Australia & Pacifics

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The man who committed the worst atrocity in New Zealand’s modern history when he slaughtered 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques unexpectedly pleaded guilty to all charges Thursday.

The attacks targeting people praying at the mosques a year ago shocked the nation and prompted new laws banning the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons. It also prompted global changes to social media protocols after the gunman livestreamed his attack on Facebook, where it was viewed by hundreds of thousands of people.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Greg Butler was rushed to hospital with COVID-19 within days of getting home to self-isolate after being allowed off the Ruby Princess cruise liner in Sydney, one of more than 130 passengers who tested positive in Australia’s worst coronavirus outbreak.

One of them, a woman, died earlier this week.

The 56-year-old Butler had been holidaying with his partner, Robin Russ, who remains in isolation.

“I tested negative and he tested positive,” Russ said over the telephone from the apartment they moved to for quarantine.

CANBERRA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government announced Wednesday that non-urgent elective surgery will be suspended to allow more capacity in hospitals while the country is combating COVID-19.

According to the Australian government, from 11:59 p.m. local time Wednesday, only category one and some exceptional category two surgery will continue in public and private hospitals until further notice.

WELLINGTON, Mar 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) – New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, said today that, the country will shut down, in response to the community transmission of COVID-19, in two days.

Ardern announced, the country would adopt the most severe response, level four of New Zealand’s COVID-19 response system, in 48 hours.

“These decisions will place the most significant restriction on New Zealanders’ movements in modern history. This is not a decision taken lightly. But this is our best chance to slow the virus and to save lives,” Ardern said.

SYDNEY, March 20 (NNN-XINHUA) — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday announced a travel ban on all non-residents coming into the country beginning from Friday night.

Anyone who is not a citizen, resident, or close family member of an Australian citizen or resident will be denied entry into the country, Xinhua reported him saying.

SYDNEY, Mar 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, halted all international flights, and temporarily stood down two-thirds of its workforce, in an effort to endure mass travel disruptions caused by COVID-19.

The airline made the announcement today, after already issuing a 90 percent reduction in international services earlier in the week, along with a 60-percent drop in domestic services, which remained in place.

Melbourne, Mar 18 (PTI) Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday warned its citizens not to travel abroad and banned "non-essential" gatherings of 100 people or more as the government declared the deadly coronavirus, that has infected over 450 people in the country, a "human biosecurity emergency".

Prime Minister Morrison on Wednesday said Australians should abandon all overseas travel because of the coronavirus epidemic. There have been 40 new cases since Tuesday.

SYDNEY/PARIS (Reuters) - Boeing and other U.S. aviation companies are seeking billions of dollars in aid as they battle to survive a plunge in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, while Airbus is pausing production at two sites to bolster health and safety measures.

The rapid spread of the virus across the world has battered airlines as governments have introduced travel restrictions and consumers have stopped making bookings, calling into question the survival of several companies.

SYDNEY, March 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The coronavirus pandemic will bankrupt most airlines worldwide by the end of May unless governments and the industry take coordinated steps to avoid such a situation, an aviation consultant warned.

Many airlines have probably been driven into technical bankruptcy or substantially breached debt covenants already, Sydney-based consultancy CAPA Centre for Aviation warned in a statement.

SYDNEY, Mar 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, announced on Tuesday (today) that, it will cut international flights by 90 percent and domestic services by 60 percent, to cope with COVID-19.

The changes will also affect the company’s budget carrier, Jetstar, and will remain in place until at least the end of May.

In a statement, the airline cited “significant falls in travel demand” due to the virus outbreak, which in Australia has reached over 350 confirmed cases.