France withdraws controversial grenade from police use

France to “immediately” ban a controversial stun grenade blamed for injuring dozens of protesters  PARIS, Jan 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France will withdraw from use an explosive tear gas grenade used by riot police and blamed for injuring numerous protesters, the interior minister said, amid growing anger at perceived police brutality.…

US health agency reports five confirmed cases of coronavirus

Travellers arrive at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US health authorities said there are now five confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States and more are expected. Nancy Messonnier, head of the respiratory disease section at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said…

Divided EU leaders to hammer out budget at February summit

BRUSSELS, Jan 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European Union leaders meet next month in Brussels to try to agree a first post-Brexit longterm budget, with divisions over proposed cuts that could undermine defence and climate change ambitions. European Council President Charles Michel invited the heads of state and government of the bloc’s…

Update: Death toll from torrential Brazil storms rises to 44 – officials

BELO HORIZONTE (Brazil), Jan 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from days of intense storms and flooding in southeastern Brazil has risen to 44,authorities said. In addition to the dead, the number of injured stands at 12 and that of themissing was lowered from 25 to 19, local Civil Defense…

Libya: 24 killed in clashes as UN condemns

TRIPOLI, Jan 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — Clashes between Libya’s UN-backed government forces and the east-based army in Abugrein town, some 140 km south of the city of Misrata, killed 24 troops and injured more than 100 from both parties. “The battle in Abugrein town killed 12 and injured 55 of our…

Peru Congress vote: Election follows September dissolution

A woman voting in Cusco, a city in the southeast which was once the Inca capital LIMA, Jan 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peruvians have been voting to elect a new Congress after the previous one was dissolved by President Martín Vizcarra. Vizcarra took the drastic step in September, arguing that lawmakers…

Canada: One of five missing French snowmobilers found dead in Quebec

A search of the area is being conducted on water, land and sea. QUEBEC CITY, Jan 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Canadian authorities have found the body of one of five French tourists who went missing in the province of Quebec after their snowmobiles fell through ice on the edge of a lake. Their Canadian guide, Benoît…

Holocaust: Dutch PM apologises over failure to protect Jews

Mark Rutte, left, lay a wreath at the Holocaust remembrance event in Amsterdam  AMSTERDAM, Jan 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has apologised on behalf of his country’s government for its failure to protect Jews during World War Two. Rutte said that while some Dutch officials resisted during the Nazi…

US: Nine people dead in NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant helicopter crash

LOS ANGELES, Jan 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nine people were killed in thehelicopter crash which claimed the life of NBA star Kobe Bryant and his 13year old daughter, Los Angeles officials confirmed on Sunday. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said eight passengers and thepilot of the aircraft died in the…

Brazil floods: Dozens dead in severe Minas Gerais rainstorms

Rescuers have been spraying water to disperse mud, as the search for the missing continues BRASILIA, Jan 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 30 people have died during severe rainstorms in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, the country’s emergency services have said.Many of the victims were buried in landslides or washed away…