Iraq’s new media law, the product of several years of debate, is supposed to protect journalists, but it has been the subject of much controversy. Hazim al-Sharaa, an IWPR editor in Iraq, looks at why some fear the legislation will restrict rather than enhance freedom of speech. Can you describe the new media law? This […]
The year 2012 has not begun well for Iraq. Levels of violence rose in the country last week, with at least 107 people killed and 300 injured in nationwide incidents. Several of the latest bombings have targeted pilgrims gathering in the centre of the country to mark Arba’een. The holy religious period is currently at […]
AKnews reports that uniformed militants have blown up about 10 machine tools used by Sonangol, Angola’s national oil company, in the province of Nineveh on Thursday. Sonangol won contracts to develop the al-Najma and al-Qayara oil fields near the provincial capital Mosul in 2009. The equipment was blown up by IEDs that were placed inside […]
Following a demonstration in Erbil by 700 mine action professionals late last year, the Kurdistan Regional Government will review their pay and working status to ensure that they are fairly rewarded for their vital work. The deminers marched to the Kurdistan Parliament in November to submit their demands. The Speaker Dr Kamal Kirkuki spoke on […]
The Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing legal assistance to Iraqi refugees in life and death situations. To date, IRAP has helped resettle more than 1,000 Iraqis identified by the United Nations and numerous other organizations as living in “extremely urgent situations.” Currently, around 2.5 million Iraqis remain […]
A former U.S. Army contracting official has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his participation in a bribery and money laundering scheme related to bribes paid for contracts awarded in support of the Iraq war. Eddie Pressley, 41, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following the prison term. The […]
Maersk Line Limited, part of the Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moller-Maersk, has agreed to pay $31.9 million to settle claims that it overcharged the U.S. military for transporting cargo to support American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. The settlement resolves a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former industry insider. The individual, Jerry Brown, […]
Levels of violence fell in Iraq over the past week, a welcome change following the spate of attacks on 22 December. At least 20 people were killed and 82 injured nationwide. This is at the lowest end of the usual figure range of 20 to 90 fatalities in any given seven-day period over recent months. […]
ONDD, the Belgian export credit agency, has warned in its monthly report that "insecurity, instability and sectarian tensions will continue to prevail in Iraq". The text of their statement is shown below: Iraq: Deteriorating security and political climate as US troops leave the country > Event: The last US troops left Iraq after President Obama‘s […]
A deal for US fighter jets and tanks will not be stopped by political instability, reports Al Jazeera. The deal is reportedly for USD11bn-worth of weaponry. Since the US pulled out its remaining troops two weeks ago, violence has increased, arrest warrants have been issued against senior politicians opposing prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, and opposing […]
150,000 refugee Iraqi's have returned to Iraq from seemingly more unstable countries, according to AKNews. Iraqi immigration minister Dindar Dosk said that these Iraqis, who escaped from Iraq after the Iraq War began, have now returned since the outbreak of protests in the Arab world over the past year, in particular from Yemen, Libya, Egypt and […]
Summary Levels of violence rose in Iraq over the past week, with dozens of people killed and injured in a series of attacks in Baghdad on 22 December. Meanwhile, the political crisis between senior politicians also endures, posing a significant risk to overall national stability and raising the possibility of major internal strife over the […]
