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38 miners killed in Russian mine explosion At least 38 miners are dead after methane exploded in a coal mine in Russia. At least 180 people have made it out of the mine, and at least 7 of those have been seriously injured. Reports say body of missing US soldier found in Iraq Reports say that a body of a United States soldier has been found in the Euphrates River in Iraq and that it is the body of one of three U.S. soldiers who were believed to be taken captive by Iraqi insurgents on May 12.

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Exclusive video interview with New Zealand Opposition leader, John Key John Key, New Zealand's Leader of the Opposition, and leader of the National Party, posted a video response after being sent questions by Wikinews. Key discusses how and why he participates in video blogging, and shares the details of his video blogging activities and future plans to make use of so-called 'new media'.

Wikipedia Current Events
The United States House of Representatives approves a $US100 billion bill to fund the US war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan without a timetable from the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Israeli soldiers arrest 33 Hamas figures in Nablus, West Bank, including one cabinet member, Palestinian Education Minister Naser al-Shaer. Palestinians fire eight Qassam rockets from the Gaza Strip towards the western Negev. The IAF makes two air strikes in the Gaza Strip, destroying housing used by the Hamas Executive Force and another post in Deir al-Balah. At least 28 Siberian miners are killed and dozens more trapped after a methane explosion in the Yubileinaya coal mine in the Kemerovo Oblast in Russia. Voting is underway in the Republic of Ireland for a general election after a closely fought campaign.

38 miners killed in Russian mine explosion
At least 38 miners are dead after methane exploded in an underground coal mine in Russia. 180 people made it out of the mine, and at least 7 of those were seriously injured. At least 217 miners were inside when the explosion occurred.

"Up to 45 people could have been at the epicenter of the blast. One hundred and eighty people have been brought out. Of these, five have life-threatening injuries. The fate of the other [trapped] miners is unknown. According to the (mining) company’s information, there were 194 workers and 23 engineering inspectors underground [when the mine exploded]," said a spokesman for Russia's Emergency Ministry.

The explosion occurred at the Yubileynaya Mine located in Novokuznetsk, Russia in the Kemerovo Oblast at approximately 7:40 a.m. local time on Thursday [11:40 p.m. eastern time on Wednesday]. Yuzhkuzbassugol currently owns the mining facility.

The mine has already received several violations, and according to Russia's industrial safety agency the mine would likely lose its license to operate. "Such a decision could be taken after an inquiry into all the circumstances of the accident at the Yubileinaya mine. Particularly since we have already found violations at Yuzhkuzbassugol mines."

California Senator Carole Migden says medication may have caused car crash
California Senator Carole Migden has revealed that she is suffering from leukemia and that medication prescribed to her may have contributed to a car accident she caused on May 22. Earlier Migden said that she was driving her state-leased SUV while reaching for her cell phone.

The announcement comes when witnesses called police to say that Migden was weaving along Highway 12 in Solano County, California. They also reported that she drove over the center median on several occasions and that after the accident she got out of her car and proceeded to yell, "I'm a senator!." Witnesses say that she "didn't seem all there at the time."

According to Migden, doctors diagnosed her with leukemia in 1997, but did not reveal to the public her disease because she did not want "pity" from anyone. Migden also says that back in February, she was pronounced as "disease free."

Migden says that she had an unexplained medical event and that her medication claim is not an excuse for her driving.

"I owe an explanation to the public and myself and, in particular, the person I hurt. I don't have a recollection of what happened. I can only conclude I had a medical event I can't explain. It's not an excuse; it may be an explanation," said Migden.

Authorities have stated that they recommended charges of "unsafe driving" be filed against Migden, but that the incident still be investigated.

Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam resume fighting
Days after Palestinian refugees fled the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, fighting resumed between the Lebanese Army and the terrorist group, Fatah al-Islam. The fighting, ongoing since Sunday, has so far claimed 69 lives. Elias Murr, the Lebanese defense minister, told Al Arabiyya as quoted: “The army will not negotiate with a group of terrorists and criminals. Their fate is arrest, and if they resist the army, death. There are two choices: The first one, which we prefer, is that they surrender ... the other, which we don't like ... is military action”

Earlier today in Beirut, the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, addressed the nation over the current battle in Nahr al-Bared; televised at the Grand Serail. Fouad Siniora issued an ultimatum against Fatah al-Islam, saying that Lebanon would not give in to terrorism. “We will put an end to the terrorist phenomenon without hesitation”

Fouad Siniora went on by describing Fatah al Islam as "attempting to ride on the suffering and the struggle of the Palestinian people." He went on to address the Palestinian refugees within the country: “You are our brothers. We share with you the bad times before the good ones”

However, Fatah al-Islam fired back on Fouad Siniora's ultimatum, saying that more bombing would take place unless the Lebanese Army backs down. On Wednesday evening, a bomb exploded in a north-eastern Druze district of Aley. Five people were wounded according to a senior security official.

