×

World briefing

In this July 11, 2018 photo, Mexico's President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador receives a note from a man, as he leaves his headquarters in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City. Each day hundreds of Mexicans crowd outside white, two-story offices of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador bearing handwritten notes, medical records, retirement papers and other documents, in hopes he can help with everything from boosting pensions to clemency for a jailed loved one or even offer a job. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Explosion injures 19 in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — An explosion on a passenger bus in Sri Lanka injured 19 people, including 12 military personnel, the military said today.

Brig. Sumith Atapattu said the explosion occurred near Diyatalawa, a former garrison town about 120 miles from the capital, Colombo. The explosion and fire that followed caused severe damage to the bus.

He said the cause of the explosion is still not known, but it is possible that someone was carrying a grenade that went off. Atapattu said police and the military are conducting separate investigations.

There were frequent bomb explosions on public transportation during the country’s long civil war, but Atapattu said there was no evidence of terrorist involvement.

The military defeated separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009, ending more than a quarter-century civil war.

Mudslides block only road to town

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Mudslides blocked the only road to a small New Zealand town today after a powerful Pacific storm caused disruptions across parts of the country.

The 1,000 tourists and 5,000 locals in Takaka are not entirely trapped, but would have to use a boat, helicopter or small plane to leave town now or wait a week or more before the road is cleared and repaired. The storm that hit late Tuesday was the remnants of Cyclone Gita, which last week ripped through the Pacific nation of Tonga, destroying homes, churches and the historic Parliament House.

Greeks debate about scandal

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek lawmakers were debating today whether to launch an investigation into 10 senior politicians — including two former prime ministers, the current central bank governor and a European commissioner — over allegations they were involved in a pharmaceutical bribery scandal.

The debate will culminate in a vote, expected to stretch into the early hours of Thursday, on whether to investigate each of the 10. Under Greek law, parliament must first investigate allegations against lawmakers before they can be stripped of immunity and prosecuted by judicial authorities.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today