Mercosur upholds free trade, says Chilean president

SANTA FE (Argentina), July 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — The South American trade bloc Southern Common Market (Mercosur) aims to further promote free trade among its members and trade partners, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said. Speaking at the 54th Mercosur Leaders Summit in the Argentine province of Santa Fe, Pinera stressed the…

Peru: Ex-president Toledo’s extradition could take a year – FM

LIMA, July 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — Peruvian ex-president Alejandro Toledo’s extradition from the United States to face trial at home could take about a year, Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio said. The official said he was basing the estimation on a similar case, in which Panama’s ex-president Ricardo Martinelli fled to…

South Africa: Release of state-owned land to be prioritised – deputy president

PRETORIA, July 18 (NNN-SANEWS) — Deputy President David Mabuza says the release of government-owned land will be prioritised in a push to meet the objectives of accelerated land reform in South Africa. The Deputy President said this when he participated in the budget vote debate of the office of the…

US to deploy additional 2,100 troops to Mexico border

Securing the U.S. Border With Mexico WASHINGTON, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Pentagon said it would send an additional 1,000 Texas National Guard and 1,100 active duty troops to the border with Mexico, the latest deployment in support of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Major Chris Mitchell, a Pentagon spokesman,…

Hungary should move children from ‘prison-like’ transit zones: UN

BUDAPEST, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A senior UN human rights official urged Hungary to move asylum-seeking families held in “prison-like” transit zones on the Serbian border to other facilities in Hungary that he said are almost empty. Migrants arriving at the European Union’s southern border from Serbia have been held at…

Mexico says migrant numbers down but warns of impending crisis

MEXICO CITY, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of undocumented migrants entering Mexico in the hope of reaching the United States dropped by almost a third in June, the foreign office said, warning that a crisis was still on the way if the numbers didn’t fall further. Some 100,000 people,…

Italy’s Interior Minister Salvini dismisses EU migrant ship proposals at emergency talks

The Italian NGO migrant rescue ship docks in the port of Lampedusa, Sicily HELSINKI, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s interior minister, Matteo Salvini, said his government’s position was unchanged after emergency EU talks in Helsinki to try and end the Mediterranean migrant rescue crisis. EU interior ministers gathered over dinner…

South American trade bloc MERCOSUR calls for Venezuela elections

SANTA FE (Argentina), July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South American trade bloc Mercosur called for “free, fair and transparent presidential elections, as soon as possible” in Venezuela, at its summit in Argentina. The presidents of the four member countries signed a Wednesday statement expressing concern “for the grave crisis that Venezuela…

Madagascar footballers knighted after historic Afcon performance

ANTANANARIVO, July 18 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Madagascar’s national football team players have been awarded with the rank of Knight of the Malagasy National Order, following their arrival from an impressive run at the Africa Cup of Nations. The team, which was making its debut at the tournament, secured wins against Burundi,…

Nigeria: 13 dead in building collapse, 7 survived

JOS (Nigeria), July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rescue team search for survivors in Jos, Central Nigeria following a three-storey residential facility collapse that killed 13 people on Tuesday. An official of the Red Cross said 7 survivors are receiving treatment at a local hospital. Nigeria frequently witnesses building collapse in a…