Briefly

DPRK

Pyongyang denounces US move in peninsula

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea denounced on Monday what it called a move by the United States to introduce a nuclear missile submarine to waters near the Korean Peninsula, saying it creates a situation that brings a nuclear conflict closer to reality. Pyongyang also said US reconnaissance planes recently violated its airspace near the east coast, quoting an unnamed spokesperson of its Ministry of National Defense in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency. The spokesperson added that there is "no guarantee that a shocking incident where a US Air Force strategic reconnaissance plane is shot down over the East Sea will not happen".

SPAIN

At least 300 migrants missing at sea

At least 300 people who were traveling on three migrant boats from Senegal to Spain's Canary Islands have disappeared, migrant aid group Walking Borders said on Sunday. Two boats, one carrying about 65 people and the other with between 50 and 60 on board, have been missing for 15 days since they left Senegal to try to reach Spain, Helena Maleno, founder of Walking Borders, told Reuters. A third boat left Senegal on June 27 with about 200 people aboard. The families of those on board have not heard from them since they left, Maleno said.

IRAN

Women can attend soccer matches

Women in Iran, who have long been barred from attending soccer matches except for rare occasions, will be allowed into stadiums during the upcoming season, said Mehdi Taj, head of Iran's soccer federation, on Sunday. He was speaking during a live broadcast of the draw ceremony for the upcoming season of Iran's top-level soccer league. The 16-team tournament is set to begin next month. Iran has largely barred female spectators from soccer and other sports stadiums since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, despite no law banning their participation. Taj said some stadiums in the cities of Isfahan, Kerman and Ahvaz, but not the capital Teheran, were "ready" to host women.

UNITED KINGDOM

Presenter suspended after allegations

The BBC said on Sunday it had contacted the authorities and suspended a presenter following allegations that he had paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos. UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said earlier she had spoken about the "deeply concerning" allegations with BBC Director-General Tim Davie, who assured her the BBC is "investigating swiftly and sensitively".The Sun newspaper, which first reported the claims, cited the young person's mother as saying that an unnamed BBC presenter paid her child more than 35,000 pounds ($45,000) for the images over a three-year period.

THE NETHERLANDS

Dutch PM says he will quit politics

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Netherlands' longest-serving premier, said on Monday he will leave politics after a general election sparked by his government's resignation. His decision means the end of more than 13 years in power for the conservative leader sometimes called Teflon Mark because scandals that plagued his four different administrations did not stick to him. Rutte, the 56-year-old leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, or VVD, announced his decision at a hastily arranged parliamentary debate to discuss the fall of his latest governing coalition.

Agencies Via Xinhua