New Zealand’s PM Tests Positive for COVID

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. EPA
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. EPA
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New Zealand’s PM Tests Positive for COVID

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. EPA
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. EPA

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tested positive for COVID-19 with moderate symptoms, her office said in a statement on Saturday.

She will not be in parliament for the government's emissions reduction plan on Monday and the budget on Thursday, but "travel arrangements for her trade mission to the United States are unaffected at this stage," the statement said.

Details of the trip are still to be confirmed, although she is scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Harvard University on May 26.

Ardern had been symptomatic since Friday evening, returning a weak positive at night and a clear positive on Saturday morning on a rapid antigen test, it said.

She has been in isolation since Sunday, when her partner Clarke Gayford tested positive, it said.

Due to the positive test, Ardern will be required to isolate until the morning of May 21, undertaking what duties she can remotely.

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson will address media in her place on Monday.

New Zealand enforced one of the world's most restrictive approaches to managing the initial COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, and its death toll of 892 remains among the lowest of developed nations.

However, it has experienced an Omicron surge since restrictions were loosened in March, with Ardern's positive case among more than 50,000 recorded over the last week.



Russian Missile Kills Six, Injures 20 in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia

With the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the background, a bicyclist travels along a path in Nikopol, Ukraine, Sept. 2, 2024. Russian forces have controlled the plant since the first weeks of the war. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
With the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the background, a bicyclist travels along a path in Nikopol, Ukraine, Sept. 2, 2024. Russian forces have controlled the plant since the first weeks of the war. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
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Russian Missile Kills Six, Injures 20 in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia

With the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the background, a bicyclist travels along a path in Nikopol, Ukraine, Sept. 2, 2024. Russian forces have controlled the plant since the first weeks of the war. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
With the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the background, a bicyclist travels along a path in Nikopol, Ukraine, Sept. 2, 2024. Russian forces have controlled the plant since the first weeks of the war. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

A Russian missile attack on Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia on Tuesday killed six people, injured at least 20 more and destroyed a critical infrastructure facility, Ukrainian officials said.

Ivan Fedorov, the regional governor, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app that a fire broke out as a result of the strike. Authorities did not say what the facility was.

Before the attack, Fedorov and Ukraine's Air Force announced a ballistic missile alert for the region.

Russia has recently stepped up attacks on Zaporizhzhia, using highly destructive guided bombs, which Ukrainian forces find hard to shoot down.

The city is an important logistical and industrial hub located about 40 km (25 miles) from the frontline. Moscow's troops partially occupy the Zaporizhzhia region, which is also home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

The Ukrainian president's chief of staff urged allies to give more support to counter Russian attacks.

"Violence must be stopped by strong actions," Andriy Yermak said on Telegram.