In Brief

BP spill becomes Gulf’s biggest
NEW ORLEANS -
BP’s massive oil spill became the largest ever in the Gulf of Mexico by yesterday based on the highest of the federal government’s estimates, an ominous record that underscores the oil giant’s dire need to halt the gusher.

Turkey, Israel hold talks on mending fencesISTANBUL – Turkey told Israel at face-to-face talks in Brussels this week what it should do to mend ties damaged when Israeli commandos stormed a Gaza aid ship more than a month ago, Turkish officials said yesterday.German policy changes possible after debacleBERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government called for unity yesterday after rebels forced a humiliating vote over the presidency that could lead to a watering down of her austerity package.Vengeful new militant group in PakistanISLAMABAD – Pakistani authorities now believe a dangerous new militant group, out to avenge a deadly army assault on a mosque in Islamabad three years ago, has carried out several major bombings in the capital previously blamed on the Taliban.Clinton to calm allies in E Europe, CaucasusWASHINGTON – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton travelled to eastern Europe and the troubled Caucasus region yesterday on a mission to allay the concerns of regional allies over newly invigorated US-Russian ties.Australia’s ‘Dr Death’ sentenced to 7 yearsBRISBANE – A surgeon dubbed ‘Dr Death’ in Australia, Jayant Patel, 60, for a string of botched operations was sentenced yesterday to seven years in prison for killing three patients and permanently harming another.