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FLIGHTS SUSPENDED: Travel bubble paused with Australia’s most populous state

Published

3 years ago

May 6, 2021

New Zealand has put quarantine free travel with Australia’s most populous state on hold.

This comes as the Australian state of New South Wales puts in covid-19 restrictions for greater Sydney as the state records another coronavirus case today.

A man in his 50s from Sydney’s eastern suburbs – as well as his wife – have tested positive for COVID-19.

Genomic sequencing has linked the man to a returned traveller from the US.

It’s unclear how transmission occurred. Health authorities are trying to track down the “missing link” between the pair.

New Zealand’s coronavirus response minister says the decision was weighed up carefully.

The travel bubble between New South Wales and New Zealand will be paused while the latest cases in the state are investigated.

“I have made the decision to pause flight from New South Wales for a period of 48 hours,” New Zealand’s coronavirus response minister Chris Hipkins says.

“We will keep that under constant review during that time, obviously to more information during that time they gives us more confidence we get is that restriction earlier, we reserve the ability to do that, if over the period of time further information come to like them is ready to extend that and we have the ability to do that as well.”

“I do acknowledge that this is going to cause disruption for people who were travelling in the next 48 hours from New South Wales to New Zealand,” he says.

“We indicated when we opened up the trans-Tasman travel bubble (that we) will continue to be cautious.”

People who have arrived in NZ from NSW will be contacted and tested.

The NZ health authorities will contact 6000 people via email.

It will come into effect at 11:59pm tonight.

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Curious times for AI & investing as stark reality becomes clear

Published

5 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Mike Loder

Both private funding for startups and corporate mergers and acquisitions within the sector have decreased, reflecting a shift in investor sentiment.

While some AI ventures continue to attract significant investments, experts attribute the overall downturn to challenges in scaling AI technologies and a more cautious investment climate.

Generative AI stands out as a bright spot, experiencing exponential growth in funding despite lingering skepticism among corporate executives.

Amidst this market correction, some view the shift as necessary for a more sustainable investment landscape, predicting stable growth in the coming years.

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Game on with charitable cause and fresh titles of the week

Published

8 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Mike Loder

Xbox ANZ partners with Cure Cancer in an clever collaboration, introducing three exclusive Xbox Series X consoles inspired by the pioneering cancer research of Dr. Arutha Kulasinghe from The University of Queensland.

These unique designs, reflecting Dr. Kulasinghe’s innovative tumour mapping techniques, are currently available for auction, offering gamers an opportunity to contribute to a noble cause while acquiring a prized gaming collectible.

Meanwhile, Nintendo Switch Online unveils its latest additions, including the long-awaited Wrecking Crew 98, previously exclusive to Japan, now accessible to a global audience.

In the gaming sphere, this week brings diverse experiences, from the underwater exploration and sushi entrepreneurship of “Dave the Diver” to the enchanting narrative journey of “Harold Halibut” and the thrilling action RPG “No Rest for the Wicked” by Moon Studios, promising captivating adventures across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms.

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Donald Trump becomes first former U.S. president to stand trial

Published

9 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Nathan Langridge

Trump has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the payments were not campaign-related and therefore not subject to campaign finance laws.

Jury selection commenced today in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump, focusing on allegations related to hush money payments made to women who claimed to have had affairs with him.

The trial, which has drawn significant attention, marks a pivotal moment in Trump’s post-presidential legal battles. #ticker today #featured