In brief: Yemen suicide blast kills at least 15

SANAA, Yemen – A suicide bomber driving a minibus full of explosives killed at least 30 people this morning as cadets gathered near a police academy in the heart of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, security officials and witnesses said.

The blast wounded dozens of people, officials initially said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren’t authorized to brief journalists.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Yemen’s local al-Qaida branch, targeted in frequent U.S. drone strikes in the country, has carried out similar attacks in the past. Washington considers al-Qaida in Yemen to be the world’s most dangerous branch of the terror network as it has been linked to several failed attacks on the U.S. homeland.

The blast comes as Shiite rebels known as Houthis seized large areas of Yemen, including Sanaa, last year as part of a protracted power struggle with President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Their critics view them as a proxy for Shiite Iran, charges the rebels deny. Al-Qaida militants have targeted the rebels in bombings in the past.

Quake strikes off Panama coast

NEW YORK – The U.S. Geological Survey said a magnitude-6.6 earthquake has struck off the Pacific coast of Panama. There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The USGS said the quake hit at 11:07 p.m. local time Tuesday with its epicenter 151 miles south of the coastal city of Punta de Burica, close to the border with Costa Rica. Its depth was measured at 20 miles.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami threat was issued for the area following the quake.

In early December, two earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.8 and 6.6 struck in the same region without causing damage or injuries.

Pakistan military to try terror cases

ISLAMABAD – Ceding potentially far-reaching powers to the army, Pakistani lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously approved changes to the constitution to allow military courts to try civilian terrorism suspects in the wake of last month’s devastating school attack.

The legislation, which expires after two years unless renewed by the parliament, is designed to speed up the trials of terrorism suspects by taking them away from civilian courts.