Toreador hits more gas in Turkey, prospects in Romania and Hungary.

Toreador Resources Corporation (Nasdaq:TRGL) and its partners TPAO (the Turkish national oil company) and Stratic Energy Corporation today announced that the Bayhanli-1 exploration well encountered natural gas in a new prospect offshore Turkey in the South Akcakoca Sub-basin project area. Analysis of log data indicates natural gas pay in the approximately 25 meters (82 feet) of sands to be tested in the next week, with at least another 25 meters to be perforated after producing the initial intervals. The gas sands are between 760 to 1,115 meters (2,494 to 3,659 feet) true vertical depth in the Kusuri formation. The Bayhanli-1 was drilled on a new prospect to the east of the Dogu Ayazli structure and along the same fault trend.

Toreador will engage its outside reservoir engineers, LaRoche Petroleum Consultants, to provide a mid-year update of the reserve potential in the South Akcakoca Sub-basin project following the conclusion of the current drilling campaign. Results will update the estimate of reserves from the prior study completed in September 2005. The results of the study are expected to be available by mid-July.

President and Chief Executive G. Thomas Graves III is quoted in the Houston Chronicle, " the company should easily reach our initial production targets when we bring first gas ashore by the end of the year." In Turkey, Toreador holds several acreage packages totaling nearly three million gross acres, the company’s largest international acreage package. (Pic Toreador website)


In Romania, the company waits for final permits to sell natural gas from the Fauresti field rehabilitation project to the national grid. Gas sales are expected to begin before the end of the second quarter. Initial production is estimated to be 6 Mn. cubic feet of gas and 30 barrels of condensate per day.

In Hungary, the company began drilling its first exploration well on Monday, May 22, in the Kendares natural gas prospect, located in the northeast of the Szolnock exploration block. The Ken-D-1 is targeting the Miocene-age Lower Szolnock channel sand at approximately 1,625 meters (5,333 feet) depth. The well is expected to take 3 to 4 weeks to drill and complete. If the well is successful, two more offset wells will be drilled on the prospect.

Shares of Toreador Resources rose 67 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $28.80 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange 

Equatorial Guinea - You are invited to a coup - Quiet Americans welcome

Only the friends of Brigadier General (ret.) Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo or as he likes el Jefe (The Boss) will be at the birthday party on June 5th of this 63 year old Dictator and President of Equatorial New Guinea. Listed by Forbes at the world's 8th richest ruler this despot attained his position by overthrowing his uncle Macias Nguema on August 3, 1979 aided by mercenaries supplied by King Hassan of Morocco. Obiang is not among the ordinary: In 1999 he paid $2.6 million -- cash -- for a mansion outside Washington, D.C. One of his wives had a $10,000 daily limit on her Riggs Bank debit card - she was in good company 21 President's have used the small, secretive bank's services.

Obiang pardoned political prisoners of the Nguema regime by decree and a new constitution for Equatorial Guinea was drafted and approved on 22 August 1982 by 95.38% majority in a "referendum".

Equatorial Guinea, a former Spanish Colony (Spanish Guinea), is a small country (pop. 1/2 Mn.) on the western coast of central Africa, is divided into two parts. Most of the land is on the African mainland, between Gabon and Cameroon; but an island off Cameroon, where the capital city of Malabo is located, is also included.

The principal product for export was Cocoa Beans but in 1996 now ExxonMobil (then Mobil Corp and now correctly Mobil Equatorial Guinea, Inc) struck oil in the world class Zafira field and by 2004, 185,000 BPD (at current prices US$12/13 Bn a year revenue) were being produced. Halliburton and ChevronTexaco are also involved in projects today in what is now third-largest oil exporter in sub-Saharan Africa, after Nigeria and Angola.

West Africa currently supplies 15 % of America’s energy, and that figure is expected to rise to 25 % within a few years. The African Oil Policy Initiative Group (AOPIG), a panel of U.S. government and energy industry officials brought together by the Jerusalem-based neo-con Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies, proposed that the Gulf of Guinea be declared a “vital interest” in U.S. national security policy in a report in 2002

In 2003, the Bush administration reopened the embassy, a move sharply criticized by human rights groups.The building it rents to house embassy is owned by Manuel Nguema Mba, who is the minister of national security, a relative of Obiang’s, and an accused and proven torturer.

There is a weekly flight from Malabo to Houston, Texas, nicknamed "The Houston Express". ExxonMobil and Marathon workers live in gated compounds that operate their own electrical, water, and communication systems.

Senate and Treasury Department documents detail how the US Riggs Bank helped Obiang shuttle millions into offshore accounts.In May 2004, the Treasury Department fined Riggs $25 million for “systemic” violations of anti-money-laundering laws -- the largest fine ever imposed under the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970. Oil companies, meanwhile, made payments to his regime that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is scrutinized under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - but ... er.. did nothing.The state is said (IMF report) to receive only 15 to 40 percent of the revenues from its oil fields, while the norm in sub-Saharan Africa is 45 to 90 percent.

When the Senate banking Committee grilled oil executives Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said, "“But I’ve got to tell you, I don’t see any fundamental difference between dealing with an Obiang and dealing with a Saddam Hussein.”


As a result the economy has surged, and along with it , cronyismm, corruption and associated violence and the routine imprisonment torture and killing which Amnesty have long detailed. His uncle Macias, it is claimed who once tortured and killed political opponents in a soccer stadium, drowning out their screams by playing “Those Were the Days” on the loudspeakers - evidently a sort of family tradition.Some of his victims were crucified on the road leading to the airport.

In addition to oil, natural gas was also discovered in Equatorial Guinea and the US energy company Marathon is building a large LNG processing / export plant . The major finds of oil and natural gas have given the country significant importance to US interests.The country has been described as the new Kuwait.

Equatorial Guinea is a one party state, dominated by Obiang's Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) only 2 members of the national parlimanet do not belong to it and 80% of the county's politicians live abroad.

Obiang was "elected" and re-elected" in 1996 and 2002, in joke elections unacceptable to international observers.

Like his uncle Obiang had the state radio in July 2003 declare the president is a God who is "in permanent contact with the Almighty" and can "kill anyone without being called to account", he personally made similar comments in 1993.Obiang has total control of the media . He is also criticized for nepotism, as he has appointed many family members to key posts in the government.(he was the 3rd of 10 brothers)

Support for Obiang at public rallies seems to be fervent and zealous, with literally thousands of followers literally screaming their support publicly; his practice of giving away wheelchairs at rallies surely helps in lending him loyalty among some of his population. He has a unique style of representing his country, asked by the BBC in 2002 Before the 2002 elections I asked him why so much public oil money had apparently disappeared.

He said simply, this was a state secret. He did not have to tell anyone where it had gone.

The succession when Obiang goes / dies / is assassinated

In In March 2004, a plot to overthow him was exposed which ultimately led to the disgrace of Sir Mark Thatcher and the imprisonment in Zimbabwe of a gang of plotter led by Nick du Toit President who planned to install the head of Equatorial Guinea's government-in-exile, Severo Moto Nsá, as president.

Obiang won't enjoy his Birthday Bash too much as he has reportedly terminal prostate cancer, amongst other illnesses, and weighs as little as 110 lbs and twice a month travels overseas for medical treatment. His succession either peacefully or by a violent coup is awaited with interest, not least among the owners of oil leases in this oil rich land.

Obiang wants his Paris based playboy son, Teodorín Nguema Obiang, to take over (he is one of a reputed 40 children by endless wives) but plots are alive in the tiny country and outside it, many centred around a leadership arising from within the Esangui clan.

In November 2005, Obiang held an important meeting with the PDGE, in which it was believed that he intended to create a position of vice president and fill that position with his son.

The country is mainly Catholic and Obiang had a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI on December 9th 2005 and also met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano

Whatever happens the successor will be manipulated by the US , the country that exports Democracy. Look our for Quiet American's in the sunset on Malabo and San Tome wher a small US fleet cruises.

