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Challengers Emerge to Replace Divisive Maliki

BAGHDAD — Iraqi officials said Thursday that political leaders had started intensive jockeying to replace Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and create a government that would span the country’s deepening sectarian and ethnic divisions, spurred by what they called encouraging meetings with American officials signaling support for a leadership change. President Obama implicitly added his voice on Thursday to the call for change, saying any Iraqi leader must be a unifier. He declined to endorse Mr. Maliki. The jockeying began as a series of meetings with American officials were held here in which, according to at least two participants, they saw the first indications that the Americans would like to see a replacement for Mr. Maliki, whose marginalization of non-Shiites since United States forces left Iraq in 2011 has made him a polarizing figure. At least three people, who like Mr. Maliki are all members of the Shiite majority, […]

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China to Move Citizens in Iraq

BEIJING–China said it would move an undisclosed number of its more than 10,000 citizens in Iraq away from danger zones amid an intensifying insurgency there and urged Baghdad to protect its people and interests. At a daily press briefing on Thursday, China Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said those in dangerous areas could be moved to either safer places in Iraq or neighboring countries. Ms. Hua said most Chinese nationals in the country are in relatively safe areas already. "China is willing to continue to provide assistance to Iraq at the request of the Iraqi side in antiterrorism and reconstruction works," she said. "We also hope that Iraqi side could take concrete measures to ensure security of Chinese institutions and personnel." China’s presence in Iraq has grown in recent years as the Middle Eastern country has become a growing source of its imported oil. Imports from Iraq rose roughly […]

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Army: Militants regrouping in Iraq refinery attack

The army officer in charge of protecting a key Iraqi refinery besieged by Sunni militants says he fears insurgents are regrouping to resume their assault on the key facility. The fight over the Beiji refinery, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad, began Tuesday. Col. Ali al-Qureishi said the latest attempt by fighters came late Thursday. Al-Qureishi told The Associated Press on Friday that he believed the militants were regrouping to launch a new attack. There was no immediate way to independently verify al-Qureishi’s claims. Its loss would be a devastating symbol of the Baghdad government’s powerlessness in the face of the offensive by Sunni militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The militants captured much of northern Iraq in a lightning offensive last week. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below. […]

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U.S.: No major disruption to Iraqi oil exports

Though the situation in Iraq requires constant monitoring, there’s been no major disruption to its crude oil exports, a U.S. State Department spokeswoman said. Militants with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria laid siege to a key oil refinery in Baiji, about 130 miles north of the Iraqi capital. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said during a regular press briefing production was shut down at the refinery for several days before the attack. The closure of the refinery, which feeds the domestic market, means Iraq may have to import some energy supplies for neighboring countries, though exports aren’t limited. "There’s no impact on Iraq’s crude oil exports, and we haven’t seen any major disruptions in oil supplies in Iraq," she said . "But we’re certainly constantly monitoring the global oil supply and demand situation." The growing Sunni insurgency has sparked fears about the stability […]

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Kurdistan faces ongoing refugee challenge

Kurdistan faces ongoing refugee challenge Many of those fleeing Mosul were forced to pack and leave quickly, some on foot, as fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) moved into the city. "They are wearing Iraqi Army uniforms and driving in Iraqi Army vehicles," said Abdul Sadiq, who fled the city with his family. "They are also in charge of the checkpoints, but they are letting people leave freely." Over 500,000 people have been displaced from Salahaddin, Ninewa, and Kirkuk provinces as ISIS has chased away gover… This content is for registered users. Please login to continue. If you are not a registered user, you may purchase a subscription or sign up for a free trial .

