Morning Mail: supply chain crisis; Prince Andrew’s titles stripped; ‘India syndrome’

Friday: PM's response to Omicron staffing crisis widely criticised. Plus: Duke loses military affiliations and royal patronages

Good morning. Spiking Covid cases are disrupting goods needed for PCR testing. Nearly a quarter of the world's population experienced a record hot year. And Novak Djokovic has been included in the Australian Open draw with a decision on his visa still pending.

The impact of Covid-19 on supply chains has begun to disrupt goods needed for PCR testing, forcing the closure of clinics in one jurisdiction. The highly contagious Omicron variant has caused widespread staff shortages and a crisis" in transport and other supply chain businesses, leading to shortages at supermarkets, retailers and other key industries. The supply chain issues are so severe that the Australian Capital Territory on Wednesday announced it was closing three testing clinics - a significant chunk of its testing capacity - until Monday. The federal health department bought $62m worth of rapid antigen tests earlier this week to cope. But small businesses and unions have condemned as inadequate Morrison's response to a burgeoning staffing crisis caused by the Omicron wave. Meanwhile, business and unions say national cabinet's response to the Omicron staffing crisis falls short.