A 73-year-old Australian, who is stranded in India since March last year, has filed a lawsuit before a Sydney court against the federal government for banning flights from India and threatening to prosecute those attempting to enter the country with the possibility of a jail term and a penalty, saying the move is "unconstitutional".

The temporary ban begins on Monday and applies to any travellers who have visited India within 14 days of their intended arrival date in Australia.

The move could affect thousands of people, including Australian cricketers currently playing in the Indian Premier League in India

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday announced that New Zealand will temporarily suspend the entry for all travellers, including its citizens, from India for about two weeks from April 11 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases among visitors to this country.

The data leak obtained by 'The Australian' newspaper has revealed how the alleged CPC members are employed with some of the world's biggest corporations in the areas of defence, banks and pharmaceutical giants manufacturing coronavirus vaccines.

According to the Australian media, the latest report has been based on over 400 interviews with soldiers and officers from the SAS, a special forces unit, and Commandos, Afghan villagers, special forces interpreters and support staff.

Residents have been advised against leaving their homes apart for four activities -- purchasing essential items, medical care or caregiving, exercise and study/work.

Since September 2019, Australia's raging bushfire crisis has killed 24 people, reduced to ashes hundreds of homes and pushed many species towards extinction. The bushfires continued to pose serious threat in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.

Australian TV channels showed the man, in his 20s or 30s, running through the King Street with a large kitchen knife yelling "Allahu Akbar" .

The final and last approval for the Adani group's long-delayed billion dollar mega coal mine project came weeks after a surprise election win of Australia's pro-coal ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Adani, which already has mining and environmental licences from the state government, requires the state approvals on management plans on the endangered finch bird and groundwater in order to commence the mine construction.

The man suspected of murdering the Sydney dentist Preethi Reddy, whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase in her car parked in an eastern Sydney street, New South Wales, is another Indian-origin dentist and her ex-boyfriend Harsh Narde, police said.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne also urged India and Pakistan to "exercise restraint" and engage in dialogue to ensure issues are resolved peacefully.

A major operation is underway after packages were delivered to at least 10 international consulates across Melbourne.

The man was shot after confronting police officers on a busy city street, authorities said. He was taken into custody in a critical condition. He succumbed to the gunshot wounds in the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Morrison, the current treasurer, won an internal ballot 45-40 over former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

The 457 visa programme, used by over 95,000 foreign workers, a majority of them Indians, was replaced on March 18 by a new Temporary Skills Shortage visa programme.

A senior US official said that the plan of establishing OBOR alternative was still 'nascent'.

The $16.5 billion Carmichael coal mine project when completed would be one of the world's largest.

The Adani group had applied for the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility loan for building the 388-km rail line to connect the Carmichael coal mine to the sea port.