International
Iraq/Kuwait: Iraq to Pay Kuwait 1.5 Percent of Oil Proceeds as ‘Compensations’
Nov 8, 2018
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Arab Times
United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) Governing Council said on Thursday that Iraq would pay, effective early next year, 1.5 percent worth of oil sales’ proceeds…
Vietnam: Vietnam, US Complete Cleanup of Toxic Chemical from Airport
Nov 7, 2018
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Associated Press
Vietnam and the United States have finished the cleanup of dioxin contamination at Danang airport caused by the transport and storage of the herbicide Agent…
Iran: Iran Holds Int’l Seminar on War’s Consequences for Family, Environment
Nov 7, 2018
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Alireza Hashemi, Iran Front Page
The 2018 edition of an international seminar revolving around the impact of war on woman, family and environment was held in Tehran on Tuesday, in…
Rights Groups Call for Greater Attention to Environmental Security in Armed Conflicts
Nov 7, 2018
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Erik Slobe, Jurist
Amnesty International released two public statements on Tuesday regarding environmental security during war and armed conflicts. One statement addressed to the Chair of the UN…
Afghanistan: How to Avoid the Resource Curse? Take Six Years to Approve Deals
Nov 7, 2018
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Eltaf Najafizada, BloombergQuint
Afghanistan selected preferred bidders for three gold and copper mines in 2012. It took the war-torn nation six years to finally sign the contracts. Afghan…
Myanmar: Bringing the Land Use Policy to Life
Nov 7, 2018
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Eva Hirschi, Frontier
When it comes to land, Myanmar suffers from a contradictory, fragmented and outdated legal framework. The country has more than 40 laws on the books…
Iraq/Kurdistan: ISIS War, Financial Crisis Damaged Kurdistan Region Environment
Nov 7, 2018
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Karwan Faidhi Dri, Rudaw
Iraq suffered immense environmental devastation during its war with Islamic State. Some areas, particularly Mosul and other Sunni-dominated cities, have been reduced to toxic wastelands.…
Afghanistan: Decades of War Takes Its Toll on the Environment
Nov 6, 2018
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Tamim Hamid, TOLOnews
National Environmental Protection Authority (NEPA) officials said Afghanistan’s water resources, soil and air quality have fallen victim to the war and that the thousands of mines…
Afghanistan: How to Avoid the Resource Curse? Take Six Years to Approve Deals
Nov 6, 2018
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Eltaf Najafizada, Bloomberg
Afghanistan selected preferred bidders for three gold and copper mines in 2012. It took the war-torn nation six years to finally sign the contracts. Afghan…
Colombia: 'Living Corpses': Why Colombia's National Tree Is at Risk
Nov 5, 2018
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Lucy Sherriff, BBC
"They are essentially living corpses," says Colombian scientist Rodrigo Bernal of Colombia's national tree. The ceroxylon quindiuense, a distinct species of palm tree which was…
Sierra Leone: President Bio Calls for Diamonds to Be Cut and Polished in Sierra Leone
Nov 5, 2018
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Sierra Express Media
Addressing board members and management of AWDC, diamond traders, miners, bankers and the press, President Bio said that Sierra Leone was a major exporter of…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Production at Kurdistan Region Oil Fields ‘Exceeding Expectations’
Nov 4, 2018
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Kurdistan 24
Crude oil production is on the rise at fields in the Duhok province area with results exceeding expectations, the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Natural Resources…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Iraq's Kurds Add Pipeline Capacity to Export Kirkuk Oil
Nov 4, 2018
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Nayla Razzouk and Abbas Al Lawati, Bloomberg
Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurds upgraded their oil export pipeline to accommodate future production growth from their region as well as from the contested Kirkuk area controlled…
Myanmar: ‘Genocide Gems’: Highly-Sought Burmese Rubies and Sapphires May Be Enriching Myanmar’s Military
Nov 4, 2018
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Josh K. Elliott, Global News
The U.S.-based International Campaign for the Rohingya (ICR) is calling for shoppers to boycott so-called “genocide gems” from Myanmar this holiday season, in hopes of…
Myanmar: Displaced Villagers in Myanmar at Odds with UK Charity over Land Conservation
Nov 2, 2018
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Joshua Carroll, Guardian
