Russia-Ukraine conflict: UN chief appoints Abdulla of Sudan as coordinator for Black Sea Grain Initiative

Amir Abdulla of Sudan UNITED NATIONS, Aug 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Amir Mahmoud Abdulla of Sudan as the world body’s coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Abdulla succeeds Frederick Kenney of the United States who was on loan by the International Maritime…

US: 14 injured after vehicle crashes into pub outside Washington

WASHINGTON, Aug 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — Fourteen people were injured after a vehicle crashed into a pub outside Washington, D.C. Friday evening. The crash caused a structure fire at Ireland’s Four Courts pub and restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, which has been extinguished, according to police. Eight people were transported to area…

WHO gives new names to variants of monkeypox virus; officially name CLADE I, II

GENEVA, Aug 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced new names for variants of the monkeypox virus that are currently in circulation. This is to avoid causing any cultural or social offense, the WHO explained in a statement. A group of global experts convened by the WHO…

Hotel fire leaves 22 injured in northern Colombia; caused by a short circuit

BOGOTA, Aug 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — A total of 22 people, including 16 police officers, were injured after a fire broke out in a hotel in the northern Colombian city of Barranquilla, local authorities said. The fire department ruled out that the Thursday night blaze, which started about 10 p.m. local…

168 aid workers suffer attack so far this year; 44 fatalities: UN

GENEVA, Aug 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — A total of 168 aid workers have been attacked so far this year, leading to 44 fatalities, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told a press briefing that according to data from the NGO Humanitarian…

Mexican president deplores gang attacks on civilians in riots leaving 11 dead

MEXICO CITY, Aug 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador deplored a clash between criminal groups that led to attacks on civilians and left 11 people dead. “This has never happened before and I hope it never happens again, because the innocent civilian population was attacked as a…

Colombian gov’t recognizes legitimacy of ELN guerrilla delegation for peace talks

Pablo Beltran, commander of the National Liberation Army (ELN), attends a meeting with Colombian government representatives, in Havana.  HAVANA, Aug 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Colombian government recognizes the legitimacy of the delegation of the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla for peace talks, Colombia’s new high commissioner for peace Danilo Rueda…

Drought hits Germany’s Rhine River: ‘We have 30cm of water left’

The dried up Rhine riverbed  BERLIN, Aug 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As Europe lives through a long, hot summer, one of the continent’s major rivers is getting drier – posing major problems for the people and businesses that rely on it. Captain Andre Kimpel casts an experienced, but worried, eye across…

US: ‘Top secret’ documents seized in raid on Trump home

WASHINGTON, Aug 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — FBI agents seized records marked “top secret” during their search of former president Donald Trump’s Florida estate, according to documents made public Friday in a probe that includes possible violations of the US Espionage Act. The search warrant and related materials, unsealed by a Florida…

Update: Sierre Leone president accuses opposition of insurrection

FREETOWN, Aug 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The president of Sierra Leone blamed deadly protests this week on opposition parties, claiming that his political rivals had attempted to overthrow his government in a “premeditated” insurrection. On Wednesday, a demonstration organised by women to draw attention to inflation and the rising cost of…