20/03/2007
Cost-cutting culture led to BP Texas refinery blast: CSB
British oil giant British Petroleum has been heavily criticised by an
US Federal agency over the lethal Texas City refinery explosion that killed
15 workers and injured 180 others in 2005.
According to the draft report from the US Chemical Safety Board, the disaster
was the result of safety failings and a culture of cost-cutting at BP.
The 335-page report will pave the way for legal action against BP, which
said it disagreed strongly with parts of the ruling.
Singling out a number of factors responsible for the explosion including
cost-cutting, worker fatigue, and a failure by the whole of the oil giant’s
management to address safety issues, the draft report has also severely
criticised the executives at Texas City for failing to see the warning
signs that might have prevented the incident.
“Process safety programs to protect the lives of workers and the
public deserve the same level of attention, investment and scrutiny as
companies now dedicate to managing their financial controls," Chemical
Safety Board Chairman Carolyn W. Merritt said at a news conference on
the agency's final report into the March 23, 2005, explosion in Texas
City.
"Rules already on the books would likely have prevented the tragedy
in Texas City," Ms Merritt said.
The CSB also held the US federal work safety watchdog, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, responsible for the accident. 20/03/2007
Greece, US announce reward over Athens embassy attack
Greece and the US have offered rewards of $2m for information leading
to capture of the members of a guerrilla group which claims to have launched
a grenade attack on the U.S. Embassy in Athens. 20/03/2007
Procter & Gamble wins devil worship case:
Procter & Gamble Co. has won a jury award of $19.25 million in a
civil lawsuit filed against four distributors of rival Amway accused of
spreading false rumours tying it to Satanism. 20/03/2007
Bush, Democrats clash on prosecutors:
US President George W Bush has rebuffed a request from top Democratic
lawmakers says he will not allow his advisers to testify in the escalating
row over the firing of federal prosecutors. 20/03/2007
Entertainment Headlines
Heather Mills dances with the stars
Paul McCartney's estranged wife Heather Mills has performed the foxtrot
in her first appearance on Dancing With the Stars, the US version of the
BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. 20/03/2007
Director Stuart Rosenberg dies at 79:
Film Director Stuart Rosenberg, who partnered with Paul Newman on classic
Cool Hand Luke and several other movies, has died at the age of 79. 20/03/2007
Business Headlines
Oracle's 3rd quarter best in at least five years
US business Software Company Oracle has reported third-quarter net profits
of $1.03bn (£525m), up from $765m at the same time last year. 20/03/2007
Yahoo plunges into mobile search
Yahoo has announced the expansion of its oneSearch mobile search offering
to all device users. 20/03/2007
Sports
Clijsters may skip US Open:
World number five Kim Clijsters may miss the US Open in August, as it comes
too soon after her honeymoon. 20/03/2007
Henman upbeat for Miami Masters Series:
British No.2 Tim Henman is prepared to be patient as he prepares for
this week's Miami Masters. 20/03/2007
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