Uniquely Nelson

.. Photo: Supplied/Save the Children The scale of destruction across Fiji is slowly becoming apparent as Cyclone Yasa moves southeast. The powerful Cyclone Yasa, which has devastated parts of the country, was downgraded to a category four storm this morning but still packs gusts of up to 275km/hr. Thousands of people have fled their homes as authorities begin to assess the damage to properties and livestock. Houses have been flattened, cell phone towers and power lines brought down and crops destroyed after winds of up to 345 km/hr hitting the area overnight. More than 23,000 people remain in evacuation centres however there have been no reports of caualties but assessment teams are still to get to affected areas. As the storm moves to the southeast it is expected to threaten the Southern Lau groups and then Tonga over the weekend. Tonga has issued cyclone warnings with Yasa expected to sweep to the southwest of the country late tomorrow. NGOs and agencies ready to assist International NGOs and aid agencies say they stand ready to assist Fiji following the devastation caused by Cyclone Yasa overnight. Save the Children New Zealand said children are at their most vulnerable when disasters strikes. Its director Jacqui Southey said they would work with the Fijian authorities to help relieve the suffering of children affected by cyclone yasa. Southey said they would also ensure children were healthy, protected and had the opportunity to learn even during disasters such as cyclones. "What happens when we have these disasters is that they affect the food chain," she said. "And so crops can be uprooted, flooded, damaged, destroyed with the scarcity of drinking water. "What we do is work with the governments here in NZ and in the Pacific such as Fiji so that when a disaster hits, we are ready to go." .. Photo: Supplied/Save the Children UNICEF offer assistance Meanwhile, the United Nations children's agency said they would also work with the Fiji government, civil society groups and other aid partners to assist wherever is needed. UNICEF's Pacific Representative, Sheldon Yett, said this was to ensure that clean water, and emergency health and education supplies were provided for children in affected communities. "Supplies like essential water, sanitation and hygiene items, including soap, water containers and buckets, to ensure children and families have access to clean drinking water as well as emergency health and midwifery kits, including basic drugs, medical supplies and equipment, are prepositioned and ready to be distributed to those most in need. "In addition, UNICEF is ready to support communities by providing tents, and basic supplies to support learning needs and help children to regain a sense of normalcy as soon as possible after the disaster." Save the Children said another thing they would try to do was "build back better". Jacqui Southey said this included building more secure homes so that they are less likely to be extremely damaged or completely damaged that we've seen in previous cyclones. Winston, a similar magnitude storm as Yasa, left 44 people dead, tens of thousands homeless and millions of dollars damage in 2016. And in April, amid the Covid-19 outbreak, Fiji was hit with a category-five cyclone Harold which killed one man. .. Photo: Supplied/Save the Children

In Samoa, there's major flooding in parts of the Apia Township and landslides in other vulnerable parts of the country following extreme heavy rain. Flooding in Samoa's capital, Apia. Photo: Samoa Disaster Management Office The Samoa Observer said river banks have burst and traffic has been brought to a complete stop in some places in the capital. The Disaster Management Office has urged people all over Samoa to exercise extreme caution as heavy rain continues, and to stay home unless it's absolutely necessary to go somewhere. Those living in low lying areas prone to flooding have also been urged to evacuate. The bad weather is the result of "another active" convergence zone, according to the latest weather report from the Samoa Meteorology Office. Meanwhile, two cyclones are also circulating the Pacific, Yasa, which has wreaked havoc over Fiji, and Zazu which is heading away from Tonga. The new convergence zone near Samoa remains slow moving from the west of the island of Savai'i toward the other Samoan islands, bringing rain and gusty winds. Heavy rain in Samoa causes major flooding and landslides in parts of the country. Photo: Samoa Land Transport Authority. People