Fortis Bank makes €8 billion provisions and Chairman talks of US "meltdown" ..Citigroup, GM ...

Fortis's banks chief executive since 2004, Jean-Paul Votron, is in trouble. Deep,deep do-doo. (shares down 4% @ €9.94 now they fell 20% on Thursday to €10.20 see chart right)

He has announced major measures for raising and conserving capital - he announced issue of €1.5 billion, (US $2.3 billion) of new shares at €10, plus up to €2 billion of nondilutive preference shares. On top of this the 2008 dividend will not be paid saving €1.3 billion.

Other noncore assets and sell and lease back real estate investments wiil also be sold off.

This follows selling a 5 % stake in the group and half its asset management business to China's Ping An Insurance.

On top of this they need funding for the €24 billion acquisition and integration of parts of its former Dutch rival ABN AMRO.

As a result Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc and Fortis (Bank of the Year 2007) , partners in last year's takeover of ABN Amro Holding NV, had their credit ratings lowered by Moody's Investors Service . RBS the UK's 2nd largest Bank (and one of Lord Patel's bankers) financial-strength rating was cut to B from B+ and its senior debt rating to Aa2 from Aa1. They said that RBS's writedowns were prudent but still has ``large credit exposures'' and may have to take more losses.

Moody's reduced Fortis's financial strength rating to C+ from B-. Moody's said asset sales and a planned acquisition will erode capital. It also lowered its long-term debt and deposits ratings on Fortis to Aa3 from Aa2.

CEO Votron said he needs ``exceptional measures'' because the business environment won't improve anytime soon. Fortis lost more than half its market value since it agreed to spend €24 billion on ABN Amro.

Forced under Europe's antitrust rules to divest parts of the ABN Amro empire, Fortis claims this will yield €300 million less than their (book) net asset value. Fortis also will have to set aside capital to cover credit risk on €10 billion of the unit's assets.

This contrasts with remarks in May by Votron that they had "highly resilient results" with net income down 31% year on year. In March he had called Fortis a "well oiled machine". In April Merrill Lynch who were involved in the ABN Amro take over told clients Fortis was a European stock that would rise in value. Brokers talk about a "U tirn".

The market has been spooked by the reported remarks on Monday of Fortis chairman Maurice Lippens (on Board since 1981) “We have been saved just in time. The situation in the US is much worse than we thought”, Fortis expects he said," ..bankruptcies amongst 6000 American banks which have a small coverage currently. But also Citigroup, General Motors, there is starting a complete meltdown in the US”

Fortis verwacht faillissementen onder 6000 Amerikaanse banken die nu weinig dekking hebben. „Maar ook Citigroup, General Motors, er begint een complete meltdown in de VS.”) der Telegraf

Wall Street Journal say Globally, banks have raised US$300Bn in fresh capital to offset US$400MN to date writedowns on their ravaged Balance Sheets.... see Citigroup share price ...heavy selling on opening evry day for 5 days.....

See also 18th May 2005 GM makes you sick

Taster extract .... "So what have GM been doing to increase fuel efficiency? Well fleet performance of GM cars has gone from 27.8 miles per US gallon to 28.8 mpg in the last 5 years and for light trucks 20.7 mpg to 21.2 (which includes a notional “E35 credit” for ethanol) says the Company 2004 Corporate Responsibility report. It explains “since 1990, new vehicle fuel economy has been relatively constant as consumers, reflecting increased disposable income and relatively low fuel prices, have not emphasized vehicles with high fuel economy”.

That’s it folks, it’s down to the consumers, faced with refinery shutdowns, declining oil resource, increasing oil imports from less stable political zones we did nothing. The dollar dives, the imports soar – and do you know, it’s the consumers fault – those wacky guys over at Toyota with their hybrids (sales over 500,000 worldwide as they lead the technology) ***and customer queues sneaking round the block, well, maybe they just got lucky. "

*** now over 1 Million

"US manufacturing industry has failed to understand and react to a rapidly changing world. Emboldened by the strident, pre-emptive, transformational world of the Bush imperialist gang, exporting by force of arms and bribery their distorted vision of democracy, their own has been disembowelled.

Black Monday II coming soon at a Stock Market near you."

US Corn / ethanol industry - a quick overview

This graphic from the New York Times today provides a quick overview of the industry ..the article reviews the effects of the recent bad weather in the mid west corn growing states.


Federal and other subsidies to the corn growers and ethanol refiners should total $12 billion this year, according to estimates by Barclays Capital. ...but then you can't believe their parent company's balance sheet either.

Here's their share price for the last 12 months Handy Hint - Gemma says just click on it to enlarge.

Dell to continue to sidelne Vista and supply machines with XP installed...

Gavin Clarke at the Register has 3 pieces of news.

Billy boy is no longer working at the Office, XP will not be supported from today.

The Dell blog has the really good news.."Dell can sell what we've branded 'Windows Vista Bonus' which allows us to preinstall XP Professional with a Vista license (on select system categories). This lets customer's upgrade to the Vista platform when they're ready. And yes, Dell will support both OSs."

Earlier this month Dell vowed to keep selling PCs running the operating system until "at least 2009".

Gavin points out that this is no coincidence... Billy boy has played hardball to push new Windows OS's and says that in an antitrust case with IBM that IBM revealed Micro$oft had delayed giving IBM access to Windows 95 simply because IBM refused to kill its own OS/2 operating system or agree to not bundle its SmartSuite rival to Office on IBM PCs. (all the sordid details here)

July 4th - Independence from America day, Menwith Hill, Harrogate

INDEPENDENCE FROM AMERICA
‘I SPY A SPY’
Friday 4 July 2008 5-10 pm ish
A peaceful demonstration
It would help the organizers of this demonstration if everyone would respect the farmers fields and also take all litter home with you – thank you

PROGRAMME
(approx times)
5 pm Gather outside main entrance to NSA/USAF Menwith Hill

Steve Morris and Lion Sounds

Drumming workshop by Steve Hill - Daftasadrum

Welcome and introduction by Martin Schweiger –
Public Health Physician, Quaker and persistent peace campaigner

Karl Dallas – folk singer

5.45 pm Public reading of Declaration of Independence FROM America

6.0 pm Speakers:
Mike Love (Together for Peace)
Caroline Lucas (MEP Green Party)
Anas Altikriti (Spokesman for British Muslim Initiative)

6.45 pm Food from ‘Lunch out Lils’

7.00 pm Music by ‘funky’ folk band - Seize the Day

8.00 pm Walk round base – led by Dave Webb (YCND) and Lindis Percy (CAAB)

9.15 pm Music by local band

9.30 pm Debbie Ashworth – flutetist

We aim to finish the demonstration by approximately 10 pm.

SAFE JOURNEY HOME!
More details here and here

The picture is of Scott Ritter Ex US Marine , enjoying his time near Leeds where he spoke in the evening, who told us that the US was about to bomb Iran, 3 days later 4 bombs went off in London.

The lady in the pic (on the left) with glasses and board is Pam Chambers, a brisk and businesslike American from Philadelphia who was then spending time ,she said in Sheffield ,who claimed wide experience and contacts in the Middle East who kindly arranged for Lindis to "invite" Scott Ritter to the demonstration and for the talk later in the evening.

Anybody ever heard of Pam Chambers since ?

David Davis - No case to answer - other than his deceit, dishonesty and lack of understanding - and total lack of any solutions to retain our Freedoms

I promised you a response to David "Freedom" Davis's free exposure on BBC4's "You and Yours" last week... but it wasn't worth responding too...now he is on BBC4 "Any Questions" with Dimblebore on Friday waffling away.

So far the man with the broken nose and swollen ego appears to be making three rather odd, ill informed points which neither make sense or a policy.

1. 42 days detention without charge

He is of course right to keep someone locked up without charging them is in breach of habeas corpus whose origins lie distantly in Magna Carta. The phrase means roughly, "bring forth the body" and was encoded in statute as long ago as Habeas Corpus Act 1679 and is a safeguard for the individual
freedom against arbitrary state action but not against statute.

