Al-Qaida front group in Iraq claims it’s behind triple suicide bombing at Baghdad embassies

Iraq al-Qaida group says it’s behind embassy hits

BAGHDAD – Al-Qaida’s umbrella group in Iraq claimed responsibility Friday for a triple suicide bombing outside foreign embassies in Baghdad, which killed more than 40 people.
The group, known as the Islamic State of Iraq, posted a statement on a Web site that carries al-Qaida and other militant declarations.
The … Read more >>.

Crews cling to hope, trek underground to search for mine survivors, find answers for families

Search on again for WV coal mine blast survivors
MONTCOAL, W.Va. – Rescue workers clinging to the slimmest of hope pushed deep into a shattered coal mine early Friday, trying to get far enough to finally resolve whether four miners somehow survived an explosion that killed 25.
Search teams had gotten frustratingly close a …. Original source  : Crews cling to hope, trek underground to search for mine survivors, find answers for families.

As funerals for fallen W.Va. miners begin, busy floral designers help in the healing

Florists toil in own way to honor fallen miners

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Hours after closing time, the phone is still ringing and bits of ribbon, flower stems and sheared-off thorns are dropping to the floor in a steady shower. The sweet scents of thousands of flowers – lilies, roses, snapdragons and more – mingle with the [..] Read the original article: here.

Promises not kept: Mine-safety rules probably did little to help victims of latest disaster

Promises not kept: Mine safety fixes fall short

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Coal companies spent more than $1 billion on new safety measures after a 2006 mine explosion killed a dozen workers, but the equipment did nothing to save the lives of at least 25 more men under similar circumstances this week.
The problem is that the safety … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Promises not kept: Mine-safety rules probably did little to help victims of latest disaster.

Amnesty International report: US is guilty of Katrina-related human rights abuses

Amnesty: US guilty of Katrina-related abuses

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. government and Gulf Coast states have consistently violated the human rights of hurricane victims since Hurricane Katrina killed about 1,800 people and caused widespread devastation after striking in August 2005, Amnesty International said Friday.
The report, entitled “Un-Natural Disaster,” said the treatment of hurricane victims and … Original source on Gaea Times at : Amnesty International report: US is guilty of Katrina-related human rights abuses.

Coal Miners In West Virginia Still Missing

WEST VIRGINIA (GaeaTimes.com)- It has been reported that the four coal miners who had been left trapped in the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia has not yet been rescued. The rescue party is having a hard time in carrying out the task as the mine is filled with the deadly combination of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Coal Miners In West Virginia Still Missing.

NATO says Osprey aircraft crashed in southeastern Afghanistan; 4 killed, others injured

NATO aircraft crashes in Afghanistan, killing 4

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – A U.S. Air Force tilt-rotor aircraft crashed in southeastern Afghanistan, killing three service members and one government contractor, NATO said Friday.
Other personnel aboard were injured and were taken to a military base for treatment, NATO said.
The CV-22 Osprey went down about 7 miles (11 kilometers) from … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : NATO says Osprey aircraft crashed in southeastern Afghanistan; 4 killed, others injured.

Pakistan’s security forces killed 15 militants in fresh gunfight in Orakzai agency; fight displaces 46000 people from the area

BY GAEA TIMES CORRESPONDENT
ISLAMABAD: Security forces of Pakistan kave captured four and killed as many as 15 militants in a gunfight after an attack on a checkpoint situated in Orakzai Agency of pakistan—-a tribal area.

This time clashes were reported between the security forces and the militants in Bezot Khel village of Orakzai Agency. This is …. Source  : Pakistan’s security forces killed 15 militants in fresh gunfight in Orakzai agency; fight displaces 46000 people from the area.

Rescuers again search W.Va. mine for possible blast survivors; nitrogen flushes toxic gases

Rescue crews back in WV mine to look for survivors
MONTCOAL, W.Va. – Searchers desperately hoping to find up to four survivors of a mine blast that killed 25 went back underground early Friday, while workers above pumped nitrogen into the earth to flush out dangerous gases that have kept rescuers at …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Rescuers again search W.Va. mine for possible blast survivors; nitrogen flushes toxic gases.

Salvage crews transfer oil from ship stuck on Great Barrier Reef; operation to take days

Crews begin moving oil from ship stuck on reef

BRISBANE, Australia – Salvage crews at a damaged coal carrier stuck on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef began pumping fuel oil Friday from the stricken vessel onto another barge to carry it away and prevent it from leaking onto the delicate reef.
Patrick Quirk, general manager of Maritime Safety …. Read the original article  : Salvage crews transfer oil from ship stuck on Great Barrier Reef; operation to take days.

