Somali pirates are in command of a Saudi supertanker in the Indian Ocean after staging their most daring hijacking yet off the coast of Kenya.
The Sirius Star, owned by the Saudi company Aramco, is the largest ship ever taken by the pirates, and can carry a cargo of crude oil worth more than $100 million.
As pirates have become better armed and equipped, they have sailed farther out to sea in search of bigger targets, including the oil tankers, among the 20,000 tankers, freighters and merchant vessels passing through the Gulf of Aden each year.
Attacks have increased by more than 75 per cent this year.
With many attacks ending with million-dollar payouts, piracy is considered the most lucrative work in Somalia. Pirates rarely hurt their hostages, instead holding out for a huge payday.
The strategy has been effective: a report last month by a London-based think-tank said pirates have raked in up to $30 million in ransoms this year alone.
French and Spanish police arrested the reputed leader of ETA’s commando units on Monday — dealing a devastating blow to the armed Basque separatist group.
Mikel de Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina, 35, is suspected of taking part in several killings, including the December shooting deaths of two Spanish guardsmen in France, according to French and Spanish officials.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Aspiazu Rubina — known by the alias “Txeroki” (pronounced cher-OH-kee) — has been the operational chief of ETA’s hit squads and bombing units for several years.
The armed group has been fighting since the late 1960s to create an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France. The violence has claimed more than 800 lives.
A car carrying one of Israel’s top mafia kingpins exploded as it traveled in central Tel Aviv on Monday, killing him and threatening to unleash an all-out war in Israel’s increasingly violent underworld.
Israeli police officials identified the dead man as Yaakov Alperon — known informally as “Don Alperon” — the head of one of the country’s most powerful crime families. The bloodied body was wearing the same polo shirt Alperon was seen sporting earlier in the day at a Tel Aviv courthouse.
Medics said three bystanders were also lightly wounded in the explosion, including a 13-year-old boy.
Israelis are accustomed to violence with their Palestinian neighbors but have traditionally felt relatively safe from violent crime. In recent years, however, mob wars also have plagued Israeli towns and cities.
Rival underworld gangs have waged bloody battles for control of gambling and protection rackets, including one involving bottle recycling.
Funny you ask, I have been rocking tons of One Buttons lately and chopping it up like a chainsaw thru Nutella. (And I love Nutella.)
Although I am no fashion historian, I would say it goes like this:
One Button Suit: Kind of Jazz man smooth. Rat pack steez. Stylishly sleek. Good for picking up Models and Nightlife Princesses. For the Nightshift. Swooping fly girls on the veranda overlooking the Med. Suit worn not because you have to wear a suit for work.
Two Button Suit: Universal. Biz Stilo. Works well on all builds. Good all around battle tested swoop gear. Timeless. JFK.
Three Button Suit: 60’s Mod style. Good for taller cats. Can be Rakish.
Side note:
Four Button Suit: NFL wide receiver. A la Michael Irvin.
Two thieves who stole a £15,000 diamond ring from a jewellers in Edinburgh are being sought by police.
Two women, believed to be of middle-eastern origin, walked into Lime Blue jewellers in George Street and asked to look at a ring in the window display.
They acted as if they wished to pay for the ring but when the shop assistant turned away, the thieves walked out of the shop with it.
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: “This was a brazen high-value theft carried out by two women who are believed to have visited a number of shops in George Street yesterday afternoon.
“We are appealing for any members of the public who may have noticed the suspects in George Street, either before or after the theft took place, to contact us immediately.
“Similarly, anyone with any other information that can help us identify the two women should also get in touch.”
And in my experience, is better preformed by women.
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA Your favorite International Playboy’s, favorite International Playboy
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
