Iraqi News and Highlights Monday AM 8-17-20
Iraqi News and Highlights Monday AM 8-17-20
TLM724 Administrator BondLady’s Corner
COVID-19 Information
Home | News & Events | COVID-19 Information 4.6K Last updated: 08/16/2020
Country-Specific Information:
Iraq has confirmed cases of COVID-19 within its borders. National airports are open with limited service. On August 15, the Government of Iraq amended the curfew. A partial curfew is in effect seven days a week from 10:00 pm to 5:00am. Restrictions on public gatherings and social distancing rules remain in place even outside of curfew periods.
The Iraqi Government has banned travel between provinces for non-essential purposes and banned entry to Iraq for tourism and religious purposes. Government departments are permitted to resume working, but with minimum staffing.
Malls and shops are open with distancing and hygiene measures in place, and cafes and restaurants are permitted to offer carry-out services only. Schools, universities, and mosques remain closed. Land borders remain generally closed for all but commercial traffic.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
Airports throughout Iraq are open with limited service. Travelers should be aware that a flight suspension may be implemented at any time and on short notice.
Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes
Individuals traveling to Iraq are required to carry out a COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to the flight and should be prepared to present results at passport control. Travelers are encouraged to check with their airline prior to travel to Iraq to confirm the latest requirements.
Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
Thermal temperature screening is in place at airport entrances and for arrival passengers. Use of face coverings for those in airport terminals and on-board aircraft is mandatory and physical distancing measures are in place in terminals
Individuals exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and/or those not wearing face coverings may be denied boarding or entry to the airport.
Passengers departing Iraq should be prepared to provide negative COVID-19 test results prior to departure depending on the country of destination. Those departing to locations with COVID-19 test requirements may be required to provide negative results within the specified time frame of the destination. Travelers should work with airlines to confirm destination requirements.
Movement Restrictions:
Is a curfew in place? Yes
On August 15, the Government of Iraq amended the curfew. A partial curfew is in effect seven days a week from 10:00 pm to 5:00am.
Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? Yes
As of April 19, travel between all Iraqi provinces continues to be limited. Travelers seeking to enter the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) or cross provincial boundaries in the IKR will need to request permission from the KRG Ministry of interior here: https://www.moi.gov.krd/tregapidan/. Travel is permitted between Erbil and Baghdad by plane with a recent negative COVID test result. The Government of Iraq announced on August 15 that non-essential travel between provinces was prohibited.
Quarantine Information:
Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Yes
All Iraqi citizens and other individuals returning from abroad will be requested to quarantine for 14 days and may be requested to provide proof of reservation in a hotel for the duration of the quarantine period.
COVID-19 Testing:
Public hospitals throughout Iraq are offering COVID-19 testing in country. In addition, the following private labs offer testing and are authorized by the Government of Iraq to provide tests to those intending to travel:
The al-Istishari Medical Lab
Located next to Al-Yarmook Hospital, Baghdad
0771 100 0881
8:00am to 5:00pm except Fridays, by appointment only
Approximately $110.00 per exam
Moleculor Biology Specialized Lab
Alwathiq Square, Salman Faeq Street, Baghdad
0771 391 0521
Closed on Fridays, by appointment only
Zanko Health Clinic
Near 18 Shubat Street, opposite Muhameed Majidi School, Erbil
0750 146 8484
Transportation Options:
Are commercial flights operating? Yes
Fines for Non-Compliance:
Individuals not complying with curfew, social distancing, or masking requirements may be subject to fines. Those not complying at the airport may be denied boarding.
Consular Operations:
Emergency services for U.S. citizens are offered at the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil. Please contact ErbilACS@state.gov to request an emergency appointment. Visa services are suspended countrywide.
