Mexico: Pres Obrador defends security plan as families mourn slain cops

Police officers patrol at a road after fellow police officers were killed during an ambush by suspected cartel hitmen in El Aguaje, in Michoacan state MORELIA (Mexico), Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador defended his strategy for fighting the violent crime racking Mexico, as relatives mourned 13 police…

UN ends Haiti peacekeeping operations, urges end to crisis

A UN van enters into the Logistic Base of the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) in Port-au-Prince UNITED NATIONS, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council ended 15 years of peacekeeping operations in Haiti on Tuesday, voicing regret that the country is still saddled with…

Canada suspends new arms sales to Turkey

OTTAWA, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada announced it had temporarily suspended “new export permits” to Turkey, particularly of military equipment, in response to Ankara’s offensive into northern Syria.“Canada firmly condemns Turkey’s military incursion into Syria,” Global Affairs Canada, the foreign ministry, said in statement.“This unilateral action risks undermining the stability…

French police fire teargas, water cannons at protesting firefighters

Firefighters in France are protesting over lack of resources and professional recognition PARIS, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French police fired teargas and water cannons at thousands of firefighters protesting in central Paris on Tuesday over a lack of resources and professional recognition.The demonstration started off noisily but peacefully, with whistles,…

Nigeria borders to remain closed until 2020 despite protests

Nigerian government insists on closing borders with neighbouring countries until 2020 despite protests ABUJA, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s land border with neighbouring countries to remain closed until 2020 as the government intensifies what is seen as a radical move, to check smuggling of goods into the populous African nation.Though…

Brexit to budgets: The key themes at this week’s EU summit

BRUSSELS, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU national leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to discuss some of the biggest issues facing the bloc, including the prospect of a member state leaving for the first time and two countries looking to join. While cliffhanger negotiations for Britain’s Brexit…

Second Greek migrant camp in flames as arrivals continue to rise

Burned beds and tents are left among the ashes at the Samos camp ATHENS, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A fire in a severely overcrowded migrant camp in Greece forced hundreds of people into the streets, compounding their plight with more refugees arriving on Greek islands daily in what an aid…

DR Congo: Four bodies pulled from plane crash wreckage carrying presidential staff

KINSHASA, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four unidentified bodies have been found in DR Congo amid the wreckage of a plane that had been carrying staff of Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, the government said. The Antonov An-72 transport aircraft, which was operated by the air force on behalf of the presidency,…

Spain: Violent clashes erupt after jailing of Catalonia leaders

Violent clashes erupted outside the Barcelona airport MADRID, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Protests have erupted in Barcelona after Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison. The separatists were convicted of sedition over their role in an illegal independence referendum in 2017. Another three were found…

Russia says will not allow clashes between Turkey and Syria

Turkish troops deploy in Syria’s Manbij MOSCOW, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia said it would not allowclashes between Turkey and Syria as Ankara presses a military operationagainst Kurdish forces. “This would simply be unacceptable,” Moscow’s special envoy on Syria,Alexander Lavrentyev, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. “And therefore…