The Indian Major Who Saved Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's Family In 1971 War Meets Her Again

Major Ashok Tara was assigned yet another crucial mission just a day after 93,000 Pakistani troops led by General AAK 'Tiger" Niazi had surrendered to Indian forces after their famous "dash for Dacca" during the December 1971 war.

Already awarded the Vir Chakra in the Battle of Gangasagar a few days ago, 29-year-old Tara was told to rescue Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's wife and family, which included his 24-year-old daughter Sheikh Hasina and her child.

The family was being held hostage by a dozen trigger-happy Pakistani troops at a fortified house in the Dhanmandi area, just 20 minutes away from the Dacca airport. Tara, accompanied by only three soldiers, managed the task with sheer pluck and presence of mind, without a drop of blood being shed on either side, to the Bangabandhu family's eternal gratefulness.

On Saturday, 46 years later, Colonel Tara (retired) was among those who shared the spotlight with PM Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina at the "Sommanona Ceremony" here to honour the 1971 war martyrs.

"Sheikh Hasinaji was very happy to see me and my wife Abha. She told Modiji that I had helped rescue her and her family all alone, without any weapons," said Tara, speaking to TOI after the ceremony.

India, incidentally, lost 3,843 soldiers in the swift 13-day war that reduced Pakistan to abject helplessness and led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

But among all the bravehearts, Tara has a special personal connect with the first family of Bangladesh. On that wintry day in 1971, Tara and his three soldiers drove to Dhanmandi, only to be stopped by a nervous crowd before they could reach the house where the family was imprisoned

Pointing to a scorched car stopped in its tracks, with its driver dead inside, the people told Tara it was extremely dangerous to proceed ahead

Taking stock of the situation, even as the Pakistani soldiers trained their machine guns and rifles at him, Tara left his own weapon with his soldiers and went ahead on his own to the house. The Pakistani soldiers, who it is believed had instructions to kill the entire family in the event of any contingency, warned him he would be shot if he came any closer.

Using a mix of Punjabi and Hindi, Tara tried to convince the Pakistani troops, who had lost communication with their superiors, to lay down their arms amid nerve-wracking moments. "They had no idea that the Pakistani army had surrendered, Dhaka had fallen and the war was well and truly over," said Tara.

"I told them an unarmed Indian officer would not be standing in front of them if that was not the case," he said, even pointing to some Indian helicopters flying overhead to underline his assertion.

The stand-off finally eased, with Tara assuring the Pakistani soldiers that they would return to their families unharmed. The Bangabandhu family emerged unscathed, and the rest is history.

In June 2012, PM Sheikh Hasina conferred the "Friend of Bangladesh" award on Tara, who was commissioned into 14 Guards in the Indian Army in 1963 and retired as a Colonel in 1994.

Quaker Oats Is Getting Sued For Containing Pesticide Glyphosate In Their Oatmeal

Our all-time favorite breakfast option is getting sued because on the front label of the packaging, you will usually see the claim “100% Natural Whole Grain” and most of the time along with the bold text “Old Fashioned.”
Quaker Oats have been around for a long time, and I’ve been eating it since I was a child. Being so long in the market, this brand has made people feel comfortable with the ingredients in Quaker Oats products, but recently a lawsuit has canceled out any good press they have.
Consumers in New York and California have filed a lawsuit against the owner of Quaker Oats, alleging that their oatmeal contains traces of pesticide glyphosate. Whereas oats generally require less herbicide and pesticide than many other types of grains, so it is very surprising and disappointing to find traces of the pesticide in Quaker Oat’s products.

An independent lab in California conducted a test on the contents of Quaker Oats Quick 1-Minute oatmeal using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, a technique commonly used in chemical and medical labs for drug research. The results of the test found traces of glyphosate in the sample that was used.


Although the amount of glyphosate detected was under the allowable legal limits, the lawsuit accused Quaker of “false advertising” due to the claim that their products are “100% Natural”
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many different types of pesticides, which are sprayed on crops worldwide, and food activists have condemned the use of glyphosate for years, citing a variety of health risks.

Glyphosate was just recently classified as a “probable” cause of cancer in 2015, and aside from cancer, glyphosate is known to cause a variety of other long-term health conditions like birth defects, disrupt thyroid hormone functions. It can also severely affect someone’s mood, appetite, sleep and serotonin impairment has frequently been linked to depression.
You don’t have to consume glyphosate to cause your baby to have birth defects, babies of women who are living withing one kilometer of areas where glyphosate is sprayed were more than twice as likely to have birth defects. It has the ability to overstimulate the vitamin-A signaling pathway, which is crucial for fetal development.

