Briefly

KENYA

Former president Kibaki dies at 90

Former Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki has died at the age of 90. Kibaki's death was announced on Friday by President Uhuru Kenyatta, who said his passing was a sad day for the country and he praised his predecessor as a great Kenyan. Kibaki served two terms as president of the country, ruling from 2002 to 2013.

SOUTH AFRICA

Floods death toll revised down to 435

The death toll from South Africa's worst floods in living memory was on Thursday officially revised down to 435 after autopsies showed the figures included some who had been murdered or died from natural causes. A total toll of 448 deaths had been announced, with many still missing. But police minister Bheki Cele said four bodies were found to have gunshot wounds while nine had died from natural causes. "The final fatality figure stands at 435," he said.

POLAND

Rescue efforts put on hold after explosions

Rescuers suspended efforts to reach seven people trapped in a coal mine in southern Poland, after methane gas explosions injured 10 of the rescuers in a shaft overnight, the crisis management team said on Friday. Five miners were killed in the initial explosion on Wednesday, and 25 were hospitalized, according to JSW, the company that owns the coal mine. The seven missing people were trapped in a shaft at a depth of around 1,000 meters.

UNITED STATES

Race a factor as 137m live with bad air

More than 137 million people in the United States are exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution, and communities of color are more likely to live in areas with unhealthy air, according to a new report released on Thursday. The 23rd annual State of the Air report, released by the American Lung Association, also found that the number of those impacted by particle pollution, which can be deadly, was nearly 9 million more than the figure in last year's report.

Agencies - Xinhua