STOCKHOLM – Canadian police are investigating whether a phoned-in hoax caused a Pakistani jet to be diverted to Stockholm for several hours yesterday for fear that one of its passangers was carrying explosives.
Police evacuated 273 people from the jet, and briefly detained a Canadian man, after an anonymous caller in Canada tipped-off authorities that the suspect was carrying explosives. (AP)
Obama: ‘Pledge’ a step back
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says Republicans’ plan to slash taxes and cut spending if it retakes the House in November is no more than “an echo of a disastrous decade we can’t afford to relive”.
Obama used his weekly radio and Internet address yesterday to skewer House Republicans over the “Pledge to America” they unveiled this week. It also promised to cut down on government regulation, repeal Obama’s health care law and end his stimulus programme.
Republicans used their own radio address to defend the plan. (AP)
Bigger, faster BP payments
NEW ORLEANS – Victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill should start getting bigger payments faster, the administrator of the fund set up to help them said yesterday.
Kenneth Feinberg said he was responding to criticism from residents and businesses.
“I am implementing new procedures that will make this program more efficient, more accelerated and more generous.” (AP)
Fourth man suing Long
ATLANTA – A fourth young male member of Bishop Eddie Long’s megachurch is suing the prominent pastor, claiming Long coerced him into a sexual relationship.
The lawsuit was filed by Spencer LeGrande, a member of New Birth Charlotte. New Birth Charlotte is a satellite church run by Long in Charlotte, North Carolina. The lawsuit said Long told LeGrande: “I will be your dad” and invited the 17-year-old to journey to Kenya with him in July 2005. LeGrande said that Long gave him a sleeping pill on that trip and that the two engaged in sexual acts. (AP)
