Natural-gas dispute

Natural-gas dispute

KIEV, Ukraine — A top Ukrainian official warned Saturday that European customers could see serious natural-gas disruptions in about two weeks if the energy dispute between Russia and Ukraine is not resolved, and the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom accused Ukraine of boycotting contract negotiations.

As Russia and Ukraine traded accusations in their bitter dispute over energy prices, four European nations — Romania, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria — all reported some supply drops in natural gas Saturday.

Blagojevich vs. Reid

CHICAGO — Illinois’ embattled governor complained through his spokesman Saturday that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is guilty of a conflict of interest in that Reid telephoned him in early December to discuss the seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Lucio Guerrero, spokesman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said he didn’t know firsthand which candidates the Nevada Democrat supported during the call, but said he knows Reid’s candidates did not include Roland Burris, the man the governor recently picked for Obama’s seat.

Senate leaders have vowed to oppose the appointment of Burris.

Quake rocks Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A series of powerful earthquakes at dawn killed at least three people in remote eastern Indonesia today, cutting power lines and badly damaging buildings.

A 7.6-magnitude quake struck at 4:43 a.m. local time about 85 miles from Manokwari, Papua, at a depth of 22 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was followed by a strong 7.5 aftershock.

Three bodies were found, including a 10-year-old girl, hospital director Hengky Tewu told The Associated Press.

Autopsy of Travolta’s son

FREEPORT, Bahamas — The Bahamas will use two pathologists to ensure a careful autopsy on John Travolta’s son, who died at the actor’s vacation home in Grand Bahama, the territory’s health minister said Saturday.

Dr. Hubert Minnis told The Associated Press that he decided to use a second specialist to guarantee a thorough assessment of what might have caused Jett Travolta’s death.

The 16-year-old was found collapsed in a bathroom Friday after having a seizure and hitting his head on the bathtub, said a police officer who declined to be named because she was not authorized to speak on the matter.

Confused by the IRS

DETROIT — James Howarth is a little confused by two letters he has received from the Internal Revenue Service.

The Detroit defense lawyer received one letter in November that said he owed the IRS money — 5 cents.

He was warned that he should pay “to avoid additional penalty and/or interest,” the Detroit Free Press reported Saturday.

Howarth says he then received a second letter telling him the government owes him money — 4 cents.

He was told he would have to request the refund since it’s less than $1.

“When I owe them a nickel, I must pay them. It’s not optional,” he said. “But when they owe me, I have to ask for it.”

Howarth says he’s not sure if there is a connection between the two notices, or if the refund represents a recalculation of the original bill.

The perplexed lawyer says he called an IRS 800 telephone number but gave up after spending a long time on hold.

IRS spokesman Luis D. Garcia says the agency doesn’t comment on individual accounts.

Associated Press