Iraq says Shell Denies Oil Talks with KRG
By John Lee. According to a statement on Wednesday from the office of Deputy Prime Minister for Energy, Hussain al-Shahristani, Shell has denied starting talks on possible energy deals with Iraqi Kurdistan. "We don't have any discussions with the Kurdish regional government about working in the region," Shell's vice-president Hans Nijkamp is reported to have […]
UNESCO to Protect Leaning Minaret
By John Lee. UNESCO's Iraq Office and the Governorate of Ninewa signed an agreement to start a project under which UNESCO will carry out a complete set of studies to protect one of the region's historical icons: Al Hadba Minaret. After several meetings and an expert mission, UNESCO Iraq Director Mohamed Djelid met on Friday, […]
Cabinet Approves 3 Energy Deals, Delays 1
By John Lee. Iraq's cabinet has approved three oil and gas contracts awarded to foreign firms in the 4th round energy auction in May. Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh (pictured) said cabinet approved an initial gas exploration contract with Pakistan Petroleum for gas Block 8, another deal led by Russia's Lukoil along with Inpex of Japan […]
Petrel Resources Interim Results
By John Lee. Petrel Resources, the AIM-listed, Irish hydrocarbon exploration company with activities in Iraq, Ghana and Offshore Ireland, today announced its interim results for the six months ending 30 June 2012: Operational Highlights: New management team appointed in Iraq. They have clarified Petrel's relationship with the authorities and are pursuing existing and new opportunities. […]
UNAMI Welcomes Appointment of IHEC Board
The Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for Iraq, Mr. Martin Kobler (pictured), welcomed the official appointment of eight members of the Board of Commissioners of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). “I welcome this appointment. It now paves the way for the conduct of governorate council elections in early 2013,” Mr. Kobler said. […]
US, KRG Sign Agreement for Cooperation on Health
On September 25, the U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Kurdish Regional Government's (KRG) of Iraq Ministries of Health and Planning supporting the KRG's efforts to improve primary health care, as called for under the U.S. - Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement. The […]
Weekly Security Update
By Gary Sandiford, Olive Group’s Dubai based assessments manager. Olive Group is a leading provider of security and technology solutions and has operated continuously in Iraq since 2003. Overview Olive Groups Iraq statistics are drawn from multiple sources, including media reporting and direct liaison with in country assets. Included within the statistics are a […]
KRG PM hosts groundbreaking for Duhok International Airport
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani today hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a new international airport in Duhok. Duhok International Airport will be the third airport in the Kurdistan Region. After its completion in 2015, travellers will have direct international access to each of the Region’s three provinces. Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister highlighted the […]
US Embassy Promotes Investment Opportunities
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad hosted officials from Iraq's National Investment Commission, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Planning, and several Provincial Investment Commissions on September 13 to discuss investment opportunities in the Iraqi housing and construction sectors with representatives of U.S. companies, who joined the meeting by videoconference from Washington, D.C. The meeting was part […]
Gulf Air Resumes Flights to Najaf
By John Lee. Bahrain’s state-owned carrier, Gulf Air, has resumed flights to Najaf after a gap of more than a year, according to Bloomberg. The carrier plans to operate four weekly flights to the city. A report from AFP that Najaf decided to ban Gulf Air planes from landing, as a sign of “solidarity with […]
Video: Has the MEK changed?
The US designated the Iranian group Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) as a terrorist organisation since it started listing down state sponsors of terrorism in 1997. Supporters say it is working for a nuclear-free Iran. So what is the MEK and why is it being removed from the US terrorist list now? Guests: Ali Gharib, Patrick Clawson, Jeremiah […]
Iraq, Jordan to Build Oil Pipeline
By John Lee. Iraq and Jordan have agreed to build a pipeline to supply Jordan with crude oil and natural gas, according to Petra, the Jordan News Agency. Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul Karim Luaibi [Elaibi] said that the pipeline would carry crude oil to the Jordanian refinery in Zarqa for use in Jordan, and to […]