18 killed in China coal mine accident

A coal mine accident that happened on Sunday in central China’s Hunan Province has killed 18 people, local authorities said Monday morning.

A gas leaking occurred at the Jilinqiao colliery in Huangfengqiao Township, Youxian County, around 11 a.m. Sunday, when a total of 55 workers were working in the mining shaft.

Rescuers have brought 37 miners to safety and sent them for hospital treatment.

Investigators are still testing substances in the poisonous gas. Police have detained those responsible for accident pending investigation.



HR/VP Federica Mogherini on the release of girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Nigeria

After many years far from their families, over 80 girls kidnapped by Boko Harm have been finally released in Nigeria.

This news is a glimmer of hope that one day all the kidnapped girls will once again return home, live freely and have a peaceful future.

Our thoughts are with them as they have the chance to rebuild their lives and also with those that remain captive. 

All must be done to ensure that those responsible of their ordeal are brought to justice.

The EU continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with Nigeria in its fight against terrorism and in its tireless work to free the girls.

The EU also continues to be fully committed to supporting humanitarian, development and reconstruction work in Nigeria. 



‘Family planning’ for Siberian tigers in China

A breeder checks two Siberian tiger cubs in the Hengdaohezi Feline Breeding Center in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, April 24, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese researchers are using artificial breeding to control the population of captive-bred Siberian Tigers and improve their genetic quality.

There are about 1,000 Siberian tigers at China Hengdaohezi Feline Breeding Center, the world’s largest breeding center for tigers in captivity. Researchers control the number of newborn cubs to about 100 every year.

“Not all adult Siberian tigers are fit for reproducing. If we do not control reproduction, the quality of the offspring will be affected,” said Liu Dan, chief engineer at the Siberian Tiger Park.

Researchers conduct DNA tests to select parents and to prevent inbreeding, he said.

Most Siberian tigers have more than one cub at a time. It is common for a mother tiger to give birth to three cubs at once, Liu said.

The oldest mother at the center is 15 years old. Some tigers can reproduce from the age of four until age 14, he said.

Researchers have also given the animals wildlife training.

“Wildlife training is an important way to maintain their quality. I hope one day we can release these captive-bred animals to the wild,” he said.



Jeremy Hunt has admitted what patients know: Tory failure on the NHS is “not acceptable” – Ashworth

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to Jeremy Hunt’s interview on Marr, said:

“We’ve
now had an admission of failure straight from the horse’s mouth: the Tory-made
A&E crisis is simply “not acceptable.”

“Jeremy
Hunt this morning was forced to admit to the British public that the 4-hour
A&E target has not been hit in over two years. This shameful statistic is
symptomatic of the crisis that the Tories have left our NHS in. Britain cannot
afford another five years of Tory failure.

“Only
Labour will give the NHS the resources it needs to deliver the service patients
deserve.”

Ends



$2.3 billion jobs and infrastructure boost for Western Australia

The Turnbull and McGowan Governments have reached agreement on a substantial $2.3 billion road and rail infrastructure package for Western Australia which will be included in the federal Budget on Tuesday.

The significant agreement will provide a major boost to WA’s local economy, with 6,000 jobs expected to be created as a result of the 17 new projects.

The package includes a $1.6 billion investment from the federal government and $745 million from the state government.

The total $2.3 billion State-Federal package includes:

  • $1.86 billion reallocated from the Perth Freight Link project (including $1.2 billion in federal funding);
  • $211 million from savings on existing road projects; (including $166 million in federal funding)
  • $226 million from the latest federal government GST top-up payment for Western Australia

The WA Infrastructure Package includes the following road projects:

  • Armadale Road/North Lake Road (Kwinana Freeway) – Constructing bridge and collector roads (Project Costs: $237 million)
  • Leach Highway (Carrington Street to Stirling Highway) – Upgrade to High Street (Project Costs: $118 million)
  • Fiona Stanley Hospital & Murdoch Activity Centre Access from Kwinana Fwy & Roe Hwy – (Project Costs: $100 million)
  • Roe Highway (Kalamunda Road) – Constructing Grade Separated Intersection (Project Costs: $86 million)
  • Reid Highway (Altone Road to West Swan Road ) – Constructing Dual Carriageway (Project Costs: $70 million)
  • Wanneroo Road (Ocean Reef Road) – Constructing Grade Separated Intersection (Project Costs: $65 million)
  • Wanneroo Road (Joondalup Drive) – Constructing Grade Separated Intersection (Project Costs: $50 million)
  • Kwinana Freeway (Russell Road to Roe Highway) – Widening of Northbound Lanes (Project Costs: $49 million)
  • Kwinana Freeway (Roe Highway to Narrows Bridge) – Implementing Smart Freeways (Project Costs: $47 million)
  • Mitchell Freeway (Cedric Street to Vincent St) – Widening of Southbound Lanes (Project Costs: $40 million)
  • Kwinana Freeway (Manning Road) – Constructing Freeway On-Ramp (Project Costs: $35 million)
  • Outback Highway Seal Priority Sections (Project Costs: $33 million)
  • Wanneroo Road (Joondalup Drive to Flynn Drive) – Constructing Dual Carriageway (Project Costs: $31 million)
  • Karel Avenue (Farrington Road to Berrigan Drive) – Upgrades (Project Costs: $15 million)
  • Bunbury Outer Ring Road – Planning Work (Project Costs: $12.5 million)
  • Woolworths Drive/Hale Road Intersection Upgrade (Project Costs: $600,000)
  • METRONET – Denny Avenue and Davis Road (Armadale Rail Line) Level Crossing Removal (Project costs: $62 million)

In addition, a combined $1.2 billion will be allocated towards the State Government’s METRONET project, including, subject to positive business cases $700 million from the federal government towards future METRONET projects like the Thornlie and Yanchep line extensions and a further $86 million towards other METRONET related projects.

As part of the overall package, the Australian Government will also provide $44.2 million towards regional road projects to improve regional road safety across Western Australia.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that both governments had worked together to deliver the best possible outcome for Western Australia and will continue to do so.

“We recognise the priorities of the new WA State Government and will work with them to deliver high quality outcomes for Western Australia,” Mr Turnbull said.

“In particular, the State Government’s METRONET initiative fits in well with my Government’s Smart Cities agenda, and we will continue to work with the Premier and his team to help make it happen,” he said.

Premier Mark McGowan said the substantial package will help ease congestion, improve road safety and generally improve connectivity across Perth and Western Australia.

“This package will deliver a significant jobs boost across Western Australia.” Mr McGowan said.

“We’re getting on with the job and delivering on our promises to the people of Western Australia, delivering new job creating and congestion busting projects.”

There will also be other opportunities for Western Australia to access federal funding towards vital productivity enhancing and congestion busting infrastructure.