By John Lee. Zain has confirmed rumours that it is close to sealing a deal with Vodafone that would allow the global telecoms group to expand access to networks across countries including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Bahrain. According to the report from Reuters, Zain has said that it is "at an advanced stage in negotiations […]
By John Lee. Turkish authorities have allowed Iraqi Airlines to operate in the country again following the suspension of the airline due to a lack of punctuality in departures and arrivals. The General Directorate of the Turkish State Airports Authority (Devlet Hava Meydanları İşletmesi, DHMİ) said it would allow Iraqi Airlines to continue operations until […]
By John Lee. Inflation for July was up 7% year-0n-year, according to the Central Statistics Department of the Planning Ministry. Prices of some food and beverages, particularly fruits and vegetables, fell. Houses prices were up by 10% nationwide, with rents up 13%. In a separate report, 'core inflation', which strips out fuel prices, fell to […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Minister for Communications, Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, has resigned, accusing Prime Minister Nouri Maliki of refusing to stop "political interference" in his ministry. Mr Allawi is a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiyya bloc, and a cousin of its leader Ayad Allawi. "I present my resignation because I have become incapable of working […]
By John Lee. Petroceltic International, the independent oil & gas exploration company with interests in Iraqi Kurdistan, has announced its results for the period ended 30 June 2012. Highlights: Proposed Merger of Petroceltic & Melrose Resources plc ('Melrose') announced 17 August. Declaration of Commerciality announced 9 August for the Ain Tsila Field in Algeria. Final […]
By John Lee. AKnews reports that gold imports into Iraqi Kurdistan have hit 34 tons during the first seven months of the year. The increase in imports coincides with a surge in jewel and gold stores in the region’s three main cities. Of the total, 12,376 kilograms were imported through Erbil International Airport, with 22,384 […]
By John Lee. Oil pumping from Iraq to Turkey was suspended temporarily on Monday due to a pipeline fire in Turkey. The fire occurred in Dorkulu village, near the town of Slopi in Turkey's Sirnak province. It is understood that the fire has been extinguished, but the loading of tankers at Ceyhan port has been […]
By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil confirmed in late July that Russia’s Bashneft had accepted the ministry’s maximum acceptable remuneration fee (MARF) for exploration Block 12, which was offered in the fourth bid […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi National Youth Orchestra formed three years ago. Since then, an uncertain security situation has made it difficult for them to perform at home. But now they have found a new audience in England. Al Jazeera's Barnaby Phillips reports: (Source: AlJazeera)
By John Lee. CNN's Jill Dougherty reports on allegations Iraq is helping Iran navigate around the sanctions placed on Tehran: (Source: CNN)
By John Lee. Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for energy affairs, Hussein al-Shahristani (pictured), has reportedly said that Baghdad was considering offering foreign oil firms more lucrative contracts. According to a report from Aswat al-Iraq, he admitted that the recent fourth auction of exploration blocks had not been as successful as officials had hoped. […]
By John Lee. Iraqi forces have closed the Al-Qaim border checkpoint with Syria with a three-metre concrete wall, Xinhua reports. Syrian rebels waged fierce battles with regime troops in the town of Albu Kamal [Al-Bukamal] along the Iraqi border, capturing a string of security posts and the local police headquarters. Taking full control of the […]
