New Zealand, Australia vaccination mandates protests gain in numbers

Days-long rallies against COVID-19 vaccination mandates picked up in numbers in New Zealand and Australia on Saturday, with protesters blocking roads and disrupting life in the countries' capitals. About 10,000 protesters gathered at Canberra's major showgrounds, forcing the cancellation of a popular charity book fair, bringing traffic to a standstill and blocking roads in the Australian capital. Police said three people were arrested, but overall the crowd was 'well behaved'. In New Zealand's Wellington, hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the distinctive 'Beehive' parliament for a fifth day despite drenching rain.