Melbourne, Australia's&nbsp;second-biggest city, began its first weekend out of the world's longest string of COVID-19 lockdowns with spontaneous street parties, live music and packed pubs, bars and restaurants.

Home to about five million people, Melbourne endured 262 days, or nearly nine months, of restrictions during six lockdowns since March 2020, longer than the 234-day continuous lockdown in Buenos Aires.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/melbourne-reopens-as-worlds-most-locked-down-city-eases-pandemic-restrictions-422949">Melbourne reopens as world's most locked-down city eases pandemic restrictions</a>

Despite rain on Saturday morning, people queued for barbers and breakfast restaurants, all of which are open only to the fully vaccinated.

Late on Friday, people broke into a spontaneous street party in Melbourne's southeast and many rejoiced with their first drink in months in a pub with friends, social media footage showed.

Although the Delta outbreak continues to spread, with 1,750 new cases and nine deaths reported on Saturday in Victoria state, of which Melbourne is the capital, the ease in restrictions came the state`s full-vaccination rate reached 70 per cent.

While most retail outlets remained closed, authorities said further easing will come once 80 per cent of Victorians are fully inoculated, estimated by next weekend.

"Let's not slack off, let's increase the pace as we get to the 80 per cent milestone - but also the 90&nbsp;per cent vaccination milestone," Jeroen Weimar, Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, said on Saturday. 
While small but violent anti-vaccinations protests have taken place in Melbourne and other cities this year, Australians overwhelmingly support vaccinations, with polls showing the percentage decisively opposed in single digits.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mix-and-match-vaccines-highly-effective-against-covid-19-lancet-study-421715">Mix-and-match vaccines highly effective against COVID-19: Lancet study</a>

Nearly 72&nbsp;per cent of adults in Australia are now fully vaccinated and nearly 87 per cent have received one shot. According to a national strategy, lockdowns will be unlikely once 80 per cent&nbsp;of Australians are fully inoculated.&nbsp;

Sydney, Australia's largest city, celebrated its reopening two weeks ago, after reaching the vaccination threshold of 70 per cent. On Saturday, New South Wales state, of which Sydney is the capital, recorded 332 COVID-19 cases and two deaths.

Weekend newspapers were filled with travel advertising for the coming months, as international border restrictions start to ease from November. Flag carrier Qantas Airways&nbsp;is speeding up plans to restart flights to many destinations and upsize some planes amid "massive demand".

Melbourne, Australia's second-biggest city, began its first weekend out of the world's longest string of COVID-19 lockdowns with spontaneous street parties, live music and packed pubs, bars and restaurants.

Melbourne, Australia's second-biggest city, began its first weekend out of the world's longest string of COVID-19 lockdowns with spontaneous street parties, live music and packed pubs, bars and restaurants. Home to about five million people, Melbourne endured 262 days, or nearly nine months, of restrictions during six lockdowns since March 2020, longer than the 234-day continuous lockdown in Buenos Aires. Also Read | Melbourne reopens as world's most locked-down city eases pandemic restrictions Despite rain on Saturday morning, people queued for barbers and breakfast restaurants, all of which are open only to the fully vaccinated. Late on Friday, people broke into a spontaneous street party in Melbourne's southeast and many rejoiced with their first drink in months in a pub with friends, social media footage showed. Although the Delta outbreak continues to spread, with 1,750 new cases and nine deaths reported on Saturday in Victoria state, of which Melbourne is the capital, the ease in restrictions came the state`s full-vaccination rate reached 70 per cent. While most retail outlets remained closed, authorities said further easing will come once 80 per cent of Victorians are fully inoculated, estimated by next weekend. "Let's not slack off, let's increase the pace as we get to the 80 per cent milestone - but also the 90 per cent vaccination milestone," Jeroen Weimar, Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, said on Saturday. While small but violent anti-vaccinations protests have taken place in Melbourne and other cities this year, Australians overwhelmingly support vaccinations, with polls showing the percentage decisively opposed in single digits. Also Read | Mix-and-match vaccines highly effective against COVID-19: Lancet study Nearly 72 per cent of adults in Australia are now fully vaccinated and nearly 87 per cent have received one shot. According to a national strategy, lockdowns will be unlikely once 80 per cent of Australians are fully inoculated. Sydney, Australia's largest city, celebrated its reopening two weeks ago, after reaching the vaccination threshold of 70 per cent. On Saturday, New South Wales state, of which Sydney is the capital, recorded 332 COVID-19 cases and two deaths. Weekend newspapers were filled with travel advertising for the coming months, as international border restrictions start to ease from November. Flag carrier Qantas Airways is speeding up plans to restart flights to many destinations and upsize some planes amid "massive demand".

Australia's Melbourne enjoys weekend of eased Covid curbs after long lockdown

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Sunday that "exit opinion polls are entertainment" after they gave the BJP a slight edge in Karnataka.&nbsp;

Karnataka voted on Saturday and the exit polls are saying the people have returned a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/exit-poll-fractured-mandate-hung-assembly-likely-in-karnataka-136419">hung verdict</a>.&nbsp;

The results of the elections will be out on Tuesday, May 15.&nbsp;

"Exit opinion polls are entertainment for the next 2 days," Siddaramaiah tweeted.&nbsp;

"So, Dear party workers, supporters & well wishers, don’t worry about exit polls. Relax & enjoy your weekend," he said. Adding, "We are coming back."&nbsp;

According to the Zee Maha exit poll, the BJP is likely to win 102 seats, the Congress 92, the JD(S) 26, and others, including independents, 2.

