The death toll in a landslide that buried a village in southwest China rose to 26 on Friday following the discovery of two more bodies, state media said.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said 25 people were still missing three days after the disaster which struck in Shuicheng county, Guizhou province.
Two children and a mother with a baby - who were unearthed on Thursday - were among the dead, according to official news outlets.
Eleven people have been found alive since the side of a hill collapsed on 22 homes late Tuesday, covering them in thick mud.
CCTV broadcast footage of rescue workers trying to reach survivors on a huge mound of earth, with workers in orange overalls carrying a victim on a stretcher.
Landslides are a frequent danger in rural and mountainous parts of China, particularly after heavy rain, and the country has suffered severe flooding this year.
In August 2017 at least 30 people were killed in two separate landslides in the same rural province of Guizhou.

China landslide death toll rises to 26

PTI Automatic

The UN said Friday that the Democratic Republic of Congo's new Ebola response coordinator is considering the use of a second vaccine, after the health minister resigned over the controversial issue.
The Ebola epidemic in eastern DRC, which has been declared a international health emergency, is the first time vaccines have been deployed against the killer virus discovered in 1976.
A vaccine by drugmaker Merck is being widely used in the affected provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.
But WHO has recommended the introduction of a second product made by healthcare company Johnson&Johnson, which could be used for populations removed from the epicentre, while saving limited stocks of the Merck vaccine for the frontlines.
The DRC health minister Oly Ilunga, who was in charge of the Ebola response, resigned this week citing the "strong pressure" he faced to greenlight the new product.
Without naming any individual or agency, he said "actors who have demonstrated a clear lack of ethics," were ...

New DRC Ebola coordinator open to second vaccine: WHO

The American economy hit the brakes in the second quarter, as activity declined in an increasingly skittish industrial sector and exports fell, but the US continues to outperform other advanced economies, according to government data released Friday.
Officials also slashed growth for last year using newly available data -- cutting a crucial 2018 GDP measure to 2.5 per cent, undercutting President Donald Trump's frequent boasts about beating 3.0 per cent.
The new data covering the past five years now show the world's largest economy actually slowed in the year after Trump pushed through a sweeping tax overhaul.
The updated data also highlight how momentum deteriorated in the final months of 2018, when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates in defiance of intense pressure from Trump.
The central bank next week is widely expected to cut its benchmark lending rate, reversing December's increase.
The Commerce Department reported that GDP in the April-June quarter slowed to 2.1 per cent .

US economic growth slows in Q2, 2018 falls below Trump target

The UN human rights chief on Friday condemned "international indifference" in the face of mounting deaths in Syria, warning that those responsible for air strikes targeting civilians could be charged with war crimes.
Since late April, the Syrian regime and Russia have stepped up deadly raids on the Idlib region of three million people, a jihadist-held bastion in the country's northwest.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said she was alarmed at "the apparent international indifference to the rising civilian death toll caused by a succession of airstrikes in Idlib."
Bachelet stressed that medical facilities, schools, markets and other clear civilian targets have been hit.
"These are civilian objects, and it seems highly unlikely, given the persistent pattern of such attacks, that they are all being hit by accident," she said in a statement.
"Intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes, and those who have ordered them or carried them out are ...

UN rights chief condemns 'indifference' over Syria bloodshed

New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has deliberately set Britain on a "collision course" with the EU over Brexit negotiations, Ireland's foreign minister was quoted as saying on Friday.
"He seems to have made a deliberate decision to set Britain on a collision course with the European Union and with Ireland in relation to the Brexit negotiations," Simon Coveney was quoted by Irish state broadcaster RTE as saying in Belfast.
"I think only he can answer the question as to why he's doing that." In his maiden parliamentary speech as prime minister on Thursday Johnson promised to press ahead with plans to reopen the deal agreed with the EU -- despite firm pushback from other EU leaders.
Tension around the withdrawal deal centres on the so-called backstop -- a mechanism designed to preserve the EU's single market and prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.
The clause was the chief reason the deal thrice failed to pass through the British parliament under Johnson's predecessor Theresa ..

Johnson putting UK on 'collision course' with EU: Irish minister

Russia has branded the US government-funded Atlantic Council think tank "undesirable", its General Prosecutor's Office said, calling it a security threat.
"It has been established that the activities of this organisation present a threat to the basis of the constitutional order and security of the Russian Federation," the prosecutor's office said in a statement late on Thursday.
Prosecutors asked Russia's justice ministry to include the think tank in a register of "undesirable" organisations in Russia, it said.
According to the Atlantic Council's website, it "promotes constructive leadership and engagement in international affairs".
Entities put on the "undesirable" list are banned from issuing any publications in Russia and risk having their bank accounts blocked. People cooperating with them could be hit with fines, jail time and banned from entering Russian.
Russia has upped pressure on civil society and NGO groups since President Vladimir Putin's re-election in 2012. His ...

Russia to ban US think tank citing security fears

Britain may be in the middle of a painful divorce from the EU, but Brexit did not stop Brussels congratulating England on Monday on their dramatic cricket World Cup triumph.
Before moving to the usual round of questions about migration, US trade relations and EU competition rules, European Commission chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas used a daily briefing with journalists to hail the win.
"Congratulations to the England cricket team on winning the men's cricket World Cup in a nail-biting final against New Zealand. Cricket is coming home!" said the smiling Greek spokesman, whose enthusiasm for the game had previously passed unnoticed.
England were captained in their thrilling Super Over triumph on Sunday by Irishman Eoin Morgan, giving a European gloss to the side's maiden 50-over tournament triumph.
Schinas followed his warm words for England with similarly enthusiastic congratulations for the Portuguese roller hockey team, who saw off Argentina in the final of their own world cup on 

'Cricket's coming home!': EU congratulates England

Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate hit 175 percent in June, official data showed Monday, stoking fears of a return of the hyperinflation that wiped out savings ten years ago when the economy collapsed.
Supplies of essentials such as bread, medicine and petrol have regularly run short in the country as price increases hit their fastest pace since the government was forced to abandon the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009.
"The year-on-year inflation rate for the month of June 2019 as measured by the all items consumer price index stood at 175.66 per cent while that of May 2019 was 97.85 per cent," the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency said in a statement.
Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans have fled abroad in the last 20 years seeking work because of the economic crisis at home.
Many others are now seeking to leave as conditions worsen under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who had promised an economic revival after he succeeded long-ruling Robert Mugabe in 2017.
Mnangagwa vowed to end the ...

Zimbabwe inflation rate soars to 175%

Outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday condemned US President Donald Trump's tweets telling progressive Democrat congresswomen to "go back" where they came from as "completely unacceptable".
"Her view is that the language which was used to refer to the women was completely unacceptable," May's spokesman told reporters.
Trump and May have endured a rocky relationship, which took a turn for the worse last week following the leak of diplomatic British cables highly critical of his presidency.
Angered by May's support for her ambassador, Trump assailed the prime minister over her handling of fraught Brexit negotiations, and welcomed her impending departure from office.
"What a mess she and her representatives have created," Trump fumed in a series of tweets.
"I told her how it should be done, but she decided to go another way."
"The good news for the wonderful United Kingdom is that they will soon have a new Prime Minister," he wrote.
Boris Johnson is the heavy favourite to 

Trump's congresswomen tweets 'completely unacceptable': UK's May

A beleaguered Sebastian Vettel received support from an unexpected source Monday after another dismal outing for Ferrari in an action-packed British Grand Prix.
Two weeks ahead of his home German Grand Prix, the under-pressure four-time world champion endured a race to forget as he slipped 100 points adrift of the victorious record-breaking Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes by finishing a distant 16th.
Another in his growing catalogue of errors, when he slammed into the rear of Max Verstappen's Red Bull and was forced to pit for a new nose, brought him a 10-second penalty and two points on his licence.
It was also the third consecutive race in which the 32-year-old German was beaten comprehensively by his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who came home third.
The 21-year-old Monegasque is now only three points behind him and many observers suggested that Ferrari will have to make him their main priority, instead of Vettel, in the title race.
Those critics, however, do not include five-time champion 

Under fire Vettel gets support from rival Hamilton

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton has defended his victory in the British Grand Prix, saying the triumph was down to strategy rather than a favourable Safety Car intervention.
The defending five-time world champion made the most of the Safety Car's arrival on lap 20 by opting for new 'hard' compound tyres that carried him to the end of the race.
In the circumstances, it was effectively a 'free' pit stop, which gave him a clear advantage over Mercedes team-mate Valtterri Bottas who led from pole before making the first of his two scheduled stops on lap 16, the team having agreed to split their drivers' strategies.
"I was going to do a one-stop and he (Bottas) was on a two, so it wouldn't have made any difference," said Hamilton, who won his home event for a record sixth time.
"The Safety Car wouldn't have made a difference." Hamilton said it was his decision to go for an off-set strategy.
"It wasn't agreed, it was said that we could," he explained late Sunday evening.
"So I looked at .

Hamilton says win down to planning

Guatemala's constitutional court has granted an injunction blocking President Jimmy Morales from signing a controversial deal with the United States that would oblige the Central American country to welcome migrants, at least in the short term.
Morales, who was under pressure at home not to seal the deal, called off White House talks with Donald Trump set for Monday hours before the court's ruling late Sunday.
The meeting in Washington was pushed back due to "speculation" about the signing of a possible deal and to await the decision of the court on legal actions filed over it, the Guatemalan government said in a statement.
Late Sunday, the constitutional court granted a provisional injunction to prevent Guatemala from becoming a "safe third country."
The court's ruling indicated any such agreement should first be approved by lawmakers.
As a "safe third country", any migrants entering its territory on the way to the United States would be obliged to remain in Guatemala while they ...

Guatemala court blocks signing of migration deal with US

Gunmen on Monday abducted the mother of former Nigerian football national team coach Ogere Siasia, relatives said, in the latest kidnapping targeting a sports star.
Beauty Ogere Siasia was seized from her home in southern Bayelsa state by two armed assailants at around 2:15am (0100 GMT), relative Olotu Frederick told AFP.
Kidnapping for ransom is common in Nigeria, especially in southern states, where rich Nigerians and foreign oil workers have often been seized during unrest by militants wanting a greater share of crude revenue.
Relatives of high-profile sports figures have also been targeted repeatedly by gangs.
The father of then national team skipper John Mikel Obi was abducted last year in southeastern Enugu state before a ransom was paid for his release.
Siasia's mother was earlier taken in 2015 and held for 13 days before a ransom was exchanged.
Siasia was a national team player who went on to coach the Super Eagles for two stints in 2010 and 2016.

Mother of Nigeria ex-national football coach kidnapped

At least 11 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded Monday after their vehicle hit a bomb in southern Afghanistan that officials told AFP had been planted by the Taliban.
The deaths come just one week after Taliban and Afghan officials unveiled a "roadmap for peace" in which they pledged to eliminate civilian casualties.
Monday's incident occurred around 2:00 pm (0930 GMT) when a vehicle carrying many passengers hit a roadside bomb planted by the Taliban, provincial police chief Tadin Khan said.
It was not immediately clear if the victims had been travelling in a bus or in the back of a large truck.
"In the blast, 11 people were martyred and 34 others were wounded. Women and children are among the victims," Khan said.
Afghan military spokesman Ahmad Sadiq Esa confirmed the toll, while Kandahar governor Hayatullah Hayat said 13 were killed.
No group claimed immediate responsibility. The Taliban did not immediately comment.
Kandahar is considered the birthplace of the Taliban, who 

Taliban bomb kills at least 11 Afghans in Kandahar: Officials

A senior member of Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas has encouraged Palestinians across the globe to kill Jews, drawing outrage from both Israeli and Palestinian officials as well as a UN envoy.
In video from a speech to participants of weekly protests on Friday, Fathi Hamad, a member of the movement's top political body, can be seen calling on Palestinians across the globe to carry out attacks.
"If this siege is not undone, we will explode in the face of our enemies, with God's permission. The explosion is not only going to be in Gaza but also in the West Bank and abroad, God willing," Hamad said.
"But our brothers outside are preparing, trying to prepare, warming up."
He continued: "Seven million Palestinians outside, enough warming up, you have Jews with you in every place. You should attack every Jew possible in all the world and kill them."
Since March 2018 Palestinians have been taking part in Hamas-backed protests and clashes along the Gaza-Israel border in part against the Jewish ..

