Ensuring the safety of travelers

July 23, 2014 - Daily News Briefing

Flying is far less risky than other means of travel, thanks to a major effort to improve safety in recent decades.

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Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo is the winner of Indonesia's presidential race, the country's election commission confirmed Tuesday. The former furniture salesman with a popular everyman touch will lead the world's third largest democracy. Mr. Widodo won 53 percent of the vote, confirming early predictions that he had bested former Gen. Prabowo Subianto in the country's third direct presidential election. The election results are the closest in Indonesia's short history of direct presidential elections, and just hours before the Elections Commission was due to announce results, Mr. Subianto said he was withdrawing from the race, citing “massive and systemic fraud” in the country’s electoral system.

A Central California company has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of specific lots of its fresh peaches, plums, nectarines, and pluots over concerns of possible listeria contamination. Wawona Packing says on its website that no illnesses have been reported and the recall is a precautionary measure. The company said the recalled fruit was packed and shipped to retailers from June 1 through July 12. Retailers that received the fruit include Costco and Trader Joe's. AP

The British government announced plans Tuesday for a wide-ranging public inquiry into the mysterious 2006 death of poisoned former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko. The decision, which comes at a time of rising tensions with Russia, is a breakthrough in the much-delayed probe because it means investigators can look into whether the Russian state was involved in Litvinenko's death. Lingering political tensions worsened recently as Britain and other Western powers are accusing Russia of fomenting unrest in Ukraine and being complicit in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine. AP

Britain's Prince George turns 1 on Tuesday. While he may be too young to appreciate it, the milestone is a national event. The palace is releasing special pictures, the Royal Mint is striking a commemorative coin, and newspapers are publishing glowing tributes. William and Kate have expressed an interest in having more children, but have otherwise kept their plans private. Asked in March whether they are planning to give George a sibling, William said: "Maybe one day. One's enough at the moment." AP

South Korean police said Tuesday that a body found in a field last month was that of a fugitive billionaire businessman blamed for April's ferry disaster that killed more than 300 people. The body was found in a field of apricot trees in the southern city of Suncheon on June 12, local police station chief Wu Hyung-ho told a news conference. He said DNA and fingerprint samples taken from the body matched those of the wanted man, Yoo Byung-eun. Police and prosecutors have been seeking Yoo since May and had offered a $500,000 reward for tips about him. They believe Yoo was the owner of the ferry and that his alleged corruption may have contributed to its sinking. AP

A massive fire at an oil supply company was burning itself out Tuesday afternoon, 12 hours after it began in an industrial part of the western North Dakota oil patch town of Williston. Authorities had not said as of Tuesday afternoon what caused the fire at Red River Supply, which Williams County Emergency Manager Mike Hallesy said broke out about midnight Monday. Company officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment and law enforcement wouldn't let anyone past the half-mile evacuation border. AP

“The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” – Mary Baker Eddy

The Daily News Briefing is published Monday through Friday by The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

“The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” – Mary Baker Eddy

The Daily News Briefing is published Monday through Friday by The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

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