Ex-FBI agent charged with lying during 'Whitey' Bulger trial | Islamic State group film shows Yemen killings: SITE | Russia Says Western Leaders Note Progress In Cease-Fire In Ukraine | Germany Foils Suspected Boston-Style Terror Attack, Officials Say | Colombia's ex-spy chief sentenced to 14 years in prison | Russia may be readying for new Ukraine offensive: NATO commander | UN Is Warned of 'Active Iranian Nuclear Procurement Network' - ABC News | Proposal to Arm Sunnis Adds to Iraqi Suspicions of the U.S. | A Fundamental Change in the Oil Sector Is Happening Now |
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Ex-FBI agent charged with lying during 'Whitey' Bulger trial |
Russia Says Western Leaders Note Progress In Cease-Fire In Ukraine |
Germany Foils Suspected Boston-Style Terror Attack, Officials Say |
Colombia's ex-spy chief sentenced to 14 years in prison |
BOSTON (AP) -- A former FBI agent lied to jurors during mobster James "Whitey" Bulger's trial and overstated his professional accomplishments, including falsely claiming to be the first officer who recovered the rifle used to assassinate Martin Luther King Jr., federal officials said Thursday in announcing a perjury case against him....
 Fox News |
Ohio State band instructor charged with kidnapping, rape
Fox News A drum major instructor for Ohio State University's marching band who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his home was arraigned Thursday on rape and kidnapping charges. Christopher S. Kitchen, 28, who goes by his middle name of Stewart, was ... Stewart Kitchen: 5 Fast Facts You Need to KnowHeavy.com Ohio State drum major instructor accused of rape, kidnappingMartins Ferry Times Leader Court date set for Ohio State drum major instructor charged with rape and ...OSU - The Lantern all 75 news articles » |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its partner nations conducted 21 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq since early on Wednesday, the Combined Joint Task Force leading the operation said on Thursday.
HOUSTON (AP) -- The man at the microphone spoke in a language most Republican presidential primary voters do not understand....
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Pete Larson has discovered thousands of fossils around the world, co-authored three books and led the team that unearthed the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever found. But there's one black mark on his record: a federal conviction that landed him in prison almost 20 years ago....
RIYADH (Reuters) - A new branch of the Islamic State group in Yemen on Thursday issued a video showing what it said was the beheading of four Yemeni soldiers and the shooting of 10 others, the SITE Intelligence group reported.
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North Korean diplomats storm out of UN human rights eventby Associated Press at the United Nations
Diplomats denounced ‘ungrounded allegations’ of UN inquiry into North Korean rights abuses before walking out, as defectors stood and shouted insults at them
A US-organized event on North Korea’s human rights briefly turned into chaos at the UN onThursday as North Korean diplomats insisted on reading a statement, amid shouts from defectors, and then stormed out.
The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, tried to quiet the North Korean diplomats at the event that featured more than 20 defectors.
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The Kremlin says that Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko have noted "certain progress" in a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine during a telephone conversation.
(BERLIN) — German authorities foiled what they believe may have been an imminent Boston Marathon-style attack on a professional cycling race planned for Friday, seizing a cache of weapons, including a pipe bomb, and chemicals that can be used to make explosives in a raid on a suspected Islamic extremist’s home outside Frankfurt.
Authorities detained a 35-year-old Turkish-German man and his 34-year-old Turkish wife in the raid in the town of Oberursel. The couple, whose names weren’t released in line with Germany privacy rules, had been under surveillance.
Security officials were worried that the couple may have been targeting the one-day Eschborn to Frankfurt race, which draws around 200 professional riders and thousands of spectators on the May Day public holiday. Police said the race would be canceled in case the couple had accomplices, or they placed as-yet undetected explosive devices along the route.
Suspicions were heightened when police recently observed the male suspect, a trained chemist, apparently scouting out the area where the race was due to take place, said Frankfurt’s chief prosecutor, Albrecht Schreiber. The race was supposed to pass through Oberursel.
“The result of the raid shows that our suspicions were confirmed,” Schreiber told reporters Thursday at a news conference in Wiesbaden, the state capital of Hesse.
“According to our current information, we have prevented an attack,” said Stefan Mueller, the chief of police for western Hesse state.
Authorities in Germany have long warned that the country is at high risk of an attack after being named as a target by extremists, including some who have joined the Islamic State group. Mueller declined to say whether authorities believe that known extremist groups were involved.
In the Boston Marathon attack, three people were killed and more than 260 injured when two bombs exploded at the finish line on April 15, 2013.
