Oceania

Australia sees China as main suspect in state-based cyberattacks, sources say

Australia views China as the chief suspect in a spate of cyber-attacks of increasing frequency in recent months, three sources familiar with the government's thinking told Reuters on Friday. The…

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Australia’s Victoria again sees double digit rise in coronavirus cases

Australia's second most populous state of Victoria recorded a double-digit rise in new coronavirus cases for the third straight day on Friday, raising doubts about how quickly the economy can…

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Massive manhunt in New Zealand after police officer shot and killed

A police officer has been shot and killed and another is seriously injured after making a routine traffic stop in New Zealand. Police said the two officers pulled over…

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‘Extensive testing’ in New Zealand has not uncovered new cases

“Extensive” Covid-19 testing of thousands of people in New Zealand has not uncovered any new cases, health officials say. The testing was undertaken after a quarantine bungle when two women…

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Australia says it has been target of ‘state-based’ cyberattacks

A "sophisticated state-based actor" has been attempting to hack a wide range of Australian organisations for months and had stepped up its efforts recently, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on…

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New coronavirus cases in New Zealand rattle public confidence

New Zealand recorded on Thursday its third new case of the coronavirus this week as quarantine breaches and other failures undermined public confidence days after it declared itself among the…

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Photo Story Fifteen-year-old stabbed to death in Melbourne

Mourners react next to a floral tribute where a 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death outside Brimbank Shopping Centre, in Melbourne, Australia, 18 June 2020. Six teenage boys have been…

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Qantas halts most international flights until October

Qantas Airways Ltd said on Thursday it had cancelled most international flights until late October after the Australian government indicated its border closure because of the coronavirus was likely to…

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Australian PM says country’s job losses from coronavirus pandemic are devastating

The massive blow to Australia's employment sector from COVID-19 pandemic-driven lockdowns is "devastating", Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday after data showed the jobless rate surged to a 19-year…

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New Zealand confirms another imported case of coronavirus

New Zealand has confirmed another coronavirus case, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has announced. The case is a man in his 60s, who is in quarantine. Bloomfield said “The…

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Australian universities to hire plane for foreign students shut out by virus border closure

Two Australian universities plan to hire a plane to fly in hundreds of foreign students shut out in the middle of their studies by border closures due to COVID-19, a…

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Anger in New Zealand’s after first Covid cases in 24 days were imported

New Zealand has confirmed two new cases of coronavirus, ending a 24-day run of no new infections in the country. The cases relate to two women from the same family,…

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Australia considering shorter quarantine for students and low-transmission countries

Senior Australian government ministers have flagged shorter quarantine periods for international students and business travellers as part of a suite of measures to reopen Australia to international travel. On Sunday,…

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Australia’s largest states further ease coronavirus curbs

Australia's two largest states will further ease public coronavirus restrictions at libraries, community centres and nightclubs, officials said on Sunday, despite recording increases in new infections. New South Wales (NSW),…

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NSW, Australia, reports first locally transmitted case since late May

New South Wales (Australia) reported its first locally transmitted COVID-19 case since late May, a sign the threat from the pandemic is far from over as social distancing restrictions continue…

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New Zealand to allow some maritime vessels but cruise ships still banned

New Zealand said on Friday that it would allow entry of some maritime vessels as it looks to open up its economy after lifting all coronavirus restrictions earlier this week.…

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Australia announces it has eliminated COVID-19 in some parts of the country

Australia has effectively eliminated COVID-19 in some parts of the country, its chief medical officer said on Friday. Australia has recorded 38 cases of the novel coronavirus over last week,…

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Virgin Australia to double domestic flight capacity by early July

Airline Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said on Thursday it would double domestic capacity by early July as state border restrictions ease and demand grows, joining rival Qantas Airways Ltd in…

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New Zealand goes 20 days with no new cases

New Zealand has now gone 20 days with no new virus cases, even after the country lifted almost all of its restrictions. The country is at Level 1, which allows…

