iran oil sanctions

The European Union (EU) on Monday imposed further sanctions against Iranian oil exports and central bank, a move aimed to ramp up pressure over the country's much disputed nuclear program.According to an EU conclusion, the 27-member block banned imports of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products. However, to protect the vested interests of European companies, the conclusion gave countries with "already concluded contracts" with Iran until 1 July 2012 to carry out the embargo. A review of the measures relating to oil and petroleum products will take place before May 1, 2012.The conclusion also outlawed exports of key equipment and technology for the petrochemical sector to Iran, new investments in petrochemical companies in Iran, as well as joint ventures with such enterprises.The EU currently purchases nearly 20 percent of Iranian crude exports, with countries such as Greece and Italy most reliant on its oil.Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia have offered to step up its own production to compensate for any shortfall caused by the ban on Iranian oil"The EU is already engaged in too many economical issues to allow it to spend that much time in trying to convince other countries not to buy Iranian crude,the European Policy CenterMeanwhile, the EU froze on Monday the assets of the Iranian central bank within the EU, while ensuring that legitimate trade can continue under strict conditions.The conclusion said that trade in gold, precious metals and diamonds with Iranian public bodies and the central bank would no longer be permitted, nor would a number of additional sensitive dual-use goods may be sold to Iran.The 27-member body also subjected three more persons to an asset freeze and a visa ban. It also froze the assets of eight further entities.

the group boko haram in nigeria

 With a suicide car-bombing of the United Nations building in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, in August, and recent deadly attacks in the northeastern states of Yobe and Borno, Islamist group Boko Haram has announced its return to the stage, two years after it was supposed to have been defeated. The radical group, which used to confine itself to drive-by shootings, is more violent than ever, adding to the pressures on Nigeria's security forces. Faced with the sect's calls for an Islamic caliphate and increasingly sophisticated guerrilla tactics, Defence Minister Bello Halliru Mohammed recently compared Nigeria's current position to 'the United States ... after 9/11'.

In a series of high-profile attacks this year, Boko Haram has also burnt down a hotel in its headquarters city of Maiduguri, assassinated a candidate in the race to become governor of Borno, and bombed the national police headquarters in Abuja. More than 100 people died in the Yobe and Borno attacks earlier this month. Although the group draws its inspiration from a broader Islamist agenda, it is also motivated by local economic and religious grievances,

Boko Haram's activities are one of several factors behind Nigeria's largest military deployment since the 1967–70 Civil War. Following repeated outbreaks of violence in the country's north and centre troops have been stationed in about ten states, including Borno, Kaduna, Plateau and Bauchi. Meanwhile, the country's immigration authorities, in conjunction with a military task force, have tightened control along the borders with Chad, Cameroon and Niger, because of suspicion that some Boko Haram members come from neighbouring countries, taking advantage of porous borders. 

the situation in iraq.

last month, Iraq’s vice-president, Tariq al-Hashimi, denied charges of terrorism after the country’s top court issued a warrant for his arrest. The move marked an escalation of tensions between the prime minister’s Shiite Muslim-led allies and Sunni Muslim politicians, such as al-Hashimi, raising concerns the government could collapse.

That was preying on the minds of analysts at RBC Capital Markets, who downgraded Heritage Oil to “underperform” from “sector perform” given worries over the worsening political outlook in Iraq.

Hopes for oil exploration in Kurdistan, which has historically been a challenging area due to years of wrangling between Baghdad and the Kurdistan regional government, were lifted in November when Exxon-Mobil signed a major oil and gas exploration deal with the Kurdistan authorities.

It marked the first pact with an oil major and fuelled speculation that the region could experience a wave of consolidation.

