News in brief

Man detonates bomb at Beijing airport
Afp, Beijing

A man in a wheelchair ignited a home-made explosive device at Beijing's international airport yesterday, state media reported, injuring himself but no others.
The man, identified only as Chinese, was being treated, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. Xinhua said the explosion came at about 6:24 pm, adding that police were investigating.

Costa Concordia disaster: 5 jailed
Reuters, Rome

Four Costa Concordia crew members and a company official were sentenced to jail in Italy yesterday for their part in the 2012 cruise ship disaster that killed 32 people, leaving only Captain Francesco Schettino still on trial.
The five received sentences of between 18 and 34 months for multiple manslaughter, negligence and shipwreck - relatively short punishments for the crimes, in exchange for pleading guilty. However, none of the five are likely to be jailed, judicial sources said.

US charges Belmokhtar for Algeria siege
Afp, New York City

US authorities on Friday charged the former leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Mokhtar Belmokhtar, Branded "The Uncatchable," over the deadly January siege at an Algerian gas plant and other crimes.
The one-eyed Algerian Islamist -- who allegedly masterminded the seizure in which 38 hostages, including three Americans, died -- was charged on eight counts, including kidnapping and conspiring to take hostages.

Riots rock Nauru
Afp, Sydney

Buildings were razed as hundreds of asylum-seekers escaped detention during riots at an Australian refugee facility on Nauru, witnesses said yesterday, following the launch of a hardline immigration crackdown.
Australia announced on Friday that boatpeople will no longer be resettled in the country and all future unauthorised arrivals will be sent to poverty-stricken Papua New Guinea for permanent resettlement.

FARC 'capture US soldier,' offers release
Afp, Bogota

Colombian FARC guerrillas said Friday they captured a US soldier last month and are offering his release as a "gesture" toward peace with Bogota. In a statement on their website, the leftist rebels identified their captive as Kevin Scott Sutay, and said they captured him on June 20 in the municipality of Retorno, in the southern department of Guaviare.