East Asia
East China Sea gets scary āagain
A near confrontation between Chinese and US aircraft over disputedĀ East China SeaĀ gasfields comes amid major joint US-Japanese naval maneuvers off Okinawa.
Tag: control of oil
Iraq
Charges dropped against Iraq oil union leader
Following an international campaign, all charges were dropped against Iraq oil union leader Hassan Juma’a Awad in a case related to strikes and worker protests.
Central America
Panama ups ante in Nicaragua canal race
The current expansion of the Panama Canal will accommodate 90% of the world's 370-vessel liquified natural gas fleet—a new bid to undermine Nicaragua's canal plans.
The Andes
Bolivia ready for nuclear power: Evo Morales
At a “Hydrocarbon Sovereignty” conference in Tarija, Bolivia’s President Evo Morales said his country has achieved the conditions to obtain nuclear power for “pacific ends.”
Southern Cone
Brazil: protesters target oil auction, transit fare
The protests haven't stopped in Brazil. Hundreds tried to block the auction of a giant oilfield, and bus riders continued to demand free transit.
Afghanistan
Pakistan stock market soars on terror wave
Over the past year of growing violence and chaos in Pakistan, the Karachi Stock Exchange surged more than 44%, placing it among the world’s top-performing stock markets.
Syria
Evo Morales betrays Syrian people
By saying the US “funds rebels that fight against presidents who don’t support capitalism or imperialism,” Evo Morales allies himself with a regime that is committing war crimes.
Greater Middle East
Syria war portends Middle East ‘balkanization’?
Elements of Washington wonkdom are calling for the break-up of Syria into ethno-sectarian mini-states, and see the separatist contagion spreading to the rest of the Middle East.
Greater Middle East
Syria: what is the imperial agenda?
Obama's UN speech pledged: "We will ensure the free flow of energy" from the Middle East. Yet intervention risks a conflagration that could threaten imperial control of the oil reserves.
Africa
Arab Revolution hits Sudan
Street clashes continued in the Sudanese capital Khartoum for a second day after massive protests broke out over the regime's move to cut fuel subsidies.
The Amazon
Brazil: documents expose US industrial espionage
Brazil's president calls off a visit to DC as the US is left trying to explain how spying on Brazil's oil company could be necessary for the war on terrorism.
Greater Middle East
Did climate change spark Syria crisis?
A jet stream blockage related to climate change caused the Russian wheat crop to fail in 2010, halting exports to Syria and the Arab world, and fueling unrest and revolt.