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Mexico, Argentina recall envoys from Nicaragua

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Mexico City: Mexico and Argentina have recalled their ambassadors to Nicaragua for consultations in response to President Daniel Ortega's mounting crackdown on the opposition, a joint statement said on Monday.


The two countries voiced concern about "the worrying political-legal actions carried out by the Nicaraguan government in recent days that have put the integrity and freedom of various opposition figures at risk."


Argentina and Mexico will continue to press for "the full respect and promotion of human rights" as well as civil and political liberties, the statement said.


They offered to help foster a dialogue to resolve the situation in the Central American country, which is scheduled to hold presidential elections in November.


Nicaraguan authorities have arrested seventeen opposition figures this month, including five potential presidential candidates, eliciting international condemnation and fresh US sanctions.


Over 8,500 kids used as soldiers in 2020


NEW YORK: More than 8,500 children were used as soldiers last year in various conflicts across the world and nearly 2,700 others were killed, the United Nations said on Monday.


UN chief Antonio Guterres' annual report to the Security Council on children and armed conflict covers the killing, maiming and sexual abuse of children, abduction or recruitment, denial of aid access and targeting of schools and hospitals.


The report verified that violations had been committed against 19,379 children in 21 conflicts. The most violations in 2020 were committed in Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen.


It verified that 8,521 children were used as soldiers last year, while another 2,674 children were killed and 5,748 injured in various conflicts.


The report also includes a blacklist intended to shame parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to implement measures to protect children.


Unionist party gets third leader in a month


Dublin: Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on Tuesday named its third leader in under a month, the latest twist in a Brexit-soaked drama that has left the region's leadership in turmoil.


Jeffrey Donaldson, who sits in the UK parliament in London, was the only member to register his candidacy to head the hardline pro-UK party, which has been riven by infighting over post-Brexit trading arrangements for the province.


The 58-year-old politician will replace Edwin Poots, who took over from his predecessor Arlene Foster in a brutal putsch fuelled by perceptions that her opposition to the deal was too soft.


Poots became leader in late May but was swiftly deposed by party colleagues last Thursday, just hours after naming his loyal ally Paul Givan as Foster's replacement as Northern Ireland first minister.


Poots had promised a tough stance against the so-called "Northern Ireland protocol", which effectively keeps Northern Ireland in the European customs union and single market that the UK left in January.


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