse accusations. Australian police said it had dropped a court bid to block the gathering after protesters agreed to change their initial protest route and gather in a road adjacent to St Mary's Cathedral, the venue of the funeral service. On Thursday morning, protesters gathered in a park opposite the cathedral, some holding signs reading "Pell Burn In Hell". The ribbons symbolised the pain inflicted on child sexual abuse victims, the protesters said.

SYDNEY, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Australia will replace the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on its A$5 banknote with a new design to reflect and honour the history of its Indigenous culture, the country's central bank said on Thursday. The decision follows consultation with the federal government, which supports the change, the Reserve Bank of Australia said in a statement. The Reserve Bank said it would consult with Indigenous groups in designing the A$5 banknote. The A$5 banknote is the only Australian banknote to carry the image of the Queen. Australian coins are mandated to carry the image of the British monarch and new coins will have the effigy of King Charles.

☆ Australia’s nuclear safety agency joins hunt for radioactive capsule
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Melanie Burton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Australia’s nuclear safety agency said on Tuesday it had joined the hunt for a radioactive capsule missing in the west of the country. Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is working with the Western Australian government to locate the capsule, it said in a statement. The capsule, believed to have fallen from a truck, was part of a gauge used to measure the density of iron ore feed which had been entrusted to a specialist contractor to transport. The loss may have occurred up to two weeks ago. Reporting by Melanie Burton in Melbourne Editing by Alasdair PalOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 11 Valentine’s Day Gifts that Delight all Five Senses, From the Softest Sweats to the Sweetest Strawberries
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Katharine K. Zarrella | Lizzy Wholley | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

But why delight one sense when you could thrill more than a few? This Valentine’s Day, skip the staid, unimaginative standards and instead get your wife, girlfriend, platonic pal or, heck, yourself a few gifts to drive all five senses wild. And yes, we even have flowers—it is Valentine’s Day, after all. But these are specially cut, shipped overnight and expertly arranged, unlike the wilting grocery-store roses you might have grabbed. Here, 11 supremely chic Valentine’s Day gifts that will give her the ultimate sensory experience.

☆ Djokovic's father won't attend semi-final after Russia flag controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Alasdair Pal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The video caused controversy in Australia, leading to the country's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday reiterating Australian support for Ukraine and criticising supporters of Russia's invasion. I had no intention of causing such headlines or disruption," Srdjan Djokovic said in an emailed statement. Albanese did not respond directly to the question about whether Srdjan Djokovic should be deported. Srdjan Djokovic was seen in some posts posing with the Russian supporters. Australian Open organisers on Thursday issued a reminder to players and their entourages about their policy on flags after the video of Djokovic's father emerged.

☆ Australian minister says Kanye West could be denied entry
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Jan 24 (Reuters) - American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, may not be suitable for an Australian visa because of his history of anti-Semitic remarks, a government minister said on Wednesday, as pressure mounted to deny the award-winning rapper entry. Minister for Education Jason Clare condemned Ye's "awful" anti-Semitic comments involving Hitler and the Holocaust, saying others who had made similar statements had been denied visas. Ye has been dropped by major corporate partners, including Adidas (ADSGn.DE) and banned from Twitter because of anti-Semitic remarks and outbursts on social media against other celebrities. "He's not a person of good character and the minister has the ability to stop somebody coming into our country of bad character." Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, met officials on Tuesday to argue for an entry ban.

WELLINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Labour leader Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand's prime minister in a formal ceremony on Wednesday, following the resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week. The Labour party elected former COVID-19 Response and Police minister Hipkins, 44, to lead the party and the country on Sunday. Hipkins and his deputy Carmel Sepuloni - the first person of Pacific Islander descent to hold the role - were then sworn in, in a ceremony lasting a few minutes. Hours later, Hipkins met with journalists after his first cabinet meeting as Prime Minister. Chris Hipkins speaks to members of the media, after being confirmed as the only nomination to replace Jacinda Ardern as leader of the Labour Party, outside New Zealand's parliament in Wellington, New Zealand January 21 2023.

