International


Sierra Leone: President Bio Calls for Diamonds to Be Cut and Polished in Sierra Leone

Nov 5, 2018 | Sierra Express Media

Addressing board members and management of AWDC, diamond traders, miners, bankers and the press, President Bio said that Sierra Leone was a major exporter of…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Production at Kurdistan Region Oil Fields ‘Exceeding Expectations’

Nov 4, 2018 | Kurdistan 24

Crude oil production is on the rise at fields in the Duhok province area with results exceeding expectations, the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Natural Resources…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Iraq's Kurds Add Pipeline Capacity to Export Kirkuk Oil

Nov 4, 2018 | Nayla Razzouk and Abbas Al Lawati, Bloomberg

Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurds upgraded their oil export pipeline to accommodate future production growth from their region as well as from the contested Kirkuk area controlled…


Myanmar: ‘Genocide Gems’: Highly-Sought Burmese Rubies and Sapphires May Be Enriching Myanmar’s Military

Nov 4, 2018 | Josh K. Elliott, Global News

The U.S.-based International Campaign for the Rohingya (ICR) is calling for shoppers to boycott so-called “genocide gems” from Myanmar this holiday season, in hopes of…


Myanmar: Displaced Villagers in Myanmar at Odds with UK Charity over Land Conservation

Nov 2, 2018 | Joshua Carroll, Guardian

A British conservation charity has become embroiled in a row with villagers displaced by civil war in Myanmar over plans to protect pristine forests housing…


Tanzania: Finally Land Dispute Resolved between Herders, Farmers in Kit

Nov 2, 2018 | Hilda Mhagama, Daily News

After years of clashes between farmers and herders in Kiteto District, more than 95,499 hectares of grazing land has been transferred to the livestock keepers…


Devastating and Enduring Impact of Conflict on Our Planet

Nov 2, 2018 | Green News

Researchers have concluded that atomic radiations are able to penetrate into streams and kill marine species in large numbers. Genetic mutations in all types of…


Colombia: Colombia Faces 273 Lawsuits for Poisoning Crops with Herbicide

Nov 1, 2018 | Renzo Pipoli, United Press International

The Colombian government faces 273 lawsuits stemming from damages to crops, land and water caused by the spraying the herbicide glyphosate, which intended to destroy…


Myanmar: 'We Feel Like Hermit Crabs': Myanmar's Climate Dispossessed

Nov 1, 2018 | Libby Hogan, Guardian

Worldwide, Myanmar is the second most vulnerable country to extreme weather events. The effects are widespread: in the dry zone, home to nearly a third…


China/Vietnam/South China Sea: Chinese Coast Guard Chases Down, Rams Fleeing Vietnamese fishing boat [Video]

Nov 1, 2018 | Sreypov Men, AEC News Today

A Chinese coast guard vessel was filmed apparently ramming a Vietnamese fishing boat in video posted on Facebook. The video, shot from the Vietnamese boat,…


DRC: Conflict-Free Artisanal Gold Exported from the Congo

Nov 1, 2018 | Rob Bates, JCK

The first shipment of certified conflict-free artisanal gold from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been exported to the United States, according to a…


Myanmar: Myanmar to Hold Raw Gems, Jade Fair

Oct 31, 2018 | Xinhua

Myanmar will hold special sale of raw gems and jade in local currency Kyat in Nay Pyi Taw on Nov. 12-17, the Information Ministry said…


Conflict Minerals: DeBeers Blockchain Pilot Adds World’s Second Largest Diamond Manufacturer

Oct 31, 2018 | Cryptocurrency News

Alrosa, the world’s second largest diamond maker has announced that it is joining  Tracr, the blockchain-based end-to-end diamond tracing solution developed by South African diamond…


India: India to Certify Diamonds as Free from Terror Financing, Money Laundering

Oct 31, 2018 | Rajesh Bhayani, Business Standard

India has urged the global diamond industry to incorporate a process enabling the certification of diamonds that do not carry the stigma of corruption or…


Conflict Minerals: Peer Ledger Announces General Availability of MIMOSI SaaS Platform for Responsible Sourcing

Oct 31, 2018 | Peer Ledger Inc. and PRNewswire

Peer Ledger is announcing the expanding adoption of its MIMOSI SaaS platform for responsible sourcing. Peer Ledger specializes in the use of blockchain technology to…


Afghanistan: ADB Provides $75mn Grant to Support Afghanistan's Horticulture Value Chains

Oct 31, 2018 | Wadsam

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) agrees to provide a $75 million grant to support development of horticulture value chains in Afghanistan, empowering farmers, crop producers,…


Timor-Leste: What’s Next for Timor-Leste’s Economy?

Oct 30, 2018 | David Hutt, Diplomat

After more than a year of political uncertainty – which included two general elections in the space of eleven months, one failed minority government, impeachment…


DRC/Tanzania: Tanzania Partners with DRC to Process Cobalt

Oct 30, 2018 | Apolinari Tairo, East African

The Democratic Republic of Congo is looking to establish a smelter in Tanzania to minimise transport costs of raw cobalt shipped to markets outside Africa.…


Liberia: Sime Darby 'Prematurely' Harvesting Oil Palm, as 'Criminals' Attack Security

Oct 30, 2018 | Observer

Sime Darby patrolman Joseph K. Gissi is one of the latest victims to the alleged criminal activities at the plantation. The widespread theft of oil…


Afghanistan: Finest Afghan Agriculture Exports to Be Showcased at “WorldFood Kazakhstan” Trade Show

Oct 30, 2018 | USAID

Twelve Afghan agribusinesses will display the finest fresh and dried fruits, nuts, juices, and vegetables at a high-profile trade event in Almaty, Kazakhstan from October…


Iran/Iraq: Iraq’s Kirkuk Oil Deal with Iran Collapses under US Sanctions

Oct 29, 2018 | Nawzad Mahmoud, Rudaw

The first shipment of Kirkuk oil arrived in Iran in June 2018 marking the start of a broader agreement between Baghdad and Tehran ensuring Kirkuk…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Rosneft’s Iraqi Kurdistan Oil and Gas Play Angers Baghdad

Oct 29, 2018 | Henry Foy, Financial Times

When the Iraqi autonomous region of Kurdistan went looking for someone brave enough to pump billions of dollars into developing its large oil and gas…


Nigeria: Federal Government Urges Environment Stakeholders to Address Herders-Farmers Conflict

Oct 29, 2018 | News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government on Monday urged stakeholders in the environment sector to support its efforts to tackle the incessant herders-farmers conflicts in the country. Mr…


Afghanistan: Livestock and Fish Farming Bring Self-Sufficiency to Rural Afghans

Oct 28, 2018 | World Bank

Parwin is one of hundreds of people in the district to benefit from the National Horticulture and Livestock Project (NHLP), operating under the Ministry of…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Kurdistan's Mountains Face Deforestation because of Kerosene Shortages

Oct 28, 2018 | Bextiyar Qadir, Rudaw

People living in the Kurdistan Region's mountains rely on heating oil as temperatures drop and snow begins to fall. In 2018, residents have resorted to…


Conflict Minerals: ‘Blood Gold’ Drives Mine-to-Market-Transparency Push

Oct 26, 2018 | Bloomberg Environment

It has been labeled “blood gold,” a jarring phrase that ties one of the world’s most valuable metals with brutal mining practices and illicit profits…


Liberia: Rural Dwellers Alarm Fire Outbreak, Landslide; Call for Mitigation

Oct 26, 2018 | FrontPage Africa

Though often caused by nature, some disasters have human influences that are often triggered by hazards. There are number of hazards affecting Liberia, among which…


Liberia: Extractive Sector: World Bank, Stakeholders Review New Publication on License to Drill

Oct 26, 2018 | David A. Yates, Observer

To enhance transparency and accountability in the Extractive sector, the World Bank Group, stakeholders and representatives from civil society organizations on Wednesday, October 24, reviewed…


Iran/Iraq/Kurdistan: Iraq to Halt Kirkuk Oil Exports to Iran, May Resume Them to Turkey

Oct 26, 2018 | Ahmed Rasheed, Reuters

Iraq will stop trucking crude from its northern Kirkuk oilfield to Iran in November to comply with sanctions imposed on its neighbour by the United…


Sierra Leone: $20M Extractives Sector Project Launched

Oct 24, 2018 | Alhaji M. Kamara, Awoko

The Ministry of Mines with support from World Bank yesterday launched a $20 million USD project, which is the second phase of the Extractive Industries…