Tag Archives: oceania

Officials giving away live chooks to encourage vaccination in Indonesia

Local authorities in rural Indonesia are giving away live chickens as an incentive for older residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The program, in Cianjur regency, West Java, is part of the district's effort to increase the number of vaccines administered to citizens aged 45 and over.

Galih Apria, Assistant Police Commissioner in the sub-district of Pecat, said older residents had been very hesitant about getting the shots during the early rollout of the government's vaccination program.

READ MORE: Beer, donuts and marijuana offered as incentive to get COVID jab

"Early on, there was a lot of misinformation and hoaxes about the vaccine circulating online, especially on social media," he said.

"Lots of elderly people thought that it does not prevent Covid-19 but would cause serious diseases and even death."

Police launched the free chicken program last month in collaboration with the sub-district government and local health centres.

Before the program was initiated, only 25 in 200 residents were willing to get the vaccine, Mr Galih said — but "now, we have 250 people per day who are willing to get vaccinated."

He added that giving out chickens was a sign of affection and respect toward the elderly, and it made older people more at ease with police officers, health officials, and with the vaccine itself.

Hundreds of villagers from three villages in Pecat have gone to get the vaccine, according to CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia.

Mr Galih said authorities had given away 500 free chickens as a result of the program but also taken other steps to push for broader vaccination.

"We had to explain and educate people on the safety and benefits of the vaccine so that they would stop being so scared," he said.

"We go door-to-door and encourage people to get vaccinated."

Medical staff and army personnel were helping police distribute the vaccine, and "do medical checkups so that people can get the vaccine on the spot," Mr Galih said.

Elis Sumiati, an elderly woman who received the vaccine through the program, told CNN Indonesia she didn't know if she needed the vaccine.

"But now after they brought the chicken and said I can get the vaccine — yes thank you, I'm happy," she said.

Indonesia has reported one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in Asia, with nearly 2 million total cases and more than 53,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The archipelago has recently seen an uptick in infections, with its two most populous islands, Java and Sumatra, reporting a sharp rise in the weeks following the Ramadan holidays, according to Reuters.

The immunisation drive in Indonesia has also progressed slowly, with fewer than 20 per cent of people over 50 targeted for inoculations having taken the first dose, according to data from the Health Ministry.

However, Mr Galih believes localised efforts in villages and towns can go a long way in helping the elderly get vaccinated.

"The response to this program has been amazing," he said.

"It is great to see our elders becoming happy after seeing the chickens and we are also able to protect them with the vaccine at the same time."

Bathroom cupboard item could help fight superbugs

For the first time, a team of scientists at Flinders University say a common fish oil supplement taken with antibiotics could be the saviour in a global fight against superbugs.

In cases where antibiotics alone don't work in treating a superbug, the omega 3 fatty acids in fish oils work to kill bacteria that prevent the antibiotics from working.

Terry Carr was diagnosed with asthma at 40. He was then hit with three life-threatening conditions: chest, bowl and bladder infections all at the same time.

Fish oil antibiotics fight

READ MORE: Natural antibiotic 'outsmarts' superbugs

"I got a pain in my back area and I thought it was muscular. I left it and left it and ended up in hospital with pneumonia," Mr Carr told 9News.

Now quick to see the signs, Mr Carr always has antibiotics on hand.

"It's no use waiting because if you leave it you are going to be in a lot of trouble," he says.

But antibiotics aren't effective for everyone in treating serious illnesses like pneumonia and it is estimated 22,000 Australians will die each year by 2040 because they are resistant to most, if not all medications made to help them.

"Superbugs are not only in hospitals, we've also seen a rise in cases of superbugs in aged care facilities," Flinders University researcher Dr Bart Eijkelkamp told 9News.

Fish oil antibiotics fight

READ MORE: 'Superbug' infections becoming more resistant to antibiotics

"What we've found is that fish oil, the omega 3 fatty acids within those, are highly detrimental to bacteria.

"This opens up new avenues of treating individuals with these very resistant pathogens."

The World Health Organisation recommends taking 300 milligrams per day of fish oil, but the majority of Australians aren't getting that much.

"Increasing your dietary intake during a course of antibiotics would be recommended," Dr Eijkelkamp said.

How other states are reacting to Sydney's new COVID-19 cases

Australia's states and territories are responding to a growing cluster of coronavirus cases in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Three cases have been detected in Bondi, including a man who works as a hire car driver transporting international flight crews.

His wife has tested positive, as has a woman aged in her 70s who was at the same cafe as the driver.

A fourth person, a man in his 40s from Baulkham Hills in the city's north-west, has also tested positive. At this stage, he is not linked to the Eastern Suburbs cases.

READ MORE: New coronavirus cases diagnosed in Sydney following driver infection

READ MORE: Queues at testing sites in Sydney after new exposure sites listed

Queensland

Anyone who enters Queensland from a New South Wales exposure site from 1am tomorrow will be required to go into hotel quarantine for 14 days.

The premier announced the response to Sydney's cluster this morning, while confirming the state would introduce a new "traffic light" system for all arrivals from 1am on Saturday.

It requires all people entering Queensland to complete a border declaration, regardless of whether they've been to a declared hotspot.

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Green means you're free to enter Queensland, yellow means you've been to a hotspot and must isolate and get tested. Red means you can't enter at all.

Residents of border communities travelling within the border region will be exempt.

Victoria

The Victorian government has imposed initial restrictions, classifying the City of Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra local government areas as orange zones.

This means anybody who has arrived into Victoria from those areas from June 11 must isolate, get tested and stay isolated until receiving a negative result.

Authorities in Victoria have not imposed any restrictions at this stage, but acting Premier James Merlino said the state is keeping an eye on things.

Victoria has published a list of testing sites online.

"We are, of course, continuing to monitor the situation in New South Wales with their cases and any implications for Victoria," Acting Premier James Merlino said.

People queuing for a COVID test at a pop up clinic on Beaconsfield St, Alexandria after two local acquired COVID-19 cases were detected.

Tasmania

Tasmania's Public Health Services has declared a number of venues across NSW as high-risk.

Anyone who has been at the growing list of exposure sites, also listed on the Travel Alert website, must immediately self-isolate and contact Tasmania's Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.

Travellers intending to travel to Tasmania who have spent time at a high-risk (Level 1) premises at the specified dates and times listed, are not permitted to travel to Tasmania.

People have been told to monitor the list of venues and book an test if they develop even mild symptoms.

South Australia

People who have been in high-risk locations in Sydney will be banned from entering South Australia from this afternoon.

Those who have already arrived in SA must quarantine immediately and contact SA Health for further advice.

The new direction will be signed by SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens this afternoon.

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Western Australia

WA Premier Mark McGowan said the state government was "very, very closely" monitoring the COVID-19 situation in NSW.

"If you have been to one of the exposure sites and come to Western Australia, you are currently required to quarantine and be tested," he said.

"Obviously we will monitor that, if we need to put in place stronger measures in coming days, we will."

Mr McGowan said the government would follow health advice.

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.

Biden and Putin clash on cybersecurity but no 'Cold War'

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have offered starkly different views on difficult simmering issues including cyber attacks originating from Russia.

The two leaders concluded their Geneva summit on Wednesday afternoon (Thursday morning AEST) with an agreement to return their nations' ambassadors to their posts in Washington and Moscow and a plan to begin work toward replacing the last remaining treaty between the two countries limiting nuclear weapons.

Mr Putin insisted anew that his country has nothing to do with cyber attacks on America, despite US intelligence that indicates otherwise. 

READ MORE: 'What are you so afraid of?': Reporter's striking question to Vladimir Putin

Mr Biden, meanwhile, said he made clear to Mr Putin that if Russia crossed certain red lines — including going after major American infrastructure — his administration would respond and "the consequences of that would be devastating.

"Will Mr Putin change his behaviour? Mr Biden was asked at a post-summit news conference.

"I said what will change their behaviour is if the rest of the world reacts" in a way that "diminishes their standing in the world," Mr Biden said. 

"I'm not confident of anything. I'm just stating a fact."

Both leaders, who have stirred escalating tension since Mr Biden took office in January, suggested while an enormous chasm between the two nations remained the talks were constructive.

Mr Putin said there was "no hostility" during three hours of talks, a session that wrapped up more quickly than expected.

"I told President Putin my agenda is not against Russia or anyone else, it's for the American people," MrBiden said.

When it was over, the Russian leader had first crack at describing the results at a solo news conference, shortly followed by the American.

Mr Biden said they spent a "great deal of time" discussing cybersecurity and he believed Mr Putin understood the US position.

"I pointed out to him, we have significant cyber capability," Mr Biden said. 

"In fact, (if) they violate basic norms, we will respond. … I think that the last thing he wants now is a Cold War." 

READ MORE: 'A low point': Biden agrees with Putin on US-Russia relations

Alexey Navalny during a court hearing at the Babushkinsky district court in Moscow on February 20.

Human rights

Mr Putin noted Mr Biden raised human rights issues with him, including the fate of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. 

Mr Putin defended Mr Navalny's prison sentence and deflected repeated questions about mistreatment of Russian opposition leaders by highlighting US domestic turmoil, including the Black Lives Matter protests and the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

Mr Putin held forth for nearly an hour before international reporters. While showing defiance at queries about Mr Biden pressing him on human rights, he also expressed respect for Mr Biden as an experienced political leader.

