Sadrist MP calls for Abolition of NIC
By John Lee. A member of parliament belonging to the Sadr Trend party has called for the abolition of the National Investment Commission (NIC). Abdul Hussein Risan al-Husseini, of Ahrar bloc of Sadr Trend, told All Iraqi News Agency (AIN): "The Commission is useless and some Ministers and officials admitted its failure to perform. "There […]
Maliki: Some Financial Corruption Politically Motivated
By John Lee. Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has said that some financial corruption is politically motivated, and some is exaggerated by the media. During the 6th Annual Integrity Commission Conference, the Prime Minister said that the fight against corruption should not be part of political wrangling, because it gives corrupt people a chance to escape […]
Video: Syrian Kurds Seek Essential Supplies in Iraq
From AlJazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Many Syrians are also seeking refuge in Iraq. About a thousand refugees cross into the country's Kurdish region every day through official border crossings. But many more are using dangerous routes to transport essential […]
Hoard of Ancient Gold Coins found in Wasit
By John Lee. Iraqi archaeologists have found a hoard of ancient gold coins in the town of Aziziyah, in Wasit [Wassit] province, and hope to put them on display in Baghdad's National Museum. The coins date back to the Sassanid era, a Persian dynasty that ruled Iraq from the third century until the coming of the […]
Video: Sheikhdoms Don't Like Iraqi Democracy
From Iran’s PressTV. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqis must undermine and defuse foreign plans that are attempting to destabilize the democratic country, a political analyst tells Iran's PressTV. In the background to this, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has warned […]
Video: Iraqi Musicians Performing for Peace
From Jewish News One. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Over 20 young Iraqi musicians held a street concert in front of the National Theater in central Baghdad earlier this week, calling for peace and stability in the country. Meanwhile, protests by […]
Foreign Minister Zebari Meets US Ambassador
By John Lee. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hoshyar Zebari, met with the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Robert Beecroft, at the Ministry's HQ on Tuesday. They discussed the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) and the debates at the UN Security Council to terminate the mandate of the Special Coordinator for missing Kuwaiti people and properties, and to remove […]
SRSG Kobler Calls for Constructive Dialogue
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) is closely following the course of the demonstrations that are currently taking place in several Iraqi governorates. UNAMI is committed to support the political and human rights of all Iraqi citizens, as well their social, cultural and economic rights, in the framework of the rule of law. […]
The New Iraq: 2013 Discovering Business
This week marks the 150th edition of our Iraq Business News newsletter, and we are delighted to mark the occasion by bringing you a major new guide to business in Iraq. Published by Allurentis, in association with Iraq's National Investment Commission (NIC) and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the fourth edition in the annual New […]
Iran to Extend Gas Pipeline to Iraq, Syria
By John Lee. A spokesman for Iran's Oil Ministry has confirmed that Iran is planning to build a pipeline to carry natural gas to Iraq and Syria. Alireza Nikzad Rahbar told Iran's PressTV on Wednesday: "Based on agreements already reached, a 56-inch pipeline is to be laid out from Assaluyeh [near South Pars Gas Field in […]
Iraq Closes Jordanian Border
By John Lee. Iraqi troops have closed the only major border crossing with Jordan on Wednesday, after Sunni Muslim demonstrators blocked a highway to Syria and Jordan as part of mass protests against Shi'ite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The crossing at Traibil [Turaybeel, Tirbil, Tarbiel] (pictured) is in the Sunni province of Anbar, where protests […]
Kuwait Energy In, Turkey's TPAO Out
By John Lee. Iraq has approved the deal under which Kuwait Energy would replace Turkey's state-owned Turkiye Petrolleri AO (TPAO) on the Block-9 exploration contract. Abdul-Mahdy al-Ameedi, director of the ministry's contracts directorate, told Reuters: "Kuwait Energy has acquired the stake of the Turkish company TPAO, and now it's holding 70 percent of the contract, […]