Local Resources:
Government of Iraq Coronavirus Webpage
Other links:
COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
CDC page on COVID-19
Iraq Travel.state.gov Country Information and Travel Advisory page
By U.S. Embassy in Baghdad | 16 August, 2020 | Topics: Alert, Security & Emergency Messages
https://iq.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
Lawmakers For Al-Sabah: The Country's Exceptional Circumstances Necessitate The Resumption Of Parliamentary Sessions
Monday 17th August 2020 119 Baghdad / Hoda Al-Azzawi Iraq is currently going through exceptional health, economic and security conditions that call for the return of the House of Representatives to hold its parliamentary sessions to legislate some important laws related to the files of “Electricity, Corona, the Budget, and Turkish attacks,” but the legislative authority has not resumed its activities for more than five months except for holding some emergency sessions by passing the borrowing law Internal and external, what called some political blocs to emphasize the need to resume the sessions next week, while adhering to preventive measures and social distancing to discuss a package of accumulated files.
Sessions are binding
MP Bahad al-Din al-Nuri believes, in an interview with Al-Sabah, that holding the sessions has become a very necessary matter as it is one of the duties of the House of Representatives, in addition to being a legislative authority that follows up the work of the government, but unfortunately the issue was not taken seriously even though most of the deputies demanded a session. Parliamentary in order to follow up the government's work.
In turn, the head of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, MP Muhammad Reda Al Haider, pointed out that the Saeron Parliamentary Bloc submitted a request three months ago to the Speaker of Parliament, during which it insisted on holding sessions before the Eid, especially since there are decisions that need to be discussed.
Al Haidar added, to Al-Sabah, that most of the committees follow up their work and hold meetings for their members. However, it is necessary to hold Parliament sessions to approve projects that need to be voted, calling for a session to be held next week in the Great Hall with the application of preventive safety conditions and social distancing.
Parliamentary insistence
In the context, the reporter of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Dr. Ahmed Al-Saffar, confirmed that signatures were collected to hold the sessions due to the presence of important urgent issues that need to be decided and discussed, expecting the House of Representatives to resume its sessions in the coming days.
Al-Saffar explained, in an interview with Al-Sabah, that the sessions cannot be held through the television circuit, especially since passing laws and voting on them requires a quorum to be completed, and this cannot happen within the circuit, adding that the parliamentary committees can meet through the television circuit, as the number is limited to 23 deputies, and in the presence of 13 or 14 deputies, a meeting can be held, but with the large number of deputies, it is difficult to hold the session in this way.
Al-Saffar added that the majority of MPs insist on holding the sessions if the health situation permits, as many issues are still backlog and need to be discussed, and that can only be done by holding sessions while adhering to preventive measures. On a related level, the deputy of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Bashar al-Kiki, explained that the general situation is very difficult to hold a session, as it may cause a major imbalance if the preventive measures are not adhered to.
Flimsy justifications
In his response to the justifications for suspending the sessions, MP Bahaa Al-Din Al-Nuri returns to confirm, to "Al-Sabah", that if the matter is related to the Corona pandemic, I think that there is no difference between the MP and the citizen, especially as we have reached herd immunity and coexistence with this pandemic, as the necessary measures can be taken Indicating that we, as members and political blocs within the parliament dome, have called for necessary sessions to be held, as there are files that need to be discussed, including the electricity file, the trade file and the ration card that have not yet reached the citizen, as well as the file of the Ministry of Transport and border ports.
Al-Nouri called on the government to establish special committees to search for laws that directly affect the lives of citizens in order to send them to the House of Representatives for legislation, stressing the need for the House of Representatives to practice its work and the government to prepare draft laws that can be legislated inside the parliament, especially in the current circumstance, the work of the committees Without referring to the government, it will cause special problems.
Legislative holiday
While the head of the Parliamentary Services and Reconstruction Committee, Dr. Walid Sahlani, believes that the exceptional circumstances that have passed on the world in a clear and known manner of the impact of the Corona pandemic confirmed that holding the sessions is not an optional issue, but rather it is a force majeure due to this epidemic.