stuck in the capital This morning various river banks have burst in Apia, and police are now blocking people trying to enter the town, where most streets are under water. Resident, Georgina Newton, said it's worse than the flooding experienced in Cyclone Evan eight years ago. "People who are already in town that probably went there this morning before the flooding started will be stuck in town," she said. "We have a store in town and it's flooding, and my mum is actually in there stuck, she can't get out. Every single store in town must be flooded by now." Downtown Apia, Samoa top of the morning, 18Dec20. Tropical cyclones are ravaging the Pacific & the cyclone season has just started. A traumatic 2020 ending traumatically 4 so many. A safer world may not be achievable 4 all nations, certainly not 4 #SIDS, unless we change course. pic.twitter.com/JMsxwd2wiL — Simona Marinescu (@SMarinescu_UN) December 17, 2020 The government has told all public servants to stay at home, if possible, although it's clear that many had already gone into town before flooding quickly worsened. "So a lot of people will just have to shelter in place until the tide goes out, because it was high tide at 10.15am," Newton explained. "It's very heavy rain. So all the rivers are being backed up and all the flooding can't go out to sea. So we're in a very bad position and the flooding is extreme everywhere." RNZ Pacific's correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, is unable to leave his house. He said there was major flooding around the Apia park area, making it difficult to drive to the town. "The Vaisigano river has burst its banks, causing major flooding to those living near the river. People were advised last night to move to higher ground" Autagavaia said the Samoa Meteorology Office has forecast more rain in the next few days. #climatejournalism at its finest. Rose Setefano of TV1 couldn't make it to the office due to flooding so using a phone decided to do her ptc live from the flooded streets of Apia.This is the reality of reporting the #ClimateCrisis in the Pacific Islands.Rose Setefano pic.twitter.com/24kPelALMO — Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson (@lagipoiva) December 17, 2020

Sweden's king said his country had failed in its handling of Covid-19, in a sharp criticism of a pandemic policy partly blamed for a high death toll among the elderly. King Carl XVI Gustaf pictured in 2019. Photo: AFP King Carl XVI Gustaf, whose son and daughter-in-law tested positive last month, used an annual royal Christmas TV special to highlight the growing impact of the virus, in a rare intervention from a monarch whose duties are largely ceremonial. Sweden has stood out from most countries by shunning lockdowns and face masks, leaving schools, restaurants and businesses largely open and relying mainly on voluntary social distancing and hygiene recommendations to slow the spread. An official commission said on Tuesday systemic shortcomings in elderly care coupled with inadequate measures from the government and agencies contributed to Sweden's particularly high death toll in nursing homes. "I believe we have failed," the king said in an excerpt from the programme broadcast by SVT on Wednesday. "We have had a large number of deaths and that is terrible. That is something that brings us all suffering." Sweden has registered more than 7800 deaths, a much higher per capita rate than its Nordic neighbours but lower than in Britain, Italy, Spain or France, which have all opted for lockdowns. The 74-year-old king has no formal political power and rarely comments on current and political issues, though he has addressed the nation to offer encouragement during the outbreak. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he agreed with the king's remarks. "Of course the fact that so many have died can't be considered as anything other than a failure," Mr Lofven told reporters. Referring to the government's strategy, Mr Lofven added that "it's when we are through the pandemic that the real conclusions can be drawn". In the spring, the government's response to the pandemic was widely supported by Swedes who carried on much as normal while most of Europe entered lockdown. But the rising death toll - particularly among elderly residents of care homes - has drawn increasing criticism. A poll in daily Dagens Nyheter on Thursday showed around a third of Swedes expressed a high level of confidence in authorities' handling of the pandemic, down from 42 percent in March and a peak