Australia & Pacifics

Sydney; 17 March 2020 (UMM): A video footage captured on the helmet camera of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan, obtained by Four Corners of Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC News), shows a Special Air Service (SAS) soldier shooting an unarmed Afghan.

Wellington, Mar 16 (AFP/PTI) New Zealand's central bank slashed its base rate to a record low of 0.25 percent Monday, but economists said the surprise move was unlikely to prevent a coronavirus-induced recession.

The official cash rate was already at an all-time low of 1.0 percent and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand was not scheduled to make a monetary policy statement until March 25.

SYDNEY, March 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Australia on Sunday announced anyone arriving into the country will face mandatory 14-day self-isolation, in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

“We are going to have to get used to some changes in the way we live our lives,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, adding the measure will come into effect from midnight (1300 GMT Sunday).

Australia will also ban cruise ships from foreign ports from docking in Australia for 30 days, with the order to be renewed on a rolling basis, Morrison said.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — People in the New Zealand city of Christchurch honored the 51 worshipers who were killed in a mass shooting a year ago in small but poignant ways Sunday, after a planned national memorial event was canceled due to fears it might spread the new coronavirus.

WELLINGTON, Mar 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) – New Zealand cancelled its national remembrance service for the first anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks, as the sixth COVID-19 case is confirmed.

The event, scheduled on Sunday afternoon, was expected to be attended by thousands of people travelling from around New Zealand and from overseas.

Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, said, while there was no “community transmission” of COVID-19 at this stage in New Zealand, the government was taking a precautionary approach.

Sydney, Mar 13 (PTI) Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson has been tested for the novel coronavirus after he reported illness and will miss the first ODI against New Zealand on Friday.

The right-arm pacer, who returned with the Australian team from South Africa earlier this week, informed the medical staff of a sore throat on Thursday and was tested for the virus, though the results of the test are awaited.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Friday that New Zealanders have become more engaged with the Muslim community in the year since a gunman killed 51 people at two mosques.

Ardern was in Christchurch attending events to mark the anniversary of last year’s March 15 massacre, which she has described as one of New Zealand’s darkest days. On Friday she attended a special joint prayer with members of both mosques that were attacked, and on Sunday she plans to attend a national memorial.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Fifty-one people were killed and dozens more injured when a lone gunman attacked two mosques in Christchurch last year. New Zealanders will commemorate those who died on the anniversary of the mass killing Sunday. Three people whose lives were forever altered that day say it has prompted changes in their career aspirations, living situations and in the way that others perceive them.

Aya Al-Umari

Aya’s older brother Hussein, 35, was killed in the attack at the Al Noor mosque.

WELLINGTON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson will visit Australia's Canberra on Friday where he will meet with Australian political and business leaders to discuss the actions both governments are taking on the economic impacts of COVID-19.

"As we respond to this global health crisis it is important to keep in regular contact with our closest neighbor and trading partner," Robertson said in a statement.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — When the gunman walked into the Al Noor mosque, Temel Atacocugu was kneeling for Friday prayers. He looked up into the man’s face, thinking he was a police officer because of his paramilitary outfit. Time slowed. Atacocugu saw a puff of smoke come from the raised gun, felt a bullet smash into his teeth, and thought, “Oh, my God, I’m dying.”