International
Iran/Iraq/Kurdistan: Iran Bans Fuel Trade with Kurds after 'Yes' Vote in Independence Referendum
Oct 2, 2017
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France 24
International pressure mounted on Iraqi Kurdistan Saturday after its controversial independence "yes" vote, with neighbouring Iran announcing joint border drills with Iraq and banning fuel…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Islamic State Torches Oil Wells in Northern Iraq: Officials
Oct 2, 2017
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Reuters
Islamic State militants set fire to three oil wells near Hawija, west of the oil city of Kirkuk, one of two areas of Iraq still…
Myanmar: Myanmar Timber Smugglers Adapt to Tightening Regulations
Oct 2, 2017
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Coconuts Yangon
In the face of government efforts to stem the flow of illegally felled timber from Myanmar, smugglers have learned new tricks to avoid the eyes…
Afghanistan: Greenhouse Farming Paying off for Local Farmers
Oct 1, 2017
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Zabihullah Jehanmal, TOLOnews
An Afghan businessman is harvesting up to 1,400kg of cucumbers every two days after building a massive greenhouse that covers five acres of land in…
Sudan/South Sudan: Khartoum and Juba Agree over Resumption of Oil Production
Oct 1, 2017
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Sudan Tribune
Juba has agreed with Khartoum to resume production from the oil field in the Unity region, after boosting the security of the troubled region near…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Iraq Offering to Pay KRG Gov’t Employees in Full in Return for Kirkuk Oil: PM Abadi
Oct 1, 2017
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Reuters
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Saturday pressed the case for the central government in Baghdad to receive the revenue from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s…
Myanmar: This Forest in Myanmar Has Survived a 68-Year Civil War. Now Its Future Is Uncertain
Oct 1, 2017
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Gretchen Miller, ABC News
The Karen ethnic minority and their uniquely protected wilderness is just emerging from a 68-year civil war, with the self-titled Karen State and the Myanmar…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Iraqi PM Presses Case for Baghdad to Receive Kurdistan Oil Revenue
Sep 30, 2017
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Reuters
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Saturday pressed the case for the central government in Baghdad to receive the income from Kurdistan’s oilfields, saying the…
South Sudan: The Price of Water: South Sudan's Capital Goes Thirsty as Costs Soar
Sep 30, 2017
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Stefanie Glinski, Reuters
South Sudan, home to the Nile, is not considered to be a water-scarce country. But civil war and hyperinflation have created a water crisis. For…
Myanmar: FIDH Report Warns of “Potential Land Conflict Epidemic”
Sep 29, 2017
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Su Phyo Win, Myanmar Times
Myanmar may soon face a land conflict epidemic as a result of the growing influx of investments and the subsequent demand for land, unless the…
Colombia: Colombia Peace Accord Set to Open up Areas with Mining Potential
Sep 29, 2017
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Alex Emery, BNamericas
The Colombian peace accord signed last year to end Latin America's oldest insurgency opens up vast areas of land for mining exploration, an industry official…
Myanmar: Loans to Boost Farm Productivity
Sep 28, 2017
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Htoo Thant, Myanmar Times
Farmers throughout the country can avail of loans from the government to boost their productivity, U Sein Hla Tun, the general manager of the Myanmar Agricultural…
Iraq/Kurdistan/Turkey: Iraq Says Turkey Backs Baghdad in Fight Over Kurdish Oil Exports
Sep 28, 2017
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Khalid Al Ansary, Bloomberg
Iraq said Turkey agreed to deal exclusively with its central government over exports of Kurdish crude oil, a step that could disrupt shipments from the…
Philippines: Inequality, Land Grabbing at the Root of Crisis in Mindanao – Moro Leader
Sep 28, 2017
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Marya Salamat, Bulatlat.com
“They refer to us as ‘terrrorists,’ but in truth they torture us and they are just out to facilitate landgrabbing,” Jehad Muhamad said of the…
Myanmar: Conservation Helps Rare Myanmar Tortoise Population Rebound to 14,000
Sep 28, 2017
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Si Thu Lwin, Myanmar Times
Rare Myanmar star tortoises – which were close to extinction in 2000-2001 – have been carefully cared for, and their population has risen to 14,000, according…
