Toll in Brazil dam disaster rises to 157 dead, 182 missing

SAO PAULO, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The toll from a dam collapse at a mine in southeast Brazil’s Minas Gerais state has risen to 157 deaths after nearly two weeks of searches, with 182 missing, authorities said. Those listed as missing are presumed dead, but not yet located under thelayers…

European measles cases highest in a decade as pockets refuse vaccination

LONDON, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Europe had a record number of measles cases last year, in part due to a growing number of pockets where parents are refusing vaccination for their children, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.  At the same time, the WHO said, record numbers of children are…

Massive drug bust exposes Mexico-Australia cartel ties

SYDNEY, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Australian and US authorities on Friday announced they had seized around a billion dollars worth of methylamphetamine – or Ice – in a bust that revealed new ties between Mexican cartels and Aussie biker gangs. The Australian Federal Police said that a joint investigation led the US Immigration…

‘Disgusting’ razor wire must go, say US border city residents

NOGALES CITY (USA), Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — When Sherrie Nixon saw the six strands of razor wire strung along the US-Mexico border fence in her Arizona city, she said she wanted to cry. “They’re turning our town into a military base. It’s like the front lines of some kind of…

South Africa president fires gun for May 8 election, vows growth

PRETORIA, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday announced general elections would be held on May 8, as the ruling ANC party looks to reverse falling popularity due to weak growth, unemployment and corruption. Ramaphosa sought to strike an optimistic tone and said South Africans were…

Body in Channel wreckage identified as footballer Sala: UK police

LONDON, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A body recovered by British investigators from the submerged wreckage of a plane that went down in the Channel has been identified as that of footballer Emiliano Sala, police said. The Argentine striker’s body was first spotted by rescuers with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)…

EU slashes Italian growth outlook, says recession caused by government

BRUSSELS, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Commission slashed its economic growth forecasts for Italy for 2019 and 2020 on Thursday, saying uncertainty over government policies and higher borrowing costs pushed the country into a recession into in the second half of last year. The Commission said Italian gross domestic…

Russia says blocked from Venezuela talks in Uruguay

MOSCOW/CARACAS, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia said it had “counted on” being invited to an international dialogue in Montevideo on Venezuela’spolitical crisis, but was told it could not participate. European and Latin American envoys gathered in the Uruguayancapital Thursday for the first meeting of a “Contact Group” with the goal…

Ethiopia: Ex-official pleads not guilty to fomenting ethnic violence

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A former Ethiopian administrator pleaded not guilty to charges of instigating ethnic violence in an eastern region, where a government investigation found authorities presided over a litany of crimes including beheadings, torture, and mass rape. Abdi Mohammed Omer, who spent more than a decade…

Five killed in South African coal mine gas explosion

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five people have been killed by a gas explosion in an unused coal mine in South Africa’s eastern province of Mpumalanga and several others remain trapped, police said. State broadcaster SABC said about 20 people were still stuck underground at the mine in Middleburg. Rescue…