Until the Terrorism Act 2000 criminal suspects had to be charged within 24 hours of detention or bereleased. Section 41 of the 2000 Act allowed detention for 48 hours with an extension to 7 days with the approval of a judge if they were suspected of being a terrorist. This period was extended to 14 days by the Criminal Justice Act 2003, and to 28 days by the Terrorism Act 2006.... which David Davis and the Conservative Opoposition voted for on the 2nd reading as they have for the previous acts which have beached the rights previously enshrined in statute and common law. and custom nd practice.

Therefore the pugilist's much publicised objection is based upon a pretence which conceals a lie.

His bleating at best calls simply for a maintenance of the status quo, depriving people of liberty for 28 days whilst Plod scurreis round searching for evidence which is hardly a call for maintenance of ancient rights and liberties that he seeks to pass off.

2. CCTV cameras

CCT cameras, their installation on private premises or public places and the use, provision, sale, copyright of images and data obtained are not controlled not by statute but by a very comprehensive 24 page Code of Practice laid down and revised in line with changes in type, function and use (for example"man-cams beloved by Police TV shows) by the Information Commissioner.

For example Freedom's champion complains images are frequently useless as evidence - in fact a recently published study said only 3% of criminal convictiions were aided by CCTV images ...well if he took the trouble to look at Section 7 he would see that .."It is important that a CCTV system produces images that are of a suitable quality for the purpose for which the system was installed. If identification is
necessary, then poor quality images which do not help to identify individuals may undermine the purpose for installing the system." Clear, simple, straightforward and in use for over a decade.

He gives as evidence the problems of non existent images relating to the public murder of Charles de Menezes - absence of images as evidence does not necessarily mean absence of images. The IPCC were illegally withheld from the crime scene for 5 days by the Metropoitan Police Commissioner whilst evidence was lost, mislaid, destroyed and police officers (and maybe people involved in the murder who were not police officers and therefore not covered by IPCC legilsation) sat down and wrote up notes together - a practice called "singing from the same hymn sheet" , which may ensure a coherent view but not necessarily truthful assmbly of evidence.

It is worth noting here that the cringeing Home Office Permanent Secretary who accepted Sir Iain Blair's bullying was none other than Sir John Gieve. The man who left the Home Office with accounts that the auditor would not pass, a Minister calling it not fit for purpose ...for him to go on and sit idly by or take his holidays whilst Northern Wreck went down the toilet along with (at the last reckoning £19.7 Bn of taxpayers funds)... n ot to mention his role in Blinkett' expenses fiddling, visa fidlling for his mistresses servant etc, etc.,

3. DNA evidence and databases

When Mr Steptoe induced the fertilisation and implantation of Miss Brown, there was no law, so what he did was not illegal, medical and biological science advances had outrun statute. Legislation subsequently followed in the form of Human Embryology and Fertilisiation Bills, supervisory bodies etc., to regulate the business of in vitro fertilisation.

The role of and use of DNA in providing DNA evidence in criminal cases is in currently in approximately the same state, and consequently leads to confusion in the public's mind.

DNA is unique to individuals, in criminal cases , small amounts left from a drinking glass, fingerprint, sweat is used to make copmparison with known samples from suspects. This technique requires sophisticated handling and lab techniques and provides for certain so called "locii" to be compared - just as a limited set of measurements froma face can form a pattern and provide automtic methods of identification - the process now being used in new passports. (Go here for excellent description of the technique)

Whilst not widely used , it has been responsible for a remarkable clear up rate, especially in rape cases where semen samples have been retained to be compared with all male entrants into the currently held databases. The effect of this clear up rate will eventually diminish, and indeed many criminals are aware how powerful the technique is and take precautions aginst leaving DNA at crime scenes.

This technique would of course have prevented such cases as the Police deliberately "fitting up" Stefan Kisko if it had been available - it would have certainly stopped the Yorkshire Ripper in his tracks and comsequently saved lives of sevreal women.

There can therefore be no reasonable objection by any male to having their samples run against historical rape cases - it is also difficult to see how central maintenance of locus data can be questioned.

DNA samples can however yield more information - a constant concern is genetic screening for insurance purposes, employment and marriage. Particularly because in the UK samples are held and their results by private companies. Sharing such data is not under statutory control and is routinely shared with criminal justice organisations withing Europe and probably the US.

Lord Patel has alread shown how data exchnages between the EU and the US are being forced on citizens ouside legislative control.

Neanderthal Davis (see X ray) merely wants to inflame fears, create concerns and thereby sanctify himself as a torchbearer of Freedom. He has no answers , only a few ill formed , ill informed questions.

What is needed, and soon, is UK wide legislation that ;

1. Repeals provisions of all the appropriate Acts to return the position to that prior to the 2000 Terrorism Act for detention of all suspects terrorist or otherwise.

2. Uses Current Guidelines on CCTV to be translated into statutory powers.

3. Codifies the collection and handling and storage of DNA samples for any purpose, procedures for testing, and the control and distribution of information extracted from them on the lines of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology legislation ,with any bodies having a majority of post held by people outside the criminal justice system.

4. Codifies the ownership of personal data, its storage, its location (for example few people understand that the UK fingerprint database is actually located in the USA), its destruction, how it may and may not be shared and personal access to individual records and procedures for amending / destroying records.

Hey it's a start ... and for a blonde with big tits its not a bad one.

PS :David , I apologise for breaking into your SAS records to get your X rays, shows you how such information can be bought from bent coppers bad apples.

The Independent , a newspaper that relies on others for the news and then prints it 2 weeks later....

Which you could have read about nearly 2 weeks ago on Stef's blog "Famous for 15 Megapixels", post "Slugs" Monday June 16th and here the following day, Tuesday, June 17, 2008 David Davis who hates ID cards , Fleishman-Hillard, Kevin Bell and getting "Public Acceptance" of ID cards... and more with a picture of the man who set up the website Fleishmann-Hillards Paul Borge and details of Bell's lecture.

Should the Editor of the Independent wish to make a contribution to costs or even simply acknowledge the source of their scoop....

Gemma Garrett the Tesco Party Girl , has been saying some very nasty things about David Davis and his mysterious backers...not a patch on what she says about Editors who freeload on the blogistes.... and then don't mention her as a candidate.

Merck herpes zosta vaccines have a production hiccup - HMP Gardasil vaccine is delayed for use in older women.

When we posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 about Merck Zostavax shingles vaccine could be a US$1 Bn. seller we were more concerned about finding a happy home for investment funds.

Big Pharma rides on blockbuster drugs that a (relatively) few people need to take forever, statins, anti - diabetic drugs,retrovirals or medication that is used on enormous populations eg vaccines. Zostavax seemed a likely candidate and so it has proved .

When we wrote about "an important tool that can help prevent an illness that affects many older Americans and often results in significant chronic pain" we didn't then , but do now know what it means.

If you are over 60 or you have family who are give this serious consideration and see your doctor. Shingles is fucking painful... and it lasts. BTW shingles is not a one off, it can re-occur.

The bad news is that Merck are having production problems. They make a product called bulk varicella which goes into both Zostavax (annual sales approx US$230 Mn.) and a chicken pox vaccine for children Varivax both of which afford protection from the herpes zosta virus.

Difficulties with less potent batches have resulted in production delays as manufacturing changes require approval before vaccine production recommences so they have given priority to Varivax after a national program since 2006 suggested a second dose for children which doubled sales to a robust US$855 Mn. out of total vaccine sales last year of approximately US$3 Bn.

