Dutch freeze international adoptions after abuses uncovered

Some children adopted between 1967 and 1998 were found to have been stolen AMSTERDAM, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Netherlands is freezing international adoptions after a government commission found some children had been stolen or bought from their birth parents in cases going back to the 1960s.The commission was set…

US deploys troops to boost coronavirus vaccinations in race against virus mutations

WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 1,000 US troops will be deployed to assist with a nationwide vaccination rollout amid fears of a new surge in infections and deaths caused by multiple new COVID-19 strains.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has approved a request for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)…

Gunmen raid villages in northwest Nigeria, killing 19

Gangs often raid villages in northwest Nigeria, stealing cattle and kidnapping for ransom ABUJA, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 19 people were killed when armed men raided two villages in northwest Nigeria’s Kaduna state, the government said.The bandits riding on motorcycles killed 14 people and injured others when they…

US says to ‘re-engage’ with UN Human Rights Council after Trump pullout

GENEVA, Feb 8, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The United States announced Monday that it would “re-engage” with the UN Human Rights Council, nearly three years after former president Donald Trump’s administration withdrew the country from the body. “I am pleased to inform you that this morning, (US Secretary of State Anthony)…

Britain, EU urge UN Human Rights Council special session on Myanmar

GENEVA, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain and the European Union requested that the United Nations Human Rights Council hold a special session in response to the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar. The call comes came a week after Myanmar’s generals conducted a coup inthe country. “The United Kingdom would like…

At least 24 die in Morocco underground factory flood: media

News footage from the site, broadcast on Moroccan television, showed emergency services carrying corpses out on stretchers under the eyes of clearly traumatised residents RABAT, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 24 people died after heavy rain caused a flood in an illegal underground textile workshop in a private house…

Chadian president’s sixth term bid triggers protests

Chadian president Idris Deby Itno N’DJAMENA, Feb 7 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Chad’s President Idriss Deby Itno has been in power for 30 years, he may now stay for even longer after Chad’s ruling party on Saturday endorsed him for a sixth term in upcoming April 11 elections.It was made possible after…

Thousands protest in Tunisia despite police blockade

TUNIS, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of protesters backed by Tunisia’s powerful labour union gathered in central Tunis in the country’s biggest demonstration for years, defying a police lockdown that blocked roads in a large area of the capital.The Saturday rally was held to mark the anniversary of the 2013…

Wildfire in Argentinean Patagonia approaches residential area

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 7 (NNN-TELESUR) — Argentina’s authorities warned that a wildfire that started in a forest of the Patagonia region two weeks ago is approaching a residential area despite firefighters’ efforts to quell it. “Over 180 rescuers are working tirelessly to contain the flames, but the high temperatures, winds,…

Covid-19: Venezuela ready to send second shipment of oxygen to Brazil

CARACAS, Feb 7 (NNN-TELESUR) — Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said that his country is ready to send a second shipment of oxygen to Brazil to ease the health emergency caused by COVID-19 in the Roraima and the Amazon states. Workers at Venezuela’s Orinoco Steel Mill (Sidor), which has a powerful…