US drug overdose deaths surpass 100,000 for first time, spurred by COVID-19 pandemic

WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More Americans than ever before died from drug overdoses over a 12-month period, according to federal data, as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical care and increased mental health woes, and as more lethal drugs flooded the streets. The record of more than 100,000 overdose deaths…

US says it is not engaged in formal arms control talks with China

Chinese and US flags WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States and China will aim to have “conversations” on arms control, “not formal talks”, the White House National Security Council said, downplaying contact on the issue following a meeting between the two countries’ leaders. US President Joe Biden and Chinese…

US removes Nigeria from religious violators list

Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has removed Nigeria from its list of religious violators, even as it blacklisted Russia, China and eight other countries “as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated ‘systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”US…

Canada: Deadly once-in-a-century storm cuts transport links around Vancouver

  VANCOUVER (Canada), Nov 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A deadly storm described by officials as a once-in-a-century weather event has severed road and rail links around Vancouver, Canada. Two motorways connecting the West Coast city were closed after being damaged by severe flooding. A woman was killed in a highway landslide,…

US, China agree to ease restrictions on journalist visas

  WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States and China have agreed to ease restrictions on journalist visas shortly after a long-awaited virtual summit between its two leaders, with Beijing on Wednesday calling the move a “hard-won” achievement.   Washington regularly denounces the deterioration in China’s treatment of US…

Covid-19: Brazil to give all adults booster shots

BRASILIA, Nov 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — All Brazilians aged above 18 will be eligible to get booster shots against COVID-19, Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said. “Thanks to the information we have from scientific studies, we have decided to extend the booster shot to everyone over 18 years of age who…

More than 15 million Chileans to elect president, lawmakers

SANTIAGO, Nov 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — More than 15 million Chileans will head to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president, deputies, senators and regional councilors. The candidates, including seven presidential nominees, will be vying for the votes of 15,030,974 registered voters, including more than 70,000 eligible Chileans living…

Space rivalry: Russia admits destroying satellite with space missile strike

MOSCOW, Nov 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia admitted to destroying one of its satellites during a missile test, but rejected US accusations that it had endangered the International Space Station. US officials on Monday accused Russia of a “dangerous and irresponsible” strike on a satellite that had created a cloud of debris and…

US President Biden calls on Congress to ratify treaty on ozone depletion

  WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Biden urged Congress to ratify an international treaty amendement that aims to reduce human-made chemicals that damage the Earth’s protective ozone layer.   Biden urged the Senate to back ratifying the 2019 Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which has been signed…

Journalist Fenster back in US after release from Myanmar jail

US journalist Danny Fenster (second from left) is reunited with his family at JFK airport NEW YORK, Nov 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An American journalist jailed for six months by Myanmar’s military rulers arrived back in the United States on Tuesday, one day after he was pardoned and released from prison. “It feels…
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