Oceania

The Year in Pictures – March: The attack on Christchurch mosque that left 50 dead

A Muslim worshipper prays at a makeshift memorial at the Al Noor Mosque on Deans Rd in Christchurch, New Zealand, 19 March 2019. A gunman killed 50 worshippers and injured…

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Australia firefighters brace for extreme heatwave at weekend

Firefighters battling wildfires in Australia’s most populous state attempted to make headway Thursday amid favourable conditions, before an “extreme heatwave” hits embattled areas on the weekend. Thousands of firefighters in…

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Photo Story: The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

InfoTrack leads the fleet at the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday 26th December 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/MICK TSIKAS

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Cadbury Launches World-First Paper Packaging Trial in New Zealand

In a world-first,Mondelez International has launched its Cadbury Energy bar in new packaging made from 100 percent recyclable sustainably sourced paper that will be trialled and tested exclusively by New…

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Minor relief in Australia from extreme bushfires

Scorching heat baking Australia eased on Monday bringing relief from extreme bushfires, which destroyed around 180 houses and killed one person over the weekend, allowing firefighters to prepare for worsening…

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Travel warnings issued as blazes ravage Australia

Catastrophic fire warnings are in place across the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), where firefighters are tackling more than 100 blazes. Authorities have urged Christmas travellers to delay…

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‘Catastrophic’ conditions in Australia as bushfires rage on

A scorching heatwave intensified bushfires ravaging parts of Australia on Saturday, and out-of-control blazes surrounding Sydney worsened under "catastrophic" conditions. Australia's eastern coast has been hit by a record-breaking heatwave,…

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Australian PM apologises for holiday as firefighters die in bushfire

Two volunteer firefighters in Australia have died during the ongoing operation to contain the devastating bushfires on the country's east coast. Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, were killed…

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All-time temperature record broken again in Australia

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Bom) said individual December temperature records had been broken in a number of places - with temperatures in the southern city of Adelaide hitting 45.3C.…

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State of emergency declared in Australia over bushfire crisis

A state of emergency has been declared in New South Wales, Australia, amid fears a record-breaking heatwave will exacerbate the state's bushfire crisis. The nation experienced its hottest day on…

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Australia endures hottest day on record

Australia has experienced its hottest day on record with the national average temperature reaching a high of 40.9C (105.6F), meteorologists say. The Bureau of Meteorology (Bom) said "extensive" heat on…

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New Zealand holds minute of silence for volcano victims

New Zealanders across the country observed a minute of silence on Monday to honour the victims of last week's fatal volcanic eruption, as police continued efforts to recover two…

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Senior Australian police officials hoped Cardinal Pell investigation could distract from major police scandal

Senior police officials in the Australian state of Victoria discussed by email the way that their 2014 investigation into Cardinal George Pell could deflect public scrutiny from an emerging corruption…

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Photo Story: Big crash during UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Australia

Riders crash during the women's Omnium Scratch race at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup at the Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane, Australia, 15 December 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/DAN PELED

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UPDATED: New Zealand volcano death toll rises to 18 as victim dies in Australia hospital

The death toll from New Zealand's White Island volcano eruption rose to 18 Sunday, including two people whose bodies have not been recovered, police said. A land search early Sunday…

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Photo Story: Images of the White Island volcanic eruption search in New Zealand

Handout photos made available by Royal New Zealand Navy shows authorities during a recovery operation on White Island, New Zealand, 13 December 2019. According to recent media reports, a…

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Six bodies recovered from White Island

New Zealand authorities have recovered six more bodies after a team landed on White Island to begin a high-risk operation to bring back victims of Monday's volcanic eruption. The bodies…

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Photo Story: Australian Defence Force personnel return home after deployment to Iraq

Warrant Officer Adam Lehane (C) of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Task Group Taji 9 (TGT-9) is greeted by his daughters Paige (L) and Grace upon returning home from deployment…

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NZ police plan to recover bodies from White Island on Friday

New Zealand police have said they plan to recover bodies from White Island - where a volcanic eruption killed at least eight people - on Friday morning. The rescue mission…

