CNN - Captain jumps overboard, SEALs shoot pirates, official says

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Captain jumps overboard, SEALs shoot pirates, official says

The American captain of a cargo ship held hostage by pirates jumped overboard from the lifeboat where he was being held, and U.S. Navy SEALs shot and killed three of his four captors, according to a senior U.S. official with knowledge of the situation.

Capt. Richard Phillips was helped out of the water off the Somali coast and is uninjured and in good condition, the official said. He was taken aboard the USS Bainbridge, a nearby naval warship.

At the time of the shootings, the fourth pirate was aboard the Bainbridge negotiating with officials, the source said. That pirate was taken into custody.

Maersk Line Limited, owner of the cargo ship that Phillips captained, issued a statement saying it was informed at 1:30 p.m. by the U.S. government that he had been rescued. John Reinhart, president and CEO, called Phillips' wife, Andrea, to tell her the good news.

Crew members from the ship, the Maersk Alabama, were "jubilant" when they received word, the statement says.

"We are all absolutely thrilled to learn that Richard is safe and will be re-united with his family," Reinhart said. "Maersk Line Limited is deeply grateful to the Navy, the FBI and so many others for their tireless efforts to secure Richard's freedom."

"We look forward to welcoming him home in the coming days," Reinhart added.

Earlier Sunday, Maersk said the U.S. Navy had informed the company that it had sighted Phillips in the lifeboat where the pirates were holding him.

A man who answered the door at Phillips' home in Underhill, Vermont, on Sunday afternoon told CNN's Stephanie Elam that the family had known the news for hours. He said details would have to come from Virginia, apparently referring to Maersk's home base in Norfolk.

On Saturday, the FBI launched a criminal investigation into the hijacking of the U.S.-flagged cargo ship by Somali pirates, two law enforcement officials told CNN. The probe will be led by the FBI's New York field office, which is responsible for looking into cases involving U.S. citizens in the African region, the officials said.

Snippets of information started to emerge Saturday about how the Maersk Alabama's crew managed to retake the ship after it was hijacked by pirates Wednesday about 350 miles off the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean.

The Alabama reached port in Mombasa, Kenya,on Saturday. Crew members aboard the freed cargo ship described how some of their colleagues attempted to "jump" their pirate captors.

A scuffle ensued and one of the sailors stabbed a pirate in the hand in the battle to retake the container ship, one of the sailors told CNN.

Crew members smiled broadly as they stood on the ship's deck under the watchful eyes of security teams. Although the crew was kept away from the media, CNN's Stan Grant got close enough to ask crew members what happened after the pirates climbed aboard the ship.

One crew member said he recalled being awakened around 7 a.m. as the hijacking began.

"I was scared," Grant quoted the man as saying.

Some of the crew managed to hide in a secure part of the Alabama as the pirates stormed the ship, the sailor said.

As the sailors described their clash with the pirates, a crew member pointed to one shipmate and said, "This guy is a hero. He and the chief engineer, they took down the pirate. ... He led him down there to the engine room and then they jumped him."

The shipmate added that he stabbed the pirate's hand and tied him up.

"Capt. Phillips is a hero," another crew member shouted from the deck of the freed ship.

An earlier attempt by Phillips to escape from the 28-foot covered lifeboat was thwarted by a pirate, who dove into the Indian Ocean after him. Phillips' captors appear to have tied him up afterward, Pentagon officials said.

Maersk CEO Reinhart told reporters Saturday that the crew will stay on board in Mombasa while the FBI conducts an investigation.

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YouTube, Universal launching music site

Universal Music wants to do for music videos what NBC and 20th Century Fox did for TV shows online with Hulu: Turn them into a premium offering.

Universal, the world's largest music label, on Tuesday said it will team up with Google's YouTube to launch Vevo, a dedicated online site for music videos, in a bid to better control the music viewing experience. No date for the launch has been set.

Music videos have become "more of a commodity than we'd like them to be," says Rio Caraeff, Universal's executive vice president.

His plan is to reach out to the other major labels to join forces, and to then license and distribute music videos from Vevo to other music sites like Yahoo Music and MTV.com.

This is exactly how Hulu does it. Shows like Family Guy and The Office play on Hulu.com, as well as web affiliates like Yahoo, MSN and AOL.

The idea is that all music videos will be branded online as Vevo, and labels will be able to attract higher ad revenues for the video clips.

Greg Sterling, an analyst with Sterling Market Intelligence, says that despite YouTube's mammoth audience, advertisers are more interested in a targeted group they don't want to be lumped together with user-generated video.

"Hulu has proven that dedicated channels are more popular with advertisers," he says. "Advertisers would welcome this model."

