Compiled from Times wires
Published May 13, 2006 World's largest cruise ship debuts
The Freedom of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, was christened in New York Harbor on Friday while it docked near the Statue of Liberty. The ship is so immense that even its captain hadn't finished exploring it earlier this week. "I'm still discovering things," Bill Wright said as he walked around the bridge of the newly built ship. Freedom of the Seas, which arrived this week in New York Harbor from Southampton, Britain, is 237 feet tall and 1,112 feet long with 15 passenger decks. Built by Norwegian shipbuilder Aker Yards ASA, the ship cost $800-million and can carry more than 4,000 passengers. The world's previous largest ship, the Queen Mary 2, can carry about 3,000 people and is 151,400 gross registered tons. The Titanic's gross registered tonnage was 46,329.
Indonesian dictator
Former President Suharto, who was accused of stealing $600-million during his 32-year reign, will not face prosecution for corruption, because of his ill health, Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh announced Friday. The announcement echoes the decisions of previous governments, which have allowed Suharto, now 84, to live out a quiet retirement in his Jakarta home since he stepped down in 1998 after nationwide riots. He has been hospitalized numerous times, and he underwent intestinal surgery earlier this week to stop internal bleeding. Suharto's critics say the $600-million represents only a small fraction of the money he and his family stole. They also say Suharto should be charged in connection with at least 500,000 political killings during his regime.
Peanut kiss
A Canadian coroner confirmed Thursday that a teenager - once believed to have died on Nov. 20 from a peanut allergy after kissing her boyfriend - died from an asthma attack. Coroner Michael Miron said Christina Desforges, 15, of Saguenay, Quebec, died of a lack of oxygen to the brain, triggered by a severe asthma attack after she had spent hours at a party with smokers . "Nine hours passed between the time when the young man ate his two toasts (with peanut butter) and 3 a.m., when he kissed Christina," Miron said. "A recent study shows at the end of an hour, there is no allergen left in the saliva."
