Update: 20 bodies recovered after California dive boat disaster

LOS ANGELES, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Search operations were suspended Tuesday for survivors of a scuba-diving boat disaster off the California coast after divers recovered 20 bodies and spotted another four to six trapped in underwater wreckage. The remains of 11 women and nine men were transferred to coroner offices…

Update: At least seven killed in Bahamas by Hurricane Dorian – PM

NASSAU (Bahamas), Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least seven people have been killed in the Bahamas by Hurricane Dorian, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said, after the storm delivered a devastating blow to the islands. Minnis said an additional two individuals had died, saying “that would take the number of deaths…

US: Pentagon frees $3.6 bn for wall construction on Mexican border

WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Defense Department said Tuesday it was freeing up $3.6 billion in funds budgeted for other projects to build a wall on the Mexican border as ordered by President Donald Trump. Six weeks after being confirmed by Congress, Defense Secretary Mike Esper has signed…

Republic of Congo: Pres Nguesso flies to environment talks on huge jet – sources

PARIS, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso landed in Paris for environment talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday aboard a luxury private Boeing 787 Dreamliner, sources said. Talks were focused on the fate of the Republic of Congo’s basin forest, commonly referred…

Italy seizes migrant rescue vessel, another to disembark

ROME, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italian authorities seized thecharity rescue vessel Eleonore, disembarking the around 100 migrants aboard after it entered Italian territorial waters despite a ban. “Now we are in a safe port,” Eleonore’s captain Claus-Peter Reischtweeted, before adding “now our ship is confiscated” and invitingcontributions for a new…

Eight dead, 26 missing as dive boat sinks in flames off California

OXNARD (US), Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight people were dead andmore than two dozen missing and feared dead Monday after a scuba divingboat caught fire and sank off the California coast, with passengers trappedbelow deck by the roaring blaze. Fire crews in helicopters, small boats and a Coast Guard cutter…

Hurricane Dorian kills five in Bahamas, US evacuates south east coast

PORT SAINT LUCIE (US), Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Monster stormDorian hovered over the Bahamas as surging seawaters and ferocious winds sowed chaos in low-lying island communities, killing at least five people and spurring mass evacuations on the US east coast. Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis on Monday termed the hurricane…

UK: Prime Minister Johnson loses parliamentary majority as MP joins Lib Dems

LONDON, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his working parliamentary majority ahead of a crucial Brexit vote after Conservative MP Phillip Lee defected to the pro-EU Liberal Democrats. “The Liberal Democrats are delighted to announce that Bracknell MP Phillip Lee has joined the party,” the Lib…

Brazil: Amazon fires summit to go ahead without surgery-bound Pres Jair Bolsonaro

BRASILIA, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will not attend a summit with regional leaders to discuss the Amazon fires that is scheduled for Friday in Colombia because of doctors’ orders. Brazilian Government spokesman Otavio Rego Barros said Bolsonaro could not go because of upcoming surgery to treat…

Peru rejects decision of ex-FARC members to take up arms

LIMA, Aug 31 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Government of Peru expresses its strongest condemnation of and rejects the decision of former FARC-EP members to take up arms again, thus violating the Peace Agreement signed with the Colombian Government in 2016. Likewise, the Inca nation expresses its solidarity with the Government and people of…