EU to give Colombia €30m in aid for Venezuelan migrants

The European Union gives €30 million to Colombia to deal with influx of Venezuelan migrants BOGOTA, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union will give €30 million in aid to Colombia to help the Andean country grapple with an influx of Venezuelan migrants fleeing economic and political strife at home,…

Ireland: PM eyes May 2020 general election

Leo Varadkar set out his preferred timetable at a Fine Gael meeting in Cork DUBLIN, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar revealed that he wants to hold an early general election in May 2020. Varadkar, 40, said it would be the “right moment” as the Brexit situation…

IMF to discuss loan status with Argentina finance minister

Economy Minister Hernan Lacunza WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — IMF officials will meet with the economic team from crisis-hit Argentina later this month to review the status of the country’s massive loan programme, an IMF spokesman said. That meeting will allow officials to discuss recent steps taken to stabilise the…

Turkey says Cyprus abandoned ‘ghost town’ to be opened

The crumbling hotels and houses of Varosha ISTANBUL, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu confirmed that Turkey plans to re-open the fenced-off town of Varosha, and preparations were already underway. Three days after his visit to Varosha, accompanied by his Turkish Cypriot ‘counterpart’ Kudret Ozersay, Cavusoglu told…

Update: Israel must have freedom to act against Iran, Netanyahu says in Russia

SOCHI (Russia), Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Israel must be allowed to act freely against Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a visit to Sochi, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss security coordination in Syria. The two leaders have met more than a dozen times in…

Argentine lawmakers approve emergency food bill

Protesters along the Avenue Nueve de Julio in Buenos Aires BUENOS AIRES, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Argentine lawmakers on Thursday unanimously approved a draft emergency food law to free up resources for social programmes amid a worsening economic crisis. “We are facing a problem of hunger, malnutrition and a sharp…

Peru court cuts jail time for opposition leader Keiko Fujimori

LIMA, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peru’s Supreme Court on Thursday halved the pre-trial detention of Keiko Fujimori, paving the way for the opposition leader to leave jail in April of next year. Fujimori, 44, was ordered held for 36 months last October in a corruption case linked to Brazilian construction…

US finds North Korean readiness for talks ‘encouraging’

WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said it was encouraged by North Korea’s stated willingness to resume negotiations but criticised its latest firing of projectiles as counter-productive. “It was an encouraging sign that they would like to return to negotiations and that’s something we welcome,” State Department spokeswoman…

Opportunities abound for Singapore-Philippines collaboration: Pres Halimah Yacob

MANILA, Sept 13 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore and the Philippines can collaborate in many areas, Singapore President Halimah Yacob said as she concluded on Thursday a five-day state visit to the Philippines, during which she met Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila and headed to his home city of Davao in Mindanao. Halimah said…

Liberia: Chiefs call for action over economic crimes

President George Weah MONROVIA, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 300 chiefs representing Liberia’s rural and traditional bloc have called on the president to set up a war and economic crimes court as part of measures to fight impunity that has impeded the growth of Africa’s oldest independent republic.The representative…