Fear Kulbhushan Jadhav has been tortured, killed in Pakistan: BJP MP and former Home Secretary RK Singh

BJP MP and former home secretary RK Singh said that it is a possibility that Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court, is no more.

BJP MP and former home secretary RK Singh said it is quite possible that Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage, is already dead.

"Pakistan must have tortured and murdered Kulbhushan Jadhav and now Pakistan is making all this trial story to cover its sham," said RK Singh, the MP from Arrah. "If not, then Pakistan must give us consular access," he said, adding that India sought consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav at least 13 times.

India's repeated requests for consular access to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav were turned down by Pakistan, the former home secretary said. "It is a possibility that Kulbhushan Jadhav is no more" he said.

He demanded that the Indian government takes note of this concern and immediately ask Pakistan again for consular access to "ensure he (Kulbhushan Jadhav) is fine".

"I am concerned. We should immediately seek Kulbhushan's consular access," RK Singh said. Given the current scenario, he said, "Tomorrow Pakistan might announce that they have executed the capital punishment and hung him (Kulbhushan Jadhav)."

NO EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING, SAYS SUSHMA

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, while speaking in Parliament today, warned Pakistan of dire consequences for sentencing Kulbhushan Jadhav to death. Stating the Narendra Modi government's stand on the issue, she said there was no evidence of wrongdoing against Kulbhushan Jadhav. 

"If anything, he (Kulbhushan Jadhav) is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism," Sushma Swaraj told Parliament and called it an "act of premeditated murder".

CHARGES AGAINST KULBHUSHAN JADHAV 

A Pakistan military court on Monday sentenced Kulbhushan Jadhav to death for "for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan".

"The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act and awarded death sentence," the Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan security officials from Balochistan in March last year. 

Ezam hits out at PAS for tabling RUU355

The PBR president says the Islamic party must understand the reality of today’s politics

JOHOR BARU: PAS needs to realise that the country has been governed by a ‘desperado’ government that is willing to do everything it takes to hide its shortcoming.

Parti Bebas Rasuah (PBR) president Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor said that while his party respects PAS’ liberty to table the RUU355 – or the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, the Islamic party must understand the reality of today’s politics.

He said the government’s handling of RUU 355 clearly portrayed how the Act has been used as Prime Minister Najib Razak’s political tool.

Ezam, a former Finance Ministry communications director, said that RUU355 should have been tabled by the government as the bill was religious in nature.

He also slammed the Malaysian parliamentary institution for failing to act on individuals responsible for the1MDB scandal while other foreign governments are probing the case.

Ezam said that the matter only happened because of an irresponsible prime minister.

“Even the PAC’s (Public Accounts Committee) report ignored. Before that, the committee itself was suspended and disbanded.

“The attorney-general is replaced in a hurry. MACC and Bank Negara officers involved in 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd cases are transferred.

“Doesn’t all these make us realise that we have a prime minister that is weltered with corruption, protecting the corruptors and more importantly willing do anything to cover up his and his henchmen’s act?”

The newly elected PBR president, formerly known as NewGen Party, is mulling to contest in Pekan in the 14th General Election to take on Najib head on.

Update - [SHOCKING VIDEOS] Asian Doctor Violently Removed From United Flight After He Refused To Give Up His Seat And Chicago Police Claimed Sustained Injuries Were From A Fall!!

[SHOCKING VIDEOS] Asian Doctor Violently 

Removed From United Flight After He Refused To Give Up His Seat And Chicago Police Claimed Sustained Injuries Were From A Fall!!

Twitter erupted after footages of an Asian man who was forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky after failing to give up his seat for United employees on an overbooked flight went viral.
First things first, how can you overbook a flight when there is supposed to be a system to track each and every ticket sold?
Audra Bridges, a United passenger who posted a video of the ordeal on Facebook said that the airline offered $400 (RM1,774.60) and a hotel room and was looking for volunteers to take a flight the following day at 3 pm and later raised to $800 (RM3,549.20) when nobody wanted to give up their seat that they paid for with their own hard-earned money.

United told the passengers that the plane would not budge until four airline employees who were on stand-by had seats on the flight. When nobody spoke up, that is when a manager came aboard the plane and announced that a computer would randomly pick four passengers to be booted off.

