Robert Amsterdam

What exactly is Russia up to in the Arctic? Ukraine is reportedly seeking a role in completing the Arab Gas Pipeline intended for natural gas deliveries from Egypt to Europe. Russia’s oil industry may struggle to develop its offshore hydrocarbon resources until it can invest in equipment manufacturing and infrastructure. Read a progress report on TNK-BP’s completion of the East Siberia Pacific Ocean pipeline. On the effects speculators have on the volatility of the oil price. Read The Economist on US solar power company Solyndra. It is thought that Gazprom’s new agreement with Kyrgyzstan will help it buy a stake in state-owned gas company Kyrgyzga. North Korea says it is close to relaunching its nuclear arms program, and that it wants to reactivate its atomic bomb facility.