News In Brief

NASA to make final attempt to contact Mars Opportunity Rover

AFP, Washington

US space agency NASA will make one final attempt to contact its Opportunity Rover on Mars late Tuesday, eight months after it last made contact.
The agency also said it would hold a briefing Wednesday, during which it will likely officially declare the end of the mission.

Brazil’s out-of-action President tries to stay in control

AFP, Rio De Janeiro

Brazil is going through a rudderless period as President Jair Bolsonaro lies in a hospital bed following stomach surgery, with high-priority political issues such as pension reform on the backburner until he recovers, analysts and observers say.
The limbo, which has lasted more than two weeks, might finally be coming to an end this week, according to reports.

Nearly 80 detainees escape Haiti prison

AFP, Port-Au-Prince

At least six people have died in nearly weeklong protests demanding that President Jovenel Moise resign in Haiti, which saw fresh tensions and a major prison break Tuesday.
All 78 detainees at the prison in Aquin, a city of around 100,000 on the south coast of the country’s Tiburon Peninsula, escaped around midday, a national police spokesman said.
The exact circumstances of the prison break are unclear, but witnesses said it took place during an anti-Moise demonstration in front of the police station adjoining the penitentiary.

National strike brings Belgium to standstill

AFP, Brussels

Belgium slowed to a standstill on Wednesday as a national strike closed airports, shuttered businesses and caused major disruption to railways.
The strike, called by three unions, severely disrupted the country’s public transport, particularly in Brussels, where a meeting of NATO ministers was set to take place.
The national railway company expected half the trains nation-wide would be cancelled because of the movement, but high speed train traffic to London and Paris should be mostly spared.

Australia reopening of offshore detention centre

AFP, Canberra

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Wednesday announced the reopening of a controversial offshore migrant detention centre on Christmas Island, doubling down on hardline policies in the face of an historic legislative defeat.
Morrison approved the reopening of the remote facility – closed just months ago – claiming new laws passed by parliament would increase the number of people trying to arrive to Australia illegally.
On Tuesday and Wednesday parliament rebuffed government warnings and passed legislation that allows refugees and asylum-seekers detained on existing offshore centres on Nauru and PNG’s Manus Island to travel to Australia for medical treatment.