An attacker inspired by the Islamic State group stabbed six people at a New Zealand supermarket on Friday before police - who had the man under surveillance - shot him dead, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.

The tightest restrictions will remain in place in the country's largest city, Auckland, however. Meanwhile, a new Vietnamese school year has started with most students still in a virtual classroom. DW has the latest.

"We have an independent foreign policy", says New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, after confirming that New Zealand would not lift a ban on nuclear-powered vessels entering its waters in the wake of Australia's decision to develop a nuclear submarine fleet.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces a comprehensive in-principle free trade agreement with the UK, arrived at after 16 months of talks. London said the deal ends tariffs on British exports such as clothing, footwear, ships and bulldozers. It estimated that trade between the two countries last year was worth £2.3 billion ($3.2 billion, 2.7 billion euros).

The two countries join the ASEAN nations, China, South Korea, and Japan. The pact will cover 30% of the world's population and 53% of last year's exports.

New Zealand will reopen its borders in stages over time. Meanwhile, the WHO warned that the Europe would see many more deaths during the winter. Follow DW for the latest.

New Zealand's first COVID-19 case in six months prompted a snap nationwide lockdown. But the country's 'Zero COVID' policy is starting to come under criticism amid growing pressure on the economy.

New Zealand's first COVID-19 case in six months prompted a snap nationwide lockdown. But the country's 'Zero COVID' policy is starting to come under criticism amid growing pressure on the economy.

New Zealand plans to waive hotel quarantine requirements, first for its nationals stuck abroad, and eventually for all. The US will begin discharging troops who refuse the vaccine.

New Zealand has opened its borders to tourists for the first time in over two years. Meanwhile, Germany recorded no COVID deaths in a day for the first time since September 2020. DW has the latest.

Two climbers who were buried in an avalanche and hit by a blizzard earlier this week in New Zealand survived harsh weather conditions by digging themselves out of the snow, building a cave and feeding on just muesli bars.