Universal currently has the most watched channel on YouTube, with over 3.5 billion views, but Caraeff said that when Vevo launches later this year, its music videos on YouTube would look quite different.

Videos will be presented in higher quality, and he promises exclusive content from his artists not seen today.

"It will no longer be a Universal channel, but a Vevo channel, and we will control the look and feel of the pages," he says.

David Eun, Google's head of strategic partnerships, said the Vevo deal is a "dramatic" shift in how music labels look at their business models.

"There are many faucets people can drink from, but eventually only one well," Caraeff says. "We will be the well that powers many of those sites. This is a strategy that recognizes that scarcity is needed." So when advertisers want to reach music video fans, "We sell that audience across the web."

CNN - Pirates seeking hijacked lifeboat turn back

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Pirates seeking hijacked lifeboat turn back

Pirates holding a German cargo ship returned to port Saturday after failing to reach a lifeboat containing four pirates and their American hostage, a local journalist told CNN.

The German ship Hansa Stavanger was among several hijacked vessels that pirates were using to reach the lifeboat some 300 miles off the Somali coast, a Somali journalist told CNN.

The ship had set sail to help the pirates holding Capt. Richard Phillips, but turned back because of the U.S. naval presence, the journalist said. The Hansa Stavanger is now at the Somali port of Eyl, the journalist said.

The Hansa Stavanger, with a crew of 24, was hijacked April 4 off the Somali coast.

Pirates have been searching the waters off Africa's coast to try to find the lifeboat, a U.S. military official with knowledge of the situation said Friday. They are using hijacked vessels and skiffs launched from larger ships, the official said.

The USS Halyburton, with helicopter capabilities, has now joined the USS Bainbridge in the area, and a third ship, the USS Boxer -- with a medical facility aboard -- should be there by the end of the day.

Phillips is being held by four gunmen in the covered, fiberglass lifeboat. He jumped overboard at one point to try to escape, but one of the pirates jumped into the water after him and brought him back onboard the 28-foot boat.

The pirates fired shots, the military official said, without providing further details.

Phillips appeared to be tied up by the pirates after the escape attempt, a Defense Department official told CNN.

For the U.S. Navy, bringing in more firepower is more than just a means to resolve a hostage situation, said Chris Lawrence, CNN's Pentagon correspondent.

Attacks in the area have picked up so drastically in recent months that the Navy has to reposition some of its fleet to deal with the threats, he said.

The pirates have shown no signs of giving in.

Phillips' ship, the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama, was on its way to Mombasa, Kenya, with a cargo of food aid when it was attacked Wednesday. It was the first time in recent history that pirates had targeted an American ship.

The ship was hijacked about 350 miles off Somalia's coast, a distance that used to be considered safe for ships navigating in the pirate-infested waters. There were 21 American crew members, including the captain, on board at the time.

The American crew regained control of the vessel, but the ship's owners -- the Norfolk, Virginia-based Maersk company -- would not say how.

The Maersk Alabama resumed its journey to Mombasa on Thursday, along with an 18-person armed security detail on board. It was due to arrive at its destination Saturday.

The U.S. Navy -- which is in charge of the situation -- requested help from the FBI to resolve the standoff.

Reuters - Goldman Sachs mulls stock sale to repay TARP money: report

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Goldman Sachs mulls stock sale to repay TARP money: report

Friday, Apr 10, 2009 11:3AM UTC

(Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc is considering making a multibillion dollar share offering to investors as part of its efforts to repay a $10 billion government loan, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter.

The announcement could be made as early as next week and though Goldman executives haven't determined the exact size of the offering, it is expected to be at least several billion dollars, the people told the Journal.

A final decision hasn't been taken and will be based partly on market conditions, the Journal reported.

Goldman Sachs, which is due to report its quarterly earnings on Tuesday, is one of several recipients of the U.S. government's Troubled Asset Relief Program investment and plans to repay the money as soon as possible.

Goldman Sachs could not be reached immediately for comments.

(Reporting by Sweta Singh in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott)

CNN - Captain tried to escape pirates, U.S. official says

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Captain tried to escape pirates, U.S. official says

Richard Phillips, the captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, tried to escape from his captors Thursday night by jumping out of the lifeboat where he's being held, a U.S. official said Friday.

Phillips was believed to be trying to swim to the USS Bainbridge, a naval warship that is in communication with the gunmen holding Phillips off Somalia's coast, the official said.

The kidnappers jumped into the water, recaptured him, and returned him to the lifeboat, according to the official.

The U.S. military has every reason to believe that he was unharmed in the incident, the official said.

