Briefly

THE PHILIPPINES

4 Chinese tourists hurt in sea mishap

Four Chinese tourists were injured in a sea collision off Batangas Province, south of Manila, on Wednesday, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines said. The Philippine Coast Guard said the accident happened at around 12:30 pm local time near Matoco Point in Batangas City and involved the passenger ship MV Oceanjet 6 and a water taxi. Two Filipinos died in the accident, according to authorities. The wounded were transferred to a local hospital. An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the collision.

JAPAN

Moon probe goes back into dormant state

Japan's lunar probe has reentered a dormant state and suspended activities as it reached sunset, rendering solar power generation unavailable, the country's space agency said on Thursday. The planned activities for the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, which made Japan the world's fifth country to land on the lunar surface, concluded on Wednesday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said. On Monday, the moon lander started functioning after being switched off due to solar cell failures following its moon touchdown earlier.

MYANMAR

New election chief, ministers appointed

Myanmar's State Administration Council on Wednesday appointed a new election chief and ministers following an extension of the state of emergency, the official television channel MRTV reported. According to the council's orders, U Ko Ko will become the new chairman of the country's Union Election Commission, replacing U Thein Soe, while U Aung Aung takes over the post of Shan State chief minister from U Aung Zaw Aye. On Wednesday, Myanmar's National Defense and Security Council extended the state of emergency for six more months.

UNITED STATES

3 killed in airport hangar collapse

Three people were killed and nine injured after an under-construction hangar collapsed at the Boise Airport in Boise, the capital of Idaho, on Wednesday. The three died at the scene, while five of the nine injured are in critical condition, said the Boise Fire Department. The hangar, located on the airport property, was owned by private charter flight company Jackson Jet Center. The company's spokesperson Jessica Flynn said there were "dozens of dedicated people "working at the site at the time.

Agencies - Xinhua