Antonio Banderas will star in a movie as one of the 33 Chilean miners trapped deep underground for more than two months in 2010, and the charismatic survivor he’s playing couldn’t be happier.

In a super-arid desert at an altitude of 5,000m, with almost no humidity or vegetation, the world’s largest ground-based astronomy project opened for business yesterday — ready to probe the universe with unprecedented might.

Three of the 33 rescued Chilean miners were celebrating at home today after being released from hospital with a clean bill of health.

ONE by one, the miners trapped for 69 days in a dungeon that could have been their tomb far beneath the Chilean desert climbed into a rescue capsule and made a smooth ascent to the surface yesterday.

Families and rescuers were celebrating today as trapped miners steadily emerged from their half-mile-deep dungeon under the Chilean desert.

The agonising ordeal for 33 Chilean miners who have spent two months trapped underground was nearing its end today.

SINGING the national anthem in a full-throated chorus, 33 miners trapped deep underground thanked their rescuers and settled in for a long wait until a tunnel wide enough to pull them out can be carved through a half-mile of solid rock.

Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel believes rival Carlos Sainz starts favourite for the Dakar Rally which makes its first appearance in South America tomorrow.

A powerful earthquake damaged thousands of houses, blocked roads and knocked out electricity across northern Chile, with at least two reported deaths and more than 100 injuries.