New Zealand on Tuesday marked 100 days without recording a locally transmitted case of Covid-19, with no new infections outside isolation zones.
The country has been among the most successful in the world at containing the spread of virus, and has so far fully vaccinated about 250,000 of its population of five million.
New Zealand last recorded local transmission of Covid-19 on February 28, according to the country's Health Ministry.
If the situation continues it could beat its own record for the longest period without community transmission.
Last August, New Zealand went 102 days without local transmission before an outbreak pushed the city of Auckland into a Level 3 lockdown.
New Zealand has been internationally praised for its efforts to curb the spread of the disease and has lifted almost all of its lockdown restrictions.
They were first imposed at the start of the pandemic.
The country is expected to obtain one million Pfizer vaccine doses by July.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday that she would receive her first shot at the end of next week.
"For me, it's been important that I allow those in the most at-risk group ... to be prioritised," Ms Ardern said.
"I'm choosing to be vaccinated at this point in order to play my role in demonstrating that I consider it to be absolutely safe and also really critical to keep others safe."
About 20,000 doses a day are being administered, and the Pfizer deliveries will enable that pace to increase significantly, she said.
At the peak of the inoculation programme in August and September, 50,000 doses will be administered each day, she said.
Since the outbreak began, New Zealand has reported 2,336 cases of Covid-19 and 26 deaths.
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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