Happy Birthday Obiang. 

Hurricane season blows in again ... get ready says NOAA

At a news conference at the NOAA National Hurricane Center on Monday, Deputy Secretary of Commerce David A. Sampson Deputy Secretary of Commerce at the NOAA National Hurricane Center said, "For the 2006 north Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA is predicting 13 to 16 named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become 'major' hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher" The impact from these storms extends well beyond coastal areas so it is vital that residents in hurricane prone areas get ready in advance of the hurricane season." (pic Katrina (C) NOAA)

Several key factors have led to the prediction ;

1. Warmer ocean water combined
2. Lower wind shear
3. Weaker easterly trade winds
4. More favorable wind pattern in the mid-levels of the atmosphere

All combining for the development of storms in greater numbers and to greater intensity. Warm water is the energy source for storms while favorable wind patterns limit the wind shear that can tear apart a storm's building cloud structure.

This confluence of conditions in the ocean and atmosphere appears to be strongly correlated to a climate pattern known as the multi-decadal signal, which has been in place since 1995. Since then, nine of the last 11 hurricane seasons have been above normal, with only two below-normal seasons during the El Niño years of 1997 and 2002.(Click here for a very useful NOAAA large scale graphic explaining how it works)

With neutral El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) (National Weather report )conditions expected across the equatorial Pacific during the next three to six months, the NOAA Climate Prediction Center scientists say that neither El Niño nor La Niña likely will be a factor in this year's hurricane season.

Market reactions to the news

Natural-gas futures climbed more than 5% Monday to their first gain in four sessions.Natural gas for June delivery climbed as high as $6.35 per million British thermal units Monday, its highest intraday level since May 17. The contract closed up 31.4 cents, or 5.3%, at $6.276.and crude prices recovered from a seven-week low.

The impacts of last season's hurricanes are still being felt in the Gulf. a full assesment of the physical damage is available from the MMS here.... stunning economic consequences.

Around 1.3 billion cubic feet of natural-gas production, or 13% of daily output, remains offline as of May 3 in the Gulf because of the two hurricanes last year, according to the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS). A total of 748.9 billion cubic feet, or 20.5%, of yearly production in the region was lost between Aug. 26 last year and May 3.

Around 324,445 barrels of oil per day also remains offline in the Gulf as of May 3. That's 21.6% of daily oil production in the area, according to the MMS. A total of 153.5 million barrels, or 28% of the yearly production in the Gulf has been shut in between Aug. 26 last year and May 3.

Crude for June delivery closed Monday at $69.23 a barrel, up 70 cents on the New York Mercantile Exchange.Today , Tuesday 23rd Crude for July delivery closed up $1.80 at $71.76 a barrel.

The OPEC OIl Cartel meets in Venezuela on June 1st and Venezuela's Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said Monday that the fundamentals in the oil market call for a production cut.

If you want to read the true story of how the Louisiana National Guard did a fantastic job all tyhrough Katrina go here .... get the Truth.

Christian Zionists get well informed on the News from ME

Googling news of the capture of Ibrahim Hamad an alleged Hamas terrorist by IDF forces in Ramullah yesterday, I stumbled across this interesting newsite with an novel slant on the news from the Middle East. (Holy land Meds - 80% of list!!1)

Jerusalem Newswire
Serving up a daily diet of news for Bible-believing Israel-lovers hungry for Israel-related news from an Israel-savvy perspective.
Watch - So you can pray. ... says the Straplines.

Jerusalem Newswire is a news service operating out of Jerusalem, Israel, that provides a condensed source of the most important daily news stories out of the region together with what we believe to be pertinent analyses and commentary.

The journalists reporting for Jerusalem Newswire are Bible-believing Christians with a twofold aim:

* To help Christians “watch” so that they can know how to pray as they seek to obey the biblical injunction to stay alert, particularly in these volatile and significant days.
* To let Jews know that there are Christians who hold to an unchanging standard of truth and reject the humanist-supported and Arab-led global agenda that demonizes and wants ultimately to remove the Jewish state from the Middle East.

Under "Hot Deals" you can ....
Send an IDF soldier a gift
$19.95
Bless Israel by sending a gift bag to a frontline IDF soldier

Sending him an understanding of compassion and mercy for his fellow humans might be a good start.

Barmy Zionists threaten Ahmadinejad with genocide lawsuit

Dore Gold, the 11th Israeli ambassador to the UN, said Ahmadinejad's comments in which he is claimed he said Israel should be wiped off the map and dismissed the Nazi Holocaust as a "myth." , violate the 1948 U.N. Genocide Convention, to which Iran is a signatory.

Gold was also a senior Foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who asked him to accompany him to Washington and to the 2003 Aqaba Summit with President George W. Bush.

Gold is author of 2 recent books Hatred's Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism (Washington: Regnery, 2003) QUOTE "Indeed, it is Saudi Arabia that has spawned the new global terrorism. Unless the Saudi regime feels pressure to change, the hatred that has motivated a horrifying series of worldwide terrorist attacks...will only go on."and the Tower of Babble How the United Nations Has Fueled Global Chaos . ""Dore Gold's Tower of Babble is bound to be one of the most controversial critiques in the public debate on the UN." - Henry Kissinger, Former Secretary of State" The blurb says..."Gold presents stark evidence of how the UN ignores mass murder, emboldens terrorists, props up dictators, and otherwise betrays its mission to protect the world's security. Tower of Babble reveals: - Why America can - and indeed must - go outside the UN to address the most serious threats to national security - a curious attitude for men seeking the protection of the courts that the UN regulates.

He claims the claimed remarks violated the genocide convention, which specifically addresses the issue of incitement to genocide," Gold said.

Danny Naveh (“We have a leader - Benjamin Netanyahu.”) was challenged about the Jenin massacre on the BBC Frost Program in 2002 - his answers are truly interesting ..

DAVID FROST: And in terms of - you mentioned the terrible figure of 400 Israelis who died but the figure is well over a thousand Palestinians have died - much worse.

DANNY NAVEH: Well unfortunately many innocent people were killed in the last year and a half as a result of Arafat's decision to move ahead with violence. We had to fight back against Palestinian terrorists that in many, many cases they used women and children as human shield against our soldiers. And unfortunately many Palestinians innocent were killed as well as a result of that terrible policy of Arafat and his men.

"used women and children as human shield against our soldiers. " .. like the Grandmother, mother and 5 year old grand daughter killed by rockets that also killed Doudeh and alleged terrorist omly last week.

The pic is very interesting , Danny Boy was Health Minister last year and Olmud called him the worst ever, he was so bad and so unpopular he had to appear everywhere with a bodyguard.

Ideally this legalistic nonsense should be dismissed as ravings of outsiders and political midgets. These men are not outsiders and have links at the highest levels of decision making in the Israeli State... plus powerful friends like Henry Kissinger, happy to endorse their poisonous ravings. No doubt the current US UN Ambassador John Bolton would be happy to endorse Gold's distorted views of the utility of the UN.

LUKoil move into Slovenia, join with GAZPROM in Columbian investment

Lukoil's CEO Vagit Alekperov was in Ljubljana on Thursday, 18 May to meet the Economics Minister Andrej Vizjak to discuss buying the state ownd Nafta Lendava oil company group.He also met the Prime Minister Janez Jansa (see pic) to further discuss port operator Luka Koper and petrol retailer Petrol. Slovenia (pop 2 Mn) will act as as EU president in the first half of 2008 and the Prime MInister said energy will be one of their principal concerns ...although it will loom ever larger as an agenda item within the EU until then after the total shambles of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

The government wants to sell Nafta Lendava and sees Lukoil's initiative as one of the possible ways to privatise it, Vizjak added.

