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…

Gambian politicians make promises to electorates ahead of December polls

BANJUL, Nov 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Politicians in The Gambia have been making last-minute promises to convince the electorates to vote for them as the country gears up for the Dec 4 presidential election to determine who would govern the nation for the next five years. The Independent Electoral Commission has…

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…

Bulgaria to elect new president in runoff

SOFIA, Nov. 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Bulgaria’s head of state will be decided in a runoff on Sunday, according to the country’s election commission. According to the final results of the first round on Nov 14, Bulgaria’s incumbent President Rumen Radev received 49.42 percent of the votes and will head to…

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…

At least 1,000 arrested, including UN staff, since Ethiopia state of emergency: UN Sec-Gen

  GENEVA, Nov 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN voiced alarm at surging arrests in Ethiopia since the country introduced a state of emergency on Nov 2.   The United Nations human rights agency said most of those detained in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa as well as in Gondar, Bahir…

Migrants: Humanitarian activists to face criminal charges in Greece

   ATHENS, Nov 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two dozen humanitarian activists who helped migrants reach Greece three years ago face charges including espionage and criminal membership in a keenly watched trial opening Thursday on the island of Lesbos.    Human Rights Watch this week said the activists had provided “life-saving aid…

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…

Update: Armenia, Azerbaijan end border conflict after hours of clashes

  YEREVAN/BAKU, Nov 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — Armenia’s Defense Ministry said that fighting ended along the border with Azerbaijan after a Russia-brokered ceasefire agreement.   The ministry said that due to the agreement reached through Russian mediation, hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan stopped along the eastern borderline of Armenia as of…