Sahlani added, to "Al-Sabah", that Parliament is in its legislative recess as timings that cannot be crossed. Therefore, I believe that after a month the parliament can practice its role and work, but we need to create an appropriate healthy environment in which legislators can meet to take decisions that will raise Even a small part of the burden that burdens the citizen.
Al-Sahlani continued that his committee practices its work in following up the service sectors supervising it and most of the committees practice their work normally and there is no shirking of responsibility by members of Parliament to hold the sessions, pointing out that we in the Al-Fateh bloc called for holding sessions Especially for exceptional circumstances, it will be studied by the Presidency Council, with the hope that it will be held in the coming days. LINK
The Federal Budget And Change Of Course
Monday 17th August 2020 Baghdad / Hussein Faleh Deputies and specialists in economic and financial affairs called for the need to change the course of the federal budget to activate the investment side in it, and while they indicated that investment could be an alternative solution in financing strategic projects in the country, they stressed the importance of creating the appropriate climate for investment to attract companies and capital to the country.
Member of the Parliamentary Services Committee, Representative Hussein Arab, said in a statement to Al-Sabah: “Most of the countries in the world depend on investment to finance their service and strategic projects,” pointing out that “the financial crisis that the country is witnessing at the present time makes it imperative for the government to find alternatives in financing, This comes by proposing the stalled projects whose completion rates are advanced as investment opportunities to complete them. "
Investment activation
He added that "the federal budget must change its course because the operational side is the dominant one," stressing the need to activate the investment side in the budget, and to make projects funded through investment.
He pointed out that "creating the appropriate climate for investment requires legislation of laws and the issuance of decisions that would attract investment companies and capital to the country."
For his part, a member of the Finance Committee, Representative Shirwan Mirza, affirmed that "there is a governmental tendency to conduct financial reforms and diversify state resources by reducing dependence on oil and reducing government spending on projects."
White paper
Mirza said in a statement to Al-Sabah: "The white government paper includes radical reforms to the economic situation in the country, and aims to diversify financial resources and reduce dependence on oil, as well as set a new path to activate investment in the implementation of strategic and vital projects in the country."
He pointed out that "investment can be an alternative solution to financing stalled projects," indicating that there are stalled projects and others with advanced completion rates that must be completed.
He explained that "there is great cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities in legislating laws and issuing decisions that would reform the general economic situation in the country."
Investment companies
In addition, the economist Hazem Hadi said, "The necessity of creating a safe environment for investment by providing incentives to investors."
Hadi said in a statement to Al-Sabah: “There is a migration of local capital to neighboring countries due to the lack of guarantee laws and a suitable environment for investment,” pointing out that “most countries of the world relied on investment in rehabilitating and developing their infrastructure and not relying on government funding.” .
He added, "The continued reliance on government funding in implementing projects means that the wheel of development will remain at a standstill," calling for "the need to provide inducements to investment companies to encourage them to work in the Iraqi market."
Attractive environment
The Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, had confirmed earlier during his reception of a delegation representing a number of Iraqi businessmen, the government's endeavor for Iraq to be an attractive environment for investment.
A statement by the Media Office of the Prime Minister stated that Al-Kazemi listened during the meeting to the remarks of businessmen regarding their work and investments in Iraq, the problems and challenges facing them, the obstacles that stand in the way of revitalizing the private sector work inside the country, and ways Overcome them.
He stressed that "the current government is a government of consensus, solidarity, and national understanding to overcome the crisis and cross Iraq to a land of safety, and it is not a government of settling accounts, so that it affects the provision of services to the citizen and achieve what he aspires to." Foremost, the Corona pandemic and its repercussions on the economy.
He called on all parties, trade unions, as well as the private sector and social actors to "join hands and cooperate to face these challenges."
The Prime Minister pointed out to "the importance of the private sector in Iraq, and the need to strengthen and encourage it to take on its pioneering role in a way that enables it to revitalize the Iraqi economy," noting that "the government is heading today with force to support the private sector and create appropriate climates to activate it and contribute to building Country".
