Given all the news this week of Russia and Italy's South Stream deal with Turkey in exchange for a nuclear power plant, I thought I would repost an article written by Robert Amsterdam last fall in Energy Risk on Turkey's political pipelines.

FROM OCT. 2008, ENERGY RISK:

Turkey's political pipelines

Turkey's strategic position at the crossroads of East and West has put it at the centre of a geopolitical tug of war, with energy supply a key driver. Robert Amsterdam examines the energy policies being brought to bear in the region

Turkey's role in global affairs is defined by its geostrategic importance as the bridge between Europe and the Near East. Following Russia's invasion and occupation of Georgia in August, which caused considerable energy supply jitters, Turkey was once again thrust into the spotlight as the European

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TODAY: Obamarama begins with touchdown in Moscow today; the US President grants interview to opposition paper; Putin rebuffs suggestion he favors old ways; Obama trying divide and conquer on Medvedev and Putin?; missile defense may be a dealbreaker; Stalinism and Nazism comparedPutin has responded to Obama's suggestion he has 'one foot in the past', by saying, 'we stand firmly on our feet and always look into the future' and has reasserted that the US President's visit is awaited 'with very warm feelings'.  The Times suggests that Obama has made a 'mistake' in pitching Putin and Medvedev against each another, when the Prime Minister is really at the helm of the tandemocracy.  A commentator in the Moscow Times ...

From the Associated Press:Chess master Garry Kasparov staged the latest of his guerrilla hit-and-run protests against the Kremlin on Wednesday, showing up at the criminal trial of a former billionaire and engaging in a brief, heated debate with one of the prosecutors.Spectators gawked and whispered when Kasparov sat on a front bench in the courtroom where Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, is being tried on charges he embezzled billions of dollars while he was the chief of the Yukos Oil Company. (...)

When the judge ordered a recess, Kasparov confronted prosecutor Gyulchekhra Ibragimova as she walked past him on her way out.

During the brief and tense exchange, Ibragimova told Kasparov she respected him but added he should have been playing chess rather than wasting his time in court.

"You are an amateur" in the courtroom, she told him.

A smiling Kasparov accused the prosecution of seeking "to replace

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It is looking like it will be a big week for Detroit. The nation’s automakers are due back in Washington to hopefully conclude their welfare pandering.

Congress tells us, if General Motors (NYSE:GM), Ford (NYSE:F) or Chrysler want any federal money, they had better be able to produce a strong plan to show how the cash infusion will save their companies.

Again, that is what Congress tells us.

In reality, we know the Big Three can show up with a plan scribbled down on a cocktail napkin and the money will be theirs. Washington is merely politicizing the whole ordeal. It is all but certain that a sizeable check will be written, but nonetheless, Detroit has to put on a dog and pony show to make all of us taxpayers feel better about the ordeal.

Part of the show is coming from Ford today. It announced it is discussing the notion of

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How could I resist? ...don't worry, I'm not trying to compete with English Russia. Didi Senft, a 56-year-old cycling fan better known as 'El Diablo', poses with a chess bike for the media at the 'Bundeskunsthalle' in Bonn, October 21, 2008. The World Chess Championship between World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand from India and Vladimir Kramnik from Russia takes place in Bonn from October 14 to November 2, 2008. (Reuters)

The markets are truly scary right now. Global credit has all but frozen. Stocks around the world are tumbling. And to make matters worse, governments and central banks are trying to 'fix' the problem with massive interventions.

But for investors with "a clear head and a keen eye for opportunity" boldness can pay big dividends.

Taipan Daily editor Justice Litle says there are five proven strategies for building wealth... regardless of whether the bulls or the bears are in charge. 

Shanda Interactive Entertainment is tapping into China's emerging middle class with online games and entertainment. The company has surprised on estimates 4 consecutive quarters by an average of 13.45%. Shanda trades at only 9.7x projected earnings.

Company Description

Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited (SNDA) is a Chinese-based media company that offers a variety of entertainment such as online role playing games (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, or MMORPGs), casual games, chess and board games, network PC games, cartoons, literature, and music.

Users can interact with each other using the company's platform which offers 24/7 customer service and technical support.

As of Mar 31, Shanda had over 700 million registered accounts.

Second Quarter Revenues Jump 48.4%

On Sep 2, Shanda reported second quarter earnings that beat Wall Street estimates by 12%, or 6 cents per share. Net income was $40.8 million, or 56 cents per share compared to analysts' expectations

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