Oceania

Former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern gives final speech in parliament, will help tackle online extremism

(Reuters) - Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will help tackle violent extremism online and will also be on the board of an environmental prize set up by Prince…

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Australia to ban TikTok on government devices – reports

Australia will announce a ban on TikTok on government phones this week, following other countries in barring the Chinese-owned video app over security concerns, Australian newspapers reported late on Monday.…

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New Zealand defence minister says military needs more resources amid growing challenges

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - New Zealand's military will require big investment as it faces new challenges and greater expectations from regional allies, the country’s new defence…

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Photo Story: Former US President Barack Obama in Sydney

Former US President Barack Obama (C) waves to onlookers after leaving the Bathers Pavilion in Balmoral, Sydney, Australia, on Monday 27 March 2023. The 44th president of the United States…

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Australia’s Latitude says nearly 8 mln drivers licence numbers stolen

Repeats to widen distribution Data theft much bigger than flagged on March 16 Drivers license, passport numbers, customer records stolen Shares fall 2.5% By Byron Kaye and Navya Mittal March…

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U.S. State Department approves potential sale of Tomahawk missiles to Australia -Pentagon

March 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Australia in a deal valued at up to $895 million, the Pentagon…

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New Zealand to ban TikTok on devices linked to parliament, cites security concerns

WELLINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) - New Zealand said it will ban TikTok on devices with access to the country's parliamentary network due to cybersecurity concerns, becoming the latest nation to…

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Australia, India agree on strengthening economic, defence ties

By Krishn Kaushik NEW DELHI, March 10 (Reuters) - Australia and India have agreed to accelerate a broader economic partnership and to boost their defence ties, Australian Prime Minister Anthony…

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Australia expected to buy up to 5 Virginia class submarines as part of AUKUS

WASHINGTONReuters) - Australia is expected to buy up to five U.S. Virginia class nuclear powered submarines in the 2030's as part of a landmark defense agreement between Washington, Canberra and…

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Sydney swelters through autumn heatwave, bushfire threat looms

By Renju Jose SYDNEY, March 6 (Reuters) - Parts of Australia's east including Sydney recorded their hottest day in more than two years on Monday with temperatures hitting more than…

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Magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes Kermadec Islands in New Zealand – USGS

Updates with details from USGS March 4 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck Kermadec Islands region in New Zealand on Saturday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The quake…

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Australia plans to limit early access to retirement funds, cut tax breaks

By Renju Jose SYDNEY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Australia's centre-left government said on Thursday it would push ahead with plans to change superannuation rules, including restricting early access to funds…

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Australian grocer Woolworths says inflation is spurring in-home dining

Interim dividend of 46 Australian cents per share HY profit rises on strong sales, beats estimate Cost inflation above recent history Shares up 2% By Byron Kaye and Sameer Manekar…

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NZ says cyclone damage could exceed $8 bln, announces emergency funding

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - New Zealand warned on Monday the final cost of the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle, which has left at least 11 people dead, could…

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New Zealand’s cyclone death toll at 11, thousands still missing

SYDNEY, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The death toll from Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand climbed to 11 on Sunday as thousands of people remained missing a week after the storm…

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Australia employment falls for second month, jobless at 8-mth high

By Stella Qiu SYDNEY, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Australia employment surprised in January by falling for a second straight month while the jobless rate jumped to its highest since last…

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Cyclone Gabrielle moves away from New Zealand, recovery efforts begin

By Lucy Craymer and Renju Jose WELLINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Cyclone Gabrielle weakened and moved away from New Zealand on Wednesday as the country started to assess the damage…

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Magnitude 6.1 quake strikes off New Zealand coast

WELLINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck New Zealand near Wellington on Wednesday at a depth of 48 km (30 miles), government seismic monitor Geonet said. The…

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Australia to expand rollout of fifth COVID vaccine shot

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will roll out a fifth dose of COVID-19 vaccine later this month to all citizens aged 18 and above who have not contracted coronavirus or been…

