Powerful earthquake shakes Papua New Guinea

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A powerful earthquake struck waters off Papua New Guinea early Thursday, but there was no threat of a widespread, destructive tsunami. The US Geological Survey said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 and struck 20 miles (32 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor. It hit near the island province of New Britain, 295 miles (470 kilometers) northeast of the national capital Port Moresby. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a statement saying there was no threat of a widespread, destructive tsunami. — AP