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An armored personnel carrier used in the Iraq War in 2003 is the first artifact to be installed at the National Museum of the United States Army. (Published Monday, July 31, 2017)

An armored personnel carrier used in the Iraq War in 2003 is the first artifact to be installed at the National Museum of the United States Army.

Its so big and so heavy, crews needed to place it in its permanent display location before building the museum's walls around it.

The Army is the only military service without a national museum.

"This museum will give the American people a look at their history through the eyes of the men and women who have served this country selflessly since the 1600s," Chairman of the Board of the Army Historical Foundation Gen. Gordon Sullivan said.

The museum is scheduled to open to the public in late 2019 in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

It will include never-before-seen artifacts, a Memorial Garden, an amphitheater and an Army trail.

Published at 8:21 PM EDT on Jul 31, 2017 | Updated at 9:46 PM EDT on Jul 31, 2017

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US Army Museum to Be Built Around Huge Armored Vehicle From ... - NBC4 Washington

LONDON (Reuters) - OPEC oil output has risen this month by 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) to a 2017 high, a Reuters survey found, led by a further recovery in supply from Libya, one of the countries exempt from a production-cutting deal.

A dip in supply from Saudi Arabia and lower Angolan exports helped to boost OPEC's adherence to its supply curbs to 84 percent. While this is up from a revised 77 percent in June, compliance in both months has fallen from levels above 90 percent earlier in the year.

The extra oil from Libya means supply by the 13 OPEC members originally part of the deal has risen far above their implied production target. Libya and Nigeria were exempt from the cuts because conflict had curbed their production.

A gain in Libyan and Nigerian output has added to the challenge the OPEC-led effort is facing to get rid of excess supply on world markets. To address this, ministers at a July 24 meeting moved to cap Nigerian output and officials are holding talks next week on improving compliance.

"There is a need to align all countries to achieve full compliance," a source close to OPEC said of the compliance talks, which will be held on Aug. 7-8 in Abu Dhabi.

As part of a deal with Russia and other non-members, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is reducing output by about 1.2 million bpd from Jan. 1, 2017 until March next year.

High compliance with the deal, and much-reduced output in the exempt countries, pushed supply lower earlier in the year. But extra Libya and Nigerian production has prompted output to rise since May, and adherence has slipped in some other countries.

July's biggest rise came from Libya, where output, curbed by years of conflict and unrest, rose to an average of more than 1 million bpd. Production remains short of the 1.6 million bpd Libya pumped before its 2011 civil war.

Iraqi supply was revised up for June and in July output has edged higher, the survey found. Supply also increased slightly in the United Arab Emirates, Gabon and Ecuador - which said it planned to pump more, citing its lack of funds.

Among countries with lower output, the biggest decline was in Angola, which exported 50 cargoes, two less than in June. August volumes are expected to increase.

Nigeria pumped slightly less in July after an increase in June, partly due to a force majeure on Bonny crude exports. Growth could resume next month if exports reach the planned rate of at least 2 million bpd.

Top exporter Saudi Arabia pumped 50,000 bpd less, the survey found, although output in June was revised higher to just above its OPEC target. The reduction achieved by OPEC's biggest producer in July is back above the target cut of 486,000 bpd.

OPEC announced a production target of 32.50 million bpd last year, which was based on low figures for Libya and Nigeria. The target includes Indonesia, which has since left OPEC, and does not include Equatorial Guinea, the latest country to join OPEC.

The Libyan and Nigerian increases mean OPEC output in July averaged 32.85 million bpd, about 1.1 million bpd above its supply target, adjusted to remove Indonesia and not including Equatorial Guinea.

With Equatorial Guinea added, total OPEC production in July has reached 33.0 million bpd.

The Reuters survey is based on shipping data provided by external sources, Thomson Reuters flows data, and information provided by sources at oil companies, OPEC and consulting firms.

Reporting by Alex Lawler, with additional reporting by Rania El Gamal; Editing by Jane Merriman

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OPEC oil output jumps to 2017 high on further Libya recovery - Reuters

The Italian government recently authorized a navy patrol boat to begin reconnaissance in response to a Libyan request for help in dealing with its persistent migrant smuggling issue. While Italy is undoubtedly enthusiastic to help curb migrants arriving on Italian shores, the circumstances surrounding Libya's request may indicate deeper domestic sovereignty issues as the country deals with immigrant smuggling by sea.

The Italian government will present to its parliamentary Commission on Foreign and Defense Policy a plan on Aug. 1 to send Italian navy ships to Libya, in cooperation with local forces there to protect against migrant smuggling. The Italian government approved the plan during a July 28 meeting, with plans for the mission to start within a week. Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said the plan was based on a July 23 request by letter from U.N.-recognized Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj asking for technical support from Italy by sending ships into Libyan territorial waters.

Only days later, on July 28, al-Sarraj denied that he had requested Italian ships enter Libyan waters, saying that Libyan sovereignty was a red line that could not be crossed. But later that same day, al-Sarraj and the Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti discussed possible Italian assistance and managed to overcome domestic resistance in Libya.

Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala confirmed that al-Sarraj did invite Italy to send warships into Libyan waters with the permission of the Presidency Council (PC), a group of nine people that represent the U.N.-recognized government's executive branch. Siala said in an official statement that Libya asked for "logistical, technical and operational support to the Libyan coast guard," which will require "the presence of some elements of the Italian Navy at the port of Tripoli, but only for this purpose and only if necessary." The discrepancy in accounts of what request was actually made may indicate a deeper issue for al-Sarraj: Libyan sovereignty remains a central issue and is likely to bring further controversy and complications as he negotiates with other rival Libyan figures.

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Italy: Answering a Libyan Call for Help - STRATFOR

Benghazi - A committee tasked with writing a constitution for Libya voted in favour of a draft, paving the way for parliament to approve a referendum and causing uproar among opponents.

Critics, including secessionists and people in favour of the country's 1951 constitution, called for a redo of Saturday's vote.

Protesters broke into the committee's building in the eastern town of Bayda, according to two committee members, who said they called on the committee to reconvene Sunday. It was not immediately clear whether the committee met again.

Committee members opposing the decision issued a signed statement saying that voters failed to consider amendments proposed by opponents to articles in the draft.

Amraja Noah, a committee member from the eastern city of Tobruk, said protesters stormed the building to stop the session, forcing the members to rush the vote.

Chaos

He said 44 members attended the session and 42 voted in favor of passing the draft.

An opponent of the decision, Abdelkader Kadura, a committee member from Benghazi, expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of the voting.

"This serves a small minority and a certain geographical area," he said, referring to members who voted in favour.

The 60-member committee has been assigned to work on a draft constitution since 2014.

Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 civil war that toppled and killed dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The oil-rich nation is now split between rival governments and militias.

Libya's internationally-recognised parliament is based in the east and allied with the powerful military commander Khalifa Hifter.

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Libya committee votes in favour of constitutional draft | News24 - News24

31 July 2017, 07:42

Ian Collins' Epic Take Down Of Black Lives Matter

00:01:48

Ian Collins labelled Black Lives Matter a "tin foil-hat organisation with a good name".

Protesters for Black Lives Matter demonstrated in east London on Saturday over the death of Rashan Charles last week.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott joined more than 100 people gathered outside Stoke Newington police station for the protest.

But speaking on his LBC show, Ian Collins said of the organisation: "It just sort of pitched up, gave itself this name - Black Lives Matter - well, what kind of politician is going to say 'I don't think black lives matter'. I don't agree with the organisation.

"The organisation is just tin foil-hat territory meets everyday angst, annoyance and politicised race wars.

"That's all it is. But give it a nice impressive name....

"It's like some of those terrorist organisations who were invited around the cabinet table. Somebody thought 'Oh, they are called the Brothers Of Peace, we must get them round'. No, no, the Brothers Of Peace are suicide bombers. Which bit do you not realise?"

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Ian Collins' Epic Takedown Of Black Lives Matter - LBC