Death toll from Mexican plant blast climbs to 24

COATZACOALCOS (Mexico) • The death toll from an explosion at a petrochemical plant climbed to 24 after the authorities were able to enter the facility, state-run oil giant Pemex said.

"We have confirmed 24 deaths," up from the previous toll of 13 from Wednesday's blast, chief executive Jose Antonio Gonzalez Anaya told a news conference, adding that the number of missing dropped from 18 to eight.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Maelbeek metro station in Brussels to reopen

BRUSSELS • Brussels' Maelbeek metro station, which was hit by one of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) suicide bombings a month ago that killed 32 people, will reopen on Monday, transport officials said.

Maelbeek will resume service from 6am until 10pm, like the rest of the network.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Cubans allowed to enter and leave on cruise ships

HAVANA • Cuba yesterday said it would lift a ban on Cubans and Cuban-Americans entering and leaving the Caribbean island by commercial vessels, opening the way for cruise operator Carnival to set sail for Cuba next week.

A statement carried by state-run media said that as of Tuesday, Cuban citizens would be authorised "independently of their migratory status to enter and leave as passengers and crews of cruise ships".

REUTERS