Pro-euthanasia bills get green light in Portugal, negotiations ahead
The decriminalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide is a step closer to becoming a reality in Portugal after lawmakers approved a set of bills on Thursday, a move applauded by many but opposed by religious groups and conservatives.
Flare-up in fighting in northwest Syria pulls in Russian, Turkish forces
Turkish forces and Syrian rebels fought government troops in northwest Syria on Thursday and Russian warplanes struck back in a sharp escalation of an intense battle over the last rebel bastions, Russian and Turkish officials said.
Ethiopia gets back Christian crown spirited away to Rotterdam decades ago
An 18th century church crown stolen from Ethiopia decades ago has been returned from the Netherlands after it was found in a suitcase more than 20 years ago, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Thursday.
Turkey says Syrian air strikes kill two troops near Idlib
Turkey said two of its soldiers were killed and five others wounded in Syrian government air strikes in northwest Syria on Thursday, bringing Turkish military fatalities to 15 so far this month in the Idlib region.
Turkey, Russia discussing use of Syrian air space in Idlib: minister
Turkey and Russia are discussing the use of Syrian air space in the northwestern region of Idlib and the problem can be overcome if Russia “steps aside”, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told broadcaster CNN Turk on Thursday.
South Korea city deserted after coronavirus ‘super-spreads’ in church
The streets of South Korea’s fourth-largest city were abandoned on Thursday, with residents holed up indoors after dozens of people caught the coronavirus in what the authorities described as a “super-spreading event” at a church.
More coronavirus cases in Iran’s Qom; religious gatherings seen at risk
Iranian health officials urged all religious gatherings to be suspended in Qom, news agency ISNA said on Thursday, after two more people tested positive for the coronavirus in the holy city, where two died of it this week.
Suspected shisha bar gunman published racist manifesto: German prosecutor
A man suspected of shooting dead nine people in shisha bars in a German town before killing himself and his mother had posted a manifesto online including conspiracy theories and deeply racist views, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Kazakh governor to seek deportation of Chinese over coronavirus fears
The governor of a Kazakh province bordering China said on Thursday he would seek the deportation of dozens of Chinese workers to defuse the local population’s fears of coronavirus, news website Dalanews.kz reported.
Spain to overhaul sexual assault law, strengthen victims’ rights
Spain’s government is poised to toughen legislation against sexual violence to bolster victim rights and improve the state’s response to such crimes, government sources said on Thursday.
