American serves eight years in N. Korea
Aijalon Mahli Gomes, an American citizen was sentenced to eight years in prison after illegally entering North Korea in January. Gomes is an English teacher with strong Christian values and had taken part in anti-North Korean protests in the past. This is the third recent case of Americans being held in North Korea. The other two were female journalists who were released last August after former President Bill Clinton intervend on their behalf. The United States has no diplomatic relations with North Korea.
Major earthquake devastates Sumatra
Last Wednesday, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake occurred at sea about 215 kilometers northwest of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The Indonesia Meteorology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning after the quake, but removed it two hours later.
Susan Potter, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said that because the earthquake originated deep below the surface of the earth, it will not likely produce a major tsunami.
The U.S. Geological Survey says earthquakes of magnitude 7 and above occur approximately 17 times per year.