Second CP Rail spill in a week leaks four barrels of oil

(Reuters) - Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd suffered its second oil spill in a week on Wednesday, but said just four barrels of light crude leaked from tanker cars in a morning derailment in a remote area of northern Ontario.

CP, Canada's No. 2 railway, said 20 cars in a 128-car mixed-freight train destined for Montreal derailed near White River, about 700 kilometers (400 miles) northeast of Toronto. It said two tankers temporarily leaked crude following the incident.

CP said the oil has been contained and there were no injuries.

The spill comes a week after 14 cars on a 94-car CP train derailed near Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, spilling close to 15,000 gallons (360 barrels) of Canadian oil bound for U.S. refiners and raising questions about the safety of shipping crude by rail.

That was first major spill since a boom in North American oil production prompted a huge rise in crude-by-rail transport as oil output began to outgrow the existing pipeline network.

The railway and Canada's Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the White River derailment. The company could not yet say when the line will reopen.

CP shares were down C$3.11 at C$123.23 late on Wednesday afternoon on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The White River area is best known as the birthplace of Winnie, the London Zoo bear that inspired the A.A. Milne's children's classic Winnie the Pooh.

($1=$1.01 Canadian)

(Reporting by Allison Martell and Scott Haggett; Editing by Janet Guttsman, Sofina Mirza-Reid and Peter Galloway)

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UPDATE 2-Cricket-Ryder responding, second man arrested - police

(Updates after media conference)

By Greg Stutchbury

WELLINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) - New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder's condition was improving and he was responding to medical staff and his family on Friday as police said they had arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the alleged assault.

New Zealand Police (NZP) said the man had been charged with assault on Thursday and would appear in court on April 4.

They were also speaking to a 37-year-old man, a relative of the man charged, in relation to the incidents, Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Archer told reporters on Friday.

Ryder, 28, was rushed to hospital early on Thursday with serious head injuries after being involved in two altercations outside a bar and fast food restaurant in Merivale, a suburb of Christchurch.

Police said on Friday it now appeared that only two men were involved in the first altercation with Ryder, and one in the second.

Local media reported Ryder, who was in a critical condition on Thursday, had sustained a fractured skull and a collapsed lung in the alleged assault.

New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief executive Heath Mills said that Ryder's condition had improved on Friday.

"He has been responsive and has been interacting with his family and his medical team, Jesse is still in an induced coma and is still needing support with breathing following an injury to his lungs," Mills told the TVNZ website.

"In terms of a head injury it cannot be fully determined at this stage what the effects of a knock to Jesse's head are, we will know more once he comes out of the coma."

Ryder had been expected to travel to India for the lucrative Twenty20 tournament with the Delhi Daredevils this week, but had been in a self-imposed exile from international cricket after a series of alcohol-related incidents.

Despite publicly swearing off alcohol, Ryder had begun drinking again in recent weeks, Mills said on Thursday.

Police, however, told reporters on Thursday that they did not think alcohol was a factor in the alleged assault.

Ryder was not expected to return to international cricket for New Zealand's tour of England in May-June, following their 0-0 draw in the recently completed home test series.

An aggressive batsman with a superb eye and delicate touch, Ryder has made 1,269 runs in 18 tests at an average of 40.93 with a highest score of 201 and 1,100 runs in 39 one-day internationals at 34.37. (Editing by Ian Ransom)

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Police confirm second Canadian linked to Algeria gas plant attack

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian police said on Saturday that they had identified a second Canadian among the dead suspects in a January attack and hostage-taking at an Algerian gas plant.

Around 70 people died when Algerian troops stormed the Tigantourine desert gas plant near the town of In Amenas and ended the siege. Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said at the time that a Canadian gunman had coordinated the operation.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were dispatched to Algeria to investigate. A spokesman for Canada's national police force said in an e-mail on Saturday that a second Canadian had been identified from the remains of the alleged attackers.

"Our investigation into this matter continues and no further information will be given at this time," the spokesman said.

U.S. intelligence officials had said in January that signs that Canadian citizens were involved in the attack by Islamist militants were of great concern to American authorities.

The possibility that Canadian citizens were involved in the attack on the facility in the Algerian desert raised concerns among security officials about a worrying nexus between North America and North African militants.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Jeffrey Hodgson in Toronto; Editing by David Brunnstrom)

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Police confirm second Canadian linked to Algeria gas plant attack

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian police said on Saturday that they had identified a second Canadian among the dead suspects in a January attack and hostage-taking at an Algerian gas plant.

