Tag Archives: oceania

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Australia expected to ban flights from India

Australia is expected to ban all flights from India amid a surge of cases in the country.

Australia's National Security Committee will meet on Tuesday and decide whether to suspend flights coming in from India.

Australia is looking into sending oxygen to try and help ease the crisis.

READ MORE: Hellish second wave 'tsunami' ripping India apart

India

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to 9News there are currently about 9000 Australians in India who want to return home.

Cricketers are also in the nation for the IPL.

One in 30 Australians are of Indian heritage.

India

Health Minister Greg Hunt said if all flights are cancelled, "we will do it with a heavy heart – but without hesitation".

"India is literally gasping for oxygen," he said.

Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a cut of flights by 30 per cent plus a new rule meaning passengers must be tested on route if they change planes.

INDIA

The nation is the world's second-most populated.

The capital Delhi, home to nearly 30 million people, is reporting positive tests of about one in every three people.

The nation has been hit by another record jump in COVID-19 cases, with almost 350,000 new infections in the past 24 hours.

READ MORE: Travel rethink after Perth's patient zero returned from Indian wedding

It is the fourth day in a row cases India's daily cases numbers have hit world-record levels.

IndiaAs COVID-19 cases surge and India continues to face severe oxygen shortages, private companies are stepping in to offer their support.

The country has so far confirmed more than 186,000 deaths and 16 million cases, with three million added in the last two weeks alone.

Hospitals are running out of oxygen and supplies, and crematoriums are overflowing, sparking fears a major humanitarian disaster is underway.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson, said: "Australia stands by our friends in India in their time of need.

"The Australian Government is actively considering options for urgent support and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

"DFAT's highest priority at this time is helping vulnerable Australians overseas.

"Over 500,000 Australians have arrived in Australia since the Government recommended that people reconsider the need to travel abroad."

As well as India, the main countries Australians are trying to return from are the UK, USA, Thailand and the Philippines.

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Scooter crackdown: 'Picked up with blood running down my mouth'

Shocking new footage from Queensland Police has shown a rising tide of riders on motorised scooters breaking the law, putting themselves and those around them at risk.

Authorities say it's a reckless recipe for destruction that's seen riders get caught topping 60km/h, running red lights and dodging traffic in tragedies just waiting to happen.

Queensland has seen a rise in motorised scooter use since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, with commuters opting to use the two-wheelers instead of public transport.

But police say many are entirely ignoring the 25km/h speed limit speeds.

READ MORE: Queensland hospitals and aged care facilities crippled by cyber attack

Jessica was hit by a scooter in Brisbane.

Police bodycam footage has shown some scooter riders riding at excess of 60km/h, the average speed of a car on Queensland roads, including one instance of a woman being mowed down by a speeding scooter.

Jessica Jordan was crossing a Brisbane road when she was hit by a speeding scooter running a red light, the rider not even stopping to help her as footage shows him them swerving around other pedestrians to get away.

scooters

"I just remember being picked up with blood running down my mouth," Ms Jordan told 9News.

"I've had to have three root canal, one of my teeth was pushed up into my gum."

More than 400 Queensland riders in the past year were caught not wearing a helmet.

scooters

Instead, they all wore a $126 fine.

Sixty-five riders were caught scootering on the road instead of the footpath; they all got a $133 fine.

Police say their message to riders is simple, "Have fun, use the device accordingly and follow the road rules," so more easily avoidable collisions and injuries don't happen.

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Queensland hospitals, aged care crippled by cyber attack

Multiple Queensland hospitals and aged care centres have been crippled by a cyber-attack, resulting in several disruptions to internal systems.

9News understands the entire UnitingCare Queensland internal IT system was attacked by ransomware software, with all UCQ hospitals and aged care homes working without IT systems until further notice.

Among a number of aged care centres across Queensland that have been affected, the Wesley and St Andrews War Memorial Hospitals in Brisbane have also had systems taken down.

READ MORE: 'Taken too soon': Woman found in Gold Coast chest identified

Among a number of aged care centres across Queensland that have been affected, the Wesley and St Andrews War Memorial Hospital's in Brisbane have also had their systems taken down.

The attack has impacted all operational systems including internal staff email and patient operation booking, forcing onhand staff to revert to paper-based operations for the foreseeable future.

Doctors have been told not to expect to be able to access vital patient information and details like x-rays.

In a statement to 9News, UnitingCare Queensland confirmed the attack but wasn't able to provide a timeframe on when systems will be back to normal.

"On Sunday 25 April, UnitingCare Queensland was impacted by a cyber incident. As a result of this incident, some of the organisation's Digital and Technology systems are currently inaccessible," a UnitingCare spokesperson told 9News.

"It is not possible to provide a resolution timeframe at this stage, however, our Digital and Technology Team are working to resolve this issue,"

It is currently unclear if patients' personal and medical data has been accessed.