Kuwait bombers given death sentences

KUWAIT • Seven defendants were sentenced to death yesterday for a suicide bombing at a mosque in Kuwait in June that killed 27 people. Eight other suspects were given prison sentences ranging from two to 15 years by a Kuwaiti criminal court.

Fourteen other defendants were acquitted.

- REUTERS

Aussie volcano chain longest in the world

MELBOURNE • Australian researchers have discovered the longest chain of volcanoes in the world running along the east coast of the continent.

The extinct volcano chain stretches more than 2,000km from southern Victoria to northern Queensland, according to a report in the journal Nature yesterday. A volcanic chain occurs following persistent movement of a tectonic plate over such hot spots.

- XINHUA

Avalanche kills seven in French Alps

GRENOBLE (France) • Seven people were killed yesterday when they were swept away by an avalanche in the French Alps, a local official said, the deadliest snowslide to hit the popular mountain range this year.

He added that rescuers were continuing their search to make sure there were no other victims.

- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE