Briefly

SOUTH AFRICA

11 killed as platinum mine lift plunges

An elevator suddenly dropped about 200 meters while carrying workers to the surface in a platinum mine in South Africa, killing 11 and injuring 75, the mine operator said on Tuesday. It happened on Monday evening at the end of the workers' shift in the northern Rustenburg city. Impala Platinum CEO Nico Muller said it was "the darkest day" in the history of the company. An investigation was underway into the cause, he said, and the mine had suspended all operations on Tuesday.

UNITED STATES

Jimmy Carter to attend Rosalynn's memorial

Former US president Jimmy Carter, who is 99 and in hospice care, is expected to attend a tribute service at a church in Atlanta on Tuesday for his late wife Rosalynn Carter, who died at age 96 on Nov 19, his office said on Monday. Ceremonies were scheduled to take place at Glenn Memorial Church, with grandchildren carrying the coffin and President Joe Biden, along with all living first ladies, expected to attend.

'Authentic' crowned word of the year

"Authentic" is the word of the year, Merriam-Webster announced on Monday, saying users are seeking out its meaning as they try to navigate what is real and fake. The venerable publisher said the trend was driven by people reading and talking about artificial intelligence, celebrity culture, identity and social media. "The rise of AI helped drive interest in the word," Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's editor at large, said. "The line between 'real' and 'fake' has become increasingly blurred."

Agencies - Xinhua