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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.

☆ Man who sex trafficked and extorted daughter’s Sarah Lawrence schoolmates sentenced to 60 years in prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | The Associated Press | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

A New York man convicted on charges that he moved into his daughter’s dorm room at Sarah Lawrence College and abused students at the elite school in a nearly 10-year scheme was sentenced Friday to 60 years in prison. Manhattan federal court Judge Lewis J. Liman told Lawrence Ray, 63, that his crimes were "particularly heinous." Ray was convicted at trial last year of charges including racketeering, conspiracy, forced labor and sex trafficking. Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y. Stephanie Keith / Getty Images fileOne woman testified at the trial that Ray had convinced her that she had poisoned him and became a sex worker to try to pay reparations to him. The woman said she paid Ray $2.5 million over four years in installments that averaged $10,000 to $50,000 a week.

☆ 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.

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.

☆ Senior Australian official asks China to remove trade impediments
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Jan 20(Reuters) - Australia's Assistant Minister for Trade Tim Ayres called for the removal of China's "trade impediments" on Australian exports in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, his office said. China's Xinhua news agency earlier reported that Thursday's meeting between Australian and Chinese officials had agreed that trade ministers from the two nations will hold virtual discussions "in the near future." No date has been set for the video meeting between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and his Australian counterpart, Don Farrell, it said. "Assistant Minister Ayres raised the importance of cooperation to deliver the outcomes of the World Trade Organization 12th Ministerial Conference, and the removal of current trade impediments affecting Australian exports to China in both countries' interests," a spokeswoman for Ayres said in a statement. Canberra has two complaints at the World Trade Organisation against China's tariffs on Australian wine and barley, and is watching to see if Beijing lifts unofficial trade blockages on other Australian exports.

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.

☆ Australia to spend $2 billion on 40 U.S. Black Hawk choppers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Australia confirmed on Wednesday it would buy 40 Black Hawk military helicopters from the United States for an estimated A$2.8 billion ($1.96 billion), finalising a sale signed off by the U.S. State Department last August. The Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) UH-60M Black Hawks will replace the Army's fleet of MRH-90 Taipan choppers, which have been plagued for years by maintenance issues. "We're confident that we can get that from the Black Hawks. A 2021 decision to ditch French-made submarines for nuclear submarines to be built by the United States and Britain sparked a bitter diplomatic dispute with France. Australian industry will be involved in logistics, warehousing, engineering as well as the helicopter's global supply chain, said the Defence Department in a statement.

[1/3] Australian Cardinal George Pell gestures as he speaks during an interview with Reuters in Rome, Italy December 7, 2020. Archbishop Peter Comensoli, the Archbishop of Melbourne, said Pell had died from heart complications following hip surgery. An Australian appeals court ruling in 2020 quashed convictions that Pell sexually assaulted two choir boys in the 1990s. Pell took pride in having set up one of the world's first schemes to compensate victims of child sexual abuse in Melbourne. The inquiry, known as a Royal Commission, began in 2013 a five-year investigation into child sex abuse in the Catholic Church and other institutions.

☆ Australia PM pledges aid on visit to flood-ravaged northwest
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised help to repair homes, replace property and rebuild infrastructure as he toured remote flood-ravaged communities across the northwest after "1-in-100-year" floods. Albanese announced on Monday A$10,000 ($6,900) for home repair and up to A$10,000 to replace household goods. "There's going to be massive infrastructure investment required," Albanese told radio station 6PR on Monday from Broome, roughly 2,000 kilometres northwest of state capital Perth. "I'm afraid I've now been to Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and now WA (Western Australia) in the relatively short time that I've been Prime Minister... talking about a 1-in-100-year event over and over again," Albanese said. Military aircraft helped airlift supplies and evacuate residents in cut-off towns such as Fitzroy Crossing, home to roughly 1,000.

☆ Meet ShElvis, Australia's leading female Elvis Tribute Artist
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Cordelia Hsu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Elvis Tribute Artist, Sheryl Scharkie, also known as ShElvis, strikes a pose in the main street at the Parkes Elvis Festival in Parkes, Australia January 6, 2023. REUTERS/Cordelia HsuPARKES, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Among the hundreds of Elvis tribute acts wandering the Australian country town of Parkes, one stands out: Sheryl Scharkie, also known as ShElvis. Parkes, 350 km northwest of Sydney, is home to a 64-meter telescope and an annual Elvis Festival, now in its 30th year. A nurse by day, the 64-year-old Scharkie is Australia’s most prominent Elvis Tribute Artist (ETA), as they are known, and for most of her nearly decade-long career, the country's only female one. It's no longer male or female ETA, gender just goes.”Scharkie has been an Elvis fan since childhood and remembers watching his movies at her grandmother's house.