Gov. spokesman: Rescue crews again making way into W.Va. mine to try to find blast survivors

Rescue crews back in mine to look for survivors
MONTCOAL, W.Va. – A spokesman for West Virginia’s governor says rescue teams have headed back into a West Virginia mine to look for four miners missing since an explosion killed 25 workers.
Officials say they will also pump nitrogren in to flush dangerous gases out.
Gov. Joe … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Gov. spokesman: Rescue crews again making way into W.Va. mine to try to find blast survivors.

Crews get ready to go back into WV mine in desperate rescue bid; nitrogen to stabilize air

Crews prepare desperate rescue effort at WV mine
MONTCOAL, W.Va. – Crews prepared early Friday to pump nitrogen into a coal mine where an explosion killed 25 in a bid to flush dangerous gases out and allow anxious rescuers to reach up to four survivors.
Safety officials conceded that any hope of finding workers alive … Read more >>.

Nitrogen to be pumped into W.Va. coal mine to make atmosphere safe for rescue crews to search

Nitrogen to be used to make W.Va. mine air safe
MONTCOAL, W.Va. – Officials say they will pump nitrogren into a coal mine where an explosion killed 25 in a bid to flush dangerous gases out and allow rescuers to reach up to four survivors.
Federal coal safety administrator Kevin Stricklin says ventilating the noxious …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

NATO forces in Afghanistan say helicopter downed in southeastern province

NATO helicopter downed in southeastern Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – A helicopter belonging to international forces in Afghanistan went down in the country’s southeast, NATO reported Friday. A spokesman for the Taliban said its fighters had shot it down, but an Afghan official said it appeared to have crashed due to mechanical failure, causing four deaths.
A NATO … Original source on Gaea Times at : NATO forces in Afghanistan say helicopter downed in southeastern province.

More air testing needed before rescue teams can re-enter coal mine to search for missing

Rescue crews waiting to re-enter mine; air unsafe
MONTCOAL, W.Va. – Anxious search crews prepared late Thursday to pump nitrogen into a coal mine where an explosion killed 25, a last-ditch bid to flush dangerous gases out and allow rescuers to reach up to four survivors.
Safety officials conceded late Thursday that any … Original source on Gaea Times at : More air testing needed before rescue teams can re-enter coal mine to search for missing.

Toxic gas levels in W.Va. mine drop; rescuers hope to get inside soon to look for survivors

Conditions improving for W.Va. mine rescue effort
MONTCOAL, W.Va. – Searchers who came within 500 feet of a rescue chamber where possible survivors of a deadly mine explosion may have taken refuge hoped for another chance Thursday night if levels of noxious gas continue to drop.
Teams spent more than …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Toxic gas levels in W.Va. mine drop; rescuers hope to get inside soon to look for survivors.

Gov. Joe Manchin: conditions improving in W.Va. mine, rescuers not yet ready to re-enter

Conditions improve for W.Va. mine rescue attempt
MONTCOAL, W.Va. – Gov. Joe Manchin is saying that conditions are improving in a West Virginia mine, but rescue crews are not yet ready to re-enter to look for four miners because gases are still too dangerous.
Manchin said the crews may be able to enter the mine …. Original source  : Gov. Joe Manchin: conditions improving in W.Va. mine, rescuers not yet ready to re-enter.

1 survivor of West Virginia mine explosion that killed 25 released from hospital

1 survivor of W.Va. mine explosion out of hospital

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A miner who survived an explosion that killed at least 25 people at a West Virginia coal mine has been released from the hospital.
Cathy Boyd, a nursing supervisor at Raleigh General Hospital, said Thursday that the miner had been released but his family has …. Source article  : 1 survivor of West Virginia mine explosion that killed 25 released from hospital.

PROMISES, PROMISES: New rules for mine safety missed the mark

PROMISES, PROMISES: Mine safety fixes fall short

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After a 2006 West Virginia mine explosion killed a dozen miners, coal companies spent more than $1 billion on new safety measures that did nothing to save the lives of at least 25 more men under similar circumstances this week.
The problem is that the safety reforms …. Read the original article  : PROMISES, PROMISES: New rules for mine safety missed the mark.

Deadly West Virginia mining explosion figures to be drag on Massey’s profit, expansion plans

Mine explosion dampens Massey’s growth plans

Massey Energy could see where the demand for coal was coming from. So, it made a $1 billion bet that it could cash in on the burgeoning economies of Asia.
Now, the deadly explosion at one of its mines in West Virginia could hamper its expansion plans, be a drag on … Read : Deadly West Virginia mining explosion figures to be drag on Massey’s profit, expansion plans.