"This powerful Russian company could solve some of the Slovenian economy's key problems, especially regarding a long-term reliable supply of oil derivatives," explained the man directing the economy of an EU state..

Slovenia has always been the most prosperous region of the former Yugoslavia and has found the transition from a socialist economy to the capitalist free market easier than most. It will adopt the Euro from January 1st. 2007

Lukoil also expressed interest in the infrastructure on the Slovenian coast, where they would be interested in setting up their own logistics centre for this part of Europe, the minister added.There are continuing border rumbles about access to the Adriatic with Croatia but not of a great deal of significance.

South America sees the Russians even more active in energy supplies.

Meanwhile in Moscow LUKoil and Gazprom are planning to expansion in Colombia, the Russian Industry & Energy Ministry said in a press release after a meeting of the Russian-Colombian Commission on Trade and Scientific Cooperation from May 15-16 in Moscow. “In discussing the prospects for mutual action in the oil and gas sectors, the parties agreed to discuss expanding cooperation with Russian companies, including between LUKoil, Ecopetrol and the National Hydrocarbon Agency to jointly implement new projects on search and exploration in Colombia,” the release read.

In April 2006, eight companies, including LUKoil, ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, made it into the final part of a competition to take part in a project organised by Colombian state-run Ecopetrol to develop heavy oil fields. Ecopetrol accounts for about 60 % of the 526,000 BPD produced in Colombia. Colombia’s Meta province can produce up to 200,000 BPD

LUKoil Overseas and Ecopetrol signed a contract for the Condor bock on April 7, 2002.

The block area amounts to 3,089 square km. The share of LUKoil Oveseas in the project is 70%nt, and Ecopetrol - 30%. LUKoil Overseas Colombia Ltd. is the operator of the project.. 

Canada a Driving Force to ditch Kyoto

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change opened in Bonn on 15 May to plot the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol, with Canada as Chairman.

Canada will not support attempts by other countries to set deeper emission-reduction targets for the Kyoto Protocol’s second phase says the Toronto Globe and Mail in an "Exclusive" ( but not unexpected) story. Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions are now 35% above its 1990 base levels—under Kyoto, its target is to be 6% below 1990 levels by 2012.

Since the early 90s Canada's CO2 emissions rose faster than the US in percentage terms caused mainly by a booming economy and population growth. Some Canuck pols saw themselves as superior to the US because Canada had joined the Kyoto Accord. Canadian government's of any stripe have no intention to inflict big costs on Canadian industry or the Canadian public in order to meet Kyoto obligations.

The tar sands oil production in Alberta (see previous posts) generates a lot of CO2 (by using natural gas to heat the deposits to release the crude oils) and so the continued increase in tar sands oil is going to drive up Canadian CO2 emissions even higher.

The Mail & Globe also says that Canada is threatening to pull out of the UN climate-change process unless it starts includes the United States and all other major polluters.

After the shambles of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme expect many EU nations to quietly join Canada in ditching Kyoto. Don't expect headlines to surface however .... softly softleeeeee

Israel releases medical aid, IDF kill 2 women and child

"We have no intention of helping the Palestinian government," Mr. Olmert was quoted as telling the Israeli Cabinet, after the agreed to spending US$11 Mn on medical supplies from the US$50Mn taxes they have stolen so far." We will render such assistance as may be necessary for humanitarian needs."

He then jetted off to the US to see President Bush on Tuesday ostensibly to discuss the new Security Fence line. He is quoted as saying he would prefer negotiations with the Palestinians, but is prepared to act unilaterally.Israel's Defense Ministry also announced the approval of expanding the boundaries of four Jewish settlements. The Israeli army fired missiles at a car in Gaza City on Saturday, killing Dadouh, Islamic Jihad's most senior militant, Hanan Aman, 25, her five-year-old son and the child's grandmother. Israel Defense Minister Amir Peretz ordered the IDF this morning to carry out an investigation into the killing.... and he might as well save his breath.

In Sharm El Sheik Egypt at the World Economic Forum The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli foreign minister, Ms.Tzipi Livni, met in the highest-level contacts between the two sides since the radical Islamic faction Hamas won the Palestinian elections in January.

"After some preparations, a meeting of the president with Prime Minister Olmert will be the next step," Ms. Livni said, according to Reuters. She appealed to the international community to remain firm in its rejection of Hamas.

"It is a terrorist government, on the other hand we want to help the Palestinian people and not to punish them. .." which is a load of horse shit from this woman who prays weekly at her father's grave for Erutz Israel.

Israel says it views the Palestinian Authority as one entity and will not conduct formal negotiations with the Palestinian leadership unless and until the Hamas-led government meets several conditions, including recognizing Israel and renouncing violence.

Hamas / Fatah strife takes lives in Gaza

Meanwhile in Gaza Strip a "large bomb" (150lb) was found near the Gaza home of Rashid Abu Shbak, on his route from his home to work, Shabak was appointed by Prime Minister Abbas to oversee several security agencies, a move that upset the Hamas government, which says it should be in charge of the agencies.

The day previously , a bomb badly wounded a senior intelligence official, Maj. Gen. Tareq Abu Rajab, and killed one of his bodyguards, in an elevator at his headquarters in Gaza City.Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas, called for an investigation. "We are asking not to make early judgments, accusations or responses that might lead to tension in the Palestinian streets," said Haniyeh's spokesman, Ghazi Hamad.... because the immediate assumption is that the hand of Hamas was seen in the assassination attempt.

Abu Rajab, 59, was taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza for emergency surgery. He was then transported to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv for further treatment. (see pic)

Maj Gen Tareq Abu Rajab, recently led a 2 day visit to Jordan to investigate the evidence against the Hamas militants. The senior Palestinian diplomat in Jordan, Atta Khairy, said Abu Rajab was briefed on the facts and "shown evidence on the arms smuggling allegedly by Hamas activists." Hamas officials, along with the Syrian government which hosts Hamas' exiled leadership have denied the allegations since the cache's discovery 3 weeks ago.

On April 18th Jordanian Police had seized weapons, including missiles and rockets, that Hamas members had stockpiled in various parts of the country. He said the seized arms included Iranian-made Katyusha rockets (which have recently been faslling on Israel from Gaza - indeed Dadouh was supposed to have actually fired one before his death) and light anti-tank weapons known as LAW missiles.He said the government suspected that more arms had been hidden but "not yet discovered."

Nasser Judeh, Jordan's Government spokesman also said 20 Hamas actovosts had been arrested at the same time.

The tempo is increasing, the temperature is rising.

Men go down to the sea in boats

TRAGEDY ON ABN AMRO TWO

Hans Horrevoets a vastly experienced Dutch sailor was washed overboard from the deck of ABN Amro Two as they raced across the North Atlantic on their way to Portsmouth, UK, in the 7th leg of the Volvo Ocean Race.

The boat was sailing downwind in 25 – 30 knots of wind under mainsail, fractional spinnaker and staysail. Sebastien Josse, skipper of ABN Amro Two, was at the helm, Hans was trimming the spinnaker sheet, Nick Bice, Andrew Lewis and Lucas Brun were also on deck. A wave washed back down the deck and when the water cleared Hans was no longer on deck.

Immediately Sebastian hailed ‘man overboard’ and called everyone on deck to put in place our man overboard procedures and GPS positioning. The spinnaker was immediately dropped, the staysail furled and the starboard dagger board lowered. The engine was switched on and we
attempted to motor-sail back on a reciprocal course. Due to the strong headwinds it was decided we drop the main, and go under motor alone as it was difficult to maintain a direct course to the man overboard position.

“Once Hans was located, Simeon Tienpoint put on his dry-suit, harness and diving gear in order to assist in the recovery. Once back on board Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK was notified that we had a major medical emergency and asked to stand by. In the meantime Hans was moved downstairs. No pulse was found and after attempts at CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) it was CPR was stopped at 0420 UTC.”

