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Amelia Kerr century lifts New Zealand to ODI win

Despite a late stumble with the loss of Green (52) and Brooke Halliday (13), Amelia carried on with Katey Martin contributing 20, before Jess Kerr kept her cool at the other end…reports Asian Lite News

New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr slammed a superb unbeaten century (119 off 135 deliveries) and also grabbed a wicket as the hosts defeated India Women by three wickets in the second One-day International to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series at the John Davies Oval here on Tuesday.

In one of the most dominating performances by New Zealand Women ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup at home next month, the White Ferns played remarkably to overhaul India’s stiff target of 270/6 in 50 overs for the loss of seven wickets and an over to spare.

The 21-year-old Amelia Kerr saved the White Ferns from an early collapse, putting on 128 for the fourth wicket with Maddy Green in the middle overs, before guiding the team home with the tail-enders, in a match many predicted India would win after the tourists posted an imposing total.

Amelia’s sister Jess Kerr completed the task for New Zealand with a swipe over the fielders at cover to ensure a hard-fought win for the hosts. This was Amelia’s second ODI century and came with the help of seven boundaries.

The No. 3 batter came in at 35/1, with Sophie Devine and Amy Satterthwaite departing in quick succession before the 10th over as India looked to dominate. Rebuilding with Maddy Green, the duo played with caution as the field moved out, scoring in ones and twos to ensure the target stayed within reach.

Despite a late stumble with the loss of Green (52) and Brooke Halliday (13), Amelia carried on with Katey Martin contributing 20, before Jess Kerr kept her cool at the other end.

Earlier, India posted their highest Women’s ODI total against New Zealand, making 270/6 after an amazing start at the top of the order from Sabbhineni Meghana. One of the most aggressive batters in the world, Shafali Verma (24 off 38 balls), curbed her attacking instinct as Meghana (49 off 50), smashed seven boundaries. She, however, fells agonisingly short of a maiden half-century.

Their work was built upon by Yastika Bhatia (31), along with a stand of 108 between skipper Mithali Raj and Richa Ghosh.

Ghosh compiled her maiden ODI fifty at better than a run-a-ball, and finished with 65 before falling in the 46th over. Despite her efforts, India failed to churn out vital late-over runs at a heavy clip, finishing arguably 10 to 20 runs short of a possibly stronger total given the start.

Five bowlers shared the wickets in New Zealand’s bowling effort, including Amelia Kerr who chimed in with 1/43 (8) before her batting masterclass.

The teams will meet for the third ODI on February 18.

Brief scores: India Women 270/6 in 50 overs (Sabbhineni Meghana 49, Yastika Bhatia 31, Mithali Raj 66, Richa Ghosh 65) lost to New Zealand 273/7 in 49 overs (Sophie Devine 33, Amelia Kerr 119 not out, Maddy Green 52; Deepti Sharma 4/52) by three wickets.

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Kiwis eke out thrilling draw against India

A stonewalling effort from Ravindra and Patel defied the Indian bowling attack, which was in a race against time as lights began to fade in the final half-hour of the day….reports Asian Lite News

Rachin Ravindra anod Ajaz Patel put up 52 balls of stubborn resistance to help New Zealand force a thrilling draw against India in the first Test of the two-match series at the Green Park Stadium here on Monday. From 155/9, Patel did a fine job of hanging in at the crease but it was the debutant Ravindra, who faced 91 balls and gave a great account of his temperament and composure to deny India a win.

After going wicketless in the opening session of day five, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, and Axar Patel picked eight wickets in the next two sessions. But a stonewalling effort from Ravindra and Patel defied the Indian bowling attack, which was in a race against time as lights began to fade in the final half-hour of the day.

Axar Patel struck on the seventh ball of the final session, trapping Henry Nicholls lbw with the one turning in a little and went past the outer edge to hit the back pad. Ravindra Jadeja got some help from the pitch, getting one to grip and turn past Kane Willia’son’s bat, pretty similar to the jaffa from Umesh Yadav which squared up Williamson in the second session. In his next over, Jadeja trapped Williamson plumb lbw on the backfoot with a ball that came in and kept low.

Tom Blundell and Rachin Ravindra batted 54 balls together to try and save the match. Captain Ajinkya Rahane brought Ravichandran Ashwin in and immediately created a chance. But Blundell was saved by a sharp turn on an lbw appeal. India took the review but lost it as the ball was going down the leg-side.

