Final votes confirm New Zealand won’t legalise marijuana

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern  WELLINGTON, Nov 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand will not be legalising marijuana after the final votes counted on Friday in a referendum failed to overturn the result from election night — although it got close. The referendum to legalise the drug ended up with 48…

France boosts its border controls after terrorist attacks

French President Emmanuel Macron PARIS, Nov 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French President Emmanuel Macron said that France is reinforcing its border controls after a series of terrorist attacks that hit the country in recent weeks. Macron said the number of police and troops in charge of border controls will double from…

Severe tropical storm Atsani crosses Philippines’ northernmost tip

A man sits beside a car, washed away by floods caused by Typhoon Goni, in Barangay San Isidro, Batangas City MANILA, Nov 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Severe tropical storm Atsani crossed Batanes, an island province in the northernmost tip of the Philippines, on Friday morning, the country’s state weather bureau said.…

Nearly 300 illegal migrants rescued off Libyan coast: UNHCR

Rescued migrants sit in a coast guard point in Khoms, some 100 kilometres from the Libyan capital Tripoli TRIPOLI, Nov 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that nearly 300 illegal migrants have been rescued off Libyan coast. Nearly 300 persons were returned to Tripoli…

Iraqi president approves new elections law

Iraqi presidency approves the Election Law BAGHDAD, Nov 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Iraqi President Barham Salih approved the new parliamentary elections law despite his reservations on some of its articles, but stressed the need to fulfill the requirements of holding early elections. “In compliance with my constitutional duty, I approved the…

Covid-19: Algeria vows to buy vaccine regardless of price

Algerian Health Minister Abderrahmane Benbouzid ALGIERS, Nov 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Algerian Health Minister Abderrahmane Benbouzid said that his country was determined to acquire the vaccine against COVID-19 regardless of its price. Benbouzid made the remarks at a press conference in the Algerian capital Algiers, the official APS news agency reported.…

Update: Storm Eta takes a heavy toll as it tears across Central America

GUATEMALA CITY, Nov 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Scores of people, including 50 in Guatemala, have died as the remnants of Hurricane Eta unleashedfloods and triggered landslides on its deadly march across Central America. Eta struck the Caribbean coast of northern Nicaragua as a Category 4hurricane on Tuesday, tearing through impoverished coastal…

Covid18: Slovenia anti-virus shutdown protest turns violent

LJUBLJANA, Nov 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A protest against Slovenia’s coronavirus shutdown sparked some of the most violent scenes the country has seen in years, as police moved in with teargas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The rally in the capital Ljubljana, organised by activists callingthemselves the Slovenian branch…

Covid-19: US daily cases hit new record, topping 120,000

WASHINGTON, Nov 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 120,000 coronavirus cases were reported in the US in the past 24 hours, smashing a daily record set the day before, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The country reported 123,085 new infections between 8:30 pm Wednesday and 8:30 pm Thursday…

Saudi Arabia eases ‘kafala’ system restrictions on migrant workers

Deputy Minister Abdullah Abuthunain RIYADH, Nov 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Saudi Arabia has announced it will ease some of the contractual restrictions giving employers control over the lives of some 10 million migrant workers. The reforms will allow private sector workers to change jobs and leave the country without an employer’s consent. The Saudi government…