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Australia on track to see coronavirus largely gone by July

Australia is on course to have largely eradicated the coronavirus by July, a public health official said on Wednesday, as the country's most populous state announced the removal of restrictions…

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Autistic boy found alive after being lost for two days on ‘freezing’ mountain in Australia

A 14-year-old boy with non-verbal autism has been found alive after spending two days lost on a mountain in Australia. William Callaghan became separated from his family after running ahead…

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New Zealand to test all arrivals into country as coronavirus declared ‘eliminated’

Speaking as New Zealand declares itself free of coronavirus, Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, says that this week anyone crossing the border into New Zealand will be tested twice…

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New Zealand says it has no active COVID-19 cases in the country

New Zealand said on Monday it had no active cases of COVID-19 for the first time since the novel coronavirus arrived in the country, setting it on course to eliminate…

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New Zealand close to being declared virus-free

As countries around the world continue to grapple with Covid-19, scientists expect to be able to declare next week that New Zealand is virus-free. An anonymous woman in Auckland was…

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Thousands in Australia defy bans at Black Lives Matter protests

Thousands of Australians gathered in protests on Saturday embracing the cause of U.S. protesters angered by the death of a black man in police custody, defying bans and police warnings…

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Australia shakes up foreign investment laws for national security

Australia announced the biggest shakeup of its foreign investment laws in almost half a century on Friday, including giving the government the power to force the sale of a business…

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Qantas to reactivate plans for Sydney-London flights

Qantas Airways Ltd will reactivate plans to order airplanes capable of the world's longest non-stop commercial flights from Sydney to London when the airline returns to financial strength, its chief…

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Australia’s most populous state takes legal steps to stop Black Lives Matter protest

Australia's most populous state has lodged a legal application to stop a Black Lives Matter protest occurring in Sydney, state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Friday. Thousands of people have…

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Qantas plans to ‘ramp up’ Australian flights

Australian airline Qantas says it hopes to increase domestic flights to 40% of pre-pandemic levels by August, up from 5% currently. That's contingent on state borders reopening as expected, says…

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New Zealand says July likely too early to resume travel with Australia

New Zealand rejected calls by business leaders on Thursday to restart flights to Australia within a month as too short a timeframe. An Australian and New Zealand business lobby group…

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Australia’s economy in recession

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has confirmed Australia is now in a recession as the economy reels from the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Frydenberg’s confirmation came after the the Australian Bureau of Statistics…

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New Zealand sees 12th consecutive day with no new cases

New Zealand has reported a 12th straight day of no new cases of Covid-19, as the government considers abandoning as early as next week all remaining restrictions on the country…

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Photo Story: Taronga Zoo in Sydney reopens

A giraffe stands in an enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, 01 June 2020. Taronga Zoo Sydney reopened to the public on 091 June 2020, after being temporarily closed…

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NSW Government offers frontline public sector workers $1,000 bonus

In Australia, the Government of New South Wales is offering a $1,000 bonus to frontline public sector workers in the face of opposition to a wage freeze amid the coronavirus…

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Australia eases social distancing restrictions

Several Australian states eased social distancing restrictions further on Monday, allowing restaurants to host more people and public attractions to reopen, as Canberra moves to revive the country’s ailing economy.…

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Photo Story: Maltese Cheesecake on Australian roads

Pastizzi is probably one of the most popular snack on the entire island. The traditional ricotta cheesecake is sold in many pastizzerias across Malta and Gozo. Pastizzi are normally made with…

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Zookeeper badly injured after lion attack at Australian zoo

Worksafe New South Wales (NSW) inspectors arrive at the Shoalhaven Zoo in Nowra, south of Sydney, Australia, 29 May 2020. A female staff member was critically injured after being attacked…

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Photo story: Investigation into loss of shipping containers from ship off Australia’s coast

Workers from logistics company QUBE inspect toppled containers on board the Singapore-flagged container ship APL England at the Port of Brisbane, Australia, 29 May 2020. An investigation is underway into…