Al-Kazemi explained that "the government seeks to make Iraq an attractive environment for investment and investors, and not a repellent environment, indicating that there are extortion operations that the private sector is exposed to, and that the government has deterrent measures to hold accountable and prosecute those who carry out extortion and bargaining operations," stressing that "the doors of the Prime Minister's office are open to Businessmen to file their complaints about any case of extortion they may be exposed to. "
He stressed that "any issue of corruption will be dealt with with all seriousness and the legal prosecution of its owners."
He stressed that "the government is working to liberate the Iraqi economy from mortgaging it with oil, and to pay attention to the sectors of industry, agriculture, tourism, services, investment, transport and others," stressing "the government's seriousness in combating corruption in all parts of the state, especially the border crossings." LINK
Saleh Stresses The Need To Control The Ports And Fight All Forms Of Corruption In Them
Time: 08/17/2020 15:05:56 Read: 1,222 times (Baghdad: Al Furat News) The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, stressed today, Monday, in Baghdad, during his meeting with the President of the Border Ports Authority, Omar Al-Waeli, on the need to control the ports and fight corruption.
According to the statement of the Media Office of the Presidency of the Republic, Al-Furat News received a copy of it, Saleh emphasized, "the importance of supplying the state budget with the revenues of the border crossings and developing resources by strengthening the control and auditing procedures, and following the internationally approved means at the ports in a way that contributes to increasing trade exchange."
The President of the Republic stressed "the necessity of controlling border crossings, unifying work mechanisms in them, combating forms of corruption by implementing laws and regulations in force for the work of the commission, as well as strengthening measures to protect local products."
In turn, Al-Waeli provided an explanation of the authority’s efforts to raise the revenues of the outlets, promote its infrastructure and coordinate with the concerned authorities to facilitate services for travelers and workers in the commercial field. LINK
Al-Kazemi: We Face Very Big Challenges And The Bureaucracy Needs Courageous Decisions
Time: 08/17/2020 15:02:32 Read: 1,898 times {Baghdad: Al Furat News} The Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, affirmed that "the bureaucratic challenges in Iraq need bold and courageous decisions, and we will proceed with them to move in the right way and to serve our people."
Al-Kazemi said during the cabinet session today, "With bureaucracy and red tape, we will not reach positive results in the country, and everyone will remain in place, and we will retreat, which will reflect negatively on all sectors."
And that "the size of the challenges we face is very large, and there are those who seek to impede the work, but we are determined to move forward and move forward." LINK
Oil: We Provided 526 Billion Dinars To The Ministries And Governorates
Time: 08/17/2020 13:55:48 Read: 1,209 times (Baghdad: Al Furat News) The Minister of Oil affirmed the ministry’s keenness to provide material, moral and logistical support to the ministries and governorate administrations according to the capabilities available to the ministry and oil companies, stressing the importance of exemplary cooperation with the concerned authorities in facing the difficult economic and financial conditions, as well as the Corona epidemic crisis.
Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail said in a statement, "Today we feel proud and proud of all workers in the oil sector, corporate administrations, and all oil formations for the tender, work and outstanding support they provide to other ministries, governorates and all segments of society, and this is not a favor but rather a duty imposed by moral and professional responsibility and good citizenship."
On all of us, praising the role of the Oil Products Distribution Company, which bore a heavy financial burden that weighed heavily on its shoulders, but nevertheless it did not stop implementing the ministry’s directives in standing by the service and health sectors and providing it with distinguished support and effort.
For his part, the Director General of the Oil Products Distribution Company, Hussein Talib Agency, announced that the total financial support provided to the Ministry of Electricity has reached (290 billion dinars) for the value of the term payment for the supplied fuel, while the value of the material support to other ministries and governorates amounted to (235 billion dinars), while the The material support provided to the health sector in the governorates and the Ministry of Health to confront the Corona epidemic is about (two billion dinars), in addition to the fuel provided to state institutions, as it has supplied state ministries with (326 million liters) of gasoline and gas oil.
