Obama monitors response to Joplin, Missouri tornado from abroad

President Obama was in Ireland Monday, kicking off a week-long tour through Europe, but he is monitoring the aftermath of the Missouri,tornado that killed at least 89 people Sunday.

The president received multiple updates on the tornado damage throughout the course of his flight to Ireland, a White House official told reporters. He instructed his staff to keep him updated and to stay closely coordinated with state and local officials going forward.

Mr. Obama called Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon this morning "to personally extend his condolences and to express that all of the families of Joplin affected by the severe tornadoes are in his thoughts and prayers," according to White House spokesman Nicholas Shapiro. "The president assured the governor that FEMA [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] will remain in close contact and coordination with state and local officials."

The president has directed FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to travel to Missouri to ensure the state has the support it needs. In addition, in anticipation of requests for assistance, a FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) is en route to Joplin, the White House said. This team will work with FEMA officials already in Missouri, as well as state and local officials, to identify disaster response needs.

Taliban storm Pakistan naval base

By South Asia correspondent Sally Sara

A deadly siege is continuing in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi after Taliban militants stormed a naval base.

Pakistani police say at least 10 gunmen are still inside the Mehran Naval base in Karachi.

The siege began last night (local time), when the militants stormed the complex, opening fire with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades.

It is believed up to seven people have been killed.

Police say several people, including military personnel, have been taken hostage.

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack and say the gunmen have enough supplies and ammunition to continue fighting for three days.

Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik says an operation is underway to kill or capture the terrorists.

He says they attacked from the rear of the base.

"The terrorists have taken over a building within. This is an act of terrorism against Pakistan," he said.

"The Taliban and Al Qaeda had announced earlier that they would attack the armed forces and they have done this first act. Pakistan is suffering."

Hon Hai Tumbles After Explosion at Foxconn Factory in China

May 23 (Bloomberg) -- Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the maker of Apple Inc. iPhones and iPads, tumbled to the lowest in almost two years in Taipei trading after an explosion at a factory in Chengdu, China, killed three workers.

The company, Foxconn Technology Group's flagship unit, dropped as much as 5.2 percent to NT$97.70, the lowest since August 2009. In Hong Kong, handset-manufacturing unit Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. tumbled as much as 5.7 percent.

The maker of Apple Inc.'s iPhones and iPads said the explosion, which also left 15 employees injured, started with combustible dust at about 7 p.m. on May 20. The incident comes a year after a spate of suicides at Foxconn's main manufacturing base in Shenzhen prompted the electronics maker to raise wages and move more Chinese production inland.

"We expect Hon Hai's original facilities in Shenzhen could quickly make up some of the shortfall from Chengdu by ramping up the idle capacity," Kirk Yang, an analyst at Barclays Capital in Hong Kong, wrote in a note today. "We would see any resulting price weakness as a sensible time to add to positions."

Foxconn spokesman Edmund Ding didn't answer calls to his mobile phone. The company, which is working with local government officials to investigate the cause of the explosion, has declined to comment on the details of the accident beyond the statement.

'Serious' Condition

"All operations at the affected workshop remain suspended and production at all other workshops that carry out similar processing functions have also been halted pending the results of the investigation," Foxconn said in its statement. "All other production operations in our facilities in China continue operating normally."

Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital has admitted four workers in "serious" condition with large areas of their bodies burnt, said Li Wei, a doctor at the hospital burn unit, said by phone today. He declined to comment further.

Apple, the world's second-biggest company by market value, said it's in contact with Foxconn to investigate the incident.

"We are working closely with Foxconn at this point to understand what caused this terrible event," Steve Dowling, a spokesman for Cupertino, California-based Apple, said in a May 20 phone interview. "We are deeply saddened by the tragedy."

The $2 billion plant where the explosion took place opened in October, Xinhua reported May 20. The facility makes Apple's iPad 2, the Beijing-based Economic Observer reported on its website, citing unidentified company workers.

Police in Chengdu said they concluded preliminarily that the explosion, in a polishing workshop, wasn't intentionally caused, China News Service said.

