Reuters, Beijing
China and Russia will hold eight days of naval drills in the South China Sea off southern China’s Guangdong province starting from Monday, China’s navy said.
The exercises come at a time of heightened tension in the contested waters after an arbitration court in The Hague ruled in July that China did not have historic rights to the South China Sea and criticised its environmental destruction there.
Iran begins construction on 2nd N-power plant
AP, Tehran
Iranian state TV says the country has begun building its second nuclear power plant with Russian help, the first such project since last year’s landmark nuclear deal with world powers.
The project launched today will eventually include two power plants expected to go online in 10 years. Construction on the second plant is set to begin in 2018.
13 dead, 200 injured in Tanzania earthquake
AFP, Dar es Salaam
At least 13 people were killed and 203 injured in northwest Tanzania when a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit the country Saturday, local authorities told AFP.
“The toll has climbed from 11 people dead to 13 and from 192 injured to 203,” said Deodatus Kinawilo, District Commissioner for Bukoba, the town close to the epicentre of the quake.
Woman charged over failed Paris attack
AFP, Paris
French anti-terror judges on Saturday charged a woman over a failed attack near Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral, where a car containing gas canisters was found last weekend.
The woman, named as 29-year-old Ornella G, was remanded in custody after being charged with association with a terrorist group and attempted murder by an organised group, prosecutors said.
