World briefs

CHINA‘s airline regulator has warned travelers to expect flight delays at 12 airports through mid-August, and an airport employee said military exercises are the reason.

S KOREA Two passenger trains collided head-on in eastern South Korea yesterday, killing 1 passenger and injuring dozens. Authorities are investigating what caused the crash, which occurred at about 6 p.m. in eastern Gangwon province. A woman in her 60s was killed and 87 people were injured in the collision. About 63 passengers were aboard one of the two trains, while around 40 were on the other train.

FRANCE The collision of a truck and a minibus near the northeastern French city of Troyes has left six people dead, including five children. French President Francois Hollande issued a statement expressing his sadness and shock at yesterday’s accident in the town of Courteranges.

LIBYA A Filipino construction worker kidnapped by militia men in Libya has been beheaded by his captors, becoming the first Filipino casualty in the renewed violence in the North African state, the Philippine government said.

UKRAINE Bowing to international pressure, pro-Moscow separatists released a train packed with bodies and handed over the black boxes from the downed Malaysia Airlines plane, four days after it plunged into rebel-held eastern Ukraine.

EU European Union foreign ministers are meeting to consider further sanctions against Russia because of the downing of the Malaysian jetliner, with Britain and some other countries demanding much tougher measures.

NEW ZEALAND  Kevin Skinner, a famously rugged All Blacks prop who became part of New Zealand rugby folklore for his role in its first test series win over South Africa, has died. He was 86. New Zealand Rugby Union said Skinner, who was also a national heavyweight boxing champion, passed away Sunday night. Skinner played the last two tests of the 1956 series which New Zealand won 3-1 after being called from retirement to replace players injured.