A U.S. Navy destroyer that engaged a superior Japanese fleet in the largest sea battle of World War II in the Philippines has become the deepest wreck to be discovered, according to explorers. The USS Samuel B. Roberts, popularly known as the “Sammy B," was identified on Wednesday broken into two pieces on a slope at a depth of 6,985 meters (22,916 feet). That puts it 426 meters (1,400 feet) deeper than the USS Johnston, the previous deepest wreck discovered last year in the Philippine Sea also by American explorer Victor Vescovo, founder of Dallas-based Caladan Oceanic Expeditions. He announced the latest find together with U.K.-based EYOS Expeditions. Read:Give us back our moon dust and cockroaches: NASA “It was an extraordinary honor to locate this incredibly famous ship, and by doing so have the chance to retell her story of heroism and duty to those who may not know of the ship and her crew’s sacrifice," Vescovo, a former Navy commander, said in a statement. The Sammy B. took part in the Battle off Samar, the final phase of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, in which the Imperial Japanese Navy suffered its biggest loss of ships and failed to dislodge the U.S. forces from Leyte, which they invaded earlier as part of the liberation of the Philippines. According to some records, the destroyer disabled a Japanese heavy cruiser with a torpedo and significantly damaged another. After having spent virtually all its ammunition, she was critically hit by the lead battleship Yamato and sank. Of a 224-man crew, 89 died and 120 were saved, including the captain, Lt. Cmdr. Robert W. Copeland. According to Samuel J. Cox, a retired admiral and naval historian, Copeland stated there was “no higher honor” then to have led the men who displayed such incredible courage going into battle against overwhelming odds, from which survival could not be expected. Read:European star survey reveals celestial treasure trove “This site is a hallowed war grave, and serves to remind all Americans of the great cost born by previous generations for the freedom we take for granted today,” Cox said in a statement. The explorers said that up until the discovery, the historical records of where the wreck lay were not very accurate. The search involved the use of the deepest side-scan sonar ever installed and operated on a submersible, well beyond the standard commercial limitations of 6,000 meters (19,685 feet), EYOS said.

Newly found natural gas from Kailastila field has started flowing into the national grid boosting the country’s overall supply of the fuel, officials said on Monday. “The newly discovered gas started coming to the national grid from Monday”, said Nazmul Ahsan, chairman of the state-owned Petrobangla. “We hope the gas will regularly be supplied to the national gas network from Tuesday through a permanent transmission line”, he told UNB.        Sylhet Gas Field Limited (SGFL), a subsidiary of Petrobangla discovered the new gas on May 2 at the Koilashtila field from an abandoned well through a work-over process. The well will regularly supply about 20 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD), said the officials. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid made the announcement of the discovery through his Facebook status on 2 May. The ministry also in a press release confirmed the discovery saying that it will be possible to supply between 17-19 MMCFD gas to the national grid from May 10. A discovery of about 17-19 MMCFD gas and 187 barrels of condensates has been confirmed through a work-over process by logging, perfection and testing in the lower gas sand zone of the Koilashtila gas field. It is expected that the current zone of the gas field will continue  production for next several years, the ministry said adding, the remaining recoverable gas reserves in the Koilashtila field is 758 billion cubic feet (BCF) which could be gradually produced through different wells. READ: Gas supply resumes in Dhaka, adjoining areas So far, seven wells have been drilled in the Koilashtila gas field of which 2 are now producing about 29 MMCFD gas. Energy industry insiders said the new, but small, discovery will give a minimum relief to the government when the country has been experiencing a huge gas shortage of more than 600 MMCFD. The country’s total supply now stands at 2950 MMCFD against a demand for over 3600 MMCFD. Of this, the country’s 27 gas fields can supply 2200 MMCFD while remaining 750 MMCFD is met by imported liquefied natural gas (LNG). The recent Russia-Ukraine war made the global import market volatile pushing up the gas price to over $37 per MMBtu from below $10.    As a result, the government has to spend a huge amount of foreign currency to import the natural gas, said the gas industry sources.

Chinese archeologists in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality have unearthed more than 900 pieces of cultural relics in a local stone Buddhist temple.