Asiacell Reactivating Parts of its Network
By John Lee. In its 3Q statement to the markets, Asiacell's owner Ooredoo has said that its overall financial performance was impacted by the security situation in Iraq. Asiacell recorded improved revenue, EBITDA, and Net Profit in Q3 2015 compared to Q2 2015. Asiacell's total customer base stood at 10.6 million at the end of […]
UK's Iraq Inquiry to be Published Next Summer
By John Lee. John Chilcot (pictured), chairman of a long-running British inquiry into the Iraq War, has said he expects to publish the report in June or July 2016. In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron he said: "My colleagues and I estimate that we will be able to complete the text of our […]
Col. Steve Warren Updates Iraq, Syria Operations
The coalition fighting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq has conducted 7,712 airstrikes since operations began, the majority in Iraq, an Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman said today. Army Col. Steve Warren, speaking via teleconference from Baghdad, told reporters at the Pentagon that 5,032 of those airstrikes were in Iraq, […]
Currency Auction Results, 28th Oct
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reported that 26 banks and 15 remittance companies took part in its currency auction on Wednesday. A total of $168,928,205 sold at a price of 1166 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) per dollar. (Source: Central Bank of Iraq)
75% of 2016 Draft Budget is for Operational Expenditure
Almost 75 percent of Iraq’s draft budget for 2016 is earmarked for operational expenditure, with 25 percent set aside for investment purposes, a lawmaker has said. He added that more than 6,500 government-sponsored projects are still on hold for a second consecutive year because of falling oil prices. The Iraqi government has already submitted the […]
Iraq Imports more Raw Sugar
By John Lee. Iraq is increasingly importing raw sugar instead of white, as a new sugar refinery has ramped up production faster than expected, according to Reuters. Ir is estimated that the Babylon refinery south of Baghdad, which serves the domestic market, had imported around 375,000 tonnes of Brazilian raw sugar in the past six […]
Turkish Airlines Adds Baghdad Flights
By John Lee. Turkish Airlines has announced that it has added a new flight destination operated between Baghdad and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. Beginning October 25th, roundtrip flights between Istanbul and Baghdad will be operated 2 times per week in both directions till November 23rd, and will be daily as from that: (Source: Turkish […]
Video: Iraq's Copper Artisans Dying Out
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. For centuries, Iraq has been famous for it's copper handicrafts. And for generations, some of the best artisans worked from the Safafeer Market in central Baghdad. But, as Imtiaz Tyab reports, the industry […]
UNAMI Strongly Condemns 'Honor Killings'
UNAMI Strongly Condemns the Continued Practice of Honor Killings The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) condemns in the strongest terms the recent murder in Sulaymaniyah of a young woman, allegedly by family members, in what is perceived to have been an “honor crime”. “Honor is not an excuse to justify such nefarious acts […]
USAID in Iraq Seeks IT Specialists
The USAID Mission in Iraq is seeking applications from qualified individuals interested in providing the PSC services as described in the attached solicitation. Interested applicants MUST submit the following materials: Most current Curriculum vitae or resume Completed and hand-signed federal form OF-612 (including OF-612 continuation sheets as needed). The OF-612 can be downloaded from: www.usaid.gov/forms/. […]
Closure of Jordanian-Iraqi Borders Hurts Jordan
By John Lee. Jordan's Interior Minister, Salameh Hammad, said on Tuesday that the frequent closure of the Jordanian-Iraqi border should be resolved. Hammad made the remarks as he met with Iraqi ambassador to Jordan, Jawad Hadi Abbas, where the two officials discussed ways to remove all obstacles facing Jordan's cargo transportation to Iraq. Abbas stressed […]
Shewashan-2 Development Well Spudded
Range Energy Resources Inc has announced that Gas Plus Khalakan (GPK), the sole contractor of the Khalakan Block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, issued a press release stating that it has spudded the Shewashan-2 development well on 1st October 2015 under Phase 1 of the approved Field Development Plan (FDP) for the Shewashan oil […]