Around 70 people died when Algerian troops stormed the Tigantourine desert gas plant near the town of In Amenas and ended the siege. Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said at the time that a Canadian gunman had coordinated the operation.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were dispatched to Algeria to investigate. A spokesman for Canada's national police force said in an e-mail on Saturday that a second Canadian had been identified from the remains of the alleged attackers.

"Our investigation into this matter continues and no further information will be given at this time," the spokesman said.

U.S. intelligence officials had said in January that signs that Canadian citizens were involved in the attack by Islamist militants were of great concern to American authorities.

The possibility that Canadian citizens were involved in the attack on the facility in the Algerian desert raised concerns among security officials about a worrying nexus between North America and North African militants.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Jeffrey Hodgson in Toronto; Editing by David Brunnstrom)

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Police confirm second Canadian linked to Algeria gas plant attack

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian police said on Saturday that they had identified a second Canadian among the dead suspects in a January attack and hostage-taking at an Algerian gas plant.

Around 70 people died when Algerian troops stormed the Tigantourine desert gas plant near the town of In Amenas and ended the siege. Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said at the time that a Canadian gunman had coordinated the operation.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were dispatched to Algeria to investigate. A spokesman for Canada's national police force said in an e-mail on Saturday that a second Canadian had been identified from the remains of the alleged attackers.

"Our investigation into this matter continues and no further information will be given at this time," the spokesman said.

U.S. intelligence officials had said in January that signs that Canadian citizens were involved in the attack by Islamist militants were of great concern to American authorities.

The possibility that Canadian citizens were involved in the attack on the facility in the Algerian desert raised concerns among security officials about a worrying nexus between North America and North African militants.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Jeffrey Hodgson in Toronto; Editing by David Brunnstrom)

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Williamson, Taylor frustrate England in second test

By Greg Stutchbury

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and persistent light rain on Sunday ensured that New Zealand's second test against England at the Basin Reserve is most likely to end in a damp draw on Monday.

The hosts were on 162 for two after the rain had disrupted much of the fourth day's play with 39 overs lost after lunch and 16 overs at the end of day due to more rain after play had resumed at 1710 local (0410 GMT).

Williamson (55) and Taylor (41) had combined for an unbroken 81-run partnership in New Zealand's second innings after being forced to follow on, though they were still 49 runs from making England bat again, before they were forced off again at 1730 and despite attempts to restart, play was abandoned at 1755.

"There was still a lot of time left in the game when we arrived here this morning, but in terms of making sure we don't lose the game it (the rain) has helped," New Zealand batsmen Peter Fulton told reporters.

"There was a slight chance we could have batted well today and piled on some runs and put some pressure on England later tomorrow."

New Zealand's MetService has forecast a southerly change and persistent rain for the Wellington region throughout Monday and a draw is now the most likely result.

"We just have to turn up tomorrow and wait and see how the day turns out. If the weather is good we still have a lot of work to do."

England's only breakthrough came in the first session when Fulton prodded at a full-length James Anderson delivery and the ball flew to Alastair Cook at first slip.

Fulton's dismissal for 45 left New Zealand 81-2 and with Monty Panesar extracting turn from the pitch, the hosts were nervously facing the prospect of losing the match.

Taylor, who was on a king pair, negotiated his first delivery and got off the mark when Kevin Pietersen misfielded at mid-on, gradually growing in confidence as he fought off urges to attack Panesar, who was giving the ball more air.

Their partnership became well established as they inched closer to lunch and Williamson brought up his sixth test half century with his seventh boundary when he pulled a short Joe Root delivery to midwicket shortly before the break.

Light rain then began falling at lunch and ground staff placed covers over the wicket block at the start of the break, but intermittent, persistent showers throughout the afternoon meant only a further six overs were able to be bowled.

New Zealand added nine runs before they were forced off again for the final time, with Fulton praising his young colleagues.

"Ross and Kane put in a solid effort there in what play we did have to leave us reasonably confident we can negotiate tomorrow," Fulton said.

"But it's a funny old game and we have to turn up with the right attitude."

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Cricket-Rain delays start of final day in second test, play unlikely

WELLINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - Persistent rain overnight and drizzle on Monday delayed the start of play on the final day of the second test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve.

New Zealand's MetService has forecast a southerly change with heavy rain later in the morning, which will all but end any slim chance of play.

New Zealand Cricket said a decision on whether the match would be abandoned would not be made until later in the day.

Much of Sunday's fourth day was also washed out as intermittent rain showers swept across the Wellington region resulting in a near farcical situation as the umpires cleared the ground for play three times, only for the rain to return and force further delays.

Coincidentally, New Zealand's government declared the entire North Island of the country a drought zone last week after a summer with unprecedented long dry spells. The Wellington region is under a ban on the use of water outdoors.

The hosts were 162 for two in their second innings when play was called off on Sunday, with Kane Williamson on 55 not out and Ross Taylor on 41, though they were still 49 runs from making England bat again.

The first test at University Oval in Dunedin also ended in a rain-effected draw, with the third and final match of the series at Auckland's Eden Park from March 22-26.

(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Ed Osmond)

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Cricket-England solid at lunch in second test v New Zealand

By Greg Stutchbury

WELLINGTON, March 14 (Reuters) - England's Nick Compton and Jonathan Trott negated any slim advantage New Zealand may have hoped to get from the Basin Reserve pitch to guide the visitors to 75 for one at lunch on the first day of the second test on Thursday.

Compton was on 34 while Trott was on 23 at the break.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum had won the toss and chose to bowl at a sun-drenched Basin Reserve to extract whatever assistance they could get from the pitch expected to offer more pace and bounce than University Oval in Dunedin.

England captain Alastair Cook (17) was the only wicket to fall when he appeared to get through his shot a little ahead of the delivery from left arm pace bowler Neil Wagner and it spooned to Peter Fulton at mid-on.

Cook had looked comfortable at the crease before his dismissal and shook his head as he despondently walked off.

Apart from the early breakthrough, New Zealand's bowlers squandered the best of the bowling conditions with the new ball, failing to force the England batsmen to play at deliveries while Trent Boult in particular bowled both sides of the wicket.

Compton, who scored his maiden test century in the second innings in the drawn first test at University Oval in Dunedin, demonstrated his new found confidence with two sumptuous shots off Wagner immediately after Cook was dismissed.

The first was pulled just behind square to the leg side boundary and he then smashed a drive to the extra cover boundary two balls later.

Both sides were unchanged from the drawn first test, with McCullum expressing such confidence in his side after their performance in Dunedin he told reporters on Wednesday the team would be the same.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen had been under an injury cloud before the match with a knee issue that had forced him from the field several times in Dunedin, but Cook said at the toss he had recovered enough to take his place in the lineup.

The third and final match of the series is at Eden Park in Auckland from March 22-26.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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Cricket-Bracewell still injured, NZ unchanged for second test

DUNEDIN, New Zealand, March 11 (Reuters) - New Zealand pace bowler Doug Bracewell has not recovered from a cut foot in time for the second test against England in Wellington, the team said on their website (www.blackcaps.com) on Monday.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson named an unchanged 13-man squad for the match at the Basin Reserve starting on Thursday with left-arm pace bowler Neil Wagner, who took seven wickets in the drawn first match in Dunedin expected to fill the third seamer role again.

Ian Butler, called up as cover for the injured Bracewell will remain with the squad.

Bracewell, who cut his foot on glass after clearing up following a party at his house in Napier and missed the first test, is still in contention for the third test, Hesson said.

"I was very pleased with both the bowling and batting efforts in Dunedin and we plan to build on that in Wellington," the coach said in a statement.

New Zealand produced a credible performance in the first match, bowling England out for 167 in their first innings and scoring 460 for nine declared with debutant opener Hamish Rutherford making 171.

Alastair Cook's side then batted for almost five sessions to save the test, reaching 421 for six, a lead of 128 runs, before Brendon McCullum and Cook agreed there was no chance of a result with 15 overs remaining on the final day on Sunday.

The second test is from March 14-18 before the third and final match begins in Auckland on March 22.

New Zealand squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Hamish Rutherford, Peter Fulton, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling, Tim Southee, Bruce Martin, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Tom Latham, Ian Butler.

(reporting by Greg Stutchbury, editing by Ed Osmond)

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