26 killed in coal mine fire A coal mine fire killed 26 workers and injured 50 others in Northeast China’s Liaoning Province on November 26.

    The fire occurred at 2:35 a.m. in a coal mine under Hengda Coal, a subsidiary* of Fuxin Coal, a major producer in the province.

    Fuxin Coal said the rescue is over and all the injured workers have been hospitalized.

    Putin’s tiger kills 15 goats

    A rare Siberian tiger* released into the wild by Russian President Vladimir Putin is putting farmers in northeastern China on edge.

    Xinhua News Agency said on November 26 that the animal, named Ustin, killed 15 goats and left another three missing on a farm in Heilongjiang Province’s Fuyuan County.

    Xinhua said that the farm’s owner, Guo Yulin, was stressed about the tiger, but that he would be compensated by the local forestry department for the loss of the 18 goats.

    Thangka sets auction record

    A Chinese tycoon’s purchase of a Ming Dynasty thangka* for HK$348.4 million (US$45 million) set a new record for a Chinese artwork sold at international auction.

    Shanghai billionaire Liu Yiqian brought home the Tibetan tapestry* from a Christie’s auction in Hong Kong on November 26. The price was 10 times what it sold for a little over a decade ago and broke the auction record for a Chinese work of art he set in April.

    KMT administrator resigns

    Taiwan chief administrator Jiang Yi-huah announced his resignation after the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party suffered a defeat in local elections held on November 29.

    Jiang announced the decision at a press conference on November 29 and it was approved by Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou.

    Jiang said the voting results showed the public’s discontent with the government’s administration and he decided to take political responsibility, hoping Ma would appoint a new chief administrator as soon as possible to face up* to challenges.

    (SD-Agencies)