Merck have also hit problems with their preparation for protection for Human Papilloma Virus, the cause of most cervical cancers. Whilst the Merck vaccine Gardasil has approval from the FDA for the age range from 9-26 they have not yet approved extending use to the 27-45 age range. Merck said it also failed to win FDA approval to expand Gardasil to protect against more strains of the Human Papilloma Virus that causes cervical cancer (currently acts against types 6, 11, 16, 18) . The company for now is dropping plans to pursue that expansion. There is also a potential to expand usage into males who can transmit the virus to their partners.

In the US Gardasil typically costs US$120 per dose, which means it costs US$400 to US$500 for the three-shot series plus physicians' charges. (Net Doctor details for use in UK)

Global sales of Gardasil rose 7 percent in the first quarter to $390 million. Cowen and Co has predicted annual sales of the vaccine would reach $1.9 billion in 2008 and jump to $3 billion by 2012.

Merck shares have fallen 37 % this year, principally due to setbacks to its cholesterol franchise and delays on introducing a new drug.


***** Zostavox vaccine is not currently available in the UK. A frozen formulation of the vaccine was granted a marketing authorisation (MA) in the EU in May 2006 for the prevention of shingles in individuals aged 60 years or older; a variation to the MA has been filed with the European Medicines Agency for a refrigerated formulation, but a final decision on approval has not yet been made. Zostavax is the first and only vaccine registered in Europe for this indication.

PS : Monday : An enquiry at a pharmacy today produced this response "Yes we do provide Zostavax although the product is currently on a manufactures backorder, with no release date, and we are now out of stock."

With a Snatch in mind ... a message for the servicemen in Helmand from Gemma the TESCO Party Girl

It is now two and a half years ago when we posted ... Friday, January 27, 2006 Reid sends ill equipped troops to certain deaths in S Afghanistan - reinforced again recently as little has changed since by a post Friday, April 11, 2008 - Don't worry about faulty equipment, shortages, make do and mend ... shore up the breach with our English dead

With the 13th death of UK troops reported in Afghanistan today the situation gets worse daily, as the attrition rate on equipment gets worse. This has been the second bloodiest month (so far) since the US-led invasion of the country six-and-a-half years ago.

From the Army friendly Daily Telegraph on 20th June 2008

In November 2007, only 38 per cent of the MoD's Armed Forces front-line helicopter fleet of 538 was found to be "fit for purpose". It was also 141 crews
short of the required 1,611.

Now the "filling up the breach with our English dead", has become an embarassment and the Sunday Telegraph report today that belatedly the Army is to "review" (whetever the fuck that means) the use of the "Snatch" Land Rovers in which 30 soldiers have been killed while patrolling in them in both Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003.

Patrick Mercer, Tory MP and former infantry commander, has recently , speaking from experience described the vehicle as a “death trap”, during a debate in the House of Commons.

Brig Mark Carleton-Smith, the commander of British forces in Helmand, told The Sunday Telegraph that Snatch Land Rovers were not safe for use in high-risk areas.

Ah! But they, like the lives of our soldiers are cheap.

Of course this is merely PR bullshit . The weaknesses are fundamentally the result of wasted years and the diversion squandering of money on pet projects (see FRES below) . The clear and simple tasks of feeding soldiers and moving them around the battlefield has been overlooked, forgotten , dismissed, sidelined .. as has providing decent living accomodation whilst resting, recuperating and also for their families.

It is interesting to note that Gemma Garretts outburst at the stupid fucking Desert Rat General Cordingley's guffaws about the uneatable rations troops are consinged to eat for months on end featured on BBC 4 Feedback in a complaint from a lady listener this week.

Gemma , our TESCO party girl and the rest of the team do not support the continuation of occupying Iraq and Afghanistan another minute longer .. but whilst we are sending our soldiers to fight, we owe it to them to feed them adequately and correctly, to protect them as best as possible and to have concern for their families back home.

The Sunday Telegraph says Des Browne the intellectually challenged Scottish part time defence Secreary met last Wednesday with Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen Andrew Figgures (Ex Officio RUSI council) , the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (equipment capability), and Lt Gen Nick Houghton, Chief of Joint Operations, all agreed that the vehicle’s suitability should be reassessed.

Well that must send a warm glow through the hearts of the lads setting out on patrol in Helmand today... as the 38 year old Nimrods circle overhead, unable to be re-fuelled from a 40 year old Tri-star tanker because it is too dangerous. As the lads count off the days to be carried back to blighty in a 40 year old VC -1- or Tri - star troop carrier to damp cockroach infested barracks. .. or try to communicate using the over weight Bowman comms.

They might however peruse the National Audit Office report on defence procurement in 2006 Page 161 which outlined the fantastic sounding FUTURE RAPID EFFECT SYSTEM whilst bumping around in their spartan , lightly protected Snatches.

FRES will deliver a new, medium weight armoured vehicle fleet with higher levels of deployability and survivability than the current fleet, with the potential to grow its capability as new technology becomes available. The current planning assumption is to deliver 3,775 vehicles. The original requirement was for 1,757 vehicles but this was increased in 2004 under an equipment programme option when the Total Fleet Requirement had been established.

FRES will be part of a balanced force consisting of heavy, medium and light brigades giving the ability to deploy forces rapidly with higher levels of firepower, protection and mobility than Light Forces can achieve, but with deployability and agility that cannot be achieved by Heavy Forces. The current threat on operations, particularly from rocket propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and mines/improvised explosive devices, has reinforced the need for adequately protected armoured vehicles. FRES will replace the Army’s obsolescent Saxon, FV 430 and CVR(T) vehicles.

This project, conceived in the 80's originally developed in conjunction with the German forces in 1999 (stopped in 2003) haas not yet produced even a prototype vehicle. A written statement (ie in the House of Lords and not subject to questioning) from the UK Defence Equipment and Support Minister Baroness Taylor on May 9th this year described the Piranha V an off the shelf vehicle from General Dynamics of the USA as the "preferred design" but only a "provisional selection".

As the MoD's announcement stopped short of a production order, industry executives and UK MoD sources told Jane's they feared that the FRES programme had fallen victim to the UK defence "budget crunch".

So the lads will be riding shotgun on Snatches for a long time yet ... at least they can think of Gemma think of them.

Feel any better now Corporal ?

Could Tesco become a Political Party ?

As a major shareholder in Tesco Lord Patel frequently asks his vast staff, who would you prefer to run the country, this bunch of wankers, the other bunch of wankers or Tesco?

Invariably the answer is the smart guys from Cheshunt, those stores take 1 in every 8 of the pounds spent at retail on the UK and Oirish High Street.

This Poster snapped recently shows how ahead of the curve they are thinking -

1. Zarebas (pic) of cheap booze as you enter to maximise profit(and incidentally tax take) .

2. An alert and very public social conscience proudly displayed.

3. Coupled with some wise concern about staff welfare to keep them free from till time hassles. Especially as the ladettes stock up on clear spirits to charge their water bottles clutched in their pretty pink hands.

Tesco does what it says on the tin...unlike the NHS you get the same treatment anywhere in the UK. You look hard to find an unhappy customer in their stores.... and their IT is up and working 24/7 seven days a week.... which also doubles as a fascinating surveillance tool (which is made available n request to PC Plod whenever he asks) to match anything the Police have.

Tesco have an enviable share ownership scheme (which dilutes Lord Patel's vast shareoldings every year so he takes the divvies in shares to keep up)....and happy staff.

Talking about this to Gemma Garrett who is getting ready for the fray in Haltemprice and Howden with the other 24 candidates, she had a whizz bang idea over the coffee and Kuchen.

She is going to call herself the Tesco Party Girl.

That Gemma wll go far.

Shit hits out as bankrupt Nu-Labour Party slides down toilet - on BBC 2 Newsnight : Amazing Pictures !!!

"I certainly, ....seeing the polls, would have to say that this (stabbing leader in the chest) is something that needs to be very seriously considered,''.... "But I cannot see any leader of the (Nu)Labour Party to replace him" (Newsnight video)

The European A400M airlifter - a plane to be proud of.

