Briefly World

Pentagon No 2 Lynn to quit soon

WASHINGTON: The Pentagons second-highest-ranking official,who is in-charge of US cyber defence policy,plans to quit later this year,signalling another major change in the Obama administrations defence team. Deputy Defence Secretary William Lynn,57,will step down later this year to return to private life,Pentagon officials said Thursday.

Little hope for China trapped miners

BEIJING: Hopes receded for the 23 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in southwest China for six days,with rescuers saying the area they were believed to be located in was completely submerged. The miners were trapped on Saturday in the Niupeng Mine,located in the provinces Pingtang County.

Activists prevented from entering Israel

JERUSALEM: Israel Friday prevented scores of pro-Palestinian activists from boarding Tel Aviv-bound flights in Europe,questioned dozens upon arrival at Ben-Gurion airport and denied entry to 69,disrupting attempts to reach West Bank. Israel compiled a blacklist of over 300 names and asked airlines to keep them off flights.

Philippines probes two missing women

MANILA: Government prosecutors are probing a criminal complaint against a retired general who allegedly had a hand in disappearance of two students five years ago. Ret Maj Gen Jovito Palparan,then commander of army division in the area where students Karen Empeno and Sheryln Cadapan were last seen,denied involvement.