Phillips has been held since Wednesday, when the hijackers briefly seized control of his ship, the Maersk Alabama.

He is being held by four gunmen in the lifeboat about 300 miles off the Horn of Africa.

Meanwhile, two U.S. warships were on their way Friday to help the crew of the Bainbridge secure Phillips' release.

For the U.S. Navy, the show of strength is more than just a means to resolve a hostage situation, said Chris Lawrence, CNN's Pentagon correspondent.

Attacks in the area have picked up so drastically in recent months that the Navy has to reposition some of its fleet to deal with the threats, he said.

The ships that are en route to help the USS Bainbridge are the USS Halyburton, which is armed with guided missiles and carries helicopters on board, and the USS Boxer, which has a large medical facility on board.

The pirates have shown no signs of giving in. iReport.com: How should the U.S. respond?

The Maersk Alabama was on its way to Mombasa, Kenya, with a cargo of food aid when it was attacked Wednesday. It was the first time in recent history that pirates had targeted an American ship.

The ship was hijacked some 350 miles off Somalia's coast, a distance that used to be considered safe for ships navigating in the pirate-infested waters. There were 21 American crew members, including the captain, on board at the time.

The American crew regained control of the vessel but the ship's owners -- the Norfolk, Virginia-based Maersk company -- would not say how the crew did so.

"There will be time for due diligence and retrospective review once we have the safe return of all parties and the opportunity for a full debriefing," it said in a statement.

On Thursday, the Maersk Alabama resumed its journey to Mombasa with an 18-person armed security detail on board.

The U.S. Navy, which is in charge of the hostage situation, requested help from the FBI to resolve the standoff.

CNN - Island DIY: Kauai residents don't wait for state to repair road

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Island DIY: Kauai residents don't wait for state to repair road

Their livelihood was being threatened, and they were tired of waiting for government help, so business owners and residents on Hawaii's Kauai island pulled together and completed a $4 million repair job to a state park -- for free.

Polihale State Park has been closed since severe flooding destroyed an access road to the park and damaged facilities in December.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources had estimated that the damage would cost $4 million to fix, money the agency doesn't have, according to a news release from department Chairwoman Laura Thielen.

"It would not have been open this summer, and it probably wouldn't be open next summer," said Bruce Pleas, a local surfer who helped organize the volunteers. "They said it would probably take two years. And with the way they are cutting funds, we felt like they'd never get the money to fix it."

And if the repairs weren't made, some business owners faced the possibility of having to shut down.

Ivan Slack, co-owner of Napali Kayak, said his company relies solely on revenue from kayak tours and needs the state park to be open to operate. The company jumped in and donated resources because it knew that without the repairs, Napali Kayak would be in financial trouble.

"If the park is not open, it would be extreme for us, to say the least," he said. "Bankruptcy would be imminent. How many years can you be expected to continue operating, owning 15-passenger vans, $2 million in insurance and a staff? For us, it was crucial, and our survival was dependent on it. That park is the key to the sheer survival of the business."

So Slack, other business owners and residents made the decision not to sit on their hands and wait for state money that many expected would never come. Instead, they pulled together machinery and manpower and hit the ground running March 23.

And after only eight days, all of the repairs were done, Pleas said. It was a shockingly quick fix to a problem that may have taken much longer if they waited for state money to funnel in.

"We can wait around for the state or federal government to make this move, or we can go out and do our part," Slack said. "Just like everyone's sitting around waiting for a stimulus check, we were waiting for this but decided we couldn't wait anymore."

Thielen has been waiting, too. She wants the legislature to approve her Recreation Renaissance project, a $240 million booster shot to help fix parks across the state. Without it, at least five state parks may be forced to close, and there would be no emergency repair money to fix Polihale State Park.

"We shouldn't have to do this, but when it gets to a state level, it just gets so bureaucratic, something that took us eight days would have taken them years," said Troy Martin of Martin Steel, who donated machinery and steel for the repairs. "So we got together -- the community -- and we got it done."

The park is a fixture on the west side of the island and a favorite spot for many in the area, but it's also a hub for tourists.

"Tourism is our lifeblood. It's what pays all of our bills," Slack said. "The money that pours in comes from tourism is really an important factor for everyone here in Hawaii, and it's such an important time to encourage tourism."

And it's an important time to keep jobs, which were threatened if the park had to remain closed. In February, Kauai's unemployment rate was at 9.1 percent, up from 2.8 percent during the same time in 2008, according to Hawaii's Department of Labor.

"I think it's crucial to say the doors are open, everyone is ready," Slack said. "So when one of the most important parks in Hawaii is closed, it really changes things."

