The U.S. Department of State is today expected to reject Trans Canada's bid to proceed with the Keystone XL oil pipeline, a proposed 2,000-mile project that would carry oil from Alberta, Canada to refineries along the Gulf coast. In November, the Obama administration pushed a ruling to early 2013 in an effort to diffuse any political fallout until after the presidential elections. Congress later demanded that a decision be made within 60 days, prompting today's anticipated ruling. The State de... Read More
Mounting concerns that 2,300 tonnes of fuel on the cruise liner Costa Concordia could cause an environmental disaster off the island of Giglio have prompted Italy's cabinet to consider imposing a state of emergency. The ship is resting in water at a depth of between 15 and 20 meters, but salvage teams working to stabilize the ship are worried that it could slip into deeper water after rough seas caused it to shift on Monday. The area of the Mediterranean around Giglio is noted for its marine l... Read More
A well-known ice climber died of a heart attack on Sunday after falling 60 feet from Bridalveil Falls outside Telluride, Colorado. Jack Roberts, 59, was leading the climb's second pitch when he fell and broke his hip. His partner called San Miguel County Search and Rescue for help, but Roberts went into cardiac arrest soon after they arrived and was pronounced dead at the scene. Roberts was known for making first winter ascents of hard routes in the Canadian Rockies, including the North Face o... Read More
Rescuers in Mount Rainier National Park found a 66-year-old man alive Monday afternoon, days after he went missing from a group snowshoe hike on Saturday. Yong Chun Kim, 66, became separated from his group when he slid down a slope Saturday afternoon. An experienced snowshoer, Kim radioed his companions to say that he was alright, but he later failed to return to the parking lot after the hike. Poor weather halted the search on Sunday as some areas of Mount Rainier received as many as eight in... Read More
The Association of Surfing Professionals confirmed on Monday that surfers competing in the 2012 World Tour will be subject to World Anti-Doping Agency testing standards outlined in a testing policy last week. Surfers will face bans of one year for failing a random in-competition drug test. Banned substances include both so-called recreational drugs—like alcohol, amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, methamphetamines, and narcotics—as well as recognized doping agents. Heavier penalti... Read More
