World News Roundup: 6.9 magnitude quake strikes in eastern Indonesia; Venezuela opposition to meet Maduro envoys

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Macri and rivals launch campaign ads for presidential election

Argentine President Mauricio Macri and his rivals in the October election launched their campaign ads on local TV on Sunday, targeting undecided voters who will be key to choosing whether his policies remain in place another four years. Macri's campaign, which has been hit hard by the country's economic crisis, highlighted the public works and infrastructure projects started in his administration. "It's going from abandonment to building a new reality every day," Macri said in the campaign ad.

German conservative boss warns coalition partners on Europe

The woman in pole position to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor warned her junior coalition partners against blocking the appointment of a German to head the European Commission, saying this would put their coalition under "maximum strain". Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, head of Merkel's Christian Democrat party (CDU), also kept open the possibility of deploying ground troops to Syria, a policy that would further strain ties with the Social Democrats, who are traditionally wary of German military engagements.

Iran ratchets up tensions with higher enrichment, draws warnings

Iran said on Sunday it will shortly boost its uranium enrichment above a cap set by a landmark 2015 nuclear deal, prompting a warning 'to be careful' from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pressured Tehran to renegotiate the pact. In a sign of heightening tensions, France, Germany and Britain - all parties to the deal - expressed concerns over the step taken by Tehran, its latest effort to force the West to lift sanctions ravaging its limping economy.

Mexico's new National Guard was created to fight crime, but now it's in a face-off with migrants

A convoy of Mexican state and municipal police trucks roared along the U.S.-Mexico border in Ciudad Juarez to confront cartel gunmen, past National Guardsmen patrolling the banks of the Rio Grande River for migrants trying to cross into the United States. "We should be with them, not here. We're soldiers," one of three guardsmen in a green camouflage uniform grumbled to himself within earshot of a Reuters reporter. He was frustrated that orders kept him from going to back up police in the shootout with gangsters.

Trump administration 'uniquely dysfunctional', says UK ambassador to U.S.: newspaper

Britain's ambassador to the United States described President Donald Trump's administration as "dysfunctional", "clumsy" and "inept", the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported, citing a series of confidential memos. The report drew ire from Trump, who said the British ambassador, Kim Darroch, "did not serve the UK well."

Greek Conservatives take charge in landslide win, vow more investment, fewer taxes

Greece's opposition conservatives returned to power with a landslide victory in snap elections on Sunday, and Prime Minister elect Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he had a clear mandate for change, pledging more investments and fewer taxes. The win appeared driven by fatigue with years of European Union-enforced belt-tightening, combined with high unemployment, after the country almost crashed out of the euro zone at the height of its financial travails in 2015.

Hong Kong protesters march again, reaching out to Chinese visitors

Tens of thousands of protesters marched through one of Hong Kong's most popular tourist areas on Sunday, trying to gain support from mainland Chinese visitors for the city's opposition to an extradition bill which has caused political turmoil. Protests against the now-suspended bill have drawn millions of people to the streets in the former British colony in recent weeks, posing the biggest challenge Beijing has faced to its rule in the territory since Hong Kong returned to Chinese control in 1997.

Venezuela opposition says it will meet Maduro envoys in Norway-mediated talks

Venezuela's opposition will meet with representatives of President Nicolas Maduro's government in Barbados for talks mediated by Norway as part of efforts to resolve an ongoing political crisis in the economically devastated nation. Opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has been recognized as Venezuela's rightful leader by more than 50 governments, has said any talks must lead to a sustained solution to the crisis and cannot be used by the Socialist Party to buy time.

6.9 magnitude quake strikes in eastern Indonesia, tsunami alert issued

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Indonesia's Sulawesi island late on Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for eight cities near the epicenter. The quake struck out at sea at a revised depth of 36 km (22 miles) and several smaller aftershocks followed, according to the Indonesian geophysics agency BMKG. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

UK lawmakers weigh up options to try to block a no deal Brexit

British lawmakers from both the ruling Conservatives and opposition Labour on Sunday said they were looking at ways to prevent the country's next prime minister pursuing a no-deal Brexit against parliament's wishes. Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to succeed Theresa May as prime minister this month, has said Britain must leave the European Union on Oct. 31 with or without a deal.