Australia

The elaphrosaur, whose name means "light-footed lizard", was related to the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptor.

The five-centimetre (two-inch) vertebrae fossil was discovered during a dig near Cape Otway in Victoria in 2015.

It is the first elaphrosaur bone ever to be found in Australia.

The fossil was discovered by volunteer Jessica Parker, who was taking part in an annual dig led by Melbourne Museum.

Hundreds more test cartridges have arrived in Vanuatu, courtesy of an Australian airforce plane which flew in to Port Vila at the weekend, along with humanitarian aid following Cyclone Harold last month.

The Australian High Commissioner, Sarah deZoeten, was at the arrival of the plane with Vanuatu's minister of health, Sailas Bule.

Ms deZoeten said the more than 300 test cartridges would help Vanuatu at a time when the demand for such supplies meant a global shortage.

The easing of quarantine measures in New South Wales (NSW) state comes just a day after the national statistics office reported unprecedented record high job losses and Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned that worse was still to come.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian cautioned people to remain vigilant and maintain social distancing as restaurants, public pools and other businesses reopen under the proviso they limit customers to 10 at any one time.

It came as the number of cases connected to an abattoir in Melbourne's north grew again.

The current stage of restrictions took effect this morning and allows Victorians to host up to five visitors in their homes and gather outside in groups of 10, provided distancing is maintained.

With seven new cases recorded overnight, the total tally of Victoria's Covid-19 cases has risen to 1514 - a net increase of five after two cases were reclassified to other states' counts.

Vanuatu's Prime Minister Bob Loughman confirmed the assistance from his country's closest donor partner after a meeting with Australian High Commissioner Sarah deZoeten.

The High Commissioner said Australians had been touched by the response of the government and people of Vanuatu during the recent bush fires in Australia.

But there may be some good from that with officials believing the havoc caused by COVID-19 could lead to a greater alignment of the NRL and Super League competitions to create a genuine international window.

With State of Origin to be played after the October 25 NRL grand final and Super League to run possibly even later into the year, it is widely accepted that the first Kangaroo tour since 2003 will be scrapped.

Australia’s Governor-General and Mrs Hurley expressed their sincere condolences for the devastation and loss of life caused by Tropical Cyclone Harold and thanked the people of Vanuatu for supporting those affected by bushfires and COVID-19 in Australia. ‘Vanuatu is in our prayers’, said the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley.

The heads of state spoke about the strong relationship between Vanuatu and Australia and the importance of the friendship as Vanuatu celebrates its 40th anniversary of independence.

George Faktaufon said Pacific airlines are not going to be able to count on national government support for handouts to keep them afloat, and the clock is already ticking for some airlines.

"It's very hard to plan for something that you are not quite sure when it's going to happen, because we have always planned for something that is certain, but the plan is depending on when Australia and New Zealand are opening up," he said.

Amidst COVID-19 challenges, including border closures and travel restrictions, the Australian Defence Force has provided support to airlift more than 25 metric tonnes of emergency response materials on four flights to Vanuatu and Fiji – two of the countries hardest hit by TC Harold which struck on 6 April.

This assistance is being delivered to the Pacific Island countries according to their specific response needs from UNICEF’s warehouse based in Australia, supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The squad flew out from Auckland yesterday after getting clearance to resume training ahead of a resumption of the competition at the end of the month.

They were without two players, hooker Nathaniel Roache, who felt unwell on the morning of departure and centre David Fusitu'a, who was given permission to delay his departure on compassionate grounds.

The players said their farewells as they were dropped off at Auckland airport.