Tag Archives: oceania

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Australian cricketers touch down in Sydney after leaving India

Australian cricketers are back on home soil after leaving coronavirus-stricken India and touching down in Sydney from the Maldives this morning.

The 38 players and officials went to the Maldives a fortnight ago following the suspension of the Indian Premier League.

Cricket Australia has stressed it made no requests for special exemptions to quarantine and Prime Minister Scott Morrison said they will be treated like ordinary Australians.

READ MORE: 'Gold standard' quarantine system facing major test with India arrivals

Aussie cricketers exit Sydney airport, bound for quarantine after leaving India.

After landing, the group was met by police and loaded onto buses to be driven by police escort to quarantine hotels across Sydney, where they will spend two weeks in strict quarantine.

Their anticipated return amid strict international arrival caps has spurred significant debate, with more than 8000 Australians still stranded in India.

The NSW Government conceded it did lift its strict cap of 3000 returned travellers to cater for the cricket players.

India cricket flight touches down in SydneyAussie cricketers exit Sydney airport, bound for quarantine after leaving India.

"We always make sure that we have 3000 Australians returning home every week and police and Health make an assessment if requests are made over and above that cap, we make those assessments," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

"We were asked to consider that request.

"The NSW Government doesn't control who comes in but we certainly can help where we can to bring Australians home."

Former Test player Michael Hussey will not be among the group arriving in Sydney.

He will be flying back on a separate flight after testing positive to COVID-19.

India's chief T20 franchise competition was suspended earlier this month as the country's devastating COVID-19 numbers continued to soar, prompting the 38 Australian cricketers and support crew members to relocate to the Maldives and begin quarantining in a resort.

9News reporter Chris O'Keefe reported last week a deal had been struck with the NSW Government for Australia's IPL contingent to fly to Sydney via Kuala Lumpur.

READ MORE: World Health Organisation updates advice on airborne spread of COVID-19

India cricket flight touches down in SydneyAussie cricketers exit Sydney airport, bound for quarantine after leaving India.

A crucial part of the deal is for the 38-person party to be spread over multiple Sydney hotels so they don't take valuable beds in hotel quarantine.

The group includes former Australian captain Steve Smith, opening batsman David Warner, fast bowler Pat Cummins and former captain Ricky Ponting, who's the coach of the Delhi Capitals.

India cricket flight touches down in Sydney

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Queensland researchers create COVID 'heat-seeking missile'

Queensland researchers have developed a new anti-viral drug they believe to be a "heat-seeking missile" in the fight against COVID-19.

The new drug, developed by researchers at Griffith University, is said to seek out and destroy COVID-19 cells with the help of nanoparticles injected into a recipient's bloodstream.

Professor Nigel McMillan from the Menzies Health Institute says the drug, which is about to enter clinical trials, has already shown promising results.

READ MORE: Australian cricketers and staff touch down in Sydney after leaving coronavirus-stricken India

Professor Nigel McMillan has said the drug can nearly remove all COVID cells from a recipient's lungs.The new anti-viral drug is said to be able to seek out and destroy COVID-19 cells with the help of nano particles injected into the recipient's blood stream.

"We can actually reduce the amount of virus in the lungs by 99.9 per cent," Professor McMillan told 9News.

"What we've developed is essentially a heat-seeking missile for the virus that causes COVID."

Researchers also say the drug will attack all new and mutating variants of COVID-19 that may appear in the future.

Researchers also say the drug will attack all new and mutating variants of COVID-19 that may appear in the future.

"If we had this drug available now, for example, to give to everyone in India, we would reduce the death toll tremendously," Professor McMillan said.

If clinical trials prove successful, it's hoped Australians could see the drug on the market in two years.

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Aussie households warned of 'dramatic' jump in electricity bills

As temperatures plummet and heaters are wheeled out, thousands of Sydney households are going to get slugged more for their power.

Come June 1, those with a smart meter on time of day pricing will see their energy bills spike.

Ausgrid, which supplies power to 1.5 million households and businesses in Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter, introduced new seasonal tariffs in 2018.

While there is no peak period anymore during some Autumn and Spring months, there is an afternoon/evening peak during summer and the months of June, July and August.

