CHINA:Twenty-four people were killed and six injured in a gas explosion at a coal mine in Chinas northeast province of Liaoning early yesterday, Xinhua news agency said.
Rescuers were searching for three other miners who were still trapped in the mine located in Fuxin, Xinhua said, citing local authorities. - (Reuters)
Spain to curtail migrant visas
SPAIN:Spain, facing rapidly rising unemployment, is to stop issuing visas to most migrant workers, the government said yesterday.
No more visas will be granted to low-skilled workers, such as those employed in restaurants and shops, a spokeswoman for the labour and immigration ministry said. - (Reuters)
Turkish ruling party's poll boost
TURKEY:Support for Turkey's ruling AK Party has risen to more than 50 per cent, a month after it escaped being closed for alleged Islamist activities, a poll showed yesterday.
The survey, conducted by Metropoll, showed the party would win 50.9 per cent of votes if parliamentary elections were held now, compared with 41.9 per cent in a poll published in August. - (Reuters)
Tobacco blamed for 2m cancers
US:Tobacco use caused 2.4 million cases of cancer in the United States from 1999 to 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported yesterday.
Lung and bronchial cancer accounted for nearly half the cases, the report found. - (Reuters)
US owners prefer pets to partners
US:More than two thirds of Americans would rather be stranded on a desert island with their pet than with their partner, a poll showed yesterday.
The survey of 1,105 pet owners by Petplan, a provider of health insurance for dogs and cats, also found more than half threw parties for their pets and nearly 70 per cent share their beds with a pet. - (Reuters)
Pirates hijack French yacht
SOMALIA:Somali pirates have hijacked yet another ship and are taking it and a French yacht with two French nationals on board to their remote coastal base, a regional government official said yesterday.
Gunmen from the Horn of Africa nation are currently holding about 10 vessels for ransom at Eyl, a lawless former fishing outpost now used by pirates. - (Reuters)
Commuters set fire to train
ARGENTINA:Furious rail commuters in Argentina set fire to a train at a station in the western suburbs of Buenos Aires yesterday, in anger over delays during the morning rush hour.- (Reuters)