International


South Sudan: Conflict a Cause of Hunger in South Sudan

Feb 12, 2015 | Norwegian Refugee Council

“The critical food situation is worsening for the 2.5 million people at risk in South Sudan. There is an urgent need for a solution on…


Liberia: Danish Timber Giant Kicked Out of Forest Stewardship Council Certification Scheme for Trading Illegal Timber

Feb 12, 2015 | Global Witness

Danish timber giant Dalhoff Larsen and Horneman (DLH) has been expelled from the world’s leading timber certifier, the Forest Stewardship Council, following evidence presented by…


Afghanistan: Watchdog: DOD Ignored Troop Health Risks, Continued to Burn Trash in Afghanistan

Feb 12, 2015 | Heath Druzin, Stars and Stripes

The U.S. military knowingly put troops’ health at risk and wasted tens of millions of dollars on shoddy contracts while operating dangerous open-air burn pits…


Conflict Minerals: Apple Takes Initiative in Verifying Smelters for Approaching Conflict Minerals Reporting Deadline

Feb 11, 2015 | 3BL Media

The world's second largest technology company, Apple, has acknowledged that the best way to ensure a conflict free supply chain is by having a process…


South Sudan: S. Sudan’s Oil Production Showing Signs of Recovery: Minister

Feb 11, 2015 | Hellenic Shipping News

South Sudan’s oil ministry said production is starting to recover for the first time since conflict erupted more than a year ago, severely disrupting exploration.

Petroleum…


South Sudan: South Sudan Eyeing Mining to Reduce Dependency on Oil

Feb 11, 2015 | Sudan Tribune

Concerned about the current decline in prices of crude oil in the global market, South Sudan is turning to mining sector to reduce dependency on…


China/Philippines/South China Sea: China Must Abide by Sea Ruling, Philippine Justice Says

Feb 11, 2015 | Andrea Tan, Bloomberg

China must comply with any ruling on competing territorial claims with the Philippines in the South China Sea even if it refuses to participate in…


DRC: DRC Mining Industry Worried by Country’s Stop to Mining Code Talks

Feb 10, 2015 | Henry Lazenby, Mining Weekly

The mining industry operating within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is concerned about last week's decision taken by the Mines Ministry to shun further…


China/South China Sea: China Finds Sizable Natural Gas Field in South China Sea

Feb 10, 2015 | Associated Press

China said its recent gas discovery in the politically volatile South China Sea could yield 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas, underlining Beijing's determination…


Broken Land, Broken Promises - Myanmar's Controversial Copper Mines

Feb 10, 2015 | Deutsche Welle

"Sometimes there is a very strong smell from the sulphuric acid factory; people cannot stay in the village at those times. Our eyes tear up…


Iraq/Kurdistan: In Payment Drought, Oil Companies Pare KRG Investment

Feb 10, 2015 | Patrick Osgood, Iraq Oil Report

Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has not paid its oil contractors since November, highlighting political and financial problems that could hamper plans to increase…


Iraq: EIA: Iraq Oil Production Growth was World’s Second Largest in 2014

Feb 9, 2015 | Oil & Gas 360

According to information released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) today, Iraq’s production growth in 2014 was the second largest in the world, trailing only…


Myanmar: Investors Eye Myanmar's Rich Potential for Rice Growing

Feb 9, 2015 | Petchanet Pratruangkrai, The Nation

Myanmar may go back to being one of the world's major rice exporters in five to 10 years, as many Thai and foreign investors are…


Myanmar: Shell to Explore in Deepwater Offshore Myanmar

Feb 9, 2015 | World Oil

The Hague, Netherlands -- Shell and its partner Mitsui Oil Exploration group (MOECO) have signed exploration and production sharing contracts with Myanma Oil and Gas…


Sierra Leone: Blood Diamonds Prominent as Multi-Billion-Dollar Swiss Leaks Scandal Hits HSBC

Feb 9, 2015 | Greg Klein, Resource Clips

HSBC’s secret Swiss bank accounts facilitated billions of dollars in money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, arms trafficking and possibly terrorism, a team of investigative journalists…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Conflicts and Oil Agreements: Baghdad and Erbil's Truly Ambivalent Relationship

