OECD says oil prices could reach $150-$270/bbl by 2020

World Oil News Center [06/03/13]

LONDON -- Oil prices could rise to anywhere between $150 and $270/bbl by 2020 as demand growth in emerging markets like India and China out paces expected supply, the OECD said Wednesday.

"I think people have been calmer about oil prices given the new supply, but if you really look at the implications of rising demand, you see this isn't true," said Isabelle Koske, economist at the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development and one author of a report on oil prices published Wednesday.

"There is a strong price increase needed despite this new oil production coming on stream," Ms. Koske told Dow Jones Newswires.

Microsoft confirms it will now let consumers transfer Office 2013 to a different PC

THE NEXT WEB [06/03/13]

Paul Sawers

[source: http://thenextweb.com]

Microsoft caused a minor controversy a few weeks back when it revealed that its new Office 2013 product wouldn’t be transferable between computers – unless a consumer’s PC failed under warranty.

Apprentice winner was 'overpaid lackey', employment tribunal hears

THE TELEGRAPH (UK) [06/03/13]

By John-Paul Ford Rojas

A winner of TV series The Apprentice wept today as she claimed she was shunned by colleagues, rarely saw her mentor Lord Sugar, and was treated as an “overpaid lackey” in her £100,000-a-year job. 

Ms English said her role became 'increasingly untenable' and she 'continued to be marginalised'  

Photo: PA  

[SOURCE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk]

Stella English told an employment tribunal hearing, attended by the business mogul, that he admitted he did not “give a s***” about her role. 

Nigeria: Senator Saraki's Debate On the Principles of the Petroleum Industry Bill PIB 2012

ALLAFRICA.COM

Office of Senator Bukola Saraki (Ilorin) [05/03/13]

Press Release

PROTOCOL


PREAMBLE
There is little doubt that the Nigerian petroleum industry is in dire need of reform. On the face of it, having a system running on almost a half a century old law is bad enough. The fact that today we are here debating the PIB is essentially because most of us agree that the industry is performing sub-optimally compared to its counterparts around the globe. Aside international comparison, evidence of sub-optimal performance of the industry is legion.
• The endemic corruption in the industry

• The lack of probity and accountability

• Too much political interference

• Nepotism,

• Lack of transparency

Namibia: N$2,2 Billion Oil Drilling Starts in Nam Waters

ALLAFRICA.COM

THE NAMIBIAN (Windhoek) [06/03/13]

By Adam Hartman

Walvis Bay — IN the next two weeks the Brazilian oil and gas exploration company High Resolution Technology (HRT) will move the 'Transocean Marianas' semi-submersible drilling rig to potential oil wells off the coast of Namibia to begin a N$2,2 billion, eight-month operation.

The operation was announced on Monday during a site visit and briefing onboard the rig currently undergoing maintenance in the Walvis Bay harbour. The briefing was attended by Namibian businessman Knowledge Katti, Prime Minister Hage Geingob, Minister of Mines and Energy Isak Katali, former President Sam Nujoma and Member of Parliament Ben Amadhila.

Ethiopia: Govt and Tullow Oil PLC Dismiss Reports of Oil Discovery

ALLAFRICA.COM

Government of Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) [06/03/13]

The Ethiopian government and Tullow Oil Plc, have dismissed media reports that the UK company has discovered oil in Ethiopia's western South Omo area. The US-based website, Energy and Capital, and a number of news outlets last week reported that Tullow had discovered commercial-grade oil in the rift valley of Ethiopia near the border with Kenya.

Other reports said the Kenya-Ethiopia Tertiary Rift, which stretches from southern Ethiopia to southwestern Kenya, was believed to have as much as 23 billion barrels of oil and gas resources. The ministry said it was wrong and irresponsible for the media to come to its own conclusions while the project was still only in the early stages of exploration.

Nigeria: Fireworks in Senate Over Petroleum Industry Bill

ALLAFRICA.COM

DAILY TRUST [06/03/13]

By Isiaka Wakili

Photo: Vanguard   [SOURCE: http://allafrica.com]

The Senate's debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) yesterday sparked a rift between northern senators and their counterparts from the Niger Delta region.

The second reading of the bill witnessed a technical hitch as all the senators in the chamber first observed that copies of the lead debate given to them were different from what Senate Leader Ndoma-Egba was reading. Senate President David Mark quickly asked Ndoma-Egba to hold on for 10 minutes for the errors to be corrected.

Nigeria: A Bold Bill for Change Opens Up the Debate On Nigeria's Oil Industry

ALLAFRICA.COM

AFRICAN ARGUMENTS [06/03/13]

By Dele Meiji Fatunla

Analysis

Ever since Nigeria's first oil find at Olobiri in 1956, the question of who should benefit and pay for the costs and consequences of oil production has been a contentious issue; often with little consensus amongst the key players - namely the Nigerian government, the oil companies, and the various communities affected - on who spilled what, where and when. Dealing with such a hornets' nest of interests has often seemed insurmountable, yet a bill before Nigeria's assembly and president seeks to change the situation.

