Source: — 24th June 2018 at 13:16 (about 4 hours ago)
By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE (Reuters) - Police said on Sunday 49 people were hurt in the explosion at Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa's weekend election rally, with the number expected to rise, but they were still searching for a motive for the blast. Mnangagwa came to power in November after a de facto army coup forced his longtime mentor Robert Mugabe to resign. Mugabe later said he felt betrayed by his former protege, calling his presidency illegal. #
Source: — 24th June 2018 at 13:16 (about 4 hours ago)
NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps should be in space right now. But instead, she's stuck on Earth. In January, NASA unexpectedly announced that Epps ? who was set to become the first African-American astronaut to live aboard the International Space Station for an extended period of time ? would not be flying to the orbiting outpost in June after all. No public reason was given for the sudden reassignment, and Epps hasn't said much about the situation until now. SEE ALSO: Astronaut expected to be the 1st African-American Space Station crewmember won't fly in 2018 after all On Thursday Epps spoke out about why she was pulled from the flight during the Tech Open Air conference in Berlin, Germany. "Well, people have been removed before, but not in the same fashion that this was done, partially because I was so close to launch and I completed the entire backup flow," Epps said in an interview with journalist Megan Gannon, adding that she had completed all of her tests ahead of launch as well. Epps also mentioned that she's still waiting on an explanation about why she was pulled. "I don't know when I'll get an answer, and hopefully it will come soon," Epps added. "I'm hoping by the end of the summer." Controversy has swirled for months over NASA's decision to pull Epps. NASA never explained exactly why Epps was reassigned, fueling accusations that there were racist or sexist motivations behind the sudden change. Epps's brother voiced those concerns in a since-deleted Facebook post just after the NASA announcement. When reached about Epps's most recent comments, NASA spokeswoman Brandi Dean explained that "flight assignments decisions are personnel matters for which NASA doesn?t provide information. (You can listen to Epps beginning at 37:00 in the above clip.) Her mission gained national attention when the space agency first announced that she would become the first African-American astronaut to live and work on the space station in the laboratory's nearly 20-year history. Other African-American astronauts have visited the station before, but Epps would have been the first to act as a full crewmember on the $100 billion outpost. Epps remains a NASA astronaut today, though the agency hasn't publicly announce her assignment to another flight. After she was pulled from her mission, Epps returned to Houston, Texas and got back to work at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where her colleagues rallied around her. "That's part of the surprise that I had coming back. There were a lot of people who were really supportive, former astronauts and people like that, who reached out and were really helpful just talking to me, trying to figure out a way forward and what happened," Epps said. "So, in a situation like that, the pleasant thing was some of the people who I never expected to come through and to really have my back in a lot of crazy situations that have happened. I didn't have to do this alone, in other words." You can read a transcript of Epps's talk on collectSPACE.com. WATCH: Artist makes perfumes for astronauts that smell like Earth #
Source: — 24th June 2018 at 13:16 (about 4 hours ago)
If you have the courage, confront me," Muharrem Ince, a fiery lawmaker from the secular Republican People's Party (CHP), told hundreds of thousands of people in Ankara. "Look, that's my last proposal to you ... If you want, I can even cancel my Istanbul rally for you. The Ankara campaign comes only a day after Ince gathered hundreds of thousands in one of the biggest election rallies in years in the Aegean city of Izmir. #
Source: — 24th June 2018 at 13:16 (about 4 hours ago)
PARIS (AP) ? French President Emmanuel Macron announced a proposal Saturday that would create closed migrant centers on European soil so authorities can quickly decide whether arriving migrants are eligible to apply for asylum and send back those who don't qualify. #
Source: — 24th June 2018 at 13:16 (about 4 hours ago)
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israel's military said it launched Patriot anti-aircraft on Sunday at an incoming drone from Syria, which turned away unscathed, and a Syrian commander said the pilotless plane was engaged in local operations. The Syrian army with the help of allied forces has been mobilizing troops and sending reinforcements in a widening military campaign to regain rebel held territory near the area where the drone was targeted and along the border with Jordan. Iranian-backed militias are believed to be backing the Syrian army's offensive against a string of rebel held towns in Quneitra province near the Israeli border, according to a Western intelligence source. #
Source: — 24th June 2018 at 13:16 (about 4 hours ago)
The modern state of Turkey emerged out of the wreckage of the Ottoman Empire to become a powerful strategic nation that borders Greece to the west and Iran to the east. It has been ruled since 2002 by the Islamic-rooted conservative party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Here are five things to know about Turkey. #
Source: — 24th June 2018 at 13:16 (about 4 hours ago)
FBI agent Peter Strzok subpoenaed to testify before Congress; Rep. Ron DeSantis weighs in on 'Fox & Friends.' #
Source: — 24th June 2018 at 13:16 (about 4 hours ago)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? Long-haul airline Etihad Airways will loan pilots to competing Dubai-based carrier Emirates under a new program, officials acknowledged Sunday, marking a rare cooperation between the two state-owned carriers who operate only 115 kilometers (70 miles) apart. #
Source: — 24th June 2018 at 13:16 (about 4 hours ago)
It should have played centre stage at one of the most eagerly anticipated events of recent years; the wedding of Meghan Markle to Prince Harry at Windsor Castle. But after Thomas Markle was let unable to fly to Britain after suffering a heart attack, the suit he would have worn to lead his daughter up the aisle of St George?s Chapel was left languishing in a tailor?s wardrobe. And there it would have stayed, but for an unlikely twist of fate. When sports PR Johnno Spence decided to get himself kitted out with a new outfit for last week?s Royal Ascot his Savile Row tailor said he had just the thing in mind - Mr Markle?s tail suit. With both men being of similar shape and size the suit needed only minor alterations and Mr Spence was more than happy to put it to good use. Johnno Spence at Royal Ascot, in the suit made for Thomas Markle for the Royal wedding Credit: Geoff Pugh/Telegraph ?It was a shame Mr Markle couldn?t attend his daughter's wedding,? Mr Spence told The Sunday Telegraph. ?But you could say his misfortune was my good luck.? As well as buying the wedding suit, he also bought the summer suit and three shirts that Mr Markle had ordered especially for his aborted visit to Britain. ?I went into my tailors because I needed a new morning suit,? said Mr Spence, whose clients have included the Jockey Club and the Epsom Derby. ?His face lit up and he said ?Well, actually I?ve got the perfect thing for you, a tail suit, a summer suit and three shirts we made for Mr Markle, but unfortunately he couldn?t take them?. Thomas Markle with his daughter Meghan Credit: Enterprise News and Pictures ?I couldn?t believe my luck, and they only needed a few tiny alterations.? Mr Markle last week told how he had cried as he watched his daughter?s wedding on television at a small rented hide-out. He admitted he had been ?jealous? that he was left as a ?footnote in history?, but said ?thank God? that the Prince of Wales, whom he has never spoken to, was there to step in. Royal wedding day pictures: Best photos from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ceremony and reception #
Source: — 24th June 2018 at 13:16 (about 4 hours ago)
Air strikes on rebel towns in southern Syria killed five civilians and knocked a hospital temporarily out of service on Sunday, a monitor said, in fresh signs of a looming government assault. Russian-backed regime forces have for weeks been preparing an offensive to retake Syria's south, a strategic zone that borders both Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The regime has sent military reinforcements to the area, dropped flyers demanding rebels surrender, and ramped up air strikes in recent days. #