Briefly

MEDITERRANEAN

Turkish survey for energy angers Greeks

A Turkish research vessel had begun surveying for energy resources in contested areas of the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey's energy minister said on Wednesday. The announcement came amid an escalation in tensions between NATO allies Greece and Turkey over oil and gas exploration rights. The Oruc Reis was conducting research in an area Greece says is over its continental shelf, and Athens has demanded the ship's withdrawal. Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez said on Twitter that the ship was "taking the X-ray of our seas". He said the vessel had also lowered 1,750 kilometers of seismic cables into the Mediterranean.

ISRAEL

Military tests new missile defense system

Israel's Defense Ministry said on Thursday that it conducted a successful test of the country's advanced missile defense system against long-range ballistic attacks. Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the flight test of the Arrow-2 interceptor was part of Israel's technological effort that "ensures that we will always be one step ahead of our enemies".The test was conducted overnight in central Israel, jointly with the US Missile Defense Agency. Arrow-2 is part of the multilayered system Israel has developed to defend against both short-and mid-range rockets.

UNITED KINGDOM

3 dead after train derails in Scotland

Three people were killed and six others injured on Wednesday when a passenger train derailed in northeast Scotland after heavy rains hit the area. The driver was believed to be among the dead, police said. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said the train conductor was also believed killed. Formal identification has yet to take place. Six people were hospitalized, but their injuries are not considered serious. Images from the scene show that several cars of the four-carriage train had left the tracks and one had tumbled down an embankment.

Agencies - Xinhua