Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraqi politics news, keeping you up to date with the latest information and developments.
By Christine McCaffray van den Toorn for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. After weeks of mass protests in Iraq, there are signs that the government’s patience is waning. Its current response — a mixture of spending and reform promises combined with violent […]
By Dr Amer K. Hirmis. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. World Bank’s ‘Doing Business 2020 – Iraq’ report: A Critique The World Bank published ‘Doing Business 2020– Iraq’ report (henceforth WB2020), on September 24 2019, amid tumultuous political and economic events […]
By Renad Mansour, for Foreign Affairs. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. How Youthful Protests Provoked an Authoritarian Turn On October 1, protesters flooded the streets of Baghdad, decrying high rates of unemployment and rampant corruption. In the ensuing weeks, the protests ballooned. […]
By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. New scandals pour more fuel on Iraq protests The protests are escalating rapidly in Iraq, with the players moving fast and adding more fuel to an already burning region. This increasingly complex […]
Draft election law: UN calls for improvements to meet public demands Electoral reform has been a central demand of many peaceful protesters. In recent weeks, Iraqi authorities have sought to find legislative solutions that address public calls for credible, free and fair elections. This process is Iraqi-owned and Iraqi-led, as it must be. United Nations […]
By Ali Al-Mawlawi. Public Payroll Expansion in Iraq: Causes and Consequences The public payroll in Iraq has grown unchecked since 2003, commensurate with the country’s vastly expanding oil wealth. With few alternative sources of government income, the state budget’s growth poses worrying questions about whether this ongoing trend can be sustained without risking economic ruin. […]
By C. Anthony Pfaff, for the Atlantic Council. Leaked Iranian intelligence about Iraq only tells part of the story The recent story in the New York Times on leaked Iranian intelligence reports about Iranian influence operations in Iraq elicits a couple of possible reactions. If one works for the United States government, particularly in any […]
The Nineveh Provincial Council has voted unanimously to dismiss Governor Mansour Al-Maraeed and appoint his deputy, Sirwan Rozbiani, to the post temporarily. Candidates wishing to run for the post have until Saturday afternoon to apply. However, Al-Maraeed stressed that he would continue in his post. The vote came as the National Security Agency in Nineveh […]
By John Lee. Protesters in Iraq have reportedly blocked the country’s second-largest commercial port on Tuesday. According to Fox News, they halted operations at the Khor al-Zubair port as oil tankers and other trucks were unable to enter or exit. They have also obstructed access to Umm Qasr port. (Source: Fox News)
Leaked Iran spy documents reveal extent of grip on Iraq Ground-breaking documents detailing staggering evidence of Iran’s espionage operations, bribery payments and efforts to expand influence within Iraq have been leaked to the US-based media organisation The Intercept in collaboration with the New York Times. Together they reveal the huge extent of Iran’s grip on […]
By John Lee. Iraq has been ranked 172nd out of 190 countries in the World Bank‘s recent Doing Business 2020 report, down from 171st place the previous year. Top of the list were New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong, with last place going to Somalia, just behind Eritrea and Venezuela. Iran ranked 127th, with Libya […]
By Vera Mironova and Mohammed Hussein, for Foreign Policy. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. With ongoing protests making other investors nervous, Moscow is charging ahead. Despite ongoing protests in Baghdad, which have seen the departure of many foreign diplomats for […]
