International


Liberia: Rivercess County, Finance Ministry Exchange over Social Contributions

Oct 19, 2015 | Samwar S. Fallah, FrontPageAfrica

The oil blocks in the seas of Rivercess County have so far yielded some of the biggest payments from Liberia's oil industry. Two oil companies…


Liberia: Liberians Murmur over Submission of Four Oil Blocks to The House by Ellen

Oct 19, 2015 | Cholo Brooks, Global News Network

Liberians over the weekend murmured over the latest information from the office of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on the submission of other oil blocks to…


Iraq/Syria/Islamic State: How ISIS Built Its Own Multi-Million Dollar Industry by Attacking Oilfields [Video]

Oct 17, 2015 | Hari Sreenivasan, PBS

The militant group known as the Islamic State or ISIS controls huge amounts of territory in Iraq and Syria. And ISIS finances much of its…


Syria: Kerry: Climate Change Made the Syrian Civil War Far Worse

Oct 17, 2015 | Jacqueline Klimas, Washington Examiner

Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged Saturday that climate change didn't cause the Syrian conflict, but he said it did play a large role in…


Liberia: Parliament's Passage of Liberia’s Land Rights Act Urged

Oct 16, 2015 | James Butty, Voice of America

An international land rights group said Liberia risks a resurgence of social conflict unless the country’s legislature approves a Land Rights Act that is moving…


China/South China Sea: China Suggests Joint South China Sea Drills with Asean

Oct 16, 2015 | BBC

Beijing is currently hosting an informal meeting for defence ministers from the region. China's Defence Minister Chang Wanquan has suggested drills for "maritime rescues and…


Myanmar: Russia to Build Early Warning System for Natural Disasters in Myanmar

Oct 16, 2015 | Alexander Korablinov, Russia Beyond the Headlines

The Russian Emergencies Ministry will help Myanmar build an early warning system for natural calamities and supply it with equipment needed for clean-up operations, Vasily Pospelov, Russia’s ambassador…


Iraq/Islamic State: Iraqi Forces and Shiite Militias Retake Oil Refinery from ISIS

Oct 16, 2015 | Michael R. Gordon, New York Times

Iraqi forces and the Shiite militias fighting alongside them announced Friday that they had retaken the oil refinery at Baiji from Islamic State militants, in…


Iraq: Iraq Claims to Have Taken Key Oil Facility – Again

Oct 15, 2015 | Mitchell Prothero, McClatchey DC

Iraqi security forces claimed Thursday to have taken control of most of the nearly completely destroyed oil refinery in the strategic central Iraqi city of…


Liberia: Oil Blocs Sale: Ellen Lobbies Legislature for Ratification

Oct 15, 2015 | Henry Karmo and Samwar S. Fallah, FrontPageAfrica

Liberia has already sold off several offshore oil blocs to big international oil companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and others generating millions in signature bonuses and…


Rwanda: Exclusive Interview with Hon. Dr Vincent Biruta, Minister of Natural Resources

Oct 15, 2015 | Mining Review Africa

The most exciting project currently happening in the Rwandan mining sector is the transformation of the industry from an artisanal-mining dominated industry to a well…


China/Vietnam/South China Sea: Vietnam Accuses Chinese Vessel of Sinking Fishing Boat

Oct 15, 2015 | Associated Press

Vietnam said Thursday that a Chinese vessel rammed into and sank one of its fishing boats near disputed islands in the South China Sea in…


South Sudan/Sudan: Sudan, S. Sudan Agree to Demilitarize Border

Oct 14, 2015 | Addis Getachew Tadesse, Anadolu Agency

After more than two years of negotiations, Sudan and South Sudan on Wednesday signed a deal to implement an earlier agreement to demilitarize their common border. The…


Iraq/Syria: ISIS Inc: How Oil Fuels the Jihadi Terrorists

Oct 14, 2015 | Erika Solomon, Guy Chazan, and Sam Jones, Financial Times

On the outskirts of al-Omar oilfield in eastern Syria, with warplanes flying overhead, a line of trucks stretches for 6km. Some drivers wait for a…


Myanmar: Locals Reject Consultation on Burma’s Divisive Tasang Dam Project

Oct 14, 2015 | Mark Inkey, Asian Correspondent

SMEC, the Australian company carrying out the environmental and social impact assessment (EIA/SIA) for Shan State’s Tasang Dam will be unable to produce a meaningful…


