Turkey saw a massive increase of 142 percent in its crude oil imports from Iran in the first seven months of 2017, compared to the same period last year, according to data gathered from the Turkish energy watchdog’s monthly report published in late September. Source: Daily News
Russian oil and gas giant Rosneft on Wednesday announced they had signed a deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to develop five oil blocks despite escalating tensions in the region. In an official statement, the Russian crude producer said it had signed “documents required to put in force” production sharing agreements with the KRG which would allocate 80 percent of the projects to Rosneft. Source Kurdistan24
Italian auction house Sant’Agostino said on Wednesday that bidders at its next sale will be able to settle up in Bitcoin, a world first according to the auctioneers. Early next week, around 600 Italian and foreign design objects, mostly pieces of furniture, will go under the hammer at Sant’Agostino and “Bitcoins will be accepted as payment”, the Turin auction house said in a statement. Source TheLocal
Pyongyang could stage an unprecedented strike on the US at an unexpected time, the North Korean state run news agency KCNA warned on Thursday. The threat came as the South Korean and US navies conduct massive joint drills amid increasing tensions over the north’s nuclear and missile ambitions. Source: Sputnik