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New Zealand orders 1.2 million sq cm of skin from US to treat volcano patients

New Zealand has ordered 1.2 million sq cm of skin from America to treat patients suffering burns of up to 95% after Monday's volcano eruption. Surgeons have been working around…

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Adelaide Airport terminal evacuated over security scare

Passengers queue on Wednesday morning at security check points following a system fault at Adelaide Airport in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. A fault with security screening at Adelaide Airport,…

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A new nation in the making, Bougainville votes for independence from Papua New Guinea

The South Pacific islands of Bougainville overwhelmingly voted for independence from Papua New Guinea, according to official referendum results released Wednesday. The non-binding results, which require ratification from Papua New…

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New Zealand volcano: Eight still missing, fears of new eruptions on island

Eight people are still missing and presumed dead following Monday's volcanic eruption in New Zealand, police have said. Officials have warned there is a "40-60% chance chance" another eruption…

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Photo Story: Lights of Christmas in Sydney

St Mary's Cathedral is illuminated with projections as part of Lights of Christmas in Sydney, Australia on Monday 09 December 2019. Photos: EPA-EFE/STEVEN SAPHORE Click on photos to…

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Photo Story: Images from White Island as the volcano erupted

Images provided by visitor Michael Schade shows the moment White Island (Whakaari) volcano, as it erupts, in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, in the early hours of Monday the…

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No signs of life on island where deadly volcano struck

At least five people have died after a volcano erupted in New Zealand. The number of people unaccounted for following the eruption on White Island is said to be in…

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UPDATED: At least five victims after volcano erupts in New Zealand

A volcano has erupted in New Zealand with 100 people in the vicinity - leaving some unaccounted for and at least five persons havedied. Police said there are likely to…

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Photo Story: Elton John in Australia

A series of photos of British musician Elton John (L) performing on stage during 'A Day On The Green Music Festival' at Mt Duneed Estate in Geelong, Australia, 07 December…

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Photo Story: Satellite image of fires burning along coast of New South Wales

A handout photo made available by NASA Earth Observatory of a satellite image showing fires burning near the coast of New South Wales, near Canberra and areas north to the…

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Australia bushfires north of Sydney ‘too big to put out’

A "mega blaze" raging across a 60km front north-west of Sydney cannot currently be put out, Australian fire officials have warned. The fire across almost 300,000 hectares is just an…

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‘Mega blaze’ warning near Sydney

About 100 bushfires are raging in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), with the most severe forming into a "mega blaze" north of Sydney. More than 2,000 firefighters…

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Bushfires continue to burn in New South Wales

A New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service officer along properties on Waratah Road and Kelynack Road as the Three Mile fire approaches Mangrove Mountain, north of Sydney, New South…

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Two customs agents charged over Australia’s largest crystal meth seizure, Among arrested persons two with Maltese surnames

Two customs agents have been charged over Australia's largest-ever seizure of crystal meth, which had been smuggled into the country in stereo speakers. Married customs agents Rachel Cachia and Donovan…

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Sydney engulfed in thick smoke

Firefighters were on Thursday battling several blazes ringing Sydney, leaving Australia’s most populous city blanketed by smoke that is expected to linger for days. Bushfires have killed at least four…

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Door-to-door measles vaccination campaign across Samoa

The government of Samoa announced Wednesday that it will suspend all business activity to conduct a door-to-door vaccination campaign across the country on Dec. 5-6 against measles, which since October…

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Photo Story: Elton John performs in Perth, Western Australia

British musician Elton John performs during his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour at HBF Park in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, 30 November 2019 (issued 01 December 2019). Photo: EPA-EFE/TONY MCDONOUGH

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Mobile phone detection cameras rolled out in Australia

In Australia, New South Wales rolled out mobile phone detection cameras on Sunday, hoping to cut the number of fatalities on its roads by a third over two years, transport…

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Student climate change protesters take to the streets across Australia

Thousands of Australian students walked out of class on Friday to join rallies demanding stronger action to rein in climate change, which they said is contributing to the country’s bushfire…

