Russia is on the verge of deploying a completely new kind of weapon that combines hypersonic and laser technology, the country's defence minister has claimed. Sergei Shoigu said the new weapon system, which he declined to name, has already been sent for field testing and will be ready for deployment in the 'near future'. He spoke at a conference on Tuesday updating the nation on the state armaments program which is due to run from 2018 through to 2027.

An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale has struck near the Loire Valley in western France. Thousands of people felt the tremor when it struck around 8.50am on Friday near the town of Bressuire, though no damage was immediately reported. Alarmed residents reported the quake from as far afield as Normandy in the north, and Bordeaux in the south. Reports also flooded in from the cities of Le Mans, Nantes, Rennes and Caen.

Fast mom 😳 #fuck_lucky

Social media recorded a massive fireball from the Philadelphia oil refinery early Friday. 💥🔥

The parachute jump ended of tragedy, Italy. ☠️ #losers

#fuck_lucky ☺️

#LMAO #LOSERS 🤣

US police vs Russian police #LMAO 🤣

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT! 🤣 #LMAO 🤣🤣🤣

Lindsey Horan of the U.S. celebrates scoring their first goal against Sweden with Megan Rapinoe at the Women's World Cup in France. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

A protester sits on the ground next to riot policemen, who cover themselves with shields during a rally against a Russian lawmaker's visit in Tbilisi, Georgia. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a teachers' national strike against the government in demand of better working conditions, in Santiago, Chile. REUTERS/Pablo Sanhueza

Dancers waltz in front of Russian armoured vehicles, including tanks T-72 B3, during a rehearsal for an exhibition event, part of the Army-2019 international military and technical forum, in Rostov Region, Russia. REUTERS/Sergey Pivovarov

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives for the European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea. KCNA via REUTERS