Video: Iraq Arrests - a Crackdown on Opponents?
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. As Iraq detains a key Sunni leader, we ask if it is a fight against "terrorism" or a move to suppress the opposition. To discuss this, Inside Story presenter Laura Kyle is joined […]
Army Fights for Control of Anbar
By Mushreq Abbas for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. On Dec. 23, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced the launch of a military operation against al-Qaeda near the Syrian border. The operation was dubbed “Avenging the Leader Mohammad.” Many in Iraq […]
Tomato Farmers v. Iraq’s Biggest Airport
This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Clash in the Desert: Karbala’s Tomato Farmers Versus Iraq’s Biggest Airport. The authorities in the religious boom town of Karbala plan to build the country’s biggest airport on the […]
Iraq Looks to Expand Trade with Iran
By Ayser Jabbar for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The year 2013 registered high levels of commercial exchange between Iraq and Iran, which reached — according to both Iraqi and Iranian officials — more than $12 billion. This comes at a […]
Weapons Market Surges During Syria Conflict
By Omar al-Jaffal for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. More than two years ago, Mohammed al-Fatlawi was selling light weapons to men who felt threatened by security militias, those who were involved in carrying out acts of tribal revenge or even […]
Security Checkpoints Bringing Baghdad to Halt
This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A Necessary Evil: Baghdad’s Security Checkpoints Bringing City to Halt With an increasing number of checkpoints in Baghdad making an already stilted traffic flow even worse, it feels as […]
Poor Fight for Wealthy Neighbours’ Garbage
This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. One Man’s Rubbish: Basra’s Poor Fight for Wealthy Neighbours’ Garbage Gangs of poor people in Basra are making a living sifting through rubbish in the oil boomtown’s affluent neighbourhoods. […]
Sectarian Militias Assume Larger Role
By Mushreq Abbas for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Militiamen in Iraq do not only carry weapons, they also wield religious, moral and economic power over their social environment. They play the role of neighborhood governors in times of peace […]
Call to Open Another American University in Iraq
By Harith Hasan for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Dawa Official Calls for Opening Another American University in Iraq While the number of Iraqi students studying in the United States has been on the rise in the last few years, the […]
Sri Lanka Develops Relations with Kurdistan
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Sumith Nakandala, has visited the Kurdistan Region and met with the Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa to discuss a wide range of issues including ways of enhancing bilateral relations. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Head of the DFR, Karwan Jamal and the […]
Iraqi-Jordanian Talks in Baghdad
A high-level Jordanian delegation headed by the Prime Minister of Jordan, Mr. Abdullah Alnusur, arrived on December 25th accompanied by eight ministers and a number of senior advisers. The delegation was received at the airport in Baghdad, by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Minister of Youth and Sports. A formal reception took place at the […]
Iraq To Become Third Largest Russian Arms Purchaser
A Russian thinktank has predicted that China will be the fourth biggest buyer of weapons from Russia between 2013 and 2016, falling from the second place it held during the 2005 to 2013 period, according to a China Times. The Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade stated in a report released on Dec. 13 […]