
All trapped 29 Kiwi miners killed in blast
A massive explosion deep inside a New Zealand coal mine Wednesday erased hopes of rescuing 29 miners caught underground by a similar blast five days ago. The prime minister declared it a national tragedy.
Even if any of the missing men had survived the initial explosion on Friday at the Pike River Mine, police said none of the men could have survived the second. Both blasts were believed caused by explosive, toxic gases swirling in the tunnels dug up to 1.5 miles into a mountain that had also prevented rescuers from entering the mine to search for the missing.
Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall said rescue teams were not doing anything that could have set it off, and that conditions inside the mine were such that it could have happened at any time.

Swiss to vote on banning face veils in referendum criticised as Islamophobic
- The billboard is part of a campaign by the far-right Swiss People's Party to ban face coverings in public and which will be voted on in a binding national referendum on Sunday.

Nine killed as Myanmar police opens fire to disperse protests

Beijing refutes allegations of sexual abuse made by Uyghur women: Report

EU months away from issuing vaccine passports for travel, memo shows

Myanmar military coup has no authority to revoke authority of President: Kyaw

Microsoft says China-linked group targets exchange email

Tibetan govt in-exile requests Dalai Lama's Covid-19 vaccination

Pakistan to enact legislation to fully implement FATF action plan: Report

Biden’s Covid-19 mask mandate faces a new challenge. Now from ‘red’ state Texas
- Abbott, a Republican, has faced sustained criticism from his party in America’s biggest red state over the statewide mask mandate.

Hong Kong makes 100th pro-democracy arrest under national security law

Australia building world's first platypus sanctuary
- The Taronga Conservation Society Australia and the New South Wales State government said they would build the specialist facility at a zoo 391 km from Sydney, by 2022, which could house up to 65 platypuses.

Germany's Merkel set to agree to cautious easing of Covid-19 lockdown

South Korea probes deaths of 2 who received AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine
- A 63-year-old nursing home patient with cerebrovascular disease, developed symptoms including high fever, after being given the vaccine four days ago, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Director Jeong Eun-kyeong told a briefing.

Thai activist Chaiamorn, accused of burning king's portrait, arrested
- Chaiamorn is charged under a strict lese majeste law that carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison if found guilty, as well as arson and trespassing on government property.

Sweden's capital Stockholm hit by 100% spike in Covid-19 cases in just 3 weeks
- With the current infection rates, the capital area has seen a “small” increase in the number of people “so seriously ill that they are in need of hospital care,” Johan Bratt, the acting health and medical care director for the Stockholm region, said in a statement on Wednesday.