By John Lee. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has issued a new 60-page report on Iraq's efforts to tackle corruption. The Trial Monitoring (TM) programme focuses on high-profile corruption cases tried before the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court (CACC) as the primary judicial mechanism for reviewing cases of Grand Corruption across the region of Federal […]
By John Lee. Iraqi news agency Basnews has reported that Iraq "urgently requested" eight missile defense systems from South Korea, valued at approximately $2.5 billion. It says the systems are the "M-SAM-II", or "Cheongung II", which it describes as a robust defense system against aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. More here. (Source: Basnews)
By John Lee. Iraqi security forces have allegedly escalated their violence against contract workers at the South Refineries Company (SRC), who were said to have been peacefully protesting for permanent contracts. In a joint statement, IndustriALL affiliates, the General Federation of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Unions in Iraq (GFOGPUI), the General Union of Oil Workers, […]
By John Lee. Iraq has appointed a new Ambassador to Russia. Mr Haider Mansour Al Athari (pictured), assumed his duties on Monday, 3rd June. Iraq Business News understands that Mr Athari has previously served as Ambassador to Jordan, and more recently as Head of the Europe Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Source: Ministry […]
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Will economic clout pave way for Chinese interference in Iraqi politics? As China expands its involvement in the Iraqi economy, Beijing is seen as increasingly wielding its economic clout to influence Iraq's domestic […]
By John Lee. The United Nations Security Council, at its 9642nd meeting on 31st May 2024, decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq [UNAMI] for a final 19-month period until 31 December 2025, unanimously adopting Resolution 2732 (2024). The Iraqi Government welcomed the resolution terminating the mandate, and expressed […]
By John Lee. An Iraqi member of parliament has reportedly warned of a "national security disaster", following the alleged disappearance of funds belonging to Canadian security company Biznis Intel. In 2022, the company was controversially awarded a contract to secure Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), taking over from the British company G4S. Shafaq News Agency reports […]
By Simon Watkins for the OilPrice.com. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Oil Deal That Represents the West's Final Chance to Regain Influence in Iraq US seeks influence in Iraq via French oil giant TotalEnergies' $27-billion deal. The deal aims to […]
By Soner Cagaptay, Selin Uysal, and Bilal Wahab, for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Iraq-Turkey Reset From water rights to PKK violence, a recent summit seemed to remove several long-festering thorns from the […]
By John Lee. Lieutenant General Lucas Schreurs of the Netherlands assumed command of NATO Mission Iraq on Friday (24 May 2024), at a change of command ceremony in Baghdad. He succeeds Lieutenant General José Antonio Agüero Martínez of Spain, who had been in post since May 2023. "It is an honour and privilege for the […]
By Marsin Alshamary, for The Clingendael Institute. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A scramble for legitimacy: Iraq's political elites since the October 2019 protests Iraqi political elites exhibited a variety of responses to the 2019 October protests, the largest demonstrations in […]
By John Lee. US President Joe Biden has continued the national emergency with respect to the stabilization of Iraq declared in Executive Order 13303 for 1 year. The order had been due to expire on 22nd May 2024. Full statement from The White House: On May 22, 2003, by Executive Order 13303, the President declared […]
