November 8, 2021

*) US reopens borders to vaccinated visitors after 20 months The United States has reopened its land and air borders to foreign visitors fully vaccinated against Covid-19, ending 20 months of restrictions on travel. US borders were closed by the Trump administration after March 2020 to travellers from large parts of the world in response to the pandemic. Lifting the travel ban will affect more than 30 countries, but entry into the US will not be unregulated. US authorities will closely monitor travellers' vaccination status and still require many of them to present negative Covid-19 tests. *) Polls close in Nicaragua with Daniel Ortega on track for fourth term Nicaraguans have voted in presidential elections denounced by US President Joe Biden as a "sham.” Polling stations closed after 11 hours of voting under the watchful eye of 30,000 police and soldiers. International observers were not allowed. With seven would-be presidential challengers detained since June, long-term leader Daniel Ortega is assured a fourth five-year term. *) Azerbaijan celebrates first anniversary of Karabakh victory People in Azerbaijan are celebrating the first anniversary of "Victory Day" after last year's war with Armenia. On November 8, 2020, Azerbaijani forces recaptured the historic city of Shusha in Karabakh from Armenian militias, bringing an end to fighting with ​​Armenian forces. Azerbaijan has started rebuilding the region but a permanent peace deal still seems a long way off, following 30 years of conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives. *) China's Communist Party starts four-day meeting The top leaders of China's ruling Communist Party have started a pivotal meeting expected to further firm President Xi Jinping's grip on power. Some 400 members of the party's powerful Central Committee gathered in Beijing for the four-day plenary. State news agency Xinhua said Xi opened the meeting with a draft resolution that will set the stage for his expected third term in office. And finally… *) Elon Musk