Oil companiess 'hushing up' crisis of corroding pipelines

The oil industry is playing down the extent to which corrosion is eating into pipelines and hitting production, the head of the Royal Society of Chemistry has told the press.Richard Pike, who spent 25 years working for BP before becoming a consultant to a number of global oil and gas companies, said that some of the world’s largest oilfields had cut production or been shut down recently so that corroded pipelines could be fixed before they leaked.

Apple recalls 1.8m Sony batteries

 

Apple Computer Inc has recalled 1.8 million Sony-built laptop batteries that could over-heat and catch fire. California-based Apple has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two consumers who received minor burns after handling over-heated computers.

Ryanair threatens to sue UK for airport delays

There is no early end to airport delays in view as police disclosed the huge scale of their investigation into the alleged transatlantic airline terror plot. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) stated that every police force in the UK had sent, or was sending, officers to London to help with the inquiry.

Additionally, the Department for Transport (DfT) ruled out any imminent return to "normal" airport security measures, despite an ultimatum from budget airline Ryanair. The Irish no-frills carrier said it would sue the Government for compensation for delays unless usual security arrangements resumed within a week.

Pinochet loses immunity in fraud case

SANTIAGO, Chile - Chile's Supreme Court stripped former dictator Augusto Pinochet of immunity from prosecution on Friday to face charges in a $27 million (14.4 million pound) tax fraud case, court sources said.

Pinochet, 90, has avoided being processed in a handful of human rights cases because of his health problems, which include mild dementia caused by frequent mini-strokes.