News in Briefs

Niger military rulers order UN official out within 72 hours

NIAMEY, Oct 11: Niger's post-coup military rulers have demanded in a statement seen by AFP on Wednesday that the United Nations coordinator in the West African country leave Niger within 72 hours. The foreign ministry said in the statement dated Tuesday that the government had ordered Louise Aubin, the UN's resident and humanitarian coordinator, "to take all necessary measures to leave Niamey within 72 hours". It pointed to "obstacles" which it said were presented by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "with a view to thwarting the full and complete participation of Niger" at last month's UN General Assembly. The military regime has already criticised "the perfidious actions" of the UN chief, saying that they were "likely to undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country". – AFP

Hurricane makes landfall near Mexico resort

MEXICO CITY, Oct 11: Hurricane Lidia made landfall as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm Tuesday evening with winds of 140 mph (220 kph) near Mexico's Pacific coast resort of Puerto Vallarta, and then moved inland, still as a powerful hurricane. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Lidia's eye appeared to have reached land near Las Penitas in the western state of Jalisco. The area is a sparsely populated peninsula. The hurricane then moved south of Puerto Vallarta to a point inland about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of the resort, and about 90 miles (150 kms) west of the capital of Jalisco state, Guadalajara. – AP

Climate solidarity declaration signed

NUSA DUA, Oct 11: Dozens of island nations signed a declaration in Indonesia on Wednesday to boost solidarity and cooperation on fighting climate threats, including rising sea levels. Smaller nations at risk of the effects of climate change have sounded the alarm about the threat posed to their existence, seeking a bigger voice on climate diplomacy and issues that may decide their fate. Thirty-two island states across the world-from Saint Lucia to Vanuatu, Japan to the United Kingdom-signed the joint declaration and took part in the two-day meeting of the Archipelagic and Island States Forum, which brings together nations at risk of common climate challenges. – AFP

Remaining debris from Titan sub found

NEW YORK, Oct 11: Engineers have recovered the rest of the debris and presumed human remains from the Titan submersible which imploded on an ill-fated trip to the Titanic, the US Coast Guard says. The craft was destroyed during a dive to the shipwreck in June. All five passengers on board were killed. The search for the sub sparked an international hunt and gripped public attention until the first debris was found several days later. Coast Guard officials said on Tuesday that the additional parts of the craft were recovered from the sea floor last week and taken to a US port. Medical officials will analyse the human remains. –BBC