US restricting visas, aid over conflict in Ethiopia s Tigray region
On Location: May 24, 2021
Replay Video UP NEXT The United States is now restricting visas for those accused of fueling the grinding war in Ethiopia s Tigray region. Despite significant diplomatic engagement, the parties to the conflict in Tigray have taken no meaningful steps to end hostilities or pursue a peaceful resolution of the political crisis, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Sunday. The time for action from the international community is now. MORE: US raising alarm over deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia s war-torn Tigray region Thousands of people are estimated to have died while more than 1 million others are displaced since fighting erupted almost seven months ago between federal troops and rebellious regional forces in Tigray, the northernmost region of Ethiopia. Both sides have been accused of committing atrocities against civilians, with reports of ex
Ministers consider diluting plan to relax Covid rules as India variant surges Jessica ElgotHeather StewartPeter Walker
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(Video by Press Association)
Ministers are considering diluting plans for “freedom day” in England on 21 June and delay the end of all social distancing rules, as new figures showed another sharp increase in the Covid variant first detected in India.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, said no announcement would be made until 14 June on whether all restrictions will be lifted a week later, as planned.
“We’ve always known that one of the things that has the potential to knock us off track would be a new variant,” he said. “That’s why we made the presence of a new variant that could do that one of our four tests when we set out the roadmap, which is the test we must pass for going down each step.”
Nine things to know about the Indian Covid variant and why it could affect lockdown Mirror 3 hrs ago Lorraine King
There are fears that the Indian Covid strain could will hinder the end of the proposed lockdown next month. More than half of all areas in England have seen an increase in coronavirus infection rates as worry about the variant builds.
Experts say vaccines have saved 12,000 lives but there are fears that the Indian variant could be 50% more infectious than the Kent strain.
It is hoped the final sections of the economy that remain closed after the easing on Monday, such as nightclubs and large events, could return by summer but this could be scuppered if infections continue to rise.rules.