News in Brief

Ebola cases on the rise for second week
Afp, Geneva

The number of new Ebola cases in west Africa rose for the second week running after a previous falls, including a "sharp increase" in Guinea, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. In the week up to February 8 a total of 144 new cases were registered, compared to 124 the previous week.

Most of Kuwait hit by power blackout
Afp, Kuwait City

A power blackout hit most of the energy-rich Kuwait on Wednesday, disrupting traffic and a number of vital facilities but leaving oil installations unaffected. The blackout came after a 2,000-MW unit was knocked out at Subbiya power plant, which produces 5,700 MW, disabling the whole plant, said Electricity and Water Minister Abdulaziz al-Ibrahim.

Costa Concordia skipper gets 16 yrs
Afp, Grosseto

An Italian court on Wednesday sentenced Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino to 16 years and one month in prison for causing the 2012 cruise ship disaster which claimed 32 lives. The conviction of the man dubbed "Captain Coward" by the media and "an idiot" by prosecutors, is subject to appeal and Schettino will remain free for the time being after the three judges in the case rejected a request for him to be sent to jail immediately on the grounds that he could could skip the country.

Three dead in Petrobras rig blast
Afp, Rio De Janeiro

An explosion ripped through a Petrobras rig off Brazil Wednesday, killing three people, injuring 10 and leaving six others missing in a new blow to the embattled state oil giant. The oil workers' union said a gas leak had caused the blast off the southeastern coast, the latest bad news for a company mired in a huge graft scandal involving alleged kickbacks to politicians.