RUSSIA: A court convicted and sentenced a US citizen on charges of illegally transporting weapons, court officials said today.

Charles Wayne Zimmerman was handed a five-year sentence by the court in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi after a rifle was found on his yacht in June. Russian customs officials found the weapon while inspecting it upon arrival in Sochi.

There was no immediate comment from US officials.

SOUTH AFRICA: A truck collided with a school minibus in South Africa’s Gauteng province, killing at least 13 children, authorities said today.

The private vehicle was transporting students to various primary schools and high schools in south-west Johannesburg when the incident occurred at 7am local time, according to authorities.

CHINA: Police officers have detained those in charge of a steel factory in the Inner Mongolia region after an explosion killed four people and left 84 others hospitalised, according to local media today.

The death toll rose to four during the day as rescuers searched for the missing. Broadcaster CCTV said six more people remained unaccounted for.

The blast at a Baogang United Steel plant in the city of Baotou on Sunday caused tremors in the surrounding area and sent a massive cloud of white smoke skyward.

JAPAN: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced today that she will dissolve parliament on Friday, paving the way for an early general election on February 8.

The far-right prime minister hopes to translate her strong public support into a big majority for her still largely unpopular party.