Protesters demonstrate at US Coast Guard Academy
On the occasion of President Bush's commencement speech at the United States Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday, hundreds of protesters gathered in New London, Connecticut.

The peaceful demonstration lasted from approximately 7:00 a.m. to noon. Most protesters, such as the large contingent from the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, were there to push for an immediate end to the Iraq War. Others, including a number of robed professors from nearby universities, carried signs focused on the Bush Administration's surveillance programs and science and environmental policies.

Across the street from the main group, a smaller number of counter-protesters voiced support for the war and denounced the protesters' for what they considered lack of support for the troops.

Throughout the demonstrations at the corners of Mohegan Avenue and Williams Street, protesters and counter-protesters yelled at each other, separated by police and K-9 units. The protesters had a roster of speakers and a central loudspeaker system, while several counter-protesters had hand-held loudspeakers and bullhorns.

The crowd caught a brief glimpse of President Bush's motorcade just before 11:00 a.m., but was otherwise well outside the range of the college's graduation activities. Several television vans were on site and numerous reporters covered the demonstrations.

Daughter of U.S. vice president, Mary Cheney, has baby boy
Mary Cheney, the openly lesbian daughter of United States Vice President Dick Cheney, has a given birth to a son, named Samuel David Cheney. The baby was born weighing 8 lbs and 6 ounces (3.9 Kg).

Cheney intends to raise the child with her partner, Heather Poe.

Samuel David is the sixth grandchild of the Vice President. The grandparents, Dick and wife, Lynne, posed for pictures with the newborn within hours of Samuel David's arrival.

In February, while pregnant, Mary said: "This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child."

NHL: Schedule set for playoff finals
The Anaheim Ducks closed out their series with a win over the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday night, taking the Western Conference finals in six games. The Ducks will meet the Ottawa Senators in the Stanley Cup finals. The schedule for the series was released by the league on Wednesday.

The Senators will visit the Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California for Game 1 on Monday, May 28 with an 8:00 p.m. EDST (00:00 UTC) start time.

The upcoming series between the Ducks and Senators cannot be compared to any recent history between the two teams. They didn't meet at all during this year's regular season and met only once since the 2004-2005 lock-out and twice since 2002-2003.

When asked for his thoughts on the Ducks, Senators Captain Daniel Alfredsson didn't have much experience to go on. "I haven't seen them much," said Alfredsson. "I've seen them here and there in the playoffs. I think it will be the most physical series we've played in the playoffs so far. They're a bigger team and they've got some skill guys as well."

When asked for an opinion on the Senators, two of the Ducks players weren't much more expressive. "I haven't thought a second about them," said Ryan Getzlaf of the Ducks. "I haven't been watching their games," suggested Teemu Selanne, right-winger for the Ducks.

The Ducks win over the Red Wings indirectly provided some good fortune to the Edmonton Oilers hockey club. Due to a clause in the trade contract that saw the Oilers send Chris Pronger to the Ducks last year, the Oilers were to receive the Ducks first-round draft pick in 2008, if the Ducks made it into the finals.

All games in the finals will have a 8:00 p.m. start time.

Today in History
1521 - Martin Luther was declared an outlaw and a heretic by the Diet of Worms.

1810 - May Revolution: The Primera Junta, the first independent government in Argentina, was established in Buenos Aires.

1946 - Abdullah bin Husayn, Emir of the Emirate of Transjordan, was proclaimed King of the renamed "Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan".

1961 - Project Apollo, with the goal of "landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth before the decade is out" was announced.

1966 - The first prominent DaZiBao during the Cultural Revolution in China was posted at Peking University.

May 25 is Independence Day in Jordan (1946); Towel Day; African Liberation Day in various African countries.

Quote of the Day

Is pain a promise? I was schooled in pain,

And found out what I could of all desire;

I weep for what I'm like when I'm alone

In the deep center of the voice and fire.

I know the motion of the deepest stone.

Each one's himself, yet each one's everyone.

~ Theodore Roethke ~

Word of the Day

soliloquy; n

(drama) The act of a character speaking to himself so as to reveal his thoughts to the audience.

A literary discourse written as a conversation of the author with himself.

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