Australia & Pacifics

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — An Australian survey shows a higher proportion of younger Olympians would be prepared to use games venues or medal podiums as a platform for demonstrations.

The International Olympic Committee’s Rule 50.2, which forbids demonstrations or political, religious or racial propaganda in games venues, has come under increasing scrutiny as the global Black Lives Matter movement has gained momentum.

Wellington, Aug 13 (AP/PTI) A puzzling new outbreak of the coronavirus in New Zealand's largest city grew to 17 cases on Thursday, with officials saying the number will likely increase further.

And a lockdown in Auckland designed to extinguish the outbreak could be extended well beyond an initial three days.

CANBERRA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Australia's coronavirus death toll has surpassed 350 on the nation's deadliest day of the pandemic.

Authorities on Wednesday confirmed 21 new deaths from COVID-19 in Australia, all of which were in Victoria, taking the national death toll to 352 and Victoria's to 267.

Australia has now recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic on four consecutive days and surpassed the previous highest daily number of 19.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Health authorities in New Zealand were scrambling Wednesday to trace the source of a new outbreak of the coronavirus as the nation’s largest city went back into lockdown.

Authorities had confirmed four cases of the virus in one Auckland household from an unknown source and were awaiting the test results of four more people they suspect have infections — two work colleagues and two relatives of those in the house.

The cases this week were the first known local transmission of the virus in New Zealand in 102 days.

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand announced on Tuesday it was shutting down its largest city, Auckland, after four new cases of COVID-19 were discovered in the city, the first evidence of domestic transmission after being coronavirus-free for 102 days.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Auckland would move to level 3 restriction from noon on Wednesday as a “precautionary approach”, which would mean people should stay away from work and school, and gatherings or more than 10 people are again restricted.

The restriction would be applied for three days until Friday.

SYDNEY, Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Australian state of Victoria again recorded it’s deadliest day of the COVID-19 pandemic today, with a further 19 deaths, as the number of new infections dropped to 322.

Victoria is at the centre of Australia’s current fight with COVID-19, recording 228 of the country’s total 313 fatalities.

The latest victims were primarily elderly, with 14 of the deaths linked to outbreaks at aged care homes.

CANBERRA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Incumbent Scott Morrison has extended his lead as Australia's preferred Prime Minister (PM) despite a spike in coronavirus cases.

The latest Newspoll, which was conducted for and published by The Australian, found that 60 percent of voters chose Morrison as their preferred PM compared to 25 percent for Anthony Albanese, the leader of the Opposition Labor Party.

Wellington, Aug 9 (AP/PTI) New Zealand on Sunday marked 100 days since it stamped out the spread of the coronavirus, a rare bright spot in a world that continues to be ravaged by the disease.

Life has returned to normal for many people in the South Pacific nation of 5 million, as they attend rugby games at packed stadiums and sit down in bars and restaurants without the fear of getting infected. But some worry the country may be getting complacent and not preparing well enough for any future outbreaks.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand on Sunday marked 100 days since it stamped out the spread of the coronavirus, a rare bright spot in a world that continues to be ravaged by the disease.

Life has returned to normal for many people in the South Pacific nation of 5 million, as they attend rugby games at packed stadiums and sit down in bars and restaurants without the fear of getting infected. But some worry the country may be getting complacent and not preparing well enough for any future outbreaks.

AUCKLAND, Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern kicked off her Labour Party’s election campaign Saturday riding high in the opinion polls after a successful response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Ardern’s popularity as preferred prime minister — often referred to as “Jacindamania” — topped 60 percent in the latest surveys following her leadership through the Christchurch mosque attacks, the White Island volcanic eruption and the pandemic.