☆ Turkey cancels Swedish defence minister visit after protest permit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Andy Commins/Pool via REUTERSISTANBUL, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Saturday that a planned visit by his Swedish counterpart to Ankara has been cancelled after Swedish authorities granted permission for protests in Stockholm. "At this point, the visit of Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson to Turkey on January 27 has become meaningless. So we cancelled the visit," Akar said. Swedish Defence Minister Jonson had planned to travel next week to Ankara at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart as the Nordic country hopes to nudge Turkey to ratify its bid to join NATO. The necessary things needed to be done, measures should have been taken," Akar said according to a statement by Turkish defence ministry.

[1/2] Chris Hipkins speaks to members of the media, after being confirmed as the only nomination to replace Jacinda Ardern as leader of the Labour Party, outside New Zealand's parliament in Wellington, New Zealand January 21, 2023. We are different people though, and I'm sure that people will see that," Hipkins told a news conference on Saturday after emerging as the only candidate to lead the ruling Labour Party. First elected to parliament in 2008, Hipkins became a household name fronting the government's response to the pandemic. He was appointed health minister in July 2020 before becoming the COVID response minister at the end of the year. Hipkins is known around parliament for his sense of humour - including an ability to laugh at himself.

☆ Finland promises 400 million euros of aid to Ukraine, could add Leopards
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The new donation would triple the total value of Finland's defence aid to Ukraine, bringing the total so far to 590 million euros, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. "I can only say that this package does not include Leopard tanks. Finland had earlier indicated it could send the German-made Leopard tanks if there were agreement among allies. The defence ministers of Finland and Sweden are to sign a Statement of Intent (SoI) on support for Ukraine in Ramstein later today, the Finnish ministry said. Under that agreement "Finland supplies defence materiel to Ukraine, and Sweden expresses its readiness to support Finland as necessary," it said.

[1/3] Cane toad dubbed "Toadzilla" and believed by Australian park rangers to be the world's biggest toad is held by Queensland Department of Environment and Science Ranger Kylee Gray, in Conway National Park, Queensland, Australia January 12, 2023. Queensland Department Of Environment and Science/Handout via REUTERSSYDNEY, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Australian park rangers believe they have stumbled upon a record-breaking giant toad deep in a rainforest. Dubbed "Toadzilla", the cane toad, an invasive species that poses a threat to Australia's ecosystem, was spotted by "shocked" park ranger Kylee Gray during a patrol in Conway National Park in Queensland state on Jan. 12. Gray’s colleague, senior park ranger Barry Nolan, told Reuters the animal was euthanised due to its “ecological impact” — the usual fate for the toads across Australia. “A female cane toad like potentially Toadzilla would lay up to 35,000 eggs.

☆ Explainer: When is the New Zealand prime minister election and how will it work?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Jan 20 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will step down no later than Feb. 7 after a shock resignation on Thursday in which she said she "had no more in the tank". Leadership hopefuls will gather on Sunday when the centre-left Labour party caucus meets to elect a new leader, who will become prime minister. With Labour holding a majority in parliament, whoever they elect will become prime minister, helming the country for a little more than eight months before a general election set for Oct. 14. The caucus vote will be weighted at 40%, party members at 40% and unions at 20%. Transport Minister Michael Wood and Minister of Justice Kiri Allan are newer faces in parliament, elected in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

☆ PM Ardern shocks New Zealand, says she is stepping down
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WELLINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday made a shock announcement 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. Ardern, holding back tears, said that it had been a tough five and a half years as prime minister and that she was only human and needed to step aside. A ruling New Zealand Labour Party vote for a new leader will take place on Sunday; the party leader will be prime minister until the next general election. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, who also serves as finance minister, said in a statement he would not seek to stand as the next Labour leader. Ardern said she was not stepping down because the job was hard, but because she believed others could do a better job.