It was 26 years ago in 1982 that European air forces started to talk about building their own military transport aircraft (now excitingly called an "airlifter")and 3 years before design studies commenced. In Spain this week the first airframe of the A400M was rolled out which will, with a wing and a prayer will fly before Father Christmas comes calling (scheduled initially for January this year, then May, then July, then the "summer" and now September). France expect their first plane in the first half of 2010, 6-12 months behind an original target of 2009. (EADS pic here)

The national air forces (This forms the buying consortium (Organisation Conjointe de Coordination en matière d’Armament), the contractual body representing all seven European customer nations.)who have so far ordered 180 planes at launch in 2003 to replace their ageing Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160 aircraft, France (50 planes), Britain (25), Germany (60), Belgium (7), Luxembourg (1), Spain (27), Turkey (10) will get a superb aircraft that will double the airlift capacity to 37 tonnes up to 4,700 nm. The A400M is designed to carry all loads and vehicles (Cargo Box 3.85 m x 4.00m) in the European Staff Requirement (ESR) inventory, serve as an aerial delivery platform and act as an in-flight refueller for both fast jets and helicopters.

Norway couldn't wait to replace their ageing Hercules and have ordered 4 C-130Js, a slightly strecthed C-130 at a maximum of US $304 million…in November 2007.

Only 2 weeks ago on June 11/08: Boeing delivered the United Kingdom’s 6th C-17 Globemaster III to the Royal Air Force (RAF) which represented an additional 2 aircraft to the 2000 initial 7 year lease deal mutated into an outright purchase. This 6th purchase was quietly slipped in by part time SCottish Defence Secretary in a written answer to a Parliamentary question on July 26th last year. THis pleased both the RAF who like the plane and Boeing who want to keep the production line running.

These are used (max capacity 75 tonnes) to transport major items to theatre in Afghanistan and Iraq, such as Chinook and Apache helicopters and Tornado F3 fighters.


An optional 5-tonne crane can be installed at the rear of the fuselage of the A400M allowing loading and unloading of fully loaded military pallets by asingle loadmaster. Side seats can carry 54 troops or with central seating 116.

So far there have been few export customers South Africa (8) (original partners in the Franco-German Transall C-180) , and Malaysia (4) but Airbus Military (Airbus Military is controlled by EADS / Airbus, Spanish unit EADS-CASA, as well as TAI of Turkey and FLABEL of Belgium.) bravely talks up sales of 200 planes without including the possibility of sales to the US China or Russia and the CSIR.

Major problems have ben experienced and now claimed to be overcome with the enormously powerful TP400-D6 engines, (11,000 shp) the most powerful turboprop engine designed . It has been fathered by a specially created international consortium comprising Rolls Royce (28 %), Snecma (Safran) (28 %), MTU Aero Engines (28 %t) and Spanish Industria deTurbopropulsores (ITP )(16 %). Turboprops provide the optimum combination of take-off and landing performance, cruise fuel efficiency and tactical mission performance such as manoeuvring on the ground, steep descents and air-dropping - optimal cruise speed is Mach 0.72.


This novel engine with offset gearbox incorporates a Ratier Figeac FH 3868 propellor 17.5 feet diameter blades with a carbon spar and a composite shell with just a 10" clearance at the tip from the fuselage. A polyurethane coating is applied on the shell to protect against erosion. Electrical de-icing is used along the leading edge. The outer part of the blade leading edge has a nickel guard to protect against erosion.

Propeller control is integrated into the FADEC, which cuts pilot workload. The FADEC controls the blade pitch angle in order to maintain the propeller at a constant, optimum-efficiency speed. It also provides an autofeathering capability upon automatic detection of an engine failure

Individual plane costs remain secret but the whole project is expected to cost €20 billion. EADS have already booked losses of €1.4 billion on the fixed price contracts with governments caused by delays.

Shit hits Fan - Glasto latest

Signing away the data privacy of 400 Million European citizens - Bush has a timetable and his pen ready to sign up

In September 2006 President Bush introduced a slim 24 page booklet which few have bothered to read, National Stratgey for combating terrorism . It is worth considering of some of the remarks and statments made in that document. ... well all of it but here are some Europeans might well consider.

Overview of America’s National Strategy for Combating Terrorism (p 6)
America is at war with a transnational terrorist movement fueled by a radical ideology of hatred, oppression, and murder.

It is often overlooked that this threat is boldly, clearly and directly as fuelled by a religion, a religion that is followed by probably more followers than any other in the world. (see p. 10)

This transnational movement is not monolithic.

Although al-Qaida functions as the movement’s vanguard and remains, along with its affiliate groups and those inspired by them, the most dangerous present manifestation of the enemy, the movement is not controlled by any single individual, group, or state. What unites the movement is a common vision, a common set of ideas about the nature and destiny of the world, and a common goal of ushering in totalitarian rule. What unites the movement is the ideology of oppression, violence, and hate.

Our terrorist enemies exploit Islam to serve a violent political vision. Fueled by a radical ideology and a false belief that the United States is the cause of most problems affecting Muslims today, our enemies seek to expel Western power and influence from the Muslim world and establish regimes

Perhaps the most significant pasage concerns how the defence of the Homeland impacts on the US partners (see page 18)

Deny terrorists entry to the United States and disrupt their travel internationally. Denying our enemies the tools to travel internationally and across and within our borders significantly impedes their mobility and can inhibit their effectiveness. They rely on illicit networks to facilitate travel and often obtain false identification documents through theft or in-house forgery operations.

We will continue to enhance the security of the American people through a layered system of protections along our borders, at our ports, on our roadways and railways, in our skies, and with our international partners. We will continue to develop and enhance security practices and technologies to reduce vulnerabilities in the dynamic transportation network, inhibit terrorists from crossing U.S. borders, and detect and prevent terrorist travel within the United States. Our efforts will include improving all aspects of aviation security; promoting secure travel and identity documents; disrupting travel facilitation networks; improving border security and visa screening; and building international capacity and improving international information exchange to secure travel and combat terrorist travel.

Ever since 9/11 there have been discussions between the US and the EU about the physical methods of making such alliances for controlling access to the US.

These talks are now reaching frution and President Bush wants them in place, without scrutiny by Congress before he leaves offic. Almost unseen within the Joint Statement when he met the EU leaders in Slovenia is mention of “the fight against transnational crime and terrorism requires the ability to share personal data for law enforcement,” and called for the creation of a “binding international agreement” to aid such transfers while also ensuring that citizens’ privacy is “fully” protected.""It would provide the greatest level of legal security and certainty."

On June 6th Reuters carried a report which went largely unnoticed that a panel of senior (ie unelected) European Union and U.S. officials, was set up more than a year to hammer out solutions to problems raised by European lawmakers and rights groups who have long argued that data sharing deals lacked proper privacy protection.

On this see Wednesday, February 06, 2008 Data rape see also here and here how the Queen interrupted her hols at Balmoral to sign UK citizens Rights away by an Order in Council - Court at Balmoral, the 5th day of September 2006 Present, The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in CouncilHer Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred upon Her by sections 60(1), (2)(b), (3)(h) and (4), 61(1)(a) and 102(2)(b) of, and paragraph 2 of Part 3 of Schedule 13 to, the Civil Aviation Act 1982(a), is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order as follows: ... etc which means that 34 bits of data about you , name, address, sex, food preferences, credit card number, etc.,etc., will disappear of to the data vaults of uncle Sam ..... forever...and ever... sometghing dear reader you can do ablsolutely nothing about.

This group have, like any group of unelected officials been busy at work , brooding over Washington access to private data on air passengers travelling (and also from Canada, Mexico etc,)to the United States and the demand to keep them for 15 years.

They have also been discussing with the U.S. Treasury Department why they should have access to the banking records of EU citizens via access to records of international banking network SWIFT.

