Iraq Isis Crisis: Sunni Islamists Claim Control of Baiji Oil Refinery Again


Iraq crisis and Baiji oil refinery

Shiite volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants from the radical Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), participate in military-style training in NajafReuters



The Sunni Islamist rebels fighting against the Shiite Iraqi administration has yet again claimed complete control of the key oil refinery in Baiji in the northern province of Salahuddin.


Iraqi security forces have been battling the rebels who had seized the oil facility earlier.


The Baiji plant supplies nearly a third of Iraq's fuel output and almost all of its production is directed towards domestic consumption.


Taking control of the facility would be vital for the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) who need energy resources to fuel their fighting.


The refinery is set to be controlled by locals rather than the Baghdad administration as the rebels have handed over the running of the facility to the tribesmen.


Having seized control of frontier crossings with Syria and Jordan, the rebels have vowed to march towards the capital Baghdad.


Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry has promised "intense and sustained" support to the Iraqi administration.


Speaking at the US embassy in Baghdad, he said: "The support will be intense, sustained, and if Iraq's leaders take the steps needed to bring the country together it will be effective."


"Iraq faces an existential threat and Iraq's leaders have to beat that threat with the incredible urgency that it demands. The very future of Iraq depends on choices that will be made in the next days and weeks."


"It is essential that Iraq's leaders form a genuinely inclusive government as rapidly as possible."


Kerry also held talks with several key Shiite and Sunni figures.


Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki acknowledged, after talks with Kerry, that the ongoing crisis poses a serious threat to the entire region as well as to global peace.



American Woman Gang-Raped by Locals in Hotel Room in Thamel, Nepal


Tamel is a tourist destination in Kathmandu

Thamel is a tourist destination in Kathmandu, NepalGetty/ Prakash Mathema



An American woman working in Nepal was gang-raped by four local men in a hotel in Kathmandu, police have said.


The rape allegedly took place at the Global Hotel in Thamel, a touristic district of the Nepalese capital, on 14 June after a night out drinking with the men.


It was only when she woke up she "realised she had been raped", according to Agency France-Presse.


Two suspects have reportedly been arrested but have denied raping the woman.


Police believe one of the gang members, a Nepali, was in a relationship with the 40-year-old alleged victim.


"The couple booked a room in Thamel and had a couple of drinks. According to the victim's statement, she was left alone in her room unconscious and was raped during the night," senior superintendent Hemant Bahadur Pal, a spokesperson at the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Office, reportedly told Chinese state news agency Xinhua.


The woman had spent the evening with the men "and they had been drinking", Pal continued.


"They later went to a hotel where she passed out. When she woke up she realised that she had been raped."


Inspector Chhiring Kippa Lama, chief of Tourist Police Unit, added: "It is very rare in Nepal to have cases of single or gang rapes where foreign victims are involved. We decided to keep the accident silent because of the gravity of the circumstances."



Fifa World Cup 2014: Best Goal Celebrations


Colombia's James Rodriguez celebrates by dancing with his team-mates after scoring against Ivory Coast during their 2014 World Cup Group C match in Brasilia on June 19, 2014

Colombia's James Rodriguez celebrates by dancing with his team-mates after scoring against Ivory Coast during their 2014 World Cup Group C match in Brasilia on June 19, 2014Reuters



Germany's Miroslav Klose celebrates after scoring against Ghana during their 2014 World Cup Group G match in Fortaleza on June 21, 2014

Germany's Miroslav Klose celebrates after scoring against Ghana during their 2014 World Cup Group G match in Fortaleza on June 21, 2014Reuters



Costa Rica's Joel Campbell celebrates with the match ball after scoring against Uruguay during their 2014 World Cup Group D match in Fortaleza on June 14, 2014

Costa Rica's Joel Campbell celebrates with the match ball after scoring against Uruguay during their 2014 World Cup Group D match in Fortaleza on June 14, 2014Reuters



Switzerland's Haris Seferovic celebrates after scoring a goal to defeat Ecuador in their 2014 World Cup Group E match in Brasilia on June 15, 2014

Switzerland's Haris Seferovic celebrates after scoring a goal to defeat Ecuador in their 2014 World Cup Group E match in Brasilia on June 15, 2014Reuters



England's Daniel Sturridge celebrates his goal against Italy during their 2014 World Cup Group D match in Manaus on June 14, 2014

