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Iraq’s massive oil reserves, the third-largest in the world, are about to be thrown open for large-scale exploitation by Western oil companies under a controversial law which is expected to come before the Iraqi parliament within days.

The US government has been involved in drawing up the law, a draft of which has been seen by The Independent on Sunday. It would give big oil companies such as BP, Shell and Exxon 30-year contracts to extract Iraqi crude and allow the first large-scale operation of foreign oil interests in the country since the industry was nationalised in 1972.

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I was not aware of this:

(Atlanta, GA) While they surely don’t need the help, the world’s two richest men can now eat for free at Hooters restaurants. On Friday October 20, 2006 Bill Gates and Warren Buffet were presented with Hooters VIP Cards at a Hooters Restaurant in Kansas City, Kansas. The Cards entitle the gentlemen, who currently rank numbers 1 and 2 on the list of worlds richest, to free food at any of the chains 435 locations in 46 states and 20 countries exclusive of tip and alcohol.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice let slip her media preferences on Thursday, saying “I love every single one” of Fox News network’s correspondents and also favors CBS anchor Harry Smith. In comments overheard on an open microphone between morning television interviews, including one with Fox, the top U.S. diplomat said: “My Fox guys, I love every single one of them.”

But Rice told an aide that when she was next in Iraq she would like to do a “one-on-one” interview with CBS “The Early Show” anchor Harry Smith.

“He’s a decent guy. I know they are like 55 in the ratings, but I like him,” Rice said in comments monitored by Reuters on a television feed.

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DALLAS — A nine-hour delay has American Airlines apologizing to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport-bound passengers.  

The delay on American Airlines Flight 1348 happened the Friday before New Year’s, as severe storms rolled into the Metroplex.

What was supposed to be a 3.5-hour flight from San Francisco stopped in Austin to wait for the weather to clear, and passengers were stuck grounded on the plane for 9 hours.

Some of the 138 passengers on board said water ran out, toilets overflowed, and there were only pretzels to eat.

“The stewardesses desperately tried to keep the tempers and the temperament of the passengers down,” passenger Kati Hanni said.

Passengers said the ordeal ended only after the pilot taxied to a gate without permission.

American officials admit something went wrong in Austin, and said it is reviewing what happened and will apologize to affected passengers.

Hanni said it is too little, too late for “being what I would call … held hostage,” she said.

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