UK: London police charges man in mosque stabbing

The victim was stabbed at London Central Mosque near Regent’s Park in London LONDON, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — London police said that they had charged a 29-year-old man in the stabbing of a prayer leader at a mosque in Park Road. Daniel Horton, 29, charged with section 18 GBH and possession of…

Update: Brazil’s Carnival kicks off with political divisions front and centre

Revellers take part in the annual block party known as “Gigantes da Lira,” during Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s famed Carnival kicked off in earnest on Saturday, as millions of scantily-clad revellers poured into the streets, many of whom took…

Argentina, IMF say their talks on new debt agreement “fruitful”

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Argentina and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that progress has been made in their talks about a new agreement to address the South American country’s debt. The Saturday announcement came after a meeting between Argentine Economy Minister Martin Guzman and IMF Managing Director…

Russia denies spreading coronavirus misinformation

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia has flatly denied allegations that it is spreading disinformation about the new coronavirus outbreak on social media.US officials said Russian-linked accounts were making unfounded claims that America started the outbreak.Thousands of profiles on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were peddling the theory, the officials said.Responding…

France says ‘not sure’ EU-UK trade deal possible before end of 2020

PARIS, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “not sure” it would be possible for the European Unionand Britain to reach a trade deal by the end of the year. Britain and the EU are about to embark on negotiations aiming to hammerout a trade agreement…

WHO sounds alarm over Africa’s COVID-19 preparedness

An Egyptian Quarantine Authority employee holds out a health form to be filled in by incoming travellers at Cairo International Airport amidst efforts to detect possible cases of coronavirus ADDIS ABABA, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization warned that African health systems would be ill-equipped to respond to…

Ethiopia plans to release interim jet crash report as probe continues

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia plans to release an interim report into a deadly Boeing 737 MAX crash, which killed 157 passengers and crew, ahead of the first anniversary of the accident next month.  “We are not ready to release the final report and so we are releasing…

Update: Italy PM announces halt to entry and exit from COVID-19 hotspots

Workers wear masks at the Unilever factory where a 38-year-old working in the research and development branch fall ill in Casalpusterlengo, Northern Italy MILAN, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) –Italy’s prime minister announced a ban on people entering or leaving new coronavirus hotspots as the number of confirmed infections rose sharply to…

Brazil: Sao Paulo Carnival pays tribute to history, cultural diversity

A member of the samba school “Barroca Zona Sul” takes part in the carnival parade in Sao Paulo SAO PAULO, Feb 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Sao Paulo Carnival has kicked off with samba schools paying tribute to history and cultural diversity. The parade on Friday night at Sao Paulo Sambadrome…

UN, East Africa bloc laud formation of South Sudan unity government

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir greets his Vice Presidents Taban Geng Gai, Riek Machar, James Wani Igga and Rebecca Garang after their oath taking ceremony at the State House JUBA, Feb 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — The East African bloc and the UN refugee agency welcomed the formation of a long-awaited unity…