Now, because of their hard work, volunteers hope they'll be ready to send that positive message -- right in time for the tourist season.

Slack said he likes to have business up and running by April 15, and the season gets busy around May 1.

The business owners and residents are hopeful that their generous contributions in time and resources mean the park should officially open soon. Pleas says they have only to get the new bridge certified and do minor cleanup.

"A lot of people are quietly sitting by, waiting for it to open," Slack said. "This really this is one of the nicest parks in the state and in all of Hawaii, in the entire state parks department. Now, hopefully, those people get their wish."

Portfolio Mobile - 44, Day 79: Quiet Time

44, Day 79: Quiet Time





An ongoing log of the daily activities of the 44th president of the United States during his first 100 days:

-After spending eight days away from Washington on a trip through western Europe, into Turkey, and finally stopping in Iraq, President Obama stayed out of the public's (and the press's) site site today. And his press secretary, Robert Gibbs, didn't hold his regular daily briefing. So what did the 44th president do on his first day back in town? According to Politico, "Playing catch-up, aides say. One White House aide says Obama is spending the day in closed-door meetings with staffers. His main topic, of course, is the economy."

-On the plane ride home, Obama called the coach of the North Carolina Tarheels and congratulated him on winning the NCAA basketball tournament. A huge b-ball fan, the president had picked North Carolina to be in the finals (it was the only one of his top four teams to make it to the final games). With his choice and the rest of his bracket, Obama himself ranked in the top 20 percent of more than one million brackets filed online at ESPN, the sports network's website said.



-Another in a series of slideshows on WhiteHouse.gov, this one chronicling Obama's stopover in Iraq on Tuesday.

by J. Jennings Moss

Sources: The White House, Politico, and the Washington Post.Related Links
44, Day 18: What Does a Catastrophe Look Like?
44, Day Three
44, Day 28: Where's Click and Clack When You Need Them?




(c) 2007 Portfolio. Powered by mLogic Media, Crisp Wireless, Inc.

CNN - Pirates have not harmed captive captain, company says

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Pirates have not harmed captive captain, company says

A day after the Maersk Alabama was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, the ship's captain "remains hostage but is unharmed," Maersk spokesman Kevin Speers said Thursday morning.

"The safe return of the captain is our foremost priority," Speers said.

Capt. Richard Phillips is being held on a lifeboat -- which is believed to be near the Maersk Alabama -- by the pirates who hijacked the ship. The U.S. Navy has called FBI negotiators to help negotiate his release, according to FBI spokesman Bill Carter.

The pirates reneged on their agreement to exchange Phillips for one pirate who had been captured by the crew members, according to the second officer of the ship, Ken Quinn. The pirate was released unharmed, according to Quinn who spoke to CNN on Wednesday via a satellite call.

Speaking at a news conference Thursday morning, Speers said the U.S. Navy "is in command of the situation."

"We are in regular contact with the Alabama," he said from Maersk Line Ltd.'s headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. "The ship remains at a safe distance as instructed by the Navy. We are coordinating with the Navy and all the governmental organizations involved in this crisis."

Maersk Line Ltd. -- a subsidiary of the Danish shipping company, Maersk Line -- owns and operates the Maersk Alabama.

A U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Bainbridge, is now in position near the lifeboat believed to be carrying Phillips and the pirates. But there has been no official confirmation of the tiny vessel's whereabouts since early Thursday morning.

The Maersk Alabama is back under the control of the remaining 20-member crew. They said they are trying to talk to the pirates and effect some sort of exchange to get their captain back.

For its part, Maersk is doing everything it can "to increase the chance of (a) peaceful outcome," Speers said Thursday.

"We are encouraged that most of the crew is safe, they have been resilient and courageous throughout this crisis," he said. "But we will remain on watch, staffing our situation room and our family hotline until this situation is resolved and the captain is safely returned."

The Maersk Alabama was on its way to the Kenyan port of Mombasa loaded with food aid when the pirates attacked it Wednesday morning. It was the first time in recent history that pirates targeted a U.S.-flagged ship.

The ship was some 350 miles off the coast of Somalia, a distance that used to be considered safe from pirate attacks.

The U.S. Navy issued a warning several days ago to ships in the area warning them that pirates were increasingly operating farther and farther offshore.

Quinn told CNN that the pirates were armed with AK-47 assault rifles. The ship's crew carried no weapons.

Crew members managed to take one of the four pirates hostage, Quinn said. The crew -- apparently minus the captain -- locked themselves in the compartment that contains the ship's steering gear, where they remained for about 12 hours with their captive, whom Quinn said they had tied up.

The three other pirates "got frustrated because they couldn't find us," he said.

