International

Sudan: U.S.: Schlumberger 'Willfully' Violated Sanctions

Mar 26, 2015 | David J. Graeber, United Press International

For six years, a division of oil services company Schlumberger "willfully" violated U.S. sanctions against Iran and Sudan, the Justice Department said.

"Over a period of…

Middle East: War in the Middle East is Pushing Vital Water Plants 'Close to the Breaking Point'

Mar 25, 2015 | Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters

Fighters are increasingly targeting water and sanitation facilities across the Middle East, exacerbating severe shortages for agriculture and households, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said…

China/South China Sea: Conquering the South China Sea

Mar 25, 2015 | Wall Street Journal

China is building military bases on artificial islands hundreds of miles off its coast, in waters claimed by six other countries. These new fortresses in…

Iraq: Iraq's Oil Exports in February Below Planned, Depriving Nation of Funds to Fight Islamic State

Mar 25, 2015 | Sinan Salaheddin, Associated Press

Iraq's oil exports for last month were below planned levels, the country's Oil Ministry said Wednesday, depriving the nation of badly needed funds for its…

Land Grabbing: Coke's Zero Tolerance for Land Grabs Proves Difficult to Fulfill

Mar 25, 2015 | Stella Dawson, Reuters

The Coca-Cola Co has made a good start in axing land grabs from its supply chain, but it must work harder in proving that its…

Water Wars: Water Being Used as a Weapon in the Middle East, Red Cross Warns

Mar 25, 2015 | Lucy Westcott, Newsweek

Water supplies are being targeted by fighters in Syria and Iraq and water systems in the Middle East are approaching breaking point due to conflicts…

Conflict Minerals: U.S. SEC Spent $2.75 Mln on Conflict Mineral Rules, White Says

Mar 24, 2015 | Sarah N. Lynch, Reuters

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has spent about $2.75 million to write, implement and defend itself against legal challenges to its "conflict mineral rules,"…

Timor-Leste: Minister of Timor-Leste Restates Government Plans to Process Gas from the Greater Sunrise Field

Mar 24, 2015 | Macauhub

The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources of East Timor, Alfredo Pires restated in Dili, the government’s plan to process liquid natural gas (LNG) from…

Liberia: EPA Trains Staff in Climate Change Data Collection

Mar 24, 2015 | The Inquirer

Twenty-five employees of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia over the weekend completed an intensive training workshop in Climate Change Data Collection. The workshop…

Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan: Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan Sign Agreement on Nile Dam

Mar 23, 2015 | Khalid Abdelaziz, Reuters

Leaders from Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan signed a cooperation deal on Monday over a giant Ethiopian hydroelectric dam on a tributary of the river Nile,…

Iraq: Bomb Hits Diyala Pipeline to Daura Refinery

Mar 23, 2015 | Adam al-Atbi, Iraq Oil Report

A bomb exploded Sunday on an oil pipeline that carries crude from the Naft Khana oil field, in Diyala province, to Baghdad's Daura refinery."The extent…

Libya: 'New Level of Complexity': Oil Wealth and Libya's Power Struggle

Mar 23, 2015 | Al Bawaba

The battle for Libya's oil wealth has taken on new dimensions as rival governments lay claim to the National Oil Company (NOC), further deepening divisions…

China/Indonesia/South China Sea: Indonesia President Joko Widodo: China Claim to South China Sea Has 'No Legal Basis'

Mar 23, 2015 | Nigel Wilson, International Business Times

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said China's claim to much of the South China Sea has no foundation in international law, according to a report…

Timor-Leste: Timor Leste 'Running Out of Money'

Mar 23, 2015 | Jonathan Pearlman, The Straits Times

 In an unusual power swop last month, Timor Leste's charismatic resistance hero Xanana Gusmao voluntarily handed over control of one of the world's newest nations…

Iraq: Baghdad Has Lost $4b in Two Months from War and Lost Oil Fields

Mar 22, 2015 | Rudaw

The Iraqi government has suffered $4 billion in costs  over the past two months due to losses from violence, fighting the war with Islamic State…

Water Wars: Interactive Map: The Flow of Water and Conflict

Mar 22, 2015 | McClatchy News Network

Conflict. Crisis. And a vital resource.

