Oceania
New Zealand declares climate emergency, promises carbon neutral government by 2025
New Zealand joins 32 other countries including Japan, Canada, France and Britain that have declared a climate emergency
Australian special forces unlawfully killed 39 people in Afghanistan: military report
Australia launched the inquiry in 2016, amid reports from whistle-blowers and in the local media of the alleged killing of unarmed civilians
Priyanca Radhakrishnan becomes New Zealand's first-ever Indian-origin minister
Radhakrishnan, who is from the 2017 intake of new MPs, is a minister outside of the Cabinet
Australia reports no COVID-19 deaths for third day, hotspot faces longer lockdown
Neighbouring New Zealand reported four new cases on Saturday, all returned travelers in quarantine
Australian writer to face trial in China for espionage charges
Diplomatic relations between the two have deteriorated after China imposed trade reprisals in response to Australia’s COVID-19 probe call
Poll says Jacinda Ardern poised for big win in New Zealand election
All recent polls have pointed to a victory for Ardern’s Labour Party, governing in a coalition with the Greens and New Zealand First
14 million tonnes of microplastics on sea floor: Australian study
The quantity of the tiny pollutants was 25 times greater than previous localised studies had shown
New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern says 'we beat the virus again'
Ardern announced restrictions in the country's largest city would be eased, after a second COVID-19 wave was contained
New Zealand sees first case-free day in five weeks
Friday’s report also marked the fourth consecutive day without any cases of community transmission
Australia's Victoria reports lowest COVID-19 cases since June
Residents in the state can now have outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, and cafes will be able to seat up to 50 people outside