Rare Ethiopian crown, hidden for 21 years in the Netherlands, returns home

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (right) receives the crown from the man who found it, Sirak Asfaw, during a ceremony in Addis Ababa. ADDIS ABABA, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia’s government on Thursday assumed custody of a priceless 18th-century crown that a former refugee had kept hidden in his apartment in…

Libya: Imported camels evacuated from capital after port comes under fire

TRIPOLI, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three thousand camels imported from Australia have been walked out of Libya’s capital Tripoli in an overnight evacuation after the port where they arrived came under artillery fire. The camels left Tripoli’s port shortly after midnight on Wednesday, and were herded along a highway leading…

Afghanistan: Taliban deputy leader says ‘committed’ to peace

KABUL, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The deputy leader of the Taliban and one of the world’s most wanted militants has written an opinion piece for the New York Times in which he says the Afghan insurgents are “fully committed” to a deal with Washington. The article, headlined “What the Taliban…

Irish parliament returns with weeks of government talks ahead

DUBLIN, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ireland’s Fianna Fail will start formal talks next week to try to form a government from a fractured parliament as contenders for prime minister fell well short of doing so at the first sitting since the Feb 8 election. Left-wing nationalists Sinn Fein shocked the establishment…

Colombia’s public school teachers start two-day strike

BOGOTA, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Public school teachers in Colombia launched a two-day strike on Thursday to protest violence against the profession and killings of activists and other community leaders, leaving more than 7 million children without classes. The teachers’ protest precedes a general strike planned for March 25. The action…

Portuguese MPs debate euthanasia decriminalisation

LISBON, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Portuguese lawmakers began considering decriminalising euthanasia, a move narrowly rejected two years ago but with a good chance of passing this time around thanks to a parliamentary majority. Hundreds of anti-euthanasia protesters demonstrated in front of parliament as debate opened on five proposals on “medically…

More coronavirus cases in Iran’s Qom as religious gatherings seen at risk

TEHRAN, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iranian health officials urged all religious gatherings to be suspended in Qom, after two more people tested positive for the coronavirus in the holy city, where two died of it this week. In all, three more people had tested positive for the virus, an Iranian…

WHO says no time for complacency as China’s COVID-19 cases fall

GENEVA, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A continued decline in the number of new cases of coronavirus infections in China is encouraging, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, while warning that infections outside the country could still spread.  “We are encouraged by this trend but this is no time for complacency,”…

London Central Mosque stabbing: Man is arrested

LONDON, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a stabbing inside a central London mosque.The victim, who is in his 70s, was found injured after emergency services were called to the London Central Mosque in Park Road, near Regent’s Park, at 15:10…

Missile attacks fuel UN’s fear for migrants fleeing Libya

TRIPOLI, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has called on the European Union to better ensure the safety of migrants fleeing Libya.The appeal came after the port in the Libyan capital was attacked by missiles from forces loyal to Gen Khalifa Haftar, which have been…