Update: Death toll from Rio building collapse rises to 5

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least five people were killed and 13 others missing after two residential buildings collapsed Friday morning in a poor area in west Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s civil defense authorities reported. The two collapsed buildings, both opened six months ago in the Muzema…

Venezuelan gov’t endeavours to stabilize electricity system

CARACAS, April 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Venezuelan government set up working groups on Friday to implement a “strategic plan” to stabilize and boost the National Electric System (SEN). The working groups are made up of two teams of multidisciplinary experts, one of which will deal with the current emergency in…

Moroccan court sentences Swiss to 10 years over terrorism charges, with links to murders of two tourists

RABAT, April 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Moroccan court sentenced a Swiss national to 10 years in prison for links to the murder of two Scandinavian tourists, Morocco’s official MAP news agency reported. The 33-year-old defendant was sued for “setting up a gang to prepare and commit terrorist acts aimed at…

Six school children kidnapped in Cameroon’s West Region

YAOUNDE, April 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — Six students — five boys and one girl — of a government secondary school have been kidnapped in Fongo Tongo, a locality in western Cameroon, a local government official said. “The children were kidnapped as they were helping their parents in farming. We have no…

Peru poverty rate falls over 21 points in 2007-2018 on dynamic economy

LIMA, April 13 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peru’s poverty rate fell more than 21 percentage points between 2007 and 2018, with an average GDP growth rate of over 5%, the Central Reserve Bank (BCR) reported on Friday. “In effect, poverty has fallen from 21.7% (in 2017) to 20.5% (in 2018), according to INEI data. We…

Chilean President Rejects Military Intervention In Venezuela

SANTIAGO, April 13 (NNN-XINHUA) —Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Friday that he rejects military intervention in Venezuela. He made the remark while meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, during which the pair made a deep analysis of the panorama of Latin America, according to a statement from the Chilean government. Pinera reiterated…

Ex-Venezuelan general arrested in Spain on US warrant for drug trafficking

Hugo Carvajal (left), pictured with President Nicolas Maduro made headlines recently by voicing support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido MADRID, April 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Venezuelan general Hugo Carvajal, head of military intelligence under Hugo Chavez, was arrested Friday in Madrid on a US warrant for cocaine trafficking, police…

Update: Khartoum erupts with joy as Bashir successor steps down

KHARTOUM, April 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Crowds of Sudanese waving flags and chanting “we toppled two presidents in two days” celebrated in the capital after the country’s military council chief stepped down a day after he was sworn in. “We have done it, we have done it,” shouted young men…

Mexico, US to discuss NAFTA replacement, border delays

MERIDA (Mexico), April 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican government and business leaders meet with their U.S. counterparts for a second straight day on Friday, seeking to hasten ratification of a trade deal, resolve border delays that are hurting exporters, and discuss metals tariffs. The talks coincide with renewed tensions over trade…

Update: Ebola spread concentrated in Congo, not a wider emergency – WHO

GENEVA, April 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has killed more than 700 people and is continuing to spread does not constitute an international emergency, the World Health Organization said. Declaring the epidemic a “public health emergency of international concern” would…