STAY IN THE KNOW. SIGN UP TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTERS HERE. Rain’s on the way, but don’t bother with the woollies – May high temperature records could be nudged in some places today.MetService has issued heavy rain warnings for Westland,…

Test your brains with the Herald’s morning quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz at 3pm for the afternoon quiz. To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.

India's daily COVID-19 death toll surpassed 4,000 for the first time on Saturday, with Tamil Nadu becoming the latest state to announce a complete lockdown to curb surging infections.

The country's health ministry reported a record 4,187 fatalities for the previous 24 hours, as well as more than 400,000 new infections for the third day in a row. India has now reported more than 21 million cases and 238,000 related deaths since the pandemic began.

The spiralling crisis is stretching India's health care system beyond breaking point. Beds, oxygen and medical workers are in short supply. Some Covid patients are dying in waiting rooms or outside overwhelmed clinics, before they have even been seen by a doctor.

READ MORE: Australian permanent resident dies in India

In Tamil Nadu, officials announced a two-week lockdown — a day after the southern state saw its biggest daily spike in infections, with 26,465 cases reported on Friday.

Starting Monday, all non-essential shops in the state — including state-owned liquor stores — will be closed. Restaurants can only provide takeout, while grocery stores will open from 8am to 12pm. Food delivery services will also be limited.

A number of Indian states have imposed complete lockdowns this week, from the northwestern state of Rajasthan to Karnataka in the south, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's earlier warning the measure should only be considered as a last resort.

"In today's situation, we have to save the country from lockdown. I would request states to use a lockdown as their last option. We have to try hard to avoid lockdowns and focus only on micro containment zones," Modi said in late April.

India imposed one of the world's largest and harshest lockdowns in March last year, when the country of 1.36 billion people had reported little more than 500 coronavirus cases and 10 related deaths.

The nationwide measure was announced with less than four hours' notice and little planning, triggering a migrant crisis. It also brought the country's economic activity to a virtual standstill, and with businesses, factories and construction sites ground to a halt, its economy contracted by 24 per cent from April to June — India's worst slump since records began in 1996.

The EU plans to provide additional support to India, the European Council President Charles Michel tweeted on Saturday.

The statement came as part of an announcement made by Michel on an alliance with Modi, which will start "a new chapter in the European Union and India strategic partnership."

Additional oxygen cylinders, ventilators, and vials of the antiviral drug Remdesivir arrived in India from around the globe on Saturday, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

Bagchi praised the "international cooperation" after Austria sent 1,900 oxygen cannulas and 396 oxygen cylinders and the Czech Republic sent 500 oxygen cylinders.

Canada also sent a shipment of 50 ventilators and 25,000 vials of Remdesivir. Additionally, Japan sent 100 oxygen concentrators.

A large Chinese rocket that is out of control is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere this weekend, bringing a final wave of concern before its debris makes impact somewhere on Earth.

The Long March 5B rocket, which is around 100 feet tall and weighs 22 tons, is expected to enter Earth's atmosphere "around May 8", according to a statement from Defence Department spokesperson Mike Howard, who said the US Space Command is tracking the rocket's trajectory.

The rocket's "exact entry point into the Earth's atmosphere" can't be pinpointed until within hours of re-entry, Howard said, but the 18th Space Control Squadron is providing daily updates on the rocket's location through the Space Track website.

READ MORE: Should Australia worry about the 21-tonne rocket falling back to Earth?

The good news is that debris plunging toward Earth — while unnerving — generally poses very little threat to personal safety.

"The risk that there will be some damage or that it would hit someone is pretty small — not negligible, it could happen — but the risk that it will hit you is incredibly tiny. And so I would not lose one second of sleep over this on a personal threat basis," Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Centre at Harvard University, told CNN this week.

The European Space Agency has predicted a "risk zone" that encompasses "any portion of Earth's surface between about 41.5N and 41.5S latitude" — which includes virtually all of the Americas south of New York, all of Africa and Australia, parts of Asia south of Japan and Europe's Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece.

That enormous range is, in part, a result of the rocket's blistering speed — even slight changes in circumstance can drastically change its trajectory.

RELATED: What you need to know about Chinese rocket expected to crash into Earth

"We expect it to re-enter sometime between the 8th and 10th of May. And in that two-day period, it goes around the world 30 times," McDowell said.

"The thing is travelling at like 18,000 miles (28,968km) an hour. And so if you're an hour out at guessing when it comes down, you're 18,000 miles out in saying where."

Still, the ocean remains the safest bet for where the debris will land, he said, just because it takes up most of the Earth's surface.

