Iraq, deemed economic lung of Iran, targets high fuel oil exports this year via smuggling

Iraq, deemed economic lung of Iran, targets high fuel oil exports this year via smuggling

In January 2023, a few months after Sudani took over, the price was lowered to $100-$150 a ton, far below the market price for exports, estimated at anywhere between $300 and $500. The lower the price of the subsidised fuel, the higher the profit margin when exporting it on the international market.

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Iran and its proxies reel under US sanctions as oil smuggling network rakes in $1 billion

Iran and its proxies reel under US sanctions as oil smuggling network rakes in $1 billion

Iran views its neighbour and ally Iraq as an economic lung and wields considerable military, political and economic influence there through the powerful Shi’ite militias and political parties it backs. It also sources hard currency from Iraq through exports and avoids US sanctions via its banking system, Iraqi and US officials say.

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French government on verge of collapse asr left, far-right no-confidence motions

French government on verge of collapse asr left, far-right no-confidence motions

The parties announced their no-confidence motions after Barnier said earlier on Monday that he would try to ram a social security bill through parliament without a vote as a last-minute concession proved insufficient to win RN’s support for the legislation.

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With command and obey approach to water management, Ugandan president seeks to be the deific centre of life

With command and obey approach to water management, Ugandan president seeks to be the deific centre of life

In any case integrated natural resources management cannot be achieved if there are no professionally produced integrators in charge. Such actors can be produced at our institutions of higher learning if integrating sciences – interdisciplinarity, crossdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and extradisciplinarity – are institutionalised at our university campuses. Only Mbarara University of Science has accommodated interdisciplinary science.

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British R&Bs icon Elton John loses eyesight, struggles to see his new stage musical

British R&Bs icon Elton John loses eyesight, struggles to see his new stage musical

John wrote the score for ‘The Devil Wears Prada,’ a stage musical based on the 2006 movie about a young journalist navigating the glamour and egos of a glossy fashion magazine.

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Trump’s low oil price promise spells a risk and a boon for emerging markets

Trump’s low oil price promise spells a risk and a boon for emerging markets

Following the oil price crashes of recent years, Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf nations, such as the United Arab Emirates, has sought to diversify its economy and nurture local debt markets.

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Two ATMIS troop contributing countries offer to mediate in Ethiopia-Somalia row

Two ATMIS troop contributing countries offer to mediate in Ethiopia-Somalia row

The office of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in a statement that Mohamud had met President William Ruto of Kenya and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda on the sidelines of the summit, but it did not make reference to a potential mediation.

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Yuck to profits: Zimbabwe resorts to maggot farming to survive drought, thrive

Yuck to profits: Zimbabwe resorts to maggot farming to survive drought, thrive

In Uganda, the maggots helped plug a fertiliser crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. In Nigeria and Kenya, they are becoming a commercial success.

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Swiss commodities firm Trafigura goes on trial over alleged bribes paid to secure Angola oil contract

Swiss commodities firm Trafigura goes on trial over alleged bribes paid to secure Angola oil contract

Trafigura said it has invested “significant resources” in strengthening its compliance programme over a number of years. The defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence as the court case plays out in Switzerland.

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Biden heads to Africa to fulfil longstanding promise to tour continent before he leaves office in January

Biden heads to Africa to fulfil longstanding promise to tour continent before he leaves office in January

The US has for years built relations in Africa through trade, security and humanitarian aid. The 800-mile (1,300-kilometer), $2.5 billion railway upgrade is a different move and has shades of China’s Belt and Road foreign infrastructure strategy that has surged ahead.

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