2010-05-04 BBC
BBC News with Michael Powles
The giant British oil company BP says it will pay to clean up the huge oil slick threat in America’s Gulf Coast. But it insists it’s not to blame for causing the spillage. BP’s Chief Executive Tony Hayward said the accident that started the leak occurred on the rig operated by offshore drilling contractor Transocean. President Obama has said the leak threatens unprecedented environment disaster. Vanessa Buschschluter reports.
Tony Hayward arrived in the United States on Monday, and immediately hit the airwaves. He said there was no doubt BP would pay for the clean-up. It is our responsibility and we accept it in full, he said. But he also pointed out that the equipment which broke down and led to spill on the Deepwater Horizon rig belonged to Transocean who operated it. A spokesman for Transocean said that they would wait all the facts before drawing their conclusions.
Officials say at least 23 people have been killed in the southern United States after severe thunderstorms caused flash floods. At least 40 people died in Tennessee State, five in Mississippi and four in Kentucky and downtown Nashville was evacuated.
Less than three weeks after ash from a volcano in Iceland caused a major shutdown of European airspace. The Irish authorities have re-imposed flight restrictions because of ash being blown south. The Irish Aviation Authority says it’s restricting flights into and out of Ireland for six hours on Tuesday. Mark Simpson reports.
Just when it was thought the threat from volcanic ash was over, there’s more air trouble disruption. Advice from the Irish Aviation Authority means all flights in and out of the Republic of Ireland tomorrow morning have been canceled. Chief Executive Eamonn Brennan said the decision was taken for safety reasons. At this stage, there is nothing to suggest possible disruption at airports in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. But the air travel authorities say they will issue guidance if the situation changes overnight.
The American State Secretary Hillary Clinton has renewed criticism of Iran’s controversial nuclear program. Addressing at a United Nations Conference aimed at strengthening the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Mrs. Clinton said Iran was the only country represented at the gathering to have been found in violation of its UN obligations. She said the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was trying to distract attention from the row over his country’s nuclear program.
“We know there are some countries who will choose not to be constructive. This morning Iran’s president offered the same tired, false and sometimes wild accusations against the United States and other parties at this conference. But that’s not surprising. As you all heard this morning, Iran will do whatever it can to divert attention away from its own record and to attempt to evade accountability.”
Earlier, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused nuclear weapon states of threatening both who did not have such arsenals.
World News from the BBC
The only gunman to survive the attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai in November, 2008 has been found guilty of murder and waging war on India. Ajmal Amir Qasab, a Pakistani national, was convicted on almost all of 86 charges. The trial judge said it was not a simple act of murder, it was war. During the attacks ten gunmen killed more than 160 people.
United States officials say they’ve made substantial progress in their search for a man who left a car bomb which failed to explode in a busy tourist area of New York. The Attorney General Eric Holder said the police and the FBI were following a number of good leads. Their main focus is on a white male in his 40s who was seemed behaving suspiciously in the area.
Two of the biggest airlines in the United States, United and Continental, have confirmed they intend to merge to create the world's largest carrier. The combined airline will be called "United" and expects annual revenues of about 29 billion dollars. Duncan Bartlett reports.
The deal between United and Continental is designed to bring the two airlines back to a position in which they can start making money again. Both companies reported heavy financial losses last year, but they hope that by teaming up, they can save money by sharing resources and staff. Continental and United claimed that once the merge is completed, they will serve more than 144 million passengers per year and fly to 370 destinations in 59 counties. The deal was still need to be endorsed by their shareholders and given an approval by the competition regulars in the United States.
The IMF official responsible for negotiating with Greece over financial bailout of its dead Greek economy who said Greek people realized they are facing a defining moment in their history. Paul Thompson said the Greek government had realized that it must carry out major reform and it was very important to begin prosecuting tax evaders.
And that’s the BBC News