According to Audra, one couple was chosen first and left the aircraft before the man in the video was confronted. He claimed to be a doctor who had appointments to see patients at a hospital the following morning.
When the man refused to give up his seat, three security officials were called in to deal with him, one officer reportedly threw him against the armrest before dragging him out of the plane. But Chicago Police Department submitted a disturbing statement, “At approximately 6:00 p.m., a 69-year-old male Asian airline passenger become irate after he was asked to disembark from a flight that was oversold. The passenger in question began yelling to voice his displeasure at which point Aviation Police was summoned. Aviation Officers arrived on scene attempted to carry the individual off of the flight when he fell. His head subsequently struck an armrest causing injuries to his face. The man was taken to Lutheran General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Ongoing investigation.”
The Chicago Police are claiming the man sustained his injuries because he “fell” and not because he was violently ripped out of his seat by security. Watch this video and let us know what you think about it.

Other passengers were asked to deboard so that the crew could “tidy up” before the flight, which was delayed for two hours after its scheduled departure.
Some passengers onboard who were recording the whole ordeal posted their videos on twitter, and the bloodied man somehow gets back on the plane.

Communications Manager for Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Jessica Jinn provided the following statement according to NextShark.

“We find the incident that occurred on the United Airlines flight leaving Chicago as unconscionable. It is excessive for an airline to use police force to remove a paying passenger against his will. We demand an investigation of what happened and a public explanation of how the passengers who were requested to deboard the flight were selected and treated.”


Even if United had to send their employees to Louisville, couldn’t they have arranged it on a different flight that is more empty? The journey only takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes at most. So why the whole scene?

[VIRAL VIDEO] Watch How This Man’s Wife Gets Beaten Up By His Alleged Mistress!!!

Well…this is certainly a peculiar case! Usually, we hear about reports saying that the wives beat up the mistress without mercy, but this time around the wife is the one that gets bashed up!
According to a source, a lady was mercilessly beaten up by another who claimed to be her husband’s lover in a restaurant located in the city of Lishui, China.
The incident took place after the wife started approaching the woman who was claimed to be having an intimate friendship with her husband.
As soon as the wife starts lashing out verbally to the lady, without hesitating the ‘assumed’ kept woman fought back and became violent! The 3rd party even splashed water on the wife’s face before forcefully pulling her hair.
Either she was completely in a state of denial or she was just really into her man who is another’s husband, cause it didn’t seem like this lady was giving any chances.

The fight carried out even to the streets where she kicked and slapped the wife till she fell flat onto the ground.
Apparently, the lady was just too fed up with the wife’s actions and even told her off by saying that she had given her(the wife) many opportunities as she had mentioned way too many times that there nothing was happening between her and the lady’s husband.
Bystanders who saw the whole thing called up the local authorities and both ladies are now being held for investigation.


WOW! That was an epic meal, don’t you think so? So who was overreacting? The wife or the husband’s close female friend?

Pretty Scammer Used WeChat’s “People Nearby” Function To Find More Victims!!

WeChat is one of the chatting platforms on our phones to communicate with our friends and family. The WeChat app is popular for its function “People Nearby” to search for other users who are located within a 1000m radius.
While this is a good function for you to make new friends, please take that this function has also caused many people to get conned! Don’t fall for their traps! Scams on chatting platforms are nothing new especially in WeChat, there have been numerous cases of victims falling prey to all types of scams, and people are still stupid enough to get conned repeatedly, like don’t you learn the first time?


The reason why many people do not go to the police after getting scammed is because they were doing something shady that caused them to get scammed.
A man identified as Wong complained that fake WeChat accounts in Seremban were increasing and he just recently got conned out of RM500 when he added a pretty girl on WeChat who offered him sexual services with a fee. He thought he hit the jackpot when she added him and immediately messaged him.

According to World Of Buzz, upon their first chat, she introduced herself and her services.

“Hi, My name is Lian Lian, I’m 20 years old this year. I come from Taiwan and am currently studying here. Recently I have been facing some financial difficulties and have decided to offer some special services. If you need it, please do not hesitate to contact me. It is RM300 for two hours, two times and RM700 if you want me to stay overnight. I’m usually available from 1.00pm until 12.00 midnight.”

When asked what does her services include, she said,

“I provide services such as lovemaking, massage, bathing, blowjobs, and kissing.”

Wong said the girl had a beautiful face and model figure, after discussing he agreed to her terms and conditions, and they both set a time and date to meet up. He was waiting for her at the agreed hotel on time when a random man approached him and asked him to purchase MOL Point of RM500 as a security deposit.

