Oceania

Australia records its deadliest day during pandemic

A cluster of infections in Melbourne forced authorities to impose a night curfew, tighten restrictions on people's daily movements and order large parts of state economy to close.

UK records more than 1,000 new Covid-19 infections – latest updates

The coronavirus pandemic has now infected over 19.8 million people and has killed more than 730,000. Here are the latest updates for August 9:

Growing calls in Australia to scrap 'racist' names for landmarks

The psychological and physiological effects of racism on indigenous Australians are well documented.

Australia to force Google and Facebook pay for news in unprecedented move

The decision comes as the tech giants fend off calls around the world for greater regulation, and a day after Google and Facebook took a battering for alleged abuse of market power from US lawmakers in a congressional hearing.

China suspends Hong Kong extradition treaties with Canada, Australia, UK

Earlier, New Zealand suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, joining Canada, Australia and the UK which have already6 made the same moves in response to China's national security law on the territory.

Australian regulator sues Google over expanded personal data use

The ACCC is taking Google to court alleging the technology giant broke consumer law by misleading Android users about how their location data was used.

Asylum-seeker who exposed Manus atrocities gets New Zealand refugee status

Behrouz Boochani had first travelled to New Zealand in November on a temporary visa to speak at a literary festival about his book, which details the time he spent at Australia’s notorious offshore detention camp on Papua New Guinea.

New Zealand PM Ardern fires minister over inappropriate relationship

Premier Jacina Ardern said Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway, who is married with three children, had a consensual affair for about a year with a woman who had worked as a staff member in his office and also at one of the agencies he oversaw.

Australia mourns death of Olympic figure skater Alexandrovskaya

Former world junior pairs figure skating champion Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya, 20, died after falling from a sixth-floor window in Russian capital Moscow, her coach Andrei Khekalo said.

Australia hopes to lure Hollywood studios with virus success

Promising "lights, camera, jobs," Prime Minister Morrison has unveiled a $280 million boost in cash grants for film productions.

New Zealand opposition leader quits as election looms

Todd Muller has announced his immediate resignation as leader of the centre-right National Party, saying "I am not the best person" for the position.

New Zealand mosque attacker fires lawyers to represent himself at hearing

Australian national Brenton Tarrant will be sentenced on August 24 on 51 murder convictions, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism arising from last year's massacre, the worst mass shooting in New Zealand's modern history.