News in Brief(2023-08-07)

Manila accuses China of firing water
cannon at boats in S China Sea
MANILA, Aug 06: The Philippine Coast Guard has accused its Chinese counterpart of firing water cannon at its vessels and blocking them in the disputed South China Sea. It said this happened when its ship was escorting boats carrying supplies for Filipino soldiers stationed on one of the contested Spratly Islands. The US condemned Beijing's "dangerous actions", also blaming Chinese "maritime militia" for the incident. China has not publicly commented on the reported incident. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the Spratlys, which is also claimed in part by the Philippines. —BBC
Morocco road crash claims 24 lives
RABAT, Aug 06: One of Morocco's worst-ever road accidents left 24 people dead Sunday in the central province of Azilal, officials said. They were killed when a minibus carrying passengers to a weekly market in the town of Demnate overturned on a bend, the local authorities said. They added that an investigation has begun. Accidents are frequent on the roads of Morocco and other North African countries. In March 11 people, mostly agricultural workers, died when their minibus slammed into a tree after the driver lost control. —AFP
Tropical storm hits Japan's islands again
TOKYO, Aug 06: A meandering storm was headed again toward southwestern Japan on Sunday, prompting fresh warnings about dangerously heavy rainfall after the same area was hit several days ago. Tropical Storm Khanun, which means jackfruit in Thai, was returning to the southernmost group of islands of Okinawa moving slowly northward, packing winds of up to 30 meters per second and hovering over Okinawa through Monday. —AP
Pak passenger train derails: 30 killed
ISLAMABAD, Aug 06: At least 30 people have been killed and 50 injured when a train derailed in southern Pakistan, officials say. Several carriages of the Hazara Express overturned near Sahara railway station in Nawabshah, about 275km (171 miles) from the largest city Karachi. Wounded passengers have been moved to nearby hospitals. Rescue teams are trying to free people from the twisted wreckage. Accidents on Pakistan's antiquated railway system are not uncommon. —BBC
France backs bid to undo Niger coup
PARIS, Aug 06: France said on Saturday it will support efforts to overturn Niger's military coup, a day after West Africa's regional bloc said it had a plan for military intervention. Niger's military takeover has rocked the western Sahel region, one of the poorest in the world with strategic significance to global powers. Defence chiefs from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have drawn up a plan for military action if the coup leaders do not reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday.
—Reuters
Kim tours weapons factories
SEOUL, Aug 06: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured the country's key weapons factories, including those producing artillery systems and launch vehicles for nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, and pledged to speed up efforts to advance his military's arms and war readiness, state media said Sunday. Kim's three-day inspections through Saturday came as the United States and South Korea prepared for their next round of combined military exercises planned for later this month to cope with the growing North Korean threat. —AP