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WELLINGTON, United States (AFP) — New Zealand will phase out its coronavirus lockdown over the next 10 days after successfully containing the virus, although some restrictions will remain, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday. Ardern said that from Thursday shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas and playgrounds will reopen — with the country moving to Level Two on its four-tier system. The 39-year-old leader warned “none of us can assume COVID is not with us” but said […]
SYDNEY, Asutralia (AFP) — A French surfer has survived a shark attack in Australia with only minor leg injuries by punching it twice, local media reported. Dylan Nacass, 23, was surfing at Bells Beach, about 1.5 hours from Melbourne, when the shark attacked on Friday, Nine News said. Video footage shows a shark swimming up behind two men as they paddle desperately to get away. Nacass told Nine the shark latched onto his leg until […]
by David MILLIKIN Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s government on Friday unveiled a three-stage plan to get the economy back to a new “COVID-safe” normal by the end of July. Federal authorities have left details of the plan’s implementation up to the country’s diverse states and territories, meaning coronavirus restrictions will remain in place for weeks or months longer in areas hardest hit by the disease. Australia has been one of […]
by Holly ROBERTSON Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Cardinal George Pell was aware of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Australia as far back as the 1970s and failed to seek the removal of accused priests, according to findings of a top-level inquiry released Thursday. The Royal Commission report was handed down in 2017 but pages relating to Pell’s conduct were heavily redacted to prevent jurors in his trials on child […]
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia will consider early easing of coronavirus restrictions next week, officials announced Friday, as the number of local cases dwindled and the economic impact of the crisis fell into painful relief. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the national cabinet would meet on May 8 — a week earlier than expected — to weigh loosening social distancing measures that have kept millions of Australians at home, barred almost all travel and slowed […]
by Neil SANDS Agence France Presse WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealanders satisfied their cravings for hamburgers and coffee as a five-week lockdown eased on Tuesday, as hopes swelled that the country’s coronavirus outbreak was under control. Lines of cars snaked along drive-thru lanes at McDonald’s outlets around the country, with the fast-food chain reporting 50 vehicles queued before dawn in the North Island town of Hastings. Coffee lovers also indulged in barista-brewed beverages […]
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday claimed New Zealand had scored a significant victory against the spread of the coronavirus, as the country began a phased exit from lockdown. “There is no widespread, undetected community transmission in New Zealand,” Ardern declared. “We have won that battle.” After nearly five weeks at the maximum Level Four restrictions — with only essential services operating — the country will move to Level Three […]
Eagle News — Micronesia Islands has a total of about 150 of confirmed reported cases of COVID-19 which is a small amount compared to most places. But on a small island and a condensed population, those numbers can jump quickly. During these unprecedented times, the best thing that one can do for each other, is to help one another, to come together as a community. Recently, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) throughout the […]
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia said Wednesday it will take advantage of record low oil prices to develop a long-needed strategic oil reserve, which will be located in the United States. With global demand for oil slowing to a trickle owing to worldwide virus lockdowns, crude prices turning negative and storage facilities bursting at the seams, Energy Minister Angus Taylor said it was time to act. Australia has long had one of the lowest levels […]
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand will ease a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown next week after claiming success in stopping “an uncontrolled explosion” of the virus, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday. “We have done what very few countries have been able to do,” Ardern said. “We have stopped a wave of devastation.” She said New Zealand would move its maximum Level Four alert to Level Three from late evening on Monday, April 27, and […]
PORT VILA, Vanuatu (AFP) — Vanuatu’s rigid coronavirus lockdown is hindering critical relief efforts to rebuild the island country after it was pummelled by Tropical Cyclone Harold, aid agencies said Saturday. Nearly two weeks after the deadly monster storm barrelled through the South Pacific, local media reported that newly homeless families were still sleeping in the open. Australia, New Zealand and China have rushed in emergency aid but distribution has been hampered by strict quarantine […]
SUVA Fiji (AFP) — Tens of thousands of people remain homeless in Vanuatu a week after Tropical Cyclone Harold pummelled the impoverished Pacific nation, smashing houses and destroying crops, aid workers said Tuesday. The cyclone careened through the South Pacific last week, peaking as a Category Five superstorm that gouged a trail of destruction across the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga. With aid efforts hampered by coronavirus-related travel restrictions, World Vision said up to […]