The Russian noted Mr Biden repeated wise advice his mother had given him and also spoke about his family — messaging Mr Putin said might not have been entirely relevant to their summit but demonstrated Mr Biden's "moral values."

READ MORE: How Donald Trump is still haunting the G7 summit

Nuclear weapons and US-Russia relationship

Though he raised doubt the US-Russia relationship could soon return to a measure of equilibrium of years past, Mr Putin suggested Mr Biden was someone he could work with.

"The meeting was actually very efficient," Mr Putin said. 

"It was substantive, it was specific. It was aimed at achieving results, and one of them was pushing back the frontiers of trust." 

Mr Putin said he and Mr Biden agreed to begin negotiations on nuclear talks to potentially replace the New START treaty limiting nuclear weapons after it expires in 2026.

Washington broke off talks with Moscow in 2014 in response to Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea and its military intervention in support of separatists in eastern Ukraine. Talks resumed in 2017 but gained little traction and failed to produce an agreement on extending the New START treaty during the Trump administration.

The Russian President said there was an agreement between the leaders to return their ambassadors to their respective postings. 

Both countries had pulled back their top envoys to Washington and Moscow as relations chilled in recent months. 

Russia's ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, was recalled from Washington about three months ago after Mr Biden called Mr Putin a killer. US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan left Moscow almost two months ago, after Russia suggested he return to Washington for consultations. 

Mr Putin said the ambassadors were expected to return their posts in the coming days.

READ MORE: US has recovered ransom payment made after pipeline hack

A confusing and awkward beginning

The meeting in a book-lined room had a somewhat awkward beginning — both men appeared to avoid looking directly at each other during a brief and chaotic photo opportunity before a scrum of jostling reporters.

Mr Biden nodded when a reporter asked if Mr Putin could be trusted, but the White House quickly sent out a tweet insisting the president was "very clearly not responding to any one question, but nodding in acknowledgment to the press generally."

Their body language, at least in their brief moments together in front of the press, was not exceptionally warm.

The two leaders did shake hands — Mr Biden extended his hand first and smiled at the stoic Russian leader — after Swiss President Guy Parmelin welcomed them to Switzerland for the summit.

When they were in front of the cameras a few minutes later — this time inside the grand lakeside mansion where the summit was held — they seemed to avoid eye contact.

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.

Brisbane woman charged with murdering ex in front of a child

A woman has been charged with murder after she allegedly stabbed her ex-partner to death in front of a child in Brisbane's north overnight.

Police said Kerry Rooney, 51, arrived at his Newmarket unit block around 7pm before being confronted by Bonita Coue in the building's stairwell.

Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said Ms Coue, 53, had no contact with her estranged partner for more than five years.

READ MORE: 'Two great powers': Biden, Putin plunge into hours of talks

Police said Kerry Rooney, 51, arrived at his Newmarket unit block around 7pm before being confronted by Bonita Coue in the building's stairwell. 
Multiple emergency crews responded a short time later but were unable to resuscitate Mr Rooney.

It is alleged Ms Coue sprayed Mr Rooney in the face with a substance, believed to be bleach, before stabbing him in the back.

It is also alleged she sprayed the young child with the same substance after they attempted to help Mr Rooney.

"We will allege the victim ran away and the female followed him and subsequently stabbed him in the neck," Detective Superintendent Fleming said.

It alleged several people were witnesses to the attack but were forced to stay away, with Ms Coue brandishing what appeared to be a firearm.

Multiple emergency crews responded a short time later but were unable to resuscitate Mr Rooney.

Ms Coue, from Kangaroo Point, was taken into custody and was charged with one count of murder, two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of going armed so as to cause fear.

Police outside the Brisbane unit.Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said Ms Coue, 53, had no contact with her estranged partner for more than five years.

Detective Superintendent Fleming said there had been no domestic violence orders between the two and that Mr Rooney likely had no idea he would be set upon last night.

"We will allege that this is brutal and unforeseen by the victim and just tragic by all regards," Detective Fleming said.

"I think it's distressing, abhorrent."

Appearing in Brisbane's Magistrates Court this morning, Ms Coue chose to represent herself despite being urged otherwise by the magistrate and told it was free of charge.

The matter was adjourned until July 12.

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One witness told 9News he tried to comfort the man until he was overcome by horrific injuries.

"There was a lot of commotion," resident Hugh Cochrane said.

"A lot of yelling, screaming and very quickly police came onto the scene.

"There [were] a few people around him saying, 'stay with me, mate'. We just wanted to make sure he was okay, obviously."

If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit their website.

In an emergency, call 000.