Analysis: An '07 Caspian energy scorecard
Washington (UPI) Dec 31, 2007
The year 2007 will be seen as a major turning point in the development of Caspian energy, perhaps the most significant 12 months since the 1991 collapse of communism opened up the possibilities of developing one of the world's last great oil frontiers.
At the heart of developing Caspian reserves are two major contenders, Russia and Western oil companies, most notably U.S. firms. Both ha ... read more
Germany begins ban on polluting cars in city centres
Berlin (AFP) Jan 1, 2008
Three German cities, including the capital Berlin, began implementing a new air pollution system on Tuesday that bans the dirtiest vehicles from their centres.
Drivers in Berlin, Cologne and Hanover are now required to display a coloured badge showing the level of pollution caused by their vehicle, with a scale of red, yellow and green.
Some vehicles, notably an estimated 1.7 million old ... more
New Indonesia landslide as search for victims continues
Tawangmangu, Indonesia (AFP) Dec 30, 2007
A new landslide buried more than 30 homes on Indonesia's Java island Sunday as rescue workers continued searching for victims of earlier landslides and floods, an official said.
No one was injured when the landslide hit Tengklik village in Tawangmangu area of Central Java around 1:00 pm, health ministry official Rustam Pakaya said.
"Fortunately, there are no lives lost, however 177 peopl ... more
Natural catastrophes will grow with climate change: re-insurer
Frankfurt (AFP) Dec 27, 2007
Natural catastrophes in 2007 were more frequent and costlier than a year earlier and climate change will make them more expensive still, the world's second-biggest re-insurer, Munich Re, said Thursday.
There were 950 natural catastrophes in 2007 compared with 850 in 2006, the highest number since the group started compiling its closely watched annual report in 1974.
The total cost of dis ... more
Indonesian court clears energy company over mud volcano
Jakarta (AFP) Dec 27, 2007
An Indonesian court on Thursday rejected a lawsuit brought by environmentalists against an energy company alleged to have caused a mud volcano that has displaced thousands in East Java province.
The South Jakarta district court ruled that the mudflow in Sidoarjo district was a "natural disaster", and not caused by gas drilling by Lapindo Brantas as alleged by Friends of the Earth Indonesia. ... more
Search intensifies for Indonesian landslide victims
Tawangmangu, Indonesia (AFP) Dec 28, 2007
Rescue workers stepped up a hunt Friday for victims of landslides and floods that claimed scores of lives on Indonesia's Java island and displaced thousands, an official said.
The landslides smashed through homes, burying families alive, in the early hours of Wednesday after monsoon rains lashed Central and East Java provinces this week and also triggered devastating floods.
More than 1, ... more
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FROTH AND BUBBLE
Vietnam villagers ransack titanium mine site: reports
WOOD PILE
Indonesia: President urges better forest management amid floods
ENERGY TECH
Analysis: Eye on Uzbek energy
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China to slap export taxes on grains as prices soar
Beijing (AFP) Dec 30, 2007
China said on Sunday it will levy taxes on grain exports in 2008 in the latest move apparently aimed at reining in galloping inflation and ensuring stable domestic food supplies.
The rates would range from five to 25 percent, according to a brief announcement posted on the website of the Ministry of Finance.
The move goes even further than one China announced just two weeks ago, when it ... more
Dwindling helium supply prompting concerns
New York (UPI) Dec 30, 2007
A looming helium shortage has some U.S. citizens concerned about the impact the gas' availability will have on parades and even research.
While owners of U.S. party goods stores are concerned the rising cost of helium will directly impact their businesses, researchers such as Northwestern University Professor William Halperin are concerned about their research efforts, ABC News said Sun ... more
Iran nuclear plant to start in summer 2008: FM
Tehran (AFP) Dec 30, 2007
Iran on Sunday insisted its first nuclear power station would be launched in the summer of 2008, despite the plant's Russian constructors saying it will not go on line until the end of the year.
"The Bushehr nuclear power station will launch at a capacity of 50 percent next summer," said Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, quoted by the state news agency IRNA.
A Russian contractor is fi ... more
SAIC Motor merger with Nanjing Auto aimed at global markets
Beijing (AFP) Dec 30, 2007
The merger of two of China's state-run auto makers comes as its domestic market booms and as the quickly accelerating nation gears up to compete with top global brands, industry officials said.
The merger announced Wednesday between Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), one of China's largest car groups, and rival Nanjing Auto is one of the biggest-ever tie-ups between mainland vehicle m ... more
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ENERGY TECH
Analysis: Fuel curbs China combat ability
ENERGY TECH
Analysis: Iraq oil up end-'07, sketchy '08
ENERGY TECH
Outside View: Nabucco cut by Caspian line
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China says wants quick fix to East China Sea dispute with Japan
Beijing (AFP) Dec 27, 2007
China said Thursday it wanted a quick end to a territorial dispute with Japan over lucrative gas fields, but stopped short of saying a deal would emerge during Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's visit.
"We are devoted to the proper settlement of the East China Sea issue," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said hours before Fukuda's arrival in Beijing.
"We hope that Japan can meet w ... more
Russia delivers more nuclear fuel to Iran: official
Tehran (AFP) Dec 28, 2007
Russia has delivered a second consignment of nuclear fuel to Iran's Bushehr power plant, the official news agency IRNA quoted the deputy head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation as saying on Friday.
"The second consignment of fuel for the Bushehr nuclear plant arrived in Iran on Friday," Ahmad Fayazbaksh said, adding that the delivery was the same amount supplied in the first consignme ... more
Outside View: Russia's Iran nuke role
Moscow (UPI) Dec 28, 2007
According to Zalmay Khalilzad, the permanent U.S. representative to the United Nations, the Iranian Six -- the United States, Russia, China and the European trio of Britain, France and Germany -- have at last reached a consensus.
The situation around the Iranian nuclear file reads like a crime novel, especially in view of the latest surprise moves by Tehran.
Iran has found an o ... more
Outside View: EU goes Russian nuclear
Moscow (UPI) Dec 28, 2007
After the EU gave its approval for the Russian-Bulgarian agreement on building a nuclear power plant in the small Bulgarian town of Belene on the bank of the Danube, the two countries are in the starting blocks waiting for the main treaty to be signed in late January 2008.
The European Union gave the OK for the nuclear project between Moscow and Sophia after a thorough review by expert ... more
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ENERGY TECH
Clean coal plants mired by cost and delays
CIVIL NUCLEAR
France could provide Egypt with nuclear help: Sarkozy
SUPERPOWERS
Japan, China pledge warmer ties, but no deal on gas fields
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