Maduro also cited the continued support of China and especially Russia, which has been a major supplier of loans, weapons and oil investment over the years. He said that the antagonistic views taken by Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin runs the risk of converting the current crisis into a high-risk geopolitical fight between the U.S. and Russia that recalls some of the most-dangerous brinkmanship of the Cold War. … [Read more...] about Venezuela’s Maduro Reveals Secret Meetings With US Envoy
Special envoys on investment
U.S. Envoy David Friedman: Trump Peace Plan ‘Out of the Box’
“The Golan decision was based upon the reality that Israel has governed the Golan for 52 years and there exists no scenario whereby Israel could have a safe and secure border with Syria — a dangerous and despotic regime — except by retaining full sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” Friedman told the Post. … [Read more...] about U.S. Envoy David Friedman: Trump Peace Plan ‘Out of the Box’
Trump’s Mideast envoy leaving before peace plan is released
His departure, confirmed by the president on Twitter, is the latest sign that optimism within the Trump administration for the long-awaited plan’s prospects may be fading. Release of the plan, under development since the start of administration, has already been delayed several times, most recently until sometime after the Israeli elections on Sept. 17. … [Read more...] about Trump’s Mideast envoy leaving before peace plan is released
Energy & Environment Law Update – April 22, 2014
Methane White Papers ReleasedThe Environmental Protection Agency released for peer review April 15 five white papers that examine methane emissions from compressors, fracked wells, leaks, liquids unloading, and pneumatic devices, and strategies to reduce emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds from those categories within the oil and natural gas industry. The agency will rely on information from the white papers and from the review process as it considers how best to reduce methane and volatile organic emissions from the industry. If the agency pursues new regulations, it will complete them by the end of 2016. Comments are due June 16. … [Read more...] about Energy & Environment Law Update – April 22, 2014
Energy & Environmental Law Update – July 28, 2014
Italy to Push for Changes to EU Emissions Trading SystemDuring its six-month presidency of the European Union Council, which started this month and runs through December, Italy intends to urge that the proposed EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) be working by 2017, as opposed to 2021 as previously discussed. The ETS was proposed earlier this year as a market stability reserve for carbon emissions allowances which would allow surplus carbon permits to be removed from the market and then reintroduced at a later date when the surplus falls to a certain level. … [Read more...] about Energy & Environmental Law Update – July 28, 2014