--With assistance from Weiyi Lim in Singapore, Jiang Jianguo in Shanghai. Editors: Young-Sam Cho, Dave McCombs

Suspect arrested in Giant fan’s beating

Los Angeles police released the name of a suspect in the Dodger Stadium beating of a Giants fan two months ago. Police said in a statement last night thatGiovanni Ramirez, 31, of Los Angeles was booked for assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on $1 million bail. Ramirez was taken into custody early yesterday morning as detectives and SWAT team members working on a tip from a parole officer served a search warrant at an apartment building. Police chief Charlie Beck called Ramirez the “primary aggressor’’ in the March 31 beating by two men of Bryan Stow, 42, a paramedic who remains in critical condition in a San Francisco hospital.

Hamilton, Cruz, Utley to return todayAfter finishing their rehab assignments at Triple A Round Rock, Rangers outfielders Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz are expected to be activated from the disabled list before today’s game against the White Sox. Hamilton, last year’s American League MVP, is recovering from a broken bone in his upper right arm. Cruz was rehabbing a strained right quadriceps muscle . . . Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will be activated from the 15-day DL before tonight’s game against the Reds. The five-time All-Star, who was rehabbing at Single A Clearwater, hasn’t played this season because of tendinitis in his right knee. The Phillies also placed righthander Joe Blanton on the DL, and optioned infielderPete Orr to Triple A Lehigh Valley while recalling righthander Vance Worley . . . Braves righthander Tim Hudson, who gave up eight runs in 3 2/3 innings and hit three batters during a 9-0 loss to the Angels Friday, returned to Atlanta to have his back examined and is expected to miss Wednesday’s start at Pittsburgh . . . Leonel Liriano, one of the doctors who assisted in a stem-cell procedure last year on Yankees righthander Bartolo Colon, said that 10 other pitchers whom he did not identify expressed interest in undergoing the treatment. Colon, 37, was treated in April 2010 with a procedure designed to regenerate tissue in his shoulder and elbow.

COLLEGES

Tufts lacrosse team advances to finalSean Kirwan scored four goals and D.J. Hessler had two goals and three assists as the Tufts men’s lacrosse team defeated previously unbeaten RIT (19-1), 16-12, in Rochester, N.Y., to advance to the NCAA Division 3 championship game. The Jumbos (18-2) will play Salisbury for the national title Sunday in Baltimore. Tufts defeated Salisbury, 9-6, last year to win the school’s first NCAA team championship . . . Kevin Jefferis pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings and tournament MVP Tim Clark had four hits as Western New England (42-9) blanked Bridgewater State (36-10), 9-0, to win the NCAA Division 3 New England regional title in Springfield. Western New England will play New York regional champion Keystone College (36-10) Friday in Appleton, Wis. . . . Kyle Cummings and Nick DeProspo hit homers, and tournament MVP Kevin Pettine went the distance and allowed six hits as Southern Connecticut State beat Adelphi, 2-1, in Rindge, N.H., in the Division 2 Eastern Regionals to clinch a spot in the College World Series. The Owls (43-7-1) also reached the CWS in 2005.

Bosh carries Heat over Bulls 96-85 for 2-1 lead

Bosh carries Heat over Bulls 96-85 for 2-1 lead

May 23, 2011, 3:42 a.m. EDT

Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — Chris Bosh has fought the perception all year. He's the third wheel, the forgotten star, the one who would never shine alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

The Miami Heat never saw it that way.

This was why.

Bosh made 13 of his final 15 shots on the way to a 34-point night, James finished with 22 points and 10 assists, and the Heat remained unbeaten at home in the postseason by beating the Chicago Bulls 96-85 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday.

A 9-0 run in the fourth quarter helped Miami pull away for good and grab a 2-1 lead in the series.

"C-B had it going," James said. "And when we have someone going on our team, we continue to give the ball to him and continue to feed off their energy offensively. And he brought it home for us tonight."

Game 4 is Tuesday in Miami.

Wade added 17 points and nine rebounds for Miami, which is 7-0 at home in the playoffs and handed the team that finished with the NBA's best record its first losing streak since Feb. 5-7. Udonis Haslem sealed it with a jumper with 1:29 left, putting Miami up 93-84.