After he bought the points, they continued to harass him to pay RM1,000 which he refused to do. Duh, who would wanna spend RM1,000 in situations like this? The man threatened Wong that they could trace his address through his contact details, Wong then blocked their contact numbers to stop them from harassing him.

An undercover reporter also tried to add Lian Lian on WeChat, but she was very smart and would only answer a few questions about herself. She also asked for the reporter’s contact number, and on the set date, he told her that he had arrived and she asked him to send photos as proof.

He sent her some images he found on google, and she got up to her old tricks where an accomplice called him and asked for RM500 as a safety deposit. The reported said he will only pass the cash to him face to face but the accomplice refused to meet up.

The scammer then felt something was amiss and blocked the undercover reported immediately. It is believed that these conmen are not only concentrated in one location but are able to attack anywhere since they can use programs to change their location to continue their cheating scheme.

As always people, please be careful who you make friends with, especially strangers online, and look out for your younger friends or siblings.

Female Student Claims That 3 Of Her Seniors Had Shoved A Deodorant Bottle In Her Vagina!!!

One can only wonder where on earth is truly safe from harm when you see news like this…

A rehabilitation centre which was built to help ‘correct’ juveniles at Tanjung Kling is now facing allegations of a female student being assaulted by her seniors.

According to The Star Online the girl from Raub, Pahang, claimed that 3 of her hostel mates had forcefully inserted a deodorant bottle into her vagina on last Sunday, about 5 in the evening.

It appears that the 3 seniors had dragged her out from the shower before they started their violent act.

And like as if the first act of violence wasn’t enough, the trio attacked her one more time after finding out that the matter was brought up to the welfare officer at the home, she claimed.

After hearing her allegations, State Welfare Department director Burhanuddin Bachik said that the welfare officer had advised her to lodge a police report and let the police investigate further on the matter. A report was later lodged at the Batang Tiga police station on the same day.

In another case of assault, on the allegation made by Welfare and Social Organisation (Perbak) president Muhammad Khairul Hafiz said that he found a new evidence on alleged sexual assault of orphans at a home for boys in Durian Daun, Malacca.

Without hesitating, once again, Burhanuddin said he will leave it to the police to investigate. He also added on saying that the department had been very cooperative and seem to not be hiding anything suspicious.

On Monday, Muhammad Khairul lodged a police report at the Kempas police station. He claimed that his new piece of evidence contains a voice recording of a former employee who admitted to sexually assault the residents of the home.

Khairul who was also once a resident of the home claimed that he too was sodomised back in 1999 til 2004.

Seadrill: $1.4 Billion In Contracts With ConocoPhillips

Seadrill: $1.4 Billion In Contracts With ConocoPhillips

Seadrill announces major contracts for West Elara and West Linus.

I discuss short-term and long-term implications.

The stock remains a playground for short-term traders.

Seadrill (NYSE:SDRL) has just announced that its majority owned subsidiary North Atlantic Drilling (NYSE:NADL) has just secured 10-year contract awards for the jack-ups West Elara and West Linus. The client is ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), while the additional backlog is estimated at $1.4 billion.

Here's the deal. First, West Linus dayrate for the existing contract will be adjusted from April 2017 to May 2019, resulting in a $58 million backlog reduction. The previous rate was $326,000, the new one is approximately $250,000. Then, West Lunus will work from May 2019 to the end of 2028 at a market indexed dayrate, and Seadrill believes that the backlog will be $706 million.

The company stated that estimates for market indexed rates were based on assumptions used in its presentation to bondholders and also included an agreed percentage discount. The West Lunus dayrate after May 2019 calculates at roughly $200,000, in line with the assumptions used in the presentation.

We should also keep in mind the costs of operating harsh-environment jack-ups as highlighted in the same presentation:

West Elara will begin to work for ConocoPhillips in October 2017 and will work at a fixed dayrate until March 2020, addition $160 million of backlog. The numbers here are once again in line with the assumptions in the presentation, as the rig's dayrate will be roughly $165,000. Then, the rig will work until October 2027, adding an estimated $530 million to the backlog which reflects a dayrate of about $190,000. As you can see, Seadrill assumptions reflect their view of dayrates in 2020 and account for the agreed discount. The backlog assumptions do not reflect any upside in dayrates after 2020 should it happen.

This news is a very important development for Seadrill, which has recently announced that common shareholders should expect minimal recovery in the restructuring. The news is of course good for business in the longer-term, but I won't be too much enthusiastic if I was a shareholder.

