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Kurds angered by anti-ISIL conference snub

The president of Iraqi Kurdistan on Friday slammed the United States-led coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) for excluding the Kurds from an organizational meeting in London this week, noting that his hard-bitten peshmerga fighters had proven themselves the only capable force on the ground to combat the armed group.  “We were expecting everyone to show respect to the sacrifices made by the people of Kurdistan and its peshmerga [fighters] by inviting a representative from Kurdistan to this event and similar such events,” Massoud Barzani said in a heated statement, as translated by Kurdish Rudaw news. The peshmerga “are the most effective force countering global terrorism today," he added. “It is unfortunate that the people of Kurdistan do the sacrifice and the credit goes to others." It’s not clear why the Kurds were snubbed at the London conference, though many suspect it could simply […]

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Al-Naimi Likely to Remain Saudi Oil Minister Until Market Calms

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi is likely to stay in his position until current oil-market turbulence subsides, according to Saudi and Persian Gulf oil officials familiar with the matter—with Riyadh eager to signal stability and consistency in its oil policy following the death of King Abdullah. After Abdullah’s death early Friday, oil prices shot higher before settling back down, as traders weighed whether the newly installed King Salman might alter oil policy for the world’s largest crude exporter. King Salman early Friday issued a royal decree retaining all of the kingdom’s current ministers, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. Appearing on Saudi national television, the new king said he would maintain the policies of his predecessor. That, Saudi and Gulf officials said, includes oil policy and retaining Mr. Naimi. King Salman “realizes how important Naimi is, and how the oil market respects him,” according to one Saudi official. […]

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New Saudi King and U.S. Face Crucial Point in the Relationship

WASHINGTON — Almost a decade ago, an Arab diplomat famously likened the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia to a Catholic marriage “where you can have no divorce.” But there can be estrangement. As the Obama administration begins the arduous task of assessing the newly reconstituted House of Saud after the death of King Abdullah on Friday, the relationship between the United States and its most important Arab ally, one fostered with great care and attention to detail over the years, is at a critical and tumultuous point. Saudi Arabia’s new king, Salman , 79, inherits both the policies put in place by the more assertive brother he is succeeding and the conflicts that in recent years have characterized relations with Washington. On issues from Iran to the Arab Spring, from Syria to domestic issues within Saudi Arabia like the recent flogging of a journalist , there […]

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Meet the Saudi royal family’s rising star, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef

Saudi Arabia’s then-Deputy Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef listens to the national anthem at a military parade in this Oct. 20, 2012, file photo. Saudi Arabia’s new King Salman appointed Mohammed as deputy crown prince. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters) RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — In August 2009, a young Saudi militant with ties to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula sent word to Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, then Saudi Arabia’s counterterrorism chief, that he wanted to turn himself in. Mohammed sent his private plane to pick the man up, and he was taken to the prince’s home in the port city of Jiddah. But once the militant got within a few feet of Mohammed, he detonated a bomb that he was carrying in a body cavity. The explosion blew the attacker apart and lightly injured Mohammed, who has survived at least three other assassination attempts. “It was a mistake,” Mohammed acknowledged […]

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Beleaguered, Nigerians Seek to Restore a General to Power

KADUNA, Nigeria — Boisterous crowds packed the streets for the retired general, while young men climbed lampposts, walls and billboards to glimpse his gaunt face. Others danced on careening motorcycles, brandishing homemade brooms, symbols of his campaign. With Nigeria ’s presidential election only weeks away, Boko Haram’s unchecked rampaging here in the country’s north is helping to propel the 72-year-old general, Muhammadu Buhari, to the forefront. After ruling Nigeria with an iron hand 30 years ago as the country’s military leader, Mr. Buhari is now a serious threat at the ballot box, analysts say, in large part because of Boko Haram’s blood-soaked successes. “The state is collapsing and everybody is frightened,” Jibrin Ibrahim, a political scientist with the Center for Democracy and Development in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, said of Boko Haram. “They are able to capture more and more territory, but also increase the level of atrocity,” he […]

