US floods: New York deluge triggers flash floods, brings chaos to subways

NEW YORK, Sept 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Torrential downpours after a week of mostly steady rainfall brought flash flooding to New York City on Friday, disrupting subway service, inundating ground-level apartments and turning some streets into small lakes. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared an official state of emergency for the…

Malta summit urges more EU action to stop migration at source

VALLETTA, Sept 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The leaders of nine Mediterranean and southern European countries called for a “significant increase” in the EU’s efforts to tackle the thorny issue of migration at its roots, in origin and transit countries. The leaders met in Malta on Friday the day after EU interior…

Dead, missing migrants in Mediterranean tripled this summer: UNICEF

PARIS, Sept 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of migrants who died or went missing trying to cross the Mediterranean this summer was three times the number seen in the same period last year, the UN said. Between June and August, at least 990 people died or went missing in the…

Migration crisis: State of emergency in Costa Rica to deal with massive influx of people heading for US

SAN JOSE, Sept 29 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Costa Rica in Central America intends to declare a state of emergency due to an increased wave of migrants on their way to Mexico and later cross to the United States. “I have instructed the security ministry to take a firm stance with anyone…

Karabakh fuel depot blast toll jumps to 170: Armenia statement

 YEREVAN, Sept 29, 2023 (BSS/AFP) – The toll from an explosion at a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh that was thronged with Armenians fleeing an Azerbaijani military offensive has jumped to 170 people, authorities in the region announced Friday. “To date, a total of 170 remains … have been found in…

Uruguay: Bird flu kills 400 seals, sea lions

MONTEVIDEO, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An estimated 400 seals and sea lions have turned up dead on the coast of Uruguay in recent weeks, blamed by authorities on bird flu. Multiple ministries are monitoring the situation after a first case of H5 bird flu was detected in a sea lion…

Brazil court rejects ex-president Bolsonaro appeal against election ban

 BRASILIA, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court on Thursday rejected an appeal by former president Jair Bolsonaro against an earlier ruling that barred him from running for office for eight years. The court in June blocked Bolsonaro from the next presidential election in 2026, in a ruling that…

Spain violence: Fourteen-year-old stabs 3 teachers and 2 students at school

MADRID, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 14-year-old, described by fellow pupils as hot-headed, on Thursday stabbed three teachers and two students in a school in southern Spain before being overpowered, police said. The boy, who has not been named, allegedly stabbed the five victims repeatedly shortly after classes started at…

Soldier back in US after release by North Korea

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An American soldier released by North Korea has returned to the United States and is undergoing health screenings in Texas, the Pentagon said. Officials said Travis King – described as being in “good health” – is at the Brooke Army Medical Center, a usual stop…

South Africa: Cabinet calls for vigilance amid extreme weather conditions

PRETORIA, Sept 29 (NNN-SANEWS) — The South African Cabinet has called on communities to be on high alert for further weather warnings, which could bring more devastation in several parts of the country.  This follows extreme weather conditions, which have wreaked havoc in the Western Cape, causing extensive flooding and…