16 die in coal mine accident
Beijing: Sixteen people trapped in a coal mine in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality on Sunday were killed due to the presence of excessive levels of carbon monoxide, official media reported. The incident happened when the burning belts in the mine caused the carbon monoxide to exceed safety limit, trapping 17 people inside, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. A 75-member rescue team has entered the mine and 30 medical workers have rushed to the scene, it said. One person who survived the accident was rushed to the hospital, CGTN TV reported. The excessive levels of carbon monoxide were detected in the mine at around 12:30 am. The accident occurred at the Songzao coal mine in Qijiang district. (PTI)
26 B’deshi cops face termination
Dhaka: Twenty-six Bangladeshi policemen are undergoing termination proceedings for failing a surprise drug test, according to media reports. The erring officials include a traffic sergeant, four sub-inspectors, three assistant sub-inspectors, a ‘nayek’, and 17 constables — all members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the Dhaka Tribune reported. The DMP is conducting surprise dope tests on law enforcement officials as part of a wider crackdown on drug peddling. Over 100 policemen have been tested so far, the report added. Most of the erring officials were found using yaba pills (amphetamine) and marijuana. DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam told the newspaper that the termination proceedings will end soon. A departmental case has been filed against them and they will be dismissed after the legal process is duly followed. (PTI)
France vows to protect its Jewish
Paris: France’s interior minister promised Sunday to protect France’s Jewish community from extremists after a double stabbing in Paris blamed on Islamic terrorism. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin visited a synagogue Sunday ahead of the evening start of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, and said more than 7,000 police and soldiers are protecting Jewish services this weekend. France has Europe’s largest Jewish community. I came to assure … members of France’s Jewish community of the protection of the state, Darmanin told reporters. Because we know that Jews are particularly targeted by Islamist attacks and we should obviously protect them. Darmanin defended authorities’ handling of a double stabbing Friday outside the former offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, saying intelligence services have prevented 32 potential terrorist attacks over the past three years. (PTI)