WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
PNG quake
SYDNEY – A strong 6.9-magnitude earthquake has struck off Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville Island but seismologists say there is no risk of a widespread tsunami. The quake hit at 0104 GMT (1104 AEST) on Saturday and was centred 62km southwest of Panguna on Bougainville at a depth of 45km, the US Geological Survey said.
Mexico shaken
MEXICO CITY – A powerful earthquake has shaken central and southern Mexico. The US Geological Survey calculated its magnitude at 7.5 and said it was centred near the Pacific resort of Acapulco, where many Mexicans are vacationing for the Easter holiday. An Associated Press reporter said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Dragon launch
WASHINGTON – Private US firm SpaceX has launched its unmanned Dragon capsule to the International Space Station, its third trip carrying supplies and equipment to the orbiting lab. After three earlier delays, the Falcon 9 rocket and its Dragon capsule finally blasted off as planned at 3.25pm local time from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Captain arrested
JINDO, South Korea – The captain of a South Korean ferry that capsized three days ago has reportedly been arrested, as divers overcame strong currents and near zero visibility to enter the submerged vessel for the first time. A team of police and prosecutors had sought arrest warrants for Lee Joon-Seok, 52, and two of his crew.
Novak lashes out
LOS ANGELES – Veteran actress Kim Novak has lashed out at the “bullies” who mocked and criticised her appearance at the Academy Awards last month. The 81-year-old, star of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 masterpiece Vertigo, said she was too humiliated to leave her house after the wave of ridicule and jokes made about her slow speech.
Teacher fired
CINCINNATI – A US teacher has been fired following allegations that he told a black student who said he wanted to become president that the nation didn’t need another black president. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the Fairfield Board of Education voted 4-0 on Thursday to fire Gil Voigt. Voigt said the student misquoted him.
Rebel resist
DONETSK, Ukraine – Pro-Russian rebels have stubbornly refused to cede control of a string of towns in eastern Ukraine, jeopardising a deal backed by the West and Russia meant to ease tensions and rejecting promises of concessions from Kiev. The refusal to budge came despite an unexpected diplomatic breakthrough worked out between Kiev, Moscow, Washington and Brussels.
Bouteflika wins
ALGIERS – Abdelaziz Bouteflika, whose poor health forced him to vote from a wheelchair in Algeria’s presidential election, has won a fourth term with 81.53 per cent of the votes, the interior minister has announced. The 77-year-old incumbent’s main rival, Ali Benflis, received 12.18 per cent in an election which saw 51.78 per cent of Algerians vote.
