Huawei executive freed in Canada after deal with US prosecutors

 VANCOUVER, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chinese telecoms executive Meng Wanzhou was freed Friday after three years of house arrest in Canada, following an agreement with the US Justice Department to suspend the fraud charges against her that had poisoned Beijing’s relations with Washington and Ottawa. Meng — the 49-year-old daughter…

Covid-19: Back from UN, Pres Bolsonaro son tests positive

 BRASÍLIA, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Jair Bolsonaro’s lawmaker son said he had contracted the coronavirus — the third member of Brazil’s delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York to test positive. Eduardo Bolsonaro, 37, said on Twitter he was feeling well and had “started to treat myself”…

Eight Nigerian troops killed in jihadist attack: military sources

KANO (Nigeria), Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least eight Nigerian soldiers were killed and several others were missing Friday after being ambushed by IS-affiliated jihadists in violence-wracked northeast Borno state.  A military convoy came under rocket fire by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants as it made its way…

French soldier killed in Mali

 PARIS, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France reaffirmed its determination to defeat terrorism after one of its soldiers was killed in a clash with an armed group in Mali. In a statement, the French presidency expressed “particularly strong emotion” at the news of the killing early on Friday and said it…

Catalan leader demands Puigdemont’s ‘immediate release’

     BARCELONA, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Catalonia’s regional leader called for the “immediate release” of his exiled predecessor Carles Puigdemont, who was arrested in Italy the day before on charges linked to a failed Catalan independence bid.     “We demand the immediate release of Carles Puigdemont,” Pere Aragones told a news conference…

Kenya first African nation to back Tedros second term as WHO chief

    NAIROBI, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya became the first African nation to back Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ bid for a second term as  head of the World Health Organization (WHO).    The 56-year-old Ethiopian was nominated by Germany on Wednesday in a move that surprised many observers, who had predicted that…

Indian Americans protest outside White House over Modi’s visit

Activists gather outside White House to protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of Indian Americans have gathered at Lafayette Square, the park in front of the White House, to protest against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the…

Covid-19: Dutch boy wins right to Covid jab despite dad’s refusal

Children aged 12 to 17 in the Netherlands can choose to be vaccinated but need permission from both parents THE HAGUE, Sept 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Dutch court has ruled that a 12-year-old boy had the right to get a Covid jab to visit his dying grandmother despite his vaccine-sceptic…

Extreme wildfires in N. California cause mandatory evacuation of 4,000

LOS ANGELES, Sept 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — An explosive wildfire in northern California expanded to 4.9 square km in 24 hours, triggering multiple mandatory evacuation orders, under which over 4,000 residents fled from their homes. Dubbed Fawn Fire, the fire started some 19 km north of Redding city on Wednesday night,…

Foreign offenders expelled from Chile as deportation of irregular migrants set to resume

SANTIAGO, Sept 24 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Chilean migration authorities expelled 49 migrants who were found guilty of human trafficking in addition to carrying weapons illegally, the Department of Migration and International Police of Tarapacá reported. The measure was adopted as a commutation of sentence, Miguel Ángel Quezada, presidential delegate to Tarapacá…