Environmental protesters board deep-sea mining ship between Hawaii and Mexico

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Greenpeace activists are engaged in a sit-in protest on a deep-sea mining ship in the Pacific Ocean between Mexico and Hawaii. They say the boat is conducting exploration which will be used to justify destroying marine. Canada-based The Metals Company, whose subsidiary runs the ship, accused the protesters of endangering their crew and breaking international law. The escalating conflict comes as demand for critical minerals found on the seafloor grows, but an increasing number of countries say more research is needed into the environmental impact.

Rescuers are using hand-held drills to free 41 workers trapped in a tunnel

NEW DELHI (AP) — Rescuers in India began digging manually Monday in hopes of reaching 41 construction workers who have been trapped in a collapsed mountain tunnel in the country’s north for over two weeks. Kirti Panwar, a state government spokesperson, said a dozen men were taking turns burrowing into the debris with hand-held drilling tools for what was hoped would be the final stretch. They had dug nearly 3.2 feet and had up to 36 feet to go, he said. Rescuers have also started to create a vertical channel with a newly replaced drilling machine, officials said.

Japan and Vietnam agree to boost ties and start discussing Japanese military aid

TOKYO (AP) — Japan and Vietnam on Monday agreed to strengthen their security and economic ties in the face of China’s growing influence in the region. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong held talks in Tokyo and agreed to broaden their security cooperation, work on defense equipment and technology transfers and start discussing a new Japanese aid program for militaries of like-minded developing countries in the region.

Madagascar’s main opposition candidate files a lawsuit claiming fraud

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — The main opposition candidate in Madagascar said Monday he has filed lawsuits with the country’s highest court seeking to have the results of this month’s national election canceled and incumbent President Andry Rajoelina’s victory declared invalid, claiming fraud. Rajoelina, 49, was announced Saturday as the winner of the Nov. 16 election with 58.95% of the votes, giving him a third term as leader of the Indian Ocean island.