The pirates had scuttled the small boat they used to reach the ship, Quinn said, so Phillips offered them the Alabama's 28-foot lifeboat and some money.

Crew members agreed to exchange their captive pirate in exchange for Phillips, Quinn said, but the pirates reneged on their agreement.

"We returned him, but they didn't return the captain," Quinn said.

It is common for the crews of merchant vessels to travel through the area unarmed, despite the risk of pirate attacks, experts have said. An armed crew could provoke a firefight that would endanger the crew's lives or its cargo, which often contains flammable or explosive material.

John Reinhart, chief executive and president of Maersk Line Ltd., said the crew can try to outrun the pirate boats or turn fire hoses on anyone trying to board the ship, "but we do not carry arms."

The vessel was carrying relief supplies for USAID, the U.N. World Food Program and the Christian charities WorldVision and Catholic Relief Services. The U.N. agency said its portion of the cargo included nearly 4,100 metric tons of corn-soya blend bound for Somalia and Uganda, and another 990 metric tons of vegetable oil for refugees in Kenya.

Reuters - Spies penetrate electrical grid: report

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Spies penetrate electrical grid: report

Wednesday, Apr 08, 2009 6:24PM UTC

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cyberspies have penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

The spies came from China, Russia and other countries, and were believed to be on a mission to navigate the U.S. electrical system and its controls, the newspaper said, citing current and former U.S. national security officials.

The intruders have not sought to damage the power grid or other key infrastructure but officials said they could try during a crisis or war, the paper said in a report on its website.

"The Chinese have attempted to map our infrastructure, such as the electrical grid," a senior intelligence official told the Journal. "So have the Russians."

The espionage appeared pervasive across the United States and does not target a particular company or region, said a former Department of Homeland Security official.

"There are intrusions, and they are growing," the former official told the paper, referring to electrical systems. "There were a lot last year."

The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama was not immediately available for comment on the newspaper report.

Authorities investigating the intrusions have found software tools left behind that could be used to destroy infrastructure components, the senior intelligence official said. He added, "If we go to war with them, they will try to turn them on."

Officials said water, sewage and other infrastructure systems also were at risk.

Protecting the electrical grid and other infrastructure is a key part of the Obama administration's cybersecurity review, which is to be completed next week.

The sophistication of the U.S. intrusions, which extend beyond electric to other key infrastructure systems, suggests that China and Russia are mainly responsible, according to intelligence officials and cybersecurity specialists.

While terrorist groups could develop the ability to penetrate U.S. infrastructure, they do not appear to have yet mounted attacks, these officials say.

(Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Jon Boyle)

CNN - U.S. crew retakes hijacked ship, Pentagon says

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U.S. crew retakes hijacked ship, Pentagon says

American crew members have regained control of their U.S.-flagged ship from pirates who seized it off the coast of Somalia, a Pentagon official said Wednesday.

Four hijackers boarded the Maersk Alabama earlier in the day and one is in custody, according to Pentagon officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The three others tried to escape, and their status is unknown, they said.

But the chief executive officer of the company that owns the Maersk Alabama played down the report that the vessel has been retaken by U.S. crew members, who are unarmed.

"We have no facts that confirm the ship has been retaken," John Reinhart, CEO and president of Norfolk, Virginia-based Maersk Line Ltd., said at a news conference 12 hours after the hijacking.

He warned against speculation.

"I believe it's premature to comment on that, and I don't think it's in the best interest of the safety of the crew to comment on that at this time," Reinhart said.

Pirates boarded the container vessel at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, about 350 miles off Somalia's coast, Reinhart said. Twenty American crew members were on board, a Maersk spokesman said.

Reinhart said the crew is believed to be safe.

"We had one communications earlier today from the crew; we were told the crew was safe," he said.

A source told CNN's Barbara Starr that pirates took control of the vessel about 17 minutes after the ship made a distress call.

Reinhart said the company has had no direct contact with the hijackers. The crew has secure rooms aboard the vessel and are urged to avoid "active engagements" with hijackers, he said.

"They'd be outgunned," Reinhart said. "They don't have any weapons. It would be inappropriate for them to decide to become heroes. We'd like them to come home safely."

He said crews can try to outrun pirate boats or turn their hoses on anyone trying to board the ship.

"We have ways to push back but we do not carry arms," Reinhart said.

The Maersk Alabama is still about 350 miles off the African coast, drifting at about one knot. The company has been in touch with "every government agency there is" since the incident was first reported, he said.

The vessel was carrying relief supplies for USAID, WorldVision and the United Nations' World Food Program, as well as various Christian charities, including Catholic Relief.

"There are starving people in Africa who need this food," Reinhart said.