Central Asia
Russo-Turkish pipeline route on hold amid crisis
With Moscow threatening sanctions against Turkey, plans for a Russo-Turkish free trade zone and joint gas pipeline route appear be on hold.
Tag: control of oil
North Africa
Glencore secures Libya oil contract
Global commodities giant Glencore signed a deal with Libya's state oil company—which is now divided into feuding branches loyal to the country's rival regimes.
North Africa
Libya: oil output plummets as rival regimes fight
Libya's oil output dropped to a record low after the government in the east sent troops to shut down an export terminal controlled by the rival regime in the west.
Planet Watch
Obama and the KXL-TPP contradiction
Obama nixed the Keystone XL pipeline a day after announcing he will sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership—which includes mechanisms for challenging the KXL cancellation.
Southeast Asia
Hague to rule in South China Sea dispute
Amid US brinkmanship in the South China Sea, a UN arbitration court agreed to hear the Philippines' challenge of Beijing's territorial claims.
Africa
South Sudan: oil wealth as threat to peace plan
South Sudan's opposition charges that a plan by President Salva Kiir to redraw the country's internal borders aims at keeping oil wealth in the hands of his Dinka followers.
Planet Watch
Retreat on Arctic drilling —push to open ANWR
The Interior Department announced the cancellation of two pending Arctic offshore lease sales—as Alaska's governor makes a new push to open the ANWR to oil companies.
Greater Middle East
AKP-ISIS collaboration in Ankara massacre?
Several PKK sympathizers have been arrested in connection with the Ankara suicide blasts—but the Turkish left charges that the ruling AKP collaborated with ISIS in the attack.
Southern Cone
Brazil: party official sentenced in Petrobras scandal
A Brazilian court sentenced ex-treasurer of the ruling Worker's Party Joao Vaccari Neto to 15 years for charges related to the Petrobras corruption scandal.
Greater Middle East
ISIS seizes last oil-field from Assad regime
ISIS fighters seized the last oil-field still under the control of the Assad regime after several days of fighting. The Jazal field has a production capacity of 2,500 barrels per day.
The Amazon
Peru: indigenous protesters occupy oil installation
In new protests over the Bloc 192 oil-field in the north Peruvian Amazon, some 20 indigenous Achuar and Kichwa warriors occupied the local air-strip of multinational Pluspetrol.
The Amazon
Bolivia: police attack indigenous roadblocks
Bolivian National Police used batons and tear-gas to break up a road blockade launched by Guaraní indigenous residents to protest gas exploitation on their traditional lands.