A Norwegian independent energy company - DNO- plans to produce oil in Iraqi Kurdistan early next year after successful initial drilling. If further tests are also positive, it could lead to the first barrels produced by a foreign oil operator in Iraq and raise the question over who controls Iraq’s vast petroleum resources.

Tens of thousands of animals and plants could become extinct within the coming decades as a direct result of climate change, according to a new study. Scientists believe that if atmospheric levels of CO2 double - as expected by 2100 - then biodiversity will be devastated, leading to a "catastrophic" loss of species.

Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is said to be set for a show down after Democratic lawmakers unveiled legislation last week aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. The bill, backed by the Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and a whole host of environmental groups, sets firm limits on carbon dioxide emissions and goes further than recommendations made by Schwarzenegger's Climate Action Team. So Arnie is now fighting both oil companies and environmentalists on the issue. Who is going to win?

Given what we have been saying about BP on the site recently, it is amusing to read a a different angle from Thomas Borelli, the editor of FreeEnterpriser.com and a senior fellow at The National Center for Public Policy Research, about BP's advertising campaign.

A typically insightful piece from Anna Zalik and Michael Watts from the University of California on the deteriorating situation in the Niger Delta. Called "Imperial Oil: Petroleum Politics in the Nigerian Delta and the New Scramble for Africa", it is worthwhile reading if you are interested in the effect of US geo-politics on Africa. Read it here.

Great article from Business Week Magazine about how Exxon attacked Greenpeace through an organisation called Public Interest Watch. Although this was recently reported in the Wall Street Journal, what was not reported was the role of the shadowy PR firm called Dezenhall Resources, whom the article calls the "pit bull of PR".  If you want to know how low Exxon and it's pit bull will stoop to undermine its critics, you should read this revealing article..

For years oil analyst-turned whistleblower, Chuck Hamel, has been saying that the oil company operations in Alaska are a sham. He has become a conduit for whistleblowers working on the North Slope and for Alyeska -the joint pipeline company.

They have bought to him information concerning corrosion, quality assurance, health and safety and many other issues. Basically Hamel’s message has been that it is a disaster waiting to happen. The oil industry has routinely dismissed Hamel's concerns, but for how much longer?

Lloyd’s of London – the global insurers – recorded an annual loss of  £103 million before tax last year after a record £3.3 billion of hurricane-related insurance claims. But they are not alone: Insurers worldwide have been hit hard as a result of last year's devastating hurricanes Katrina and Rita, with total claims expected to reach about £50 billion.

Everyone knows that oil is a problem. In the fight against climate change, oil is seen as the chief villain. Gas, meanwhile, likes to portray itself as a clean fuel. But it is not.

BP is set to make a full recovery after last year's setback with Hurricane Katrina, and has just announced oil production of over 4 million barrels of oil a day in first quarter 2006.