A second wave of the COVID pandemic is continuing to have a devastating effect on India, which has seen oxygen supplies run perilously low and crematoriums operating non-stop.
India’s government is facing growing pressure to impose a nationwide lockdown to stem the devastating coronavirus surge.
In a bid to counter the criticism, India pledged billions of dollars to boost its flagging vaccine programme on Wednesday.
Here are the latest updates:
5 May 2021 - 20:34 GMT
Guatemala receives first batch of Sputnik V vaccines
Guatemala took delivery of its first consignment of Russian Sputnik V vaccines, with 50,000 doses arriving despite Guatemalan concerns Russia could cancel the deal after the confidential vaccine contract was leaked.
5 May 2021
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday rejected pressure to lift a temporary ban on inbound flights from India, saying any early resumption of arrivals from that coronavirus hot spot would erode Australia’s stretched quarantine capability.
Australia’s quarantine system witnessed an increase in the proportion of coronavirus-cases of Indian origin last month to approximately 56 per cent, rising from around 12 per cent a month ago.
The pause of flights that began last week will continue until May 15 and Morrison said the greater good of protecting all Australians from the threat of new infections remains his overwhelming priority.
Coalition ignored Labor concerns over Port Darwin lease in 201504/05/2021|11min
Labor Senator Penny Wong says the Labor Party “raised concerns” over the 99-year Port Darwin lease when it was first awarded by the Northern Territory government to Chinese company Landbridge.
The Opposition is demanding an explanation over the Chinese ownership of the critical Port of Darwin which was signed over under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2015.
Defence analysists have recently become increasingly concerned about the $500 million deal - triggering a review on national security grounds by the Department of Defence.
Ms Wong said, “the government might have announced a review now, but in fact voted against Labor amendments in the Senate which called on the government to in fact do this review”.
Australia to review lease of port to Chinese firm -media report yahoo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yahoo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Australia To Review 99-Year-Lease Of Port To Chinese Firm: Report Australia To Review 99-Year-Lease Of Port To Chinese Firm: Report Defence officials are checking if Landbridge Group, owned by Chinese billionaire Ye Cheng, should be forced to give up its ownership of the port in Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, on national security grounds, the newspaper said.
Updated: May 03, 2021 6:33 am IST
Australia will review the 99-year-lease of a commercial and military port in its north to a Chinese firm
Sydney:
Australia will review the 99-year-lease of a commercial and military port in its north to a Chinese firm, the Sydney Morning Herald reported late on Sunday, a move that could further inflame tensions between Beijing and Canberra.