By Jared Szuba for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. No plans for full US withdrawal from Iraq, top general says The United States may be leaving Afghanistan but troops will remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future, the CENTCOM commander […]
By John Lee. Iraq has fallen in the World Press Freedom Index for 2021, ranking 163rd out of 180 countries, down one place on last year. The result puts Iraq behind countries such as Turkey and Sudan, but ahead of Iran and Syria. First place went to Norway, with Eritrea coming last. Reporters Without Borders […]
By Anthony H. Cordesman, for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. [Please note that this report was issued on 1st April 2021, several days before the Strategic Dialogue between the United States and Iraq.] […]
By John Lee. The United Kingdom has removed Iraq from the list of high-risk third countries for the purposes of money laundering legislation. The new listing -- "Schedule 3ZA" -- does not include Iraq. This schedule replaces the list in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 of 14th July 2016 by identifying high-risk third countries with […]
By John Lee. The North Oil Company (NOC) has said that two oil wells in the Bai Hassan field in Kirkuk were attacked in an act of sabotage on Saturday. The explosions did not result in damage or injury. (Source: Ministry of Oil)
Corruption Worse Than ISIS: Causes and Cures for Iraqi Corruption The Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) is delighted to invite you to the public launch of Professor Frank Gunter's new paper on corruption in Iraq on Monday 26th of April from 1pm - 2pm BST. Following the presentation of the paper there will be comments from […]
The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) contributed US$ 1.6 million to UNFPA for two years to provide integrated sexual reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) interventions in Iraq. The funding will strengthen the capacity of national actors, in particular women empowerment organisations, in their response to gender-based violence following a survivor-centred approach and will […]
By Samir Sumaida'ie, former Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations and the United States, for The Wilson Center. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Hijacking of Democracy: The Role of Political Parties in Iraq In the eighteen years since the fall […]
From The Economist. Getting into Iraq may soon be much easier Visa-free travel is supposed to woo expats and tourists. Read the full article here (subscription needed).
By John Lee. Rusafa Criminal Court has sentenced an employee at the Taxes Public Commission to two years of "severe imprisonment" on a charge of bribery. Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council said the man was found guilty of taking IQD18 million from a merchant in order to reduce taxes. (Source: Iraq Supreme Judicial Council)
By John Lee. Iraq's Federal Court of Cassation has ratified the imprisonment of a former director of the Customs Center at Najaf Airport. According to the Commission on Integrity, the director took money to allow the smuggling of 400 boxes of medicine through the airport. (Source: Commission on Integrity)
By John Lee. At a meeting on Tuesday, the Iraqi Cabinet approved the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) decision to pay the German company Hensoldt to inspect the software running the country's electoral systems. The company, which has 5,600 employees, describes itself as "a pioneer of technology and innovation for defence and security electronics." General […]
