By John Lee. Hundreds of Yazidi-Americans have filed a civil lawsuit against French conglomerate Lafarge, seeking to hold the company accountable for its admitted criminal conspiracy with the so-called Islamic State group (ISIS, ISIL, Daesh), and to obtain justice for the Yazidi people. Nobel Prize winner and human rights activist Nadia Murad is the lead […]
By John Lee. The National Bank of Iraq (NBI) has announced the introduction of three new banking systems. According to Izzidin Abusalameh, Group Chief Operating Officer of Capital Bank of Jordan (majority shareholder of NBI), trade finance operations will be enhanced with the help of software from UK-based Finastra. Additionally, both NBI and Capital Bank […]
By John Lee. German luxury goods maker Montblanc has reportedly opened its first store in Iraq. According to Mid East Info, the new boutique is located in Baghdad Mall. Montblanc is part of the Swiss Richemont group. (Source: Mid East Info)
By John Lee. In a meeting on Wednesday, Iraq's Minister of Electricity, Engineer Ziad Ali Fadel, met with the CEO of "Hitachi Linxon International" (sic) and accompanying delegation to discuss the synchronization of various projects completed by the Ministry in multiple provinces through their collaborative partnership. Minister Fadel emphasized the importance of collaborations and agreements […]
By John Lee. The UN Security Council has removed the following individuals from its Sanctions List: Ayad Futayyih Khalifa Al-Rawi Chief Of Staff, Quds Force, 2001-2003; Former Governor of Baghdad and Ta'mim. IQi.030 Name: 1: AYAD 2: FUTAYYIH 3: KHALIFA 4: AL-RAWI Title: na Designation: na DOB: 1942 POB: Rawah, Iraq Good quality a.k.a.: na […]
By John Lee. Singaporean/Swiss-based commodity trader Trafigura has reportedly ended its relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). According to a report from Bloomberg, the decision follows the KRG's refusal to renegotiate the terms of the contract, following a drop in the price of Kurdish oil. KRG Minister Masrour Barzani is also said to have […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussain, met with Swiss Foreign Minister, Ignace Cassis, on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the Davos conference. Minister Hussain emphasized that Iraq is playing a role in bringing the perspectives of some regional countries together, with the aim of creating a stable environment in […]
ABB named system integrator and automation solution provider INTECH Process Automation UAE as ABB Value Provider (AVP) for the UAE and Iraq. The AVP program ensures that the services customers receive from AVPs meet the high quality standards of ABB products both globally and locally. Huseyn Tarek, Regional President - MEA&CIS Management, INTECH, said: "We […]
By John Lee. UK-based international law firm Clifford Chance has announced that it has advised International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on the US$125 million financing of the development, construction, equipping and operation of both new and existing facilities at the Umm Qasr Port in Iraq. In a press release, the […]
Building a peaceful Iraq: New MoU between UNDP Iraq and swisspeace signed A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Iraq and swisspeace, to strengthen efforts for peacebuilding and social cohesion in Iraq. The MoU provides a framework for collaboration and secures a two-year partnership between UNDP Iraq […]
By John Lee. Switzerland is hoping to reopen its embassy in Baghdad early next year. The announcement was made after the Chief of Iraq's Protocol Department, Mr. Ali Shamran, met with the Swiss ambassador to Iraq residing in Amman, Mr. Lukas Gasser, and discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to develop them. […]
By John Lee. Iraq has fallen one place in this year's Legatum Institute Prosperity Index, ranking in 137th place out of the 167 countries measured. The Index consists of 12 pillars of prosperity, built upon 66 actionable policy areas (elements), and is underpinned by 294 indicators. Denmark, Norway and Switzerland took the top three positions. […]
