Article: New South Wales government was the target of major cyber attack operation linked to China

Also: 'Cyber attacks' point to China's spy agency, Ministry of State Security, as Huawei payback, say former Australian officials

This is a follow-up to these articles posted yesterday:

• Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australian organisations, including governments and businesses, are currently being targeted by a sophisticated foreign "state-based" hacker

• Cyber-attack Australia: sophisticated attacks from ‘state-based actor’, PM says

Article: No coronavirus cases from community transmission in two weeks, NSW Health confirm

Context:

New South Wales has recorded 31 new coronavirus cases in the past 2 weeks, but all these new cases have been in returned international travellers. Returned international travellers are forced to spend 14 days in quarantine (in 5-star hotel rooms) before being let loose on the Australian populace. So, these cases are not contributing to the pandemic in Australia's population.

New South Wales, the most populous state in Australia, has achieved zero community transmission. Most other states and territories have already achieved this, or are very close to achieving it.

The worst state in Australia for community transmission is Victoria, which has 1 or 2 cases of community transmission turn up every couple of days.

On another note, there are reportedly 432 active cases of coronavirus infections across Australia (or 450, depending on the source). However, that number of active cases exceeds the total number of new infections recorded across the country for the past month. I believe it's likely that some health departments (notably NSW's) are failing to follow up recovered cases, so that recoveries are understated and active cases are overstated.

Elimination of the coronavirus in Australia was tantalisingly close leading up to the protests last weekend. We're still waiting to see the outcome of those.

Fingers crossed!

News article: The Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory will proceed to a more comprehensive shutdown of non-essential services over the next 48 hours in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus.

For non-Australians: New South Wales and Victoria are Australia's two most populous states. Between them, they contain about 60% of the Australian population. They naturally also have the highest number of coronavirus cases.

The Australian Capital Territory is a land-locked region totally surrounded by NSW. It's the home of our capital city, Canberra. It's small in population but, if NSW is clamping down, the ACT pretty much has to follow.

Thousands more fish found dead at Menindee as locals fear there will be 'none left'

Here's the previous story about the last mass death in the area: A million fish dead in 'distressing' outback algal bloom at Menindee (New South Wales)

This is now the third mass death of fish in that area in the past month.

The state government's response: Menindee fish deaths 'out of NSW Government's hands' says Regional Water Minister Niall Blair

• ABC: Same-sex penguin couple at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium become parents

• SBS: Sydney's very own gay penguins have welcomed their first baby

• Sydney Morning Herald: Love birds: Sydney's same-sex penguin couple welcomes baby chick

• Daily Telegraph: Same-sex penguins Sphen and Magic foster baby chick

This is a follow-up to this previous topic posted here a couple of weeks ago: Same-Sex Penguin Couple Fosters An Egg In Sydney