What Seadrill now needs is cash flow, and cash flow took an immediate $58 million hit which will not be recovered by the addition of West Elara contract. The math is simple. West Elara starts at a dayrate of about $165,000, so it will contribute about $15,000 per day, assuming that Seadrill cost estimate presented above is correct. That's just $11 million in two years. Conclusion: the contracts, while looking massive at first glance, actually make the short-term situation worse for Seadrill.

There is also no change in the outlook for North Atlantic Drilling, which I believe will be reabsorbed by Seadrill in restructuring. The company is not a viable business with the current debt load, and nothing has changed with this contract, which even makes things worse in the short-term.

The trading outlook is different. Speculative bottom-pickers are definitely rubbing their hands now as Seadrill will likely see a significant bump due to the major backlog addition. The tactics for those without a position depends on how high Seadrill shares will open. A relatively low open will justify a long entry, while a high open may open the possibility to short shares if there will be any to borrow.

For investors, the news may present an opportunity to bail out of Seadrill. I'm sure that we will again see many interpretations of the words "minimal recovery" used in recent press release, but the contract does not change the short-term dynamics for the company.

Creditors are at driver's seat and shareholders are at their mercy. I'd argue that the company is already preparing for the post-reorganization period. This is definitely not a last-ditch attempt to save the situation as the contract decreases cash flows in the shorter term. In my view, Seadrill remains a firm avoid for investors. At the same time, the company will continue to present opportunities for short-term traders. I'm sure that's not the last surprise from Seadrill.

NADL, a subsidiary of Seadrill, has secured ten-year contract awards for the jack-ups West Elara and West Linus with ConocoPhillips in the North Sea Ekofisk.This new contracts worth $1.4 billion in new backlog, will certainly play a positive element in the restructuring negotiations.This news will probably give a positive boost to SDRL and NADL today confirming my trading theory.

This is an update of my preceding article on North Atlantic Drilling (NYSE:NADL) published on March 3, 2017, about the Q4'16 results.

Please read also my recent article on ConocoPhilips (NYSE:COP) published on March 30, 2017. Please click here.

Investment thesis:

North Atlantic Drilling is a subsidiary of Seadrill Ltd. (NYSE:SDRL). SDRL owns 16.966 million shares or 70.36% (majority holder). [Total shares outstanding is 24.11 million].

Note: NADL Reverse split 1:10 - 12/31/15.

Seadrill and North Atlantic Drilling have struggled with their large debts, and are working hard to get all the lenders and the stakeholders on the same page and agree to a practical solution, in which shareholders will eventually avoid a bloodbath. No less than 42 banks are involved in the process...

As we all know, These two companies are controlled by the self-made billionaire John Fredriksen -- with a net worth is now $9.8 billion as of March 2017 -- who is directly involved with Seadrill recapitalization plan indicated in the 6F 01/2017.

On April 4, 2017, we learned from Seadrill that another delay has been agreed to complete the restructuring plan. The company announced the following:

These extensions provide additional time for the Company to further advance the ongoing negotiations with its banks, potential new money investors, and the advisers to the ad hoc committee of bondholders regarding the terms of a comprehensive restructuring plan, which may include the infusion of new capital. While no definitive terms have been reached, based on stakeholder and new money investor feedback, as well as the Company`s existing leverage, we currently believe that a comprehensive restructuring plan will require a substantial impairment or conversion of our bonds, as well as impairment, losses or substantial dilution for other stakeholders. As a result, the Company currently expects that shareholders are likely to receive minimal recovery for their existing shares.

We expect the implementation of a comprehensive restructuring plan will likely involve schemes of arrangement or chapter 11 proceedings, and we are preparing accordingly.

I highly recommend to read my preceding article about the most recent restructuring plan involving SDRL and NADL published on April 2, 2017. Please click here.

TODAY NEWS: (From offshore Energy Today)

NADL, a subsidiary of Seadrill, has secured ten-year contract awards for the jack-ups West Elara and West Linus with ConocoPhillips Skandinavia for work in the Greater Ekofisk Area offshore Norway.

NADL said on Tuesday that the total additional backlog for the new contract awards is estimated at $1.4 billion excluding performance bonuses.

As part of the agreement, the company has agreed to a dayrate adjustment on the existing West Linus contract effective from April 2017, resulting in a $58 million reduction in current backlog.

The company also said that the new West Elara contract, which is expected to start in October 2017, includes a period of fixed dayrates until March 2020 and contributes approximately $160 million of contract backlog. A market indexed rate is applicable thereafter until October 2027, which will contribute an estimated $530 million of contract backlog.

