A doctor and two nurses were arrested overnight in connection with the deaths of patients at a New Orleans hospital in the days following Hurricane Katrina, officials said today.

The port of New Orleans reopened, and the airport awaited its first commercial flights today since Hurricane Katrina slammed ashore more than two weeks ago.

The nine US miners pulled to safety after three days trapped in a cramped shaft 240ft underground had tied themselves together so they would ‘‘live or die’’ as a group.

A miner pulled to safety after three days trapped in a cramped shaft 240 feet underground wept today as he told of his relief at being reunited with his family.