READ MORE: Speed cameras nabbing more Victorians than ever

Cost-effective ways to keep your home warm over winter

"Usage rates on the last day of May will be dramatically different on the first day of June," Compare the Market spokesman Simon Downes told Nine News.

"It's the worst possible time for households… It's really going to give you some bill shock."

From June 1 until August 31, peak usage rates will apply from 5pm to 9pm weekdays.

Energy companies keen to see a drop in electricity use during peak times have offered different incentives to cut use including time of day tariffs.

The advice is to get washing and drying done in the morning if possible, get the dishwasher on overnight or in the morning and avoid energy-guzzling heaters when you get home from work.

Gas heaters are traditionally a little cheaper to run than electric heaters but if you don't have gas, there are still discrepancies between types of electric heaters.

Canstar Blue found a panel or convection heater is cheaper to run than a ceramic or radiant bar heater.

Fan heaters and oil columns are the most expensive unless you switch on the reverse cycle air conditioning to heat up your home which is the most costly method.

And if the bills are starting to bite, you might be eligible for one of the government's electricity rebates.

Applications for the NSW Family Energy Rebate which provides a credit of up to $180 for this financial year close at 11pm on June 16.

There are also several other rebates available for low-income earners and pensioners.

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Sydney charity worker tells of conflict's 'heartbreaking' toll on children

An Australian humanitarian worker based in Gaza said the escalating conflict is having a particularly "heartbreaking" impact on the children in the region, with dozens killed and injured.

Jason Lee from Sydney is Save the Children's Country Director for the region.

He said his teams in Gaza, where the charity has permanent operations, simply can't get in to help amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.

READ MORE: Dozens killed in deadliest single attack on Gaza

Jason Lee from Sydney's Inner West works for Save the Children.GAza

Mr Lee, from Erskineville in the city's Inner West, said the crisis is escalating.

"The situation in Gaza is actually really bad at the moment, it's getting worse and worse every day," he told 9News from East Jerusalem.

READ MORE: Israeli airstrike flattens media building

"You've got about 198 people killed, including 58 children.

"You've got over 1200 injured, a quarter children.

"Since the start of the conflict on May 14 you've got on average three children being injured every single hour.

Gaza

"And these are life-changing injuries. Life-changing disabilities and they'll have the mental trauma of what they're seeing."

But his team is unable to get in to deliver humanitarian aid.

His teams are on standby but have to way to access the area.

Mr Lee said money is what people need the most.

"The minute there is access and movement within Gaza, our teams are poised to give immediate cash assistance to the families that need it," he said.

"Cash is necessary because people have fled their homes, they've got nowhere to live, they don't know where their next meal is coming from.

"They can't afford any medicines so it's critical that we actually reach them."

READ MORE: Thousands march through Sydney CBD for Free Palestine rally

Power and basic supplies are running low, in what Mr Lee describes as an unfolding "humanitarian catastrophe".

Gaza

Mr Lee has previously worked in conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Yemen, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Thailand.

He said a lot of his workers from the area have been forced to flee their homes with their families.

READ MORE: Shouts, a hurried evacuation, and then the bombs came

"One of my team tells his child that the fireworks are for (religious celebration) Eid.

"They don't know exactly what's going on but they're not stupid.

"His children are scared, constantly.

https://twitter.com/SaveAusNews/status/1394025824286777346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"It's heartbreaking for him because he feels powerless. He can't do anything to protect his own kids."

Save The Children is calling for a ceasefire, and for the blockade on Gaza to be lifted.

The charity has claimed power lines have been damaged and fuel supplies can't get in, causing outages throughout the region.

Getting vital supplies in is not the only issue. The injured can not leave to get medical help.

Save the Children cited a United Nations (UN) report warning that almost half a million people have limited or no access to water.

"Save the Children warns of a triple shock in Gaza," it said in a statement.

israel

"Bombardments are continuing and health facilities and civilian infrastructure could soon be left without the power needed to deliver crucial supplies and emergency treatment.

"In addition, critically ill and injured children are unable to leave Gaza for treatment.  

"Save the Children is calling for the blockade on Gaza to be urgently lifted as children's lives hang in the balance.

"The Government of Israel and all parties must allow aid workers to reach children with life-saving support, as well as the unimpeded entry of essential supplies and fuel."