32 Year old Horrevoets was married and his wife is pregnant with the couple’s second child.

The crew are no longer in racing mode but are making their way to Portsmouth as quickly as possible.

Crew members said sailing around the world was Horrevoets’ dream. He loved this race. It had been an ambition towards which he had strived since he was a boy. On his website he wrote, “As a child, I just had one goal in my life: sailing regattas! My biggest dream was sailing the Whitbread Round the World Race. Racing around the world on a W60 was my largest passion.”
“As a trimmer and a sail maker on board BrunelSunergy (Whitbread Round the World Race 1997-98) I sailed all legs. I was only 22 years old when the race began. This was an experience no one can ever take away from me!” To get that opportunity again this time round was, as he said, “Just magic.”

Such passion didn’t dwindle during 32 years of a life that ended so abruptly this morning. He was never anything less than enthusiastic and happy. Even when performances were bad he could be found laughing in the bar or with his family, friends and crew mates, for sailing to Hans was so much more than a job. It was, like it is for so many who make a living from this sport, far more enriching than that.

The race continues and as I write ABN AMRO ONE has led this leg arriving now in Plymouth.

LUKoil open offices in Tashkent

Lukoil-Overseas Holding Ltd, subsidiary of Lukoil (Russia), laid the foundation stone of their offices in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 16 May.

LUKoil's new offices in Tashkent were opened by Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev, and president of Lukoil Vagit Alekperov.

Tashkent city governor Abdukahor Tukhtaev said the positive changes in Tashkent attracts investors and expands cooperation with Russian companies. He said the opening of office of Lukoil in Tashkent was just the beginning of mutually beneficial cooperation in oil and gas sector in Uzbekistan.

Vagit Alekperov said Lukoil is one of the powerful giants in oil and gas sector and Tashkent office of Lukoil will promote further development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia.

Sarkozy - tough talk, tough action on immigrants

French Interior Minister Mr Sarkozy, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, steered the new French Immigration Bill to it's introduction. The bill, which must also be passed by the French Senate, offers residence permits to highly qualified newcomers from outside the European Union and also will lead to deporting more immigrants.The Bill still requires Senate approval.He has set a target of 25,000 deportations by the end of 2006 but said he hoped to exceed this.

Msr Sarkozy is currently visiting Mali wher he is not welcome as planes carrying deportees arrive in Mali every day, some carrying 70 people expelled from France.Many of the Malians living in France come from the western region of Kayes, while Gao is at a key staging post on the migration route from West Africa across the Sahara desert to Morocco and then Europe.

The Bill's main points include ;
1.Only the qualified get "skills and talents" residency permit
2.Foreigners only allowed in to work, not live off benefits
3.Foreign spouses to wait longer for residence cards
4.Migrants must agree to learn French
5.Migrants must sign 'contract' respecting French way of life
6.Scraps law on workers getting citizenship after 10 years

In the capital of Mali, Bamoko, 100's of Malians have marched to protest against the visit of the hardline French Interior Minister holding banners reading "Sarkozy, neo-Nazi" and "Immediate halt to deportations.

Ahead of his arrival, more than 20 MPs said he should not visit Mali. Wednesday's (17/5/06) march to the French Embassy was organised by the Association of Malians Expelled from France, which is also called for a sit-in on Thursday in front of the hotel where Mr Sarkozy was staying.

He then travelled on to Cotonou in Benin to meet President Thomas Yayi Boni before giving a speech on France's Africa policy. The high-profile trip has been soured by African frustration over the immigration bill.Some of Benin's MP's demonstrated their opposition by boycotting a lunch hosted by Sarkozy, saying that they did not consider him "a friend of Africans."

Anti-racist and student activists organised a sit-in at the interior ministry: placards accused Sarkozy of racism, compared him to bird flu .Hundreds of people shouted: "Racist, out of our country" and "Go home," as riot police stood guard at the interior ministry in Cotonou.(see pic)

Undaunted Sarkozy said France had to build a "new, healthier, straightforward, balanced" relationship with Africa which had to be more trasnparent, "We have to get rid of these networks from another era, unofficial envoys with no other mandates than those they invent for themselves," he said.

"The normal operation of political and diplomatic institutions must prevail over the unofficial circuits which did so much harm in the past."

The Immigration bill is not without critics in France

Socialist MP Serge Blisko said it amounted to "the organised pillaging of brains", and the French anti-racism organisation SOS Racisme has called it "dangerous".

Sarkozy has ordered local police to round up the youngsters and their families and ensure they are expelled after the school term finishes at the end of June. Even those who are French-born will not be spared.

Pierre Labeyrie, a Green party councillor in Toulouse, said he would have no hesitation in breaking the law. "We will give these people our support, our protection. "We will not denounce them to the police."

A recently formed protest group, the Réseau Education sans Frontières (Education Without Borders), claims to have more than 24,000 signatures protesting against such expulsions.... which are enormously popular with the right wing of the electorate which Sarkozy is trying to attract ahead of the Presidential elections ...building on his actions whivch set off the November riots in the Paris banlieus. 

Bush turns back on Israel to protect borders

In a shock move to protect US Borders with an "electronic fence "President Bush has turned his back on Israeli contractors and turned to major Industrial military complex providers Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman, who say that within 3 weeks three they would submit bids within two weeks for a multibillion-dollar federal contract to build what the administration calls a "virtual fence" along the nation's land borders.

Operation Hold the Line in El Paso or Operation Gate Keeper in San Diego, using National Guard and men on the ground have failed so he has turned to hi-tech surveillance using high priced hi-tech tools - Umnanned Aerial vehicles (UAV's) like Predator, Global Hawk, ground surveillance / imagery satellites and motion-detection video equipment

Through its new fancy sounding Secure Border Initiative, the Bush administration says it is not just h-tech they turn to but a blend of electronics and patriotic personnel to patrol the periphery of the United States.

"This is an unusual invitation," the deputy secretary of homeland security, Michael Jackson, told contractors this year at an industry briefing, just before the bidding period for this new contract started. "We're asking you to come back and tell us how to do our business." ... and he should have added ."spend our money".

"We are launching the most technologically advanced border security initiative in American history," Mr. Bush ( a man described as the President of the United States) said in his speech from the Oval Office on Monday.

The Department of Homeland Security and its Customs and Border Protection division will still be charged with patrolling the 6,000 miles of land borders - so that will be adding another layer of administration to slow response and add more costs.

It could also mean the sight of aerial pollution such as the Tethered Aerostat Radar, a helium-filled blimp twice the size of the famous Goodyear blimp that Lockheed Martin has made for the Air Force, tethered statically, the airship can hover overhead and automatically monitor any movement night or day and carries the AN/DPS-5 S-band CFAR/MTI and AN/TPS-63 search radars.... but not on windy days when the hi-tech winch will pull it in.50/60% up time is standard.

Meanwhile he is sending in ..er... 6,000 National Guards. i.e men with guns.

Just in case you missed it ...The Federal Aviation Administration first advised Customs to begin looking for aerostat sites on the Southwest border and the gulf in 1981. Major General Piotrowski, in hearings before the House in 1983, urged consideration of the use of aerostats in the war on drugs. The requirement for the Tethered Aerostat Radar System network was established in 1984 by the U.S. Customs Service to help counter illegal drug trafficking.

...and Lockheed Martin is to rollout local Vendor Industry Days to meet with potential suppliers for SBInet, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) comprehensive multi-year plan (i.e unending) to secure America's borders (well the Mexican one anyways) and reduce illegal immigration.

