News in brief

By The Associated Press

Kia recalls

over 427,000 Telluride SUVs

NEW YORK | Kia is recalling more than 427,000 of its Telluride SUVs due to a defect that may cause the cars to roll away while they’re parked.

According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft of certain 2020-2024 Tellurides may not be fully engaged. Over time, this can lead to “unintended vehicle movement” while the cars are in park — increasing potential crash risks.

To remedy this issue, dealers will update the affected cars’ electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged intermediate shafts for free. Owners who already incurred repair expenses will also be reimbursed. In the meantime, drivers of the impacted Tellurides are instructed to manually engage the emergency break before exiting the vehicle.

Japan confirms meetings to ease concerns over treated radioactive water

TOKYO | Japan says its experts have held talks with Chinese counterparts to try to assuage Beijing’s concerns over the discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea.

The discharges have been opposed by fishing groups and neighboring countries, especially China, which banned all imports of Japanese seafood. China’s move has largely affected Japanese scallop growers and exporters to China.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry says Japanese officials provided “science-based” explanation of how the discharges have been safely carried out as planned during the talks held in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian.

A 2011 earthquake and tsunami had triggered meltdowns of Fukushima’s three reactors.

Gunmen in Ecuador kill

nine, injure 10 others in attack

QUITO, Ecuador | Police in Ecuador say armed gunmen have attacked a group of people in the coastal city of Guayaquil, killing nine and injuring 10 others. It was the latest in a string of violent incidents in the South American country.

At around 7 p.m. local time on Saturday, armed men arrived in a vehicle in a southern neighborhood. According to police, the armed group entered a pedestrian street in a grey Chevrolet Spark, where a group of people were practicing sports. The gunmen got out of the vehicle and proceeded to shoot people.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

—From AP reports