IN BRIEF (Page 11)

China Daily | Updated: 2019-07-24 07:23

RUSSIA

Moscow denies violating airspace

Moscow denied on Tuesday that its aircraft had violated South Korean airspace, saying its jets had carried out planned drills over international waters. "Two Tu-95 strategic bombers of Russia's aerospace forces carried out a planned flight in the airspace above the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. It also denied that the South Korean planes fired warning shots. Moscow said two South Korean jets on Tuesday approached the Russian aircraft near the easternmost islets of Dokdo, controlled by South Korea but also claimed by Japan, where they are known as the Takeshima islands. The South Korean aircraft carried out "unprofessional" maneuvers by crossing the Russian jets' flight path and "threatening their safety", it said, adding that the South Korean crews did not contact their Russian counterparts.

PUERTO RICO

Massive protest against governor

Hundreds of thousands of angry protesters blocked the main road in Puerto Rico's capital on Monday in the largest demonstration yet seeking the resignation of the US territory's embattled governor. Puerto Ricans are up in arms over alleged corruption involving money meant for victims of Hurricane Maria in 2017, which left nearly 3,000 dead. They are also upset about the recent release of text chats in which Governor Ricardo Rossello and other officials make fun of journalists, gay people, women and hurricane victims, among others. The demonstrators in San Juan were joined by some of the island's most famous singers, including Ricky Martin. The huge crowds sang, chanted, and danced in the streets during the mainly peaceful protest while carrying Puerto Rican flags.

UNITED STATES

Titanic survivor's cane sold for $62,500

A Titanic survivor's walking stick, with an electric light she used to signal for help from a lifeboat, sold for $62,500 at an auction of maritime items, Guernsey's auction house said on Monday. Guernsey's held the sale on Friday and Saturday. The top bid on Ella White's cane was $50,000, plus the surcharge added by the auction house, Guernsey's President Arlan Ettinger said. He described it as one of the most extraordinary items to have survived the 1912 sinking.

Agencies

(China Daily 07/24/2019 page11)