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Australia eyes New Zealand travel “bubble” as cases fall

Falling numbers of active coronavirus cases in Australia and New Zealand are paving the way for the easing of travel restrictions between the two countries, health officials said on Wednesday,…

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Photo Story: Shipping containers lost overboard in Australia

A shipping container that was lost overboard in extreme weather from the Singapore-flagged container ship APL England. It was among five salvaged from Birdie Beach in Newcastle, on the Central…

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Sydney braces for rat ‘plague’ over Covid-19 lockdown

In Australia, empty offices and restaurants in the city of Sydney are driving hungry rats into homes and suburbs, and the loosening of restrictions could create “a new rat plague”,…

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Vast majority of New Zealanders don’t want to return to office after Covid-19

A study of New Zealanders working from home during coronavirus lockdown has found many were just as productive as when they were in the office, and a majority were reluctant…

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News Corp to stop printing more than 100 newspapers in Australia

The Australian arm of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp said on Thursday it will stop printing more than 100 regional newspapers after the coronavirus shutdown gutted advertising revenue, accelerating a downturn…

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Australia records youngest coronavirus victim with death of 30-year-old

Australia recorded its youngest victim of COVID-19 after a 30-year-old man with underlying health conditions died in Queensland state, having shown symptoms of the disease for weeks but without getting…

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New Zealand expects plan for safe travel with Australia in June

Reuters reports New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday a draft blueprint on safely starting travel between New Zealand and Australia will be presented to both governments in…

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New Zealand hit by second quake in 24 hours

New Zealand's capital shook for a second consecutive day on Tuesday after a magnitude 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit Wellington, data from monitor GeoNet showed. There were no initial reports of…

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New Zealand’s PM stays calm as earthquake strikes while doing TV interview

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was undaunted by an earthquake that struck the capital Wellington on Monday while she was doing a live TV interview, and calmly continued with…

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5.9 Magnitude Earthquake strikes near Wellington, New Zealand

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake has struck near Wellington. It struck 46km deep, 25km northwest of Levin, according to Geonet. The quake has been felt as far north as Gisborne and…

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Australia calls on younger people to get virus tests as reopening accelerates

Australia's most populous state said on Saturday it recorded just three new cases of the coronavirus the previous day and urged younger people to get tested as it prepares to…

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New Zealand opposition leader ousted as PM Ardern’s popularity soars

The leader of New Zealand’s main opposition party was ousted on Friday after opinion polls showed he was no match for the soaring popularity of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as…

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New Zealand discussing cash handouts to stimulate economy

New Zealand is considering distributing free cash directly to individuals as a way of policy stimulus to help boost the economy reeling from a COVID-19 pandemic driven contraction, Finance Minister…

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Australia’s most populous state to relax restrictions on restaurants, cafes

Australia's most populous state said on Friday restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus will be eased to allow cafes and restaurants to have up to 50 patrons from…

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Australia seeks exemption from UK quarantine as COVID-19 cases slow

Australia, after bringing its coronavirus outbreak largely under control, said on Friday it is seeking an exemption from a requirement that travellers arriving in the UK quarantine for 14 days…

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New Zealand PM Ardern’s election prospects boosted by latest poll

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's popularity has soared ahead of elections in September as a result of her handling of the coronavirus pandemic, a poll showed on Thursday. And…

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Photo Story: Adapting to the times during the coronavirus pandemic in Australia

Australian singer Casey Donovan (C-R, back) performs live during a drive-in concert at the Robyn Webster Sports Centre in Sydney, Australia, 21 May 2020. The concert was organized as part…

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Australian government asks universities for help bringing back international students

International students could head back to Australia within months as universities plan for how they can be safely quarantined and cleared of coronavirus. The higher education sector has been hit…

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Economists predict Australia’s hospitality, arts industries may not recover from coronavirus until 2026

Hospitality and the arts, industries that were hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic might not fully recover for five or six years according to Deloitte Access Economics' latest employment forecast.…

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