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Nigeria: India Replaces U.S. As Largest Importer of Nigeria's Crude

India ahas replaced the United States of America as the largest importer of Nigeria’s crude with China and Malaysia following closely, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said yesterday. Nigeria has been facing dwindling crude oil sales to the United States as shale oil and gas production there has increased, reducing demand for imports. India now purchases some 30 percent of Nigeria’s daily crude production which currently hovers around 2.5million barrels, while crude oil sales to the US by now stands at about 250,000 barrels per day, according to a statement by NNPC’s spokesman Ohi Alegbe. Speaking in Moscow, Russia at the on-going 21st World Petroleum Congress, Coordinator Corporate Planning and Strategy, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Tim Okon also told newsmen that the Asian countries have since replaced the US as the biggest consumers of Nigerian crude. Dr. Okon, who also doubles as the Director of Transformation of […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Nigeria: India Replaces U.S. As Largest Importer of Nigeria’s Crude

India ahas replaced the United States of America as the largest importer of Nigeria’s crude with China and Malaysia following closely, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said yesterday. Nigeria has been facing dwindling crude oil sales to the United States as shale oil and gas production there has increased, reducing demand for imports. India now purchases some 30 percent of Nigeria’s daily crude production which currently hovers around 2.5million barrels, while crude oil sales to the US by now stands at about 250,000 barrels per day, according to a statement by NNPC’s spokesman Ohi Alegbe. Speaking in Moscow, Russia at the on-going 21st World Petroleum Congress, Coordinator Corporate Planning and Strategy, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Tim Okon also told newsmen that the Asian countries have since replaced the US as the biggest consumers of Nigerian crude. Dr. Okon, who also doubles as the Director of Transformation of […]

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What the Iraq Crisis Means for Talks on Iran’s Nuclear Future

As the United States and Iran maneuver around one another to shore up the government in Iraq , the two countries are simultaneously negotiating Iran’s nuclear future. So the question arises: What would the Middle East look like if Tehran and Washington could actually reach a deal on the nuclear issue? Already, Secretary of State John Kerry is suggesting cooperation with Iran to halt the radical Sunni upsurge in Iraq. Despite the tortured history between the United States and Iran, there is some precedent for cooperation, including Iran’s willingness to provide intelligence on Al Qaeda after Sept. 11, 2001. Britain’s foreign secretary, William Hague, has moved to reopen the British Embassy in Tehran, shut since 2011. “Iran is an important country in a volatile region” that has been “divisive and sectarian,” he said. He added, perhaps with more hope than experience: “Iran does have the capability to play a […]

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India Bets on Easing Iran Oil Curbs as Fighting Engulfs Iraq

India spent the past five years cutting its Iranian oil imports to comply with international sanctions. Now, Asia’s second-largest energy user needs the curbs to ease as fighting threatens its supply from Iraq. Tougher U.S. sanctions on Iran meant India was obliged to halve purchases from the Persian Gulf nation since 2009. Indian refiners, which get 85 percent of their crude from overseas, say they expect the restrictions to soften. “We may be exempted from cutting imports from Iran this year,” P.P. Upadhya, managing director of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd., the second-biggest Indian buyer of Iranian crude, said by phone on June 18. “We expect the U.S. will be softer on Iran as the conflict deepens in Iraq .” Benchmark crude prices are trading at a nine-month high as Islamic militants battle government forces in Iraq, which is now India’s second-biggest oil supplier. That’s boosting costs for importers […]

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LNG project in Australia scrubbed

Australian energy company Santos said Thursday it was mulling its options after finding the Bonaparte LNG project doesn’t meet its commercial interests. Santos said it would consider other development options for the Petrel, Tern and Frigate natural gas fields, including the possibility of building a pipeline from the fields in the Timor Sea. Santos has a 40 percent interest in the developments alongside French company GDF Suez . "While the partners firmly believe the fields have material value, having been fully appraised, their future development using floating [liquefied natural gas] technology … does not currently meet the companies’ commercial requirements," the company said in a joint statement with its French partner. Dubbed the Bonaparte LNG project, the partners said they’re no longer moving ahead with front-end engineering and design. Australia is a leading exporter of LNG and energy companies operating there have secured long-term supply contracts with Asian countries […]

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