"If you want to bet on where on Earth something's going to land, you bet on the Pacific, because Pacific is most of the Earth. It's that simple," McDowell explained.

The rocket launched a piece of the new Chinese space station into orbit on April 29 but then was left to hurtle through space uncontrolled until Earth's gravity began pulling it back to the ground.

That approach is a break with what McDowell calls "best practice" compared with what other space agencies do.

"Norms have been established," he said. "There's no international law or rule — nothing specific — but the practice of countries around the world has been: 'Yeah, for the bigger rockets, let's not leave our trash in orbit in this way.' "

Despite recent efforts to better regulate and mitigate space debris, Earth's orbit is littered with hundreds of thousands of pieces of uncontrolled junk, most of which are smaller than 10 centimetres.

Objects are constantly falling out of orbit, though most of them burn up in the Earth's atmosphere before they have a chance to make an impact on the surface.

A 17-year-old boy who died after an incident at a Victorian basketball stadium has been identified as Bless Mulukwat Akoch.

Family and friends have paid tribute to the teenager, after he was fatally injured after a fight broke out at the venue in the Melbourne suburb of Werribee on Friday night.

Bless' friend Jonathan Bonsang said he "couldn't believe" the news.

READ MORE: Melbourne truck driver bailed after allegedly hitting five pedestrians

"This can't be," Mr Bonsang said.

As children competed inside the stadium, Bless clung to life outside of the venue. He was rushed to hospital but later died.

Another friend, Pulamedi Rigo, said he saw Bless on a stretcher as he was put into an ambulance.

"When we were walking home, we were crying and we were sad," he said.

READ MORE: School closed as police investigate 'huge' South Melbourne factory fire

Another friend, David Mureal, said Bless was "a great kid".

"He was there for me, he was there for all of us," he said.

Not only was Bless a passionate basketball player but his friends said he was also very smart.

"He did a lot of science subjects in his school like psychology, biology, and physics," Mr Mureal said.

Bless' heartbroken mother is struggling to comprehend just how her only child died last night.

His family told 9News they want people to know he was "just a lovely, normal boy".

Parents arrived at a closed basketball stadium today and for some, the grim news was overwhelming.

"We as parents are feeling scared," one mother told 9News.

"It's a terrible thing. It's a shock to the core and I hope that they're okay, I hope the whole family finds the strength to get through this," a father said.

READ MORE: California records yearly population decline for first time in history

Another mother said she wanted to take her children to another venue to play netball.

A 15-year-old Wyndham Vale boy assisted Victoria Police with their enquiries today and was released without charge pending further investigations.

Police are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.

Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au if you have any information about this incident.

Once strangers, three Queensland women now share a lifelong bond.

Crystal White, Sheena Hewlett and Alix Russo were brought together by what they said was a common enemy: embattled federal MP Andrew Laming.

Ms White claimed Mr Laming took a photo of her without her permission, while Ms Hewlett and Ms Russo said they were subjected to online abuse.

READ MORE: Teen killed as 4WD driving by 14-year-old rolls on Queensland road

"I didn't want to live anymore after the online deplorable abuse," Ms Russo said.

Today, the women walked side-by-side, with Senator Penny Wong along for support, as they declared "enough is enough".

READ MORE: 'World first' 30-year hydrogen battery set to be made in Queensland

A crowd of about 150 people marched the streets of the Redland City suburb of Cleveland, past the office of Mr Laming.

From there, the crowd converged at a common area and it was there that Ms Russo addressed her supporters.

"We have been oppressed by this man for too long," she claimed.

Senator Penny Wong also had a message for Scott Morrison.

"If you let Mr Laming back into the parliament and accept his vote as a member of your government, you will be demonstrated to be a hypocrite," Ms Wong said.

Protestors want the Prime Minister to expel Mr Laming to the crossbench or call for his resignation immediately.

Parliament will resume Monday for the budget, Mr Laming's first parliamentary duty since announcing he would not contest the next election.

READ MORE: Queensland rent rules to be changed this month

His resignation comes off the back of a series of 9News investigations, which exposed the allegations put before him.

Mr Laming denies all the allegations.

"There are no accusations of cyber bullying before any authority I'm aware of, after a decade of social media, where I diligently serve locals with around 50,000 comments a year," he said in a statement today.

Protesters saw Mr Laming watching this morning's march from a nearby cafe.

9News offered him the opportunity to speak on camera, however he declined an interview.

An Australian permanent resident has died in India, as the country faces steep challenges with rising COVID-19 numbers.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed Australian officials remain in contact with the bereaved family but declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the man's death.

