Various media sources have announced that the “top kill” effort to stop the leaking well in the Gulf has officially failed. Here’s one:

http://www.economist.com/world/united-states/displaystory.cfm?story_id=16261767&source=features_box_main

Next step? Looks like BP is planing on trying the remote sub slice and collect approach.

And if that fails? The only answer left is relief wells which probably won’t be completed until August.

Here’s a link to the press conference that declares defeat and discusses options (audio only):

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=891718