DAMASCUS -- Syria and Britain officially renewed diplomatic relations on Saturday, marked by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy's visit to Damascus, according to official statements released by both sides.
Syria's foreign affairs authorities said in a statement that during the visit, the British official extended a formal invitation to Syrian foreign affairs chief Asaad al-Shibani to visit London. (Syria-Britain-Ties)
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ANKARA -- Three opposition mayors were taken into custody in southern Türkiye on Saturday as part of ongoing corruption investigations, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.
The detention of the mayors, Zeydan Karalar of Adana, Muhittin Bocek of Antalya, and Abdurrahman Tutdere of Adiyaman, came after the detention of more than 120 people earlier this week, including former Izmir Mayor Tunc Soyer, in a separate corruption probe. (Türkiye-Mayors-Detention)
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YAOUNDE -- At least four people have died following torrential rains in Cameroon's mountainous region of Adamawa, an official said Saturday.
Several days of torrential downpours in the region's chief town of Ngaoundere triggered a sudden surge in the water level downstream of a local lake, damaging infrastructure and leaving some residents trapped, according to Valeri Norbert Kuela, prefect of the Vina division of the region. (Cameroon-Torrential rains)
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LUSAKA -- At least seven people died while six others sustained injuries when a train hit a vehicle in northern Zambia's Mpika District, police said on Saturday.
Godfrey Chilabi, police deputy spokesperson, said the accident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at a railway crossing. (Zambia-Accident)
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ISLAMABAD -- Torrential monsoon rains and flash floods have claimed at least 66 lives and injured 127 others across Pakistan since June 26, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Saturday.
The NDMA confirmed two additional deaths and 10 injuries from rain-related incidents over the past two days, as extreme weather continues to batter parts of the country. (Pakistan-Rain-Death) ■
