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New Zealand hosts Australia PM in 1st meeting since outbreak
Growing friction with China and how to reopen borders after the pandemic will be among the topics discussed by the leaders of Australia and New Zealand in their first face-to-face meeting since the coronavirus outbreak prompted both countries to close their borders.
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New Zealand marks 2 years since Christchurch mosque killings
Temel Atacocugu, right, who survived being shot nine times during the attack on the Al Noor mosque, cries as he speaks at a National Remembrance Service, Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Christchurch, New Zealand. The service marks the second anniversary of a shooting massacre in which 51 worshippers were killed at two Christchurch mosques by a white supremacist. (Kai Schwoerer/Pool via AP)WELLINGTON – New Zealand on Saturday marked the second anniversary of one of its most traumatic days, when 51 worshippers were killed at two Christchurch mosques by a white supremacist gunman. Several hundred people gathered at the Christchurch Arena for the remembrance service, which was also livestreamed. After the attacks, New Zealand quickly passed new laws banning the deadliest types of semiautomatic weapons.
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The Latest: New Zealand opens 1st big vaccination clinic
New Zealand has opened its first large vaccination clinic as it scales up efforts to protect people from the coronavirus. (New Zealand Ministry of Health via AP)WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has opened its first large vaccination clinic as it scales up efforts to protect people from the coronavirus. Gordon cites Wyoming’s declining number of COVID-19 cases and its success in distributing vaccines as reasons to lift the restrictions. AdThe nation of 1.3 million has seen a rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases n the past few weeks. Italy’s total virus cases surpassed 3 million last week, with a new surge powered by the highly contagious variant that was first identified in Britain.
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The Latest: Estimated 17.1 million watched royals interview
All times Pacific Standard Time:9:15 p.m.Oprah Winfrey's explosive interview with Prince Harry and Meghan reached an estimated 17.1 million viewers in the United States on Sunday. In the interview, Meghan said she considered suicide, while Harry said he and his family were “trapped” in an oppressive institution. Ad___1:10 a.m.Tennis star Serena Williams says she's “proud” of Meghan Markle following her interview with Oprah Winfrey. “You are strong- both you and Harry.”Meghan revealed in the interview that she experienced suicidal thoughts after joining the royal family. But ultimately, all she’d ever want is for us to be happy.”___6:20 p.m.Meghan and Harry say their second child is a girl.
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New Zealand remembers 185 who died in quake 10 years ago
Monday marked a decade since the quake struck, killing 185 people. Hundreds of people attended an outdoor service in Christchurch, which continues to rebuild from the magnitude 6.3 quake that destroyed much of its downtown. A separate service was also held in the northern Japanese city of Toyama, home to 12 students who died in the quake. Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel talked about the 28 Japanese citizens who died, the largest number of victims from any country outside of New Zealand. The 12 Japanese students were having lunch at King’s Education, an English language school for international students, when the quake struck, destroying the building.
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No new community cases found in New Zealand since lockdown
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern talks to media in Wellington, New Zealand Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. As people in Auckland adjusted to a new lockdown on Monday, health officials said they'd found no evidence the coronavirus had spread further in the community, raising hopes the restrictions might be short-lived. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)WELLINGTON – As people in Auckland adjusted to a new lockdown on Monday, health officials said they'd found no evidence the coronavirus had spread further in the community, raising hopes the restrictions might be short-lived. New Zealand's largest city was hurriedly placed into a three-day lockdown Sunday after three unexplained virus cases were found. AdPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the three community cases were of the more contagious variant first found in Britain and that genome testing hadn’t linked them to any previous known cases.
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New Zealand city enters 3-day lockdown after virus found
New Zealands largest city of Auckland is being placed into a three-day lockdown Sunday following the discovery of three unexplained virus cases. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)WELLINGTON – New Zealand's largest city of Auckland has begun a three-day lockdown following the discovery of three unexplained coronavirus cases in the community. It has also forced a delay in the America's Cup sailing regatta. AdThe country has been hosting the America's Cup sailing regatta. The winner will then take on Emirates Team New Zealand for the America's Cup.
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Asia Today: Australia OKs Pfizer vaccine, to begin in Feb.
(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)SYDNEY – Australia’s medical regulator has approved use of its first coronavirus vaccine, paving the way for inoculations to begin next month. Residents and workers at aged-care facilities, frontline healthcare workers and quarantine workers are among the groups being prioritized for the first doses. Australia has an agreement for 10 million doses of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine and an option to buy more if supplies allow. Under a three-way agreement, it plans to buy 30 million doses from the Serum Institute of India in phases. — Sri Lanka's government says it will start administering a coronavirus vaccine this week.
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World watches US chaos with shock, dismay and some mockery
She stayed up all night, watching and worrying at her home in Delhi as the chaos unfolded many time zones away. Both have to play their role with decency and responsibility so that democracy itself remains the winner,” Merkel said. Iran, which faces routine U.S. criticism over violations of human rights and democratic values, jumped on the chaos as proof of American hypocrisy. Ally after ally expressed shock, followed by affirmations that U.S. democratic institutions would withstand the turmoil. “American democracy is obviously limping on both feet,” said Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia’s upper house of parliament.
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Asia Today: S. Korea marks deadliest day, over 1,000 cases
A man wearing a face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus is silhouetted as he walks past a construction site in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)SEOUL – South Korea has added more than 1,000 infections to its coronavirus caseload for the second straight day amid growing fears that the virus is spreading out of control in the greater capital area. Thursday marked the 40th consecutive day of triple digit daily jumps, which brought the national caseload to 46,453. The viral resurgence came after months of pandemic fatigue, complacency and government efforts to breathe life into a sluggish economy. She said the target grew from an early realization the nation’s health system simply couldn’t cope with a big outbreak.