CHINA: Beijing said yesterday that smart technology will be used to improve safety in coal mines as part of a push by the National Energy Administration to bolster output and stem accidents and collapses.

Smart mine sensors will be used to monitor aspects such as gas build-up and flooding or ventilation levels and will set off an alert if any reach a dangerous level. 

GERMANY: A 102-year-old man, identified only as Josef S, who was convicted last year on more than 3,500 counts of accessory to murder for serving as a guard at a Nazi concentration camp during World War II, has died, German news agency dpa reported on Wednesday.

The man was sentenced to five years in prison last June but remained free pending appeal against the charges.

CONGO: At least 60 bodies were discovered in several villages in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province, authorities said on Wednesday.

Residents from Kashali and Kazaroho villages in Rutshuru territory were killed over several days by rebels from the M23 group, said Isaac Kibira, a deputy to the governor of the Bwito area.

“We are sorry to see how the population is being massacred by M23. More than 60 bodies were found tied up with mosquito nets. Others were tied with bags,” Kibira told local media.

CUBA: The governments of Cuba, Colombia and Mexico formalised the formation of the Latin American and Caribbean Medicines Agency with the signing of the Acapulco Declaration on Wednesday. 

Representatives of the health control and surveillance bodies of the three countries signed the deal in Acapulco and believe other countries in the region will also join.