Post-Brexit crisis: UK calls in French envoy over ‘threats’ as fishing dispute deepens

The British trawler Cornelis Gert Jan in port in Le Havre after being detained by French authorities PARIS, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  Britain summoned the French ambassador to explain “threats” made over post-Brexit fishing rights, hours after France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex offered to open talks to resolve the increasingly…

Mexico to give visa to children, pregnant women in migrant caravan

MEXICO CITY, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico said it would give humanitarian visas to children and pregnant women in a migrant caravan moving north from southern Mexico, adopting a softer approach to the task of containing migrant flows than at times taken recently. Lasting a year, the visas grant migrants…

Cuba approves laws granting greater rights as criticism of protesters’ arrests heats up

HAVANA, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba’s National Assembly approved a raft of laws broadening citizens’ legal rights even as the country comes under fire at home and abroad for a crackdown on protests earlier this year. The changes stem from the 2019 constitution, which required reforms to modernise Cuba’s judicial…

Sudan coup: US Pres Biden lashes junta, deaths climb in anti-coup protests

KHARTOUM/WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States and United Nations dialled up the pressure on Sudan’s new military junta as confrontations between soldiers and anti-coup protesters took the death toll to at least 11. After the 15-member UN Security Council called for the restoration of Sudan’s civilian-led government – toppled…

US senators propose adding boycott of China’s Winter Olympics to defence Bill

WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A bipartisan group of US senators on Thursday (Oct 28) proposed an amendment to an annual defense policy bill that would impose a diplomatic boycott of China’s Winter Olympics – less than 100 days away – amid accusations of rights abuses by Beijing. The amendment, led by Republican Senator…

Sudan coup: World Bank suspends aid after military takeover

Demonstrations against the coup are continuing  KHARTOUM, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Bank has suspended its aid to Sudan, after the military there staged a coup against the civilian government. Political leaders were arrested on Monday, sparking nationwide protests and international condemnation. The African Union (AU) has also suspended…

EU suspends funding to WHO programmes in DR Congo after sex scandal

GENEVA, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Commission has suspended funding to the World Health Organization’s programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to concerns over the UN agency’s handling of the sexual abuse scandal. An Oct 7 letter from the Commission marked “SENSITIVE” informed the WHO of the immediate suspension…

Haitian G9 gang calls for resignation of Prime Minister Henry

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct 28 (NNN-TELESUR) — The G9 Fanmi e Alye leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier called for the resignation of Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry as a condition to allow fuel distribution in the country. “Our demand is clear, pure, and simple. Our demand is the resignation of the Prime Minister,”…

Covid-19: Desperate Nicaraguans go to Honduras to get shots

MANAGUA, Oct 28 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Citizens of Nicaragua, which according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) ranks among the six countries in the region with the lowest vaccination rates, have been crossing over the border to neighbouring Honduras even on horseback and in rafts to receive a COVID-19 immunizer,…

EU plans large scale observation of Venezuelan elections

Freddy Nanez CARACAS, Oct 28 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The European Union already has 11 electoral experts in Caracas for the upcoming Venezuelan elections. Then the number is to grow to 44 long-term observers while by Nov 21 – voting day – the team is to surpass 100 members, the Electoral Observation…