NASA names first woman to head human spaceflight

WASHINGTON, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The NASA official who managed the inaugural private crewed flight into space last month has been promoted to become the first female head of human spaceflight, the agency said, as it prepares to return people to the Moon in 2024. “Kathy Lueders has been selected…

US unrest: Pres Trump addresses West Point grads but largely ducks controversies

WASHINGTON, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump addressed the new graduating class of the West Point military academy, praising the “righteous glory of the American warrior” but largely side-stepping recent controversies over racial unrest and the military’s role in putting it down. “America is the greatest country in human…

US unrest: Police chief in Atlanta city resigns after officer kills black man

Rayshard Brooks, who was shot dead by police on June 12 in Atlanta, Georgia, had planned to celebrate his daughter’s birthday the following day ATLANTA, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The police chief of the US city of Atlanta resigned after an officer fatally shot a black man while trying to arrest him, the…

Nigeria: Jihadists kill 6 in attack on strategic garrison town

KANO (Nigeria), June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Jihadists linked to the Daesh group killed six people Saturday in an assault on a strategic garrison town in restive northeast Nigeria, security sources said. Dozens of fighters believed to be from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction clashed with soldiers and…

Mali: Two UN peacekeepers killed in attack in northern region

Established in 2013, the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali has some 13,000 troops BAMAKO, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Armed men have killed two UNpeacekeepers in a region of northwestern Mali wracked by jihadistviolence, the United Nations said. A logistical convoy of the UN peacekeeping mission travellingbetween the towns of Tessalit…

France says ‘no nuclear accident’ during submarine fire

TOULON (France), June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A fire that raged for 14 hours on one of France’s nuclear-powered attack submarines did not lead to an atomic accident as steps were taken to protect its reactor, the defence minister said. The submarine was under renovation in the southern base of Toulon…

Covid-19: EU agrees purchase of 300 million vaccine doses

BERLIN, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands have signed an agreement with pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca to guarantee the supply to the EU of 300 million doses of a possible coronavirus vaccine, the German government said. The four countries have signed an agreement with the group, formed…

PM Conte calls for ‘courage’ to save Italy at talks with EU, IMF

ROME, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called for a “courageous plan” in launching virtual talks with EU and IMF leaders to rescue Italy’s economy and society from the “unprecedented shock” triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. Conte said the plan was needed to surmount the nation’s crisis as…

US unrest: New York introduces laws to combat police brutality

NEW YORK, June 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The state of New York adopted a series of laws designed to put an end to police brutality against the African American community, a sign of the impact that nationwide protests over the George Floyd are having. Governor Andrew Cuomo officially signed 10 laws…

Racism: African countries call for debate at UN rights council

GENEVA, June 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — African countries called on the UNHuman Rights Council to urgently debate racism and police brutality amid the unrest in the US and beyond over George Floyd’s death. In a letter written on behalf of 54 African countries, Burkina Faso’sambassador to the UN in Geneva asked…