Two kidnapped Chibok girls freed in Nigeria after eight years

Kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls Hauwa Joseph (L) and Mary Dauda (R) carry their babies as they arrive accompanied by soldiers at Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria ABUJA, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerian troops have found two former schoolgirls who were abducted by Boko Haram jihadists eight years ago, the military…

US lawmakers agree bipartisan bill on gun safety

WASHINGTON, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US senators unveiled a bill Tuesday addressing the epidemic of gun violence plaguing the country as they locked down a narrow set of reforms that were nevertheless hailed as the first significant firearms controls in a generation. The cross-party group, which had been working for…

Eliminate nuclear weapons before they eliminate us: UN chief

VIENNA, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Nuclear weapons are “a deadly reminder of countries’ inability to solve problems through dialogue and collaboration”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, urging the international community to abandon them once and for all.   “These weapons offer false promises of security and deterrence – while guaranteeing only…

Covid-19: Zimbabwe lifts curfew as virus under control

HARARE, June 22 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Zimbabwean government lifted a midnight-to-dawn curfew imposed as part of COVID-19 containment measures. The number of new COVID-19 cases continued to decrease over the past week while the recovery rate stood at 97 percent, acting Information Minister Jenfan Muswere told a post-cabinet media briefing.…

Netherlands join Germany, Austria, in reverting to coal

THE HAGUE, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Netherlands joined Germany and Austria in reverting to coal power following an energy crisis provoked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Netherlands said it would lift all restrictions on power stations fired by the fossil fuel, which were previously limited to just over a…

France elections: Pres Macron rejects Prime Minister’s offer to resign

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne’s offer to resign was rejected by President Macron on Tuesday PARIS, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected a resignation offer from the prime minister he appointed, saying instead that the government must “stay on task and act”. Elisabeth Borne was criticised by some…

Uvalde shooting: Robb Elementary School to be demolished – Mayor

 UVALDE (Texas, US), June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas – where a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers – will be demolished, the city’s mayor has said. Don McLaughlin made the claim on Tuesday at a tense and emotional council meeting with residents demanding answers…

No relief as heat wave in US moves east

WASHINGTON, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A heat wave that baked much of the central United States last week will start to move eastward with dangerously high temperatures, forecasters said. The National Weather Service told Americans to gird for another day of well above normal, near-record or even record-breaking heat from…

US expects close work with Macron despite election losses – State Department

WASHINGTON, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said it still expected to work closely with French President Emmanuel Macron, including on Ukraine, after his failure to secure a parliamentary majority. “President Macron was just reelected,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. “We have every bit of confidence that…

US Pres Biden says he plans to talk to China’s Xi

WASHINGTON, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden said he plans to talk with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as he considers lifting some tariffs imposed on Beijing in a bid to ease US inflation. “I plan on having a conversation with President Xi. We haven’t set a time…