Nation briefs 06/11/15

California oil spill cleanup costs $69M

GOLETA, Calif. -- The cost of cleaning up the oil spill that fouled beaches last month on the California coast has reached $69 million so far, an official of the pipeline company said Wednesday. Costs are running at $3 million a day, and there is no timetable for when the cleanup will be complete, Plains All American Pipeline's on-scene coordinator, Patrick Hodgins, said. The company is responsible for footing the bill after a pipeline break near Santa Barbara forced the closure of two state beaches and prompted a fishing ban. About 76 percent of 97 miles of coastline -- mostly sandy beaches -- have been cleared of oil.

Spying campaign targeted Iran talks

WASHINGTON -- A cybersecurity firm with close ties to Russian intelligence said Wednesday it uncovered a cyberespionage campaign targeting hotels that hosted Iran nuclear negotiations, the details of which are among the most closely held secrets in world diplomacy. The firm, Kaspersky, said the malware was so sophisticated, it must have been created by a government. Citing former U.S. intelligence officials, The Wall Street Journal attributed the spying to Israel, which opposes the emerging nuclear deal being hammered out by the U.S., Russia, several other European countries and Iran. Negotiators hope to clinch an agreement by the end of the month to curb Iran's nuclear activity for a decade in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief. A former senior U.S. intelligence official said the nuclear talks likely are an espionage target of several countries, including Israel and Russia.

Mom accused again of leaving kids in car

RICHMOND, Va. -- A Virginia woman left her two children in a hot car while being booked on a charge of committing the same crime a couple of weeks earlier, police said Wednesday. Lt. Col. Alisa Gregory of the Henrico County Sheriff's Office said Laquanda Newby, 25, faces three misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency or abuse of a child. According to Gregory, the first charge is based on an accusation Newby left her children in her car May 26 while she shopped at a Sam's Club. Police made arrangements for her to come to the Henrico County Courthouse later to be booked. When she showed up for that appointment Monday, police say she again left the 6-year-old and 1-year-old boys in the car with the windows rolled up. Gregory said passers-by noticed the children and alerted deputies.