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Mladenov and Sistani Call for Shared Vision

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, today met for more than two hours the Supreme Religious Authority in Najaf, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani (pictured). “I have delivered to His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani a letter from the United Nations Secretary-General welcoming his support for the protection […]

Mosul set to become Caliphate’s Capital

After the reclusive leader of the Sunni Muslim extremist group that took over Mosul made an appearance at the city’s famous mosque, many of the extremists are boasting that Mosul is to be the capital of their new Islamic state. Evidence that they’re right comes in the form of “Islamic police” patrol cars taking locals […]

Gerstenlauer Takes Helm at GKP

Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has announced that Todd Kozel has decided to stand down from the Board of Directors of the Company and not to accept the previously announced role of Executive Director upon retiring as Chief Executive Officer. As such, Mr Kozel declined to seek re-election to the Board at the company's Annual General […]

President Talabani Returns

By John Lee. President Jalal Talabani returned to Iraq today for the first time since he suffered a stroke a year and a half ago. In the meantime he was receiving medical treatment in Germany. Although he is unlikely to take an active role in politics, Reuters reports that Talabani's return will help rally support […]

Video: Shia Opposition Criticise Maliki

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Deep divisions are hampering efforts to pick a new president, prime minister and speaker of the house, and the UN has warned of chaos if the political impasse continues. Prime Minister Nouri Al […]

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Iraq, the Full Picture

Despite the often grim news coming from Iraq in recent weeks, many businesses are seizing the opportunity to go where others won't. In this week's newsletter, for example, we report on a new truck distribution deal in Iraqi Kurdistan, a Turkish company completing a storage tank project, and a Malaysian firm planning to break into […]

Zain Iraq Revenues Unfrozen

By John Lee. Kuwait's Zain Group has announced that an Iraqi court has lifted a freeze on future revenue of Zain Iraq. But the company added that previously frozen revenues remain blocked, after a $4.5 billion lawsuit against the Iraqi firm was dismissed this month. In April, we reported that Zain was being sued for […]

July Oil Exports to hit 2.6m bpd

By John Lee. Oil Minister Abdul Kareem al-Luaibi [Elaibi] (pictured) said on Wednesday that Iraq is currently producing oil at a rate of 3.15 million bpd, and expects exports this month to average 2.6 million bpd. Reuters quotes Luaibi as saying that the recent fighting in the north and west of the country had not […]

UK Academic Sets a new First in Iraq

An academic from the University of Leicester has been named as the first international examiner for postgraduates in Iraq by the Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Kufa, Iraq. Professor David Lambert of the University's Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Director of Post-Graduate Research for the College of Medicine, Biological Sciences […]

KRG Delegation visits Ankara

Kurdistan Regional Government Spokesperson Safeen Dizayee (pictured) said that yesterday a KRG delegation, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and including Minister of Natural Resources Dr. Ashti Hawrami, Minister of Finance and Economy Rebaz Muhammad, and Spokesperson Safeen Dizayee, travelled to Ankara. The delegation held meetings with senior Turkish officials, discussing the cooperation agreement […]