Global National: Nov. 7, 2021 | Relief, hesitancy as US set to reopen border to vaccinated Canadians

Credit: Global News

Nearly two years since the U.S.-Canada border was closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States is preparing to reopen its land border to fully-vaccinated Canadian travellers. Ross Lord takes a look at the relief, the reluctance, and the red tape that remains on the eve of the reopening.

Meanwhile in the U.S., more disturbing details are emerging from rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld music festival, which is now considered one of the deadliest concert tragedies in that country. Eight people died after the crowd surged toward the stage during Scott’s performance, including two victims aged 14 and 16 years old. Jennifer Johnson has the latest details on what may have triggered the panic.

In Iraq, security forces in Baghdad are on high alert after Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi survived an assassination attempt at his own home. The attack involved the use of explosive-laden drones swooping into his house. Mike Drolet looks at the country’s political upheavals that may have led to the attack.

According to a report published in 2018, Canada’s health-care sector accounts for just under five per cent of the country’s emissions. It’s an amount that’s not “massive,” but still significant, according to Fiona Miller, a professor of health policy and director of the Centre for Sustainable Health Systems at the University of Toronto. So how could Canada’s health-care system become greener? Jamie Mauracher has more.

Although multi-billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are seeing their fortunes rapidly expand, the ultra wealthy are often taxed in the United States at lower rates than the average person. As Jackson Proskow reports, the idea of a special wealth tax is now gaining momentum, and it’s aimed at the country’s richest people.

Back in Canada, the Indigenous population in Toronto continues to face disturbingly low levels of COVID-19 vaccinations. Almost half of that group over the age of 15 have not been fully-vaccinated. Kayla McLean looks into why.

And with Remembrance Day fast approaching, it now has special significance for one Winnipeg family, thanks to some diligent detective work in Calgary. As Gil Tucker shows us, it all starts with a chance discovery in the back of a thrift store.