Wade was the one who got the phone call that started putting the move toward a Miami "Big 3" into overdrive, when Bosh dialed him up last summer and said, "I'm feeling Miami." With that, Wade decided to stay with the Heat, and James made his decision to join them a day or so later.

They came together to win titles and are two wins away from heading to the NBA finals.

"Obviously, I'm very happy for him," Wade said. "A lot of people don't understand how difficult it's been to make the adjustment, to play with two other players who dominate the ball so much. Some games he gets it, some games he doesn't, so to find a flow, to find a rhythm, sometimes it's tough."

Not on Sunday, it wasn't.

Bosh missed his first three shots, and never worried. He was in a rhythm. He was catching the ball where he wanted. And then midway through the first quarter, he finally saw the ball go through the hoop for the first time.

"That was good enough for me," Bosh said.

And more than good enough for the Heat.

Carlos Boozer finished with 26 points and 17 rebounds for Chicago, which had won the first four meetings of the season with Miami. Derrick Rose had 20 points, but struggled from the field again, making only 8 of his 19 shots.

The Bulls held James and Wade to a combined 12-of-30 showing from the floor. Against Bosh, they had no answer.

"It's definitely frustrating," Rose said. "Our will wasn't there tonight. They still found a way to win."

Against the NBA's top field-goal percentage defense this season, Miami shot 51 percent and scored 53 points after halftime. Plus, the Heat were 25 of 29 from the foul line, while Chicago was 16 for 21.

"Rebounding was good," Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Challenging their shots wasn't."

That was especially true for one critical stretch of the fourth quarter, when Miami turned a four-point game into one where it had full control. The 9-0 spurt, capped by a three-point play from James with 5:07 left, was all it took to give the Heat an 87-74 edge, and the margin never was less than seven again.

So, meet the leading scorer in the East finals.

It's not Rose, Wade or James. It's Bosh — who took a bit of heat before the series began, when Boozer was quoted saying that Miami has only two great players, a clear nod toward the Heat having a so-called "Big Three."

"I always have respect," Boozer said Sunday night, asked about Bosh's game. "I never didn't have it."

It's mildly ironic that they're going head-to-head in this series, given how last summer went.

The Bulls and Boozer agreed on a five-year deal worth around $80 million, those talks wrapping up almost simultaneously with Bosh — who was a Chicago target last summer as well — deciding to join Miami.

On Sunday, Bosh could have taken a victory lap after the two-great-players comment by Boozer. He declined at first, then acknowledged it got to him.

"You can find inspiration in all kinds of different ways," Bosh said. "But I mean, it does nothing but help."

Boozer made a pair of free throws with 6:39 left to pull Chicago to 78-74, the outcome clearly hanging in the balance. Minutes later, that was no longer the case — not after Miami scored nine straight to build more than enough of a cushion.

It was a rough day all around for Chicago.

The Bulls spent part of their pregame debunking a report by ESPN The Magazine, which quoted Rose saying the league had a "huge" issue with performance-enhancing drugs in a story published earlier this month. Rose denied it Sunday, saying he does not recall being asked that question and insisting that he does not believe the NBA has a problem.

Another issue for the Bulls popped up in the first quarter. Joakim Noah went to the bench after picking up his second foul with 6:26 left, and after taking a seat television cameras showed him appearing to direct a profanity toward someone seated nearby.

"I got caught up," Noah said. "A fan said something and I said something back. I apologize."

The NBA did not comment on either matter.

Notes: Heat C Joel Anthony had five blocks. ... Noah missed all four of his shots. ... Heat C Jamaal Magloire turned 33 on Saturday, and was the fourth Miami player to have a birthday in a nine-day span, joining Mike Bibby (33), Eddie House (33) and Mario Chalmers (25). Bulls reserve and former Heat swingman Rasual Butler turns 32 on Monday.

Tornado kills dozens, leaves 'total devastation' in Missouri town

A coroner's official reported at least 30 people dead in Joplin, according to Reuters news agency, but the tornado's rampage through the middle of the southwestern Missouri town of 50,000 left officials concerned that the number could be much higher.