Sunday is World Water Day, a United Nations initiative to draw attention to issues of water scarcity and sanitation.

Ahead of…

South Sudan: South Sudan Economy on Edge Amid War, Low Oil Production

Mar 22, 2015 | Jason Patinkin, The Associated Press

Hit by falling oil revenues, South Sudan’s economy is also troubled by a violent conflict that looks set to continue. It could get worse in this…

Iraq: Iraq's Economy: An Empty Chest

Mar 21, 2015 | The Economist

Almost 90% of government revenue in Iraq comes from oil. Yet the price of the stuff has fallen by more than half over the past…

China/South China Sea: China State Media Tells US to Stop ‘Kibitzing’ over South China Sea Dispute

Mar 21, 2015 | Malay Mail Online

Chinese state media turned to Yiddish today in the war of words over territorial disputes, criticising the United States as a “kibitzer” for what it…

Liberia: GVL Constructs Palm Mill

Mar 20, 2015 | N. Dweh Nimley, The NEWS

Southern Liberia first oil palm production plant is expected to be completed in Tarjuowon, Sinoe County, by 2016, according to Virgil Magee, Head of Communications…

South Sudan: South Sudan Rebels Repulse Multiple Attacks by Government Forces: Spokesperson

Mar 20, 2015 | Tesfa-Alem Tekle, Sudan Tribune

South Sudanese rebels led by former vice-president Riek Machar said on Friday they had managed to repulse multiple attacks by government forces in Unity and…

Nile River: Nile Musicians Urge Cooperation, Not Conflict, in Battle Over Water Rights

Mar 19, 2015 | Renee Lewis, Al Jazeera

A collective of musicians from 11 Nile basin countries performed in New York City on Thursday night in a bid to demonstrate the need for…

Iraq/Kurdistan: Lawmaker Skeptical of Kurdistan Oil Prospects

Mar 19, 2015 | Jun Ji-hye, The Korea Times

Rep. Hong Young-pyo has downplayed expectations over oil exploration projects by the Korea National Oil Corp. (KNOC) in Kurdistan.

"Given the enormous amount of taxpayers' money…

Food Security: Report: Conflict, Climate Affect Food Security

Mar 19, 2015 | Joe DeCapua, Voice of America

The International Food Policy Research Institute has released its Global Food Policy Report. IFPRI Director-General Shenggen Fan listed some of the accomplishments of last year.

“We…

MiddleEast: New Age of Water Wars Portends 'Bleak Future'

Mar 19, 2015 | Nafeez Ahmed, Middle East Eye

Behind the escalating violence in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, as well as the epidemic of civil unrest across the wider region, is a growing shortage…

South Sudan: S. Sudan’s Kiir Says Farming Will Address Economic Hardship

Mar 19, 2015 | South Sudan

South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir has advised citizens to turn to farming in order to address the country’s economic hardship, worsened by the ongoing conflict.

“We…

Iraq: Iraq May Issue $5 Billion Bonds, to Pay Oil Firms Soon: Minister

Mar 18, 2015 | Maggie Fick, Reuters

Iraq is considering an international issue of $5 billion worth of five-year, U.S. dollar-denominated bonds to help cover its budget deficit, and will soon start…

Iraq: French Graft Trial Over Iraq 'Oil for Food' Programme

Mar 18, 2015 | Dunya News

Fourteen companies, including Renault Trucks and Legrand, went on trial Wednesday, accused of siphoning off cash to Saddam Hussein s Iraqi regime during the "oil for…

Liberia: Citizens Demand Pay for Damaged Crops

Mar 17, 2015 | Alloycious David, The NEWS

The Commissioner of Cinta Township in Margibi County, William Julye is demanding that Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) makes immediate payment for crops it destroyed in…

Timor-Leste: Government Will Not Give Up in Dispute Over Oil, Maritime Boundary

Mar 17, 2015 | Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australia and Timor-Leste are currently locked in a standoff over the maritime boundary between the two countries, which determines who is entitled to what share…