Ecuador president calls for dialogue with indigenous on second day of protests

People protest against the economic policies of President Guillermo Lasso QUITO, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso called for dialogue following a second day of demonstrations by indigenous and civil society groups against gasoline price rises, and said his government would keep security forces on highways to maintain…

US President Biden vows to stand with Asia on freedom, hits out at China on Taiwan

US President Joe Biden speaks during the virtual ASEAN U.S. Summit, hosted by ASEAN Summit Brunei, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden told Southeast Asian nations the United States would stand with them in defending freedom of the seas and democracy and called…

Covid-19: Rio de Janeiro lifts outdoor mask requirement Thursday, Mayor declares victory

 RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Attention beach-lovers seeking a break from the pandemic: Rio de Janeiro is lifting its Covid-19 mask requirement for outdoor areas effective from Thursday, the state’s governorsaid, as once-pandemic-battered Brazil advances quickly with vaccinations.    “We are going to relax the requirement on wearing…

World faces growing threat of ‘unbearable’ heatwaves: Experts

 LONDON, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — From Death Valley to the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent to sub-Saharan Africa, global warming has already made daily life unbearable for millions of people.   And if nothing is done to slow climate change, the record temperatures and deadly heatwaves it brings will only…

Spain: La Palma island braces for more earthquakes as volcano roars on

Lava flows from a volcano as it continues to erupt on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE (Canary Islands, Spain), Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Residents on Spain’s La Palma island braced for the possibility of bigger earthquakes that could compound the damage from a volcano…

Post-Brexit crisis: France threatens UK with sanctions in fishing row

   PARIS, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A smouldering row between London and Paris over post-Brexit fishing rights has flared up, with France threatening trade disruptions from next week if its boats are not granted more access toBritish waters.    The measures targeting British fish exports from Nov 2 would include…

No Roman holiday: G20 meets on climate, Covid, recovery

 ROME, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The leaders of the world’s major economies gather in Rome this weekend for the first in-person G20 summit since the pandemic began, with Covid-19, economic recovery and climate change topping a packed agenda.    US President Joe Biden is flying in to reiterate his message…

Covid-19: Russia imposes hospitality curfew to tackle spread of coronavirus

Vladimir Putin, Russian President MOSCOW, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a nationwide ban on hospitality events and catering from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. as the country struggles to control the Covid-19 pandemic.In a statement, the Kremlin called for the “strengthening of control over compliance…

Covid-19: Britain eases rules for incoming travellers

A worker sanitises a barrier at the International arrivals area of Terminal 5 in London’s Heathrow LONDON, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British coronavirus rules have been relaxed for returning holidaymakers who are fully vaccinated in what the government is hailing a “huge boost” for the travel industry.From 4am on Sunday…

Covid-19: Germany declares Croatia and Bulgaria as Coronavirus high-risk areas

German flag BERLIN, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany added Croatia and Bulgaria to areas high-risk for Covid-19 on Sunday, triggering a minimum five-day quarantine for unvaccinated or unrecovered travellers arriving from the two countries.Three other European Union members – Romania, Lithuania, and Slovenia – were already on the list overseen…