Oceania

‘New’ footage of extinct Tasmanian Tiger found

Footage has been released of what is thought to be the last images of the now-extinct Tasmanian tiger. The 21-second film was released by the National Film And Sound Archive…

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Shortlist of four suitors in the running to take over Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia and its administrator Deloitte have shortlisted "highly credentialed" parties who could end up being the new owners of Australia's second major carrier. ABC News reports that the shortlist…

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Australia announces bid to win back tourists

Australia is reeving up its efforts to attract tourists back to the country. Australia has been largely praised for its ability to "flatten the curve," with attention now turning to…

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Ardern New Zealand’s most popular PM in last 100 years

Jacinda Ardern became New Zealand’s most popular prime minister in a century, a Newshub-Reid Research poll showed on Monday, thanks to her COVID-19 response that made the country among the…

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New Zealand to pump $157 million into the country’s sports sector to get it through coronavirus

New Zealand has announced it will invest 264.6 million New Zealand dollars ($157 million) into the country's sports and recreation sector to help mitigate the “significant impact Covid-19 has had…

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International students across Australia rely on free food to survive

International students and other temporary visa holders locked out of federal government support are relying on food banks and restaurants giving away free meals to survive during the coronavirus pandemic.…

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Cafes and bars reopen in parts of Australia after coronavirus lockdown

Restaurants, cafes and bars in Australia's most populous state were reopening on Friday after a two-month shutdown under coronavirus lockdown measures, boosting the federal government's bid to get people back…

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Australians warned worse still to come after job losses hit record high

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned citizens to brace for more bad news as data released on Thursday showed the country’s monthly job losses rose to a record high because…

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New Zealand moves to tighten foreign ownership rules amid Covid-19 pandemic

The Government in New Zealand is speeding up changes to foreign investor rules as the economy recovers from the fallout of the global Covid-19 pandemic. “We need to minimise the…

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Australia saw overseas visitors fall 99% in April amid coronavirus lockdown

Australia saw overseas arrivals collapse to almost nothing in April as it closed its borders to fight the coronavirus pandemic, in a massive blow for the tourist industry. Preliminary data…

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Australians told to ‘maintain vigilance’ as coronavirus curbs eased

Australians need to stay on guard against new outbreaks of novel coronavirus as mobility restrictions are eased across the country this week, authorities said, as the death toll rose to…

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New Zealand to ease some coronavirus restrictions from Thursday

New Zealand will allow restaurants, cafes, cinemas, malls and travel within the country to resume from Thursday as it eases most restrictions that were put in place to stop the…

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New Zealand records three new coronavirus cases

New Zealand reported three new Covid-19 cases on Monday, ahead of a decision on whether to ease restrictions further and allow more business and recreational activities to resume after weeks…

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Photo Story: Asylum seekers protest in Brisbane

A refugee supporter holds up a sign as asylum seekers, who are being held in detention, protest at an inner-city motel in Brisbane, Australia, 08 May 2020. The men claim…

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Australia to ease Covid-19 curbs with July targeted for full removal

Australia will ease social distancing restrictions implemented to slow the spread of the coronavirus in a three-step process, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday, with the aim of removing…

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Australia’s biggest states to keep lockdown for Mother’s Day

Australia’s two most populous states on Thursday refused to allow a one-day reprieve from strict limits on personal movement for Mother’s Day this weekend, even as the country’s rate of…

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New Zealand could restart professional sport within days

New Zealand could approve the restart of professional sport as early as next week when authorities decide whether to ease coronavirus restrictions further, the sport ministry said on Thursday. Sport…

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Microsoft with full confidence in the New Zealnd’s economy

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the news that Microsoft will make an investment in New Zealand to establish a data centre for its cloud services was welcomed news. "International companies…

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New Zealand reports one new case, after two consecutive days with no cases

After two consecutive days of zero new coronavirus cases reported, on Wednesday New Zealand reported one new case of the virus, and one new death, a woman in her 60s…

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New Zealand and Australia consider coronavirus “travel bubble”

New Zealand and Australia are discussing the potential creation of a “travel bubble” between the two countries, sources said on Monday, even as Australia reported its highest number of coronavirus…

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The Australian state of Victoria sees biggest jump in new cases in weeks

The Australian state of Victoria has seen its biggest jump in new cases in several weeks while the country's most populous state, New South Wales, is dealing with a cluster…

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New Zealand scientist warns about forgotten aspect of pandemic, the emotional fallout

New Zealand has begun moving out of a strict national lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19, but the emotional consequences of the shutdown are yet to peak, says one…

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Covid-19 vaccine from University of Queensland shows promising results

Early tests of a potential COVID-19 vaccine have shown promising results against the deadly virus, Queensland researchers say. In preclinical tests, the University of Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccine has shown it…

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New Zealand’s Ardern spoke to Queen on pandemic response

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday that she spoke to Queen Elizabeth II after the country emerged out a strict lockdown that helped contain the spread of…

