KINSHASA (AFP) - A fishing boat capsized in the Democratic Republic of Congo's west, killing at least 24 people, government spokesman Lamber Mende told AFP on Monday.

BERLIN (AFP) - Germany will extend the life of its 17 nuclear reactors by 12 years on average, Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen announced Monday after marathon talks on the thorny issue.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AFP) - A state of emergency in the earthquake-hit New Zealand city of Christchurch has been extended until Wendesday, a civil defence ministry official said Monday.

CHISINAU (AFP) - The constitutional referendum held Sunday on directly electing the Moldovan president was declared invalid after turnout fell short of the 33 percent minimum required, official results showed.

GUATEMALA CITY (AFP) - The death toll from landslides in Guatemala rose to 36 on Sunday as the country's President Alvaro Colom declared the disaster a "national tragedy."