Debris in Maldives not from missing flight

KUALA LUMPUR • A Malaysian team inspecting debris that washed up in the Maldives has so far found nothing that came from missing flight MH370, Malaysia's transport minister said yesterday.

Malaysia had sent experts to check the debris found in the coral atoll nation after a wing part from the ill-fated plane was found on Reunion island. However, the debris is "not related to MH370 and not even plane material", Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Shark sighting sparks Japan beach closures

TOKYO • The Japanese authorities closed several busy beaches near Tokyo yesterday after a large group of sharks was sighted off the coast.

A police helicopter spotted about 30 sharks swimming near the beaches south of the capital, including a group of 10 hammerheads, media reported. Sharks have been sighted along Japan's Pacific coast in recent days and officials in Chigasaki posted a warning yesterday on the city's website advising people to stay out of the water.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE