All trapped 29 Kiwi miners killed in blast
A massive explosion deep inside a New Zealand coal mine today erased hopes of rescuing 29 miners caught underground by a similar blast five days ago. The prime minister declared it a national tragedy.
By The Associated Press | AP, Greymouth
UPDATED ON NOV 25, 2010 02:55 AM IST
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
Reuters, Zurich
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 02:56 PM IST
- 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
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 02:48 PM IST
Two people were killed during clashes at a protest in the country's second-biggest city Mandalay, a witness and media reports said, and one person was killed when police opened fire in the main city of Yangon, a witness there said.
Beijing refutes allegations of sexual abuse made by Uyghur women: Report
ANI, Beijing
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 02:44 PM IST
In January, the Chinese Embassy's Twitter account was suspended for a tweet saying Uyghur women were "baby-making machines" before Beijing set up its camp system
EU months away from issuing vaccine passports for travel, memo shows
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 02:39 PM IST
The system being developed by the European Commission would confirm holders have recently tested negative, been fully vaccinated, or recovered from the coronavirus and are thus presumed to be immune.
Myanmar military coup has no authority to revoke authority of President: Kyaw
AFP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 02:36 PM IST
On Tuesday, Myanmar's foreign ministry sent a note verbale to the UN, also obtained by AFP, claiming Kyaw Moe Tun had been removed.
Microsoft says China-linked group targets exchange email
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 02:29 PM IST
The hackers responsible are “a group assessed to be state-sponsored and operating out of China,” according to the Microsoft blog.
Tibetan govt in-exile requests Dalai Lama's Covid-19 vaccination
ANI
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 02:22 PM IST
According to Palden, the Health Secretary of the CTA, requests have been made to both the central and Himachal Pradesh government to get the 85-year-old spiritual leader and the staff around him vaccinated.
Pakistan to enact legislation to fully implement FATF action plan: Report
By HT Correspondent | Edited by Smriti Sinha
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 02:18 PM IST
During the meeting of Pakistan’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on anti-money laundering chaired by Shaikh on Monday, it was decided that additional legislation will have to be enacted on at least two counts to implement FATF’s action plan by June, the Dawn newspaper reported
Biden’s Covid-19 mask mandate faces a new challenge. Now from ‘red’ state Texas
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Mallika Soni
UPDATED ON MAR 03, 2021 02:37 PM IST
- 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
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 01:54 PM IST
Police issued a statement late Tuesday confirming the arrest of a 61-year-old man “after in-depth investigation by national security department.”
Australia building world's first platypus sanctuary
Reuters, Sydney
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 01:49 PM IST
- 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
Reuters, Berlin
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 01:45 PM IST
The tally of infections rose by 9,019 to 2,460,030 on Wednesday, an increase of more than 1,000 over last week, while the death toll rose by 418 to 70,881.
South Korea probes deaths of 2 who received AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine
Reuters
UPDATED ON MAR 03, 2021 01:32 PM IST
- 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
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 01:31 PM IST
- 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
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 01:26 PM IST
- 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.