By John Lee. Protesters have reportedly blocked the entrance to Umm Qasr port, near Basra. According to Reuters, port operations were reduced to 20 percent as workers were unable to get to work. (Source: Reuters)
Umm Qasr Port hit by Protests
Archive | Politics
Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraqi politics news, keeping you up to date with the latest information and developments.
Video: Protests Persist in Defiance of Baghdad Curfew
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqis are defying a curfew in a new wave of protests. They are back on the streets of the capital, calling for political change. There is widespread anger over corruption, the lack of […]
Baghdad Curfew as Protests Continue
Iraq declared a curfew in Baghdad on Monday as two people were killed and 112 injured in the fourth day of anti-government protests, and the coalition government’s most powerful erstwhile supporter called for early elections, reports Reuters. Baghdad’s top military commander imposed the curfew from midnight (2100 GMT) until 6 am (0300 GMT) effective “until […]
Is Iran Expanding its Influence in Iraq?
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. Is Iran expanding its influence in Iraq? Well-known Iranian activist and journalist Roohollah Zam was captured Oct. 14 in Iraq and deported to Iran. The details surrounding his arrest and deportation have raised questions about the […]
Video: Scores Killed in Iraqi Protests
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. More than 60 people have been killed in two days of demonstrations against Iraq's government. Influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is calling for the prime minister to resign. And MPs linked to him […]
Govt Slashes Salaries of Top Officials
By John Lee. The Iraqi Government has said it will reduce the salaries of ministers, members of parliament, and senior officials by up to 50 percent, and invest the money saved in a new social security fund to support Iraqis in need. In a statement on Friday, it also announced the establishment of a special […]
Can Iraqi PM's Promises Calm Popular Anger?
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. Can Iraqi PM's Promises Calm Popular Anger? Mass protests erupted early Friday morning in most of southern Iraq's major cities, including Baghdad, Basra, Najaf, Karbala and Nasiriyah. In Baghdad, protesters began gathering and organizing […]
Activists, Journalists "Leave Baghdad in Fear of Arrest"
By Mustafa Saadoun for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Civil society activists and journalists leave Baghdad in fear of being arrested On Oct. 9, an Iraqi journalist left Baghdad for Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, […]
SMEs to be Tax Free for 10 Years
By John Lee. The Iraqi Government has said it will exempt small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) from income tax for ten years. In a statement, it said: "The government announced a draft amendment to Income Tax Law No. 113 of 1982 to exempt several groups on low-income from paying income tax. "The proposed amendment also […]
Cabinet Approves $25m Desalination Project
By John Lee. The Cabinet held its regular weekly meeting in Baghdad on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi. It authorised the Ministries of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research, other ministries, public bodies and local councils to recruit holders of post- graduate degrees, and to exempt this round of recruitment […]
Iraqi Govt to Lower Retirement Age
By John Lee. The Iraqi Government has announced a reduction in the retirement age. In a statement, it said: "The Iraqi government is also proposing amending Retirement Law number (9) of 2014 to include: Reducing the retirement age for all state employees to 60 years, except for those working in the university sector where the […]
UNAMI Report on Iraqi Demonstrations
A special report, prepared by the Human Rights Office of UNAMI, outlines key human rights concerns regarding the demonstrations that occurred in Iraq from 1 to 9 October 2019. UNAMI’s interim findings indicate that serious human rights violations and abuses have been committed during the recent protests. The report contains a set of recommendations and […]