Briefs, January 23, 2013
A Canadian man facing charges of illegal possession of firearms opened fire in a Philippine court, killing two people before killing himself. The former journalist, John Pope, was in court in Cebu City to face the charges when he pulled out a gun and shot a lawyer and a doctor who filed a case against him.
MANILA -A Canadian man facing charges of illegal possession of firearms opened fire in a Philippine court, killing two people before killing himself. The former journalist, John Pope, was in court in Cebu City to face the charges when he pulled out a gun and shot a lawyer and a doctor who filed a case against him. Pope also fired at a prosecutor before police shot and wounded him. He then shot himself in the head. The doctor, a neighbour of Pope's, had accused him of threatening him and other condominium residents with a gun. AFP
BANDA ACEH - A strong earthquake rocked parts of western Indonesia, killing a nine-year-old girl, panicking residents and destroying homes. The quake struck 112 kilometres southeast of the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, at a depth of 37 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said, putting the magnitude at 5.9. Sarjani Abdullah, the district head of Pidie, said a nine-year-old girl was found dead in the ruins of her home. At least seven other people suffered cuts and broken bones. Aceh province's disaster agency said at least 30 houses and a mosque were levelled in Pidie Jaya district and that hundreds were evacuated to temporary shelters. AP