Everest clean-up begins

Beijing: Tibetan mountaineers and a team of volunteers have begun a six-week clean up of Mount Everest, where tonnes of rubbish has been dumped by expeditions, state media said on Monday. The team is scaling the world’s highest peak from the Chinese side and will spend until World Environment Day in June collecting garbage. — AFP

UK prince in Thailand

BANGKOK: Britain’s Prince Andrew arrived in Thailand on Monday to thank the country for helping Britons caught up in the December 26 tsunami disaster. Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, was scheduled to visit the British Council and the British Embassy in Bangkok. — AP

39 coal miners rescued

BEIJING: At least 39 coal miners were rescued on Monday from a flooded mine in China’s northeast, while a search was under way for as many as 30 others, the government said. Some 69 miners were reported trapped when the Tengda Coal Mine in the city of Jiaohe flooded early on Sunday. — AP

Five rebels killed in Aceh

BANDA ACEH: Troops in Aceh region have shot dead five suspected separatist rebels in a clash there, the military said on Monday. The five victims, suspected members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement were killed in Bireuen district on Sunday. — AFP

Six killed in Afghan clash

KANDAHAR: Suspected Taliban attacked a mayor’s office in Afghanistan, sparking a battle with troops in which six people died, police said on Monday. About 60 gunmen attacked the office in Reg district of Kandahar province before noon on Sunday. — AP