Death toll rises to 74 in Syrian twin blasts

BEIRUT • The toll from twin bombings targeting Shi'ite pilgrims in Damascus has risen to 74 dead.

Among the victims of Saturday's blasts were 43 Iraqi pilgrims who made the trip to Syria's capital to visit Shi'ite shrines in the famed Old City, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

German mall threat: One man still detained

BERLIN • German police said yesterday they had released one of two men held over a terror attack threat that had led the authorities to shut down a mall in Essen city.

The second man was still being questioned, said Essen police.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

12m yellow fever shots for Brazil's Rio state

RIO DE JANEIRO • The south-eastern state of Rio de Janeiro plans to vaccinate its entire population against yellow fever following an outbreak that has killed at least 113 people around Brazil.

Rio has no registered cases, but the disease has taken hold in three neighbouring states. It will need 12 million doses, its health department said in a statement on Saturday.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE