Wednesday, 2 June 2010
It had been expected for some time, but that didn’t stop the official announcement from ripping another $20 billion chunk out of BP’s market value. The US attorney general announced that the full might of his justice department would be thrown behind investigations, both criminal and civil, into the Gulf of Mexico spill and its aftermath. That means looking for false statements, cases of obstruction of justice, and sacrificial goats in general. Washington Post, Guardian
And just to keep things interesting for BP, an oil slick was spotted less than 15 kilometres off the coast of Florida. It will probably hit the famous Pensacola Beach in that state by today or tomorrow. Officials are still waiting for BP to cough up the money for removal machinery, and will likely get nasty about the delay today. News Herald, St Petersburg Times
Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama announced he will today tender his resignation, just nine months after taking office in a landslide election victory. During his short term his popularity has plunged from above 70% to below 20%, almost entirely because his failure to force a US military base on Okinawa to be moved, as he had promised. Kyodo News, CNN
Jamaican prime minister Bruce Golding effectively declared war on the gangs that control large parts of the island, as well as the drug trade with America. While defending himself from possible parliamentary censure over battles that killed more than 70 civilians during the search for drug kingpin Christopher “Dudus” Coke, Golding vowed direct, unequivocal and presumably bloody confrontation with the gangs. Coke remains at large, but his brother has been arrested. AP, Jamaica Observer
Two-time coup leader and convicted drug trafficker Desi Bouterse said he plans to become President of Suriname, even though the coalition government he has cobbled together still lacks the two-thirds majority to put him into office. If he fails to reach that absolute majority, the vote for the presidency goes to an assembly of regional councils, where his victory is far from assured. AP, AFP
The US Supreme Court ruled that foreign government officials do not qualify for immunity granted to the states they serve, leaving Mohamed Ali Samantar, the former prime minister of Somalia, open to possible civil claims in US courts. Samantar, who now lives in Virginia, is accused of torture and worse during the 1980s. His claim of immunity was backed by Israel, Saudi Arabia and former American attorneys general, all claiming that actions on behalf of a sovereign nation should leave the individual blameless. LA Times, Voice of America
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