Anti-mandate protesters converge on New Zealand Parliament
About 2,000 protesters upset with the government’s pandemic response converged on New Zealand’s Parliament — but it appeared there would be no repeat of the action six months ago in which protesters camped out on Parliament grounds for more than three weeks.
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.
New Zealand pushes to end global tariffs on virus supplies
New Zealand is pushing for nations around the world to end tariffs on face masks, syringes and other supplies needed to battle the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)WELLINGTON – New Zealand is pushing for nations around the world to end tariffs on face masks, syringes and other supplies needed to battle the coronavirus pandemic. “It is a depressing, objective fact that across our region, many economies impose tariffs, even on vaccines,” said Vangelis Vitalis, the chairperson of APEC’s senior officials’ meeting. New Zealand last year removed tariffs from such virus supplies. Similar to Malaysia, New Zealand is hosting APEC meetings online rather than in person due to the pandemic.
The Latest: Alaska opens vaccines to all 16 or older
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker shows Alaska leading states in the percentage of its population to have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Larry Hogan said Tuesday, citing improving COVID-19 health metrics and increasing vaccinations. It was unclear what authority state officials might be able to exert on federal facilities. — County health officials in Wyoming have detected the coronavirus variant that originated in South Africa. Another 16 million doses are expected to be shipped by the end of the month.
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.
Little damage from huge Pacific quake; tsunami threat passes
People gather on high ground in Whangarei, New Zealand, as a tsunami warning is issued Friday, March 5, 2021. Small tsunami waves were seen, but little damage was apparent hours later. The tsunami threat caused traffic jams and some chaos in New Zealand as people scrambled to get to higher ground. Smaller waves were measured elsewhere in the South Pacific. In 2011, a magnitude 6.3 quake hit the city of Christchurch, killing 185 people and destroying much of its downtown.
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.
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.
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.
Social media stars sail away with sea shanty record deals
(AP Photo/Nick Perry)LONDON – The long forgotten sea shanty has been enjoying a renaissance on social media and is now moving into popular music with two U.K. artists landing record deals, following their online performances. For some artists, the sea shanty has long been part of their repertoire. Whether or not “Wellerman” counts as a shanty, there is no denying it has caused a stir online. Claire Maddocks, a neurologic music therapist, said she thinks sea shanties appeal to people because of the “simplicity of a human voice,” and the repetitive, predictable nature of the song. AdAnd Professor Smyth says he's fine with people calling “Wellerman” a shanty if they want to.
The Latest: Hong Kong ends lockdown in Kowloon neighborhood
The district has been at the center of a worsening coronavirus outbreak, with over 160 cases reported over the first three weeks in January. As of Sunday, Hong Kong has reported 10,086 cases of the coronavirus, with 169 deaths recorded. The nation of 26 million people has reported fewer than 30,000 virus cases and a little over 900 deaths. There have been 373,090 total virus cases and a death toll of 3,279 since the pandemic began, according to the health department. The U.S. accounts for roughly one of every four cases reported worldwide and one of every five deaths.
Asia Today: New Zealand reports 1st community case in months
(AP Photo/Vincent Yu)WELLINGTON – New Zealand has reported its first coronavirus case outside of a quarantine facility in more than two months, although there was no immediate evidence the virus was spreading in the community. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said Sunday the case was a 56-year-old woman who recently returned from Europe. Like other returning travelers, she spent 14 days in quarantine and twice tested negative before being returning home on Jan. 13. The far northeastern province of Heilongjiang reported another 29 cases, linked partly to an outbreak at a meat processing plant. Beijing, where around 2 million residents have been ordered to undergo new testing, reported two new confirmed cases.
New Zealand to review parliament security after door attack
Crews at New Zealand's Parliament inspect the smashed front doors on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Wellington, New Zealand. Police said a man armed with an axe smashed the glass doors but did not attempt to enter the building. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)WELLINGTON – Officials plan to review security at New Zealand's Parliament after a man armed with an axe smashed the main glass entrance doors early Wednesday. “I am proud that the New Zealand Parliament is one of the most open, accessible parliaments in the world and I very much hope that this continues,” he said in a statement. He said officials are undertaking a full review of the incident and will assess whether changes to security measures are necessary.
The Latest: Fla. lawyer in tobacco cases dies from COVID-19
Brad Little says people 65 and over will be able to get the coronavirus vaccine starting Feb. 1. Overall, Illinois has reported more than 1 million cases and 17,743 deaths. Ontario reported 2,903 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, including eight new cases of a variant from the United Kingdom. ___MADRID — Spain is reporting 25,438 coronavirus cases and more than 400 deaths for the second day in a row. Italy added 14,242 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, increasing the tally to 2.3 million cases.
Asia Today: India starts shipping COVID-19 vaccine to cities
Health workers shift a box containing COVID-19 vaccine from a vehicle to a cold storage at Commissionerate of Health and Family Welfare in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. WELLINGTON – India has started shipping COVID-19 vaccines to multiple cities, four days ahead of a nationwide inoculation drive. The first vaccine shipments contain the COVISHIELD vaccine made by the Serum Institute and developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. — Indonesia has received the raw materials to begin making 15 million doses of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine. Another Indian, HS Prannoy, an unidentified German and an Egyptian also tested positive on Monday, but their retests were found to be negative.
