Latest news with #BangenRekani
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Airspace closure continues: Iraqis stranded in Beirut demand evacuation
Shafaq News/ Dozens of Iraqi citizens gathered on Tuesday outside the Iraqi Embassy in Beirut, calling for urgent government action to secure safe corridors for their return to Iraq amid the continued suspension of civilian air travel. The protesters, stranded in Lebanon for days, told Shafaq News that no official response had been provided despite repeated appeals. With flights grounded and no current operations by Iraqi Airways, many said their situation was worsening—particularly for families with children. Some accused officials of distributing remaining airline tickets based on favoritism rather than transparent criteria, urging authorities to adopt a fair evacuation mechanism. Protesters called on Baghdad to coordinate with neighboring countries like Turkiye or Jordan to establish alternative routes for safe return. Iraq's Minister of Construction, Housing, and Municipalities and Head of the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangen Rekani, stated that flights to and from Basra Airport would continue on Tuesday, even as Iraq's airspace remains officially closed. The Civil Aviation Authority last extended the closure on Saturday, keeping Iraqi airspace shut to all flights until 7:00 p.m. Monday—except for limited operations through Basra.
Iraqi News
06-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq launches construction of Al-Ward residential city
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Minister of Construction, Housing, and Public Municipalities, Bangen Rekani, launched on Monday the construction works of the Al-Ward residential city in Baghdad. During a ceremony held to launch the construction of the new residential city, Rekani stated that the project is designed in accordance with civilized standards that satisfy the demands of contemporary living by implementing energy sustainability, environmental planning, and contemporary insulating systems, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. In addition to housing units, services, and employment possibilities, the project will also have vast green spaces and recreational areas, according to Rekani. In 2024, Rekani and Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris, chairman and CEO of ORA Developers, signed the contract for the new city project. Out of five new residential city projects, Al-Ward City (Madinat Al Ward) will be the largest in its initial phase and has been prioritized for development under the government agenda, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). In a ceremony held to sign the contract, Al-Sudani stated that the government's plan to address the housing crisis entails building cities with the necessary infrastructure and thousands of different housing options to accommodate people from different social levels while attempting to lessen the strain of population growth in Baghdad. According to Sawiris, the collaboration between Iraq and Ora Developers to construct the Al-Wardi city project will represent a significant turning point in the innovative vision for implementing residential cities that effectively balance population needs with environmental considerations. Named after the late Iraqi sociologist and scholar Ali Al-Wardi, the new city project will span 61 million square meters on the southeastern side of Baghdad. The new residential city will include 120,000 different housing units along with green spaces, urban amenities, and smart city technology to apply cutting-edge standards in sustainability and environmental preservation.
