7.0 Earthquake Hits in Remote Wilderness Along Alaska-Canada Border

 Hubbard Glacier, located near Yakutat, Alaska, is seen on Aug. 1, 2024. (AP)
Hubbard Glacier, located near Yakutat, Alaska, is seen on Aug. 1, 2024. (AP)
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7.0 Earthquake Hits in Remote Wilderness Along Alaska-Canada Border

 Hubbard Glacier, located near Yakutat, Alaska, is seen on Aug. 1, 2024. (AP)
Hubbard Glacier, located near Yakutat, Alaska, is seen on Aug. 1, 2024. (AP)

A powerful, magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck in a remote area near the border between Alaska and the Canadian territory of Yukon on Saturday. There was no tsunami warning, and officials said there were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

The US Geological Survey said it struck about 230 miles (370 kilometers) northwest of Juneau, Alaska, and 155 miles (250 kilometers) west of Whitehorse, Yukon.

In Whitehorse, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt. Calista MacLeod said the detachment received two 911 calls about the earthquake.

“It definitely was felt,” MacLeod said. “There are a lot of people on social media, people felt it.”

Alison Bird, a seismologist with Natural Resources Canada, said the part of Yukon most affected by the temblor is mountainous and has few people.

“Mostly people have reported things falling off shelves and walls,” Bird said. “It doesn’t seem like we’ve seen anything in terms of structural damage.”

The Canadian community nearest to the epicenter is Haines Junction, Bird said, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) away. The Yukon Bureau of Statistics lists its population count for 2022 as 1,018.

The quake was also about 56 miles (91 kilometers) from Yakutat, Alaska, which the USGS said has 662 residents.

It struck at a depth of about 6 miles (10 kilometers) and was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks.



Merz Says Sees 'No Common Plan' to Quickly End Iran War

Policemen stand on top of their car with pictures of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right and left, and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to him, center, during a rally to support him in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Policemen stand on top of their car with pictures of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right and left, and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to him, center, during a rally to support him in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Merz Says Sees 'No Common Plan' to Quickly End Iran War

Policemen stand on top of their car with pictures of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right and left, and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to him, center, during a rally to support him in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Policemen stand on top of their car with pictures of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right and left, and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to him, center, during a rally to support him in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced concern Tuesday that the United States and Israel appear to have "no common plan" for bringing the war against Iran "to a swift and convincing end", AFP reported.

"The United States and Israel have been waging war against Iran for over a week. We share many of these goals, but with each day of the war, more questions arise," Merz said.

"We are particularly concerned that there is apparently no common plan for how this war can be brought to a swift and convincing end."


China Lifts Military Budget to Modernize Weapons, Defense Technology

Bull statues near screens showing the Hang Seng stock index and stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu//File Photo
Bull statues near screens showing the Hang Seng stock index and stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu//File Photo
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China Lifts Military Budget to Modernize Weapons, Defense Technology

Bull statues near screens showing the Hang Seng stock index and stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu//File Photo
Bull statues near screens showing the Hang Seng stock index and stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu//File Photo

China's increased military spending will fund its military modernization and help develop advanced weapons and defense technology innovation, the spokesperson for the military delegation at its annual parliament meeting, Zhang Xiaogang, said Tuesday.

The Chinese government has kept defense spending growing at a steady and reasonable pace in recent years, coordinated with economic development, Zhang said, Reuters reported.

China's nationwide defense spending in 2026 is set at 1.94 trillion yuan ($282 billion) in the national public budget, up 6.9% from the previous year. That includes 1.91 trillion yuan from the central government, a 7% increase on the year.

The increased spending will be used for China's military modernization, optimizing joint combat systems, speeding up development of advanced weapons and defense technology innovation, as well as military personnel and training.

The military will promote reform of military budget management and strengthen full-chain control and performance evaluation to ensure efficient and effective spending.


Ex-Syrian Intelligence Officer Appears in UK Court Charged with Crimes Against Humanity

A Union Jack is flown outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, in London, Britain, November 4, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo
A Union Jack is flown outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, in London, Britain, November 4, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo
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Ex-Syrian Intelligence Officer Appears in UK Court Charged with Crimes Against Humanity

A Union Jack is flown outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, in London, Britain, November 4, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo
A Union Jack is flown outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, in London, Britain, November 4, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

A former member of Syria's Air Force Intelligence attended a British court hearing via videolink on Tuesday charged with crimes against humanity and torture relating to the suppression of pro-democracy demonstrations in Damascus in 2011.

Salem Michel Al-Salem, 58, who now lives in Britain, appeared virtually at the hearing at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court from his home. He was wearing a breathing apparatus mask and the court was told he suffered from degenerative motor neurone disease, Reuters reported.

Al-Salem is charged with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity relating to deaths in April and July 2011 "as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population with knowledge of the attack".

He is also accused of three charges of torture relating to incidents in 2011 and 2012, and one of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity. He did not speak during the hearing and there was no indication as to how he would plead.

His lawyer Sean Caulfield told the court that Al-Salem was too unwell to confirm his name.

The seven charges were brought under a British law that allows the prosecution of serious international crimes committed abroad. The Crown Prosecution Service said it was the first time it had brought charges of murder as crimes against humanity.

In 2005, Afghan warlord Faryadi Zardad was convicted by a British court of torture that had taken place in Afghanistan.

Al-Salem, who has sought indefinite leave to remain in Britain, was a colonel in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence department with oversight of the Information Branch in the district of Jobar, to the east of central Damascus, British prosecutors say.

He is accused of leading a group tasked with quelling the demonstrations, which mostly occurred during Friday afternoon prayers. Prosecutors say he gave his men orders to open fire on protesters, which led to the deaths of some individuals.

Prosecutors say he was also present at, or took part in, the torture of men at the Information Branch building.

Al-Salem was first arrested in central England in December 2021. His lawyer had sought an order to withhold his name, arguing it could pose a risk to his safety. England's Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring rejected the application but ordered that his address not be made public.

He will next appear on Friday at London's Old Bailey court.