35 dead due to deadly infection at PNG hospital
SYDNEY, July 31: Staff from Papua New Guinea's (PNG) Department of Health along with experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), will travel to the country's Highlands region on Wednesday to investigate the deaths of 35 people who are believed to have died from infections. With 11 deaths reportedly last weekend, Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu told local media on Monday that he believes a state of emergency should immediately be called at the Goroka Hospital where the deaths took place. — AP
Corruption trial of Bashir to begin August 17
KHARTOUM, July 31: The trial of ousted Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir on corruption charges will begin on August 17, his lawyer said, after the ex-president failed to appear in court Wednesday for the first session. "Today was the first session of his trial, but the authorities were unable to bring him due to security reasons, so the judge informed us that the trial will now start on August 17," Hisham al-Gaaly said. — AFP
Lebanon music festival cancels show
BEIRUT, July 31: Organisers of a multi-day Lebanese music festival say they are cancelling a planned concert by a popular Mideast rock band whose lead singer is openly gay. The move comes following calls by some Christian groups for the performance to be scrapped, calling the band's songs an insult to Christianity. The concert by Mashrou Leila has been at the centre of a heated debate about freedom of expression after church leaders set off a storm of indignation. The calls were followed by online threats suggesting that the concert would be stopped by force. The group was scheduled to perform in the coastal city of Byblos on Aug. 9.-AP
Singapore soldiers charged over actor's death
SINGAPORE, July 31: Two Singapore soldiers were charged in military court Wednesday over the death of a popular actor during reservist training in a case that has sparked calls for changes to the country's system of conscription. Aloysius Pang, who starred in Singapore-produced Chinese language TV shows and movies, was completing compulsory reservist training in New Zealand in January when he suffered serious injuries while repairing artillery. — AFP
Fugitive Salvadoran ex-president gets citizenship
MANAGUA, July 31: Nicaragua granted citizenship Tuesday to former Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes, who has been in the country under political asylum since 2016 and is wanted back home on allegations of illicit enrichment and embezzlement. The decision by President Daniel Ortega's government, which took legal effect with its publication in the official Gazette, also made Funes' wife and two sons citizens. — AP
Strong quake hits Greek island of Crete
ATHENS, July 31: Greek authorities say an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 5.2 has struck the southern resort island of Crete but no injuries or damage has been reported. The Athens Geodynamic Institute says the earthquake occurred at 7:40 a.m. local time (0440GMT) Wednesday about 23 kilometres west of the island capital of Iraklion. The fire service and officials on Crete said they received no reports of damage or injuries. — AP
