Middle East

India turning to the Americas for oil, aiming to cut reliance on Middle East

by
Share this
Share

The world’s third-largest oil importer is diversifying oil imports away from the Middle East and is buying crude from North and South America, according to various reports. A first cargo of Brazil’s grade Tupi was booked by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd., reported Bloomberg.

State-run Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd, have also placed a recent order from Guyana, reported Reuters noting that in February the United States became India’s second-largest crude supplier, bumping Saudi Arabia, and just behind Iraq.

By Milan Sime Martinic

The Pay TV Market in North Africa and the Middle East

by
Share this
Share

17% revenue growth is expected between now and 2022, according to a recent report by Research and Markets.

Currently, revenues for these 20 countries is $3.5b. The 2022 number will be $4.1, and of the 20 countries, 5 countries will make up 75% of that revenue.

The 17% gain in revenue will be from 5m new pay TV homes, bringing the number of pay TV homes to almost 20m by 2022, a 4% change from 2016.

The region is mostly serviced by TV operator Digiturk. They have a large margin over second-place beIN, and this is expected to continue.

Qatar Cut Off by Neighbors

by
Share this
Share

Saudi Arabia and other neighbors of Qatar have accused Qatar of supporting terrorism and embracing Iran, and have cut it off.

Diplomatic communications and air transport was halted. Embassies, borders, air space, and maritime access (40% of Qatar’s food supplies come from Saudi Arabia by boat) were shut off.

It is considered a dramatic escalation to a longer-term issue in the region.

Qatar says they are not sponsoring terrorism, but the nation does regularly (and currently) host prominent extremists.

Analysts have called it “almost an Arab region Cold War.’

Kuwait is seen as trying to mediate a solution to the crisis, and if they do, citizens of Qatar might not be expelled from their neighboring countries.

Dalai Lama: “Now Too Many Refugees in Europe”

by
Share this
Share

The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, spoke to German press this week about his current situation, also commenting on the current refugee crisis in Europe.

The Dalai Lama has previously spoken in favor of sheltering all refugees in need, but in his interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine he also said that the numbers had become too great for the good of European countries:

“If we look into the face of each individual refugee, especially the children and women, we feel their suffering,” said the Dalai Lama. “A person that is doing a little better has a responsibility to help them. On the other hand, there are now too many.

“Europe — for example, Germany — cannot become an Arab country. Germany is Germany. [Laugh.] There are so many that it is difficult in practice.

“Also, viewed morally, I find that these refugees should be only kept on a temporary basis. The goal should be to return and help rebuild their own countries.”