Swedish Prosecutors Investigate Iraqi Minister
By John Lee. Iraqi Defence Minister Najah al-Shammari is reportedly being investigated in Sweden for alleged crimes against humanity, and benefits fraud. According to The Local, an unnamed Swedish-Iraqi lawyer told Svenska Dagbladet that he had reported al-Shammari, who it said is also a Swedish citizen, to police in October for his role in the […]
Iraq orders Closure of 12 News Outlets
Iraq's media regulator should reverse its decision to order the closure of 12 broadcasters over a licensing dispute and should allow media outlets to freely cover protests in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Monday. On November 12, the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), Iraq’s media regulator, ordered the closure of […]
Iraq on Display
By Christine McCaffray van den Toorn for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. After weeks of mass protests in Iraq, there are signs that the government’s patience is waning. Its current response — a mixture of spending and reform promises combined with violent […]
"Doing Business 2020 – Iraq" Report: A Critique
By Dr Amer K. Hirmis. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. World Bank’s ‘Doing Business 2020 – Iraq’ report: A Critique The World Bank published ‘Doing Business 2020– Iraq’ report (henceforth WB2020), on September 24 2019, amid tumultuous political and economic events […]
IBBC to hold Iraq Tech Forum in Dubai
The Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) will also be holding a Tech Forum on 8 December, which will run in parallel with its Autumn Conference at the Address Hotel, Dubai. IBBC tech conference is bringing together some of the key innovators of Tech in Iraq and will be speaking on how Digital Technology can deliver […]
Iraq’s New Republic of Fear
By Renad Mansour, for Foreign Affairs. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. How Youthful Protests Provoked an Authoritarian Turn On October 1, protesters flooded the streets of Baghdad, decrying high rates of unemployment and rampant corruption. In the ensuing weeks, the protests ballooned. […]
GardaWorld Weekly Security Report
GardaWorld, a global leader in comprehensive security and risk management, has made its weekly security report available to Iraq Business News readers. Prepared by GardaWorld's Risk Analysis Team in Iraq, this essential report includes short- and medium-term outlooks on the security situation, reports and commentary on recent significant events, and a detailed overview of developments […]
Iraqi Ministers Probed on Corruption Charges
Iraq’s Commission of Integrity (COI) announced today that it has summoned a third minister on charges of corruption and mismanagement. The COI said in a statement that the court investigating integrity cases in Kirkuk Governorate issued a summons against the former minister of higher education and scientific research, who it did not name. Since 2003, […]
New Scandals pour more fuel on Iraq Protests
By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. New scandals pour more fuel on Iraq protests The protests are escalating rapidly in Iraq, with the players moving fast and adding more fuel to an already burning region. This increasingly complex […]
Draft Election Law: UN calls for Improvements
Draft election law: UN calls for improvements to meet public demands Electoral reform has been a central demand of many peaceful protesters. In recent weeks, Iraqi authorities have sought to find legislative solutions that address public calls for credible, free and fair elections. This process is Iraqi-owned and Iraqi-led, as it must be. United Nations […]
Umm Qasr Port Reopened
By John Lee. The entrance to Umm Qasr port has reportedly been reopened on Friday after security forces dispersed protesters. According to Reuters, the port had been blockaded since Monday. (Source: Reuters)
Public Payroll Expansion in Iraq: Causes and Consequences
By Ali Al-Mawlawi. Public Payroll Expansion in Iraq: Causes and Consequences The public payroll in Iraq has grown unchecked since 2003, commensurate with the country’s vastly expanding oil wealth. With few alternative sources of government income, the state budget’s growth poses worrying questions about whether this ongoing trend can be sustained without risking economic ruin. […]