Hamas official condemned after calling on Palestinians to kill Jews

Anti-government protesters who fought police inside a Hong Kong shopping mall were "rioters", the finance hub's pro-Beijing leader said Monday, as she threw her support behind the city's beleaguered police force following another weekend of clashes.
Hong Kong's ongoing political crisis deepened further on Sunday as riot police and protesters fought running battles inside a shopping complex packed with luxury stores.
Police used pepper spray and batons against small groups of protesters, who responded by hurling umbrellas, bottles and other projectiles, in a night of fresh violence.
Officers and protesters were injured in the chaotic melee which left bloodstains on the floor and at least 28 people needing hospital treatment.
City leader Carrie Lam rounded on protesters after visiting injured officers Monday.
"They were committed to the duties, and also very professional and restrained. But they were wantonly attacked by rioters -- I think we can really describe them as rioters," Lam ...

Hong Kong leader condemns 'rioters' after violent mall clash

Iran's atomic energy agency said Monday it could reverse its nuclear programme to its status before curbs were imposed under a 2015 landmark agreement with world powers.
"If the Europeans and the Americans don't want to carry out their duties... we will decrease our commitments and... reverse the conditions to four years ago," agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said, quoted by IRNA state news agency.

Iran says may 'reverse' nuclear programme to pre-deal status

Neymar showed up for training at Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, according to French media reports, a week late and days after controversially claiming his best football memory was beating PSG when he played for Barcelona.
A video posted on the website of leading sports daily L'Equipe showed the 27-year-old Brazilian -- his hair dyed peroxide blonde -- getting out of a black Mercedes van at the club's training ground in the suburbs of the French capital.
PSG officially began pre-season training last Monday but Neymar, linked with a move back to Barcelona, was not there, with the player's camp maintaining he had a prior agreement to stay away.
The French champions responded last week by threatening to take "appropriate action" against the world's most expensive player, who said he had stayed in Brazil to attend a charity five-a-side football tournament run by his foundation, the Neymar Institute.
On Saturday, Neymar, who joined PSG for 222 million euros ($264 million at the time) from ..

Neymar returns to PSG training with future still up in the air

South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma on Monday dismissed multiple graft allegations against him, telling a judicial inquiry he was the victim of conspiracies, years of "character assassination" and plots to kill him.
In an often rambling monologue, Zuma accused unnamed foreign intelligence agencies and spies of working against him and added: "I have survived attempts to kill me."
Zuma testified at the inquiry in Johannesburg into the so-called "state capture" scandal after previous witnesses gave damning evidence against him.
He is accused of overseeing mass looting of state assets during his nine-year tenure before being ousted by the ruling ANC party in 2018 and replaced by his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa.
"I have been vilified, alleged to be the king of corrupt people," he said.
"I have been given every other name."
Zuma, who will face questioning by lawyers during an appearance that could last all week, said he had been the victim of "character assassination over 20 ...

S Africa's Zuma tells graft probe he's a victim of conspiracy

The Vatican's attempts to help the family of an Italian teenager who went missing 36 years ago have merely deepened the mystery surrounding her fate, and risk backfiring, analysts say.
Emanuela Orlandi, the daughter of a Vatican employee, was last seen leaving a music class in Rome aged 15, and theories have circulated for decades about who took her and where her body might lie.
Two tombs at the Teutonic Cemetery in the Vatican were opened last week after an anonymous tip-off that they might contain her remains.
But in a surprise twist, not only was there no trace of Orlandi, the remains of two princesses believed to have been buried there were gone too.
The Vatican immediately promised an inquiry, saying the bones may have been moved during work on the cemetery and Pontifical Teutonic College during the 1960s and 1970s.
This weekend it announced it had found two ossuaries placed under a trapdoor inside the college.
They will be opened Saturday by forensic scientists and in the ...

Tombs riddle could see Vatican efforts to find teen backfire: Analysts

Iran on Monday urged the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal "to take practical, effective and responsible decisions" to save the landmark agreement.
"We stress that the continued voluntary and goodwill based actions by the Islamic Republic of Iran are rooted in the principle of reciprocity of rights and duties" in the nuclear deal, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
On Sunday the European parties to the deal -- Britain, France and Germany -- called for dialogue as tensions further intensified between Iran and the United States.
In a statement, the so-called E3 expressed concern the deal was at risk of further unravelling but said it was up to Iran to ensure its survival.
The three European states were among the key players in the 2015 deal -- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA -- on Iran's nuclear programme.
But US President Donald Trump in 2018 announced Washington was pulling out of the deal, to the dismay of its European allies.
Angered that its 

AFP

AFP

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