Chile cancels APEC, climate summits amid ongoing protests

Protests in Chile presented insurmountable challenges for Piñera’s government SANTIAGO, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chile has withdrawn as host of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade summit in November and the COP25 climate conference in December after several weeks of violent unrest, President Sebastian Pinera announced. Pinera said the decision…

Australian police seize 400kg of crystal meth hidden in chilli sauce bottles

SYDNEY, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four men have been arrested for smuggling 400kg of crystal meth, or ice, worth an estimated A$300 million (US$210 million) concealed in bottles of sriracha hot chilli sauce from the United States, Australian police said. A search of an air cargo consignment that had arrived at…

Hazardous smoke blankets Sydney as winds fan Australia bushfires

Smoke blankets Sydney SYDNEY, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sydney was wreathed in hazardous smoke on Thursday as strong winds fanned dozens of bushfires across Australia’s east coast, prompting health warnings for the city that is home to more than 5 million people and the state of New South Wales (NSW).…

Frenchman, 84, charged over mosque attack

84-year-old Claude Sinke charged over mosque attack … BAYONNE (France), Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An octogenarian accused of wounding two men in a shooting at a mosque in southern France has been charged and ordered held in detention, the prosecutor’s office said. Claude Sinke, who stood as a candidate for…

New powerful quake hits South Philippines

MANILA, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A powerful quake struck in the southern Philippines on Thursday sending people fleeing from homes, schools and malls, with initial reports of damage to some buildings. The 6.5 magnitude quake hit the island of Mindanao, the US Geological Survey said, in the same area where…

NATO demands Russia ‘withdraw all troops’ from Ukraine

KIEV, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg welcomed a pullback by the Ukrainian army and Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, but reiterated calls for Russia to “withdraw all their troops”. Tuesday saw a long-awaited pullback between the two sides in a key area of the war-torn east. The…

100 dead, 5,500 wounded in week of Iraq violence: rights commission

BAGHDAD, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 100 people have died and more than 5,500 injured since anti-government demonstrations resumed in Iraq on Oct 24, a national rights commission said. The Iraqi Human Rights Commission said a majority of the dead were civilians suffocated by tear gas, or who sustained…

Brexit: General election fight ‘will be tough’, British PM Boris Johnson says

LONDON, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Boris Johnson has said he is ready to fight a “tough” general election after MPs voted for a Dec 12 poll. The legislation approved by MPs on Tuesday will later begin its passage through the House of Lords, where it is not expected to be…

United States to host Nov 6 meeting over Nile dam dispute: Egypt’s Foreign Minister

CAIRO, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is set to host Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on Nov 6, with a view of resolving a dispute over the latter’s hydropower dam the Blue Nile, Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry said. Earlier this month, Cairo said it accepted a U.S. invitation…

Nigeria: Border closure will create jobs in textile industry – Pres Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari ABUJA, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Muhammadu Buhari said his administration was making effort to expand the textile and garment industry in the quest to make it create two million jobs for Nigerians.Buhari spoke while declaring open the 31st annual educational conference of the National Union of…