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Brazil’s most populous region facing worst drought in 80 years

Sao Paulo state has received only one third of the rainfall expected in the wet season Related Stories Brazil’s Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira has said the country’s three most populous states are experiencing their worst drought since 1930. The states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais must save water, she said after an emergency meeting in the capital, Brasilia. Ms Teixeira described the water crisis as "delicate" and "worrying". Industry and agriculture are expected to be affected, further damaging Brazil’s troubled economy. The drought is also having an impact on energy supplies, with reduced generation from hydroelectric dams. ‘Poor planning’ The BBC’s Julia Carneiro in Rio de Janeiro says Brazil is supposed to be in the middle of its rainy season but there has been scant rainfall in the south-east and the drought shows no sign of abating. The crisis comes at a time of high […]

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Mexico looks the other way as contractors fleece oil giant Pemex

BIG TARGET: A Pemex petrochemicals plant in the city of Coatzacoalcos. Pemex provides a third of all Mexican government revenue – but is vulnerable to fraud and waste. Reuters identified $11.7 billion in Pemex contracts flagged as problematic by government auditors. But records show that authorities rarely act on those warnings. REUTERS/Oscar Martinez Mexican authorities have disregarded auditors’ warnings on billions of dollars of deals granted by the state oil giant, a Reuters examination shows. Among the businessmen who benefited: an alleged associate of the Zetas cartel. MEXICO CITY – The state-owned petroleum giant Pemex paid $9 million in 2011 to have an oil rig towed halfway round the world, from the United Arab Emirates to the Gulf of Mexico. When government auditors looked at the contract, they turned up some problems. The rig had the wrong equipment for the assignment, according to a report by Mexican congressional auditors. […]

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Pakistan Fuel Shortage Crisis Forces Sharif to Cancel Davos Trip

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif canceled a trip to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as the nation’s worst fuel shortages in memory threatened to revive street protests against him. Since the crisis began last week, he’s suspended five officials, including Pakistan State Oil Co.’s deputy chief, and has sought hourly updates on the situation. The government has sold fuel from its reserves and private companies have boosted supplies as anger grows over long waits at petrol stations. The cash-strapped distributor’s move this month to reduce shipments by 80 percent left it unable to meet a surge in demand after the government cut gas prices to match lower global costs. The Finance Ministry has arranged emergency funding to import oil, Power Minister Khawaja Asif said in a Jan. 21 text message. The crisis is a test of Pakistan’s credibility in the eyes of overseas investors, whose fivefold […]

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Beijing to start building four subway lines in 2015

BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) — Beijing plans to start construction on four subway lines in 2015 as the city authorities continue to resort to the metro system to ease traffic jams. Beijing mayor Wang Anshun revealed the plan in the government work report he delivered to the annual meeting of the municipal legislature on Friday. Officials with the Beijing Infrastructure Investment Co., Ltd. said the public-private-partnership (PPP) funding model might be used for the construction in a bid to reduce government debts. Meanwhile, sections of two existing metro lines will be opened for riders this year, said Wang. On Dec. 28, Beijing opened four new subway lines, increasing the total subway length in the Chinese capital by 62 kilometers to 527 kilometers. Also on Dec. 28, the city authorities hiked the subway fares. While passengers used to be charged a flat fee of 2 yuan, they are now charged […]

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Release reported in North Dakota

North Dakota Health Department reports release of water used during shale oil production. UPI/Brian Kersey BISMARCK, N.D., Jan. 23 (UPI) — A division of Hess Corp. spilled more than 2,000 barrels of water used during oil production at a site southwest of Tioga, the North Dakota government said. The North Dakota Department of Health said it was notified by the company of the release of so-called source water , which is used during oil production, from an area pipeline. "This water is higher in dissolved solids and minerals than fresh water," the Department of Health said in a Thursday notification. "The responsible party has initiated cleanup." The water was used during a process known as enhanced oil recovery, a technique that involves flow stimulation from steam, gas or chemical injections into the well. There was no statement on public health concerns Analysis last year from Wood Mackenzie finds enhanced […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple