Nine migrants deported from the United States landed in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, the West African country said, in the latest example of the Trump administration’s widely criticized deals with African and Latin American nations to take third-country deportees. Five migrants are from Ghana, two from Guinea, one from Senegal and one from Nigeria, the ministry of information said. The deals have raised questions about respect for the migrants’ rights. The ministry’s statement said the new arrivals “have been checked into their hosting facilities, are comfortable and receiving the necessary support.” It said 24 deportees were initially expected but didn’t...

Three people are dead and more than a dozen first responders had to be quarantined and assessed Wednesday for possible exposure to an unidentified substance after being called to a suspected drug overdose at a rural New Mexico home, authorities said. Four people initially were found unresponsive inside the Mountainair home east of Albuquerque, New Mexico State Police said. Three died, while the forth was being treated at an Albuquerque hospital, police said. Their names weren’t released. First responders who arrived at the home were exposed to the substance and began experiencing symptoms, including nausea and dizziness, authorities said. Antonette...

In Beijing, Presidents Vladimir Putin & Xi Jinping viewed a photo exhibition “China-Russia Everlasting Friendship: A Model of Major-Country Relations.”,  prepared by the ТАСС and China Xinhua It follows the development of Russia-China relations & titled “Unbreakable Friendship Between Great Peoples, Strategic Partnership Between Great Powers”. The leaders recalled with pleasure the moments of friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Russia in recent years. They both noted that the great cause of China-Russia friendship is in line with the prevailing trend of history and of the times. It is unbreakable, and will continue to steadily advance forward and write...

President Xi noted that the international situation is fluid and turbulent. Unilateralism and hegemonism are resurging, yet peace, development and cooperation remain the aspiration of the people and the prevailing trend of our times. As permanent members of the U.N. security council and important major countries in the world, China and Russia should take a strategic and long-term perspective, drive the development and revitalization of our respective countries through comprehensive strategic coordination of even higher quality, and work to make the global governance system more just and equitable.

Mark Carney: “The relationship between Canada and Spain stretches back centuries — and has become a strong partnership in trade, security, and defence today. “An honour to welcome His Majesty King Felipe VI to Ottawa with Governor General Mary Simon tonight.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said their countries are partners in trade and international affairs as they opened bilateral talks Wednesday on his trip to Beijing. Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People only days after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The quick succession of Trump’s and Putin’s visits highlighted Beijing’s growing role as an international superpower, experts say. Putin greeted Xi warmly as they met for bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People. “My dear friend,” Putin said. “We are truly...