6.0 magnitude quake strikes western Indonesia
Jakarta: A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck western Indonesia on Saturday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.The quake struck at a depth of 30 kilometres (19 miles), 88 kilometres southeast of Sinabang, on the small island of Simeulue, the US Geological Survey said. Diana Rahyu, an official from Indonesia's meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency, said the quake was felt in parts of Sumatra, a huge island to the west of Simeulue.
Militants attack Yemen-Saudi border post
Sanaa: Officials say militants have targeted a border post between Yemen and Saudi Arabia in an attack that left two soldiers and three of the gunmen dead. Yemen's official news agency says a suicide car bomber struck the Yemeni side of the border post in the al-Wadia area on Friday, killing one Yemeni soldier and wounding another. SABA says other gunmen then fled in two cars toward Saudi Arabia after border guards opened fire. Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Maj Gen Mansour al-Turki says that Saudi guards exchanged fire with gunmen in the same area, killing three of them and arresting another. He says a Saudi border guard commander was killed.
4 Indian-Americans honoured in US
Washington: Four Indian-Americans were among 40 people who were honoured for their contributions to the US in the annual Great Immigrants tribute in New York on the country's independence day. Microsoft Corp chief executive Satya Nadella, Comedian and actor Aasif Mandvi, Carnegie Mellon University president Subra Suresh and former president of the University of West Georgia, Beheruz Sethna were honoured along with 36 others, the Wall Street Journal reported. Hyderabad-born Nadella created quite a stir recently by becoming one of the most powerful leaders in technology after taking over as head of the Microsoft Corp.
7 people injured in Indianapolis shooting
Indianapolis: Police say seven people have been shot and injured in Indianapolis in the central United States. Police said multiple gunshots were heard early today in the city's Broad Ripple neighborhood. One man is in critical condition at a local hospital, and five other men and a woman were shot but did not have life-threatening injuries.
There were no arrests immediately and the motive for the shooting was unknown. Police spokesman lt Christopher Bailey says there were many people on the street at the time. He added, "someone opens fire in a crowd like that, we're lucky more weren't hurt."
Weakened Tropical Storm Arthur heads to Canada
Miami: Tropical Storm Arthur rapidly lost strength on Saturday as it headed off the far north-eastern US coast towards Canada, causing little damage in its wake. Arthur, downgraded from a category one hurricane at 0230 IST, lashed New England and the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Halifax as it marched in a north-easterly direction off the coast of Massachusetts. Arthur made landfall on the coast of North Carolina late on Thursday as a category two hurricane, on a scale in which five is the highest. Forecasters had feared that the storm could trigger serious flooding and disrupt the Independence Day weekend along the heavily populated US east coast. The storm forced some Fouth of July fireworks displays to be postponed and some vacationers to abandon beaches, but in the end the fast-moving system caused minimal damage. On the forecasted track, Arthur, or the remains of the storm, will strike near western Nova Scotia and head over the Gulf of St. laurence by late today, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre reported. "Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 70 miles (110 kilometres) per hour. Some additional weakening is forecast, and Arthur is expected to become a post-tropical depression later (on Saturday)," the NC said.