Shanxi mine blast kills 17

Fifteen miners and two rescue workers have been killed in a gas explosion at Fenhemao Coal Mine in Changlianggou township, near Yuanping city, Shanxi province. The mine had already been ordered to suspend operations pending an upgrade in safety, state media reported. Twenty others were rescued in the blast, most of them sustaining injuries. The Hong Kong Standard, citing comments made by a government official, reported that China plans to shut more than 13,000 coal mines by 2010 to boost competitiveness and safety.