To build a world-class team of industry partners, Lockheed Martin is actively seeking small business participation through a series of supplier information and outreach sessions being held across the United States. i.e we are desperately searching for ideas for Uncle Sam to spend his taxpayer's dollars. Roll up...Roll up.Suppliers and universities with services, technologies, or product capabilities that might support SBInet can find more information and submit contact information at: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/secureborder

"As a systems integrator, Lockheed Martin recognizes need for diversityin a team, and is committed to including small, small disadvantaged, women, HUBzone, Native American, service disabled veteran and veteran-owned businesses in our SBInet solution," said Jay Dragone, vice president, Homeland Security Programs.i.e spread the tax dollars around amongst the areas most affected by illegal throughput.

SBInet will create an integrated border security system to transform, integrate and expand technology and infrastructure systems throughout the border to reduce illegal entry to the United States. SBInet will integrate multiple state of the art systems and traditional security infrastructure into a single comprehensive border security suite.... excuse me this paint needs watching carefully.....

Can I tender to write the speech a future President will make to explain why SBInet didn't work as planned ? 

Canada will double oil production by 2020.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) represents 150 companies that explore for, develop and produce more than 95 per cent of Canada s natural gas and crude oil. They announced today that Canuck crude oil in Canada production is set to double by 2020.

Total Canadian oil production is projected to increase from 2.5 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2005 to 4.6 million b/d in 2015 Growth after 2015 will bring total Canadian production (revised from last years forecast) to nearly 4.9 million b/d by 2020.

Oil sands production, which now exceeds one million b/d, is forecast to reach 3.5 million b/d by 2015 and 4.0 million b/d by 2020, accounting for more than 80 per cent of Canadian production.

Whilst the volume increase is important the product mix has wide implications on costs on pipelines and refineries to be able to process both the added volumes of crude and the new mix. Canada's oil sands contain an estimated 174 Billion barrels of petroleum, a resource second in size only to that of Saudi Arabia (264 BB).(whose figures are becoming increasingly suspect) With oil prices remaining at current levels, removing the tar-like bitumen from sand and refining it into synthetic oil yields enough profit that about C$100 billion is expected to be invested in the region over the next decade.

EnCana Corp (ECA.TO: Quote) (Among the largest holders of oil and gas resource lands onshore North America) and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (CNQ.TO: Quote) both said last year that they plan to boost output from the region by a half-million barrels a day over the next decade and more. The two firms expect to spend a combined C$25 billion on their oil sands projects.

Other major players and more information here

Syncrude is currently the worlds largest producer of crude oil from oil sands, in 2005 Syncrude produces 78.1 million barrels of crude oil from the oil sands.

Petro Canada possesses large lease holdings in the Alberta oil sands in addition to owning a large refinery in the Edmonton area which is in the process of being converted to process oil sands feedstock exclusively. Petro Canada possesses a 12% interest in Syncrude and is has 100% ownership of the MacKay River Oil sands project. Petro Canada is a 55% owner in the Fort Hills oil sands project where they plan to develop an estimated 2.8 billion barrels of bitumen. Total oil sands reserves are estimated at 5 billion barrels.

In May 2005, Synenco created the Northern Lights Partnership (NLP) with SinoCanada Petroleum Corporation, the Canadian subsidiary of China based Sinopec. Synenco holds a 60% interest in and is the managing partner of NLP. The current cost of the NLP project is $5.3 billion. When fully operational the NLP is expected to produce 100,000 barrel a day of light sweet synthetic crude oil, with first production beginning in late 2010.

Suncor began crude oil production from the Alberta Oil Sands in 1967 and has produced over 1 billion barrels of oil in its history. Suncor expects to reach 550,000 barrels of crude per day from the oil sands by 2012.

More information is available from the Government of Alberta of the Oil Sands Consultation Group published May 13th 2006 PDF alert!

Zimbabwe remembers and nobody takes any notice

Operation Murambatsvina was launched one year ago in Harare, Zimbabwe as an alleged slum-clearance operation that left hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans homeless. In reality it was a Stalinist movement of population engineered by Mengistu the refugee Ethiopian deposed dictator which affected over 800,000 people. UN special envoy Anna Tibaijuka produced a devastatingly critical report in July 2005 and demanded the government to pay reparations to those who had lost housing and livelihoods and punish those who, "with indifference to human suffering", had carried out the evictions.

Tibaijuka, UN-HABITAT's Executive Director, said the 3 month operation, "breached both national and international human rights law provisions guiding evictions, thereby precipitating a humanitarian crisis".

Not a word has been said by any G8 Leader, EU leader or President Bush and the man in his trousers Tony Blair ... as the country plunges further into chaos.

The BBC remain silent as well.

Arrests at Protest meetings.
Today Police arrested more than 100 members of a civil society organization that staged a commemorative protest in central Harare in defiance of a police ban on commemorations of Operation Murambatsvina.

Some 1,000 members of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) demonstrated in a commorative protest and 103 of them, including 61 women, were arrested, said NCA Chairman Lovemore Madhuku. He charged that the police severely beat many of the arrested demonstrators, whose intention, he said, was to "remind the world of President (Robert) Mugabe's evils."

The Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe and the National Association of Nongovernmental Organizations, or Nango, postponed commemorations until later in the month. Crisis Coalition spokeswoman Elizabeth Marunda said police ordered the groups to put observations off until after a parliamentary by-election in Budiriro on Saturday.Plans are for a protest on May 27th.

Arrests at By Election of MDC officers

Arthur Mutambara , head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) pro-Senate faction, was campaigning in Harare's high-density Budiriro suburb, where this weekend's by-election will be fought. He was detained along with the faction's deputy secretary-general, Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, at least 50 other members were arrested along with Glen Norah MP Goodwill Chimbaira, Edwin Mushoriwa of Dzivaresekwa and the MDC's candidate in the weekend Budiriro parliamentary by-election, Gabriel Chibva. (see pic)

But the postponement followed a visit by police to the Crisis Coalition's Harare offices Thursday, supposedly to inquire about the organization’s registration status. Coalition advocacy officer Itai Zimunya, questioned by police, said a policeman threatened to make “an example’’ of the organization. The police threatened they would return today meet the group's executives and inspect registration documents.

In Bulawayo, the Christian Alliance of churches assisting Murambatsvina victims was awaiting a High Court decision on an urgent application for the justices to overturn a police revocation of a permit for a prayer meeting and march on Saturday, May 20. A spokesman for the group said it would lead prayers then whatever the decision.

Nongovernmental organizations including the Combined Harare Residents Association and the Crisis Coalition, along with HIV-AIDS activists and Murambatsvina victims, met in a community hall in Harare's Highfield section. They signed a petition asking African countries and the United Nations to declare May 18 International Anti-Eviction Day.

UN Secretary General's visit not certain

Augostino Zacharias a United Nations spokesperson and Zimbabwe country director is investigating a continuing roundup of homeless people and street vendors being carried out in the cities in an exercise named Operation Round-Up.

All this might stop the visit to Zimbabwe by Secretary General Kofi Annan planned for June which is still under discussion.

The Zimbabwean government says it is satisfied with the results of Operation Murambatsvina,the cities are cleaner, crime is down and there are fewer outbreaks of disease.

Mullah Dadullah, another one legged jihadist captured again...

Late News The Scotsman reports Reuters that a man claiming to be Dadullah told them by phone 20th May 2006 he was alive and well and not captured.

September 23rd 2000 Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement publicly executed two men accused of working with opposition forces and carrying out bomb attacks in the capital Kabul.The two blindfolded men in their late 30s, their hands tied behind their backs, were hanged by the neck from ropes attached to two separate cranes. (see pic)

The site was close to the famous Ariana square where the Taliban executed former communist president Dr Najibullah and his brother when the Taliban movement captured Kabul.

Mullah Dadullah, the one legged Pashtun Taliban military chief, told reporters that the two men were involved in the recent bomb blasts including a missile attack on Kabul airport and at other Taliban military installations.

