In Petroleo Veritas

Turkey is now doing business with the Iraqi Kurds of all people, to the annoyance of Baghdad:

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz says that crude oil from Iraqi Kurdistan has started flowing through a new pipeline that leads to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.

Yildiz told reporters on January 2 that the oil would be put in storage facilities until the Iraqi central government gives consent for exports to world markets to start.

Turkey and authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan reached the oil export agreement without the participation of the government in Baghdad.

This isn't precisely news, as it has been brewing for ages and the agreement was reached last year, but it is still worth pausing to contemplate in historic perspective.