The 930-guest capacity Viking Orion docked in Sydney on Wednesday, the final stop on what is normally a 15-day, 9-stop cruise of New Zealand and Australia. But plans went awry, local media reported, after New Zealand officials asked the ship to leave the country's waters part way through its cruise after finding small amounts of biofoul - plants, algae and small animals - that grow on ship hulls. Tickets for a 15-day Auckland to Sydney cruise departing Jan 10 range from A$8,995 ($6,066.23) to A$29,995 on the Viking website. Viking's Orion is the second cruise ship to fall afoul of New Zealand officials in the past month. New Zealand fisheries officials stopped cruise ship Coral Princess entering the country's waters in December after finding snails on the hull.

☆ Two British citizens among dead in mid-air helicopter collision near Australian theme park
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Two travellers from the United Kingdom were among four people killed in a mid-air helicopter collision near an Australian theme park that authorities say could have been much worse. Queensland state police say two helicopters collided about 300 meters in the air on Monday afternoon as one was landing and another taking off near Sea World on Australia's Gold Coast. The helicopter that was taking off crashed, killing four of the seven aboard, including 40-year-old pilot Ashley Jenkinson and two visitors from the United Kingdom. Sea World Helicopters, which operated the aircraft involved in the crash, is independent of Sea World owner Village Roadshow Theme Parks and is closed until further notice, according to a statement on its website. Sea World was open on Tuesday.

☆ Australia's sovereign wealth fund buys gold, commodities as shadow of 1970s looms
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Australia's A$200 billion ($134.28 billion) sovereign wealth fund is increasing exposure to gold, commodities, private equity and infrastructure as it warns the future will echo the low-growth, high-inflation era of the 1970s. Investors large and small are scrambling to adjust portfolios and philosophies undermined by the simultaneous cratering of equity and bond markets. Investors now faced a world corrosive to asset prices: more war, the risk of capital controls and confiscations, bigger government, and the spectre of higher inflation. In response the Future Fund is implementing six broad sets of changes, including more focus on dynamic asset allocation and liquidity. Traditional approaches have delivered strongly, but it is doubtful they are fit for purpose in the future," it said.

☆ Convicted Bali bomb maker apologises to victims' families
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LAMONGAN, Indonesia Dec 14 (Reuters) - An Indonesian bomb maker convicted for his role in the deadly 2002 Bali nightclub attacks has apologised to the victims' families, after his release from prison was met with outrage in Australia. "I apologise to the Australian people who have been deeply impacted by the Bali bombing," he added. Patek also said he would help the Indonesian government in its counter-terrorism efforts, adding he was "ready to become an ambassador for peace". Convicted Bali bomb maker Umar Patek apologises to Bali bombing victims' families, as he speaks to the members of media in Lamongan, East Java Province, Indonesia, December 13, 2022, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Paul Vanni, community and partnerships officer at Sydney's Coogee Dolphins rugby team, which lost six members in the Bali attacks, dismissed the apology.

☆ TotalEnergies may buy green power from Fortescue in Papua New Guinea -regulator
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Fortescue Future Industries is in talks with TotalEnergies to supply power to the fossil fuel company's Papua LNG project from a series of proposed renewable energy projects that a senior official says recently completed feasibility assessments. "Fortescue Future Industries is exploring a range of energy supply and offtake agreements globally for the supply of green energy," said an FFI spokesperson in response to a Reuters query. Fortescue Metals Group (FMG.AX) founder Andrew Forrest signed a flurry of green hydrogen deals over 2020 and 2021 as the iron ore miner's wholly owned clean energy subsidiary looks to become a major green hydrogen producer. Feasibility studies for hydropower projects are also completed, with priority given to a project which could provide power to Papua LNG. He expected FFI would make final investment decisions for the hydropower and geothermal projects in 2023.

☆ Airlines forced to ration jet fuel in New Zealand, but limited impact seen
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Key regional airlines said on Wednesday they expected to continue scheduled flights with New Zealand, which is beginning to ration jet fuel after a recent shipment failed government tests. FILE PHOTO: Air New Zealand Bombardier Q300 planes sit near the terminal at Auckland Airport in New Zealand, June 25, 2017. The next scheduled shipment, due to arrive on Dec. 12, will be ready for use by Dec. 18. O’Brien said regional airlines would mitigate the impact of reduced supplies by loading extra fuel at destinations such as Australia, though longer-haul airlines would need to consider refuelling stops or trading off cargo for more fuel. “So while it’s possible, it’s not simple and it’s not cheap,” added O’Brien, the executive director of the Board of Airline Representatives of New Zealand.

SYDNEY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - When Melbourne barista Melinda Elliott had to cut back on casual work shifts this year, she asked her buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) provider, Afterpay, to lower her credit limit. "There was no email to say, 'your credit limit's gone up again'; it was out of nowhere," said Elliott by phone. The absence of interest charges has exempted them from consumer credit regulation, and the sector's business has grown strongly during an online shopping frenzy spurred by COVID-19 stimulus payments and ultra-low interest rates. If they come under regular consumer credit regulation, they will also lose their main competitive advantages. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which oversees the Credit Act, told Reuters it was "supportive of the BNPL sector being subject to regulation".