Meanwhile at various levels EU nations have been busy building all sorts of cross border police databases (Interpol see Friday, November 04, 2005 Secret Service spread terror message ... we are all doooooomed!!!! ) and has agreements to exchange DNA data , fingerprints, details of stolen passports within the bloc. Naturally they see no difficulty about sharing access further to the other side of the Atlantic and agree they need to cooperate on data privacy to "build trust."

The EU-U.S. panel have already identified a first set of 12 common principles on data privacy. These cover the use of information on race and religion in certain cases "Personal information revealing racial or ethnic origins, political opinions or religious or philosophical beliefs ... health or sexual life ... may not be processed unless domestic law provides appropriate safeguards," the text of a document seen by Reuters (but not by EU citizens or their MEP's) says.

An EU diplomat said the guidelines did not carry legal weight and would need to be detailed in further negotiations. Of course.

"The use of sensitive data depends on circumstances and purpose; it may be OK in some cases, under special circumstances, and not in others," the diplomat said. Of course.

We don't want to sell everyone's deal for a mess of pottage do we Ambassador ?

We have a report in the New York Times today that is entitled "U.S. and Europe Near Agreement on Private Data "

"The United States and the European Union are nearing completion of an agreement allowing law enforcement and security agencies to obtain private information — like credit card transactions, travel histories and Internet browsing habits — about people on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean."

We are sorry ....were you asleep whilst all that happened ?

You didn't realise this...... " diplomatic breakthrough for American counterterrorism officials, who have clashed with the European Union over demands for personal data" was in the works even ?

You thought Europe generally has more stringent laws restricting how governments and businesses can collect and transfer such information. You were right , but very soon you will be wrong.

Whilst you were asleep ... and all your elected representataives at Westminster, hosing money away down the Northern Wreck Black Hole of South Shields " draft language for 12 major issues central to a “binding international agreement,” is now agreed. All done silently secretly, swiftly ,jointly by the negotiators from the United States Homeland Security, Justice and State Departments, and by "their European Union counterparts".

We'll run that by you again , we said above "Personal information revealing racial or ethnic origins, political opinions or religious or philosophical beliefs ... health or sexual life ... may not be processed unless domestic law provides appropriate safeguards," ....

Now European law and the laws of sovereign states, sets up independent government agencies to police whether personal data is being used lawfully and to help citizens who are concerned about invasions of their privacy. The United States has no such independent agency. As a concession, the Europeans (ie those unelected well paid, well fed bueaurcrats) have agreed that the American government’s internal oversight system may be good enough to provide accountability for how Europeans’ data is used. Well let's all trust Uncle Sam... Prop. Guantanamo Bay, Diego Garcia , Abu Ghraib ...

A sticking point is what happens say if you get put on a no fly list based on incorrect personal information.

In Europe you file a lawsuit to seek damages and to have the data corrected or expunged. American citizens and permanent residents can generally do the same under the Privacy Act of 1974, but that statute does not extend to foreigners. The way we read it. It never will.

The EU is in a holding a pattern that its citizens “require the ability to bring suit in U.S. courts specifically under the Privacy Act for an agreement to be reached on redress.” Not only does that sound like a lawyers breakfast it looks like a very expensive lawyers breakfast.

The problem is that a change in the Privacy Act of 1974 requires Congresss to Act. The last thing Bush wants is to face Congress.

Bush wants to leave office with a deal - no legislative action .... simply a signature.

Paul Begala an advisor to the previous President, (who was noted for a unique understanding of evidential law), exhibited a frightening view from the top, of this misuse of executive order authority when he pardoned Marc Rich "Stroke of a pen, law of the land, kind of cool." said Begala .

Dylan Thomas described it accurately in his war time lament, "The hand that signed the paper, felled a city, and ruin came…Great is the hand that holds Dominion over man by a scribbled name"

Here in Europe officials are as anxious for a swift, silent and secure deal as President Bush , at the moment such changes will require national ratification of any accords, the Lisbon Treaty will hand ratification power to the European Parliament, which has been sceptical of American antiterrorism policies.

Anyway HMQ signed your air travel data away if you are a UK citizen one wet September afternoon in 2006. Expect your DNA, fingeprints ,bank transactions to follow pretty soon.

Is there any reciprocity ? Do we get the same deal from US citizens visiting Europe ? Is it simply a one way street ?

Do bears defecate in the woods ?

DAILY EXPRESS - VIEWERS APPALLED AS TRANSVESTITE DRESSED AS LADY DAME JANE PAULINE BARONESS NEVILLE JONES APPEARS ON TOP POLITICS SHOW

THE BBC has been accused of “stomach- churning” television after inviting a transvestite dressed like Lady Dame Jane Baroness Neville Jones 69, on to highbrow politics show Question Time.

Viewers of the BBC1 debate programme flooded its switchboard and website with complaints.

As her alter ego Tory shadowy security spokesman pantomime Dame Jane Lady Pauline Baroness Neville-Jones 71,(confirmed spinster) on the panel of Thursday night’s edition, sat alongside Minister Yvette Cooper (AKA Mrs Balls) and prize-winning potter Grayson Perry, 48 on the panel of Thursday night’s edition.

But debate quickly turned to farce when the camera focused on Pauline in a wig and a pale blue gown with a lace-trimmed collar and heavily rouged cheeks.

“It was like a seeing a Rocky Horror show,” wrote one viewer. “Stomach-churning.”

But minutes after the programme ended, complaints began that the BBC was dumbing down. Janice Evans from Glossop wrote on the BBC website: “Unbelievable! BBC you are now officially a joke… your credibility has gone down the pan.” A male viewer stormed: “I refuse to be made a fool of.”

Last night a BBC spokesman said: “The Question Time website openly welcomes and encourages comments from viewers and members of the Lady Dame Jane Baroness Pauline Neville Jones Fan Club, c/o Royal United Services Institute .”

10 cases where anonymous witnesses helped secure a conviction

Michael Dosumnu

Abdi Noor, 22, and Mohammed Sannoh, 19, guilty of south London murder of the schoolboy, who was shot dead with a Mac-10 sub-machine gun as he slept after being mistaken for his brother Hakeem Dosumnu who shared the bedroom (and had been in the Army). They both received jail terms of a minmum of 30 years . A fter the jury took 9 days deliberating to reach a verdict , Judge Stephen Kramer said: "This was a planned and premeditated killing. It was an execution." ...."You both, quite probably acting with another person or others, carried out this killing in an act of revenge." After reporting restrictions were lifted the full story of violent criminals , dishonour amongst thieves, and the death of a gang member can be found here at BBC online.

Magda Pniewska

Armel Gnango, 17, guilty of murder of the Polish nurse after she was caught in a crossfire during a shoot-out in south London as she walked home from work. The teenager was convicted even though he did not fire the fatal shot. Prosecutors said he was still responsible for the killing because he was involved in the gunfight. The Judge gave him 20 years for murder and also gave him a minimum 12-year sentence for attempted murder and a five-year sentence for possession of a firearm.(Daily Mail 23rd June 2008)

Police believe it was a second youth (un-named) , who had been wearing a bandana, firing at Gnango who fatally wounded Miss Pniewska.Gnango, has so far refused to co-operate in identifying him.

Toni Ann Byfield and Bertram Byfield

Joel Smith was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment in 2006 for the murder of 7 year old girl Toni Ann Byfield, who was under the care of Birmingham Social Services and was shot in the back because she was the only witness to the murder of her drug dealer father, Bertram Byfield. She was visiting Mr Byfield in his bedsit in an ex-offenders' hostel in North London on the day the pair were killed - after their deaths it became apparent that Bertram was, not, as she thought , her natural father.(BBC Online)

Smith, believed he had committed the perfect crime, leaving no witnesses or clues and he did not leave any DNA or forensic evidence and there was no CCTV in the area.

It was 2 years later when he was in prison in Liverpool that people who knew him identified him as the killer.

