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…

Brazil to deploy special police force to protect Yanomami from miners

BRASÍLIA, June 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil said it would deploy a special security force to protect the Yanomami indigenous reservation, whose residents have clashed recently with illegal miners encroaching on native lands in the Amazon rainforest. The measure comes after Brazil’s Supreme Court last month ordered President Jair Bolsonaro’s government…

Covid-19: UNITAID signs deals to supply oxygen for poor countries

GENEVA, June 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– WHO-hosted International Drug Purchasing Facility (Unitaid) announced it had struck deals with two of the world’s main medical oxygen producers to boost access to badly-needed supplies in poor countries fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. The international organisation, which works on innovations to prevent, diagnose and treat…

US Pres Biden ‘ready’ for Russian counterpart Putin after landing in Geneva

GENEVA, June 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden landed Tuesday in Geneva on the eve of his first summit with Vladimir Putin, a meeting the White House hopes will set clear “red lines” preventing the combustible US-Russia relationship from further deterioration. “I’m always ready,” Biden told reporters with a…

China ready to launch first crew to new space station

BEIJING, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The first crew for China’s new space station prepared to blast off this week for the latest step in Beijing’s ambitious programme to establish itself as a space power. The mission is China’s first crewed spaceflight in nearly five years, and a matter of prestige…

Nicaragua defends arrests of opposition presidential hopefuls; describing them as US-funded ‘usurpers’

MANAGUA, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nicaragua’s government defended the arrests of 13 opposition figures, including four presidential hopefuls, claiming they are “usurpers” funded by the United States to topple President Daniel Ortega. Five more opposition figures were detained on Sunday, including four from the Unamos opposition party. The government said…

UN rights chief urges ‘calm’ as Peru awaits vote result

LIMA, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet expressed concern Monday over rising tension in Peru eight days after presidential elections that have yet to yield a result, and urged all parties to “remain calm.” Rightist candidate Keiko Fujimori, 46, has challenged the validity of tens of thousands…

Covid-19: Chinese scientist at centre of virus controversy denies lab leak theory

WASHINGTON, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Chinese scientist at the centre of theories that the coronavirus pandemic originated with a leak from her specialised lab in the city of Wuhan has denied her institution was to blame for the health disaster. “How on earth can I offer up evidence for…

Erdogan, Biden hold first face-to-face meeting on sidelines of NATO summit

BRUSSELS, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described their first face-to-face talks as heads of state as “productive” but did not announce any major breakthroughs in the relationship between the two countries.  Biden told reporters after the meeting Monday on the sidelines…

Afghanistan: Leaders say NATO will keep Kabul airport running

BRUSSELS, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — NATO leaders agreed Monday to maintain funding for Kabul’s civilian airport after their military mission in the country ends later this year. “Recognising its importance to an enduring diplomatic and international presence, as well as to Afghanistan’s connectivity with the world, NATO will provide transitional…
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