News in Brief -(04-04-2019)

Bleaching hits world's
southernmost coral reef
SYDNEY, Apr 03: The world's southernmost coral reef has been hit by bleaching this summer, Australian scientists said Wednesday, as they warned rising sea temperatures from climate change were affecting even the most isolated ecosystems. The corals off Lord Howe Island - some 600 kilometres (370 miles) offshore from Sydney - were affected by elevated temperatures this summer, despite escaping severe bleaching that damaged the Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2017. — AFP
Turkey starts Istanbul vote recount
ISTANBUL, Apr 03: Turkish electoral authorities on Wednesday began recounting votes from Istanbul districts after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP challenged tallies showing an opposition candidate narrowly won a weekend local election. The AKP won most votes nationwide in Sunday's municipal ballot. — AFP
Myanmar imposes curfew
in five townships
YANGON, Apr 03: A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed in five townships in Myanmar's western Rakhine state starting from Tuesday, a Rakhine state parliamentary representative told Xinhua on Wednesday. The five townships covered by the curfew are Yathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk U and Minpya. — Xinhua
Palestinian attempts
stabbing, shot dead
NABLUS, Apr 03: A Palestinian attempted to stab an Israeli in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday before being shot dead, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. The Israeli army said a Palestinian tried to carry out a stabbing attack near a military checkpoint close to Nablus in the northern West Bank, after which "a civilian fired and neutralised the assailant". — AFP
5.5-magnitude quake hits Taiwan
BEIJING, Apr 03: A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted near Taitung county, Taiwan, at 9:52 am on Wednesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC). The epicenter was monitored at 22.94 degrees north latitude and 120.87 degrees east longitude, the centre said in a statement. — AFP
Germany extends African missions
BERLIN, Apr 03: Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet has approved extending Germany's military missions in Africa for another year. The dpa news agency reported Wednesday that that includes German troops taking part in a European Union training mission in Mali known as EUTM, and the United Nations "Minusma" peacekeeping force there. — AP
India declines comment on NASA's criticism
NEW DELHI, Apr 03: India on Wednesday declined to comment on a statement by a US space official that India's recent test of an anti-satellite weapon created debris that could threaten the International Space Station. India's Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Aman Anand said there was no official response to NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine's statement at a town hall event in Washington on Monday.— AFP
Finns start casting ballots
for Apr 14 election
ESTONIA, Apr 03: Voters in Finland have begun casting their ballots for the April 14 general election to renew the country's 200-seat parliament. Early voting began Wednesday in over 900 polling stations across the Nordic country of 5.5 million. Early voting is popular in Finland - over 1.3 million people, or some 32% of eligible voters, cast their ballots ahead of the 2015 elections. — AFP