New Zealand reported two locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, just hours before authorities are due to announce whether a lockdown in Auckland will be extended.
Auckland's nearly 2 million residents were plunged into a snap three-day lockdown on Monday, after a family of three - two adults and a child - were diagnosed with COVID-19, with at least two determined to be the more transmissable UK variant.
The two latest cases are siblings studying at the same school as the child, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told members of a health select committee.
The Auckland lockdown is due to end at midnight on Wednesday and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is expected to announce her decision at 1630 local time (0330 GMT). She is also expected to reveal whether the remainder of the country steps down a level on the country's COVID-response scale.
The Auckland lockdown was the first in the country for about six months, after a hard nationwide shutdown early in the pandemic appeared to have largely eliminated local transmission.
The fresh outbreak prompted neighbouring Australia to suspend an arrangement that allowed New Zealanders to enter Australia without serving a 14-day hotel quarantine period.
Royalty, presidents, prime ministers and a legion of faithful will pay their last respects to Pope Francis on Saturday at a funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square to honour his papacy.
India's army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, will review the ongoing security situation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir following the deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam.
Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones, killing at least 12 people, in the biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year and drawing a rare rebuke from US President Donald Trump, who told Vladimir Putin to "stop".
Pakistan closed its air space for Indian airlines and rejected New Delhi's suspension of a critical water sharing treaty in retaliation for India's response to a militant attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed on Thursday to pursue, track and punish the gunmen and their backers in a strong reaction to a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir.