Minor 3.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Seismologists say a mild earthquake widely felt throughout Southern California was centered along the coast west of downtown Los Angeles.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-3.8 quake struck at 3:18 a.m. Wednesday. The epicenter was 2 miles east-southeast of Marina del Rey near Culver City and Inglewood.

A Sheriff's Department dispatcher says it "wasn't much of a quake" and that he hasn't had any calls from the public about it.

Within half an hour of the quake hitting, hundreds of people from as far away as Riverside and the San Fernando Valley reported feeling the shaking on the USGS website.

Ghana's VP Sworn In as President Following Mills' Death

Ghana Vice PresidentJohn Mahama is sworn in as new President of Ghana in parliament after the passing of the late Ghana President John Atta Mills in Accra, July 24, 2012.

Ghana's vice president will serve out the term of the late leader John Atta Mills, who died suddenly Tuesday.

John Dramani Mahama, who was vice president, took the oath of office hours after officials announced the death of Mills.

Ghana is scheduled to hold a presidential election in December.

Turkey Shuts Syria Border

TURKEY-SYRIA BORDER—Turkey sealed its border with Syria to all traffic except refugees on Wednesday, citing worsening security conditions following escalating skirmishes close to the frontier which last week saw rebel fighters capture at least two crossing points.

Turkey's economy minister announced the move—which will halt the passage of all commercial vehicles between Turkey and Syria—in a news conference in Ankara, citing "serious concerns" for drivers' safety and noting that there had already been a 87% drop in trucks traveling to Syria this year. Turkish officials and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Ankara said the border would remain open for civilians fleeing the conflict.

The move comes after Syrian rebel fighters last week seized control of several border gates along the frontier with Turkey, with some Turkish drivers reporting that their trucks were looted and burned.