Reported US strike kills five militants

October 12, 2008

MIRANSHAH - Suspected US drones yesterday fired two missiles into a Pakistani region regarded as an Al Qaeda and Taliban safe haven, killing at least five militants, an intelligence official said. It was the second such attack in North Waziristan tribal region on the Afghan border in a week. The official said there were foreigners among those killed but their nationalities were unknown.. (Reuters)

ROSTOV-ON-DON - A magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit Chechnya and other parts of Russia's North Caucasus yesterday, killing at least 12 people and damaging scores of hospitals, schools, and other buildings. Officials said they were awaiting casualty and damage reports from outlying districts and the toll was expected to rise. The quake was centered northeast of the Chechen capital, Grozny. (AP)

PUERTO SAN CARLOS - Hurricane Norbert weakened to a Category 1 storm yesterday after it swept across Mexico's southern Baja California peninsula, tearing off roofs and forcing hundreds of people to flee flooded homes. Norbert had top sustained winds of 90 miles per hour and was expected to reach mainland Mexico before daybreak today. (AP)