Rwanda reopens tourism, with great promotion in tracking mountain gorillas

KIGALI, June 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — Rwanda announced the reopening of tourism activities, with a sharp cut in the price of permits for tracking endangered mountain gorillas. The reopening of tourism activities and resumption of international travel for charter flights are effective from June 17, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said in…

Update: UN rights body holds urgent debate on systemic racism, police brutality

The UN Human Rights Council began its urgent debate on racism and police brutality in the follow-up to the killing of George Floyd in the United States GENEVA, June 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Human Right Council on Wednesday began an urgent debate on current racially inspired human rights violations, systemic…

India, Mexico, Norway, Ireland elected to UN Security Council

UNITED NATIONS, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN General Assembly elected on Wednesday four new members of the Security Council for 2021 and 2022, with Canada losing out again and the battle for the African seat going to a second round. India, Mexico, Norway and Ireland were chosen as non-permanent…

Cameroon general says troops kill 24 separatists

YAOUNDE, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Troops carrying out raids in a western region of Cameroon have killed 24 people described as separatists, a general who heads operations in the English-speaking zones has said. General Valere Nka told state radio Wednesday the army had carried out two major operations in recent…

Iraq: Rockets hit Baghdad’s Green Zone

BAGHDAD, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rockets hit Baghdad’s Green Zone, home to the US embassy, on Thursday, the fifth such attack in 10 days, security sources inside the high-security district said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Like previous attacks, there was no claim of responsibility. Since…

Covid-19: WHO halts hydroxychloroquine trials on patients

GENEVA, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization decided to halt trials of hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for hospitalised COVID-19 patients, finding it did not reduce the mortality rate. A decades-old malaria and rheumatoid arthritis drug, hydroxychloroquine has been at the centre of political and scientific controversy. It…

Covid-19: US daily virus deaths drop below 1,000 for 7 days in a row

WASHINGTON, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States recorded 840 deaths from the new coronavirus in the past 24 hours, according to data from Johns Hopkins University Wednesday, the seventh day in a row the toll has dropped below 1,000. The country remains the most affected in the world by…

Bodies of children and others found in Libyan town after LNA retreat, Red Crescent says

A member of security forces points to a mass grave, in Tarhouna city TRIPOLI, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bodies of children were among those found in the Libyan town of Tarhouna after eastern-based forces and their local allies withdrew this month, Red Crescent and Tripoli government officials said. The evidence…

Racism: US “not above scrutiny”, urges other states to be open on racism – US diplomat

A United Nations Human Rights Council in session GENEVA, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is grappling with racial discrimination and implementing police reforms after the killing of George Floyd, but other countries should show the same level of openness, a U.S. envoy said ahead of a UN debate…

US unrest: Policeman charged with murdering Rayshard Brooks

Rolfe conducted a sobriety test on Brooks in the car park before the shooting ATLANTA, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) —A police officer who fatally shot a fleeing black man in the back last week in Atlanta, Georgia, will be charged with murder and assault, officials say. Garrett Rolfe, who has already been fired,…