Southeast Asia
Vietnam tilts to US in Pacific ‘Great Game’
Vietnam's paramount leader Nguyen Phu Trong meets with Obama at the White House, as the US and China play a dangerous game of chicken over disputed islands.
Tag: control of oil
Planet Watch
New York state puts fracking ban in place
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation released a final environmental impact statement on the dangers of fracking, officially banning the practice in the state.
Greater Middle East
Israel denies backing Nusra after Golan lynching
Druze villagers in the Golan killed a wounded Syrian fighter seized from an IDF ambulance—in mistaken belief he was from Nusra Front, which has massacred Syrian Druze.
The Amazon
Bolivia: government divided on Amazon road project
Over the objections of members of his own cabinet, President Evo Morales now says he will revive an Amazon highway project that was suspended after a wave of angry protests.
Mexico
Mexico cracks down on narco-oil
In an open acknowledgement that it cannot secure its pipeline system from plunder by criminal gangs, Mexico will no longer pump refined gasoline and diesel through the network.
South Asia
Arunachal Pradesh: pawn in the new Great Game
A new diplomatic flare-up over contested Arunachal Pradesh immediately follows the US-India nuclear deal—seen by China as part of an encirclement strategy.
Southern Cone
Argentina and Iran in oil-for-terror deal?
Did Argentina's President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner strike a secret deal with Tehran to cover up Iran's role in a terror attack in exchange for guarantees of oil imports?
Palestine
Protests as Israel starts Golan Heights drilling
Hundreds of residents and environmentalists protested in the occupied Golan Heights as exploratory oil drilling was initiated by US-owned Afek Oil & Gas.
Planet Watch
Obama’s new offshore plan: don’t believe the hype
Obama's five-year plan for offshore drilling opens up the Southeast coast and grandfathers Arctic leases—but the industry is still griping because it would keep ANWR off limits.
Mexico
Mexico: more Pemex contract scandals exposed
As the Mexican government pushes to get more private contractors for its oil company, Reuters reveals that 8% of the current contracts have serious problems.
Africa
China sends combat troops to South Sudan
A 700-strong Chinese battalion is headed for South Sudan as part of a UN "peacekeeping" mission—but the deployment follows China's massive investment in the country's oil sector.
Planet Watch
Behind oil slump: shale boom or geopolitics?
Experts tell us the North American shale oil boom is responsible for low prices despite Middle East unrest. But the price slump serves Western aims of weakening Russia and Iran.