NATO warship thwarts hijack, seizes explosives

NATO warship thwarts hijack, seizes explosives

NAIROBI, Kenya — Special forces on a Portuguese warship seized explosives from suspected Somali pirates after thwarting an attack on an oil tanker but later freed the 19 men. Hours later and hundreds of miles away, another band of pirates hijacked a cargo ship, a NATO spokesman said Saturday.

Pirates are holding 17 ships and around 300 crew, including the Greek-owned cargo ship Ariana, hijacked overnight with its Ukrainian crew.

The attack on the Ariana, about 1,000 miles from the sea corridor NATO guards and the seizure of explosives from the group that attacked the crude oil tanker MV Kition may indicate the pirates are adapting their tactics as crews become better trained in counter- piracy measures.

This time, it’s real: Idaho governor joins Twitter

BOISE, Idaho — A bogus Twitter account set up five weeks ago in the name of Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has been shut down — only to reopen with the real governor sending out tweets.

The popular social networking and micro-blogging site allows messages, called tweets, of 140 characters.

The Idaho Attorney General’s Office tracked down the creator of the fake account, who said he was engaging in satire.

State officials weren’t amused and complained to Twitter officials, who closed the fake account.

Later that day it reopened and the real governor sent out his first two messages, one of which was an update on what the state is doing about swine flu.

Police: Driver caused $26,000 in damages

FREMONT, Neb. — Police say a woman arrested in Nebraska on suspicion of drunken driving hit fences, garages and a house as she left a $26,000 trail of destruction.

Sgt. Ed Watts said the woman’s car struck a fence while she was trying to turn into an alley Thursday night. He says the car next hit a utility pole and then a garage while trying to turn into it. Wyatt said the car then crossed a yard, rammed a fence and hit a house and garage.

Police said they arrested 58-year-old Fremont resident Janis Brown, who posted a $200 bond and was released from jail. Authorities say the woman’s car also had about $5,000 in damages.

Attempts to reach Brown to comment were unsuccessful. There is no public listing for her phone number.

Prom limo driver charged with drunken driving

LOWELL, Mass. — A limousine driver hired to take a group of high school students to the prom has been arrested after the students suspected he had been drinking.

Lowell police said 45-year-old Brian Harrison of Tewksbury, Mass., was charged late Friday with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence.

Police said two female students that Harrison picked up suspected he may have been drunk. One called a parent, who called police.

The students, from Lowell Catholic High School, refused to get into the limo, and the driver left. Police said he returned later, apologized and tried to persuade the students to get into the limo.

Harrison was released on bail and will be arraigned Monday in Lowell District Court.

2 N.Y. men accused of stealing, eating calf

PALMYRA, N.Y. — Two unemployed, hungry men stole a calf from a neighbor’s barn, shot it with an arrow and slit its throat before roasting the meat, police said.

David Lochner, 21, and Timothy Welch, 18, were camping outside Palmyra, 20 miles southeast of Rochester, several weeks ago when a dairy farmer reported his calf missing, said State Police Investigator John Stubbe.

Authorities found a bloody bow and remains near the barn and in a river. The men first said they had shot a deer. But Stubbe said authorities later determined that the two had walked from their campsite to Brandon Hoad’s barn and broke in.

Lochner and Welch remain jailed on $25,000 bail each. County police didn’t know whether they have attorneys.

Israeli ambassador chosen

JERUSALEM — A New York-born and Princeton-educated historian and commentator on Middle East affairs has been chosen Israel’s next ambassador to the U.S., several Israeli media reported Saturday.

According to the online edition of the newspaper Haaretz, Michael B. Oren’s selection by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman will be submitted to today’s Cabinet meeting for approval. Oren will replace Salai Meridor.

Combined dispatches