Earthquake shakes northern Chile
Santiago, Jan 21: The US Geological Survey says a magnitude 6.3 earthquake has struck northern Chile. The quake, which was deep at 110 kilometers (68 miles), struck at 10:06 p.m. local time ON Saturday. The epicentre in Tarapaca was 76 kilometers (47 miles) east of the city of Putre, and 118 kilometers (73 miles) southeast of the Peruvian city of Tacna. Local media in Chile said there were no immediate reports of damage and that the navy's oceanographic service had discarded the possibility of a tsunami. An earthquake with a similar strength shook Tarapaca last October. — AP
French prison guards on strike
PARIS, Jan 21: A week-long French prison strike sparked by a spate of inmate attacks on guards looks set to enter a second week after unions on Saturday rejected proposals to end the standoff. A solution to the crisis had looked to be inching closer after two of France's three major prison unions-CGT and Ufap-Unsa-suspended a protest action to put fresh proposals on security and employment to staff after a week of tension. But by Saturday evening both those unions said their members had rejected the proposals as they called for a "total blockage" of prisons on Monday. The strike has seen guards across the country down tools following a string of attacks by inmates and scuffles at jails, including Europe's biggest, Fleury-Merogis just south of Paris. — AFP
Emergency in Jamaican city
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Jan 21: Jamaica has declared a state of emergency in the island's second city Montego Bay, where authorities are battling to stem a wave of killings. Tourists have been urged to remain in their resorts following the declaration by Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Thursday, resulting in the deployment of thousands of members of the military and police in the city of 200,000, home to some of the biggest and most luxurious resorts on the island. The move came days after the United States upgraded its travel advisory to its citizens. Canada and Great Britain issued warnings following the declaration of emergency. — AFP