World briefs

Man killed as boat goes over US dam

WASHINGTON - One man died and eight other people were rescued after their boat went over a dam in the state of Maryland, United States media reported.

The incident on Lake Linganore left four people desperately hanging onto the dam for their lives, NBC news said on Saturday, citing Frederick County Fire and Rescue Services Division Captain Kevin Fox. The four were rescued, along with three more who were pulled from the dam's spillway by helicopter and another who was pulled out by boat.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Judge orders assets on Falklands seized

BUENOS AIRES - An Argentine judge has ordered the seizure of assets of oil drilling companies operating in the disputed Falklands Islands, as rhetoric heats up before October elections.

Ms Lilian Herraez, a federal judge in Tierra del Fuego, ordered the seizure of US$156 million (S$210 million), boats and other property, Argentina's state news agency Telam reported.

But the ruling is likely to prove to be a symbolic one. Argentina claims sovereignty over the South Atlantic islands which it calls the Malvinas. The islands are occupied by around 3,000 people who mostly say they wish them to remain a British overseas territory.

REUTERS

Protesters snub price hike freeze

YEREVAN - Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian on Saturday suspended a controversial hike in electricity prices, but the move failed to appease protesters who vowed to keep up with the largest anti-government demonstrations the ex-Soviet nation has seen in years.

Thousands have taken to the streets of the capital Yerevan since June 19 to demonstrate against a proposed 16 per cent hike in electricity prices, in a country already hit hard by the economic crisis in neighbouring Russia.

Protesters have dismissed the President's announcement as inadequate and repeated demands for the price increase to be scrapped altogether.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 29, 2015, with the headline World briefs. Subscribe