of 56 percent after the summer lull in infections. Sweden registered a record 8,881 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, Health Agency statistics showed. The increase compared with a previous high of 7,935 daily cases recorded last week. The country registered 91 new deaths, taking the total to 7,893. Earlier this week, schools across the Stockholm region were asked to switch to distance learning for 13 to 15-year-olds for the first time as soon as possible. The measure was announced in response to rising Covid-19 cases. This came a week after a nationwide decision on 7 December to switch to remote learning for those over 16. And on Monday, new nationwide social-distancing recommendations for the Christmas period came into force, replacing similar region-specific guidelines. Swedes are advised to meet a maximum of eight people, gather outdoors if possible and avoid travelling by train or bus. A formal ban on public gatherings of more than eight people remains, affecting events such as concerts, sports matches and demonstrations. - Reuters / BBC

Many houses in Fiji's Vanua Levu have been destroyed, some families sheltered under beds and tables in their houses and others in cane plantations, as Cyclone Yasa wreaked havoc in many parts of the Northern Division, Fiji Village reports. Fallen trees block Transinsular Road, near Lomaloma Village as Cyclone Yasa makes landfall in Fiji. Photo: Facebook / Fijian Government Buildings and crops were destroyed on Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island, and there's been widespread flooding and landslides. There are widespread power outages, and phones are down, after winds of 240km/h - with gusts as high as as 345km/h - but the scale of devastation will not be known until later this morning. Yasa is heading south through the Southern Lau Island group. It remains a category 5 storm but with signs of weakening. People in Fiji's northern division described Cyclone Yasa as the scariest experiences of their lives. "It's a nightmare," said Banuve Lasaqa Lusi, a resident of Labasa, the main town on Vanua Levu. "The thunderous sound of the wind and what is flying around is what's frightening. She said the sound of the wind was deafening, and power and some communication had been cut out from the town; "I've never seen one like this... it's heartbreaking In the province of Bua some people had to flee as their houses disintegrated in the wind. Video from Bua shows sheets of torrential rain pelting the ground, and roofs being lifted by the sheer force of the gale. From Labasa, Lusi said she had made some contact with the Bua region. "People have had their houses flattened, have escaped with the clothes on their back and are sheltering under beds, under houses as they await help... help that most probably will come when the winds die down." At the island of Koro to the south of Vanua Levu, destructive winds and heavy rain are being felt in Nasau Village, and people have been relocated to two evacuation centres. Panapasa Nayabakoro, who lives in Koro, said 32 people are sheltering at the Nasau Health Centre and the rest are in a school. He said most of their houses are flooded and some of the houses were blown away. Big Bro just msged finally...thank God he is ok.... sent this in From Nabouwalu Bua #TCYasa pic.twitter.com/FjaqyVHfB2 — KKU The Fijian Artist (@kkufijimusic) December 17, 2020 A teacher at Nacamaki District School in Koro, Ilisabeta Daurewa, said they are experiencing damaging winds and several kitchen sheds in the village have been blown away. She said more than 100 people are taking shelter in six classrooms at the school. Taveuni Island to the north of Koro, where more than 1,400 people spent the night in evacuation centres, is still being hit by winds. Suva is waking up after stormy night. Still strong combined with . While it appears #TCYasa have largely spared the capital city, it showed its brute force elsewhere, the extent of which we will only know shortly. We stand by with and Fijians in these difficult times. pic.twitter.com/5aenmy2T9y — Levan Bouadze (@BouadzeL) December 17, 2020 Ali Wilkinson lives in the capital of Suva, and said the night spent awake listening to the storm had been 'scary'. "Very very windy and a lot of rain, it was pretty noisy. It's still quite windy, it comes through in big gusts, you just think it's going to be calm, and then it comes back and hits again in full force. "I've been sent footage from staff and friends up in RakiRaki [district, north of Suva], and the town is quite flooded, it's pretty much under water up there." Correspondent Lice Movono was also in Suva, and said; "it's definitely not normal, but we've been relatively okay". "The devastating bit is... talking to people on the ground in the north western part of Fiji, particularly in Vanua Levu, and then earlier this morning in the north eastern parts of Fiji. We're talking to people who've lost their entire homes, talking to people in evacuation centres that were destroyed also. "At this point people are still bunkering down and still waiting for safety, which should come round about midday. "The words are... terrifying, frightening, people living in homes where the roof's been taken off and then sheltering under floors, entire farms just lifted away... an uncle I spoke to said 'it's like the mountain's naked', to describe the devastation to agriculture. Emergency personnel will be able to assess the scale of the damage once it is safe for crews to go out, the National Disaster Management Office says. A 30-day state of natural disaster has already been declared. Vodafone towers in Taveuni are down, only DIGICEL works in the area. Major damage all across Cakaudrove and Bua. Trying to reach folks in Udu Poidi, Nate’s and Buca Bay to check for casualties. If you’ve made contact please comment below. #TCYasa #FijiNews pic.twitter.com/0Ym27lEPyp — Lice Movono (@anislandher) December 17, 2020 Yasa shows signs of weakening Yasa is showing signs of weakening after striking overnight, but it remains a category five storm. Sakeasi Waibuta from Fiji's Met Service said the storm sat over Vanua Levu for three hours. "It remains ...a category 5, but intensity-wise for the winds, it has dropped from 240 kilometres per hour to 200 kilometres per hour. "On satellite it is showing signs of initial weakening." Waibuta said the were still waiting on full reports on damage, and storm surges had also been expected. Severe TC Yasa was located about 50km NNW off Koro & about 60km west off Vanua Balavu at 3am today. Close to its centre the cyclone is expected to have average winds up to 205 km/hr with momentary gusts to 285 km/hr. The cyclone is moving southeast at about 22 km/hr. pic.twitter.com/UNqY5mtzUw — Metservice Fiji (@FJMETservice) December 17, 2020

Cyclone Yasa tore across the northern Fiji island of Vanua Levu last night and remains a category 5 storm but with signs of weakening. Photo: Facebook / Fijian Government Many homes have reportedly been destroyed and power and phones are down after winds of 240km/h - with gusts as high as as 345km/h - but the scale of devastation will not be known until later this morning. The massive storm system is moving away from Vanua Levu towards Fiji's outer eastern islands. Nawaca, Bua #Cat5 #CycloneYasa pic.twitter.com/MDeGGSsfdH — Panipasa Kotoituvana. (@psknawai) December 17, 2020 Sakeasi Waibuta from Fiji's Met Service says the storm sat over Vanua Levu - Fiji's second largest island - for three hours. "It remains to be a Category 5, but intensity-wise for the winds, it has dropped from 240 kilometres per hour to 200 kilometres per hour. "On satellite it is showing signs of initial weakening." Waibuta said the were still waiting on full reports on damage, and storm surges had also been expected. Yasa is now heading through the Southern Lau Island group. YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY.PC: Simi, Mere, Sai and Jepeli provided with transport to Peace Chapel evacuation centre in Veikoba, Nasinu by Police Constable Kurt Yee and Police Constable Sakeasi Tamani.https://t.co/KWoB4apNT6#staysafepeople# pic.twitter.com/Hqro60bJAN — Fiji Police Media (@fiji_force) December 17, 2020 People in Fiji's northern division are described Cyclone Yasa as the scariest experiences of their lives. "It's a nightmare," said Banuve Lasaqa Lusi, a resident of Labasa, the main town on Vanua Levu. "The thunderous sound of the wind and what is flying around is what's frightening." She said the sound of the wind was deafening, and power and some communication had been cut out from the town. Video from Bua, where the cyclone landed, shows sheets of torrential rain pelting the ground, and roofs being lifted by the sheer force of the wind. From Labasa, Lusi said she had made some contact with the Bua region. "People have had their houses flattened, have escaped with the clothes on their back and are sheltering under beds, under houses as they await help," she said. "Help that most probably will come when the winds die down."

