News in Brief -(30-04-2019)

Universe expanding faster and it is younger

WASHINGTON, Apr 29: The universe is expanding faster than it used to, meaning it's about a billion years younger than we thought, a new study by a Nobel Prize winner says. And that's sending a shudder through the world of physics, making astronomers re-think some of their most basic concepts. — AP

Australia holds first election debate

SYDNEY, Apr 29: A fresh opinion poll showed Australia's bare-knuckle election campaign tightening significantly but the centre-left opposition Labor party maintaining a narrow lead ahead of a first televised leaders' debate on Monday. — AFP

Air Zimbabwe plane catches fire mid-air

HARARE, Apr 29: An Air Zimbabwe plane caught a "brief tail pipe fire" mid-air on Sunday after suffering a malfunction on one of its engines, the airline said in a statement on Monday. "However, the malfunction did not threaten the continuation of the flight and safety of the crew and passengers on board. — Xinhua

Hafter's forces intensify Tripoli airstrikes

CAIRO, Apr 29: Libyan officials say Khalifa Hafter's self-styled Libyan National Army has intensified its airstrikes over the past two days on rival militias in and around the capital, Tripoli. — AP

UK govt, opposition hold more Brexit talks

LONDON, Apr 29: Britain's government and opposition are holding more talks about striking a compromise Brexit deal, although neither side sounds optimistic about progress. Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives and the left-wing Labour Party plan to resume negotiations on Monday. — AP

US soldier dies in Syria non-combat incident

BEIRUT, Apr 29: The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group says a US service member has died in a non-combat incident in northern Syria. The coalition's statement gave no other details pending notification of next of kin but said the death occurred on Monday. It said further information will be released as appropriate. — AP

UAE spy accused dies in Turkish jail

ANKARA, Apr 29: A man accused of spying for the United Arab Emirates has been found dead in his prison cell, the Istanbul prosecutor's office said on Monday. The state-run news agency described the incident as suicide. —AP

One perishes as fire hits 21-storey Manila bldg

MANILA, Apr 29: A fire raged through the top floors of a 21-story residential building in the Philippine capital on Monday in the middle of a scorching summer, killing an elderly woman and injuring five other people, officials said.—AP