Feb 8, 2015 | Al Bawaba

The Kurdish region’s oil supply is a major point of contention in Iraq as it brings up questions of wealth distribution and foreign exports. The…


Iraq: Iraqi Kurdistan Oil Firms Go Domestic Amid Dearth of Export Pay

Feb 6, 2015 | Reuters

Oil producers in Iraqi Kurdistan, including Gulf Keystone Petroleum and Genel, have started ramping up deliveries to the local market at the expense of foreign…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Baghdad Oil Deal With Kurds 'In Danger' of Falling Apart, Lawmaker Warns

Feb 6, 2015 | Assyrian International News Agency

An important agreement between Baghdad and Erbil that resolved long-standing disputes over the budget and oil exports is in danger of falling apart, the deputy…


Kurdistan: Iraq’s Autonomous Kurdistan Government Looking to Borrow Internationally

Feb 6, 2015 | Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is considering borrowing abroad “to strengthen economic infrastructure,” a Kurdish lawmaker told Rudaw.

Izat Sabir, chairman…


Liberia: Liberians Need Legal Rights to Forest, Says Report

Feb 6, 2015 | SciDev.Net

Liberia’s government must do more to award land rights to forest dwellers to protect natural resources from exploitation and encroachment of palm oil plantations, warns…


Afghanistan: Copper Mining Threatens Afghan Site of Ancient Buddhist Past

Feb 6, 2015 | Lynne O'Donnell, Associated Press

Treasures from Afghanistan's largely forgotten Buddhist past are buried beneath sandy hills surrounding the ancient Silk Road town of Mes Aynak - along with enough…


South Sudan: S. Sudan Rebels Dismiss Governor’s Claims on Oil Fields

Feb 6, 2015 | Sudan Tribune

A spokesperson for South Sudanese rebels in Unity state has described as “mere propaganda” allegations that the armed opposition forces planned to attack the oil…


Liberia: Special Report: Illegal Gold Mining in Liberia

Feb 5, 2015 | African Network of Centres for Investigative Reporting

A recent report by the United Nations Panel of Experts in Liberia highlighted the ongoing insecurity in the border area between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire,…


Iraq: Pentagon: Oil is No Longer ISIS’ Main Source of Income

Feb 5, 2015 | Al Arabiya

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is no longer relying on oil as its main source of revenue to fund its terrorist activity,…


China/Philippines/South China Sea: China Defends Ship’s Actions Against Philippines in South China Sea

Feb 5, 2015 | Malay Mail Online

China today defended the actions of a coast guard vessel in the disputed South China Sea after the Philippines accused it of ramming three fishing…


Myanmar: Jade Mines Grind to a Halt in Hpakant

Feb 4, 2015 | Kyaw Hsu Mon, The Irrawaddy

RANGOON — Jade mining operations in northern Burma’s Kachin State have ground to a halt after more fighting between the military and Kachin Independence Army…


Liberia: Who Collected Controversial U.S.$100,000?

Feb 4, 2015 | The News

The National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) has made it categorically clear that it never disbursed funds to the House of Representatives for the purpose…


Iraq: Low Oil Prices Force Iraq to Pass Austerity Budget As It Struggles to Pay Soldiers Fighting ISIS

Feb 4, 2015 | Campbell MacDiarmid, National Post

ERBIL, Iraq — Low oil prices have forced an austerity budget on Iraq as it struggles to rebuild its army and rally support across the…


Liberia: Could 2015 Be a Breakthrough Year for Community Land Rights?

Feb 4, 2015 | Astrid Zweynert, Thomson Reuters Foundation

2015 is set to be a pivotal year for the global recognition of land and resource rights if momentum in protecting the world's forests and…


Resource Curse: Study Suggests Oil Factors Hugely Into Foreign Wars

Feb 4, 2015 | Douglas Main, Newsweek

Oil plays an even bigger role in influencing foreign military intervention than is generally acknowledged, according to a new economic analysis, lending support to so-called…