Taiwan: At least 34 killed after train derails inside tunnel

People in unaffected carriages walking along train tracks with their belongings  TAIPEI, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 34 people have died after a train carrying some 350 passengers derailed Friday inside a tunnel in Taiwan. Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation centre says rescuers are struggling to access four carriages inside the tunnel…

US couple arrested in plan to join Daesh in Yemen

WASHINGTON, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US couple was charged withsupport for a terror group after trying to board a Yemen-bound ship to jointhe Daesh group, the Justice Department said. James Bradley, 20, of New York and Arwa Muthana, 29, from Alabama werestopped as they stepped onto the gangplank of…

Seven convicted in Hong Kong over unauthorized protest in 2019

It was not clear when the group would be sentenced HONG KONG, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Seven Hong Kong pro-democracy figures were convicted on Thursday for taking part in an unauthorized protest in 2019.Prominent pro-democracy activist Martin Lee and media mogul Jimmy Lai were among those found guilty in a…

Europe’s heat and drought crop losses tripled in 50 years: study

PARIS, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The severity of crop losses driven by heatwaves and drought have tripled in the last fifty years in Europe, accordingto a study that highlights the vulnerability of food systems to climatechange. Research published recently in the journal Environmental Research Letters,looked at agricultural production in 28…

Mexican ex-mayor among those charged in massive Miami meth haul: US

MIAMI, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has charged a Mexicanex-mayor and five others for trafficking the largest shipment of meth seizedin Miami history, officials said. Adalberto Comparan, who was formerly mayor of Aguililla in Michoacan and alleged leader of Mexico’s United Cartels, and five other individuals face drug…

Covid-19 overwhelms ICUs in Syrian capital

DAMASCUS, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Inside the emergency room of a hospital of the Syrian capital, an elderly woman with Covid-19 waited for a bed at an intensive care unit packed with coronavirus patients. Sitting on a wheelchair barely an arms-length from another patient, thewoman in her seventies tilted her…

Covid-19: France to ban outdoor drinking under new restrictions

PARIS, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Alcoholic drinks will be prohibited inFrench parks and other outdoor public spaces as part of the new limitednationwide lockdown to stem the Covid-19 crisis, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced. Addressing the National Assembly, Castex also said authorities would bequick to disperse groups of more than…

Scores of UK bound migrants rescued off northern France

LILLE (France), April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Over 150 migrants including 10children and a pregnant woman were rescued off the coast of northern France, local maritime authorities said. The 159 migrants aboard eight boats, some suffering from hypothermia, were returned to Dunkirk and Boulogne, they said. Since late 2018, the number…

Venezuelan journalists, activists freed by military: NGO

CARACAS, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two journalists and two activistsmissing for more than 24 hours after an encounter with the Venezuelanmilitary in a conflict zone have been freed, an NGO said. Venezuelan journalists Luis Gonzalo Perez and Rafael Hernandez, who work for the Colombian NTN24 TV channel, and two activists…

Covid-19: China vaccine maker Sinovac says doubles production capacity

BEIJING, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac said a third production line for its Covid-19 vaccine has been putinto use, doubling its annual capacity of the jabs to two billion doses. Its CoronaVac is one of four domestic vaccines given conditional approvalby Chinese authorities, which helps rush emergency…