Ivory Coast: At least 10 people killed in heavy rains, landslides

ABIDJAN, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 10 people have died in the heavy rains and landslides pummeling Abidjan, Ivory Coast officials said. The count was a provisional toll as of Friday, according to the military’s firefighting brigade GSPM. “We recorded 10 deaths, nine in Yopougon and one in Cocody-Angre,”…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: UN chief wants continuation of Black Sea grain deal

UNITED NATIONS, July 9 (NNN-XINHUA) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the continuation of the agreements that allow food and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine. The secretary-general noted the indispensable role food and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine continue to play in support of global food security.…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Pres Zelensky hails ‘brave’ Ukraine on 500th day of war

KYIV, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed “brave” Ukraine on the 500th day of Russia’s invasion on Saturday, as the war’s toll mounted with eight deaths reported in Russian rocket fire. Zelensky published on social media an undated video clip of a visit to Snake Island in the…

Suspected militants kill 22 civilians in Burkina Faso: sources

   OUAGADOUGOU, July  9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Suspected militants killed 22 civilians in two attacks in the north and west of Burkina Faso, security and local sources said Saturday.       Sixteen civilians from volunteer auxiliaries backing up the army were killed on Friday in the deeply troubled north, a security source said, adding that some…

Brazil: 14 dead after illegally occupied 3-storey building collapses; 3 pulled out alive

       PAULISTA (Pernambuco, Brazil), July  9 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  Fourteen people have died in the partial collapse of an illegally occupied building in northeastern Brazil, the authorities said Saturday, as they concluded a search for survivors. Earlier, a toll of 11 dead was announced, but firefighters searching through the…

Dutch PM meets king after government falls

       THE HAGUE, July  9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte held talks with the king on Saturday after his coalition government collapsed in a row over migration, triggering elections later this year.       King Willem-Alexander was out of the country on holiday when the government fell and flew back…

Kenya: Govt suspends Kenya-Somalia border re-opening following increased terror attacks

BORDER SAFETY: Interior CS Kithure Kindiki is received by security officers in Mandera NAIROBI, July 6 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — The Kenyan government has temporarily suspended its plans to reopen Kenya-Somalia border points following a surge in terrorist attacks in the Northern region. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stated that the government will…

Italian lawmakers put off vote on eurozone rescue fund

MILAN, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s lower house of parliament decided Wednesday to postpone for another four months a highly contentious vote on ratifying the eurozone’s bailout fund. Italy is the only country that has not yet ratified a 2021 reform of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), which strengthened the…

Treasury Secretary Yellen heads to China as US seeks to stabilize ties

 WASHINGTON, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is due to arrive in Beijing on Thursday, kicking off a high-level visit aimed at improving communication and stabilizing the tense relationship between the world’s top two economies. Yellen’s trip through Sunday will be her first to China as treasury…

Colombia’s rebel group ELN announces one-month truce starting Thursday

BOGOTA, July 6 (NNN-MERCCOPRESS) — Colombia’s main rebel group National Liberation Army (ELN) ordered its forces to stop “offensive military actions” as of July 6. However, in a message posted on the rebel group’s website, its members were advised to be prepared to “respond to threats or attacks by any…