New South Wales Health says the Northern Beaches Covid-19 cluster has grown to 17 cases and it has directed all residents in the area to limit their movements. Newport Beach, one of Sydney's Northern Beaches. Photo: 123RF Authorities believe all the cases are linked and have urged all residents within the Northern Beaches local government area to stay at home. Residents have been advised to work from home, keep to their household group and avoid all unnecessary gatherings. "Do not visit friends or relatives in aged care facilities or hospitals unless [it is] essential," a NSW Health statement said. "Avoid visiting high-risk venues including clubs, restaurants, places of worship and gyms." Residents have also been urged to avoid unnecessary travel outside their area, while those in other locations have been told to avoid travel into the Northern Beaches. NSW Health can advise that 17 cases of COVID-19 have now been identified in the Northern Beaches area, including cases diagnosed yesterday and today. pic.twitter.com/XomF2pYzOn — NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 17, 2020 The director of NSW Health's Covid response branch, Jeremy McAnulty, said he was concerned. "The new cases are mostly in the northern part of the Northern Beaches. We are currently investigating where they all are and where they may have been," Dr McAnulty said. "We are asking people on the Northern Beaches to help keep the community safe. "Please work from home and stay at home as much as possible for the next three days. "We know this is hard, but it is important we all work together to contain this outbreak. "Anybody who has even the slightest symptoms, please come forward as soon as they appear so we can find cases." The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) will meet tonight in response to the cluster. NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said authorities were working on a theory the virus spread may have originated at the Avalon RSL. Authorities are urging everyone who attended the club on 11 December to get tested. A man in his 60s from Frenchs Forest tested positive today after performing with his band at the club on that day. He has been travelling extensively with the band. Testing orders are also in place for anyone who attended the Penrith RSL Club on December 13 (from 1pm to 6pm) and the Kirribilli Club on December 14 (12pm to 3pm). The Department of Education confirmed one of the new Covid-19 cases was an employee at its corporate office in Redfern. "We directed all staff from the office affected to immediately work remotely from home while we complete the contact tracing process and have the office thoroughly cleaned," a spokesperson for the department said. All staff at the office have been told to self-isolate until they receive further notice from NSW Health. Earlier today, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced aged care homes in the Northern Beaches would be locked down. It came as a woman who works at the Pittwater Palms Retirement Village at Avalon tested positive. Residents and staff at Pittwater Palms Retirement Village who have come into contact with the staff member have been asked to get tested immediately and self-isolate. How other states are responding In response to the growing cluster, Queensland and Western Australia have imposed new restrictions. From midday tomorrow, anyone who has been in the Northern Beaches region since 11 December will not be able to visit Queensland residential aged care centres, hospitals or correctional facilities. Queensland's Chief Health Officer, Jeanette Young, said anyone considering visiting the Northern Beaches should consider the risk of the area becoming a hotspot. The West Australian Government said anyone who had arrived from NSW since 11 December must get tested and self-isolate within a day. WA Premier Mark McGowan said because of the "evolving situation in NSW … [we are] taking immediate steps under its controlled border arrangements to further protect WA". Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) says anyone who has been in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney since 11 December should stay at home and get tested on Friday. Victorian and South Australian authorities have told the ABC they are not looking to close their borders to NSW at this time but will monitor the situation. - ABC

Bitcoin has hit a new all-time high breaking through $US20,000 ($NZ27,960). Bitcoin. Photo: 123RF The volatile virtual currency has gained more than 170 percent this year amid stock market turmoil. This week Bitcoin has jumped 4.5 percent to as much as $20,440 buoyed by demand from large investors keen on its potential for quick profits. There are also expectations that it may gain more widespread traction as a payment method from the likes of Starbucks and Microsoft. But it has been a bumpy ride for investors, with the cryptocurrency passing $19,000 in November before dropping sharply. A previous rally in 2017 saw it come close to breaking through the $20,000 level. But it has also hit extreme lows and has fallen below $US3300 previously. 'Very nervous' Bitcoin is widely traded much like real currencies such as the pound and the US dollar. But it also has growing support as a form of payment with PayPal among the most recent adopters of digital currencies. However, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has cautioned over its use as a means of payment. "I have to be honest, it is hard to see that Bitcoin has what we tend to call intrinsic value," Bailey said in October. "It may have extrinsic value in the sense that people want it." Rollercoaster ride While the price of Bitcoin has seen a massive increase this year, it has seen many peaks and troughs since it was created in 2009. Speaking on the BBC's Asia Business Report, Yana Afanasieva, founder of consultancy firm Competitive Compliance, said to expect more "ups and downs" in the coming months. When asked about a potential crash she said: "That's the nature of cryptocurrencies as there are some players who could try and manipulate it and there is no government or international body that would try to somehow preserve the price." Lucas Huang at currency exchange platform Tokenlon said it was "surprising" that Bitcoin had hit an all-time high, saying it "may be a sign that institutional buyers have a bigger play in this bull run". - BBC