England's Daniel Sturridge celebrates his goal against Italy during their 2014 World Cup Group D match in Manaus on June 14, 2014Reuters



Uruguay's Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring his second goal against England during their 2014 World Cup Group D match in Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014

Uruguay's Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring his second goal against England during their 2014 World Cup Group D match in Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014Reuters



Robin van Persie of the Netherlands celebrates his goal against Spain with coach Louis van Gaal during their 2014 World Cup Group B match in Salvador on June 13, 2014

Robin van Persie of the Netherlands celebrates his goal against Spain with coach Louis van Gaal during their 2014 World Cup Group B match in Salvador on June 13, 2014Reuters



South's Korea players pile on top of team-mate Lee Keun-ho as they celebrate his goal against Russia during their 2014 World Cup Group H match in Cuiaba on June 17, 2014

South's Korea players pile on top of team-mate Lee Keun-ho as they celebrate his goal against Russia during their 2014 World Cup Group H match in Cuiaba on June 17, 2014Reuters



Ivory Coast's Gervinho (L) and Didier Drogba celebrate a goal against Japan during their 2014 World Cup Group C match in Recife on June 14, 2014

Ivory Coast's Gervinho (L) and Didier Drogba celebrate a goal against Japan during their 2014 World Cup Group C match in Recife on June 14, 2014Reuters



Brazil's Oscar celebrates his goal during the 2014 World Cup opening match against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014

Brazil's Oscar celebrates his goal during the 2014 World Cup opening match against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014Reuters



Algeria's Yacine Brahimi celebrates with Madjid Bougherra, Nabil Bentaleb and Rafik Halliche after scoring a goal during the 2014 World Cup Group H match against South Korea in Porto Alegre on June 22, 2014

Algeria's Yacine Brahimi celebrates with Madjid Bougherra, Nabil Bentaleb and Rafik Halliche after scoring a goal during the 2014 World Cup Group H match against South Korea in Porto Alegre on June 22, 2014Reuters



Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli celebrates with team-mates after scoring a goal during their 2014 World Cup Group H match against Belgium in Belo Horizonte on June 17, 2014

Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli celebrates with team-mates after scoring a goal during their 2014 World Cup Group H match against Belgium in Belo Horizonte on June 17, 2014Reuters



Colombia's Pablo Armero (no 7) celebrates with team-mates after scoring a goal during their 2014 World Cup Group C match against Greece in Belo Horizonte on June 14, 2014

Colombia's Pablo Armero (no 7) celebrates with team-mates after scoring a goal during their 2014 World Cup Group C match against Greece in Belo Horizonte on June 14, 2014Reuters



Costa Rica's players celebrate after their team-mate Bryan Ruiz (on the ground) scored the winner against Italy during their 2014 World Cup Group D match in Recife on June 20, 2014

Costa Rica's players celebrate after their team-mate Bryan Ruiz (on the ground) scored the winner against Italy during their 2014 World Cup Group D match in Recife on June 20, 2014Reuters




Nigeria Boko Haram Insurgency: Explosion Shatters College in Kano


Kano Blast Nigeria

The Kano School of Health Technology was hit by the blast while school was in session.Twitter / @olawuyiolawale



An explosion has rocked a college in the northern Nigerian city of Kano killing at least seven people, according to local reports.


The attack occurred at the Kano School of Health Technology at approximately 1400 local time while school was in session.


A teacher from the college told AFP that the explosion came from a car park next to the school.


Local media reports suggested that scores of students are feared dead but there is currently no confirmation on the number of casualties caused by the blast.


No group has yet claimed responsibility but the city is a regular target for the Islamic militant group Boko Haram.


Kano Nigeria Boko Haram

Another picture from the scene of the attack. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident but Boko Haram has regularly struck the northern city.Twitter / @orlahwale



Last month, a suicide car bomb killed five people in Kano's "foreign quarter" - which serves as a mainly Christian district.


The group, who wish to create an Islamic caliphate within Nigeria, last month kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in the village of Chibok, bringing global attention to the west African nation's fight against terrorism.


While Boko Haram's insurgency has been focused on the country's north, two bombs struck the central Nigerian capital of Abuja in April, killing 105 people and indicating that the group's deadly influence is spreading further south into the heart of Africa's largest economy.


Three northern states - Borno, Yobe and Adamawa - have been placed under a state of emergency since May last year.


