Flights resume between Iraq and Belarus
By John Lee. Flights are reportedly resuming between Iraq and Belarus, following a suspension due to COVID-19. According to Shafaq, Iraqi Airways will operate one flight per week between Baghdad and Minsk. Meanwhile, Belta reports that Fly Baghdad will serve the same route on Mondays and Thursdays. (Sources: Belta, Shafaq)
Iraq in Talks to build Nuclear Reactors
By John Lee. Iraq is reportedly in talks with Russia, France and the United States regarding the construction of three civil nuclear reactors. According to The New Arab, the Head of the Iraqi Radioactive Sources Regulatory Authority (IRSRA) said that several preliminary meetings had been held to study the feasibility of setting up the reactors. […]
Fire Kills 82 at Baghdad Hospital
By John Lee. A fire at a Baghdad hospital treating COVID-19 patients has killed at least 82 people, and left more than 100 injured. The blaze, at the Ibn Khatib Hospital, was caused on Saturday night when an oxygen tank is said to have exploded. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has suspended the Minister of Health, […]
Could Iraq Really Become OPEC's Largest Oil Producer?
Writing in Oil Price, Simon Watkins says that there is "no insurmountable reason" why Iraq could not more than double its oil output to 8 million barrel per day (bpd) by 2029. Click here to read the full story.
Can New Tech Save Iraq's Old Economy?
By Bilal Wahab and Michael Rubin, for The National Interest. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Can New Tech Save Iraq's Old Economy? As the United States recalibrates its relationship with Iraq, the advent of Iraq's cyber economy also provides an opportunity […]
Iraq-Lebanon Fuel Oil talks "Shrouded in Mystery"
By Noam Raydan, for Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq-Lebanon fuel oil talks remain shrouded in mystery Despite Lebanon's deepening financial crisis, its politicians remain committed to the same stop-gap measures that have crippled the country's dilapidated electricity sector. […]
Iraq's Resurgent Paramilitaries
By Tamer Badawi, for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's Resurgent Paramilitaries Paramilitary surrogates are popping up in Iraq with strong links to existing militant networks. The application Telegram has been crucial in fostering […]
Kataib Hezbollah "controls access points to key Iraqi Border City"
By Shelly Kittleson, for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Kataib Hezbollah controls access points to key Iraqi border city Iran-linked armed groups have over the past year tightened and consolidated their grip on a key border area between […]
HRW: "Flawed Trial of Journalists, Activists" in KRI
A court in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq sentenced three journalists and two activists to six years in prison on February 16, 2021, in deeply flawed proceedings, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday. The authorities continue to hold two other people despite a court ruling that there was insufficient evidence to try them. Human Rights […]
COVID-19 hits Iraqi Labour Market, Enterprises
COVID-19 Dealt Heavy Blows to Iraqi Labour Market, Enterprises in 2020: IOM, FAO, ITC Study In early April, Iraq surpassed 900,000 COVID-19 cases. Necessary efforts to contain the spread of the virus throughout 2020 led to a reduction in economic activity; compounded by pre-existing economic challenges, drops in oil prices and the public health COVID-19 […]
US General: No Plans for full US withdrawal from Iraq
By Jared Szuba for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. No plans for full US withdrawal from Iraq, top general says The United States may be leaving Afghanistan but troops will remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future, the CENTCOM commander […]
NIC launches Online Portal for Investors
By John Lee. The Chairwoman of the National Investment Commission (NIC), Suha Dawood Najar (pictured), has launched the NIC's new online portal for receiving investment applications. The new service went live on the NIC's website -- www.investpromo.gov.iq -- on Wednesday. It will allow investors to create their own accounts, make applications and submit all required […]