Briefly

UNITED STATES

Economy shrinks for first time in 3 years

The US economy shrank for the first time in three years in the first quarter of this year, according to data released on Thursday by the US Commerce Department. US' gross domestic product dropped 0.5 percent in the January-March period from a year ago, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday in its final report. Growth in the first quarter was stifled by rising imports as US firms scrambled to purchase foreign goods before sweeping tariffs took effect.

CANADA

These rocks may be the oldest on Earth

Scientists have identified what could be the oldest rocks on Earth from a rock formation in Canada. The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt in Quebec has long been known for its ancient rocks. Work from two decades ago suggested the rocks could be 4.3 billion years old, placing them in the earliest period of Earth's history. But other scientists contested the finding, arguing that they were about 3.8 billion years old. The research was published on Thursday in the journal Science.

MIDDLE EAST

Road accident kills 18 in Northern Egypt

At least 18 people were killed, and four others injured on Friday when a truck crashed with a microbus on a highway in Egypt's northern Menoufia Governorate, according to local media. A medical source said that the victims ranged in age from five to 18. The health directorate in Menoufia declared a state of emergency in all the governmental hospitals in the governorate.

Xinhua - Agencies