Reuters World News Summary

Following is a summary of current world news briefs. Thousands march as France's 'yellow vest' protests rumble on

Tens of thousands of people marched on Saturday in Paris and other cities and dozens were arrested as France's "yellow vest" movement staged its 15th consecutive weekend of demonstrations against the government. Some 46,600 people joined the protests nationwide, including 5,800 in the capital, the Interior Ministry said. That was up from 41,500 last week, with 5,000 in Paris. Two killed as Maduro sends troops to block Venezuela aid convoys

At least two people were killed and trucks loaded with foreign aid were set ablaze after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro deployed troops and armored vehicles to turn back humanitarian assistance at border crossings with Colombia and Brazil. Maduro said he was breaking diplomatic relations with Colombia and ordered its diplomatic staff to leave Venezuela within 24 hours because of its government's assistance to opposition leader Juan Guaido. Nigeria's president and main rival confident as polls close

Nigeria began counting votes in Saturday's closely-fought presidential election although the electoral commission extended voting in some places where polling stations opened late or ballot machines malfunctioned. President Muhammadu Buhari and his main challenger, businessman Atiku Abubakar, both said they were confident of victory when casting their ballots in an election which was already delayed by a week due to logistical problems. France calls on Germany to ease arms export rules

French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Sunday that Germany should ease its strict arms export rules for countries outside the European Union to strengthen the defense industry. France has complained that joint arms manufacturing projects are being stalled by Berlin's refusal to authorize future arms export licenses to Saudi Arabia, a major buyer. Prince Khaled bin Salman appointed Saudi deputy defense minister

Saudi Arabia appointed the full younger brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as its deputy defense minister on Saturday and named a princess as the kingdom’s first woman ambassador to the United States. The appointments follow Riyadh's efforts to overcome an international outcry over last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents, which damaged relations with Western allies including the United States. North Korea's Kim begins long train trip to Vietnam for summit with Trump: report

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un set off by train for Vietnam on Saturday, for his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump next week, media reported, and hours later, two witnesses saw a train crossing into China from North Korea. The reports of Kim's departure from North Korea came after Vietnam announced that Kim would make an official visit in "coming days", as the Southeast Asian country prepares to host the summit with Trump on Wednesday and Thursday. Erdogan says safe zone on Syria border must be under Turkey's control

Any safe zone along Turkey's border with Syria must be under Turkish control, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday in an interview with broadcaster CNN Turk. He was speaking after a senior U.S. administration official said on Friday Washington would leave about 400 U.S. troops in Syria, a reversal by President Donald Trump that could pave the way for U.S. allies to keep troops there. Spanish right-wing parties could hold a majority in parliament: poll

Spanish right-wing parties PP, Ciudadanos and Vox could together hold a parliamentary majority in a snap election on April 28, one opinion poll showed on Saturday. It was the first such outcome in a major poll since Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the early election a week ago after Catalan independence parties joined opposition parties in defeating his 2019 budget bill. Funeral held for seven Syrian refugee children killed in Canada fire

Hundreds of people attended the funeral on Saturday of seven Syrian refugee children killed in a house fire earlier this week in the eastern Canadian city of Halifax. The Bahro family had moved to Canada in 2017, after being sponsored by a Halifax refugee society, and a widely watched YouTube video showed them being welcomed at an airport with flowers and balloons. The children ranged in age from 15 years old to four months. Prince Harry and Meghan arrive in Casablanca

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, pregnant with their first child, arrived in Casablanca on Saturday night for a three-day tour to promote girls' education and mental health awareness. The couple were greeted by the British Ambassador to Morocco Thomas Reilly and his wife Alix, and Prince Harry then inspected a Guard of Honour at the airport.