US & World News, Wednesday 12/5

US & World Summary: --- OPEC Agrees No Oil Output Change (Abu Dhabi) -- Oil supplies wont be increasing. Thats the word from the Nigerian Oil Minister after a meeting of the OPEC countries. The decision comes after numerous calls from countries to rein in prices which are hovering near 90-dollars a barrel and have already flirted with the 100-dollar mark. Before the meeting even started OPEC minsters said they were already producing enough crude oil to meet the winter demand. OPEC has agreed to meet again in January to review todays decision. --- Everett Tanker Explosion Creates Commuter Hassles (Everett, MA) -- A tanker truck explosion overnight in Everett, Massachusetts has left the area looking like a war zone. Thats according to some eyewitnesses, who say a truck failed to make the intersection turn and tipped over. It exploded on impact, with the flames quickly engulfing 20 or more cars, and threatened an apartment building housing elderly residents. Scores of people were evacuated, but no one was seriously hurt. According to state police, the truck was carrying nine-thousand gallons of gasoline. --- Supreme Court To Hear Gitmo Detention Case (Washington, DC) -- Detaining suspected terrorists at Cubas Guantanamo Bay will be the focus of discussion today before the Supreme Court. The High Court will hear arguments on whether the detention of such suspects is constitutional. Lawyers for 36 prisoners at Gitmo say a 2006 law wrongfully denies them the opportunity to challenge those detentions in court. Some of the prisoners being held at the U.S. Naval Base in Cuba said theyve been there for six years but havent had any charges filed against them. --- General Electric Recalling Microwaves With Fire Hazard (Washington, DC) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission says General Electric is recalling more than 90-thousand microwave combo wall ovens. Officials say the door switch can overheat and ignite plastic components posing a fire hazard. GE reports 35 incidents of minor property damage and one incident in which a fire damaged kitchen cabinets. The recall includes the combo ovens sold under the GE, GE Profile, and Kenmore brands. They were sold in white, black, bisque and stainless steel. The brand name is printed on the lower left corner on the front of the door. Authorities say consumers should stop using the microwaves immediately. --- Car Bomb Explodes In Iraq (Baquba, Iraq) -- Five people are dead and dozens more injured after a car bomb exploded in Baquba 1/81/8baa-COO-bah3/83/8, Iraq. The town, located about 40 miles north of Baghdad, has had problems, partially because of the religious mix of its residents. The U.S. military says it will increase the number of troops in the province while decreasing the overall number of troops across the rest of the country. Overall, attacks in Iraq have fallen by 55-percent since a surge of 30-thousand U.S. troops was implemented last summer. --- Battle In Congress Looms Over Industry Practices (Washington, DC) -- Credit card companies who raise interest rates on good-standing customers are drawing concern on Capitol Hill. Yesterday, a Congressional committee heard tales of woe from some credit card customers over how companies determine how much to charge individual customers. According to "Business Week," many companies raise interest rates based on changing credit scores and not on whether a customer pays their account on time. Michigan Democrat Carl Levin says its not fair for credit card companies to raise a customers interest rate if the borrower is meeting their obligations and paying at least the minimum due on time. --- Actor Dennis Quaid & Wife Suing Drug Maker Over Labeling (Los Angeles, CA) -- Actor Dennis Quaid and his wife are suing one drug manufacturer over the apparent accidental overdose of their newborn twins. According to TMZ.com, the couple have filed suit against Baxter Healthcare Corporation. The couple accuses Baxter of being liable and negligent because the packaging of its ten units per milliliter vial of the blood thinner Heparin looks too similar to a ten-thousand units per milliliter vial. The infant twins were reportedly victims of an accidental overdose late last month at a Los Angeles hospital. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-12-05-07 0741CST