The butcher of Bissau is no more

João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira, President of Guinea-Bissau has been shot, and hacked to death in Bissau.

A violent man, in a violent land, he had it coming for a long time.

Further to the many crimes against the people of his own country, he was responsible jointly with Luis Cabral for the mass execution of the African soldiers of the Portuguese Army that decided to remain in Guinea-Bissau following its independence from Portugal.

These thousands of victims were never vindicated by justice anywhere. Nino Vieira lived in Portugal for several years like an exiled king, spending the proceeds of his corrupt regime and supported by dodgy characters like Valentim Loureiro. Portuguese justice never attempted to go after him. Nino Vieira had too many friends in the two main parties, PS and PSD.

Nino Vieira, the butcher of Bissau

African soldiers of the Portuguese Army and General Spinola

Mining: 30% of exploration companies expected to close

Independent research organization the Fraser Institute has released its Survey of Mining Companies 2008/2009, based on the opinions of 658 mining executives and managers worldwide.

Economic slowdown led the vast majority of mining executives to expect a severe contraction in exploration activity, and at least 30 percent of exploration companies going out of business.

Udachnaya pipe open-pit diamond mine, Yakutia, Russia

Feb 3, 1509: the Indian Ocean becomes a Portuguese Lake

Portuguese fort of Diu

We celebrate 500 years of the battle of Diu (Gujarat, India). On February 3rd 1509, a Portuguese fleet under Dom Francisco de Almeida routs a large armada of Ottoman, Gujarati, Mamluk, Kozhikodi, Venitian and Ragusan forces.

This was a game changing event, the Ottomans were contained. For the next 100 years the Indian Ocean would becomes a Portuguese Lake and for 350 longer an European pond. Diu was eventually lost to the Indians in 1961.

World trade was transformed for ever: the old land routes controlled by the Turks and continuing into the Mediterranean became irrelevant, intercontinental sea trade was born, a true revolution in transportation.

Flor de la Mar - Portuguese Carrack - flagship of D. Francisco de Almeida in the battle of Diu

Dom Francisco de Almeida - Viceroy of India

Iceland on the Carpet!

It was on the ropes for quite a while, but now it is on the carpet and the countdown is over: after last October ´s Banking system collapse, now the Government resigns amid widespread protests. Prime Minister Geir Haarde announced the resignation of his cabinet, after talks with coalition partners failed. New elections will take place in May.

Local banks, accumulated debt during years of rapid expansion, and now owe about six times the country's annual GDP. Money from all over the world flocked into Icelandic banks chasing interest rates of over 10%.

Iceland enjoyed all the benefits of being of the world´s most prosperous countries until 2007. By 2008 the signs of an impending meltdown were conspicuous. The crisis intensified in the last few days, leading the Government to resign. Iceland’s banks were highly over leveraged and deep in debt, after massive expansion abroad, in particular in the UK.

It is stunning to see a first world country collapse so swiftly!

But this may be just the start of something bigger. Inside the Eurozone, particularly in the peripheral countries, several economies suffer from chronic imbalances, usually blamed on lack of structural reform and debt from excessive state spending.

Detail of 1000 Icelandic Kronur bank note

Oil below $34

WTI is now below $34/bbl!!
Enjoy while it lasts!!
Drive, fly... splash on your carbon footprint this Christmas!

Oil Derricks - Christmas

Barack Hussein Obama II

So after all the effort from Bush Jr, he is replaced by a middle eastern looking chap by the name of Hussein... almost forgot, Hussein II!

Somebody must be laughing out loud in his tomb!

President Hussein's father, a Kenyan chap with the same name, converted from Roman Catholicism to Islam and took the name Hussein.

His father also made all his wives convert to Islam!

Beware Michelle, you may soon have to shop for a Hijab!

Beware USA!

Beware Western Civilization!

The Obamas - veiled Michelle Obama
Islamic dress at a mosque in Jakarta

GOD - the evidence

Radical Islam: do we need any other proof that god does not exist?
(a few other forms of extreme religion will also qualify!)

No Allah sign