"It's total devastation," Gov. Jay Nixon said as he dispatched the National Guard and emergency rescue teams in a race to find survivors. Search-and-rescue efforts were expected to continue throughout the uneasy night.

"We are responding aggressively, quickly. We want to make sure as the night goes on that we're saving lives between now and dawn," the governor told CNN. "There are a number of injuries. It's going to be a long night and a difficult recovery."

President Obama said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was responding. "We commend the heroic efforts by those who have responded and who are working to help their friends and neighbors at this very difficult time," he said.

Phone service in and out of the city was largely cut off.

Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. John Hotz said the state had dispatched 50 state troopers and a mobile communications unit in an attempt to learn the extent of the damage and injuries. Another 19 officers would be en route in the morning, he said.

"It's a serious situation, but I can't give you an assessment of the damage or the injuries until we get reports," he said. "Certainly, we are doing everything we can to get help to the folks in the affected areas as soon as possible."

Hotz said there were reports of "a number" of tornados across Missouri.

In Minneapolis, a tornado tore through the northern end of the city Sunday afternoon, killing one person and injuring at least 30 others. The same turbulent weather spawned a tornado in Reading, Kan., Saturday night that killed one person and destroyed about 20 homes as parts of the town were pelted with hail the size of golf balls.

Violent thunderstorms, including lighting, hail and powerful winds, were threats throughout the evening Sunday across at least six Midwestern states as a cold front moved in to confront a moisture-rich, low-level air mass, the National Weather Service warned.

The tornado that struck Joplin at 5:45 p.m. threatened to rival the devastating twisters that plowed through the South on April 27, leaving more than 330 people dead, including 45 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Joplin residents said the twister slammed through a town already keeping a close eye on the boiling, dark clouds blustering overhead, blowing over 18-wheel tractor-trailers on Interstate 44 and ripping directly into St. John's Regional Medical Center, blasting medical debris for miles.

"It sounds like they got a direct hit," said Laurie Duff, spokeswoman for a hospital in Springfield, Mo., where patients from Joplin were being evacuated. "The second hospital in town also sustained some damage."

Triage centers and shelters were set up around Joplin. At Memorial Hall, a downtown entertainment venue, nurses and other emergency workers from area hospitals were treating critically injured patients.

The storm spread debris about 60 miles away, with medical records, X-rays, insulation and other items landing in Greene County, said Larry Woods, assistant director of the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management.

"It looks like a war zone," said Donald Davis, a chemotherapy nurse who was dining 35 miles away in Kansas when the tornado struck in Joplin, where he has lived much of his life. He said he contended with closed roads and downed power lines for nearly two hours to return home, where he found a scene of devastation in the center of the city.

It looked as if the tornado had traveled directly down 20th Street, Joplin's main east-west thoroughfare, and at least 13 blocks to the east, he said in a telephone interview.

"Just up and down 20th Street, it's just building after building. Houses destroyed. One of our largest grocery stores, destroyed. And there's a big apartment complex right next to it, probably had 150 apartments in it, it's flattened. Several churches gone. And big, nice homes — all just gone," he said.

From Staff and Wire Reports

Carl Edwards breezes to first victory in Sprint All-Star Race - USATODAY.com

Carl Edwards breezes to first victory in Sprint All-Star Race - USATODAY.com: "Yet the runaway winner still drove a heavily damaged car into victory lane.
In a race hyped as the epitome of NASCAR's no-holds-barred, 'Boys, have at it' era of high-speed lawlessness and tantalizing feuds, Carl Edwards obliterated any hope of drama and then promptly destroyed his car.
Edwards, who took the lead from runner-up Kyle Busch in the penultimate segment of the exhibition and led the final 15 laps, attempted to slide his No. 99 Ford through the frontstretch grass before taking his customary backflip. But his Fusion dug a monstrous divot in the sod and left the car's front end in pieces.
RESULTS: NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
PHOTO GALLERY: Top shots from the All-Star Race
SHOWDOWN: Ragan, Keselowski take top two spots
The damage was so significant, both Edwards and car owner Jack Roush figured he'd hit either a manhole cover or a drainage ditch"