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Indonesia reports 12,990 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases since late-January. It brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1.96 million. [https:--www.straitstimes.com-asia-se-asia-indonesia-reports-12990-new-coronavirus-infections-290-deaths ("The Straits Times")]*The Palestinian Authority cancels a planned vaccine exchange with Israel involving at least one million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, saying the first batch of doses Israel was going to send were near expiration. The swap was previously announced earlier in the day. [https:--www.aljazeera.com-news-2021-6-18-palestinians-to-get-1-million-covid-vaccine-doses-in-israel-swap (Al Jazeera)]*Oman speeds up its COVID-19 vaccination as the number of cases increases in the country, which has seen only a small percentage of the population vaccinated. [https:--www.reuters.com-world-middle-east-oman-slowest-vaccinator-gulf-pushes-campaign-amid-covid-19-surge-2021-06-18- (Reuters)]*Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin closes the Euro 2020 fan zone due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Russian capital. [https:--www.dw.com-en-moscow-closes-euro-2020-fan-zone-as-covid-cases-surge-a-57950652 (DW)]*Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announces that as of June 26, it will no longer be mandatory to wear a face mask outdoors. [https:--www.lavanguardia.com-vida-20210618-7539733-mascarilla-exteriores-espana-26-junio.html ("La Vanguardia")]*Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. [https:--www.lavanguardia.com-politica-20210618-7541594-pedro-sanchez-recibe-primera-dosis-vacuna-covid-19-madrid.html ("La Vanguardia")]***British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expands COVID-19 vaccinations to people aged 18 years and older amidst concerns about the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant. [https:--www.nytimes.com-2021-06-18-world-uk-vaccine-eligibility.html ("The New York Times")]*Restrictions are eased in Melbourne as the number of cases decreases. Melbournians will now be allowed to travel anywhere in the state of Victoria, public gatherings increase to 20 people and masks are no longer required outdoors. Private gatherings of up to two people will be allowed, gyms and indoor entertainment reopen, and workforce capacities increase. These new restrictions bring Melbourne into line with the rest of Victoria. [https:--www.9news.com.au-national-victorian-lockdown-restrictions-melbourne-coronavirus-covid19-rules-what-can-i-do-61700b39-6f71-4bd3-85c8-c2fa1f99a520 (9 News)]***Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern receives her first dose of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. [https:--i.stuff.co.nz-national-health-coronavirus-300336289-important-milestone-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-gets-first-covid19-vaccine (Stuff.co.nz)]*Papua New Guinea receives 146,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from New Zealand, facilitated through the COVAX initiative. [https:--www.rnz.co.nz-international-pacific-news-445020-png-receives-146-thousand-vaccine-doses-from-nz (RNZ)]President Yoweri Museveni announces that the country has imposed new restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19, including a ban on vehicular movements except for essential workers. [https:--www.reuters.com-world-africa-uganda-imposes-new-anti-coronavirus-measures-stem-raging-pandemic-2021-06-18- (Reuters)]COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea
2021-06-18

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern finalise plans for a trans-Tasman "travel bubble". Australia will permit the entry of travellers from New Zealand into New South Wales and the Northern Territory if they have stayed in New Zealand for at least two weeks effective October 16. New Zealand, however, has not reciprocated any lifting of travel restrictions for Australian travellers.
2020-10-2

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern makes a public apology to the family of Grace Millane, who was murdered in Auckland on 1 or 2 December 2018, saying that "your daughter should have been safe here".
2018-12-10

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gives birth to a baby girl at 4:45 p.m. local time (04:45 UTC). Ardern is the first incumbent head of government to give birth since Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1990.
2018-06-21

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern goes into labour with her first child. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is now Acting Prime Minister, and will be for six weeks while Ardern is on maternity leave.
2018-06-20

Simon Bridges is elected as leader of the National Party, becoming the first Māori on that position.
2018-02-26

The Labour Party, led by Jacinda Ardern, surges in the polls and is neck-and-neck with the National Party, led by Bill English, for the race for Prime Minister of New Zealand.
2017-09-1

Bill English is elected as the leader of the New Zealand National Party and is now the country's Prime Minister. Paula Bennett is elected as English's deputy.
2016-12-12

Australian Associated Press reports that Bill English has secured the support of a majority of members of the New Zealand National Party to succeed John Key as the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
2016-12-8

The Prime Minister of New Zealand calls an emergency Cabinet meeting while Bob Parker, the Mayor of Christchurch, declares a state of emergency.
2011-02-22