February 11, 2022

Canada truckers' protest grows, fuels similar campaigns abroad Trucker-led protests against Covid-19 curbs in Canada have shut down another US border crossing. The key Ambassador Bridge linking Ontario and Detroit is out of service. A second crossing in Alberta is blocked. Protesters have now closed down a third border point in central Manitoba. The two-week protest has mushroomed into an international movement, from New Zealand to France and Belgium. *) Libya PM Dbeibah: Tobruk parliament trying to take Tripoli by force Libya's prime minister has said that the eastern-based parliament's selection of a new government and premier is an attempt to enter Tripoli by force. Abdul Hamid Dbeibah also said he may announce an initiative by his government to solve Libya’s political crisis. He said he is willing to withdraw from running for the presidency to make his initiative succeed. The east-based parliament, aligned to warlord Khalifa Haftar, has named former interior minister Fathi Bashaga to replace Dbeibah. The UN said it still recognises Dbeibah as Libya's prime minister. On Thursday, Dbeibah escaped unharmed from an assassination attempt when shots were fired at his car in Tripoli. *) Russia-Ukraine talks fail to produce breakthrough Nearly nine hours of talks between Ukraine and Russia have failed to produce a breakthrough on signing a joint document. Ukrainian and Russian officials met in the German capital for talks on ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russia said the latest round of talks with Ukraine, France and Germany fell short of any new agreement. However, both sides have agreed to keep talking. *) Quad allies meet to deepen bulwark against China Top diplomats of the United States, Australia, Japan and India have opened talks in Melbourne on strengthening their Quad alliance. The meetings are aimed at boosting cooperation across fields like information, technology and fighting Covid-19. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that even though Russia's threat to Ukraine