Covid-19: Mauritius reopens to foreign visitors after coronavirus shutdown

The government of Mauritius says about 100,000 families depend on tourism to live PORT LOUIS, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The island nation of Mauritius has fully opened its doors to international visitors, hoping to rebuild its key tourism industry after long months of isolation because of the coronavirus pandemic. The…

Seven killed in Romanian hospital fire

The deadly incident came as daily coronavirus infections surge in Romania, stretching the country’s hospitals to maximum capacity BUCHAREST, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A fire at a hospital in Romania has killed seven people, according to local authorities, marking the third deadly incident at healthcare facilities in the country in…

Ecuador to pardon up to 2,000 inmates after deadly prison riot

Ecuador has seen several outbreaks of violence in its prisons in recent months GUAYAQUIL (Ecuador), Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As many as 2,000 prisoners will be pardoned in Ecuador, the head of the country’s prison authority has announced, as the South American nation seeks to reduce overcrowding in its detention…

Georgia arrests ex-President Saakashvili after return from 8-year exile

The 53-year-old’s return came ahead of national municipal elections that could be critical to Georgia’s political makeup TBILISI, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Georgia has arrested former President Mikheil Saakashvili after his return to the country following eight years in exile, as the ex-leader sought to mobilise supporters ahead of national municipal…

Barbados to become Republic on Nov 30

BRIDGETOWN, Oct 2 (NNN-TELESUR) — Barbados’s Parliament unanimously approved a constitutional reform to turn the Caribbean country into a republic and end its association with the British Crown. In addition to revoking the 1966 Order of Barbados as an Order in her Majesty’s Council, the constitutional reform establishes that a…

Covid-19: Argentina to strike all restrictions on flights as of Nov 1

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 2 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentina’s Interior Minister Wado De Pedro, announced that effective Nov 1 airlines interested in operating in the country will be able to do so with no coronavirus restrictions in place. On the same day land borders with neighboring countries were being opened and with…

Covid-19: Chile lifts curfew; quarantine only for travelers and other specific situations

SANTIAGO, Oct 2 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Chilean authorities have lifted the curfew imposed over a year and a half ago as a part of the sanitary measures against the COVID-19 pandemic effective Oct 1, it was announced.  The return to pre-pandemic ways of life could be noticed from the very beginning,…

WFP: Kenya drought leaves 2.4 million at risk of hunger by November

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta NAIROBI, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 2.4 million people risk going hungry by November as drought ravages northern and eastern Kenya, a nearly threefold increase from last year, the World Food Programme said. The East African country has been hit by an accumulation of calamities…

UNICEF regrets Ethiopia’s decision to expel its representative

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that the Ethiopian government’s decision to expel the UNICEF representative in the country — along with six other UN officials — is “regrettable and alarming.” UNICEF has been present in Ethiopia for more than 60 years, working to…

COVID-19 vaccine to be mandatory for California students – a first in the United States

California Gov. Gavin Newsom talks with 7th grade students at James Denman Middle School in San Francisco LOS ANGELES, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — COVID-19 vaccinations will be compulsory for all students in California, the state governor announced – a first in the United States, where vaccine hesitancy has slowed efforts…