Global displacement from war, crises doubles in a decade: UN

An intensifying Islamist insurgency has forced many to flee their homes in Mozambique GENEVA, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the number of people fleeing war and persecution continued rising last year, with global displacement climbing to over 82 million — double the figure a decade ago, the…

UN says planning for Afghanistan, Sahel violence hike when international troops withdraw

UNITED NATIONS, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations is planning for a possible increase in violence in Afghanistan when US troops withdraw after two decades, the global body’s refugee chief said. Filippo Grandi said in an interview that he understood that international military operations like the one in Afghanistan…

Covid-19: Equatorial Guinea buys 500,000 Sinopharm vaccines

MALABO, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A batch of 500,000 doses of a Chinese vaccine against covid-19 was sent on Thursday from the Chinese capital, Beijing, to Equatorial Guinea, announced the Ministry of Health in the African country.According to a publication posted on social networks, the doses of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine,…

Nigeria kidnapping: Gunmen attack college, students, teachers missing: police

ABUJA, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunmen attacked a college in northwestern Nigeria on Thursday, and three teachers and an unknown number of students are missing, police said. The attack on the Federal Government College in Kebbi State was the third assault by kidnap gangs on a school or college in…

Donors pledge US$1.5 billion for Venezuelan migrants, humanitarian crisis

OTTAWA, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 30 countries and two development banks pledged more than US$1.5 billion in grants and loans to aid Venezuelan migrants fleeing a humanitarian crisis, as well as their host countries and vulnerable people still in the country. The US$954 million in grants announced at a donors’…

Juneteenth: US to add Federal holiday marking end of slavery

WASHINGTON, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Congress has overwhelmingly passed a bill to add a federal holiday to the calendar marking Juneteenth – the end of slavery in the nation. The House of Representatives backed the legislation by 415-14, a day after it was unanimously approved by the Senate. It…

Germany: Squatters riot in Berlin leaves 60 police wounded

Protesters set a barricade alight outside 94 Rigaer Straße BERLIN, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sixty German police officers have been injured in riots over a building being occupied by squatters in Berlin. A court has granted officials permission to carry out a fire inspection, but when police attempted to secure…

Germany shooting: Hunt for gunman who killed two in Espelkamp

One victim was shot dead outside these homes in Espelkamp  BIELEFELD (Germany), June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German police are searching for a gunman who shot and killed a man and a woman in Espelkamp, a small northern town near the city of Bielefeld. Police have not hinted at any motive…

US welcomes ‘clear commitment’ from Turkey to secure Afghanistan’s Kabul airport

WASHINGTON, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States hailed Turkey’s promise to secure Kabul’s airport once US forces leave, saying the two nations’ presidents agreed at their summit to work out the logistics. President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — who met in Brussels on Monday after…

US Pres Biden gifts Russian counterpart Putin pair of iconic American-made aviators

RANDOLPH (US), June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — For his first meeting with Vladimir Putin in Geneva this week, President Joe Biden gifted his Russian counterpart a pair of American-made sunglasses in the US leader’s signature aviator style. Peter Waszkiewicz, head of Randolph Engineering, said he felt “surprise” at seeing the sunglasses…