A round-up of today's other stories in brief
40 dead or missing in S Africa floods
JOHANNESBURG – Floods have killed or left missing at least 40 people in South Africa and wrecked thousands of homes in neighbouring Mozambique, officials said yesterday.
Heavy rains from late December through most of January have unleashed floods in the two countries.
South Africa’s Ministry of Cooperative Governance said at least 40 people had been killed or gone missing in the flooding, and seven of the country’s nine provinces had been declared disaster zones. The army has been placed on stand-by to evacuate people from areas near major dams. – (Reuters)
Cuban hospital on trial over 26 deaths
HAVANA – Cuba opened a trial yesterday against the authorities of a psychiatric hospital where 26 patients died of cold a year ago in a scandal that revealed cracks in the tropical island’s famous free health system.
Relatives of the accused, including the hospital director and other doctors, attended a spoken presentation in a Havana court with victims’ relatives. “The authorities created an investigative commission and the main people responsible will appear in court,” leading government newspaper Granma said. – (Reuters)
Dominic West to play Fred West role
LONDON – Star of US television series The WireDominic West is set to play serial killer Fred West in a new ITV drama, it has been announced.
Appropriate Adultwill centre on the time between the arrest of Gloucestershire builder West and his prison cell suicide on New Year's Day in 1995. The drama will focus on how he confided in Janet Leach, the voluntary worker who sat in on his police interviews.
Dominic West (41), is best known for his role as Det Jimmy McNulty in the gritty US drama series.