world BRIEFS

BOMB ACCIDENTLY FALLS ON BAGHDAD IRAQ – At least eight people have been killed after a “technical problem” caused a bomb to fall from an Iraqi military plane over Baghdad.

The Iraqi air force say the Russian-made Sukhoi jet was returning from a bombing raid against Islamic State militants. The pilot made six attempts to dislodge the bomb after it became stuck during the attack, according to the military. It then fell as the plane overflew the capital, destroying several houses. There are reports that at least three children are among the dead. “One of the bombs became stuck because of a technical problem, and during [the aircraft’s return] to base it fell on houses in Baghdad Jadida,” security spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan told the Associated Press news agency.

african elephants sold to china

CHINA – At least 20 elephants from Zimbabwe have arrived in China after being flown there from the capital, Harare. They were sold for around $40,000 each after their controversial capture last year. The sale has raised money to help run the Hwange National Park and also slows the growth of the elephant herd, Zimbabwean officials say. Campaigners have said the younger elephants were forcibly separated from their mothers. ZCTF chairman Johnny Rodrigues added that the transported elephants were between two-and-a-half and five years old – not old enough to be weaned. The elephants are due to be taken to the Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou, southern China, which is home to 20,000 rare animals, according to its website. The authorities have said that exporting the animals is a better than a cull.

FERRY OWNER CHARGED WITH MURDER

PHILIPPINES – The owner of a ferry that capsized in the Philippines killing 59 people has been charged with multiple counts of murder. The MB Nirvana overturned abruptly on Thursday minutes after leaving port with nearly 200 people on board. About 140 people survived the incident, the Filipino coast guard said. Initial reports said a combination of bad weather and human error caused the wreck, but coast guard officials said Friday there was faulty maneuvering and overcrowding. Murder charges were brought against the boat’s owner, Joge Bung Zarco, and a number of the crew, police inspector Mark Nalda said. One of three US nationals on board the ferry, Rhome Nuttall, told CNN the vessel was “very crowded.” Nuttall said she heard a loud noise just before the ferry capsized. “I think that was cargo that shifted and that caused the boat to flip,” she said. The boat was about 200 metres from the shore when it capsized.

BABY RESCUED FLOATING OUT TO SEA

TURKEY – The Turkish coast guard has rescued a 10-month-old baby who had drifted more than half a mile into the sea in an inflatable crib. The baby, Melda Ilgin, floated off the coast of Kucukkuyu into the Aegean Sea after her parents placed her in the small inflatable device. While her parents were looking away, a strong wind pulled the girl out to sea. Other people at the beach alerted Melda’s family and several attempts were made by people on the shore to retrieve the girl. When they were unsuccessful, the Turkish coast guard was called. Once a boat reached her, divers jumped into sea to rescue Melda. The little girl was none the worse for her nautical misadvernture.

HUGE FINE FOR REFUSING TO BAKE CAKE

USA – The former owners of a bakery in Oregon, US, have been ordered to pay more than $200,000 to a lesbian couple after refusing to make wedding cake for them. Aaron and Melissa Klein, the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, must now compensate the couple for emotional and mental suffering resulting from the denial of service. The Kleins had cited their Christian beliefs against same-sex marriage in refusing to make the wedding cake for Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer. The dispute, which started in 2013, is one of several around in the US involving bakers, florists and photographers who have refused to provide services to same-sex couples on religious grounds. Oregon law bars businesses from discriminating or refusing service based on sexual orientation, just as they cannot turn away customers because of race, sex, disability, age or religion.