International

Two dead in Australia floods as fresh warning issued

  TOWNSVILLE, Australia (AFP) — Two bodies were discovered in Australia’s flood-ravaged northeast on Tuesday as continuing heavy rain prompted authorities to warn of further flash flooding in the hours ahead. Prime Minister Scott Morrison toured the region where “once-in-a-century” floods have inundated thousands of homes and closed airports and schools, leaving cars and houses submerged. As stormwaters receded in some areas, he warned of a difficult recovery ahead. “It’s just going to be tough, […]

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Powerful explosion in busy market in Somali capital: police

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AFP) — A powerful blast rocked a busy market Monday in the Somali capital, which is regularly targeted by Al-Shabaab Islamists, police said. “There was a strong explosion at the Hamarweyne market,” said police officer Ibrahim Mohamed. “We have no details for now but the area where the blast happened is a densely populated market.” Mohamed said the market was near Mogadishu’s municipality buildings. The Al-Qaeda affiliated group was largely driven out of Mogadishu […]

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Death toll in Cuba tornado rises to six

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — The number of people killed in the powerful tornado that ripped through part of Havana last week has risen to six, authorities said Sunday. Public Health Minister Jose Angel Portal Miranda said in state media that “sadly, two people have died among the 13 who were in critical condition.” The earlier death toll was four. The storm which hit Havana area towns including Regla, Guanabacoa, San Miguel de Padron and 10 […]

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Military steps in as Australia floods bring crocs to the streets

by Abbey Smith Agence France-Presse CAIRNS, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s military has been deployed to tackle devastating “once-in-a-century” floods that have inundated homes, schools and airports in the country’s northeast, forcing hundreds to flee and bringing crocodiles onto the streets. The Australian Defence Forces filled sandbags, deployed amphibious cargo vehicles and helped pluck flashlight-wielding residents from their rooftops Monday, as monsoon rains drenched the northern state of Queensland. Australia’s tropical north typically experiences heavy rains during the […]

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Mexico fuel theft tragedy death toll rises to 125

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — The death toll from a fiery pipeline explosion in central Mexico last month reached 125, the government announced Sunday. Another 22 people remain in hospital, many of them with burns covering at least 80 percent of their bodies, the social security office IMSS reported. On January 18, the fuel-line in Hidalgo state was deliberately punctured, drawing hundreds of people looking to gather gasoline before it ignited. The disaster occurred as […]

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US to send 3,750 more troops to Mexico border: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States will send an additional 3,750 troops to its border with Mexico, the Pentagon said Sunday, bringing the total number of active duty forces to 4,350. “The Department of Defense will deploy approximately 3,750 additional US forces to provide the additional support to CBP (Customs and Border Protection) at the southwest border that Acting Secretary of Defense Shanahan approved Jan. 11,” it said. © Agence France-Presse

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Venezuela’s Maduro rejects European ultimatum to call vote

by Maria Isabel SANCHEZ Agence France Presse MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro flatly rejected Sunday a call by European countries to call snap elections after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the Latin American country’s interim leader. Maduro said in an interview with Spanish television station Sexta that he would not “cave in to pressure” from those calling for his departure. “They are trying to corner us with ultimatums to force us into […]

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‘Unprecedented’ flooding to hit northeast Australia

by Glenda KWEK Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Thousands of people in northeast Australia should expect “unprecedented flooding”, authorities have warned, after relentless downpours forced a dam to be fully opened on Sunday. Once-in-a-century floods have turned streets into rivers and forced thousands to abandon their homes around the coastal city of Townsville in Queensland state. Australia’s tropical north typically experiences heavy rains during the monsoon season at this time of the year, […]

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Venezuela’s Guaido pressures Maduro over humanitarian aid

by Maria Isabel SANCHEZ Agence France Presse CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — The clock ticked down Sunday on a deadline for Venezuela’s beleaguered leader Nicolas Maduro to call snap presidential elections or see his opposition rival Juan Guaido recognized as interim president by European powers. Guaido, already recognized by the United States, Canada, Australia and several Latin American countries, said Sunday he would lobby the European Union for badly-needed humanitarian aid to a nation wracked by […]

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28 Haitians dead after ship sinks off Bahamas: officials

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — At least 28 Haitians have drowned off the coast of Abaco in the Bahamas, officials said Sunday, the latest tragedy at sea for migrants seeking to leave the Caribbean’s poorest economy. “Thus far, a total of 17 persons have been rescued alive and 28 bodies have been recovered from the water” after two days of dive operations, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force said. The incident unfolded Saturday when the ship carrying […]

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At least 21 dead as US thaws from Arctic freeze; lowest temperature drop reported at negative 53 Celsius

  by Nova SAFO Agence France Presse CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — A brutal cold spell that paralyzed the US Midwest, freezing water mains, causing power outages and canceling flights, eased on Friday, with forecasts predicting a rapid thaw. The two days of intense cold from the so-called polar vortex that descended on the US Midwest and Northeast will go down in memory for its scenes of winter at its most bitter. Blocks of ice […]

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Toll in Brazil dam disaster rises to 121 dead, 226 missing

  BRUMADINHO, Brazil (AFP) — The toll from a dam collapse last week at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 121 dead and 226 missing, according to officials Saturday. The emergency service for the state of Minas Gerais, where the January 25 disaster occurred near the town of Brumadinho, said the search was ongoing for bodies. All those listed as missing are presumed dead, with no survivors being found over the past week. […]

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