Archive | 2016

Currency Auction Results, 31st Mar

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reported that 29 banks and 18 remittance companies took part in its currency auction on Thursday. A total of $79,005,544 sold at a price of 1182 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) per dollar. (Source: Central Bank of Iraq)

New Allegations of Massive Corruption in Iraq Oil Industy

By John Lee. An investigation by Fairfax Media -- publisher of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers -- and The Huffington Post, claims that Monaco-based Unaoil has been involved in widespread bribery and corruption in the oil industry, including in Iraq, Iran and Libya. Following examination of tens of thousands of emails, the report says that Unaoil […]

Oil Ministry Clarifies Gas Export Policy

The Ministry of Oil has confirmed that the gas recently exported from Iraq was what it described as "condensed liquids (C5) or 'natural gasoline,'" a by-product from the associated gas investment extracts used for the industrial purposes, and “not the dry gas which is used for the power generation”. Hamid Y. Salih, the deputy minister […]

Kurdish Yazidi Activist Wins "Int'l Women of Courage Award"

By John Lee. US Secretary of State John Kerry has awarded an ‘International Women of Courage Award’ to a Kurdish Yazidi activist. At a ceremony on Tuesday, Nagham Nawzat Hasan was one of 14 women from fourteen different countries who were honoured for their outstanding roles in their communities as activists, humanitarians and reformers. Yezidi […]

Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Iraq, Syria

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported on Wednesday. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack, fighter and […]

Currency Auction Results, 30th Mar

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reported that 26 banks and 16 remittance companies took part in its currency auction on Wednesday. A total of $81,956,644 sold at a price of 1182 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) per dollar. (Source: Central Bank of Iraq)

Abadi Rejects Deadline for New Cabinet

By John Lee. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has called for parliament to either support or reject his calls for a technocratic government, pushing back against a looming deadline for a new cabinet, according to a report from AFP. He said Parliament must decide if it wants him "to present ministers from the political blocs or […]

IMF could Secure 3-yr Standby Deal for Iraq

By John Lee. Reuters reports that the International Monetary Fund could approve a standby arrangement (SBA) with Iraq as early as June, unlocking $15 billion in international assistance over the next three years. The head of the IMF’s mission in Iraq, Christian Josz, said on Tuesday that the package of assistance, nearly one third of it […]

UNDP and Japan partner to Support Iraq

UNDP and Japan partner to support stabilization and resilience in Iraq The Government of Japan is providing US$23.5 million to support the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its work to help stabilize and build resilience in Iraq. Japan’s contribution will be channeled through UNDP’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilization (FFIS) and through UNDP’s Iraq […]

Coalition Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Iraq

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported on Tuesday. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Iraq Attack aircraft conducted four strikes […]