UN voices support for Sudan envoy declared ‘persona non grata’

UNITED NATIONS, June 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations on Friday expressed support for its envoy to Sudan, saying a decision by local authorities to declare Volker Perthes ‘persona non grata’ was a violation of international law. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said “the doctrine of persona non grata is not applicable to…

UK ex-prime minister Boris Johnson resigns as MP

LONDON, June 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s former prime minister Boris Johnson on Friday announced his resignation as an MP, accusing a parliamentary probe into the “Partygate” scandal of driving him out.    Johnson, 58, said he was stepping down with immediate effect “triggering an immediate by-election” in his marginal seat, which…

Ukraine: Water gradually receding in flooded regions – officials

KYIV, June 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Water levels in parts of southern Ukraine that were flooded after the destruction of a Russian-held dam were beginning to fall, officials said.    “Thirty-five settlements remain flooded on the right bank, 3,763 houses are under water, but the water is gradually receding,” said Oleksandr Prokudin,…

Children lost for 40 days in Colombian Amazon found alive

 BOGOTA, June 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four Indigenous children were found alive Friday after spending more than a month lost in the Colombian Amazon rainforest following a small plane crash, President Gustavo Petro announced.   “A joy for the whole country! The 4 children who were lost 40 days ago in the…

Smoke from Canadian wildfires detected in Norway

OSLO, June 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Smoke from Canadian wildfires has been detected thousands of kilometres away in Norway this week, the Scandinavian country’s Climate and Environmental Research Institute NILU said. “Very weak” concentrations of smoke particles have been detected since Monday, in particular at the Birkenes observatory in southern Norway, researcher Nikolaos Evangeliou said.…

WFP to halt some food aid to Ethiopia over diverted supplies

ADDIS ABABA, June 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Food Programme (WFP) will halt some food aid to Ethiopia, the UN agency said, following a decision by USAID to suspend food assistance after discovering that supplies were being diverted from those in need. “While we will temporarily halt food aid assistance…

EU reaches long-stalled deal on refugee hosting

 LUXEMBOURG, June 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU nations reached agreement on a long-stalled revision of the bloc’s rules to share the hosting of asylum seekers and migrants more equitably. Sweden, which holds the bloc’s rotating presidency, announced the breakthrough after a fraught day of negotiations between EU interior ministers in Luxembourg.…

Sweden ready to host NATO troops even before joining

STOCKHOLM, June 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sweden, whose NATO membership bid is currently blocked, is ready to welcome temporary NATO bases on its soil even before it is a full member, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said. “The government has decided that the military can undertake preparations with NATO and NATO member…

Peacekeeper dies, 8 seriously hurt in Mali attack: UN

BAMAKO, June 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One peacekeeper died and eight were seriously injured in a militant attack in northern Mali on Friday, the UN peacekeeping mission in the country said. MINUSMA said on Twitter that a “complex attack” involving an improvised explosive device and direct fire targeted a patrol near…

12 killed in east DR Congo militia attack

BENI (DR Congo), June 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Suspected militants hacked 12 people to death in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday, local officials said, in the latest attack in the troubled region.  Fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) group launched an attack early Thursday evening on the village of Bukokoma, in…