"The Australian Government is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian permanent resident whose death was reported to our High Commission in India," the spokesperson told 9News.com.au.

READ MORE: Pressure over India lockdown as coronavirus surge breaks record again

"Australia's High Commission and consulates general in India continue to assist Australians in need".

Foreign Minister Marise Payne confirmed the death yesterday but did not detail the circumstances surrounding the man's death.

A Sydney woman who identified herself as the man's daughter said both of her parents contracted COVID-19 in India and claimed the Australian High Commission in Delhi "did nothing more than call my mother once in a while".

"With a very heavy heart and pain I need to inform you that my father has left us, for his journey in heavens," the woman who did not want to be identified wrote on social media.

"Now all I have left is my mother, who has been abandoned by her own government in India, [with] no way to come back to her children.

"We all want to cry our hearts out, but we are saving them for when we are all together again.

In the now deleted post, she pleaded for assistance in getting her mother back to Australia.

"Please save your own humanity, by doing the right thing."

The woman told SBS her father died in a New Deli hospital three days after the Morrison government imposed a travel ban.

"[My father] got the email from the Australian government regarding the new rule and everything. He was sick, and in that condition, receiving this news really panicked him," she told SBS.

She said he had become a permanent resident more than 10 years ago and that he had not qualified to become a citizen as he travelled back and forth to manage a hotel in India.

The woman is an Australian citizen, along with her brother and mother.

This comes as India records 401,078 new cases and 4187 coronavirus related deaths in the last 24 hours.

Ms Payne extended her sympathies to the family.

"I don't think it's helpful to speculate and particularly out of respect for the family," Ms Payne told 2GB.

"I will receive further advice from our posts in India in relation to that.

READ MORE: Growing number of nations across Asia ravaged by fresh COVID waves

"But most importantly let me extend my sympathy and that of the government to the family of this person, and to so many families that we know are dealing with what is an extraordinary challenge with infection rates surging over 400,000 infections a day at the moment in India.

"There are very many families dealing with this challenge."

The government is due to lift its controversial India travel ban and will start repatriating Australians this month.

One very lucky Lotto player from Auckland will wake up $12.3 million richer tomorrow.The player secured $12m from Powerball, plus a further $333,333 by winning First Division.Two other First Division players each received $333,333….

A truck driver has been granted bail after a B-double allegedly crashed into a traffic light and ran over five pedestrians in Melbourne's CBD.

Frank Rogers denied having any knowledge of hitting a woman and four men – aged in their 20s and 30s – when he allegedly cut the intersection corner and mounted the footpath on the corner of City Road and Power Street in Southbank on Thursday night.

The 64-year-old – who has driven a truck for 40 years – told his lawyer he was surprised when police knocked on his door and charged him with two counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury.

He told police he felt a bump but believed it was the rear axel mounting the kerb as it often does.

More than a dozen of emergency vehicles, including police, ambulances and firefighters quickly swarmed the area after the collision, with bystanders also stopping to assist as the five pedestrians left bleeding on the ground.

All five sustained lower body injuries.

One man in his 20s remains in a critical but stable condition in the Alfred Hospital.

Two others in their 30s are in a serious condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

A woman and man – both in their 20s – are stable.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Ben Oliver told Melbourne Magistrates' Court he thought the incident was a "reckless act".

https://twitter.com/LanaMurphy/status/1390894336380870658

"A truck of that size, and the angle at which he took such a busy intersection says to me there was no possible way that truck was going to make that corner on its own," Mr Oliver said today.

The City Road and Power Street intersection is notorious for accidents, heavily populated with foot traffic and trucks coming on and off the Westgate Freeway.

A local resident told 9News the corner was a "disaster waiting to happen", witnessing a number of accidents and near-misses over the years.

Mr Oliver said the way the cabin moved suggested to him Mr Rogers had "knowledge of more than just hitting the kerb".

"Having watched the footage numerous times, I believe there was sufficient knowledge a collision occurred given you see the rear axel jump significantly back onto the road."

Mr Rogers was on his way to the depot to conclude his shift when the accident occurred.

The prosecutor argued Mr Rogers put the public in danger.

"The intersection is not the danger, Your Honour, it's the person driving the truck that's the danger."

The court heard Mr Rogers has no criminal history, nor a record of drug or alcohol abuse.

He was granted bail on condition he surrendered his passport, does not drive a truck or tow anything and stays at a stable address.

More charges could be laid over the incident.

Mr Rogers will next appear in court in September.