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Australia says international travel will not be resuming ‘anytime soon’

Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, says international travel and mass gatherings will not be resuming ‘anytime soon’. On lifting restrictions, Scott Morrison said "don’t get your hopes up for a…

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2 million Australians download contact tracing app in first 24 hours

Just hours after a contact tracing app was launched by the Australian Government on Monday, more than two million Australians had downloaded it on their mobile phones. The app is…

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Photo Story: Trackwork session at Barwon Heads, Australia

Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman rides Ivan Grozny during a trackwork session at Barwon Heads, Victoria, Australia, 27 April 2020. Via EPA-EFE/VINCE CALIGIURI

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New Zealand prepares to lift strict lockdown after ‘eliminating’ coronavirus

New Zealand is preparing to move out of the strictest lockdown measures in the country’s history as the government reported only one new confirmed case of Covid-19 and said…

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ANZAC Day services cancelled amid coronavirus pandemic in Turkey

ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day Dawn Services are cancelled this year due to ongoing coronavirus social distancing measures. Anzac Day, held annually on 25 April, is a…

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Australia says all WHO members should support a proposed coronavirus inquiry

All member nations of the World Health Organization (WHO) should support a proposed independent review into the coronavirus pandemic, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, further threatening strained…

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Ruby Princess cruise ship leaves Australia

The Ruby Princess cruise ship departed from Port Kembla in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, on Thursday 23 April 2020. Busloads of crew have been taken from the Ruby Princess…

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New Zealand announces support package for media sector

The New Zealand government will spend NZ$50m on ailing media businesses during the coronavirus-induced downturn. News organisations have pleaded with Jacinda Ardern’s government for support over the past month, given…

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Virgin Australia Australia’s first big corporate casualty of the coronavirus pandemic

Virgin Australia has confirmed it has entered voluntary administration - making it Australia's first big corporate casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. It is part-owned by a number of entities…

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New Zealand with bold goal of eliminating virus

While most countries are working on ways to contain the coronavirus, New Zealand has set itself a much more ambitious goal: eliminating it altogether. And experts believe the country could…

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China rejects Australia’s questions on its handling of coronavirus

China dismissed as groundless on Monday Australia’s questioning of how Beijing handled the coronavirus pandemic, saying it had been open and transparent, despite growing scepticism about the accuracy of its…

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Australians told restrictions must remain

More than 150 Australian economists on Monday warned the government against easing social distancing rules aimed at halting the spread of the new coronavirus even as the rate of infections…

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Australia calls for international investigation on WHO’s and China’s handling of coronavirus

Australia on Sunday called for an independent investigation into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the World Health Organization's handling of the crisis. Foreign Minister Marise Payne won't…

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Australia may keep coronavirus restrictions for a year

Australian public life could be constrained for another year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned on Friday, as the country’s most populous state mulled sending children…

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Photo Story: Teddy bear hunt to entertain children during coronavirus lockdown

A collection of images showing plush toys and teddy bears displayed in the windows of Parkdale homes in Melbourne, Australia. A mass teddy bear hunt has been under way around…

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Coronavirus restrictions in Australia to remain in place for at least four weeks

Australians will have to live with coronavirus restrictions for at least another four weeks, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said, as the Government begins to chart a path out of…

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New Zealand warns no “rush to normality”

New Zealand’s prime minister has warned there will be no “rush to normality” when restrictions are eased. Jacinda Ardern said that significant restrictions would be kept in place even if…

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Schools urged to reopen in Australia

Australia’s federal government on Thursday urged state premiers to reopen schools as it considers how to start winding back some other restrictions on movement that have helped slow the spread…

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New Zealand’s Ardern, ministers take 20% pay cut for six months

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is set to take a 20% pay cut for the next six months in the face of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus…

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New Zealand, Australia say too soon to ease restrictions

Officials in New Zealand and Australia, hailed globally for their early signs of success in combating the spread of the coronavirus, said on Monday it is too soon to start…

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People who deliberately spread coronavirus to Australian health workers face life in prison

People who deliberately try to spread the coronavirus to Australia's healthcare workers could spend life in prison, the federal government has warned. Speaking at a Wednesday press conference, Health Minister Greg…

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New Zealand is weighing up whether to relax its COVID-19 lockdown

New Zealand will consider dropping its lockdown arrangements on April 20, two days before the restrictions are due to expire. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has declared her country's…

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Australia records lowest number of new daily cases in three weeks

Australia recorded its lowest number of new coronavirus cases yesterday, with 96 new cases. This is the first time in three weeks the country has seen the number of new…

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New Zealand optimistic as it records lowest number of Covid-19 cases so far

New Zealand has recorded its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in a fortnight, one day after testing a record number of people. There were 50 new confirmed or probable…

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Cardinal Pell released from prison after the country’s highest court quashed his child sexual abuse convictions unanimously

Australia's High Court has overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for sexual abuse, allowing him to walk free in time for Easter. The court announced the decision on Tuesday morning local…

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