“Of course we talked about the Boston attack last night,” said Mueller, explaining why security officials decided to go ahead with the raid. The race “is a soft target, and of course, since the Boston Marathon, it’s part of the security assessment for every marathon in Germany, and of course this is true for cycling races too.”
Prosecutors in Frankfurt launched an investigation against the couple in mid-April after an employee at a hardware store informed police about a suspiciously large purchase of a chemical that can be used to make bombs. The couple had used a false name when they bought three liters (nearly a gallon) of hydrogen peroxide, but police were able to identify them and put them under surveillance.
“This hydrogen peroxide triggered an alert,” Frankfurt’s deputy chief prosecutor Stefan Rojczyk told The Associated Press earlier Thursday.
“Three liters is completely unusual,” he said. “You can use it to clear algae from your pond, but you can also use it to build bombs.”
Schreiber said investigators found a functioning pipe bomb, 100 rounds of ammunition, parts of an assault rifle, the hydrogen peroxide, a training rocket for an anti-tank weapon and various other chemicals in the cellar of the couple’s home.
Heavily-armed police wearing masks were involved in the overnight raid, and forensic officers in white suits entered the property and later carted out evidence during daylight hours on Thursday.
Schreiber said the detained man was linked to the extreme Islamic Salafist movement in the Frankfurt area and was known to police for 15 previous offenses. The two suspects would likely appear before a judge later Thursday, he said, adding that two young children found at the premises were being looked after by social services.
“I want to emphasize that an attack was prevented, but it will have to be seen whether a concrete attack against tomorrow’s cycle race was planned,” he said.
Mueller, the police chief, said hydrogen peroxide can be used to produce a substance called TATP. It has been used by extremists to build improvised explosive devices in the past, including by the “shoe bomber” Richard Reid, who tried to detonate a bomb in his shoe during a trans-Atlantic flight.
___
David Rising contributed to this report.
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Judge reduces sentences in APS case
Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter on Thursday reduced the sentences of three former educators convicted in the Atlanta Public Schools test-cheating scandal. Baxter sentenced Tamara Cotman, Sharon Davis-Williams and Michael Pitts during ... and more » |
BOGOTA (Reuters) - The former head of Colombia's intelligence service was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Thursday for spying on opposition lawmakers, judges and journalists in one of the biggest scandals to mar the government of ex-President Alvaro Uribe.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia's military may be taking advantage of a recent lull in fighting in eastern Ukraine to lay the groundwork for a new military offensive, NATO's top commander told the U.S. Congress on Thursday.
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 Channel News Asia |
U.S. criticizes North Korean diplomats for drowning out dissidents at UN
TODAYonline UNITED NATIONS - The United States accused North Korea of bullying dissidents on Thursday after diplomats from the isolated Asian country disrupted statements by North Korean defectors on human rights abuses at an event at the United Nations. North Korean diplomats cause chaos at UN event on rightsChron.com all 94 news articles » |
UN Is Warned of 'Active Iranian Nuclear Procurement Network'
ABC News Britain has told a U.N. panel of experts that it is aware of an "active Iranian nuclear procurement network" linked to two Iranian companies. Two U.N. sources confirm that Britain's warning on April 20 is included in a confidential report by the panel. The sources ... and more » |
 CBS Local |
German Officials Say They Foiled Boston-Style Terror Attack
CBS Local German police say they found explosive material and weapons after raiding the home of a suspected Islamic extremist. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images). Related Tags: boston marathon bombing, germany, terrorism. Latest News ... and more » |
 Reuters |
Russia may be readying for new Ukraine offensive: NATO commander
Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia's military may be taking advantage of a recent lull in fighting in eastern Ukraine to lay the groundwork for a new military offensive, NATO's top commander told the U.S. Congress on Thursday. U.S. Air Force General Philip ... Ukraine Talks Are Planned on Moving Beyond Cease-FireWall Street Journal US commander: Another Russian offensive possible in Ukraine after lullThe Globe and Mail Weapons Buildup by Ukraine Rebels Raises Tensions, Klimkin SaysBloomberg RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty-NDTV all 582 news articles » |
After congressional Republicans floated a plan to arm Iraqi Sunnis and Kurds directly, the country was outraged and saw a plot to divide their country.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Navy ships will start accompanying U.S.-flagged commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's seizure of a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel two days ago, a U.S. defense official said on Thursday.
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The U.S. oil production decline has begun.
