UK, France, Germany raise alarm about Chinese activities off eastern Taiwan

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By Reuters and Posted by TOE Britain, France and Germany raised the alarm on Wednesday over recent Chinese activities off the ‌east coast of Taiwan, where China has mounted coast guard ‌patrols, saying they threaten regional stability and freedom of navigation. China, which views democratically ​governed Taiwan as its own territory, earlier in June sent coast guard ships into the waters off the island’s east coast for what it called a “special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation”, angering Taipei. China said the ‌operation was in response ⁠to Japan and the Philippines, saying they would begin formal talks on their maritime boundaries, which Beijing viewed ⁠as involving Chinese waters off Taiwan. China has also been sending maritime survey ships into the same waters. “We have noted with concern novel ​Chinese activity ​in the waters east of Taiwan,” ​the de facto British, ‌French and German embassies in Taipei said in a rare joint...
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At least 37 die from gas inhalation at Nigeria mining site

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By Ahmed Kingimi Reuters

At least 37 miners died of carbon monoxide poisoning at a mining site in Nigeria’s Plateau state, a police source and a security report seen by Reuters said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at about 5:45 a.m. in a mining pit in Kampani, a community in the Wase area, according to the report. Another 25 miners were taken to hospital.

Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the area was an abandoned lead site with stored minerals prone to releasing toxic gases. Villagers, unaware of the toxic nature of the emissions, reportedly entered the tunnel to extract minerals and inhaled the gas, he said.

Alake ordered the closure of mining areas covered by licence 11810, operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited and owned by Abdullahi Dan‑China in Zuraq, following the deaths of villagers allegedly mining in a pit containing dangerous gas emissions.

Preliminary findings showed the victims, aged 20 to 35, died after inhaling the gas while working underground, the security report said.

The Plateau state government said many were feared dead without providing a figure, adding that others were receiving treatment in nearby hospitals.

Security forces have cordoned off the site to prevent further access.

Most mines in Nigeria operate illegally, with limited safety measures and miners often lacking protective equipment.

The federal government has ordered the immediate shutdown of all mining activities in the affected area pending further investigation.



from The Times Of Earth https://ift.tt/nihQ3Ms

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