Colombia ready to defend against Venezuela ‘threats’: Minister

BOGOTA, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombia is “ready” to defend itself against threats from Venezuela, after that country’s president accused Bogota of seeking to provoke military conflict, a minister said. Faced with “threats” from Caracas, “Colombian authorities will not give in to provocation, but are ready to protect the sovereignty…

New Italian government to be sworn in on Thursday – official

ROME, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has told President Sergio Mattarella that he is in position to form a new government, which will be sworn in on Thursday, a presidential official said. The swearing-in ceremony, involving the whole cabinet, will take place at the presidential palace…

UN warns of Burundi atrocities as ‘divine’ ruler eyes 2020 election

President Pierre Nkurunziza GENEVA, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Burundi is at risk of a new wave of atrocities as it approaches a 2020 election with an unresolved political crisis and a president who is increasingly portrayed as a “divine” ruler, U.N. investigators said in a report. The report by the…

Morocco, Spain to bolster cooperation to curb illegal migration

Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Morocco’s Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit RABAT, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Morocco and Spain pledged to cooperate more closely to curb illegal migration following a near halving of migrant arrivals in mainland Spain this year from 2018. The two countries will work together to counter…

Nigeria police says to boost security at embassies, foreign businesses

LAGOS, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerian police plan to boost security at embassies and foreign businesses in the country in the wake of violence targeted at South African-owned companies, the police said. Violence erupted in Nigeria against South African companies in retaliation for attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in…

Kosovo jails six for plans to attack NATO troops, other countries

PRISTINA, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A court in Kosovo said it had jailed six people, including a woman, for terms ranging from one to 10 years, for planning attacks on NATO troops and the public in Kosovo, Belgium and France. The population of Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in…

Cruise companies pledge aid after Dorian wreaks havoc on Bahamas

MIAMI, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — For the Atlantic’s major cruise operators, deadly Hurricane Dorian has meant nothing but trouble in paradise as ships have been diverted from the Bahamas. But as the widespread devastation becomes more apparent on the ravished archipelago, a bread-and-butter staple of the tourist industry, the companies…

Argentina: Thousands demand state of ‘food emergency’

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 5 (NNN-TELESUR) — Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Buenos Aires Wednesday to demonstrate against the government of President Mauricio Macri’s reforms, demanding the Congress to pass a bill declaring a state of Food Emergency in order to address poverty and hunger growing across the country. Protesters brandished banners slamming…

Brazil: Pres Bolsonaro slams UN’s Bachelet for ‘meddling’ in Brazil

BRASILIA, Sept 5 (NNN-TELESUR) — Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro continued his attacks on foreign leaders and U.N. personnel this week as he shifted his attention to human rights chief Michelle Bachelet.  Bolsonaro accused Chile’s former president Michelle Bachelet, now the United Nations human rights chief, of meddling in his country’s affairs after…

Colombian Govt: No dialogue if ELN, FARC dissent make alliance

BOGOTA, Sept 5 (NNN-TELESUR) — The Colombian Government said that any peace agreement dialogue with the National Liberation Army (ELN) would be closed if this group makes an alliance with dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). “If an alliance between the ELN and FARC dissidents is confirmed, the consequences would be very serious,” the…