Jan 19 (Reuters) - New Zealand's ruling Labour Party is looking for a new leader after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's shock resignation on Thursday. A Labour Party vote for a new leader will take place on Sunday; the party leader will be prime minister until the next general election. He was senior adviser to two education ministers and served in the office of former Prime Minister Helen Clark. KIRI ALLANNew Zealand’s Minister of Justice, Kiri Allan, 39, would become the country's first prime minister of Maori descent, as well as the country’s first openly gay leader if elected. MICHAEL WOODMichael Wood, 42, has swiftly scaled Labour party ranks since joining parliament in 2016 after a landslide by-election victory.

☆ Candidate to replace NZ Ardern to start making their bids
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WELLINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Candidates to replace Jacinda Ardern as the country's prime minister after her shock resignation are expected to start to emerge on Friday ahead of a leadership vote on Sunday. If a candidate is unable to secure two thirds of the available votes, the leadership contest will go to the wider membership. The winner will become prime minister until the next general election. Ardern's term as leader will conclude no later than Feb. 7 and a general election will be held on Oct. 14. Commentators point to a number of Ardern's ministers as possible candidates for the role, including the former COVID minister and current Minister of Education and Police Chris Hipkins and current Minister of Justice Kiri Allen.

Her successor as Labour leader and prime minister faces a stern test in a general election in October, with support for the party falling and the country expected to fall into a recession next quarter. Despite her high global profile, Ardern's Labour Party has slid in the polls, hurt by rising living costs, growing crime and concern about social issues. That meant that even with traditional coalition partner the Green Party, polling at 9%, Labour could not hold a majority. Ardern most likely stepped down to give the Labour Party a chance to refresh and reposition itself ahead of an election in October, experts said. CONSERVATIVES BUOYEDThe conservative National Party may be buoyed by Ardern's resignation.

☆ A mysterious 'Doe 183' is trying to keep Jeffrey Epstein documents under seal. Could it be Les Wexner?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"In the court's view, there's no reason to redact Doe 183 from the documents." And when Insider asked that lawyer about his work for Doe 183, a representative for Wexner responded, declining to comment. But if Doe 183 wins their fight to keep the documents redacted, their name and the context surrounding it would remain behind those blacked-out lines. While he never identified himself verbally, the transcript's cover sheet identifies him as an attorney representing Doe 183. Of those 21 documents, there are seven docket entries where Doe 183 is the sole Doe mentioned.

☆ Philippines main airport scrambles to restore normalcy after power cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A passenger wearing a face mask and face shield for protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) walks towards a counter in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, January 14, 2021. The ageing Ninoy Aquino international airport was early on Monday handling a maximum 15 arrivals per hour compared to 20 during normal operations, said Cesar Chiong, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority. The outage was the result of the unprecedented failure of both primary and secondary power supplies, he said. Chiong said the airport had introduced its own power system in 2018 but on Sunday, both the main and backup systems failed. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport has previously been ranked among the world's worst international gateways, with flight delays a regular occurrence, and a history of upgrades being delayed or abandoned due to disputes between the airport and contractors.

☆ Flights to and from Philippine capital suspended due to technical issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A total of 282 flights were either delayed, cancelled or diverted to other regional airports, affecting around 56,000 passengers at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the airport operator said on Sunday. As of 0800 GMT, "the system has been partially restored thereby allowing limited flight operations," the Manila International Airport Authority said in a statement. It offered passengers due to fly on Sunday free rebooking or the option to convert tickets to vouchers. Philippine Airlines (PAL.PS) said a number of flights were diverted, cancelled and delayed, and travellers should check the status of their journey before proceeding to the airport. Reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz; Editing by Neil Fullick and Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'Asia's El Chapo' extradited to Australia to face drug trafficking charges
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Alasdair Pal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WELLINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Thursday it had taken the head of a global drug trafficking syndicate, dubbed 'Asia's El Chapo', into custody after he was extradited from the Netherlands. The AFP did not identify the person arrested by name, and does not typically disclose the names of arrested individuals before trial. A person familiar with the case said the man arrested was Canadian citizen Tse Chi Lop, one of the world's most prominent drug lords. A second man was arrested by the AFP in June in connection with the case. "The AFP will make Australia a hostile environment for all trans-national serious organised crime syndicates that target our communities."

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