NEW YORK: New York City began its first day of fuel rationing yesterday but there was relief for tens of thousands of people who got back electricity disrupted during superstorm Sandy. Rationing was ordered in response to massive lines at gas stations, with cars carrying odd numbered license plates allowed to fill up on odd-numbered dates and even plates on even days. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a radio interview he didn’t know if the scheme, already in place in New Jersey, would bring relief. Meanwhile, the US Department of Energy said that electricity outages were being steadily reduced, although power companies say that some neighborhoods will remain in the dark for many days to come because flood damage was so severe. According to the latest figures, 492,080 homes and businesses remained without power across the region, down from 761,418 late on Thursday. In New York State alone, the number was 230,889 customers, or three percent of the total. That was down from 343,211 customers on Thursday.
New Anglican leader backs women bishops
LONDON: The new leader of the world’s Anglicans said Friday that he backed women bishops and would examine his thinking on gay marriage, tackling issues that have divided followers across the world. Former oil executive Justin Welby was appointed as the next archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Church of England, capping a remarkable rise for the 56-year-old who has only been a bishop for a year. In March he will replace Rowan Williams, who will retire as archbishop in January after a decade spent battling divisions in the worldwide Anglican communion of around 80 million people.
Gunmen kill three policemen in Nigeria
KANO: Gunmen yesterday killed three policemen and burnt three churches as well as a school in Nigeria’s volatile northeast, hard hit by Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, a military spokesman said. “In the early hours of today, gunmen attacked the divisional police station at Bonny Yadi ... Yobe state. Three policemen killed, some arms carted away,” army Lieutenant Lazarus Eli said in a statement. He also confirmed the accounts of residents that the gunmen stormed the town about 3am in several cars and made for the police station, fired shots and killed the policemen.
Belarus leader sacks security agency chief
MINSK: Belarus strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko has sacked the head of his powerful KGB security agency following a mysterious suicide within its most senior ranks, officials said yesterday. Lukashenko has replaced KGB chief Vadim Zaitsev with Security Council secretary Leonid Maltsev, the president’s office said in a statement. “Everyone knows about KGB Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Kazak’s suicide,” the statement quoted Maltsev as saying in what appeared to be the first public indication of his death.
Ex-defence minister of Georgia sent to jail
TBILISI: Georgia’s ex-defence minister was sentenced to two months of pre-trial detention yesterday in the first major case against officials from President Mikheil Saakashvili’s recently ousted government. Former defence chief Bacho Akhalaia is accused of misuse of office after allegedly physically and verbally abusing six soldiers, and could face up to eight years in prison if convicted. He is also charged with “illegal deprivation of liberty” for allegedly holding an unnamed man captive for several hours and assaulting him. Agencies