Iraq/Kurdistan: What's Next for Kurds? Iraq Refuses Referendum Vote, Wants Its Oil and Airports Back
Sep 27, 2017
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Tom O'Connor, Newsweek
Iraqi Kurds have voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from the country's central government in Baghdad, but the historic referendum has been widely opposed in the region…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Iraq Could Soon Deploy Troops in Disputed Oil-Rich Kirkuk
Sep 27, 2017
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Tsvetana Paraskova, Oilprice.com
Following Kurdistan’s referendum on independence that the central Iraqi government is vehemently opposing, Iraq’s Parliament has given “mandate” to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to send…
Myanmar: Government Will Take over Burned Myanmar Land: Minister
Sep 27, 2017
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Simon Lewis, Reuters
Myanmar’s government will manage the redevelopment of villages torched during violence in Rakhine state that has sent nearly half a million Rohingya Muslims fleeing to…
COMMENTARY: Water Stress is Helping Drive Conflict and Migration
Sep 27, 2017
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Charles Iceland
Recent water-related tragedies in Syria, Africa’s Sahel region and elsewhere present the prospect of darker times ahead, but there are many things we can do…
Liberia: Two Presidential Candidates Clash over Land Reform Issue
Sep 26, 2017
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New Dawn
During a presidential debate held by Ducor Debate in Tubmanburg, Bomi County over the weekend, Oscar Xperience presidential candidate Sen. Oscar Cooper said if he…
DRC: Mining for Energy: The DRC’s Unlikely Power Solution
Sep 26, 2017
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Gabrielle Nina Mitch, Discourse Media
The mining industry offers a possible solution to the country’s energy crisis. Projects need power to operate, so what if, instead of generating their own…
Iraq/Kurdistan/Turkey: Turkey Warns Iraq Kurds It Can ‘Close the Valves’ on Oil Exports
Sep 25, 2017
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Onur Ant and Khalid Al Ansary, Bloomberg
Turkey can choose to “close the valves” on oil exports from Iraq’s Kurdish region through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Oil-Rich Kirkuk a Flash Point Ahead of Referendum in Iraq
Sep 25, 2017
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Iolo Ap Dafydd, TRT World
Being one of the oil-rich cities of Iraq, there is no surprise Kirkuk draws special interest and is sought after by both Iraqis and Kurds…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Kurds in Iraq Vote in Historic Independence Referendum
Sep 25, 2017
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Tamer El-Ghobashy, Mustafa Salim, and Kareem Fahim, Washington Post
Kurds packed polling stations across northern Iraq on Monday in a historic referendum on independence despite vigorous opposition from the country’s central government as well…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Iraqi Government Asks Foreign Countries to Stop Oil Trade with Kurdistan
Sep 24, 2017
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Maher Chmaytelli, Reuters
Iraq on Sunday urged foreign countries to stop importing crude directly from its autonomous Kurdistan region and to restrict oil trading to the central government.…
Sudan/South Sudan: Sudan, South Sudan Sign New Agreement on Controversial Oil
Sep 22, 2017
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Prensa Latina
Sudan and South Sudan signed two trade agreements, one of them to update the distribution of oil production and profits that are shared by both…
Myanmar: Villagers Decry Closure of Gold Mines Near Dam in Sagaing
Sep 21, 2017
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Khin Su Wai, Myanmar Times
Hundreds of villagers decried the closure of illegal gold mines in the vicinity of Thapanseik Dam in Sagaing Region, claiming the move has adversely affected their…
Sudan/South Sudan: Sudan Says Ready to Help South Sudan to Reopen Oil Fields
Sep 21, 2017
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Xinhua
Sudan on Wednesday said it was ready to provide technical assistance for South Sudan to reoperate its oil fields that were halted due to the…
Myanmar: Copper Mine to Extend Fences: Villagers
Sep 21, 2017
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Kaung Kant Lin, Eleven
As rumours spread about fences being on farmland near Sagaing Region's Letpadaungtaung copper mine, banners condemning the project have been displayed at Sede village in…
South Sudan: South Sudan Mulls Major Reforms in Mining Industry
Sep 21, 2017
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Song Lifang, Xinhua
South Sudan's ministry of mining said Thursday it would embark on sweeping reforms in the mining industry to ensure sustainable exploitation of natural resources and…