It is not because of decreased rig count. It is because cash flow at current oil prices is too low to complete most wells being drilled.
The implications are profound. Production will decline by several hundred thousand barrels per day before the effect of reduced rig count is fully seen. Unless oil prices rebound above $75 or $85 per barrel, the rig count won’t matter because there will not be enough money to complete more wells than are being completed today.
Tight oil production in the Eagle Ford, Bakken and Permian basin plays declined approximately 111,000 barrels of oil per day in January. These declines are part of a systematic decrease in the number of new producing wells added since oil prices fell below $90 per barrel in October 2014 (Figure 1).
Deferred completions (drilled uncompleted wells) are not discretionary for most companies. Producers entered into long-term rig contracts assuming at least $90 oil prices. Lower prices result in substantially reduced cash flows. Capital is only available to fulfill contractual drilling commitments, basic costs of doing business, and to complete the best wells that come closest to breaking even at present oil prices.
Much of the new capital from junk bonds and share offerings is being used to pay overhead and interest expense, and to pay down debt to avoid triggering loan covenant thresholds. Hedges help soften the blow of low oil prices for some companies but not enough to carry on business as usual when it comes to well completions.
The decrease in well completions provides additional evidence that the true break-even price for tight oil plays is between $75 and $85 per barrel. The Eagle Ford Shale is the most attractive play with a break-even price of about $75 per barrel. Well completions averaged 312 per month from January through September 2014 when WTI averaged $100 per barrel (Figure 2). When oil prices dropped below $90 per barrel in October, November well completions fell to 214. As prices fell further, 169 new producing wells were added in December and only 118 in January.
Bakken break-even prices are higher at about $85 per barrel. Well completions averaged 189 per month from January through September 2014. In November, only 80 new producing wells were added. In December and January, 123 and 114 new wells were added, respectively. Orders for rail cars used to transport oil decreased by 70% in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014.
Permian “shale” play break-even prices are also about $85 per barrel based on declining well completion data. Well completions averaged 175 per month from January through September 2014. In January 2015, only 35 new producing wells were added.
Much of the commentary about the backlog of deferred completions is exaggerated and irrelevant unless oil prices increase to $75 or $85 per barrel. The assumption underlying most industry chatter these days is that oil prices will return to normal.
The world oil market is undergoing a fundamental structural change in response to expensive oil. Producers are trying to survive by limiting expenditures. While analysts have been focused on rig counts, deferred completions have emerged as the initial path to lower U.S. oil production. This unanticipated outcome suggests that others may follow. While everyone is waiting for higher oil prices and for things to return to normal, what we may be witnessing is the end of normal*.
*James Kenneth Galbraith, The End of Normal–The Great Crisis and the Future of Growth (2014).
This article originally appeared on Oilprice.com.
More from Oilprice.com:
- Related: A Closer Look At The World’s 5 Biggest Oil Companies
- Related: What Happens To U.S. Shale When The Easy Money Runs Out?
- Related: Oil Prices Won’t Recover Anytime Soon Says Exxon CEO
- Oil Price War May Benefit Both U.S. Shale And Saudi Arabia
- How To Spot An Undervalued Oil Company
- How Much Does OPEC Really Earn?
Read the whole story
· · · · ·
 Los Angeles Times |
Atlanta judge reduces stiff sentences of cheating educators
Los Angeles Times In an unusual action, the judge presiding over the landmark Atlanta public school cheating trial changed his mind and on Thursday lightened the stiff prison sentences he meted out two weeks ago to high-ranking educators convicted of inflating students' test ... 3 in Atlanta cheating scandal have sentences reducedUSA TODAY Judge cuts Atlanta teachers sentences in cheating trialAtlanta Journal Constitution Judge reduces sentences for 3 who got harshest penalties in Atlanta schools ...Daily American Online all 96 news articles » |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amid heated debate over Iran policy in the U.S. Senate, one of the leading congressional critics of the international negotiations with Tehran squared off with the country's foreign minister on Twitter.
MOSCOW—
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter says he is pleased with Russia's commitment to implement the Minsk agreement.
Carter and other former global leaders met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for 2.5 hours Wednesday in Moscow. The group, called the Elders, visited at a time when Russia's relations with the West are severely strained over Moscow's seizure of Crimea and the deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine.
In an exclusive interview with VOA after meeting with President Putin, Carter said the Elders were pleased with Russia's allegiance to the Minsk agreement. “There's not any doubt in our mind that the Russians genuinely want to see all the aspects of that concluded. I think that's the only ballgame in town,” said Carter, “really as far as resolving the problems with Ukraine, is to get the Minsk agreement implemented.”
