With the historic Arab League conference in Baghdad postponed for a second time, one might be forgiven for thinking that things were looking rather gloomy in Iraq. But the delays have more to do with turmoil outside Iraq, and while there are major challenges within the country, the recent news of oil finds and increased […]
Overview Levels of violence rose in Iraq last week, with a particular increase in the number of attacks targeting civic employees in Baghdad. There were also clusters of violence in the cities of Fallujah, Ramadi, Mosuk and Kirkuk, as well as in the north of Babil province. The south was relatively quiet, as was most […]
The Arab League announced on Wednesday that its members have agreed to postpone its summit, scheduled for May 11 in Baghdad, amid disputes over the venue and popular unrest rocking the region. Arab foreign ministers will meet on May 15 to set a new date, Egypt's state news agency MENA quoted the deputy secretary-general of […]
AFP reports that Iraq's southern province of Basra chose a new governor on Tuesday, replacing a predecessor who quit in February amid protests against official incompetence. Khalaf Abdel Samad, with 19 votes from provincial councillors, was elected governor, and Jabar Jabar Amin, who won 14, was reappointed chairman of the provincial council. Both belong to […]
Renault GCC has announced that United Trading Automobile Company (UTAC), a new joint venture company formed by Mr. Khalil Abdel-Wahab Al Bunnia and partners has been appointed as the official distributor of Renault passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Iraq. The joint venture partnership is formed from a tight triangular partnership between Al Bunnia […]
The director general of the Bashmakh border crossing in Kurdistan said the crossing will be closed down until Friday following a request by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Some Kurdish news websites reported that the border between Kurdistan and Iran will be closed due to a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Kurdistan. Mohammed […]
Fans of the “rockumentary” This is Spinal Tap will recall the scene where the band’s guitarist explains that his amplifiers are louder because their volume knobs “go to eleven.” When asked why this is different from having ten as the highest setting, he simply repeats “these go to eleven.” Most of us have no trouble […]
The Iraqi Transport Ministry announced on Tuesday that it has reached agreement with Turkey to import modern train carriages costing about $9 million [11 billion Iraqi dinars]. The carriages currently used by Iraqi Railways to transport goods and passengers are old and unable to meet the requirements of commercial transport with the regional countries, according […]
Al-Anbar received 150 billion Iraqi Dinars [$125 million] in revenues from its border crossings in the year 2010, according to the chairman of provincial council’s investment commission. “The sum of 150 billion dinars was received in returns from the three border outlets of Turaybeel [Tirbil, Tarbiel] (pictured), al-Tanaf and Arrar for 2010 and was transferred […]
The Iraqi Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee has met with the Japanese Charge d’affaires in Baghdad on Monday, to discuss developing bilateral relations between the two countries. “The Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee received the Japanese Charge d’affaires, Katsuhiko Takahashi, with whom it discussed the bilateral relations between both countries and means to develop them and to […]
The Chairman of the Committee for future projects in the governorate of Karbala, Hani Abboud, said in a statement to the press section of the National Media Center that the project to build an oil storage facility in Karbala [Kerbala] will be completed by March 2012. He said the project is being built on a […]
The Armenian ambassador, Murad Muradian, visited the Basra Investment Commission (BIC) and discussed investment in Basra. He said that," we are willing to invest in Basra for it represents Iraq's most important city and its only port as well as its stable security and economical situation". He also revealed a plan to provide Iraq with […]
