A strong earthquake in a dry, hilly farming area in western China knocked down power lines and damaged scores of homes, killing at least 75 and injuring nearly 300, the local government said.

A strong earthquake in western China knocked down power lines and damaged scores of homes, killing at least 47 people and injuring nearly 300, the local government said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition won a solid majority in the upper house of parliament in elections, gaining control of both chambers and a mandate to press ahead with difficult economic reforms.

Two U.S. fighter jets have dropped four unarmed bombs in Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park when a training exercise went wrong.