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Australia orders checks on Chinese-made cameras in defence offices

By Renju Jose and Stefica Nicol Bikes SYDNEY, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The Australian government will examine surveillance technology used in offices of the defence department, Defence Minister Richard Marles…

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Girl killed in shark attack on Australia’s west coast

SYDNEY, Feb 5 (Reuters) - A 16-year-old girl died after being mauled by a shark in a river in Western Australia's state capital Perth after she jumped in the water…

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Australia’s radioactive capsule en route to storage as investigation begins

By Lewis Jackson SYDNEY, Feb 2 (Reuters) - A lost radioactive capsule found after a search along a 1,400 km stretch of the arid Western Australian outback is due to…

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Australia to replace Queen Elizabeth’s image on A$5 banknote

SYDNEY, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Australia will replace the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from its A$5 currency note with a new design to reflect and honour the history of…

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Australian Cardinal George Pell’s funeral sparks protests as mourners gather

SYDNEY, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Mourners and protesters faced off in Sydney on Thursday at the funeral service for Australian Cardinal George Pell, a former top Vatican official who was…

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UPDATED: Needle in a haystack found: Australia recovers missing radioactive capsule

By Lewis Jackson and Melanie Burton SYDNEY, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Australian authorities on Wednesday found a radioactive capsule smaller than a coin that was lost in the vast Outback…

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WATCH: Australia reiterates Ukraine support after Djokovic’s father poses with Russia fans

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday reiterated Australian support for Ukraine and criticised supporters of Russia's invasion after a video emerged showing Novak Djokovic's father posing at the Australian Open…

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China’s Xi says ties with Australia moving in “right direction”

SHANGHAI, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday relations with Australia were moving in the right direction in the latest sign of an improvement in ties…

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Troubleshooter Chris Hipkins faces a tough road as New Zealand PM

By Alasdair Pal and Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Chris Hipkins, who became New Zealand's new prime minister on Wednesday, built a reputation for competence in tackling COVID-19,…

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Kanye West could be denied entry to Australia

SYDNEY (Reuters) - American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, may not be suitable for an Australian visa because of his history of anti-Semitic remarks, a government minister said…

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New Zealand’s Chris Hipkins sworn in as prime minister

By Lucy Craymer and Alasdair Pal WELLINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Labour leader Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand's prime minister in a formal ceremony on Wednesday, following…

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New Zealand’s Ardern bids emotional farewell on last day as prime minister

Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday bid an emotional farewell on her last day as prime minister, speaking of the kindness and empathy New Zealanders have shown her, but said she was…

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Ardern’s successor as Labour leader faces tough October election

Tough COVID-19 curbs hurt Ardern Water, carbon emissions policies under fire Conservative National Party seen buoyed By Lucy Craymer and Byron Kaye WELLINGTON/SYDNEY, Jan 19 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime…

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New Zealand’s ruling party confirms Hipkins as new prime minister

Labour Party chooses Hipkins to become 41st prime minister Hipkins to be sworn in on Wednesday Carmel Sepuloni appointed deputy prime minister By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) -…

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Chris Hipkins set to replace Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand prime minister

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Chris Hipkins, who played a significant role in New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to replace Jacinda Ardern as prime minister…

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New Zealand’s Ardern leaves legacy of kindness, disappointments

By Praveen Menon Jan 19 (Reuters) - Jacinda Ardern has put tiny New Zealand on the map in her five years as prime minister, becoming a global icon for left-leaning…

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Candidates to replace Jacinda Ardern to start making their bids

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Nominations for candidates to replace Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand's prime minister must be submitted by 9am Saturday (2200GMT) ahead of a…

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Record-breaking cane toad found in Queensland

A cane toad so giant wildlife officers thought it was fake has been found in a north Australian rainforest. The "monster" specimen is six times bigger than the average toad,…

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A sign of the times, NZ PM Ardern’s resignation resonates for women in power

WELLINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Thursday's shock resignation of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who altered the face of global politics when she was elected the world's youngest female…

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FACTBOX: The candidates to replace New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern

By Lewis Jackson and Alasdair Pal 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.…

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Jacinda Ardern to step down as New Zealand leader

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday made a shock announcement she had "no more in the tank" to continue leading…

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UPDATED: Qantas flight lands at Sydney airport after issuing distress signal

By Kirsty Needham and Lewis Jackson SYDNEY, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A Qantas Airways flight from New Zealand landed safely at Sydney airport on Wednesday after the airline said it…

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Australia’s natural disasters bill hits $3.5 billion in 2022, billions more to come

By Lewis Jackson SYDNEY (Reuters) - Floods and natural disasters that hit all but one Australian state and territory in 2022 cost the economy A$5 billion ($3.48 billion) and stoked…

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Many Western Australia communities isolated in ‘record-breaking’ floods

SYDNEY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Australia's weather forecaster said on Sunday that record-breaking floods in the country's northwest had now left many communities isolated, as the days-long crisis continued. The…

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Western Australia in grip of ‘devastating’ flood emergency, Australia PM says

SYDNEY, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday his government was ready to provide whatever support was needed to residents of Western Australia state as record-breaking floods…

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Passengers to be compensated after algae spoils Australia-New Zealand cruise

Viking Cruises will compensate hundreds of passengers on its Orion cruise ship after cruisers were forced to stay on board and miss multiple stops because officials blocked port access due…

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China boosts coal production, eases Australia ban to boost energy security

The increasing need to secure energy supplies after easing COVID-19 restrictions has pushed China to gradually resume Australian coal imports and urge domestic miners to boost their already record output.…

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Photo Story: Sydney Festival – Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon

Visitors are seen as they interact with artwork during the opening of Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon, as part of the 2023 Sydney Festival, in Sydney, Australia. Via…

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WATCH: Four killed, three injured after choppers collide mid-air in Australia

Two helicopters collided in mid-air near a popular tourist attraction in Australia's Gold Coast region on Monday, killing four people and critically injuring three more, authorities said. Emergency services were called…

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Photo Story: Four dead after two helicopters collide on the Gold Coast, Australia

Two helicopters are seen following a collision near Seaworld, on the Gold Coast, Australia, 02 January 2023. Four people are dead and another 13 injured after two helicopters collided before…

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Australia to require negative COVID tests for travellers from China

SYDNEY, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Australia said on Sunday that travellers from China will have to provide negative COVID-19 test results from Jan. 5, joining a growing number of nations that have implemented…

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Sydney welcoming new year with huge firework display

Sydney is welcoming in the new year (at 1pm UK time) with more fireworks after an earlier display "inspired by the land, sea and sky"in its first restriction-free New Year's…

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What time does 2023 arrive around the world?

As 2022 comes to an end, celebrations will begin to erupt across the world for the New Year. Using UK GMT time, here is a brief overview of when counties…

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Australia to ring in 2023 with no COVID restrictions

SYDNEY, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Australia is gearing up to celebrate its first restriction-free New Year's Eve after two years of COVID disruptions, with more than a million revellers expected…

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Australia’s tourism body wants to lift working holiday visa age limit to 50

Australia’s peak tourism body wants the working holiday visa age cut-off to be lifted to provide a wider range of skilled workers and professionals. The federal government is conducting a…

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‘Asia’s El Chapo’ extradited to Australia to face drug trafficking charges

WELLINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Thursday it had taken the head of a global drug trafficking syndicate, dubbed 'Asia's El Chapo', into custody after…

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Australia’s sovereign wealth fund buys gold, commodities as shadow of 1970s looms

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…

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Australia opens up first zone for offshore wind farms

By Sonali Paul MELBOURNE, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Australia on Monday opened up its first zone for developing offshore wind farms in a region off its southern coast, looking to…

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