Avalanche at exit of Tibet highway tunnel kills at least 8
Beijing (AP): An avalanche trapped vehicles outside a highway tunnel in Tibet, and at least eight people have died.
The falling snow and ice collapsed at the exit of the tunnel connecting the city of Nyingchi in Tibet's southwest with outlying Medog county on Tuesday evening.
Authorities reported Wednesday night the search and rescue mission was ongoing, although it wasn't clear how many people remained missing.
A total of 131 rescuers and 28 emergency vehicles were sent to the site, with the central government's Ministry of Emergency Management sending a team to assist.
Nyingchi lies at an elevation of about 3,040 metres (9,974 feet), about five hours' drive from the regional capital Lhasa along a highway opened in 2018. Nighttime temperatures during winter routinely drop well below the freezing point.
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Nepal joins Singapore and Hong Kong in banning sale of Everest and MDH spices over safety concerns
Kathmandu: Nepal has recently taken steps to ban the consumption and sale of spices produced by Everest and MDH, following similar actions by Singapore and Hong Kong. The move comes amidst concerns over the presence of harmful chemicals in these products, particularly ethylene oxide, a known cancer-causing pesticide.
According to reports from ANI, Nepal's Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has initiated testing on spices from these two Indian brands for ethylene oxide. Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson for Nepal's food technology department, confirmed the ban, stating that it extends to both import and sale of the affected spices.
Maharjan highlighted that testing is currently ongoing, and the ban will remain in effect until conclusive results are obtained. This development reflects a growing international scrutiny on the safety of MDH and Everest spices, with concerns also raised in New Zealand, the United States, and Australia.
In New Zealand, where ethylene oxide usage for food sterilization has been phased out, authorities are investigating the presence of this chemical in MDH and Everest spices. Meanwhile, in April, the Hong Kong food safety body banned four spice products from these brands, followed by Singapore's recall of Everest's Fish Curry Masala due to excessive levels of ethylene oxide.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has responded by ordering quality checks on products from MDH and Everest. Additionally, it has reached out to food safety regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore for further information.
MDH and Everest spices have long been household names in India and are exported to various countries, including those in the Middle East.
