The US Geological Survey says a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Saturday off the east coast of New Zealand at a depth of 20 kilometers. No immediate reports of any injuries or damage have been released. In February 2011, a 6.3 earthquake near the country’s southern city of Christchurch caused massive destruction and the deaths of 185 people.
Up to 12 people killed in Brunei helicopter crash
Twelve people, mostly military personnel including six cadets, were killed in a Brunei air force helicopter crash while flying home after jungle training. "We have 12 fatalities in the helicopter crash," Brunei air force spokesman Norudin Salleh told AFP. He added that two military cadets survived the accident. The Bell 212 military aircraft was carrying 14 people including the pilot. The exact circumstances of the tragic incident remain to be determined
Japanese space freighter lifts off
An unmanned HTV3 spacecraft has been launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan. The vehicle is to deliver its 4.6-ton cargo of food, clothes and equipment to the International Space Station on July 27.
American sentenced for aiding Syria
A Syrian-American man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for supplying the Syrian secret police with information about US-based dissidents protesting the Assad government. Mohamad Soueid is reported to have delivered 23 audio and nine video recordings made in the US. The naturalized American citizen was charged in a six-count federal indictment that included conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government and making false statements.
Nuclear generation resumed at Japan’s Ohi plant
Reactor No. 4 of Japan’s Ohi nuclear power plant has resumed supplying electricity to the power grid. The reactor is set to reach full generation capacity not later than July 28th, after being restarted. Japan ended two months without nuclear power earlier this month, when the Ohi No. 3 unit resumed output for the first time since a nationwide safety shutdown following the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
US Air Force instructor convicted of rape, assault
An American military jury has convicted Air Force instructor Staff Sgt. Luis Walker of raping a female trainee and sexually assaulting or having inappropriate sexual or personal contact with nine others. The jury convicted him on each of the 28 counts he faced. He faces up to life in prison. Walker is one of 12 instructors investigated for sexual misconduct at Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas.
At least seven killed in attack on civilian camp in Cote d'Ivoire
At least seven people have been killed and dozens injured in western Ivory Coast in an attack on a camp for civilians who fled their homes during last year’s civil war. The UN said seven people had been killed and 13 injured, while according to a source at the main hospital in Duekoue, more than 40 people were injured, Reuters reports. The UN said the incident highlights the severity of the situation in western Cote d'Ivoire, near the border with Liberia.
UK will aid Syrian opposition outside UN
Britain will work outside the UN Security Council to support the opposition movement in Syria. “We will all be doing more outside the Security Council and intensifying our work to support the Syrian opposition,” said British Foreign Secretary William Hague, as cited by Voice of America. On Thursday, Russia and China blocked the latest Security Council resolution aimed at imposing sanctions on the Assad government. Hague's statement came just hours before ambassadors met at the Security Council in New York on Friday. But the chief diplomat did say the UK would not provide any “lethal” support to the Syrian rebels.
No comments:
Post a Comment