Roselyn Richards, the mother of Toni-Ann Byfield issued a statement through her solicitors after the trial , " I believe that Joel Smith did not act alone and hope police enquiries will continue to arrest, prosecute and convict others involved in this terrible crime so they join him behind bars."

Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare

Marcus Ellis (half brother to Charlene) and Rodrigo Simms , Nathan Martin (whose brother Yohanne's death precipitated the murders) who was acquitted of murder , Michael Gregory, (whose sister Leona had been Yohanne's girlfriend and mother of his child) and Rodrigo "Sonny" Simms were convicted of shooting dead the teenagers at a hair salon at New Year in Birmingham in 2003. They were the innocent bystanders present at a party where a gangland feud between rival drugs gangs in Birmingham attempted to settle old scores.

The murder was carefully planned with the involvement of specially purchased untraceable mobile phones, the purchase of a car (and burning ti out to remove evidence) and the tinting of it's wondows to prevemt identity of the occupants and use of a Mac10 sub-machine gun, apparently nicknamed the "spray and pray", as the fierce recoil makes accurate aiming very difficult. (BBC Online)

Tafarwa Beckford, was acquitted of murder on the judge's directions because the only evidence against him came from a witness, known as Mark Brown, who the judge concluded had been lying.

Zainab Kalokoh

Roberto Malasi was sentenced to 30 years for shooting the 31-year-old mother in the head with a 9mm automatic pistol after bursting in on a christening in south London while she was cradling her baby in 2005. His gang mmbers also convicted included Diamond Babamuboni, 17, his brother Timy, 15, and Jude Odigie, 16 - The four, (all Angolan illegal immigrants) wearing masks, ran into the christening party on the Wood Dene Estate in Peckham, south London, with the intention to rob guests. The three boys were given 16 years. (Full story of their history of crime here)

As Mrs Kalokoh lay dying with a bullet in her head, the raiders stripped guests of valuables. The baby, her niece, was unharmed.

The jury in the trial concerning Ms Zainab Kalokoh , who wasa regugee from Sierra Leone was not told that two weeks after her murder on September 11 2005, the defendant dragged student teacher Ruth Okechukwu from a car and stabbed her through the heart.

That court heard Malasi had accused Miss Okechukwu of disrespecting him, following a telephone conversation with one of her friends.

Noel Patterson, Lorna Morrison and Connie Morrison

Rohan Chung 30, and Michael George Letts 36, were convicted of the 2006 triple murders of the innocent stepfather and two sisters, in revenge for their brother allegedly double crossing the killers in a drug deal.

Chung , who used a variety of aliases whilst running drug dealing ring, (he had been deported for gun offences but returned illegally) was determined to exact revenge on Morgan “Indian” Morrison, 30, a man he believed had cheated him out of 4kg of cocaine. The pair burst in, discovered Mr Morrison was not at home and took their anger out on his family.

Their bodies were dragged to the corner of the room and piled up. The men left, abandoning the eight-month-old infant of Lorna Morrison on the bloodstained floor.

They were ordered to serve a minimum tariff of 40 years.

Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson, Met's Operation Trident, said:
"This conviction is the result of a detailed investigation by officers from Operation Trident, and the bravery of witnesses who were literally in fear of their lives.

Lee Subaran (Street name "Gangsta")

Three members of the "Mus Luv Crew", Leon Roberts, Tafari Dacas and Shane Taylor are all serving a minimum of 30 years for shooting dead Lee Subaran because he showed them "disrespect" at the Notting Hill Carnival in 2005. He and his brother Tyrone were surrounded by up to ten men, the jury heard and a number of them then produced guns and shot him a point blank range. He was hit in the neck and back and had died by the time he reached hospital.

A fourth man, Tunde Thomas, 30, of Kensal Green, north-west London was cleared of murder.

Jason Greene

Christopher Toussaint-Collins is serving at least 25 years after he was convicted of shooting dead the 29-year-old in front of his two sons on the school run in north London in 2006. His eight year-old son was sitting beside him in the passenger seat and there were other children in the area going to school when the shooting took place. Jason Greene's brother Gavin Greene was shot at in February 2005 and a month later Shaun "Stunts" Stanislas, the man thought to be responsible, was shot dead.

Jurors were told Toussaint-Collins (19 at the time) was in a car that was lying in wait but the man who pulled trigger has never been caught.

Judge Peter Beaumont, the Recorder of London, told Toussaint-Collins: "You did not pull the trigger but you were complicit in a (pre-meditated) killing that took place in broad daylight in a residential area as members of the public passed."

Richard Holmes

Carl Dobson (AKA rap star Crazy Titch ) and Anthony Green are serving a minimum tariff of 30 years for the murder of the 21-year-old music producer in a row about rap lyrics in 2005.

Dobson and his associate, Anthony Green, 35, confronted Mr Holmes, 21, because he had made the mistake of allying himself with the upcoming garage star Shaba Shah. Shah, 16, known as Shaba Shak, had released a track insulting Dobson's half-brother, Dwayne Mahorn, 25, also a rapper known as Durrty Goodz.

A handgun was held to the victim's head before he was shot in the back as he tried to escape. The attackers also shot him in the leg with a Mach 10 machine gun.

Mahorn, of Chingford, east London, was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter.(Guradian 3/1/06)

Andre Linton

Jermaine Campbell was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years in 2005 for the murder of the 22-year-old. CCTV footage showed Andre and his cousin Torraine were driving along Buller Road, Wood Green, at about 11 pm in February, when the notorious gang - know as Money Over Bitches, surrounded his vehicle and Campbell killed him with a single shot to the heart with a converted imitation firearm - allegedly for giving the killer a "disrespectful look".

Five other gang members who were with him that night are still at large.

In the previous 8 weeks Police had recorded , 20 incidents of violent disorder most involving guns or knives as violence increased between two groups of youths in Haringey. The murder of Mr Linton was investigated by Operation Trident which investigates gun crime in black communities.

21/7 Flour Power bombers

UPDATE :"Michael Bexhill" gave evidence to the 21/7 flour power bombers from a special table situated directly below, and therefore out of view, of the public gallery. What the judge described as "monstrous" screens up in front of the defendants' glass tunnel dock to shield him from their eyes.

Press benches were cleared and journalists moved to the public gallery.

Mr Justice Fulford had also granted him anonymity and the name on the witness list, Michael Bexhill, was completely fictitious.

Mr Justice Fulford was anxious to make it clear to the jury that they should read nothing into the deployment of such elaborate measures.

The judge made it clear that the defendants knew full well who he was and the jurors too were given a piece of paper on which Bexhill had written his real name.

The Judge warned the jury that they should not read anything more into them, and added:

"The fact that there are screens does not mean that the witness is being honest or dishonest or anything in between.

"The screens are completely irrelevant." Apparently the architect of Woolwich Crown Court had failed to include a curtain rail (and presumably a curtain) to screen witnesses.

He said Bexhill had sought these measures for his own peace of mind and he had decided to grant them.

Initial list from Daily Telegraph Saturday June 26th 2008

Evidently is is impossible to form any judgement how these cases (and others as yet not identified) will be affected (if at all) by the Iain Davis appeal. The Crown Prosecution Service are currently assembling details of cases that could be affected, which will necessarily take time. Time ideally spent in pursuing further successful criminal prosecutions.

Any decision to appeal is of course a decision of the accused/defendant and their legal advisors, as most of the above found guilty are serving 20 plus years in prison and will have any such appeal paid for by public funds it is difficult to believe they will not appeal.

By any measure these people are violent killers. Should an appeal be successful, it is impossible that they could be given a fair trial even if further evidence is found of their guilt. Witnesses may in certain circumstances throw off the shroud of anonymity in the belief that the continued imprisonment of the accused may afford them safety from intimidation or worse.

Such are the consequences of re-shaping the law without resort to statute.