The contract on West Linus has been extended from May 2019 until the end of 2028 at a market indexed dayrate, which will contribute an estimated $706 million of contract backlog.

According to the company, the backlog estimate indicated for the market indexed rate period for each rig is based on the third party dayrate assumptions presented in the Seadrill Limited release dated January 31, 2017 and includes an agreed percentage discount. The estimates are subject to changes based on market conditions.

The awards are subject to ConocoPhillips receiving partner approvals for the contracts.

Quick remarks:

1. The Jack-up West Linus is now contracted until May 2019 at a day rate of $326k/d (plus $12.43K/d for mobilization cost amortized through the contract). The company said that $58 million has been cut in backlog which represent a day rate reduction of about $73k/d based on 791 days remaining. The new day rate will be about $253K/d (+12.43K/d). Furthermore, the West Linus contract has been extended until end December 2028, at a market indexed day rate contributing to $706 million in Backlog. Based on an extra 3503 days the day rate is about $202k/d for the extension. I estimate the total backlog for the West Linus at about $916 million.
2. The Jack-up West Elara has been awarded a new contract with COP starting October 2017 and ending October 2027. Two parts in this contract. [a] From 10/17 to 3/20 day rate is fixed at about $175k/d or a total backlog of $160 million (913 days~). [b] From 3/20 to 10/27 market indexed day rate at about $191K/d (2771 days~) or a total backlog of $530 million. I estimate the total backlog for the West Elara at about $745 million (Including remaining backlog with Statoil).

The total additional backlog is $1.4 billion for the two Jack-ups (with total backlog remaining for the 2 Jack-ups at about $1.66 billion.)

We are talking significant numbers here. Please look at SDRL/NADL backlog below (click graph to enlarge). Note: SDRL and NADL backlogs are estimated the best to my ability and may not be totally correct due to the complexity.

Complete Fleet Analysis as of February 28, 2016 (updated April 11, 2017 by Fun trading.)

Here's an overview of the fleet status:

#	Name	Type Year Built	Contract End	Current Day Rate K$	Information Location
1 - Drillship
1	West Navigator	UDW-HE 2000	Cold stacked		Norway - Skipavik
2 - Semi-Submersibles
1	West Alpha	4th-HE 1986		Available	Norway - Skipavik
2	West Phoenix	6th-HE 2008	- 5/17 5/17-9/17	Available 145 125?	[Total] [Nexen] UK
3	West Venture	5th-HE 2000		stacked ($10k/d)	Norway - Skipavik
4	West Rigel	6th-HE 4Q2015	Under-construction- See deal with the shipyard
3 - Jackups
1	West Elara	Heavy-duty-HE 2011	6/17 6/17-8/17 10/17 - 3/20 3/20 - 10/27	318 (+$24 million taken to income - Mobilization) 138 175~ 191~	[Statoil] Norway [ConocoPhillips] Norway
2	West Epsilon	Heavy-duty-HE 1992		Available	Norway
3	West Linus Owned by SFL	Heavy-duty-HE 2014	5/19 5/19-12/28	326 253 (+12.43k/d) 202~	[ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)] Norway

Conclusion:

This is an extremely positive news for both Seadrill and North Atlantic Drilling, which shows that the Jack-up segment in the North Sea sector is showing signs of life again. As I have explained in my April article about the global offshore fleet, Jack-up utilization is higher than the floater utilization and the shallow water segment is the most likely to recover first with oil prices around $55 a barrel.

I recommend to read my article published yesterday. Please click here.

I said:

The rising of Jack-up utilization provides an explanation as to why the "distressed" rig market focuses now primarily on the jack-ups. The jack-up segment has been more active recently with a number of acquisitions from newly created companies such as Borr drilling (acquisition of Hercules Triumph and Hercules Resilience and acquisition of the entire Jack-up fleet from Transocean) or Northern Drilling, created by John Frederiksen en relation with Seadrill (NYSE:SDRL), and acquisition of the semisub West Mira.

This new contracts will certainly play a positive element in the restructuring negotiations and may eventually push Seadrill to re-incorporate NADL faster, by acquiring the 29.64% the company doesn't own, based on a share swap deal similar to the one Transocean (NYSE:RIG) and Transocean Partners LLC (NYSE:RIGP) have completed last year. In which SDRL will offer a share exchange based on a ratio NADL-SDRL to be determined close to 1:To be determined.

Important note: Do not forget to follow me on the Offshore drilling Industry. Thank you for your support.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.