UNICEF calls for immediate release of abducted children in Nigeria

ABUJA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of school children abducted by gunmen in north-central Nigeria.A group of unidentified gunmen attacked on May 30 the town of Tegina in Niger state, and took away at least 136 students…

Famine in Tigray set to spread in Ethiopia, UN warns

UNITED NATIONS, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Famine in the war-torn Ethiopian region of Tigray is on track to spread to other parts of the country, the UN warned. “The situation is set to get worse in the coming months, not only in Tigray, but in Afar and Amhara as well,”…

Covid-19: US tops 600,000 deaths, New York and California drop curbs

WASHINGTON, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US death toll from Covid-19 surpassed 600,000 on Tuesday, although officials hailed progress towards a return to normality as its world-leading vaccination program promised to turn the page on one of the worst health crises in American history. The United States has racked up…

Russian Pres Putin says US-Russia summit ‘constructive’

GENEVA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A first summit between US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart was “constructive”, Vladimir Putin said after the talks in Geneva ended. “The conversation was absolutely constructive”, Putin told reporters, adding that the sides had agreed for their ambassadors to return in a small…

Covid-19: EU chief launch recovery fund in Lisbon, Madrid

LISBON, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen visits Lisbon and Madrid where she begins approving recovery plans submitted by nations seeking funding from the bloc’s coronavirus Covid-19 recovery fund. “This is a historic achievement,” von der Leyen told the European Parliament last week in announcing…

Third Mexican student’s remains identified from missing 43

MEXICO CITY, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Forensic experts have identified the remains of a third Mexican student from among the 43 whose murky disappearance in 2014 shocked the country, prosecutors said. Investigators sent bone fragments found in the southern state of Guerrero, where the teaching students went missing, to Austria…

Car bomb attack at Colombian military base wounds 36

CÚCUTA (Colombia), June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A car bomb blast inside an army base in the Colombian city of Cucuta wounded 36 people, officials said, blaming the attack to ELN guerillas. The initial theory is that members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), the country’s last recognized guerrilla group, were…

Biden and Putin shake hands, kicking off Geneva summit

Russian Pres Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden shake hands during their meeting at Villa la Grange in Geneva, Switzerland GENEVA, June 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Pres Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin kicked off their summit on Wednesday with a handshake outside the Geneva villa where the…

Thousands oppose Hungarian bill banning discussion of LGBTQ+ issues

Over 5,000 people rallied outside Hungary’s parliament in Budapest to protest anti-LGBT bills BUDAPEST, June 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of people turned out to demonstrate in Hungary against a draft law that would target the rights of LGBTQ+ minors and prohibit discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation.The rally, organized…

Kenya to hold elephant-naming festival in August

Kenya will hold a festival to give names to elephants in August NAIROBI, June 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya will hold a festival to give names to elephants in August.The ceremony dubbed Tembo Naming Festival will be held at Amboseli National Park, which is home to more than 3,000 elephants out…