The Minsk II agreement was reached in February by France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and pro-Russia separatists. It envisions a cease-fire and withdrawal of foreign troops and heavy weapons leading to a lasting, legal and political solution to the conflict in Ukraine. The deal is considered by many to be the last, best hope for peace in eastern Ukraine while more hawkish Western politicians are calling for arming Ukraine's military to better stand up to Russian forces backing the rebels.
The United States and its European allies have considerable doubts about Moscow's commitment to the Minsk accord. On Thursday, General Philip Breedlove, the NATO commander, testified before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia appears to have used the lull in fighting since the Minsk II agreement was signed in February to "reset and reposition" forces near eastern Ukraine.
Breedlove said many of Russia's actions are "consistent with preparations for another offensive" into Ukrainian territory.
While declining to weigh in on Western accusations that Russia is supplying troops and weapons to rebels in eastern Ukraine, the former U.S. president reiterated his opposition to any arms flowing into the country. “I would like very much to see a cessation of sending arms to Ukraine, either to Kyiv or to the eastern part,” said Carter. “And, my hope is that President Obama would not do so.”
Carter acknowledged Ukraine still needs Western military support in the form of "non-lethal equipment." The United States and NATO have not sent weapons to Ukraine, but sent medical supplies and other equipment, such as radios, vehicles and defensive radar systems.
The former U.S. president repeated his position that Russia’s annexation of Crimea was “inevitable” because of its Soviet Russian roots, and was what the people of Crimea wanted and would not be undone any time soon. “I don't know what initiative came from the people in Crimea and what initiative came from the people in Russia,” said Carter.
Carter originally stated that position a year ago, shortly after the annexation happened, but he also has said Russia should not be allowed any other territorial gains in Ukraine.
Commenting on Carter’s remarks, the U.S. State Department said Thursday it would not speculate on the reasoning behind his statements.
“We know that Russia has continued to undermine the Minsk implementation plan and the Minsk agreements through ongoing support and resupply of the separatists, said spokeswoman Marie Harf, speaking to reporters. “Russia and the separatists can’t pick and choose which parts of Minsk they want to implement and what not to. They signed these agreements and they must honor them, all of them.”
On Crimea, Harf said that the U.S. has been consistent about it being “part of Ukraine.”
“That is why we put sanctions on, that is why we have kept the pressure on [Russia],” added Harf.
Commenting on Carter’s remarks, the U.S. State Department said Thursday it would not speculate on the reasoning behind his statements.
“We know that Russia has continued to undermine the Minsk implementation plan and the Minsk agreements through ongoing support and resupply of the separatists, said spokeswoman Marie Harf, speaking to reporters. “Russia and the separatists can’t pick and choose which parts of Minsk they want to implement and what not to. They signed these agreements and they must honor them, all of them.”
On Crimea, Harf said that the U.S. has been consistent about it being “part of Ukraine.”
“That is why we put sanctions on, that is why we have kept the pressure on [Russia],” added Harf.
Western leaders accuse Russia of forcing an illegal referendum in Crimea after its special forces took over Ukrainian military bases on the Black Sea peninsula. The referendum gave the Crimean people only two choices: independence or joining Russia. Crimean authorities say 97 percent of voters chose to join Russia.
Carter's visit with the Elders came as Moscow was packed with military vehicles practicing for a parade on May 9 to mark the end of World War II, known as “Victory Day” in Russia.
Leaders from Western nations, including Germany, Britain and the United States, have declined to attend the event because of Russia's actions in Ukraine. Putin has accused the U.S. of dictating to European leaders whether they can attend and treating countries like vassal states.
Carter, however, said when the Elders discussed the issue with Mr. Putin, he made no indication of concern. “The most he said was that he was sure on many of these issues there was close consultation between the United States and European countries,” said Carter. “But, I wouldn't derogate the autonomy or freedom or independence or sovereignty of any European country by maintaining that the United States could force them to go or not go to a parade. I think that's a decision that each one of them has to make.”
Carter served as president from 1977 to 1981. Since his time in office, he has traveled the world as an advocate for human rights, democracy, housing for the poor and health care.
The late Nelson Mandela of South Africa founded the Elders as a vehicle for retired national leaders to work for human rights and world peace. Among those accompanying Carter to Russia were former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan, former Algerian foreign minister General Lakhdar Brahimi, former Norwegian prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland and former Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo.
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