On March 12, Sibghatullah Mujaddedi, the former president of Afghanistan and the current chairman of the upper house of parliament, was wounded in a suicide car-bomb attack in Kabul.Taliban military commander Mullah Dadullah claimed responsibility for that suicide attack, warning that "attacks against American puppets will continue" In December 2005, Dadullah warned that "we have prepared 200 young men who are ready to sacrifice and carry out suicide bombings against the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan"

According to Waheed Mujda, a former high-ranking member of staff in the Taliban's Foreign Ministry, "When fighting against Ismail Khan [the current minister of water and energy supply] in the first months of the Taliban's formation in 1994, Dadullah stepped on a land mine near Herat city, and lost his leg."

Today the BBC have been told that , Mullah Dadullah, has been captured by international troops in Afghanistan, and to have been detained in the southern province of Kandahar. However he has a habit of re-appearing ...For instance,Dadullah reportedly escaped the U.S. and Northern Alliance onslaught of the Taliban regime in the winter of 2002 and surfaced in South Waziristan, Pakistan, where he raised funds and organized the Taliban insurgency. Then in early February 2003 , Yusuf Stanezai—the spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry—stated in an interview with Kabul-based Tulu TV that Dadullah had been killed during fighting in Helmand province ). Once again, Dadullah somehow survived. Just 10 days after the rumor of his death, Dadullah appeared on al-Jazeera television announcing his link and support to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (al-Jazeera, February 13).

"We currently do not have any information but are looking into the claim," said Lieut. Tamara Lawrence, a U.S. military spokeswoman about the identity of the one legged jihadist they had captured, addeing pessimistically . "
"There was an operation and three high-ranking Taliban commanders have been captured but I cannot confirm that Mullah Dadullah was one of them," said the Afghan spokesman, Karim Rahimi to Reuters.

Coalition troops captured the insurgent during a battle in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar province on Wednesday, fighting that led to the deaths of 18 militants and a female Canadian soldier, Capt. Nichola Goddard. About 35 rebels were reported captured in the battle. This brings the reported deaths to more than 170 the number of Taliban killed in several major battles in Afghanistan since last Wednesday.

Last year a special anti-terrorism court in Quetta Pakistan sentenced Mullah Dadullah in his absence to life in prison for trying to kill Maulana Shirani, a Pakistani parliament member (Pajhwak Afghan News, December 29, 2005).a member of the Pakistani parliament.

Three years ago, Mullah Dadullah told the BBC the Taleban, deposed in 2001, hoped to regain power in Afghanistan.

He is quoted as saying In a satellite phone interview with The Associated Press in December ..

“Our suicide attackers will continue jihad until Americans and all of their Muslim and non-Muslim allies are pulled out of the country.” He ruled out reconciliation and talks with Karzai's government, saying it "owed its existence" to non-Muslims, and to do so would amount to "joining Christianity and working for Christians." and claimed the country's new parliament -- its first in more than 30 years, inaugurated the previous week -- was "obedient to America."

The Arabic satellite channel, al-Jazeera, conducted a 23 minute interview with Mullah Dadallah, the military commander of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Monday, February 13, 2006, and claiming the universality of the jihad said, “The problem with Iraq is a problem of all Muslims. We are not fighting here for Afghanistan, but we are fighting for all Muslims everywhere and also the Mujahideen in Iraq. The infidels attacked Muslim lands and it is a must that every Muslim should support his Muslim brothers. If they withdraw from Afghanistan we will still fight them.”

Tony's nuclear wheeze..A case of Entente Con Cordiale ?

Tony Blair first spoke publicly about nuclear power on January 30th 2005 in Manchester ..this is what he said ..

"We don’t have any plans to open new power stations .... I think there is a debate to be had about nuclear power but it has to happen in a rational way. If we suggest a new generation of nuclear power in this country I can guarantee there will be public concern about it so we would have to look at what is going on in other countries very carefully."

Last night the moguls of UK industry sat down to feed themselves at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) dinner and listen to Prime Minister. Tony Blair faced the inevitable consequences of the insane run down of the UK's oil and gas reserves , along with the destruction of the indiginous deep coal industry. This, combined with MrsThatcher's "lunatic "dash for gas" as Closed Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) plants were installed willy nilly, a policy stopped by the dumb Deputy Prime Minister and then later re-started.The imminent closure of most coal and nuclear stations in the period to 2025 means the UK will require significant investment in new core generating plant.

This is what Tony said to industries top brass ..."Essentially, the twin pressures of climate change and energy security are raising energy policy to the top of the agenda in the UK and around the world." ...which is completely untrue. The UK is in this position, as it has moved from a country being wholly 100% self reliant in energy to one that within 10 years will become wholly reliant on imported energy, with all the trading consequences, security issues and impact on society these will have. It has got absolutely fuck all to do with Co2 / climate change / global warming.and a great deal to do with energy security - which given Putin and his gang's policies of using energy as a power play, IS of massive interest.


"Yesterday I received the first cut of the [energy] review. The facts are stark. By 2025, if current policy is unchanged, there will be a dramatic gap on our targets to reduce emissions, we will become heavily dependent on gas and at the same time move from being 80-90 per cent self-reliant in gas to 80-90 per cent dependent on foreign imports, mostly from the Middle East, and Africa and Russia. (All of which was evident in the late 90's)

Mr Blair has also decided there will not be a separate white paper after the energy review, (i.e he realises time is fast running out) suggesting there will be no legislation to bring in nuclear stations - reducing the opportunities for a focused backbench rebellion in the Commons. He will face familiar questions on the cost and safe disposal of nuclear waste, and strong criticism from his own Sustainable Development Commission, chaired by Jonathon Porritt.... which he will of course totally ignore after making suitably emolliant noises.

For Tony the crucial thing is ,a survey of 1,491 people this year, carried out by Mori and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, found 60% of people would support new atomic power stations as long as renewable energy sources were developed and used at the same time, and 63% agreed that Britain needed nuclear power as part of a mix of sources to ensure a reliable supply.

THAT is the clincher for Blair , who last January said , "there will be public concern", this was of course ahead of the election, but he knew that the immediate political consequences were more important to him then , than the energy security of the UK in the next 50 years.

Now we learn today that the Scots are going to try and maintain nuclear energy as a core source and extend the lives of current stations and even have new build.

The major problem of new build power station is...who literally will build them, does the UK have the firms, the staff, the knowledge, the expertise to build and run them .. say like the French, who by owning so much of the industry now MUST have a big influence on any decision making. As British Energy said in their submission to the Energy review ..."any policy should address the decline in industrial and intellectual ‘infrastructure’ since this will be needed to support the UK’s long-term energy strategy.

For example today, there is not a single British university offering a full undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering.

Looks like Tony is going to be giving the go -ahead to the French pulling the UK's irons out of the fire. He should worry, he will be long gone by the time they are pumping out the kilowatts.
Just in time (nice coincidence heh ?) French Group Areva (which has built 98 of the world's 443 reactors) have published their submission to the Energy review

They say (broadly) that a new generation of nuclear power stations can be launched in the UK without Government subsidy and operate within a competitive energy market and producing by 2017, given certain conditions about planning and waste disposal..

Friends get fed up of me quoting Nye Bevin ..."This is an island of coal surrounded by a sea full of fish. Only an organising genius could organise a shortage of both."

Israel a Day in the Life of .....

Here in Israel it is interesting to see what priorities head the news ....

FREE World Cup Socer in Israel

Eitan Cabel is the new Israeli Minister responsible for the Israel Broadcasting Authority, but he has already come out with announcements, conducted interviews and made political contacts aimed at letting the public know that he is completely in favor of people being able to watch the World Cup soccer championships for free.

Charlton, owned by Eli Azur and Pini Zahavi, have the local Israeli TV rights to the World Cup it's expected revenues from the World Cup are $23 million, of which $6.2 million will come from selling the broadcasting rights to commercial television channels, cellular telephone operators and Internet providers. The rest will come from the sale of some 200 ,000 subscriptions to the World Cup channel on cable and satellite TV. IDF soldiers will so far receive free viewing.

