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Illegal miners in a "dangerous" stand-off with police in South Africa are committing a crime by staying underground in a disused shaft, according to a government minister in the country.But Senzo Mchunu also insisted the government wanted to save lives and that authorities would work together to end the situation safely. The police minister's remarks seem more conciliatory than those of a cabinet minister who previously said the government would not send help because they were breaking the law.Hundreds of people are believed to be underground after entering the Stilfontein abandoned shaft, which descends vertically for over a mile, in search of leftover gold.Minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni claimed on Wednesday the South African government would "smoke them out" because they...

At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur. Image: Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence - the Jardines de Villafranca - at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday. Image: Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pi...

UN climate talks are "no longer fit for purpose" and should only be hosted by countries who are trying to give up fossil fuels, veterans of the process have said.An open letter to the United Nations, signed by former UN chief Ban Ki-moon, made a dramatic intervention in the 29th COP climate summit, under way in Baku, Azerbaijan. Frustration over petrostate hosts - following last year's summit in UAE - as well as the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists, prohibitive costs, and slow progress have been mounting in recent years.The letter acknowledges the strides COPs have made on ramping up climate policies."But it is now clear that the COP is no longer fit for purpose," the authors said. "Its current structure simply cannot deliver the change at exponential speed and scale, which is essential ...

A Swedish minister's phobia of bananas has led officials to insist rooms are free of the fruit ahead of any meeting or visit, according to reports.The instructions from Gender Equality Minister Paulina Brandberg's staff were seen in leaked emails published by Expressen. The tabloid quoted one of the leaked messages - sent to the Norwegian Judicial Agency ahead of a VIP lunch - as saying that she "has a strong allergy to bananas, so it would be appreciated that there are no bananas in the areas where she will be staying".Read more from Sky News:Scottish health secretary 'sorry' after chauffeur tripsBaby red panda scared to death by fireworksA similar email, reportedly sent to the County Administrative Board, said: "No bananas are allowed on the premises either." Brandberg told Expressen tha...

"Super high-IQ revolutionaries" who are willing to work 80+ hours a week are being urged to join Elon Musk's new cost-cutting department in Donald Trump's incoming US government.The X and Tesla owner will co-lead the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. And in a post on X, the official DOGE account put out a call to arms for people to sign up and help "dismantle government bureaucracy".The post said: "We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE."We don't need more part-time idea generators. "We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting."If that's you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vi...