US-Canada bridge reopens, ending weeklong trucker protest over COVID mandates;other developments

The bridge linking Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, was open for traffic Monday after a week of angry protests against COVID-19 mandates that had shut down the largest border crossing between the U.S. and Canada.

"The Ambassador Bridge is now fully open allowing the free flow of commerce between the Canada and U.S. economies once again,” Detroit International Bridge Co. said in a statement late Sunday. Traffic began rolling across the bridge shortly before midnight.

The "Freedom Convoy" was led by truckers on the Canadian side of the border, but on Friday a judge ordered the protest disbanded. Canadian authorities swept in Saturday and removed most of the trucks and protesters. About a dozen protesters who defied the order were arrested Sunday when the last vehicles blocking the bridge were towed away.

Protesters, who have created havoc at the capital in Ottawa for three weeks, say they object to Canada's COVID-19 rules. Truckers calling themselves the Freedom Convoy are opposing a mandate requiring drivers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated or face testing and quarantine requirements.

The protests in Canada have inspired similar demonstrations in a several countries, from Paris to Auckland, New Zealand.

Other developments include:

►Japan is considering easing its stringent border controls amid growing criticism that the measures, which have banned most foreign entrants including students and business travelers, are hurting the country's economy and international profile.

►Walmart will no longer require fully vaccinated workers to wear masks while working in stores unless mandated by local or state rules.