It is difficult to see how Cabel's promise can be kept.


French Fireworks on Tel Aviv Beachfront

An estimated 300,000 people packed the Tel Aviv beachfront Tuesday night to watch a massive offshore fireworks display orchestrated by a French production company specializing in pyrotechnics.

Five tons of fireworks were launched from a raft located 400 meters off the coast over the course of 28 minutes - making this the largest pyrotechnic display in Israel's history.

A computer was programmed to synchronize the musical beats with the fireworks.

The performance kicks off "Voila!"  a season of French culture, featuring art, theater, music, film and fashion events scheduled which will continue until August.Police issued a statement Wednesday denying accusations it mishandled Thursday's fireworks display that led to massive traffic jams in the Tel Aviv area.

2 More years to complete "Security Fence"

According to figures issued by the Defense Ministry today , only 336 kilometers of the security fence are considered operational out of a total planned length of 790 kilometers. An additional 102 kilometers are in various stages of construction, 67 kilometers are still at the paperwork level, and the building of 285 kilometers is still waiting for court approval.

Hams set up embryo militias defying Abbas

Earlier today (Wednesday,May 17th '06) the Hamas government has started deploying members of a new security unit made up of militants across the Gaza Strip, despite a veto by Abbas.The unit is headed by Jamal Abu Samhadaneh, a militant high on Israel's wanted list.

The move will heighten tensions between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah Party even further.

In direct defiance of Abbas' veto, Interior Minister Said Siyam of Hamas announced earlier Wednesday that the unit would begin operations. "In line with my authority, I announce the beginning of the work of the executive unit that was formed recently to protect the security of the citizens and their property," Siyam told a news conference.

Karni crossing re-opened to commercial traffic by Perutz

Defence Minister Amir Peretz, leader of the Labor Party reopened the main cargo crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip ar Karni , which may be the start of a policy shift aimed at easing some of Israel’s security restrictions on the Palestinians.

Israel had kept the Karni crossing closed in both directions since April 4. It has been closed for a total of 55 days since Jan. 1. Every day, the Palestinian economy loses at least $1.5 million when Karni is closed, according to PalTrade, a coalition of Palestinian business people that monitors trade. Karni has been a target of attacks by Palestinian militants.

IDF kill at least 10 Palestinians in raids in Nablus / Jenin

IDF forces operating in the West Bank town of Nablus early Wednesday killed at least two members of Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, the al-Quds Brigades, and injured another seriously during gun battles in the city.

The terrorists who were shot dead were identified as Ilar resident Mustafa Abed el-Rani, a senior Jihad leader in Tul Karm, and Ustman Sadaka, from the village of Anza, near Jenin. Early this week an IDF force killed top organization leaders in Qabatiyeh, near Jenin. Seven Palestinians, among them a security officer and Islamic Jihad and Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades members were killed

Also on Sunday, Palestinian sources said that a security officer died in exchanges of fire between the IDF and wanted terror suspects in the West Bank town of Jenin.

Former PA security funds manager Fuad Shubaki tells of arms purchases by Arafat.

Fuad Shubaki was kidnapped in the Jericho Prison charade and has been interrogated by Shin Beth and told ;

1. Shubaki admitted that money received by Israel was used by the PA to fund terrorist cells which operated against Israel.

2. He also admitted that under Arafat's instructions, the Palestinian Authority was involved in smuggling and producing weapons, and funding terrorist cells which operated against Israel.

3. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hizbullah were behind the Karine A weapons ship intercepted by Israel in January 2002. The Iranians and Hizbullah coordinated the arms ship with senior members of the Palestinian Authority, he said.

4. Shubaki met Iranian envoys in 2001, who offered military aid to the PA, including sites to produce weapons, technology to produce arms, and military training.

It must be remembered that Shubaki made a visit in 2002 to Baghdad where he met with high-level Iraqi officials. The Iraqis committed themselves to supply the Palestinians with large amounts of weaponry, at no charge (Ma'ariv, January 16, 2002).

LUKoil takes on Marathon Russian fields and moves into Uzbekistan

LUKoil has bought nine oil fields in the Khanty-Mansiisk (in the Tyumen field) autonomous district in W Siberia from US giant Marathon for US $787 Mn. which Marathon bought 3 years ago for US$275

Clarence P. Cazalot, Jr., Marathon president and CEO. "We have elected to monetize the value of these particular assets, while continuing to evaluate other attractive opportunities in the Russian Federation." Marathon have of course re-started in Libya and have just announced the first crude liftings.

LUKoil intends to boost production by 2.5 times from the current 26,000 barrels per day

LUKoil said the total recoverable reserves purchased were 257 million tons in ABC1+C2 Russian categories, or around 1.88 billion barrels = to 10% of LUKoils stated reserves of 16 Bn barrels. (Bigger than Marathons's estimates of 250 Mn barrels in proven and probable reserves.)

The figure is much bigger than Marathon's own estimates. It has said that, under international standards, the assets have around 250 million barrels in proved and probable reserves.

By LUKoil's calculation, the deal would add more than 10 percent to its total oil reserves of over 16 billion barrels.

Bank UralSib noted that the sale came after the Natural Resources Ministry warned Marathon it could lose seven of its nine oil field licenses if it did not produce as much oil as stipulated by the license agreement.

LUKoil said the development of new assets would provide significant synergies due to a joint use of infrastructure with LUKoil's other assets in the area.

"The present value of the synergies to be achieved is estimated at over $100 million," LUKoil said.

Meanwhile in Tashkent,Vagit Alekperov, Lukoil President , said on Tuesday during opening of the 10th International exhibition Oil and Gas Uzbekistan that , "Our company is proud of being one of the first companies to get an opportunity to work in Uzbekistan," "The Uzbek government's balanced and well-considered economic policy is convenient for us. We will soon have staff comprising many thousands engaged in oil and gas extraction in Uzbekistan".

Iraq, the numbers don't add up ......

40 dead in Iraq violence
BAGHDAD: More than 40 Iraqis died in bombings and shootings on Tuesday. The dominant Shias promise the quick formation a new government... perhaps by Thursday 6 months after the Election.......

Attacks kill 19 in Iraq
Last Updated Tue, 16 May 2006 18:30:27 EDT
CBC News
Police in Iraq say 19 people have been killed in a shooting and bomb attack at a bus garage in eastern Baghdad.

Twenty-three die in Iraq attack
Scene of the blast in Baghdad
Officials fear that the death toll could rise further
At least 23 people have been killed in a shooting and bombing attack in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, police say.

May 16, 2006, 9:24AM
Militants Kill 18 in Baghdad Parking Lot © 2006 The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Militants raided a parking lot in a predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 18 people with gunfire and a car bomb, police said.

New (?) images of what hit the Pentagon .....

This is a .gif animation of the 4 pictures released in 2003 from the Petrol station oposite the Pentagon. Go Here for an explanation. You can see the released CCTV fillum from the Pentagon on the BBC Online website (amongst many others) of the news item incorporating the released frames.

Spot the Difference (s) ... Lucretius notes the difference, we have the BBC's Matt Frei saying this answers all the doubters - and there are only a few of them... blah, blah , etc., Apart from adding several minutes of smoke the sequence is the same and one can see the vapour cloud trail along the ground as from a missile.Go to the fillums quoted below for a better view.

Some Blog Comments to look at here an absolute must see of the fillum at different speeds here
and someone who will never believe the crap from the "official" story line here

If this shows a Boeing Passenger jet of any fucking denomination hitting the Pentagon I am have several friends in Nigeria who will gladly supply many, many Squllions of Dollars / Euros / Pounds Sterling, not to mention some winning lottery tickets to the person who convinces me.

Further chaos in Carbon Markets in Europe - UK are losers.

