Nation, world briefs 3/3/16

U.N. OKs tougher N. Korea sanctions

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved the toughest sanctions on North Korea in two decades Wednesday, reflecting growing anger at Pyongyang's latest nuclear test and rocket launch in defiance of a ban on all nuclear-related activity. The United States and North Korea's traditional ally China spent seven weeks negotiating the new sanctions, which include mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by land, sea or air; a ban on all sales or transfers of small arms and light weapons to Pyongyang; and expulsion of diplomats from the North who engage in "illicit activities." The U.S., its Western allies and Japan pressed for new sanctions that went beyond the North's nuclear and missile programs, but China was reluctant to impose measures that could threaten the stability of North Korea and cause its economy to collapse.

Debris is same type as missing plane's

WASHINGTON -- Debris that washed up in Mozambique has been tentatively identified as a part from the same type of aircraft as the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, a U.S. official said Wednesday. Photos of the debris discovered over the weekend appear to show the fixed leading edge of the right-hand tail section of a Boeing 777, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. Flight 370, which disappeared two years ago with 239 people aboard, is the only known missing 777. People who have handled the part, called a horizontal stabilizer, say it appears to be made of fiberglass composite on the outside, with aluminum honeycombing on the inside, the official said.

Indonesia lifts tsunami warning

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia lifted a tsunami warning issued Wednesday after a powerful earthquake off Sumatra sent islanders rushing to high ground. The U.S. Geological Service said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8. It was centered under the ocean at a depth of 15 miles, it said. Shallow earthquakes are more likely to cause damage, but the USGS said the quake was located far from land, about 409 miles from the town of Muara Siberut. Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said no damage or casualties were reported so far.

Pentagon seeks computer hackers

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon is looking for a few good computer hackers. Screened high-tech specialists will be brought in to try to breach the Defense Department's public Internet pages in a pilot program aimed at finding and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Defense officials laid out the broad outlines of the plan Wednesday. They had few details on how it will work, what Pentagon systems would be tested and how the hackers would be compensated. The program called "Hack the Pentagon" will begin next month.

-- From wire reports