Italy: Anger over road safety after deadly Venice bus crash; 21 dead, 15 injured

 VENICE, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venice authorities declared three days of mourning after a bus crash killed 21 people including a toddler, sparking debate over the state of Italy’s crumbling infrastructure. Fifteen people remain in hospital following Tuesday evening’s crash, officials said, at least five of them in a serious…

EU states agree ‘missing link’ of migration reform package

  BRUSSELS, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU states agreed to the final part of an overhaul for rules on how they handle asylum seekers and irregular migrants, setting up a push to make it law by elections next year. Ambassadors from the 27 countries struck the deal on Wednesday in…

UN probe finds Myanmar army using forced labour

  GENEVA, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A United Nations investigation into Myanmar on Wednesday urged the country’s military rulers to end forced labour in the army and to halt all violence against trade unionists. A probe launched by the UN’s labour agency found far-reaching violations of international forced labour and freedom of association…

Brazil: More than 100 dolphins found dead in Amazon amid historic drought, reports say

BRASILIA, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 100 dolphins were found dead over the past week in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil amid a severe drought and hot water temperatures, according to reports. The Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development, a research facility funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology…

France launches bird flu vaccination amid trade backlash concerns

A colony of northern gannets on the Rouzic island of the Sept-Iles archipelago, a bird reserve affected by a severe epidemic of bird flu, off the coast of Perros-Guirec in Brittany, France PARIS, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France started vaccinating ducks against bird flu on Monday to try and stem the virus…

EU convenes ‘historic meeting’ of all foreign ministers in Kyiv: Borrell

KYIV, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday announced that all of the bloc’s foreign ministers were for the first time meeting beyond its borders, in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. “We are convening a historic meeting of EU Foreign Ministers here in Ukraine,…

Libya flights to Italy resume after nearly 10 years

TRIPOLI, Oct 2 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Flights resumed between Libya and Italy after a nearly decade-long suspension due to a ban by the European Union. Twenty-five passengers boarded Saturday’s flight, operated by Libya-based Medsky Airways, which will offer a twice-weekly direct connection to the Italian capital, Rome. The EU stopped flights…

Libya floods: Eastern government postpones Derna reconstruction conference

BENGHAZI, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libya’s eastern authorities announced the postponement of a reconstruction conference for the flood-hit city of Derna that had been planned for Oct 10 but was met with international skepticism. The conference was put off until Nov 1-2 to “offer time for the submission of effective…

Italy: West Nile virus cases soar to 283 with 17 fatalities

ROME, Oct 2 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Italy is facing an escalating health crisis as West Nile virus cases surge to 283 with 17 fatalities, according to data updated on Sept 27. Deaths have occurred in Piemonte, Lombardia, and Emilia Romagna, prompting concern among health officials. The first human case of…

Kenya: Kibera slum to be transformed by 2032, says President Ruto

NAIROBI, Oct 2 (NNN-KBC) — The Kenyan government has started the process of transforming the Kibera slum into a residential area by 2032, President William Ruto has said. He said the ongoing construction of affordable houses across the country is part of efforts to eradicate slums. Speaking at the Langata…