Archive | Security

Zebari, Beecroft, Discuss Iraq-US Relations

By John Lee. Hoshyar Zebari, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has held a meeting with Robert Stephen Beecroft, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed developments of the political process in the country and Iraqi-U.S. relations as part of the Strategic Cooperation Agreement between the two countries. The two sides discussed arrangements […]

The PM's Amazing Disappearing Website

It's probably fair to say that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has a lot on his mind at the moment, with the continuation of protests against his rule, the ongoing difficulties with Iraqi Kurdistan regarding oil contracts, and a rising death toll due to terrorist violence. Seen in the context of these challenges, the question of […]

Weekly Security Update

By Tom Walker, Director, Assaye Risk. (Please click on graphics to view.) COUNTRY OVERVIEW 08 and 11 February saw bombings in Mosul, Baghdad, Karbala and Shomali that resulted in the deaths of at least 38 people with a further approx 100 wounded, which followed a similar pattern of attacks from the previous week. There has […]

US Contractor Fined for Late Reporting of Casualties

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs has announced a $75,000 settlement with The Sandi Group/Corporate Bank Financial Services for failure to report in a timely manner on the injuries and deaths of 30 employees in Iraq between 2003 and 2005. Under the Defense Base Act, a company must report any injury […]

Iraqi Parliament Rejects Draft Cybercrime Bill

By Ali Abel Sadah for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. On Feb. 5, 2013, the Iraqi parliament responded to a campaign launched by activists against a proposed law criminalizing many means of circulating information. Iraqi lawmakers said that they will draft […]

US Ambassador’s Fund Grant

The U.S. Mission in Iraq, through the Ambassador’s Fund Program, is seeking Statements of Interest that offer creative and effective approaches to promote reconciliation and stability in Iraq and to improve the institutional capacity of Iraqi organizations and local communities. Awards will range from USD 200,000 to USD 500,000, although smaller and larger awards may […]

Kirkuk Shines Spotlight on Turkey’s Iraq Policy

By Ilnur Cevik for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Turkish authorities fear that three deadly bomb attacks in Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu in the past month aim to further fuel the tensions between Iraqi Arabs and Kurds and push the […]

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Iraq: "A Broken Justice System"

Iraq’s leadership used draconian measures against opposition politicians, detainees, demonstrators, and journalists, effectively squeezing the space for independent civil society and political freedoms in Iraq, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2013. The number of violent civilian deaths in Iraq increased in 2012, for the first time since 2009. Thousands of civilians and […]

Video: Rocket Attack Kills Iranian Exiles in Iraq

Katyusha rockets fired on a camp housing Iranian dissidents near Baghdad have killed five members of the opposition group, Iraqi security officials say. About 40 members of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK) group were wounded in Saturday's attack, along with three Iraqi policemen. (Source: Al Jazeera)

US Embassy Commemorates Int'l Human Rights

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stephen Beecroft (pictured) hosted a reception at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to commemorate International Human Rights. The event was attended by members of the Council of Representatives’ Human Rights Committee, members of the Independent High Commission for Human Rights, civil society figures, and representatives from the international and diplomatic community. […]

Iraqi Oil-for-Food Lawsuit Collapses

By John Lee. An Iraqi lawsuit accusing more than 90 companies of conspiring with Saddam Hussein's regime to frustrate the United Nations'  program, and depriving Iraqis of roughly $10 billion of essential aid, has been dismissed by a court in New York. Reuters reports that U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein said the government of Iraq […]

Weekly Security Update

By Tom Walker, Director, Assaye Risk. The past week in Iraq has been dominated by the worsening political crisis that continues to engulf the Al-Maliki administration at both the international and domestic level.  With inflammatory political discourse, a possible Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) secession and divisive Al-Maliki politics leading both the international and domestic news […]