A British conservation charity has become embroiled in a row with villagers displaced by civil war in Myanmar over plans to protect pristine forests housing…
Tanzania: Finally Land Dispute Resolved between Herders, Farmers in Kit
Nov 2, 2018
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Hilda Mhagama, Daily News
After years of clashes between farmers and herders in Kiteto District, more than 95,499 hectares of grazing land has been transferred to the livestock keepers…
Devastating and Enduring Impact of Conflict on Our Planet
Nov 2, 2018
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Green News
Researchers have concluded that atomic radiations are able to penetrate into streams and kill marine species in large numbers. Genetic mutations in all types of…
Colombia: Colombia Faces 273 Lawsuits for Poisoning Crops with Herbicide
Nov 1, 2018
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Renzo Pipoli, United Press International
The Colombian government faces 273 lawsuits stemming from damages to crops, land and water caused by the spraying the herbicide glyphosate, which intended to destroy…
Myanmar: 'We Feel Like Hermit Crabs': Myanmar's Climate Dispossessed
Nov 1, 2018
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Libby Hogan, Guardian
Worldwide, Myanmar is the second most vulnerable country to extreme weather events. The effects are widespread: in the dry zone, home to nearly a third…
China/Vietnam/South China Sea: Chinese Coast Guard Chases Down, Rams Fleeing Vietnamese fishing boat [Video]
Nov 1, 2018
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Sreypov Men, AEC News Today
A Chinese coast guard vessel was filmed apparently ramming a Vietnamese fishing boat in video posted on Facebook. The video, shot from the Vietnamese boat,…
DRC: Conflict-Free Artisanal Gold Exported from the Congo
Nov 1, 2018
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Rob Bates, JCK
The first shipment of certified conflict-free artisanal gold from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been exported to the United States, according to a…
Myanmar: Myanmar to Hold Raw Gems, Jade Fair
Oct 31, 2018
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Xinhua
Myanmar will hold special sale of raw gems and jade in local currency Kyat in Nay Pyi Taw on Nov. 12-17, the Information Ministry said…
Conflict Minerals: DeBeers Blockchain Pilot Adds World’s Second Largest Diamond Manufacturer
Oct 31, 2018
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Cryptocurrency News
Alrosa, the world’s second largest diamond maker has announced that it is joining Tracr, the blockchain-based end-to-end diamond tracing solution developed by South African diamond…
India: India to Certify Diamonds as Free from Terror Financing, Money Laundering
Oct 31, 2018
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Rajesh Bhayani, Business Standard
India has urged the global diamond industry to incorporate a process enabling the certification of diamonds that do not carry the stigma of corruption or…
Conflict Minerals: Peer Ledger Announces General Availability of MIMOSI SaaS Platform for Responsible Sourcing
Oct 31, 2018
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Peer Ledger Inc. and PRNewswire
Peer Ledger is announcing the expanding adoption of its MIMOSI SaaS platform for responsible sourcing. Peer Ledger specializes in the use of blockchain technology to…
Afghanistan: ADB Provides $75mn Grant to Support Afghanistan's Horticulture Value Chains
Oct 31, 2018
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Wadsam
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) agrees to provide a $75 million grant to support development of horticulture value chains in Afghanistan, empowering farmers, crop producers,…
Timor-Leste: What’s Next for Timor-Leste’s Economy?
Oct 30, 2018
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David Hutt, Diplomat
After more than a year of political uncertainty – which included two general elections in the space of eleven months, one failed minority government, impeachment…
DRC/Tanzania: Tanzania Partners with DRC to Process Cobalt
Oct 30, 2018
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Apolinari Tairo, East African
The Democratic Republic of Congo is looking to establish a smelter in Tanzania to minimise transport costs of raw cobalt shipped to markets outside Africa.…
Liberia: Sime Darby 'Prematurely' Harvesting Oil Palm, as 'Criminals' Attack Security
Oct 30, 2018
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Observer
Sime Darby patrolman Joseph K. Gissi is one of the latest victims to the alleged criminal activities at the plantation. The widespread theft of oil…
Afghanistan: Finest Afghan Agriculture Exports to Be Showcased at “WorldFood Kazakhstan” Trade Show
Oct 30, 2018
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USAID
Twelve Afghan agribusinesses will display the finest fresh and dried fruits, nuts, juices, and vegetables at a high-profile trade event in Almaty, Kazakhstan from October…