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NZ ditches COVID elimination strategy as delta sweeps

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3 years ago

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New Zealand has dropped its COVID elimination strategy insisting the nation will learn to live with the virus

New Zealand officially abandoned its strategy of eliminating COVID-19 moving to ease some restrictions in the city of Auckland.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the nation will instead look to live with the virus while controlling its spread.

The Pacific nation was among just a handful of countries to bring COVID-19 cases down to zero last year and largely stayed virus-free until an outbreak of the highly infections Delta variant in mid-August frustrated efforts to stamp out transmission.

“With this outbreak and Delta the return to zero is incredibly difficult,”

Ardern told a news conference.

“This is a change in approach we were always going to make over time. Our Delta outbreak has accelerated this transition. Vaccines will support it,”

Health authorities reported 29 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, taking the total number in the current outbreak to 1,357.

The majority of the cases are in Auckland, which has been in lockdown for nearly 50 days

Amid mounting pressure, the Prime Minister has said her strategy was never to have zero cases, but to aggressively stamp out the virus.

Strict lockdowns will end once 90% of the eligible population is vaccinated

“It’s clear that a long period of heavy restrictions has not got us to zero cases. But its ok…elimination was important because we didn’t have vaccinations. Now we do. So we can begin to change the way we do things,”

Under new changes in Auckland, people will be able to leave their homes to connect with loved ones outdoors from Wednesday, with a limit of 10 people.

Qantas staff talk to passengers onboard a flight bound for Auckland on April 19.

New rules added to international arrivals:

The government also announced that all foreign nationals entering New Zealand will need to be fully vaccinated from November 1.

Travellers will have to declare their vaccination status when registering with the country’s isolation system and provide proof of vaccination or exemption to their airline and customs officers on landing, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said in a statement.

“To further reduce the possibility of the virus getting through our border, we are introducing the requirement for air travellers aged 17 and over, who are not New Zealand citizens, to be fully vaccinated to enter New Zealand,”

Hipkins said

Those arriving in New Zealand will still have to spend 14 days in quarantine, and all travelers, except for those coming from locations with an exemption, will still need  to show a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours of their first scheduled international flight. 

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U.S. strikes Houthis in Yemen for shipping attacks

U.S. military strikes in Yemen target Houthi rebels following threats to maritime security and attacks on shipping.

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2 days ago

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March 16, 2025

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U.S. military strikes in Yemen target Houthi rebels following threats to maritime security and attacks on shipping.

In Short

The U.S. has launched military strikes in Yemen against Houthi rebels following their attacks on commercial vessels, with President Trump stating the goal is to protect American shipping. The strikes have resulted in civilian casualties and are part of a broader campaign to deter aggression and ensure navigational freedom.

The U.S. has initiated military strikes in Yemen against the Houthi rebels, following their attacks on commercial vessels.

President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that these aerial attacks aim to protect American shipping and restore navigational freedom. He stated that the Houthis will be held fully accountable for their actions.

Local sources report significant explosions in San’a, with civilian casualties reaching 31 dead and 101 injured. Yemen’s Houthi Health Ministry condemned the strikes, labelling them a war crime.

The U.S. strikes targeted Houthi leaders’ residences and their strongholds, alongside missile systems positioned along the coast. U.S. military officials have indicated that this is part of a larger campaign against the group.

The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group is involved in the operation, which seeks to deter aggression from Iran-backed Houthi forces and protect American interests.

Tensions escalated after the Houthis announced their intent to resume attacks on Israeli ships, claiming the lapse of ceasefire agreements.

In retaliation, Trump ordered these military actions, which aim to target Houthi leadership and missile launchers, while also signaling a warning to Iran.

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Norris wins Australian GP as Piastri’s hopes dashed

Lando Norris triumphs at the Australian Grand Prix as Oscar Piastri faces heartbreak in his home race.

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2 days ago

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March 16, 2025

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Lando Norris triumphs at the Australian Grand Prix as Oscar Piastri faces heartbreak in his home race.

In Short

Lando Norris won the 2025 Australian Grand Prix amid chaotic weather conditions, while Oscar Piastri struggled at his home race, finishing far behind expectations. Despite scoring some points, Piastri and his supporters were disappointed with his performance.

Lando Norris achieved victory at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, marking a strong start to his season. The race featured significant chaos, largely due to rain, affecting many drivers.

Oscar Piastri, competing in his home Grand Prix, faced disappointment as his race was derailed. Piastri’s team McLaren celebrated Norris’s success while he struggled on the track.

Aussie rookie Jack Doohan’s race ended prematurely after a crash in the early laps.

Piastri was positioned close to Norris when he lost control and spun onto the grass, dropping to the back of the pack.

Despite a determined effort to regain positions, Piastri’s race did not meet the expectations of him or his supporters.

In the final moments, he managed to score some points but it was not the outcome he desired.

Fans had hoped for a better performance from their local hero, but the race results proved challenging. The event highlighted the unpredictable nature of Formula 1, especially under adverse weather conditions.

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Trump’s tariffs threaten Australia’s pharmaceutical industry prices

Trump’s tariffs may jeopardise Australia’s $1.1 billion pharmaceutical exports, risking essential medicine prices and healthcare quality.

Published

3 days ago

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March 15, 2025

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Trump’s tariffs may jeopardise Australia’s $1.1 billion pharmaceutical exports, risking essential medicine prices and healthcare quality.

In Short

Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium raise fears they could increase medicine prices in Australia, threatening its $1.1 billion pharmaceutical export industry. Prime Minister Albanese criticises the tariffs as unjustified but has ruled out retaliation, while industry experts warn against using health policies as trading leverage.

Fears have emerged that President Trump’s tariffs could adversely affect Australia’s pharmaceutical export industry, potentially raising medicine prices.

The Trump administration recently announced 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, sparking concern that Australia’s pharmaceutical exports, valued at approximately $1.1 billion in 2024, could face similar tariffs.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the US tariff actions as unjustified and detrimental, indicating he would not retaliate with similar measures.

The pharmaceutical industry is a significant part of Australia’s economy and is critical to the $18 billion federal scheme that reduces essential medicine costs.

The US aims to protect its declining steel industry amidst increasing competition from Asia, particularly Canada, Brazil, and the EU.

US companies claim that Australia’s medicine pricing policies affect their earnings, raising concerns that they might push to reconsider the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The PBS was instrumental in lowering the costs of 930 medications last year.

The Trump administration previously blamed the high costs of US medicines partly on foreign nations benefitting from US investment without contributing fairly.

Calls have been made for the Australian government to maintain a strong stance against US influence over its domestic health policies.

Albanese has ruled out retaliatory tariffs, highlighting the negative impact of trade wars on consumers.

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