He added, "The Ministry of Oil, represented by the Oil Products Distribution Company, provided one billion and four hundred million dinars to the governorates of Nineveh, Anbar, Salah al-Din, Diyala, Holy Karbala, Babil and al-Najaf, at a rate of (200 million dinars) for each governorate and (200 million dinars), to equip the halls of the Ministry of Youth and Sports as hospitals for quarantine, In addition to saving an amount (400 million dinars), additional support was allocated to the health sector. "
With regard to equipping power stations, Talib confirmed that the company supplied the Ministry of Electricity with (363 million liters) of gas oil, whose value was (145 billion dinars), along with one and a half billion liters of fuel oil at a price of (145 billion dinars).
Regarding fuel supplied to state departments and on terms, Talib pointed out that the ministry has supplied ministries and state institutions with more than 209 million liters, of which 31 are aviation fuel for the army and air force aviation and the rest is from gas oil in amounts exceeding (80 billion dinars). As for gasoline, the quantities supplied have reached more than (117) One million liters) in amounts exceeding (52 billion dinars).
With regard to the oil content, the sum of the sums involved in equipping the ministries on the term was more than (2.5 billion dinars) of various types of oils. LINK
Oil Prices Are Rising As China Prepares To Increase Its Imports Of US Crude
Time: 08/17/2020 10:24:52 Read: 1,781 times {International: Al Furat News} Oil prices rose today, Monday, following news that China intends to bring in large quantities of US crude in August and September, which nullified the effect of concerns about a slowdown in the recovery of demand after the Corona virus pandemic and an increase in supplies.
Brent crude was up 32 cents, or 0.7%, to $ 45.12 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude advanced 35 cents, or 0.8%, recording $ 42.36 a barrel.
Chinese government-owned oil companies began reserving tankers to bring in at least 20 million barrels of US crude in August and September, Reuters reported on Friday, as Beijing increased purchases of energy and agricultural products ahead of a review of the trade agreement concluded with Washington.
Oil prices were supported by unprecedented crude imports for the largest buyer in the world and the easing of restrictions to combat Covid-19 globally, but a new wave of Corona virus infections in several countries is expected to curb consumption again.
Hui Lee, an economist at Singapore's OCBC Bank, said: “Oil demand data was largely positive last week, as the assumed US demand for gasoline rose to a level just 3.5% below pre-Coronavirus levels, and the oil figure reached Crude processed to China, a record high in July. "
ANZ says that demand has increased by eight million barrels per day over the last four months to 88 million barrels per day - but remains below its level a year ago by 13 million barrels per day. LINK
Planning Expects The Population Of Iraq In 2025 To Reach More Than 47 Million
Money and business Economy News _ Baghdad On Monday, the Ministry of Planning expected that the population of Iraq will reach more than 47 million in 2025, while it indicated that one in four children under the age of five suffers from stunted growth.
The Supreme Authority for the General Population and Housing Census submitted a recommendation to the Council of Ministers to postpone the implementation date of the census, which was scheduled for November of this year, to the last quarter of next year 2021.
The spokesman for the ministry, Abdul Zahra Al-Hindawi, said in an interview with the official Al-Sabah newspaper that, "according to the vision of Iraq for sustainable development, the population of Iraq may reach in 2025 about 47 million and 199 thousand people."
He explained, "In 2015, Iraq ranked 121 out of 188 countries in the human development index, with a rank lower than the ranks of some countries in the region, such as Lebanon 76, Jordan 86 and Tunisia 97, as it was affected by decades of wars, international sanctions, violence, political instability and the severity of financial pressures on the capacity of the health sector." Providing health services. "
Al-Hindawi pointed out that "malnutrition in Iraq is emerging as an important public health challenge, as one in four children under the age of five suffers from stunted growth."
The American site "Worldometer" revealed, last month, that the total population of Iraq during the year 2020 reached more than 40 million people.
Number of observations 27 Date of addendum 08/17/2020 https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=21459
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