Iraq

BAGHDAD, Jan 12 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi oil minister, said yesterday that, investment opportunities would soon be offered to increase the output capacities of some Iraqi refineries.

“Within the ministry’s plans, to increase refining capacities in Iraq, investment opportunities will include the Amarah refinery in Maysan province, with an increase of 150,000 barrels per day (bpd), and the al-Muthanna refinery by 100,000 bpd,” Iraqi Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul Ghani, said in a statement.

11 Jan 2023; MEMO: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has issued an order to suspend the governor of Diwaniyah, Zuhair Ali Al-Shaalan, while an investigation over corruption allegations is carried out, the Iraqi News Agency has reported.

"The decision was made due to the investigative procedures on suspicions of administrative and financial corruption, which the competent courts are reviewing," confirmed the prime minister's media office.

BAGHDAD, Jan 8 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi Ministry of Planning said yesterday that, the poverty rate in the country was 25 percent in 2022, the Iraqi official news agency reported.

“The high poverty rate is due to several reasons, including the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, during the years 2020 and 2021, and the economic crisis that resulted from the drop in oil prices,” spokesman of the ministry, Abdul-Zahara al-Hindawi, said.

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi authorities reopened Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone on Sunday in an attempt to ease traffic jams in the capital after it was closed and reopened several times in recent years.

Starting in the early hours of the day, Iraqi authorities removed checkpoints and opened major roads and tunnels that cut through the zone on the west bank of the Tigris River. Cars will be allowed to pass through the area while trucks will be banned, officials said.

03 Jan 2023; MEMO: Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, met with Saudi Ambassador, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, in the capital, Baghdad, on Tuesday to discuss ways of strengthening relations between the two countries, Anadolu News Agency reports.

A statement by Abdul Latif's office said the Iraqi leader underlined the depth of relations between Baghdad and Riyadh and the need to bolster them to serve the interests of the two countries and serve regional stability.

BAGHDAD, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Iraq exported about 103 million barrels of crude oil in December, generating 7.6 billion U.S. dollars in revenue, the country's oil ministry announced Monday.

The average price for Iraqi crude oil in December was 73.64 dollars per barrel, the ministry said in a statement, citing statistics from the State Organization for Marketing of Oil.

BAGHDAD, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Moqtada al-Sadr, the Muslim Shi'ite cleric who dominated Iraqi politics for two decades, seems isolated for now after his move to step back from formal politics emboldened his Iranian-backed rivals and raised the prospect of fresh factional flare-ups.

Iran, which already controls dozens of heavily-armed Shi'ite militias in its oil-producing neighbour, may now have an opportunity to expand its influence over Iraq's government, a worst case scenario for the United States and its allies.

BAGHDAD (AP) — Everything from the signboard outside down to the napkins bears the official emblem of the top international coffee chain. But in Baghdad, looks are deceiving: The “Starbucks” in the Iraqi capital is unlicensed.

Real Starbucks merchandise is imported from neighboring countries to stock the three cafes in the city, but all are operating illegally. Starbucks filed a lawsuit in an attempt to shut down the trademark violation, but the case was halted after the owner allegedly threatened lawyers hired by the coffee house.

BAGHDAD, Dec 20 (NNN-NINA) – A total of eight civilians were killed and seven others wounded yesterday, in attacks by the Daesh militants, in Iraq’s eastern province of Diyala, a local official said.

The incident occurred in the evening, when Daesh militants attacked a civilian car, outside a village, near the town of Khalis, some 70 km north-east of the capital, Baghdad, Udai al-Khadran, the mayor of the town, said.

Later, the militants opened fire on villagers, who gathered near the car, al-Khadran said.

20 Dec 2022; MEMO: Iran has called on Iraq to disarm Kurdish groups in Kurdistan, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said yesterday.

Speaking to a Kurdish TV channel, Hussein said: "Iran officially asked Iraq to disarm hostile separatist groups," stressing: "It is not acceptable to launch attacks on Iran from Iraqi land."

"Iran said it would not accept that the political groups in Kurdistan hold arms and launch attacks on it or cross its borders."