We remain to discover what the consequences of war criminals Mr Straw's hasty attempts at legislation will be. It is vital that the lawmakers listen very carefully to the advice of practising lawyers in framing a law to provide anonymity in criminal cases and also that they take full cognisance of EU Human Rights obligations.

If the legislation is rushed and botched in the process, it will further set back the problems of dealing with these armed and violent criminals in our midst.

Bradford & Bingley - falling to the bottom feeders and union bashers

Just what is going on at Bradford & Bingley ?

The “gang of four” large shareholders – M&G, Legal & General, Standard Life and Insight have supported a bid from Clive Cowdery’s company Resolution - but B & B refused access to the books.

This gives TPG (introduced by Goldman Sachs who have earned loadsamoney in the past from advising them) a clear run gaining control as a 23% shareholder.

Unsurprisingly the shares crashed 16¾p (21%) to 63¼p today when the news was announced at mid-day. “The board has consistently made clear to Resolution that it was prepared to allow due diligence should an acceptable indicative proposal be made,” the bank said. It said that the revised proposal did not meet the board’s concerns about certainty, funding, clarity, change of control and price.

B&B reported losses of £8m in the first four months of 2008, with rsing and accelerating arrears on its mortgage loan book. Margins are evaporating and a credit downgrading is likely any day.

What TPG ("our investment philosophy has been to create value by investing in change ")intends to do with B&B , remains unclear.

TPG have clearly obtained control with only 23% of the shares and their cash injection plus the the rights issue and using the Bank of England special liquidity scheme will provide some stability - which could be thrown of course by a credit re-rating.

Whether it is enough capital (given first quarter losses) to finance new lending puts B&B’s current business model in question.

Which suggest that if the B&B retail depositors decide to do a Northern Wreck and take their money and run could simply lead to the bank to stop writing new business and go into run-off.

With the dramatic run down in sales, the loss of B&B would hardly be noticed by borrowers, although staff might miss their jobs - see factoid.

Barclays with the proposed injection of £4.5 Mn of Asian money saw shares drop 2% today (down 5.75 p @ 298.00 p 289 at one stage in day) due it is said to Citigroup suggesting that £9 Bn more capital is needed - always supposing the right offs announced still haven't left the balance sheet with more fiction than fact.

TPG : History Lesson - "Texas Pacific Group's takeover of Gate Gourmet leads to "meticulously planned assault on trade unions"
Gate Gourmet, the catering division of SwissAir, was bought by Texas Pacific Group in the wake of the airline company's bankruptcy in 2002 . At the time of its acquisition by TPG, Gate Gourmet employed over 25,000 workers in 29 countries with 140 flight kitchens. For 2005, the figures are 22,000 workers and 109 flight kitchens. The path to "organic growth" at Gate Gourmet began with a meticulously planned assault on trade unions.

This began with the well-known struggle at Heathrow Airport in the UK, which was kicked off by the company stealthily hiring hundreds of contract workers in a restructuring program centered on mass dismissals and a dramatic degradation of employment conditions. (the dispute which began on August 10th when the airline caterer sacked almost 800 workers at Heathrow Airport.) The anti-jobs, anti-union offensive then moved to Germany's Düsseldorf airport, where (at the time of writing in late February 2006), members of the IUF-affiliated Food and Allied Workers' Union NGG have been on strike since 7 October 2005 over the company's refusal to negotiate wages and compensatory measures for increasingly arduous working conditions.

Under duress to improve returns for TPG's investors, Gate Gourmet not only put pressure on the T&G, but on its main client, British Airways, which it pressed for concessions on its contract.

Exit by Stealth: TPG Completes Sale of Gate Gourmet Reuters March 2nd 2007
"A day after Texas Pacific Group [TPG.UL] joined other powerful private equity in a call for more transparency, the firm's mystery sell-off of Gate Gourmet reveals just how much work the industry has ahead of it. TPG, which bought the airline catering firm in late 2002 from Swissair, has quietly reduced its stake in the business over the past year without any disclosure, selling the last piece to Merrill Lynch on Thursday."

TPG walked away from a highly leveraged Sainsbury's bid - they could still walk away from B&B.

I want to go Darwin on the SUV crowd

Cocktails in the bar atop the John Hancock Tower, Michigan Avenue, Chicago,Illinois.....today.

When life looks this good, who gives a fuck what price gas is?

Why UK Natural Gas Prices Will Move North of 100p/Therm This Winter- £3 - 400 this year on the average house gas bill

Chris Vernon at the Oil Drum introduces a post from Norwegian Rune Likvern who has been studying UK energy sources and has produced this familiar graph showing the primary energy cources (note this mixes road fuel demand with domestic / industrial oil, gas and electricity production).

Ideally the reader should read the complete post but it identifies the future reliance on of the UK on imported gas, whose price is directly related to oil and the short term impact on domestic heating costs.

" The UK will increasingly have to cover their natural gas consumption through imports, which suggests that an era of cheap natural gas, which has also acted as a competitive edge, increasingly will have to become harmonized with natural gas prices on Continental Europe which UK increasingly will have to bid against to secure supplies.

His research suggests that natural gas prices in the UK at the beach has risen 50 - 60% relative to 2007 levels. On average in 2007 these prices were 30 p/therm at the beach (the natural gas price has huge seasonal swings).

Oil prices in 2007 was on average above US$72/bbl, and so far in 2008 the average oil price has been close to US$110/bbl and recently it seems like it has found support at US$130 - 140/bbl.










This now suggests that the natural gas prices should increase 80 - 90%. The above points suggest that natural gas prices on average in 2008 in UK will have to increase 150 - 200% resulting in average prices through 2008 of 75 - 90 p/therm at the beach (ie point of entry, to this must be added further costs) . Recently natural gas is now trading at 60 - 65 p/therm.

Thus the headline suggest UK natural gas prices at the beach will move north of 100 p/therm before Christmas this year. (Please tell Angela Eagle)

For an average household consuming 600 - 700 therm/annually (18 - 21 000 kWh/a) this would translate into an increase of the households natural gas bill of £3 - 400 this year relative to 2007.

Natalie Bracht disappears - oh and five kids as well, on the lam for a month and no National Press

Stef has a fascinating story of the effect of far too many CCTV cameras working.

Start here with rather odd BBC report today (26th June 2008) headlined "London link in missing woman hunt " which is exraordinarily odd because this woman a Mrs Bracht (31 5ft 6in tall, of medium build, with shoulder-length hair) also has in tow her 5 daughters between 5 and 13.

Whilst the report doesn't have any apparent errors it is confusing and really fails to reveal that she left (according to the Shields Gazette by Jessica Foster ten days fater her disappearance) her home in Hendon lunchtime on Saturday, May 17.

The first CCTV images, were captured in Newcastle at 2.38pm on the day she disappeared, show the 34-year-old wearing a red Berghaus-style three-quarter length jacket and jeans or trousers.

The second show her walking through Kings Cross in London later the same day, at 6.20pm, wearing a white flowing robe and headscarf.

The report states that Ms Bracht moved to Sunderland (205 Hastings Street, Hendon, Sunderland, SR2 8SJ. ) in 2006 from Dusseldorf, Germany, and speaks good English with a heavy German accent, apparently she had been an active ant war activist.

Now that is a Mega double good news story - made even better by Det Insp Ford saying: "Natalie does not appear to have had access to money, certainly not enough to look after herself and her five children.

"I cannot rule out that someone or some organisation is offering the family assistance or shelter, possibly for what they believe to be all the right reasons."

The report said Officers from the Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police are working together with Northumbria Police to further the investigation.

What the report didn't say, and couldn't say was (as explained at the Missing Kids site) that the Bracht children are are subject to Interim Care Orders and Natalie had been assessed previously assessed as having a Histrionic Personality Disorder .

Northumbria Police had to go to the High Court explained Detective Sergeant Dave Willetts to be allowed to publicise this, as it would " help our search for the girls and their mother if the public knew they should be in the care of their local authority."

