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Keep borders open despite Covid variants, WHO pleads

The World Health Organization has encouraged countries to keep their borders open, despite fears about the Omicron variant of Covid-19, as South Africa denounces global travel restrictions that it has called “unjustified.” Avoiding shutting down borders, the WHO said, will prevent a “heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.”  If restrictions are put in place, the […]

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Swiss get to choose whether to keep vaccine passports in place

Despite months of protests, Swiss citizens have overwhelmingly voted to keep the country’s system of Covid vaccination certificates in place. The deal was sweetened for voters by the promise of financial assistance. Some 62% of voters chose on Sunday to maintain the country’s coronavirus measures. These measures include a controversial system of Covid vaccination certificates, required […]

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Pandemic no excuse for White House to keep all JFK files secret – Oliver Stone to RT

The Oscar-winning director told Afshin Rattansi how he was baffled by President Joe Biden’s decision to once again postpone the release of classified files on the assassination of the 35th president, John F. Kennedy, in 1963. A White House memo written last month alleged that, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Archives and other […]

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French envoy says Australia was ‘childish’ to keep nuclear sub talks with US secret ahead of recalled ambassador’s return

The French ambassador to Australia, who will soon return to the nation after being recalled by Paris amid a spat over a secretly negotiated deal for US-made nuclear subs, said Canberra was “childish” to keep the sale under wraps. “It’s childish to say that it was impossible to consult France” on the deal, Ambassador Jean-Pierre […]

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Australian police attempt to keep reporters from covering Covid-19 protests, back off after news outlet threatens legal challenge

Melbourne police partially backed off an order to keep news helicopters out of the sky over anti-lockdown protests after media pushed back with a legal challenge. Police said protesters were tracking cops’ movements via newsfeeds. Police in Victoria initially issued a blanket order to keep local news helicopters out of the sky over the Melbourne […]

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Auckland to remain under coronavirus lockdown for another week as cases keep rising in New Zealand

Lockdown in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, won’t be lifted, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said as the country, which tries to stem a Delta variant outbreak, reported the worst number of Covid-19 cases in 11 days on Monday. Some 1.7 million residents in Auckland will remain under strict Level 4 lockdown until midnight on September […]