New Zealand central bank says data system hacked
FILE - In this May 8, 2019, file photo, New Zealand's Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr speaks to the media in Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand's central bank said, Sunday Jan. 10, 2021, that one of its data systems has been breached by an unidentified hacker who has potentially accessed commercially and personally sensitive information. (AP Photo/Nick Perry, File)WELLINGTON – New Zealand’s central bank said Sunday that one of its data systems has been breached by an unidentified hacker who potentially accessed commercially and personally sensitive information. A third party file sharing service used by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to share and store sensitive information had been illegally accessed, the Wellington-based bank said in a statement. Dave Parry, professor of computer science at Auckland University, told Radio New Zealand that another government was likely behind the bank data breach.
New Zealand marks one year since volcanic eruption killed 22
New Zealand Maori group Te kura o te paroa kapa haka sing during a service in Whakatane, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, to mark the first anniversary of a deadly volcanic eruption. An eruption killed 22 people on White Island, a popular tourist destination, when superheated steam spewed out from the crater floor. Woods' 40-year-old son Hayden Marshall-Inman was a tour guide and among 22 people killed in the Dec. 9, 2019, eruption on White Island. New Zealand authorities last month filed safety violation charges against 10 organizations and three individuals in relation to the eruption. Many of those killed and injured were tourists who had been traveling from Australia aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas.
Australian leader seeks conciliation in dispute with China
WELLINGTON – A diplomatic war of words between Australia and China over a graphic tweet seemed to finally cool on Thursday as Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison struck a much more conciliatory tone. China has angrily rejected Morrison's complaints, but its foreign ministry on Thursday declined to comment further on the controversy. The post took aim at alleged unlawful killings and abuses by Australian soldiers during the conflict in Afghanistan. WeChat is ubiquitous in China and is used for everything from getting news to making electronic payments. China has since imposed tariffs and other restrictions on a number of Australian exports.
Australia bounces out of recession as economy grows 3.3%
WELLINGTON – Australia's economy grew by 3.3% in the third quarter, rebounding from its first recession in nearly three decades as it recovered from pandemic-related shocks, according to figures released Wednesday. “Australia’s recession may be over, but Australia’s economic recovery is not,” he said. “But the Australian economy has demonstrated its remarkable resilience and Australia is as well positioned as any other nation on Earth," Frydenberg said. “Today’s national accounts represent a major step forward in Australia’s economic recovery.”Before this year, Australia had managed to avoid a recession for 28 years. Now on top of the pandemic, Australia is enduring a spate of rocky relations with China, its biggest trading partner.
New Zealand symbolically declares climate emergency
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern moves a motion in the Parliament House in Wellington, New Zealand, to declare a climate emergency, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Joining more than 30 other countries around the world, New Zealand took the symbolic step of declaring a climate emergency. (Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald via AP)WELLINGTON – Joining more than 30 countries, New Zealand on Wednesday took the symbolic step of declaring a climate emergency. The declaration states that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity and promises a commitment to minimize global warming. It says climate change will have a devastating impact on New Zealand through flooding, wildfires, sea-level rise and water availability.
New Zealand joins Australia in denouncing China's tweet
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during a media stand-up on her way to Question Time at Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. New Zealand has joined Australia in denouncing a graphic tweet posted by a Chinese official that shows a fake image of a grinning Australian soldier holding a bloodied knife to a childs throat. The post took aim at alleged abuses by Australian soldiers during the conflict in Afghanistan. He wrote a caption with his tweet: “Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers. It is deeply offensive to every Australian, every Australian who has served in that uniform,” he told reporters in Canberra.
Flying overseas? You may have to get coronavirus vaccine
WELLINGTON – International air travel could come booming back next year but with a new rule: Travelers to certain countries must be vaccinated against the coronavirus before they can fly. Encouraging news about vaccine development has given airlines and nations hope they may soon be able to revive suspended flight routes and dust off lucrative tourism plans. In Australia, the boss of Qantas, the country's largest airline, said that once a virus vaccine becomes widely available, his carrier will likely require passengers use it before they can travel abroad or land in Australia. He said they were looking at ways to electronically verify that people have the necessary vaccine for their intended destination, a difficult task. Many people are hoping that vaccinations will become widely available next year, paving the way for a broader reopening of international air travel.
Asia Today: Samoa leader appeals for calm after COVID case
FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2010, file photo, Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi addresses a summit at the United Nations headquarters. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi addressed the nation live on television and radio, urging people to remain vigilant with their virus precautions. Samoa was among a dwindling handful of nations to have not reported a single case of the virus. He said the sailor returned a positive test four days after arriving, but then a second test on Thursday returned a negative result. — India has recorded 45,576 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours as authorities battle to slow a surge of infections in its capital by increasing testing.
Asia Today: New Zealand imposes new mask rules as precaution
ThomasBach, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President,puts on his mask before speaking during the joint press conference between IOC and Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 16, 2020. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Virus Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced the new rules on Monday after meeting with senior lawmakers. — South Korea’s daily coronavirus tally has stayed above 200 for a third consecutive day, as authorities consider raising the country’s social distancing rules. The 223 additional cases recorded Monday by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency raised the country’s total to 28,769, including 494 deaths. The agency says 193 of them are locally transmitted cases while the rest was associated with international arrivals.