Needing two off the final ball, Rajasthan's Rovman Powell missed a full toss and was trapped in front of the wicket by Bhuvneshwar Kumar
cricket10 hours ago
New Zealand beefed up security measures at its parliament on Tuesday as thousands of people gathered to protest against Covid-19 vaccine mandates and government lockdowns aimed at controlling the pandemic.
All but two entrances to the parliament building, known as the Beehive, were closed off in unprecedented security measures, as mostly unmasked protesters marched through central Wellington and congregated outside parliament.
While the demonstration was peaceful, many people were seen holding signs and placards with messages like "Freedom" and "Kiwis are not lab rats" and shouting slogans as they demanded the government roll back compulsory vaccination and lift restrictions.
Placards showing support to former US President Donald Trump and slamming the media as "fake" and lying were also displayed.
"I'm asking (the government) to give us back 2018. Simple as that. I want my freedoms back."
New Zealand has struggled to fight off a highly infectious outbreak of the Delta variant this year, forcing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to move from its strategy of elimination through lockdowns to living with the virus with higher vaccinations.
Ardern last month said the country would require teachers and workers in the health and disability sectors to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, inviting criticism from people calling for more freedoms and for ending mandatory vaccine requirements.
"Treat us like people!" another protester exclaimed when asked about the government's stance on mandating the vaccine.
"I'm here for freedom. The government, what they're doing, is anti-freedom."
Speaking to reporters inside parliament, Ardern said: "What we saw today was not representative of the vast bulk of New Zealanders."
But the prime minister has been facing growing political pressure and public protests to ease pandemic measures ahead of the Christmas holidays.
She plans to travel to Auckland on Wednesday when the lockdown measures enforced on the city nearly three months ago eases. She is expected to face more protests during her visit.
New Zealand still has among the lowest Covid-19 cases in the world with under 8,000 cases reported so far and 32 deaths. It reported 125 new cases on Tuesday and its total double-dose vaccination rate had reached nearly 80 per cent of its eligible population.
Needing two off the final ball, Rajasthan's Rovman Powell missed a full toss and was trapped in front of the wicket by Bhuvneshwar Kumar
cricket10 hours ago
In the video, Pushpa Raj a.k.a Allu Arjun dances in style with a glass of tea in one hand
entertainment10 hours ago
Not only Alia and Priyanka but Ananya Panday also shared her views on the film
entertainment10 hours ago
Discover exciting activities happening this weekend in the country
entertainment10 hours ago
Blunt recounted how Swift praised Hazel's unique style
entertainment10 hours ago
The sequel to the 2021 movie is an average thriller
movie reviews10 hours ago
A realisation prompted her to seek a fresh start and explore new opportunities beyond the catwalk
entertainment10 hours ago
The festival returns for its third edition with bigger and better events, including the ultimate gaming event, the GameExpo
gaming10 hours ago