Author Archive | Editor

No Improvement on Press Freedom in Iraq

By John Lee. Iraq has failed to improve its rating in the World Press Freedom Index for 2017, again ranking 158th out of 180 countries. The result puts Iraq behind countries such as Turkey and Kazakhstan, but ahead of Iran and Libya. First place went to Norway, with North Korea coming last. Reporters Without Borders […]

More than 300 Iraqi Civilians Killled in April

A total of 317 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 403 injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in April 2017*, according to casualty figures recorded by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). The number of civilians killed in April (not including police) was 309, while the number of […]

Currency Auction Results, 3rd May

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reported that 38 banks and 11 remittance companies took part in its currency auction on Wednesday. A total of $159,531,681 sold at a price of 1184 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) per dollar. (Source: Central Bank of Iraq)

SOMO, Litasco to Trade Oil from Dubai

By John Lee. Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) and Russia's Litasco — Lukoil‘s international marketing and trading arm — have set up a joint oil trading company in Dubai. A source told Reuters that the new venture, LIMA Energy, is building a team to work at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) to trade […]

Al Murabit Security Services opens New Base

Al Murabit Security Services has opened its new office in Burjessia, Basra, demonstrating its commitment to deliver its full security service offering  to customers in southern Iraq, as well as through its headquarters in Baghdad. Situated in the southern oilfields, the new office relocates the team closer to their customers and enables them to better […]

UK Parliamentary Report Opposes Kurdish Independence

By John Lee. A new report from the British House of Lords' Select Committee on International Relations has recommended that the United Kingdom should not support Kurdish independence. Describing the Iraqi Kurds as "a valuable ally", the report -- The Middle East: Time for New Realism -- says that while the UK should support the Kurdistan […]

Military Strikes Continue Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 15 strikes consisting of 38 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday’s strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria In Syria, coalition […]

Currency Auction Results, 2nd May

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reported that 40 banks and 11 remittance companies took part in its currency auction on Tuesday. A total of $159,597,950 sold at a price of 1184 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) per dollar. (Source: Central Bank of Iraq)

GardaWorld Weekly Security Report

GardaWorld, a global leader in comprehensive security and risk management, has made its weekly security report available to Iraq Business News readers. Prepared by GardaWorld's Risk Analysis Team in Iraq, this essential report includes short- and medium-term outlooks on the security situation, reports and commentary on recent significant events, and a detailed overview of developments […]

Kuwait signs $100m Grant for Iraqi Reconstruction

Kuwait has approved a $100 million grant for Iraq to support humanitarian and reconstruction projects in areas retaken from IS, according to a statement from Iraq’s Reconstruction Fund chief Mustafa Al-Hiti. The grant is the first Kuwaiti financial assistance to Iraq since Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait in 1990/1991 under then-President Saddam Hussein. Officials from the […]