Myanmar: Myanmar Steps up Renewables Investment with Plans for South East Asia’s Largest Solar Power Plant

Oct 14, 2015 | BusinessGreen

Myanmar is to host a series of flagship solar projects, following a number of contract awards in recent weeks. US-based engineering giant Black & Veatch…


Iraq: Total Back in French Court over Iraq Oil-for-Food Corruption

Oct 14, 2015 | AFP

French energy giant Total was back in a Paris court Wednesday facing renewed efforts to prosecute it for corruption linked to the UN's "oil-for-food" programme…


Vietnam/China/South China Sea: Vietnamese Experts Call for Negotiations with China over Disputed Islands

Oct 14, 2015 | Gia Minh, Radio Free Asia

A recent attack on a Vietnamese fishing boat by a Chinese surveillance vessel has prompted two foreign affairs experts from the Southeast Asian nation to…


Myanmar: Mawchi Mudslide: Death Toll Rises to 18

Oct 13, 2015 | Democratic Voice of Burma

The death toll from the devastating mudslide in Mawchi has risen to 18, with dozens left homeless in the Karenni State town, according to relief…


Climate Security: NATO Body Calls on Member States to Tackle Climate Security Threat

Oct 12, 2015 | Jocelyn Timperley, Business Green

Up to 250 senior members of parliament from NATO states are today expected to call for leaders of members states to deliver an ambitious, legally-binding…


Food Security: Conflict Drives 'Alarming' Global Hunger, Report Shows

Oct 12, 2015 | Mark Kinver, BBC News

Many of the 52 nations where the situation is serious or alarming are predominately ones experiencing civil unrest, the annual assessment says. However, hunger in…


Iraq: Trevor Flugge, Former AWB Chairman, Faces Court over Iraq Oil-for-Food Scandal

Oct 11, 2015 | Liz Hobday, ABC News

Almost two decades after the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) oil-for-food scandal unfolded, one of the key figures in the kickback scheme is again facing court.…


China/South China Sea: China Completes Construction of Lighthouses in Disputed South China Sea

Oct 10, 2015 | Reuters

China has completed the construction of two lighthouses in the disputed South China Sea, the official Xinhua news agency reported, as tensions in the region…


Liberia: CRC Wants Land Rights Act Legislated

Oct 9, 2015 | Ethel A. Tweh, The New Dawn

Speaking during a recent program at the Monrovia City Hall, Cllr. Scott said the Land Rights Act is part of recommendations gathered from citizens across…


Cambodia: Protesters March Against Land Grabs on World Habitat Day

Oct 7, 2015 | Neou Vannarin, Voice of America

Despite the presence of barricades and riot police, more than 1,000 evictees, human rights campaigners, land activists and Buddhist monks celebrated the 30th annual World…


Iraq/Islamic State: Deash Terrorists Set Oil Well Alight in Northern Iraq

Oct 7, 2015 | Press TV

Takfiri Deash terrorists have attacked an oil field in Iraq’s conflict-stricken northern province of Kirkuk and set fire to an oil well there. A security…


South Sudan: Nespresso, Clooney Promote Coffee in War-Torn South Sudan

Oct 7, 2015 | Corinne Gretler, Bloomberg

Nespresso, the world’s biggest single-serve coffee brand, will start selling coffee from South Sudan, in an effort proposed by George Clooney to help rebuild an…


Sudan: Sudan Halts Iron-Ore Output as Gold Mining Set for Record High

Oct 7, 2015 | Claudia Carpenter, Bloomberg

Sudan has halted iron ore production because of low prices while gold output is set to reach a record 100 metric tons next year, Minerals…


Mozambique: Mozambique Destroyed Its Last Landmine. That’s a Victory for Food Security

Oct 7, 2015 | Karen Coates, UN Dispatch

Last week, deminers in Mozambique detonated the country’s last-known landmine. It took 22 years to rid them all, more than 200,000 total. Decades of conflict…


Liberia: Sime Darby Faces Fine Following Chemical Explosion

Oct 7, 2015 | Henry Karmo, FrontPageAfrica

A joint Ministerial Investigation Committee investigating the Sime Darby Plantation Company over recent explosion in Bomi County has recommended that the Palm Oil Plantation be…