The 21 EU Member States with active registries (Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta and Poland figures are still not available) have allocated an annual average of 1,829.5 million allowances to installations in the ETS. Independently verified emissions data for installations operating in these 21 Member States (with a small number still to report) amounted by 30 April to approximately 1,785.3 million tonnes for 2005. 44.1 million tons less carbon dioxide, or 2.5 % less, in 2005 than expected.

The European Commission admitted Monday that member states had given companies far too generous targets for greenhouse gas emissions last year, (well there is a surprise) raising questions about the Continent's ability to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and triggering chaos in Europe's embryonic market in trading emissions.

It appears that the higly paid analysts in this market did not, or could not understand that European governments are more interested in protecting their companies than in reducing carbon emissions.

The EU has devised the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as a model for carbon trading to fight climate change and meet its Kyoto pledges to reduce emissions of global warming gases.

12,000 utilities and high energy plants, aluminium smelters etc., have from Jan. 1st 2005, to buy and sell permits to emit carbon dioxide, which it is claimed cover approximately 40% of the EU's total CO2 emissions.

A CO2 cap has been set for each plant in the scheme, with the intention of causing a shortage keep prices high of carbon credits high, which should encourage high polluters to reduce emissions and provide a market in extra credits that "greener" plants can trade.

Prices in the freely traded credits , which are traded by anybody, not just CO2 producers fell like a stone when reports that Germany, France, Italy and other EU countries had emitted far less CO2 than had been expected. Since then against all reason and expectation they have risen. Possibibly due to people having to complete shorted positions in the market.

The UK has emitted more CO2 than its quota, forcing it to buy over 30 million tonnes extra allowances on the EU carbon market. This did not offset the overall trend, prices have fallen and so has the whole credibility of the EU scheme.

Most market analysts cited by Bloomberg news agency agree that over-allocation is the principal cause of the market mayhem , "It's clear that most countries were too generous when handing out allowances," said David Foster, head of emissions and weather derivatives at Calyon, part of Credit Agricole SA. "There's no doubt [EU countries] had an incentive to exaggerate emissions," said Per Lekander, an analyst with UBS AG in London.

The scheme is a shambles , naturally the cricket playing Englishmen have played by the rules but it appaers no-one else has, and the spivs have cleaned up. Plus ca change.

Banks, brokers, hedge funds and traders that jumped into the rapidly growing market for trading carbon emission credits are now complaining bitterly that the big difference between what countries estimated they would use and what they actually used has crewed the market Well fucking well grow up you ninies , this is the real world , full of dishonest xenophobic politicians and industrialiast who care more for the bottom line than the environment.

The spivs have of course made off with their loot.

JESS reported lost... Vital Trivia cannot find it....

Jess is the name of my cat and also the shy and retiring UK government’s Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (JESS).

This organisation was set up in July 2001 by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) to “to assess risks to the UK’s future gas and electricity supplies”. It has to produce 2 reports a year but the last one was due in November 2005 and is still not published.

Vital Trivia has been on the trail of the non-appearance..... a fascinating tale of sloth, buck passing , incompetence and fear ...Read it all here. Remember , buy a forest and get a wood stove.... oh and if JESS is found, let me know.

Syria signs up oil/gas contracts with US and Russia

On Thursday 11th May 2006 Director General of the Syrian Petroleum Company Ahmed Moualla, signed with Russian Sios Nift Gas Company to explore and develop as well as produce oil in the region of Al-Mayadin, in far NE Syria.

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Sufyan Allaow attended with first Vice President of the Russian company Arthur Estrogen (not waiting for Godot hopefully)“ We hope this contract will consolidate the strategic relation between Syria and Federal Russia due to the common interest of peoples in the two friendly countries,” he said.

The Syrian government would own a proportion of the full production of oil up to 12.5% of the whole production.

US$ 50 millions will be allocated to train employees from the Syrian Petroleum Company during the contract period of 20 years.

Marathon Petroleum Company have also signed A 25 year contract for the development and production of petroleum in al-Shaer and al-Sharifa oil fields, some 120 KM east of Homs, with Syrian Companies of Petroleum and Gas.

Initial production estimates are of 2 million cubic meters of dry gas per day, 5,000 BPD of oil and around 100 tons of house liquid gas per day,

Marathon will invest an estimated US$ 127 Mn. and allocate US$50,000 per annum for taraining throughout the contract.

The contract was signed from the Syrian side by Minister Allao, Director General of Petroleum Company Ahmad Mualla and Director General of the Gas Company Ali Abbas from, and from the Marathon Company side by its Representative David Clark.

Director General of the Syrian Petroleum Company Ahmed Moualla is reported to say on Saturday that Syria's total current oil production is more than 400,000 BPD.

(Pic a Roman silver cast figurine / medallion from a recent dig in Palmyra, Syria - dated 100AD)

Israel now uses the legal definition of "illegal combatants"

Ron Dudai of the SOAS School of Law at the University of London writes for JURIST that the US response to 9/11 has given Israel an excuse to engage in its own questionable practices, as reflected by a recent Israeli Supreme Court ruling endorsing the detention of two Palestinians an "illegal combatants"... The Court Decision is in Hebrew but Ron explains the history of the decsion and the implications.

PS If not a subscriber to prize winning website JURIST I would advise it.

Chavez's Anti-American circus hits London today

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in London today after a 3 day summit of European Union, Latin American and Caribbean leaders in Vienna, Austria. He has a busy 2 days ahead, meeting London's mayor, Ken Linvingstone, TRade Unionists and guests including Harold Pinter, the Nobel Prize winning playwright, and Bianca Jagger, the actress and political activist.

Although he met Tony Blair on his 2001 visit, one isn't planned this time - perhaps because he describes him as Hitler's sidekick and a "pawn of imperialism".

Blair in the House of Commons in February said Venezuela "should abide by the rules of the international community" and that he would like to see Venezuela's close ally Cuba become a "functioning democracy."

Venezuela's London embassy issued a statement on Thursday, confirming that Chavez would not have any contact with the British government during his visit. The statement did not mention the recent tensions, saying only that Chavez has "already had an official visit to the United Kingdom where he met with the prime minister and other British authorities." There is a useful Chavezian history at the Embassy website.

On Sunday Chavez will address a meeting on Venezuelan social reform and greet supporters at a conference center in central London.

He then gives a lecture on Monday evening at Canning House, an institution that works to strengthen commercial and cultural ties between Britain, Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula.

One wonders what security Sir Ian Blair of that Ilk (noticeably missing from public comment about the 7/7 reports- probably feels he has told enough lies)will offer in the way of insecurity for the visiting Leader. One Imagines the likes of Otto Reich would not be unhappy if his taxi blew up, with him inside it.

CHAVEZ EX - MISTRESS REVEALS ALL

Herma Marksman, who spent 10 years with Hugo describes him confusingly as both a pussy cat and as the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood.

Spies Were Us ?

David Shayler with his ubiqitous fag and the glamourous Annie Machon at the Labour Spring Conference in Manchester.

The London Anarchist Bookfair (28th October 2005)
"Two visitors to the bookfair who were certainly less welcome were the former MI5 spies David Shayler and Annie Machon, who using a room booked in the name of another organisation, held an impromptu meeting to promote Ms Machon’s memoirs of their time spying on “subversives” – i.e. you and me.

That Shayler cannot open his mouth without contradicting what he has said previously becomes more apparent each time he appears in public. He now seems to be on at least his fourth different version of what went on when the security services were supposedly infiltrating Class War – we hope you can keep up with your own story David, because you have already lost everyone else! That some alleged “radicals” give this plummy voiced fraud the time of day says more about their goldfish sized memories than anything else."

My oh my, they put themselves about in dissident circles, these two "unemployed" spies. Someone should start a "spy twitchers" circuit to record where they pop up.