Senator Dr. Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State, and currently the Chairman of the Senate committee for the environment, has tabled a bill aimed at strengthening the regulatory and institutional power of NOSDRA (National Oil Detection and Response Agency) - one of the agencies responsible for cleaning up oil spills in the country. His proposed bill and the contentious issue of who is responsible for cleaning up oil spills in the Niger Delta was the subject of a meeting held by the Royal African Society on Tuesday, 26th February at the offices of the law firm TLT. The panel included presentations by Senator Dr. Bukola Saraki; Barnaby Briggs, Strategic Relations Manager for Shell International; Nike Olafimihan, Head of Legal at Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), and Joseph Croft, Executive Director of the Stakeholder Democracy Network, a UK based charity with offices in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

The 5 Best Computer Monitors

ECOUSTICS [05/03/13]

By PC MAGAZINE

Let’s face it, most people who buy a PC don’t necessarily give much thought to the the monitor it comes with; or they stick with the monitor they already have. You know, when 1,024 by 786 was considered high-res. We’re here to tell you that it’s time to upgrade your view. After all, a large part of your day is spent staring at your display. But what you should get depends on what you need. Are you on a tight budget? Do you need to see several windows open side by side on your screen? Planning on using the monitor for work and play? We at PCMag dissect the mass of monitors on the market today to give you the best monitors you can buy. 

Britain's tallest policeman guards Queen at hospital - picture

DIGITAL SPY [04/03/13]

By Meg Drewett

Britain's tallest policeman is one of the officers stationed outside King Edward VII hospital where the Queen is recovering from gastroenteritis.

© PA Images

PCs Anthony Wallyn, 7ft 2in, & Tony Thich, 5ft 6in  [SOURCE: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk]

Bible quotes on Finnish toilet paper draw church protests

REUTERS [04/03/13]

OSLO | Mon

(Reuters) - A Finnish toilet paper maker has removed quotes from the Bible, including the words of Jesus, that it inadvertently placed on its rolls after protests from some Norwegian church leaders.

Metsa Tissue was trying to convey messages about love but accidentally included lines from the Gospel of Matthew and First Corinthians on toilet paper sold in Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

The firm selected the quotes from Facebook submissions, including one from Jesus: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Khalil Edney Wonder Shot Dedicated To Late Mum

SKY NEWS [05/03/13]

A young basketball player becomes an instant celebrity as his last-second "buzzer-beater" turns into an internet sensation.

Khalil Edney's miracle shot won the game for New Rochelle High

A high school basketball player who pulled off an incredible match-winning shot just ahead of the buzzer, has dedicated his feat to his mother who died of cancer.

How dependent is the US on foreign oil?

[05/03/13]

The United States relied on net imports (imports minus exports) for about 45% of the petroleum (crude oil and petroleum products) that the country consumed in 2011. Just over half of these imports came from the Western Hemisphere. This dependence on foreign petroleum has declined since peaking in 2005.

The United States consumed 18.8 million barrels per day (MMbd) of petroleum products during 2011, making it the world's largest petroleum consumer. The United States was third in crude oil production at 5.7 MMbd. But crude oil alone does not constitute all U.S. petroleum supplies. Significant gains occur, because crude oil expands in the refining process, liquid fuel is captured in the processing of natural gas, and there are other sources of liquid fuel, including biofuels. These additional supplies totaled 4.6 MMbd in 2011.

Abia University Withdraws Kalu’s Bachelor’s Degree Certificate

CHANNELS TELEVISION [04/03/13]

The Senate of the Abia State University (ABSU) has approved the cancellation and withdrawal of the degree result and certificate awarded to former Governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu, for violation of the institution’s academic regulations.

Former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu

The Senate, in a press statement signed by the University Registrar/Secretary to the Senate, Ernest Onuoha, said the decision of the institution was based on the violation of the Academic Regulations of the university on Admission – by –Transfer, which rendered the offer irregular, ab initio and non –completion of the mandatory six semesters (three academic years of study)

Mr Onuoha said, “On the strength of the findings and recommendations of an investigative panel into allegations of breach of the extant academic regulations of Abia State University, in the admission process of the admission and graduation of Kalu Orji Uzor in the discipline of Government and Public Administration, of matriculation number 00/42226, the Senate of the university at its resumed 69th extra-ordinary meeting of March 1, 2013 and by a vote of 88 against three dissenting voices only, approved the cancellation and withdrawal of the degree, result and certificate awarded to him.

Another LASU student killed by suspected cultists

PREMIUM TIMES [05/03/13]

Agency Report

Damilola Damoche was the first to be killed last week  

[SOURCE: http://premiumtimesng.com]

Another student of the Lagos State University (LASU), simply identified as Kabiru, was on Sunday night allegedly killed by suspected cultists.

Sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Kabiru was shot dead at about 10:00 p.m. at Abeokuta St., Okokomaiko, Lagos.

Another student of the university, Damilola Damochie, a musician and 400 level Banking and Finance, was on Feb. 28 shot dead by suspected cultists at the institution’s main gate.