China impounds a Japanese vessel over an unpaid wartime debt, as Japan builds a military base near the disputed Senkaku Islands. This World War II nostalgia is getting too real.
Hewlett-Packard is being fined for bribing oil company officials in Mexico; meanwhile, the US is investigating possible corruption in Citigroup's Mexican operations.
As expected, Mexico's "energy reform" will provide a big opening for multinationals, along with more fracking, more deep-sea drilling, and more carbon dioxide.
The IMF imposes austerity on Ukraine as Russia jacks up gas prices. Meanwhile, the global industry exploits the crisis to fast-track exports of fracked gas as a "lever against Russia."
Iraq's oil production surged to its highest level in over 30 years last month—as insurgent and terrorist attacks claim more lives than at any time since 2007.
Pressure is mounting on Tripoli to act against "federalist" rebels in Cyrenaica after they allowed a North Korean-flagged tanker to ship from a port under their control.
In light of the Crimea crisis, the EU is reconsidering approval of Russia's pending South Stream and Nord Stream pipelines, that would strategically bypass Ukraine.
Plans for privatizing the Pemex oil company barreled ahead as Mexicans learned that a private Pemex contractor had taken a privatized bank for a $400 million ride.
Libya's parliament moved to a Tripoli hotel after armed demonstrators stormed the building, while a key oil-field remains under occupation by Tuareg protesters.
Costa Rica is preparing a new complaint against Nicaragua at The Hague, accusing Managua of offering Costa Rican maritime territory to international oil companies.
A Turkish military incursion against Qaedist rebels in Syria comes amid claims that al-Qaeda affiliates have seized the country's oilfields and are planning attacks on the West.
France agreed to exradite the ex-Kazakh energy minister to Russia on corruption charges—despite fears that he will be turned over to Kazakhstan, to face torture.