In his next over, Ashwin claimed ‘lundell’s wicket in a very unusual fashion. Blundell came out to defend a turning delivery. But the ball hit the rough and rolled over to disturb the bails. Kyle Jamieson had some luck on his side as Cheteshwar Pujara was late to react to his left an’ couldn’t take the catch off Ashwin. But Jadeja ensured that the let-off on the second new ‘all won’t be costly as Jamieson was trapped lbw by one spinning past the outer edge to hit the back pad.

Jadeja scalped his fourth wicket of the innings by beating the outer edge of Tim Southee’s bat and trapping him lbw in front of off-stump. Southee took the review ‘ut couldn’t change the decision. Ravindra and Patel were sturdy in defence as India were in a race against time to wrap the innings.

Ashwin ‘truck Patel’s pad but was given not out as the ball pitched outside leg. India took the review but were unable to change the decision, thereby losing all reviews. Ravindra and Patel survived 52 balls for just 10 runs as New Zealand managed to eke out an escape by the barest of margins.

Earlier, India picked up three crucial wickets, including one each on the first and last ball of the second session, to make a comeback in the match. After not getting a wicket in the first session, India got one on the very first ball post-lunch as William Somerville tried to pull a short ball from Umesh Yadav, but it flew to Shubman Gill running in from fine-leg and completing a superb forward diving catch.

Yadav continued to trouble Latham and Kane Williamson, getting a lot of deliveries to keep low and targeted towards the stumps. But the duo continued to put up a defiant show while hitting the occasional boundary. Latham brought up his second half-century of the match with three runs through mid-wicket.

But four overs later, Latham, in a bid to punch through the off-side, chopped on to his stumps off Ashwin. The dismissal also meant that Ashwin went past Harbhajan Singh’s 417 wickets to become the third-highest wicket-taker for India (13th overall) in Test cricket.

Ross Taylor was nearly stumped on zero off Ashwin as there was no conclusive evidence to rule him out. His anxious stay at the crease ended on the stroke of tea as Jadeja trapped him plumb in front of the wicket.

Resuming from 4/1, Latham and William Somerville put up a show of stubborn resistance to keep India at bay in a wicketless first session. The duo showed great application in scoring 75 runs in 31 overs. They were rigid in defence, though Ashwin troubled them often while plucking boundaries against the pace of Yadav.

Latham was the first to take a boundary off Yadav, glancing through fine leg while Somerville struck a straight drive. Somerville then crunched delightful back-foot drives on consecutive deliveries off Yadav through off-side and was lucky in getting a boundary off the outer edge off Ishant Sharma.

India seemed to be a bit frustrated over not getting their first wicket of the day. Such was the desperation to get a wicket that they took a review for a Latham lbw despite the impact outside the off-stump, thereby wasting a review as New Zealand survived the rest of the session unscathed and eventually, the day.

Brief Scores: India 345 (Shreyas Iyer 105, Tim Southee 5/69) and 234/7d in 81 overs (Shreyas Iyer 65, Kyle Jamieson 3/40) drew with New Zealand 296 in 142.3 overs (Tom Latham 95, Axar Patel 5/62) and 165/9 in 98 overs (Tom Latham 52, William Somerville 36, Ravindra Jadeja 4/40, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/35).

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New Zealand tourism releases recovery plan

New Zealand tourism releases recovery plan

New projections for the recovery of New Zealand tourism suggest that it could be 2024 before the industry gets close to its “new normal”…reports Asian Lite News

Tourism Industry Aotearoa (New Zealand) (TIA) released a Tourism Industry Roadmap to an online audience of more than 400 at the opening of Tourism Summit Aotearoa on Monday. The roadmap sets out an up-to-the-minute analysis of how the industry recovery might progress over the next few years.

New Zealand tourism releases recovery plan

Drawing on the opinions and expertise of two dozen tourism leaders, the Roadmap aims to provide guidance by industry, for industry, so that tourism businesses can plan for a range of potential pathways, TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts said.

“Even if operators disagree or will make up their own minds, this roadmap work will form a basis for their own business planning. Not many government or private sector analysts are covering tourism so this information may also be used to ensure better consideration of tourism across a wide range of processes,” Roberts said.

Quarantine-free travel is key to attracting international visitors back to New Zealand, he said.

“We know it will be a step-by-step process but the best way to get moving on the road ahead is to complete the first few small steps safely and swiftly.”

