The main suspect in a failed plot to explode a car bomb in Times Square last month has pleaded guilty to federal charges in the case. 30-year old Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized U.S. citizen and a native of Pakistan, said he considered himself a Muslin soldier and that the attack was a response to the United States terrorizing Muslim people in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shahzad faces up to life in prison when sentencing takes place in October. Source Link
Two months after an offshore rig exploded, the price tag for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has reached $2 billion. Meanwhile, the man overseeing a $20 billion fund set up by BP says he wants to speed up the payment of emergency claims. Kenneth Feinberg told CNN that many people are in many people are in "desperate financial straits" and need immediate help. Feinberg says BP has paid out over $100 million for claims that have already topped half a billion dollars. Source Link
The summer driving season began on Memorial Day Weekend with unexpected lower gasoline prices, but don't expect the same break if you're hitting the road for July 4th. The latest surveys show gasoline prices are back on the rise toward a national average that's closer to $3 a gallon. Experts say crude oil prices are increasing as fears over the European debt crisis have eased and the demand for for gasoline is expected to rise in China. Source Link
