Melbourne reopened Friday after enduring one of the world's most prolonged series of lockdowns, with relieved residents of Australia's second-biggest city heading to bars, restaurants and for much-needed hair cuts.

Australia's second-largest city is expected to come out of lockdown despite an increase in infections. Meanwhile, Latvia is diving into a month-long lockdown.

A TV studio shakes as presenters for the Australian national broadcaster react to a shallow earthquake which was felt in Melbourne. Although the show was off-air at the time the pair where chatting when the room began to shake. The rare quake hit east of the city just after 9:00am local time (2300 GMT) and was felt hundreds of kilometres (miles) away.

Debris lies on Chapel Street in Melbourne after a shallow quake shook southeastern Australia early Wednesday.

The leader of Melbourne's Victoria state, Daniel Andrews, comments on the current coronavirus outbreak, after the state returned to lockdown for the sixth time since the pandemic began. Australia's three largest cities are in lockdown, as New South Wales records 319 community cases of the virus and five more deaths -- a third straight day of record case numbers.

Melbourne has gone into a sixth coronavirus lockdown as Australia falters in its efforts to bring a Delta outbreak under control.

A strict coronavirus lockdown is being lifted in the Australian state of Victoria, with the region reporting fewer cases. Follow DW for the latest.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announces a snap lockdown in Australia's second-largest city, bringing the total number of Australians under stay-at-home orders to around 12 million. Melbourne and surrounding Victoria will join Sydney in a 'hard and fast' lockdown, Andrews says, as Australia battles an outbreak of the Delta variant.

Melbourne's streets return to the eerie quiet of lockdown for the fifth time as Australia seeks to contain an outbreak of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in its two largest cities. More than 12 million Australians are now under stay-at-home orders as Melbourne residents began their first day of a snap lockdown, joining Sydneysiders already deep into weeks-long restrictions.

Serena Williams trains in Melbourne as officials announce that up to 30,000 spectators will be allowed to attend the Australian Open per day. About two weeks ago, the top stars are seen arriving in Adelaide ahead of flying to Melbourne to compete in the Australian Open.

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Murray fears for Melbourne after Brisbane withdrawal.