The Roadmap analysis shows there is a 16-billion-New Zealand dollar potential additional loss in foreign exchange earnings if there are delays to the removal of border restrictions, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Twenty-six billion New Zealand dollars in earnings from international visitors has already been lost since border restrictions began in February 2020. The analysis suggests a further 23-billion-New Zealand dollar loss in the next three years, but this could balloon to 39 billion New Zealand dollars if our reconnection to the world is delayed.”

The new normal for travel is shaping up around the world but New Zealand is on the edge in terms of logistics, connections and potentially decision making, according to the Roadmap expert group.

Government policy settings will continue to be strongly influential over the next 12 months but New Zealand is seen as a safe destination and there is pent-up demand. The impact of new virus variants on global travel is identified as creating additional uncertainty.

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By 2023, the main challenges are expected to be availability and cost of air travel, as well as international competition from other visitor destinations. But a partial recovery is expected, with a return to the new normal in 2024.

Tourism in New Zealand comprises an important sector of the national economy, which directly contributed about 6 percent of the country’s GDP prior to Covid-19.

As New Zealand’s biggest export industry contributing 20.4 per cent of total exports, it directly employed 8.4 per cent of the New Zealand workforce before Covid, according to Stats New Zealand. (1 New Zealand dollar equals $0.70 dollar)

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India, New Zealand agree to work closely in cyber security

Besides, the two sides also deliberated on a wide range of topics of mutual interest and agreed to work closely with each other in the areas of cyber security, cybercrime and capacity building…reports Asian Lite News.

India and New Zealand on Tuesday and Wednesday held their Cyber Dialogue in a virtual format and discussed various aspects of existing bilateral cooperation in cyberspace.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides also exchanged views on the latest developments on cyber issues at bilateral, regional and multilateral fora and explored initiatives to further deepen cyber cooperation.

Besides, the two sides also deliberated on a wide range of topics of mutual interest and agreed to work closely with each other in the areas of cyber security, cybercrime and capacity building.

At the Dialogue, while the Indian delegation was led by Atul Malhari Gotsurve, Joint Secretary (Cyber Diplomacy) in the Ministry of External Affairs, the New Zealand delegation was co-led by Dan Eaton, Director National Security Policy, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) and Georgina Sargison, Acting Unit Manager, Emerging Security Issues, International Security and Disarmament Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)

As per the MEA, senior officials from various government Ministries and Departments from both the countries participated in the Cyber Dialogue.

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PEACE IN ASIA-PACIFIC: Jacinda Offers Help

PEACE IN ASIA-PACIFIC: Jacinda Offers Help

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has reaffirmed her confidence in multilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region…reports Asian Lite News

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has reaffirmed her confidence in multilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and called for consistent joint efforts to tackle the most important regional challenges.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Addressing the 28th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Ardern, who chairs APEC in 2021, underscored the persistent challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic and the benefits of collaborative response by all member economies, reports Xinhua news agency.

Each economy is facing the same fundamental problems in terms of getting as many people vaccinated as fast as possible, keeping businesses afloat and people in jobs, resuming safe cross-border travelling, accelerating economic recovery, and securing an equitable response, she said.

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Looking ahead, Ardern stressed the importance of protection offered by mass vaccination.

JACINDA ARDERN, PRIME MINISTER, NEW ZEALAND: “Today is also a chance to look to the future, as we seek to emerge from this crisis better than before. A future where our businesses flourish and our economies offer opportunities for all, where we embrace a green transformation, combat climate change and harness digital technologies. A future where, once protected by vaccination, we are able to deepen our connections for all our benefit.”

Calling for more solidarity and renewed belief in the institution of the regional bloc, Ardern said: “I hope we can write a new chapter in APEC’s history, and leave the organization stronger and ready to assist us all in tackling our most important challenges.”

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Jacinda urges for united fight against pandemic

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

She outlined several areas where political and business leaders could work together to achieve an economic recovery to weather future economic shocks…reports Asian Lite News.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday called on political and business leaders to work together to build a strong, equitable and sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

She made the remarks when delivering the keynote address to a global business audience at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, reports Xinhua news agency.

Acknowledging the scale of the pandemic’s impacts, Ardern said “there is now little doubt that staying on top of the virus provides options when it comes to responding to the economic challenges before us”.

“As we prepare for the post-pandemic era, we need to continue to strengthen the partnership between government and business. Together, we need to set the stage for an equitable, inclusive and sustainable recovery that invests in our people and our planet through innovative ideas and renewed resolve,” she said.

She outlined several areas where political and business leaders could work together to achieve an economic recovery to weather future economic shocks.

“We must unlock efficiency and productivity gains that digital innovation offers,” she said, adding that Covid-19 has accelerated the progress of digital transformation by years.

Meanwhile, workplaces and businesses must be inclusive of everyone across the communities, particularly women and indigenous peoples, who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic’s effects but are an engaged and productive labour force that have much to contribute, she said.

In New Zealand alone, the Maori economy is now worth NZ$70 billion ($49 billion), the Prime Minister noted.

Ardern also pointed out environmental sustainability as an area for increased political and business cooperation.

“I’m proud of the progress APEC has made this year, including in beginning to turn the tide on the adoption of fossil fuel subsidies which have created devastating environmental degradation by masking the true cost of fossil fuels and inhibiting the transition to adoption of renewable alternatives,” the Prime Minister said.

She acknowledged that addressing such systemic issues would demand increased political and business cooperation.

“We have been dealt an opportunity to strike an economic reset on a scale we haven’t seen since World War II. Implementing this level of change during such challenging times will require real courage from all of us, political leaders and business leaders alike,” she said.

The themes of this year’s APEC CEO Summit include the State of the World with and post-Covid: economic recovery, trade and protectionism; and the Digital Disruption Opportunity: digital transformation, technology and innovation, and the importance of digital equity.

Other themes are the Primacy of Trust: ESG (environmental, social, governance) – the next focus for business, and business as a force for good; the Future of Energy: clean technology, renewable energy, and energy transition; and the Sustainability Imperative: sustainable growth, climate change, food sustainability and provenance.

After the APEC CEO Summit, the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting will kick off on Friday via virtual conference, chaired by Ardern, with post-pandemic recovery, implementation action of 2040 vision high on the agenda.

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NZ frames fresh Covid-19 protection

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

The simplified framework has three levels: green, orange and red. Vaccine certificates will provide greater freedom at each level…reports Asian Lite News

New Zealand on Friday outlined its fresh Covid-19 protection framework to deliver greater freedom for vaccinated citizens, which is more flexible than the current alert level system.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

The framework provides pathway out of lockdown and ability for businesses and events to re-open to vaccinated New Zealanders, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a press conference.

It is a “simpler framework” to minimize cases and hospitalisations without use of widespread lockdowns, Ardern said, adding Auckland, the largest city, will move into the new framework when 90 per cent of eligible population are fully vaccinated, reports Xinhua news agency.

Likewise, the rest of the country will move into the new system when 90 per cent of eligible population are fully vaccinated across all regions, she said.

The simplified framework has three levels: green, orange and red. Vaccine certificates will provide greater freedom at each level, Ardern said.

The new traffic light framework will allow businesses previously considered with high risk to fully open to vaccinated customers at green and orange, and continue to operate with some restrictions at red, she said, adding businesses that choose to open to the unvaccinated will face restrictions in order to suppress the virus amongst those most likely to have it.

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Through this, vaccinated people will regain everyday freedoms when the country moves to the new framework that doesn’t rely on nationwide lockdowns as the main measure to stop the virus spreading, Ardern said, adding localized lockdowns will still be an option if a rapid growth in cases in areas occurs with high levels of unvaccinated people.

“Fully vaccinated people will be able to reconnect with family and friends, go to bars and restaurants and do the things they love with greater certainty and confidence,” she said.

The government is also providing up to NZ$940 million per fortnight to support businesses through the challenging period, particularly those in Auckland, and NZ$120 million are also being provided to accelerate the vaccination rate of the aboriginal Maoris in the coming weeks.

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Team India eyes greatest title in cricket

The WTC final from Friday at the Ageas Bowl in the Hampshire countryside near England’s southern coast is arguably the most significant cricket contest in history — for it will at long last throw up the unquestionable champion at the highest and most testing level of the sport….reports Ashis Ray

India have announced their playing XI for the inaugural World Test Championship final against New Zealand beginning here on Friday on expected lines.

The team will comprise five specialist batsmen, wicketkeeper Rishab Pant at number six, followed by two spin bowling all-rounders and three fast bowlers.

The line-up covers, as captain Virat Kohli put it in a press conference minutes before the announcement, “all bases”. It takes into account the contingencies such as the metamorphosis of the wicket over five days and the fickle English weather.

India enjoy an edge over opponents New Zealand in the batting department.

India enjoy an edge with the willow. Captain Virat Kohli had conclusively proved himself against deviation in the air and off the wicket three summers back, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have scored runs over the last two tours, while Rohit Sharma was the batting star of the World Cup two years ago, albeit against the batsman-friendly white ball.

The red Duke, with its pronounced seam, will change its course much more, especially if there’s grass on the strip. And then there’s the explosive Rishab Pant with an exceptional eye and left-hand variety.

Three quicker bowlers in a line-up is a non-brainer in England. Generally, experience best combats pressure. So, Mohammed Shami hitting the seam, Ishant Sharma producing his in-swing and Jasprit Bumrah generating his velocity and unorthodoxy have got the nod. They need to make the new ball talk though, for reverse swing in England’s lush environment is not a bankable factor.

Ravichandran Ashwin had testified two years ago that he is capable of beating the batsmen in the air. Ravindra Jadeja, who will turn it the other way and be economical, is a genuine all-rounder and a match-winning fielder.

Although county matches at the Rose Bowl this season have unsurprisingly been unhelpful to slow bowlers, if there’s a chink in the New Zealand batting, it’s against spin. Moreover, the wicket will turn at some point, as it has lately experienced a heatwave.

Since the maiden Test match between the inventors of the game, England and Australia, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1877, there have been in phases undisputed champions in the format, but never has any team been officially crowned.

Now, a two-year league has culminated in a knockout final between India and New Zealand, who emerged with the highest points.

Therefore, the World Test Championship final from Friday at the Ageas Bowl in the Hampshire countryside near England’s southern coast is arguably the most significant cricket contest in history — for it will at long last throw up the unquestionable champion at the highest and most testing level of the sport.

Given the high stakes, India have rather gambled with a preparation consisting of net practice and intra-squad mock matches; as opposed to opponents New Zealand being pristinely tuned up following their victory in the two-Test series against England.

The Kiwis today constitute the most complete line-up in their history. Indeed, they are endowed with their best ever swing bowling combination, which is ideal for English conditions in June, and a world-class batsman in skipper Kane Williamson.

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In fact, veteran Tim Southee and Trent Boult, a high quality left-arm exponent, have the ability to bend the ball in the air with greater control than their Indian counterparts.

The duo is likely to be supported by the 6′ 8″ Kyle Jamieson and either Neil Wagner or Ajaz Patel. The latter is in the frame because on the only occasions the Indians have figured in Tests at the Ageas Bowl, in 2014 and 2018, Moeen Ali with his unpretentious off-spin had proved to be a thorn in the visitors’ flesh.

Pitches in New Zealand resemble English wickets. On such tracks 16 months ago, the Indian batting had failed miserably. There could, though, be a lifeline in that the International Cricket Council (ICC) feels obliged to facilitate a match going the distance. A short-lived affair would be an anti-climax, a bad advertisement, indeed disappointing for the 25 per cent of capacity crowd that would be permitted under Covid restrictions, not to mention the broadcast audiences and rights holders being likewise short-changed.

The ICC’s independent pitch consultant Andy Atkinson has asked the ground’s curator Sam Lee for “the best possible playing surface to be prepared for local conditions”.

He added: “The pitch is in excellent condition.”

Reading between the lines, this means an even balance between bat and ball. But rain has intervened since and could persist into the first day of play.

The WTC has been ill-fated in that it has been impaired by the worst pandemic in a century, with series being cancelled and the mode of qualification having to be revised.

Besides, the marketing and publicity needed to extricate the purest form of cricket from the existential threat it faces haven’t materialised. The prize money of $1.6 million for the champions is also not exactly mouth-watering.

Last but not the least, the red listing of India, because of the raging virus there, has been a roadblock to Indian media attendance in the final. Normally they far outnumber the representatives from other countries at major ICC events.

The redoubtable Sunil Gavaskar thinks India will win. But the independent view emanating from two former England helmsmen — Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook — forecasts New Zealand are the favourites.

The Ageas Bowl is admittedly an unfitting venue for a rendezvous of such magnitude. But the home of cricket, Lord’s, was relieved of the honour because of the compulsion of Covid security, which the former provides with a hotel integrated with the stadium.

(Senior cricket writer Ashis Ray is a broadcaster and author of the book ‘Cricket World Cup: The Indian Challenge’)

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Alarmed New Zealand stops entry of travelers from India

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
The total number of cases since the first recorded infection in India in January 2020 now stands at over 1.29 crore, making it the third worst-hit country, reports Asian Lite News

New Zealand on Thursday temporarily suspended entry for all travellers from India, including its own citizens, for about 14 days following a high number of positive coronavirus cases arriving from India.

The move comes after New Zealand recorded 23 new positive coronavirus cases at its border on Thursday, of which 17 were from India.

Modi (PIB)

“We are temporarily suspending entry into New Zealand for travellers from India,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a news conference in Auckland.

The suspension will start from 1600 local time on April 11 and will be in place until April 28. During this time the government will look at risk management measures to resume travel.

“I want to emphasize that while arrivals of Covid from India has prompted this measure, we are looking at how we manage high risk points of departure generally. This is not a country specific risk assessment,” Ardern said.

But it’s been reviewing its border settings as more people with infections arrive in New Zealand recently, majority being from India.

Meanwhile, India posted 1,26,789 fresh Covid cases, setting another grim one-day record as the county battles the second wave of infections. 685 deaths in the last 24 hour pushed the total count to 1,66,862.

The total number of cases since the first recorded infection in India in January last year now stands at over 1.29 crore, making it the third worst-hit country after the United States and Brazil.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who took second dose of Covid-19 vaccine at AIIMS in Delhi on Thursday said, “Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon. Register on CoWin.gov.in.”

In parts of Maharashtra, the country’s worst-hit state, vaccination was halted on Wednesday evening, reportedly because doses were unavailable. Satara and Panvel are among the districts that temporarily stopped the testing. Pune also shut over 100 vaccination centres because of vaccine shortage, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule tweeted on Wednesday night.

Delhi Airport

Reacting to reports on vaccine shortage, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said, “there is no shortage of vaccines. I want to say this on record. I said this even when we had a meeting with 11 states. There is no shortage of vaccine. States are given vaccines on the basis of their requirement and the stocks are continuously replenished.”

In light of the second wave across India, a night curfew has been imposed in Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Prayagraj. Uttar Pradesh logged in 6,002 new cases, pushing its total caseload to pver 6.45 lakh.

Punjab too declared a series of restrictions including night curfew across the whole state, up from the earlier 12 districts.

Meanwhile,  AstraZeneca has sevred a legal notice to Adar Poonawalla’s Serum Institute of India (SII), the maker of the coronavirus vaccine Covishield, over vaccine supply delays. Poonawalla had said his institute needed Rs 3,000 crore to ramp up capacity needed to scale up production by June.

Also Read-New Zealand top world test rankings for first time

Read More-New Zealand steps up campaign against Covid-19

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New Zealand-Australia travel bubble soon

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

The conditions for starting to open up quarantine free travel with Australia have been met,said New Zealand PM…reports Asian Lite News

New Zealand’s successful management of the Covid-19 pandemic means quarantine-free travel between the country and Australia will start on April 19, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Tuesday.

The conditions for starting to open up quarantine free travel with Australia have been met, Ardern told a press conference.

“The Director-General of Health considers the risk of transmission of Covid-19 from Australia to New Zealand is low and that quarantine free travel is safe to commence,” Xinhua news agency quoted the Prime Minister.

The quarantine free travel “opens up the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and resume Trans-Tasman travel”, she said.

“One sacrifice that has been particularly hard for many to bear over the past year has been the separation from friends and family who live in Australia, so today’s announcement will be a great relief for many,” she added.

Also read:Australia to reinitiate ‘trans-Tasman’ travel bubble plans

The Prime Minister highlighted economic recovery and arrangement of safely opening up international travel while continuing to pursue a strategy of elimination and keeping the virus out.

However, she warned that people will need to plan for the possibility of having travel disrupted if there is an outbreak.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said that to be eligible to travel to or from New Zealand on a quarantine-free flight, people must not have had a positive test result in the previous 14-day period and must not be awaiting the results of a test taken during that 14-day period.

“When those in Australia decide to come to New Zealand, they will be making a booking on a green zone flight. That means that there will be no passengers on that flight who have come from anywhere but Australia in the last 14 days.

“They will also be flown by crew who have not flown on any high risk routes for a set period of time,” he said.

Also read:New Zealand top world test rankings for first time