RBC acknowledged that Exxon’s entry into the region “generated an upswing in interest” but, with analysts fearing that the government “appears to be crumbling”, they erred on the side of caution.

one year after the revolution in tunisia

Nearly a year ago, Tunisia, one of the smallest Arab-Muslim countries in North Africa, witnessed popular uprisings that led to the overthrow of the long-ruling dictator Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali, who had been in power for 23 years.
But, Ben Ali did not only maintain a dictatorial regime in the country; he also created a complex economical-political system that succeeded in giving him a tight hold on power. Tunisians might have ousted the head of the regime, but they cannot topple the system overnight because they are the system themselves. It is true that Tunisians aspire to achieve democracy, but Tunisia has been a dictatorial state for almost 50 years and democracy will not come easy.
Since January 2011, Tunisians have continued their revolutionary fervor. On February 27, Ben Ali’s former Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, resigned under popular pressure. Massive sit-ins have become a feature across the nation. Last March, the government, under pressure from Tunisian citizens, announced the suspension of the constitution and elections for a constituent assembly – a parliament – to draft a new constitution for the country.
The elections occurred on October 23 and they were overall “free and transparent” as most national and international observers attest. But a report released by the Carter Center lists a couple of elections infractions which violated international law. The report reads that “[The Independent Commission for the Elections]’s lack of clear procedures and the delayed delivery of the results ... negatively impacted the tabulation process.” The commission also failed to grant all candidates equal rights to appeal following the announcement of the results.
Two months later, people from all across the country still express discontent about the laws passed in the provisional constitution and the work of the constituent assembly as a governing body. Tunisians gathering in local cafés and lounges doubt the state of democracy in their country.While Samir Dilou, the new human rights minister and member of the leading Islamist party Ennahda, defines democracy as "rule of majority with respect to minority," the opposition minority in the constituent assembly is almost voiceless.

bachar al-assad last speech

SYRIA- In a 70-minute, televised speech, President al-Assad acknowledged demands for reform were legitimate, but said "saboteurs" was exploiting the situation.
As the protests and the violence continue in Syria, President Assad called on Syrians to help bring the country back to normality. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has addressed the nation on Monday over the ongoing unrest in the country. The speech in Damascus comes amid continued protests against his 11-year rule, which have now lasted more than three months.
Speaking at Damascus University yesterday to what appeared to be a non-student audience; al-Assad called for a national dialogue with all parties in Syria, and promised electoral reforms which he said the Syrian legislature would consider in August.

He also promised the start of an anti-corruption investigation but did not provide details in what was seen as a rambling monologue   repeating similar promises made twice before since the uprising began in March and which had not been translated into action. He said he expects a package of reforms by September or the end of the year at the latest.
Although he called for "national dialogue", he said, "There is no political solution with those who carry arms and kill." The president announced that a national dialogue would start soon and he was forming a committee to study constitutional amendments, including one that would open the way to forming political parties other than the ruling Baath Party.
President al-Assad Stressed that the country's problems should be solved by its own people, the president offered a national dialogue, to begin soon, and to involve all political denominations.

monitors in syria: mission imposible?

Syrian security forces were said to have killed at least seven more protesters monday as an Arab League advisory body called for the immediate withdrawal of monitors from the country, saying the unit is failing to prevent government troops from murdering civilians.
Four of the new deaths, the first in 2012, came when troops loyal to embattled President Bashar al-Assad killed protesters in the Damascus suburb of Daria. Other civilian casualties were reported in Homs.
Activists say more than 150 people have been killed across the country since the observers began their one-month mission last week.
The Arab Parliament, an 88-member committee of delegates from Arab League states, said the violence is continuing to claim many victims, including children. Speaker Ali al-Salem al-Dekbas said monitors should pull out immediately, given the ongoing violence.
The parliament's recommendations are nonbinding, and it operates separately from the Arab League.
Activists have accused the government of posting snipers on rooftops, an issue that appears to have triggered a dispute among observers on the ground in Syria.
One monitor filmed in Daraa said his group had seen snipers and would ask authorities to remove them immediately or face consequences. But the observer mission's head, Sudanese General Mohammed al-Dabi, later said the monitor seen in the video was making a hypothetical remark and had been misinterpreted.
Dabi, a veteran military intelligence officer, is a controversial figure because he served under Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes allegedly committed in the Darfur region.
The Arab League is scheduled to dispatch additional observers to Syria later this week, and it is not clear what impact the Arab lawmaker's call will have on the planned deployment.
The United Nations estimates that more than 5,000 people have been killed in Syria since March during a crackdown on protests inspired by the Arab Spring democracy movement.  The Assad government claims armed terrorists are driving the revolt.
Syrian authorities, under increasing international pressure, agreed last month to allow Arab League monitors into the country. The deal required the government to give monitors freedom of movement through most of the country except for sensitive military sites.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday that the recent violence has left hundreds of people dead or wounded and many others in military custody.