Kano Nigeria

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Meriam Ibrahim: Sudan Court Orders Release of Christian Woman Sentenced to Death for Apostasy


Meriam Yehya Ibrahim apostasy sharia law Sudan

Daniel Wani with his wife Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, who was sentenced to death for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.Gabriel Wani/Facebook



A Sudanese court has ordered the release of a Christian woman sentenced to death for abandoning Islam, according to local media.


Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, 27, had her conviction for apostasy and adultery reversed by an appellate court, Sudan's SUNA news agency reports.


"The appeal court ordered the release of Meriam Yahia and the cancellation of the [previous] court ruling," the report said.


Born to a Christian mother and a Muslim father, Ibrahim was sentenced by a Khartoum court to death by hanging under the country's strict Sharia law after she married a Christian, Daniel Wani, in 2011.


In Sudan interfaith marriage is forbidden and, according to Islamic law, children inherit the father's religion while the mother's line is considered irrelevant.


Ibrahim claimed she was raised as a Christian and refused to renounce her faith. She was thus accused of renouncing Islam through her marriage and sentenced to death.


She was also sentenced to 100 lashes after being convicted of adultery, as her marriage was deemed invalid.


Ibrahim was thrown in jail with her 20-month-old son, and gave birth to a baby girl while in chains.


Her case had sparked global outrage. Earlier this month the British government called on Sudan to release her.




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Iraq Isis Crisis: Brent Hovers Near Nine-and-Half Month High on Supply Worries


Brent Hovers Near Nine-And-A-Half Month High on Iraq

A member from the oil police force stands guard at Zubair oilfield in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, on 18 June, 2014.Reuters



Brent was hovering at near nine-and-a-half-month high as crude oil futures rose in direct response to advances made by Isis fighters in Iraq, which is Opec's second-largest crude producer.


Brent August contract was trading at $114.88 a barrel at 11:30 BST, after rising 85 cents to $115.66 a barrel earlier in the day.


The European benchmark was at a premium of $7.83 to WTI crude. Prices have risen 3.7% in 2014.


WTI August contract was trading 62 cents higher to $107.45 a barrel.


Commerzbank Corporates & Markets said in a note to clients: "Brent is trading close to the 9½-month high of just below $116 per barrel it achieved on [19 June]. Its current price increase is very much reminiscent of its surge in the late summer of 2013, when it was the threat of a military strike against Syria that gave rise to fears of the crisis escalating and of supply outages.


"Today it is the advance of Sunni [Isis] extremists in Iraq that is likewise resulting in fears that the oil supply could be disrupted. That said, fighting in Iraq has so far taken place only in areas of little or no significance to oil production and oil shipments."


"It is still the case that any actual interruption to the supply of oil from Iraq is very unlikely, for 90% of Iraq's oil is shipped from export terminals in the south of the country that are far away from the Isis extremists and are also unlikely to be reached by them. Kurds have control of the key Kirkuk oilfield in the north of Iraq. Oil could soon even be shipped from there to the Turkish Mediterranean coast now that a pipeline link to an existing pipeline has been completed.


"In other words, it is first and foremost the fear of disrupted supply in Iraq that is causing the risk premium on the oil price to rise. For as long as this fear retains the upper hand, the oil price can be expected to continue its climb. Its next target is the high of $117.34 per barrel it achieved in late August 2013. Assuming - as we expect - that these interruptions fail to materialize, the oil price is likely to shed its fear-driven gains again, just like it did in the late summer of 2013, and to fall back to below the $110 per barrel level," Commerzbank added.


US President Barack Obama warned the crisis could destabilise the entire region.


"We're going to have to be vigilant generally," Obama said.


"Right now the problem with Isis is the fact that they're destabilising the country. That could spill over into some of our allies like Jordan," Obama told CBS in an interview aired on 22 June.


The Isis fighters, who launched their campaign earlier in the month with the capture of Mosul in northern Iraq, made further advances over the weekend, taking control of two key border posts and other towns near Syria.


The capture of the al-Qaim and al-Waleed border posts and three towns in Anbar province has helped them secure supply lines to Syria and consolidate their grip on the area straddling the two countries where they aim to establish a Sunni Islamic caliphate.


Crude oil prices logged gains during the week ended 21 June, amid fears about potential supply disruptions in Iraq.


Brent gained 2.1% for the week ended 21 June while the WTI inched up 0.33% for the week.