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Photo Story: Sydney hit by severe storm

Workers from Australia's Tree Care Service survey fallen trees blocking a street in the suburb of Gordon in Sydney, Australia, 27 November 2019. A severe fast-moving thunderstorm has passed over…

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Australia probes ‘deeply disturbing’ allegations of Chinese political interference

Australia’s domestic spy agency is investigating whether China tried to install an agent in federal parliament in what Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday called “deeply disturbing” allegations. The Australian…

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Chinese ‘spy’ alleges Beijing ordered overseas murders, including in Australia

A man claiming to have worked as a secret Chinese operative for five years says Beijing has directed overseas assassinations, including on Australian soil. Government sources have confirmed to the…

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Samoa measles outbreak kills 20, mostly children

Deaths related to measles, mostly among small children, have more than tripled to 20 in the past week on the Pacific island of Samoa, the government has said eight days…

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Photo Story: People protest oil drilling in Great Australian Bight, in Australia

Three time World Surfing champion Mick Fanning joins in demonstrations at Currumbin, on the Gold Coast, Australia, Protests were held around Australia in opposition to plans for Norwegian oil company…

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Johnson & Johnson lose landmark lawsuit

Australia's federal court on Thursday ruled in favour of hundreds of women who suffered severe pain from a vaginal mesh implant, in a landmark class-action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. The 7-year-old…

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Sydney under blanket of smoke as bushfires continue to burn across Australia

Sydney residents woke to find their city under a blanket of smoke on Thursday and it is expected to remain at least until Friday. The smoke is due to around…

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Bushfire forces schools to close across Australia’s south

More than 100 schools in Australia’s southeast were closed on Wednesday and officials warned people in high-risk zones to be ready to evacuate as forecast high temperatures risked opening a…

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Bushfire conditions worsen in east and west Australia

Rising temperatures, lightning strikes and gusty winds further raised fire danger on both coasts of Australia on Sunday as the country already battles more than 120 bushfires and firefighters workday…

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Australia braces for heavy winds, lightning amid bushfire threat

Australia braced on Friday for strong winds that could whip up bushfires in two states over the weekend and add to a toll of more than 270 homes destroyed and…

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Qantas completes “double sunrise” test flight from London to Sydney

Qantas Airways Ltd completed a 19-hour 19 minute non-stop test flight from London to Sydney on Friday as it nears a decision on whether to order planes for what would…

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US designer Tommy Hilfiger in Sydney

US designer Tommy Hilfiger poses for a portrait at the Park Hyatt in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 14 November 2019. The iconic US designer is in Sydney as part…

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Photo Story: U2 perform at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane

Irish rock band U2 perform at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 will see U2 return to New Zealand and Australia for the first time since…

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Qantas to operate another non-stop London to Sydney research flight

Australia’s national carrier is preparing for its second ultra-long haul research flight, as part of scientific studies into minimising jetlag for passengers and improving crew wellbeing. The first research…

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Death toll rises in Australian bushfires, authorities alarmed at scale of fires

Australian authorities say a fourth person has died in a week of massive bushfires on the nation's east coast. The 58-year-old man's body was found in northern New South Wales…

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Photo Story: Bushfires in New South Wales as seen from space

A handout photo made available by NASA Earth Observatory shows a satellite image of destructive bushfires raging near the coast of New South Wales, Australia, 07 November 2019 (issued 08…

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Australian bushfires turn deadly

Two people were found dead and at least 100 homes were destroyed as bushfires raged across eastern Australia, authorities said on Saturday. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NWS RFS) said…

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Record number of fires in New South Wales

Australian authorities say an "unprecedented" number of emergency-level bushfires have threatened the state of New South Wales (NSW). More than 90 blazes were raging across the state on Friday. The…

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Photo Story: The fire in Western Australia from Space

A handout photo made available by NASA Earth Observatory of a satellite image showing of fire and smoke in southern Western Australia, Australia, 05 November 2019 (issued 07 November 2019).…

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