That implies no major political party will be able to reach the halfway mark of 113 seats required for a simple majority.

If the exit polls should turn out to be correct, the JD(S) led by HD Deve Gowda will assume the role of kingmaker in government formation.&nbsp;

Though the final picture will emerge only after the counting of votes on May 15, the exit polls have shattered the Congress'&nbsp;hopes of retaining power in the state and the BJP's hopes of making a comeback, putting for now the ball in HD Deve Gowda's court.

Here is what the major exit poll surveys projected for Karnataka:

- According to the Suvarna exit poll, the Congress is likely to win 106-118 seats, the BJP 79-92, the JD(S) 22-30, and others 1-4 seats.

- According to the ABP exit poll, the BJP is likely to win 97-109 seats, the Congress 87-99, the JD(S) 21-30, and others 1-8.&nbsp;

- The Republic TV Jan Ki Baat exit poll&nbsp;says the BJP will be the single largest party with 95-114 seats. The Congress is likely to win 73-82, the JD(S) 32-42 seats, and others 2 to 3 seats in Karnataka. In the 2013 Karnataka elections, the Congress had won 122 seats, the BJP and JD(S) ended up with 40 seats each, while 22 seats were won by others and independents.

- According to the IndiaTV-VMR exit poll, the BJP will win 87 seats, the Congress will win 97 seats, and the JD(S) 35 seats. &nbsp;

- The News X-CNX exit poll survey predicts the BJP will emerge as the single largest party in Karnataka with 102-110 seats, the Congress will come second with 72-78 seats, the JD(S) third with 35-39 seats, while others will get 3-5 seats.

- According to the Times Now-VMR exit poll, the Congress will win 90-103 seats, the BJP 82-93, the JD(S) 31-39 and others 2-4.

Karnataka has a 225-member assembly.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Exit opinion polls are entertainment for the next 2 days 
 
Relying on poll of polls is like a person who can’t swim crossing a river on foot relying on a statistician who told him the average depth of the river is 4 feet 
 
Please note average of 6+4+2 is 4. At 6 feet you drown! 1/2
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) <a href="https://twitter.com/siddaramaiah/status/995484100957007872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
So, Dear party workers, supporters & well wishers, don’t worry about exit polls. Relax & enjoy your weekend. 
 
We are coming back. 2/2
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) <a href="https://twitter.com/siddaramaiah/status/995484103611908098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Karnataka voted on Saturday and the exit polls are saying the people have returned a hung verdict. That would make the JD(S) headed by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda a kingmaker when it comes to government formation

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Sunday that "exit opinion polls are entertainment" after they gave the BJP a slight edge in Karnataka. Karnataka voted on Saturday and the exit polls are saying the people have returned a hung verdict. The results of the elections will be out on Tuesday, May 15. "Exit opinion polls are entertainment for the next 2 days," Siddaramaiah tweeted. "So, Dear party workers, supporters & well wishers, don’t worry about exit polls. Relax & enjoy your weekend," he said. Adding, "We are coming back." According to the Zee Maha exit poll, the BJP is likely to win 102 seats, the Congress 92, the JD(S) 26, and others, including independents, 2. That implies no major political party will be able to reach the halfway mark of 113 seats required for a simple majority. If the exit polls should turn out to be correct, the JD(S) led by HD Deve Gowda will assume the role of kingmaker in government formation. Though the final picture will emerge only after the counting of votes on May 15, the exit polls have shattered the Congress' hopes of retaining power in the state and the BJP's hopes of making a comeback, putting for now the ball in HD Deve Gowda's court. Here is what the major exit poll surveys projected for Karnataka: - According to the Suvarna exit poll, the Congress is likely to win 106-118 seats, the BJP 79-92, the JD(S) 22-30, and others 1-4 seats. - According to the ABP exit poll, the BJP is likely to win 97-109 seats, the Congress 87-99, the JD(S) 21-30, and others 1-8. - The Republic TV Jan Ki Baat exit poll says the BJP will be the single largest party with 95-114 seats. The Congress is likely to win 73-82, the JD(S) 32-42 seats, and others 2 to 3 seats in Karnataka. In the 2013 Karnataka elections, the Congress had won 122 seats, the BJP and JD(S) ended up with 40 seats each, while 22 seats were won by others and independents. - According to the IndiaTV-VMR exit poll, the BJP will win 87 seats, the Congress will win 97 seats, and the JD(S) 35 seats. - The News X-CNX exit poll survey predicts the BJP will emerge as the single largest party in Karnataka with 102-110 seats, the Congress will come second with 72-78 seats, the JD(S) third with 35-39 seats, while others will get 3-5 seats. - According to the Times Now-VMR exit poll, the Congress will win 90-103 seats, the BJP 82-93, the JD(S) 31-39 and others 2-4. Karnataka has a 225-member assembly. Exit opinion polls are entertainment for the next 2 days Relying on poll of polls is like a person who can’t swim crossing a river on foot relying on a statistician who told him the average depth of the river is 4 feet Please note average of 6+4+2 is 4. At 6 feet you drown! 1/2 — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 13, 2018 × So, Dear party workers, supporters & well wishers, don’t worry about exit polls. Relax & enjoy your weekend. We are coming back. 2/2 — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 13, 2018 ×

Siddaramaiah says exit polls are 'entertainment' after they give BJP edge in Karnataka

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Australia's Melbourne enjoys weekend of eased Covid curbs after long lockdown

Siddaramaiah says exit polls are 'entertainment' after they give BJP edge in Karnataka