International
South Sudan: South Sudan Pegs Economic Recovery on Resuming Oil Exports
Nov 16, 2018
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Julius Barigaba, East African
South Sudan will host its second Oil and Power Conference next week as it looks to rebuild its stunted economy following a five-year civil war…
South China Sea: Pence Urges Speed on South China Sea Code of Conduct
Nov 16, 2018
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Ralph Jennings and Nike Ching, Voice of America
US Vice President Mike Pence is urging the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) to move forward with a code of conduct for the South China…
Philippines/Vietnam/South China Sea: Vietnam-Philippines South China Sea Activity in Focus with Naval Exchange
Nov 16, 2018
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Prashanth Parameswaran, Diplomat
On November 10, Vietnam and the Philippines conducted the fourth iteration of their naval personnel interactions on Northeast Cay in the Spratly Islands in the…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Baghdad and Kurds Strike Deal to Resume Kirkuk Oil Exports
Nov 16, 2018
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Al Jazeera
Iraq says it has reached an initial agreement with Kurdish authorities to restart exports from the oilfields of Kirkuk, one year after flows were halted due…
Conflict Minerals: WDC Issues Definition of Conflict Diamonds
Nov 14, 2018
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Rapaport News
The World Diamond Council (WDC) has released its proposed new Kimberley Process (KP) definition of conflict diamonds, which addresses a broader range of human-rights abuses.…
Afghanistan: 4th Saffron Flower Festival Held in Herat Province, Western Afghanistan [Photos]
Nov 13, 2018
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Xinhua
Afghan farmers display their products during the Fourth Saffron Flower festival in Herat province, western Afghanistan.
Myanmar: Myanmar Holds Special Raw Gems, Jade Sales in Nay Pyi Taw
Nov 13, 2018
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Xinhua
A special sale of raw gems and utility jade in local currency Kyat is underway in Myanmar's capital of Nay Pyi Taw. A total of…
Sudan: Sudan to Launch over 30 Oil Bids in 2019: FT Reports
Nov 12, 2018
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Sudan Tribune
Sudan is preparing to launch over 30 oil exploration bids next year in an attempt to lure western companies to reinvest in its petroleum industry…
Climate Change: Retired Navy Rear Admiral Calls Extreme Weather a National Security Threat
Nov 12, 2018
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Yale Climate Connections
As Hurricane Florence targeted the East Coast, the Navy moved its ships away from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to keep them safe. Retired Navy Rear Admiral…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Explainer: Why Are Iraq's Kirkuk Oilfields So Important?
Nov 11, 2018
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Reuters
Iraq’s oilfields in the disputed Kirkuk region have taken on new significance after the United States restored oil sanctions against neighboring Iran. Washington is pressuring…
Iraq: Blaming the Rain for Iraq’s Corruption
Nov 11, 2018
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Arab Weekly
Iraq, like many Arab countries, is plagued by rampant corruption at nearly all levels of government. Many public servants, from the policeman directing traffic at…
Kyrgyzstan: In Kyrgyzstan, Warming Brings Less Water - and More Conflict
Nov 9, 2018
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Katie Arnold, Thomson Reuters Foundation
The World Bank has found that up to half of Kyrgyzstan could be affected by desertification by the end of the century, as the region…
Learn How Army Veterans Are in the Farming Business Thanks to Cornell Program
Nov 9, 2018
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Matt Steecker, Ithaca Journal
Cornell Farm Ops assists veterans interested in agriculture by connecting them to workshops, online courses, fellow farmer veterans and scholarships for more advanced workshops that may not be…
Food Security: Peace, Stability Not Possible without Rural Development, Says IFAD President ahead of Paris Peace Forum
Nov 9, 2018
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East African Business Week
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Gilbert F. Houngbo will, at this week’s Paris Peace Forum, ask global leaders to consider the crucial role…
Afghanistan: Report: Counter-Narcotics Effort in Afghanistan Ineffective
Nov 9, 2018
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FEDweek
Even though the U.S. has spent more than $8 billion on efforts to thwart the opium cultivation and trade in Afghanistan, the problem is “worse…
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…