USA – A multistate outbreak of Salmonella from contaminated cucumbers has left two people dead and 341 sick, officials say. The outbreak, which was first reported earlier this week, is now more widespread than originally thought. A Texas woman became the second person to die in the nationwide salmonella outbreak linked to tainted cucumbers sold by a California company, health officials reported Wednesday. The woman, who already had other serious health issues, died in late August and medical records indicate that salmonella was a “contributing factor,” said Carrier Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services. A 99-year-old San Diego woman died Aug. 17, California health officials reported…[+]

USA – Members of the Trinidad-born Ramsundar family living in New York, who were found guilty and sentenced three years ago for conning Caribbean immigrants of more than $1.8 million, have appealed the sentences. A couple and their daughter, originally from Trinidad, have appealed the sentence handed down by a US court that jailed them for a total of 418 years for conning 19 Caribbean immigrants out of more than $1.8 million. In a sentence handed down by a court in Queens, New York, Shane Ramsundar, 52, wife Gomatee, 48, and daughter Shantal, 23, were described by the judge as “the most despicable gang of criminals to ever sit in front of me.”…[+]

ENGLAND – NHS hospital chiefs have today warned that ‘stringent’ immigration rules are preventing them hiring nurses to prepare for the winter crisis. Ten heads of leading NHS trusts have signed a letter urging the Home Secretary to help address the shortage by allowing foreign nurses to work in the UK. The lobby group, NHS Employers said immigration rules are compromising patient safety, cost controls and leaving a shortage of nurses and doctors at a crucial time. They estimate 1,000 certificates of sponsorship for nurses outside the EU would be needed within the next six months and ‘large numbers’ of applications had been rejected…[+]

WASHINGTON, — Baltimore in the U.S. state of Maryland had reached a settlement with the family of Freddie Gray, the young black man who died of a fatal spinal injury while in police custody, officials said Tuesday. With the settlement, Freddie Gray’s family will be compensated to the tune of 6.4 million U.S. dollars. The settlement still needs the approval of the city’s spending oversight board, which will convene Wednesday on the proposed settlement. “The proposed settlement agreement going before the Board of Estimates should not be interpreted as a judgment on the guilt or innocence of the officers facing trial,” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in a statement, adding that the settlement had nothing to do with the criminal proceedings.(Xinhua)…[+]

ANKARA, — The death toll of Turkish police attacked by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Tuesday climbed to 15, after 2 police died in two separate attacks in east Turkey and 1 more died in the bombing attack in Igdir province, local news reported. One police officer was killed and 3 others wounded in attack by PKK militants Tuesday afternoon in southeastern Turkish province of Mardin, Dogan News Agency reported.(Xinhua)…[+]

UNITED NATIONS,  — In light of the influx of refugees to Europe, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will host a high-level meeting on migration and refugees in New York on Sept. 30, said a spokesman of the secretary-general Tuesday. “With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals later this month, the secretary-general invited leaders to a high-level meeting on migration and refugees,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general. Ban has spoken to the heads of government of the Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia to discuss the arrival of refugees and migrants in Europe, according to Dujarric.(Xinhua)…[+]