Russia: Vladimir Putin removes his Chief of Staff as the political battle with the "Russian oligarchs", and between hard-liners and liberals, continues. [3][4] Russian judicial authorities have seized control of Yukos, the giant oil company. [5]
Occupation of Iraq: Officials postpone awarding two contracts to repair Iraq's oil refineries and pipelines (primarily because of sabotage and dilapidated conditions). [6] An investigation has been started on the high price that the US is paying to Kellogg, Brown and Root for oil imported from Kuwait. nl:[7]. A US research organization, the Center for Public Integrity, says that firms awarded contracts in Iraq have tended to be big donors (in the past) to the United States Republican Party. [8] The UN announces that it is withdrawing its remaining international staff from Baghdad, perhaps temporarily. [9]
Israel: Israel is to train pigs to do guard work in Israeli settlements. The pigs have a better sense of smell than dogs and can be trained to walk towards perceived threats (e.g. explosives). [11]
