Iraq cuts May Crude Export Volumes
By John Lee. Reuters cites trade sources saying on Tuesday that crude oil exports from the southern Iraqi ports are set to fall to the lowest this year in May. A preliminary loading programme shows total Basra crude exports of 3.085 million bpd in May, down from 3.28 million bpd this month, with Basra Heavy […]
Parliament to Vote on Revised Cabinet Proposals
By John Lee. Several dozen members of Iraq's parliament held an overnight sit-in in the parliament building to demand that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stick to his plans for cabinet reform. In central Basra, several hundred supporters of Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr blocked the main street voicing similar demands, according to Reuters. Abadi was forced to […]
Storms, Flood Threat, for Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia
By John Lee. AccuWeather reports that a slow-moving storm system will lead to flash flooding from Iraq and western Iran into Saudi Arabia and Yemen on Wednesday and Thursday. Rainfall of 12-25 mm will be common with locally higher amounts in the strongest thunderstorms. Areas such as Baghdad and Basrah will get multiple downpours. (Source: […]
Civilians in Fallujah at Extreme Risk, need Urgent Help
The UN warns that civilians in Fallujah are at extreme risk and need urgent help The United Nations is receiving reports that humanitarian conditions in Fallujah are worsening and human suffering increasing. Under control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) since early 2014, civilians are at extreme risk. With the siege […]
Iraqi Couple on Slavery Charges in US
By John Lee. An Iraqi couple have been arrested and charged with forcing an Indonesian woman to work in their California home for up to 18 hours a day without pay. The victim was rescued from the home after providing a note to a visiting nurse, asking for help. Firas Majeed (aka Firas Ghazi Majeed […]
Meeting Iraqi Kurdistan’s ‘Million Mine Man’
This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Fighting A Hidden Enemy: Meeting Iraqi Kurdistan’s ‘Million Mine Man’, Who Will Defuse Until He Dies A 53-year-old local of Halabja has been defusing mines for over 27 years. Despite […]
2 Million Pilgrims Visit Samarra
Around two million pilgrims from Iraq and other countries have converged on the city of Samarr for mourning rituals marking the martyrdom anniversary of Ali ibn Mohammad (AS), the tenth Shiite Imam. According to top Iraqi military commander Emad al-Zuhairi, the huge crowd of pilgrims performed the religious rites in full security. The city of […]
Why Kurds are United in Baghdad and Divided in Erbil
By Mohammed A. Salih for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The ongoing reform push by Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has brought about a sense of unity in the Kurdish ranks, unseen for the past couple of years. When Abadi […]
Currency Auction Results, 13th Apr
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reported that 29 banks and 22 remittance companies took part in its currency auction on Wednesday. A total of $105,795,219 sold at a price of 1182 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) per dollar. (Source: Central Bank of Iraq)
Iraq calls for Oil Production Freeze
By John Lee. The head of Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has said the world’s major oil producers must agree to freeze production, in order to shore up flagging oil prices. Falah Alamri said: “They should do this deal as this is the only way to support the oil price ... Everybody needs it […]
Kuwait Energy signs Export Agreement for Block 9
By John Lee. Kuwait Energy has announced the signing of an Export Oil Sales Agreement for its Block 9 project in Iraq. The agreement, signed between a consortium led by Kuwait Energy plc and Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) puts in place the mechanism by which Kuwait Energy will be paid for services in […]
Parliament Delays Vote on 'Technocrat' Cabinet
By John Lee. Associated Press reports that Iraq's parliament has delayed a vote on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's new technocrat cabinet. The reduction from 21 cabinet ministers to 16 was met with opposition from Iraq's powerful political blocs, which rely on patronage systems to remain in power, with several nominees withdrawing. He left ministers of […]