Protesters snarled traffic in the capital, Ottawa, and continued blockades at some of the busiest routes linking Canada to the United States, demanding an end to vaccine mandates and coronavirus restrictions.

Gov. Steve Sisolak announced that Nevada would join a growing list of states, from New York to California, that are relaxing pandemic restrictions. The governor said schools and private businesses in Nevada could still set their own mask rules.

Protestors opposing vaccine mandates have blocked some of the busiest routes linking Canada to the United States.

Russia's top diplomat dismissed talks with his British counterpart as unproductive.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain promised additional troops, planes and ships to protect the alliance.

Thousands of public-sector employees in Puerto Rico, including teachers and firefighters, took to the streets to demand higher salaries, better working conditions and pension benefits.

Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said her agency was working on new guidance for the states, but that it was not yet time to lift mask mandates across the nation.

Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor, Ontario, requested additional resources and personnel from Canada's provincial and federal governments to deal with a protest by truckers on the Ambassador Bridge.

Nancy Pelosi of California, the speaker of the House, said she would agree to a ban on the ownership and trading of individual stocks by members of Congress if the ban also applied to members of the judicial branch.

Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, said it was 'not the job' of the Republican National Committee to censure Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, and called the attack on Jan. 6 a 'violent insurrection.'