Today the Avon and Somerset Police report "Missing mum Natalie Bracht, who has mental health problems, has been traced to the Yeovil area of Somerset. " ...Natalie was initially traced to the Harlesden area of London and from there officers have traced her to a commune near Yeovil, in which area police are now focusing their efforts. DCI Ford continued: "We know that Natalie and the girls were at the commune but have since abandoned their belongings and fled.

Anyone with information about Natalie or her children, is asked to call Northumbria Police, on 03456 043 043.

Which may also be related to news from another source with a very odd tale to tell about the itinerant Bracht family. Indymedia report today that Tony Gosling has had contact with Mrs Bracht and has recordings available in MP3 format to downlod of conversations with her.

Briefly

1. Natalie Bracht. Her story via Tony Gosling

She has been in the UK about 2.5 years .Not long after entering the UK she refused to be recruited by Rabbi Dr. Robert Ash to become an undercover Mossad 'student'as part of Israeli Anti-Muslim activities in London.

Various 'establishment strings pulled through increasing social services harassment to stop benefits, culminating in a fabricated legal case for social services to take away her five children.

Two early morning phone calls alerted her to social worker/police visit in late May 2008 and she departed with children 20 minutes before police (who broke down door to find no-one at home) arrived.

Natalie and her children are now 'on the run'.

Her father is Moshe Baton (Spy for British & Israelis, diplomat in E. Germany. Fell from grace & exiled in Libia 1981 after bribe paid. Believed by Israeli public to be in prison in Israel) Mossad Her apparently ex Husband: Dietrich Shimon-Bracht (Now in UK 'helping police') is an Israeli nuclear military scientist (originally unknown to Natalie)

His grandfather is in the Knesset and the Tel-aviv masonic Grand Master. They have been together for 6 years but have been separated for 4.5 years

There is apparently an 'Untouchables' - Masonic/Zionist cell centring around South Gosforth Reformed Synagogue,
1. Reformed (non-religious) Rabbi: Dr Robert Ash (organiser/handler)
2. David Abrahams (Newcastle) - Labour Party funder
3. Bernard Schaeffer (along with pretend wife wants to 'look after' five children)
4. Sir Jeremy Beecham
5. Dr. Marc Orlim Bereleowitz ('interviews' children)
6. David Hozen - Judge brought in from Manchester to rule in custody case . These names may be misspelled

2. Tony Gosling

On the Indymedia website he claims - He and his fiancee were held at Trinity Road police station in Bristol until 1200 the next day, 25th June.

Both were heavily questioned. They were each arrested three times, a total of six arrests. The arrests in order were, Obstructing a Recovery Order, Theft of a Credit Card and then again for Obstructing a Recovery Order.

The two later arrests were made in the police station where they were still being detained for the first arrest.

The officers in command had come from Newcastle: DC 1077 Fairlamb (M) & DC 8558 Logan (F)

Gosling states that he gave police the key to his home address in Bristol. Nonetheless Officers battered his door down before proceeding to take away printed lists of contact details, two diaries, two mobile phones, a laptop and a desktop computer. These items are still being held at this time.

Gosling feels he was threatened with precocious charges. He states that he cooperated with police, but claims that his rights as a journalist were not respected.

All the charges were dropped shortly before Gosling and his fiancee were released.

Several locations in and around Bristol associated with Gosling were also raided by police. The police are looking for a woman called Natalie Bracht -

Although Gosling states that he can not confirm that the information provided to him by Bracht is genuine, he does stress the importance of sharing her allegations. The authorities have suggested that Bracht is suffering from mental illness and has threatened to kill her own children.

Gosling and others have met with Bracht and her five daughters.

They report normal behaviour between Bracht and her children - this would seemingly contradict police allegations.

It is not clear at this time, but Gosling believes they have found and arrested Bracht today.

Bracht's allegations involve operations carried out on the British mainland by Israeli intelligence agents from Mossad.

In particular activities at the South Gosforth Reformed Synagogue in Newcastle.

According to Bracht she has been on the run from her home in Sunderland since Libyan intelligence officers warned her that the authorities were going to arrest her and place her children in care.

The Libyan agents told Bracht that her father was Moshe Baton (spelling tbc) an Israeli British intelligence officer who defected to Libya.

She believes that Mossad helped to carry out the July 7th bombings and that no Muslims are to blame. Download and listen to the hour long interview to hear other information.

A short and one hour long MP3 can be downloaded from here

This woman does not sound in any way unhinged or incapable of looking after children, balanced, fluent in English, she was able to obtain British Citizenship and got her passports in UK Consulate Dusseldorf, came in via Harwich, provided with a house in Hull and National Insurance number within one week. Then moved to Sunderland and Rabbi arrived to see them. He gave her a mobile phone and £150 pound credit, which she chose not to use.(He turned out subsequently to be Dr Robert Ash) He offered her accomodation and money to be a student in London but she would need an Israeli passport which he could provide.

She claims a Northern Irish "Muslim" attack is to be expected. If found , she says that she will be put in mental hospital and children taken to Israel.

Listen and judge for yourself.

UPDATE : Further to comments below the Sun did in fact carry exactly the same story as the Shields Gazette on 27th May. The Northern Echo group did have an update story on June 5th mentioning a poster campaign.

Interestingly the Camden gazette had a story later on June 18th..."Police now have information that Ms Bracht has visited The London Central Mosque, in Regent's Park, on several occasion in the last few weeks, but they are still no nearer to tracing the family.

Ms Bracht moved to north east England with her daughters from Dusseldorf, Germany, in 2006, but has been psychologically assessed recently as having a histrionic personality disorder. - (although it seems capable of looking quite adequately for 5 kids in the worst Council House Estate in Sunderland - Lord Patel knows it well visiting the I J Dewhirst sewing factory (major M&S supplier in UK at the time) many times)

Symptoms include the constant seeking of reassurance or approval, excessive dramatics with exaggerated displays of emotion and excessive sensitivity to criticism or disapproval. Sufferers also have a need to be the centre of attention, shifting emotional states and a tendency to make rash decisions. Detective Inspector Peter Bent said: "Natalie has been assessed as having a personality disorder and we know that she can seem plausible even when she is not telling the truth." (sounds like say Wendy Alexander, Hazel Blears, etc.,)

They also say Police have been arranging for posting "Missing Person" posters in the NorthEast and London.

Miss Sharabang - A Death is announced

On the No 1 Court at Wimbledon the lovely and beatiful Miss Sharabang who has been shepherded all the way in her illustrious career by Lord Patel, died early this evening at the hands of Russian spy equipped with what looks like an innocent tennis racket.

News of the death has been passed on to the Head of the Metropolitan Police Terrorists who have the case under "active consideration" and have been reviewing their extensive library of the very much alive Miss Sharabang.

LATE UPDATE : The Police have moved swiftly and a Miss Alla Kudryavtseva (6-2, 6-4) is helping the Police with their enquiries and a racket said to be hers is being tested for baloneyium. Reports are coming in that a girl answering her description ( blotchy red faced, spotty, sweating , no make up , dreadful dress sense) was seen by eyewitnesses at the murder scene.

EVEN LATER UPDATE : As Miss Alla Kudryavtseva (6-2, 6-4) was screaming about Miss Sharabang's dress when she was dragged away. Police have impounded the dress and shorts and underwear Miss Sharabang was wearing for "DNA tests".

New Cornucopians

We have had it with the neo-conservatives, they were the bright guys on the block who about 2001 turned into the hated neo-cons...now we have the New Cornucopians.

Thse guys offer untold energy from the sun via biomass, wind energy, siliconised solar power, wave power, marine barriers, boundless crops, easy spread butter straight from the fridge ... meanwhile those hydrogen economy guys have gone real quiet.

New Cornucopians - we love it .. now where do we get the hemp T shirt ?

Shheeeeit a Google search finds no suppliers, not even rotten cotton.

We ARE ahead of the curve here at Patel Towers.