France's President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for Covid-19, his office says. French President Emmanuel Macron. Photo: AFP The 42-year-old took a test after symptoms appeared and will now isolate for seven days, the Elysée Palace said in a statement. An official said Macron was "still in charge" of running the country and will work remotely. France this week imposed an overnight curfew to help deal with soaring cases there. There have been two million confirmed cases in the country since the epidemic began, with more than 59,400 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. "The President of the Republic has been diagnosed positive for Covid-19 today," the Elysée said in a statement on Thursday morning. "This diagnosis was made following an PCR test performed at the onset of the first symptoms." It is not yet known how Macron caught the virus but his office said it was identifying those he had been in close contact with to inform them of the situation. - BBC

China's Chang'e-5 mission has returned to Earth with the cargo of rock and "soil" it picked up off the Moon. The return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe after landing in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regio Photo: Xinhua News Agency A capsule carrying the materials landed in Inner Mongolia shortly after 01:30 local time on Thursday It's more than 40 years since the American Apollo and Soviet Luna missions brought their samples home. The new specimens should provide fresh insight on the geology and early history of Earth's satellite. For China, the successful completion of the Chang'e-5 venture will also be seen as another demonstration of the nation's increasing capability in space. Recovery teams were quick to move in on the returned capsule. It was first spotted by helicopters using infrared cameras. Support staff following up in SUVs planted a Chinese flag in the snow-covered grassland next to the module. The Chang'e-5 venture was launched at the end of November. A probe comprising several elements was sent into orbit around the Moon. These elements then separated, with one half going down to the lunar surface. The lander system used a scoop and a drill to dig up samples. It's not clear how much, but possibly in the range of 2-4kg. An ascent vehicle subsequently carried the materials back into lunar orbit where they were transferred to an Earth-return module. This was shepherded home by a fourth element and released just before it had to make the fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere. Returning from the Moon, the Chang'e-5 module would have been moving much faster than, say, a capsule coming back from the International Space Station. Engineers had chosen to scrub some of this extra energy by doing an initial "skip" in the atmosphere. This saw the module briefly dip into the gases that shroud our planet, before then plunging much deeper to try to reach Earth's surface. The Chang'e-5 capsule was targeted to float down on parachute to Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia. This is the same location used to bring Chinese astronauts home. Again, infrared cameras were on hand to follow the action by detecting the heat of the module. A total of just under 400kg of lunar surface materials were collected by American Apollo astronauts and the Soviets' robotic Luna landers. But all these samples were very old - more than three billion years in age. Chang'e-5's rock and dust should be quite different. The Chinese mission targeted a high volcanic region called Mons Rümker in the northwest of the nearside of the Moon. Samples from this terrain may be no more than 1.2 or 1.3 billion years old, and, as such, should provide additional information on how the Moon is constructed internally. The samples will also allow scientists to more precisely calibrate the "chronometer" they use to age surfaces on the inner Solar System planets. This is done by counting craters (the more craters, the older the surface), but it depends on having some definitive dating at a number of locations, and the Apollo and Soviet samples were key to this. Chang'e-5 would offer a further data point. The Moon is once again in vogue. America is planning on returning astronauts to the surface in the middle of this decade. A series of robotic spacecraft will land ahead of these human explorers to do reconnaissance. Some of these probes will be from national space agencies; some will be sent by commercial enterprises - including from the UK. Tony Azzarelli, director and co-founder of the UK industry space body Access Space Alliance, said exciting times lay ahead, and highlighted the start-up Spacebit's quest to put a rover on the lunar surface next year. "It'll be the first time that a legged robot will walk on another celestial world. Of course, all of these lunar missions are just a prelude to the return of humans to the Moon in the not-too-distant future," he told BBC News. - BBC

Cyclone Yasa, with winds at its centre gusting as high as 350km/h, is due to make landfall this evening. The category five storm is due to strike the province of Bua, on the northern island of Vanua Levu, but a hurricane warning is in force for nearly the whole country. A state of disaster has already been declared, and a curfew is in effect for the entire country. The National Disaster Management Office said at least 600,000 people lie in Yasa's path. Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said Cyclone Yasa could easily surpass the devastation of 2016's Cyclone Winston, which killed 44 people, destroyed 40,000 homes and significantly impacted 350,000 people in the country. Follow live updates from RNZ Pacific: