Covid-19 curbs in Sydney could ease early amid surge in vaccinations

Shoppers wait to get inside stores with limited capacity at a city centre mall as businesses re-open to vaccinated patrons  SYDNEY, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New South Wales could ease more restrictions in Sydney a week earlier than planned on Oct 18 as Australia’s most populous state races towards its…

Covid-19: US to open border with Canada starting in early November

The United States border crossing is seen in Lacolle, Quebec WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States will open its border with Canada to vaccinated Canadians starting in early November, three US lawmakers said. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has confirmed the plans, US Senate Majority Leader…

US considering options for responding to crisis in northern Ethiopia: State Department

WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is considering the full range of tools at its disposal, including the use of economic sanctions, to respond to the worsening crisis in northern Ethiopia, State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. Ethiopia’s national army launched a ground offensive against forces from…

Covid-19: Russia to test vaccine in form of nasal spray

MOSCOW, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia will test a nasal spray form of its Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 among adult volunteers, according to a state document published on Tuesday, as the country struggles to rein in rising numbers of infections and deaths. Russia was quick to develop and launch…

Mexico promotes indigenous people as it erases memory of Columbus

A statue in honor of “Women who fight” has been placed on a plinth in Mexico City where once stood the figure of Christopher Columbus MEXICO CITY, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico is erasing symbols of Christopher Columbus as it works to give indigenous people who suffered during the Spanish colonial era a…

Russia says talks with US fail to make headway on embassies dispute

MOSCOW, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia and the United States failed to make any major progress in resolving a row over the size and functioning of their embassies and there is a risk that relations could worsen further, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. With ties already at post-Cold War…

Beirut blast investigation stand-off roils Lebanese cabinet

Investigation of Beirut port explosion frozen again BEIRUT, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A standoff between the judge investigating the disastrous Beirut port blast and top politicians he seeks to question roiled Lebanon’s cabinet after the inquiry was suspended on Tuesday for the second time in less than three weeks. The…

Cuban government bans bid for new protests

Demonstrations protest in Havana against the government of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in July 2021  HAVANA, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba’s government rejected a request from the opposition to stage a protest on Nov 15, claiming the organisers are backed by the United States and want to overthrow the regime. The proposed…

ICJ ruling: Somalia comes out on top in sea border row with Kenya

In a blow to Nairobi, Kenya got only a small slice of the disputed tract of sea off the East African coast THE HAGUE, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN’s top court handed Somalia control of most of a potentially oil and gas-rich chunk of the Indian Ocean on Tuesday after…

Chile president declares ‘state of exception’ over Mapuche conflict

Chile president declares ‘state of exception’ over Mapuche conflict SANTIAGO, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a state of emergency and deployed troops to two southern regions where clashes have broken out between Mapuche indigenous people and security forces. The Mapuche are demanding the restoration of their ancestral…