‘Top Story’ Archives
Fukushima Fifty: We expect to die soon
Chernobyl had its heroes too. If you’ve never heard the stories of Anatoly Grishchenko, Alexei Ananenko, and Vladimir Shevchenko, follow the links. They knew what they were in for if they went in, and what everyone else was in for if they didn’t. Immense courage, needless to say. Speaking tearfully through an interpreter by phone, the mother of a 32-year-old worker said: “My son and his colleagues have discussed it at length and they have committed themselves to die if necessary to save the nation. “He told me they have accepted they will all probably die from radiation sickness in the short term or cancer in the long-term.”… She could not confirm if her son or other workers were already suffering from radiation sickness. But she added: “They [...]
Exile for Gadhafi Floated as Western Allies Consider arming Rebels
As reports suggest arrangements are being made to find Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi a new home, international leaders are debating whether to arm rebels who may or may not turn out to be future allies. At the same time, the Pentagon said Tuesday that the cost to U.S. taxpayers for the military operation in Libya so far is $550 million, a price tag that does not take into account the $31 million F-15 that was lost last week or the possibility of arming the rebels. A Pentagon official estimated that U.S. involvement will cost another $40 million for every month. Scenarios for arming rebels -- who could then oust Qaddafi, thereby relieving the U.S. the responsibility of instituting "regime change" -- have been on the table since last week. But U.S. officials stressed Tuesday [...]
NASA Spacecraft sends back first Photo of Mercury from Orbit
The first spacecraft ever to circle Mercury has beamed home the first-ever photo taken of the small rocky planet from orbit, showing a stark landscape peppered with craters. NASA's Messenger spacecraft snapped the new Mercury photo today (March 29) at 5:20 a.m. EDT (0920 GMT). The photo shows the stark gray landscape of southern Mercury, a view that is dominated by a huge impact crater. "This image is the first ever obtained from a spacecraft in orbit about the solar system's innermost planet," Messenger mission scientists explained in a statement. The new Mercury photo shows a region around the south pole of Mercury. A 53-mile (85-kilometer) wide crater called Debussy clearly stands out in the upper right of the image, with bright rays emanating from its [...]
Libyan rebels pledge free and fair elections in 8 point Statement
* Libyan opposition pledges free and fair polls * Leader in London for talks with foreign ministers (Adds further comments from statement) LONDON, March 29 (Reuters) - Libya's rebel interim National Council said on Tuesday it would hold free and fair elections to ensure a transition to democracy if leader Muammar Gaddafi were forced from power. The council, based in the rebel-held eastern city of Benghazi, said it aspired to create a "modern, free and united state" in a statement issued ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers in London to discuss the future of Libya. The eight-point statement said the oil-producing north African nation's economy would be used for the benefit of all Libyans. It also said it would draft a national [...]
US Army apologises over Photographs – Again
The US Army has apologized for any distress caused after new images of US troops posing with the bodies of Afghan civilians were published in a magazine. In a statement, the US Army said the photos in Rolling Stone magazine were disturbing and contrary to its values. Similar photos appeared in German paper Der Spiegel last week. The killings apparently took place early last year. The US Army is in the midst of courts martial of those allegedly involved, one of whom was jailed last week. According to executive editor Eric Bates, Rolling Stone magazine obtained about 150 photos in all, and posted 17 of them on its website. Also posted are two videos allegedly showing US attacks on Afghans. Bates would not say how the magazine obtained the photographs. Responding to [...]