Disputes between Iraq’s national government and Kurdish region keep taking their toll…

The national Oil Ministry intends to move forward on developing the oil and gas sector, while it cuts out companies who have signed with the Kurdistan Regional Government, deals Baghdad calls illegal. Meanwhile there's no sign of any breakthrough on the oil law.

Iraq's Oil Ministry has reportedly cut current and will block future deals as part of a blacklist of firms that have signed oil contracts with the Kurd region, United Press International reports.