NPR 2010-06-02

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From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

BP is making another attempt at tackling the oil spill that's been dumping as much as 19,000 barrels of oil each day for over a month in the Gulf¹ of Mexico. NPR's John Ydstie has details.

The goal is to place a containment² cap over the wellhead, capture as much of the oil and gas as possible and direct it to ships on the surface. The first step is making a clean cut on the pipe coming out of the ocean floor. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen told reporters in a conference call that effort has already begun. The idea is to get as tight a seal as possible on the containment vessel³ so that a minimum of seawater enters. That should help avoid the formation of the icy plugs that doomed⁴ the first attempt by BP to install a containment cap. Officials warned the flow from the well could increase by as much as 20% after the pipe is cut. BP officials say the process involves risks and uncertainties⁵. They estimate it will take three days to get the cap in place. John Ydstie, NPR News, New Orleans.

Turkey is calling on Israel to apologize and pay compensation for a raid that killed nine activists⁶ trying to deliver humanitarian⁷ supplies to Gaza this week. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports Turkish foreign minister is also demanding that the United States clearly condemn⁹ the incident.

Just before his meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters that he's been disappointed by the US response so far.

"I have to be frank: I am not very happy with the statement from Washington yesterday. We expect a clear condemnation¹⁰."

The Obama administration said it regrets the loss of life but wants to see all the facts about the raid. Davutoglu said the flotilla carrying supplies for Gaza was in international waters, and he called the Israeli blockade of Gaza illegal. The Turkish foreign minister said he was supposed to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, but the Israeli leader canceled his trip. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, the State Department.

And today still no definitive¹¹ answer from the Obama administration on whether it believes Israel was justified¹² in raiding the humanitarian flotilla. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:

"I think the situation from our perspective is very difficult and requires careful, thoughtful responses from all concerned."

The Obama administration is trying to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. It recently got the Arab League's support for indirect discussions, which in the wake of the Israeli raid have been thrown into doubt.

Last check on Wall Street, Dow Jones Industrial Average losing more than 100 points at 10,023 after some modest gains earlier in the day, NASDAQ Composite Index also losing more than 30 points, 2,222.

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In Mexico, a judge has charged the mayor of Cancun with having ties to organized crime. NPR's Jason Beaubien has more from Mexico City.

Cancun Mayor Gregorio Sanchez Martinez is accused of helping¹³ two of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico. Prosecutors¹⁴ say Sanchez made unexplained bank withdrawals¹⁵ of more than two million dollars. He's accused of money laundering¹⁶ and associating with organized criminals. The charges against Sanchez derailed his bid for governor just a month before the July 4th elections. Sanchez is being held without bail¹⁷ in a prison on the Pacific coast. Three weeks ago, the former governor of the area was extradited to New York. He's accused of accepting almost $20 million to allow the Juarez cartel to move tons of cocaine¹⁸ through Cancun. Sanchez says he'll fight the charges against him in an attempt to continue his gubernatorial campaign even from prison. Jason Beaubien, NPR News, Mexico City.

Attorneys for the alleged¹⁹ Fort Hood²⁰ gunman are getting more time to prepare for an evidentiary hearing, which is now scheduled for early October. Today, their client, former psychiatrist²¹ Nidal Hasan, made his first public appearance in court since last year's attack in which 13 people were killed. Wearing his army uniform, Hasan entered the courtroom in a wheelchair. He was paralyzed after being shot by two Fort Hood, Texas police officers.

The 40-year-old son of former ABC News anchor Ted⁸ Koppel has been found dead in New York. Cause of death is still under investigation²². There's been no official statement from the family. Ted Koppel was longtime anchor of ABC News Nightline and is an NPR News analyst²³.

The Gores²⁵ are separating after 40 years in marriage. Former Vice²⁶ President Al Gore²⁴ and his wife, Tipper, reportedly have told friends that it was a mutually supportive decision.

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