Video: Iraq Rejects PKK Transfer to Kurdistan
From Iran’s PressTV. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The withdrawal of Kurdistan Workers' Party militants into Iraq's Kurdistan Region has raised controversy in Baghdad. PKK militants are leaving Turkey and moving to Kurdistan under an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government. […]
Iraqi Stocks Unfazed by ‘Civil War’
The security situation in Iraq hasn’t looked this bad in quite a while. Following the killing of at least 36 Sunni protestors in Hawijah on April 23, people are now even talking about a possible partition of the country. “It is wrong to say we are getting close to a civil war,” one Iraqi politician […]
Iraq to Rebuild Rail System
Plans to revive Iraq's rail system are gaining pace, reports Reuters. Last year the railway company opened a 32-km line between Mussayab [Musayyib, Musayyab], south of Baghdad, and the holy city of Kerbala to transfer hundreds of thousands of pilgrims during Shi'ite religious festivals. It is also building a new railway parallel to the old […]
TAQA Appoints New MD for Iraq
By John Lee. The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) has appointed Leo Koot as Managing Director of TAQA in Iraq. Mr Koot will be responsible for all of TAQA’s operations in Iraq. He joined TAQA in 2008 and is a Dutch national. David Cook (pictured), TAQA Executive Officer and Head of Oil and Gas, […]
Iraq Stock Market Report
Advertising Feature Rabee Securities Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) market report (week ending: 9th May 2013). Please click here to download a table of listed companies and their associated ticker codes. The RSISX index ended the week at ID1,802 (+0.9%) / $1,820 (+0.1%) (weekly change). The number of week traded shares was 24.5bn and the weekly […]
Iran "Expands All-Out Strategic Cooperation" with Iraq
The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has said that the Iran is ready to "expand all-out strategic cooperation" with Iraq. Saeed Jalili, made the remark at a meeting on Thursday with Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a member of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI). According to a report from Iran's PressTV, the Iranian […]
First Journalism Contest for Iraqi Women
The UN Iraq congratulates the three winners of the first edition of its contest for Iraqi women journalists. The stories submitted by Suha Audah, Enas Jabbar and Shatha al-Shabibi were selected by the jury as representing best the challenges faced by Iraqi women in their daily lives. “The selection was difficult since the quality of […]
After Hawija: Iraqi and Kurdish Forces Face Off
By Shalaw Mohammed. 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. Recent clashes in Hawija have not only increased tensions between protestors and Baghdad, they’ve also reignited hostility between Iraqi Kurdistan’s military and the Iraqi army. Locals […]
Interest-Free Business Loans for the Unemployed
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has reportedly earmarked 150 billion Iraqi dinars ($130 million) in this year's budget for loans to small and medium-sized businesses. Minister of Labour, Nassar al-Rubaie (pictured), told Al-Shorfa: "The interest-free loans, which were allocated for unemployed people, will be given to finance their small […]
Wheat Harvest Threatened by Heavy Rains
By John Schnittker, Chief Economist at Schnittker Associates, and former Ministry Advisor at the US Embassy in Baghdad. Heavy rainfall over the southern provinces of Iraq during early May has potentially reduced Iraq’s expected wheat harvest by 25-30% according to a statement by Trade Minister, Dr. Khairallah Hassan Babiker. Initial reports indicate that losses are […]
Ceyhan Pipeline Still Closed
By John Lee. Reuters reports on Friday that exports of Iraqi crude oil through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline have still not resumed following a bomb attack on Monday. A spokesman for the Iraqi oil ministry had said repairs to the pipeline would be completed by Thursday afternoon. On Friday, six tankers were said to be waiting […]
Patterns of Electoral Behaviour in Iraq
By Reidar Visser. The following article was published by Reidar Visser, an historian of Iraq educated at the University of Oxford and currently based at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. It is reproduced here with the author’s permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq […]