oil and gas

The British government must decide whether to break its manifesto promise and approve new oil and gas drilling licences or stick to its decarbonising pledge. It may need to fudge it.

Pipelines have a chequered history in the Middle East, but the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has led US Tom Barrack to conclude that a new route through Syria could solve some problems.

To the east of Riyadh, on a giant campus employing advanced simulators, young Saudis are learning the mechanics of the wells and rigs of the oil and gas industry.

From Mesopotamia, credited with inventing cuneiform writing and having a thriving economy, to today's burdened Iraq, there is still an opportunity for economic reform and societal development.