☆ Australian government moves to censure former prime minister over secret ministries
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Australia's Labor government said it will move a parliamentary censure motion against former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison this week after an inquiry found his secret appointment to multiple ministries undermined trust in government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday said a motion of censure would be introduced to the Labor-controlled House of Representative this week by either the leader of the house or the attorney general. "This wasn't about a relationship between the former prime minister and his ministers. It's not a personal relationship between two mates over what happened down the pub," Albanese said during a news conference. Having committed to all six changes, Albanese said legislation to require public notification of ministerial appointments will be introduced this week.

☆ Australian inquiry finds Morrison's secret ministries corroded trust
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Australia will introduce rules to increase transparency in ministerial appointments after an inquiry into secret ministerial appointments by then Prime Minister Scott Morrison found they corroded public trust in government. An inquiry led by former High Court judge Virginia Bell found the appointments likely hurt public confidence in government. "Once the appointments became known, the secrecy with which they had been surrounded was corrosive of trust in government," Bell said. Bell recommended six changes, including legislation requiring public notice of ministerial appointments. Bell noted that because Morrison's extra powers had only been exercised once, the implications of the appointments were limited.

☆ No tsunami warning for Solomon Islands after 7.0 earthquake off coast
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Authorities in the Solomon Islands said no tsunami warning would be issued after two earthquakes on Tuesday afternoon, including one with a magnitude of 7.0 just off the southwest coast. The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service said there is no tsunami threat to the country, but warned about unusual sea currents in coastal areas. Widespread power outages are being reported across the island and the Solomon Islands Broadcasting said in a statement on Facebook that all radio services were off air. The National Disaster Management Office said it has received reports that people felt the quake but are waiting for reports of damage. Seismology Fiji said the quake did not pose an immediate tsunami threat to the archipelago nation roughly 2,000 km to the southeast.

☆ Released Australian adviser supports sanctions against Myanmar officials
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Australia should sanction Myanmar's military government and the regime's bankers, Sean Turnell, the Australian economist and adviser to deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi said in his first interview since being released from a Myanmar jail last week. He and three other foreigners were released as part of a mass amnesty of almost 6,000 prisoners last Thursday. Saying the Myanmar people's dreams have been "completely shattered", Turnell said he supported sanctions against regime officials and Myanmar bankers, without specifying which banks or financiers. Before court appearances Turnell would reunite briefly with fellow co-defendants including Aung San Suu Kyi. The Nobel Peace laureate faced widespread criticism from rights groups for defending Myanmar's generals against charges of genocide in 2019.

☆ Amazon to bring back Australia's longest running soap Neighbours in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But a new deal with Amazon announced on Friday will see the show return to the small screen in the second half of 2023. U.S. and British fans will find the show on Amazon Freevee, the streaming giant's ad-supported service. In Australia, New Zealand and Canada, the show will be on Amazon Prime, which requires a subscription. Australia's Channel 10, which was home to the show for three years, will broadcast episodes before they land on Amazon Prime. The final episode in July was watched by millions and featured guest appearances from former cast members Minogue, Guy Pearce and Robbie.

read moreTwo-year yields crept back up to 4.46%, retracing a little of last week's sharp inflation-driven drop of 33 basis points to a low of 4.29%. The bond market's warnings of recession were not what Wall Street wanted to hear, and they left S&P 500 futures flat on Friday, while Nasdaq futures inched up 0.1%. EUROSTOXX 50 futures added 0.7% and FTSE futures 0.3%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) bounced 0.6%, after slipping for two sessions. The dollar edged up to 140.20 yen and away from its recent low of 137.67, but faced resistance around 140.70/80.

Two weeks later, we're back into major floods," NSW emergency services' Chief Superintendent Ashley Sullivan told ABC television from Forbes. To help with relief efforts, 18 flood rescue specialists from Singapore reached Sydney on Thursday, authorities said, who will join a team from New Zealand and hundreds of Australian defence personnel already deployed to the worst-hit regions. Help has also been sought from the United States for the relief operation, which authorities have flagged will be the biggest flood rescue exercise in New South Wales' history. The damage from the latest flood could cost "billions of dollars", Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said. "The bill is really racking up and that's before we look at the immense cost of road and infrastructure repairs which lies ahead," Watt told ABC radio.

The meeting takes place as both countries work to improve relations overshadowed by disputes over trade, Taiwan, human rights and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. China is Australia’s biggest trading partner, accounting for up to a third of its roughly A$475 billion ($303 billion) of annual exports. Australia's relations with China began to sour in 2017 when Australia introduced laws to deal with what it said was Chinese interference in Australian politics. Two Australian journalists, Cheng Lei and Yang Hengjun, are in jail in China awaiting sentences after closed-door national security trials. Albanese said China acknowledged that Australia had raised the issue of the imprisoned journalists but he gave no further details.

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