Belgian king expresses ‘deepest regrets’ over DR Congo colonial past

BRUSSELS, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Belgium’s King Philippe expressed his “deepest regrets” for the harm done during Belgian colonial rule in DR Congo, in a first for his country. “I want to express my deepest regrets for these wounds of the past whose pain is reawakened today by the discrimination…

Kosovo president says he will resign if war crimes charges confirmed

PRISTINA, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said he would resign if a war crimes indictment filed by prosecutors last week is confirmed by a special tribunal in The Hague. “If the charges are confirmed, I will immediately resign as your President and face the accusations,” Thaci said…

Pres Maduro gives EU ambassador 72 hours to leave Venezuela

CARACAS, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro gave the head of the European Union mission in Caracas, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, 72 hours to leave the country after the bloc announced sanctions against 11 Venezuelan officials. “Who are they to try to impose themselves with threats?” said Maduro. “We…

Covid-19: After six months, worst ‘yet to come’ – WHO

GENEVA, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The coronavirus pandemic is “not even close to being over”, the WHO warned, as the global death toll passed half a million and cases surged in Latin America and the United States. In another grim milestone, the number of infections recorded worldwide topped 10 million,…

Potato diplomacy as Malta seeks new era of Namibian relations

VALLETTA, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malta is donating 500 tonnes of potatoes to Namibia under its overseas aid programme in an effort to open a new chapter in relations between the two countries. Maltese farmers had expected to export the potatoes to the Netherlands, but a drop in demand there…

Spain says PM off to Africa for summit on Sahel region security issues

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez S MADRID, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is to make his first international trip since the coronavirus crisis to west Africa on Tuesday for a summit on Sahel region issues with other heads of state including France’s President Emmanuel Macron. The…

Nigeria saddened by Christie’s sale of ‘looted’ statues

The wooden objects, one male and one female, represent deities from the Igbo community  ABUJA/PARIS, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Nigeria is “saddened” by the sale of two sculptures belonging to the south-eastern Igbo community, an official from the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments, has said. A prominent art historian had…

Poland presidential election heads for second round – exit poll

Andrzej Duda greeted supporters in Lowicz  WARSAW, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Exit polls in Poland’s presidential election suggest the incumbent, Andrzej Duda, has finished first but without enough votes to win outright. If confirmed, Duda, a conservative, will face the liberal mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, in the second round…

Lazarus Chakwera sworn in as Malawi President after historic win

Lazarus Chakwera’s political fortunes were revived by a court ruling that annulled last year’s flawed election LILONGWE,  June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The new President of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera, said that his win in the rerun election was a “victory for democracy and justice”. He defeated incumbent Peter Mutharika with 58.57% of votes…

Covid-18: EU to allow in visitors from 14 ‘safe’ countries from Wednesday

Passport control at Larnaca airport, Cyprus BRUSSELS, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU has named 14 countries whose citizens are deemed “safe” to be let in from July 1, despite the pandemic – but the US, Brazil and China are excluded. Those named include Australia, Canada, Japan, Morocco and South Korea. The EU…