WORLD briefs

LONDON. British health officials temporarily suspended a vaccination program in an English city Tuesday after a 14-year-old girl died a few hours after being vaccinated against the virus that causes cervical cancer. There are no indications of any link between Morton's death and the vaccine — administered at her school in Coventry — although Morton appeared to be healthy before being given the shot.

JOHANNESBURG.Mining group Petra Diamonds has discovered a 507.55 carat white diamond at South Africa's Cullinan mine, one of the largest high-quality rough diamonds ever found, the firm said on Tuesday.

PAGO PAGO. A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of up to 8.3 struck in the South Pacific between Samoa and American Samoa around dawn Tuesday, sending terrified residents fleeing for higher ground as a tsunami swept ashore, flattening at least one village. There were no immediate reports of fatalities.

ONTARIO. The Canadian province of Ontario said on Tuesday it has filed a lawsuit seeking $45.9 billion in damages from tobacco companies for healthcare costs incurred by taxpayers since 1955.