Oligarchs feud over Norilsk erupts again

By John Bonar

It was too good to last. When old-style Russian oligarch Vladimir Potanin buried the hatchett after seven months of very public feuding in November 2008 with his young rival Oleg Deripaska, everyone, including the Kremlin, heaved a sigh of relief. Now it has erupted again with the ousting of former Kremlin fixer Alexander Voloshin as Chairman of Norilsk Nickel the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium and one of the leading producers of platinum and copper. Potanin and Deripaska each control 25% of the company.

Published in Metals & Mining

Elephant trekking

By John Bonar

Our trek started from the JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa aboard hotel mini-busses, and took us a short drive into the foothills beyond Ban Niang town to the Elephant camp. Tourists are bussed from as far away as Phuket just for the adventure of an elephant trek.

Published in Thailand