KTFA:

Samson:  Finance: The 2021 budget is the first step in the path of economic reform

21st December, 2020

The Minister of Finance, Ali Allawi, announced that the 2021 budget is the first step in the path of economic reform

On the other hand, Minister of Planning Khaled Battal said that the volume of investment spending will be around 8 trillion dinars, indicating that the budget included the suspended train project, the port of Faw and a number of projects  LINK

Samson:  Finance Minister: We made a change in the dollar exchange rate to protect the economy

21:17 - 12/21/2020

The Minister of Finance, Ali Abdul Amir Allawi, confirmed, on Monday, that the ministry had made a change in the exchange rate of the dollar in order to protect the economy.

The minister said during a conference that followed the cabinet session, which was followed by "the information", "We have made a change to exchange the price of the dollar to protect the economy."

He added that "the revenue difference by changing the exchange rate will be allocated to support vulnerable groups in society."

And that "the budget is the first step in the path of economic reform."   LINK

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Samson:  The Cabinet decides to impose a 40% tax on the salaries of the three presidencies and special ranks

21st December, 2020

The Cabinet voted on the 2021 budget bill and sent it to Parliament for discussion and voting on it

A cabinet source told Al-Eqtisad News that "the 2021 budget bill included imposing a 40% tax on the salaries of presidents, ministers, deputies, general managers and special ranks

He noted that employees whose salaries are less than a million will not be included in the new tax

He confirmed that the cuts in the allowances were canceled and replaced with a progressive salary tax that starts at 8% and ends at 40%  LINK

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Samson:  Al-Khadra attack .. Al-Kazemi announces the arrest of suspects and security leaders

22nd December 2020

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi announced, on Monday, the arrest of a number of people suspected of bombing the Green Zone on Sunday, in addition to the arrest of security leaders.

Al-Kazemi said in a press conference, after an extraordinary session during which his government approved the budget for next year, that "yesterday's bombing of Al-Khadra is a cowardly terrorist act, and that rockets fell on Iraqis and wounded them." "We will not accept any attack on the diplomatic missions," he said, adding, "We have arrested a group of suspects in the bombing." Al-Kazemi pointed out that "officials responsible for security forces have been arrested and taken to prison after the recent bombing."

Earlier today, Monday, an informed government source reported that a committee had been formed by the Popular Mobilization Forces, headed by Deputy Chairman of the Mobilization Authority, Abdul Aziz al-Muhammadawi, known as "Abu Fadak" or "Al-Khal", to investigate the missile attacks that affect the Green Zone.

This is the first time that the Hashd have investigated the missile attacks, although some of its factions, especially those close to Iran, have been repeatedly accused of being behind the attacks at the behest of Tehran. The formation of the committee comes a day after unidentified persons fired eight Katyusha rockets at the Green Zone, most of which landed on residential buildings.  LINK

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Samson:  An Expert Warns Of Iraq's Return To International Trusteeship

21st December 2020

Legal expert, Ali Al-Tamimi, warned of Iraq's return to the international trusteeship, “Chapter Seven” of the United Nations Charter.

Al-Tamimi said that Iraq is still under Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter, and that there are financial assets with Kuwait worth 4.5 billion dollars.

He added that according to Article 50 of the United Nations Charter, states that are fighting parties under Chapter VII may request economic assistance from the Security Council. Britain and France have declared their willingness to help, and Iraq has fought ISIS, which is placed under Chapter VII under Resolution 2170 of the Security Council.

He pointed out that there is a money laundering agreement for the year 2005 related to the retrieval of smuggled money in accordance with Articles 55 and 56 of which there are fees for recovering these funds. Iraq signed it in 2007 by Law 35 of 2007, and the value of smuggled money is estimated at $ 500 billion.

And he indicated that in the US Federal Bank, $ 65 billion belong to the former regime, and it is the property of the Iraqi people that Iraq can claim in accordance with Article 28 of the Iraqi-American Strategic Agreement of 2008, which allows Iraq to request economic aid from America.  LINK

Samson:  Iyad Allawi: The Decision To Reduce The Price Of The Dinar Is Wrong And Harmful To Iraqi Families

21st December 2020

The leader of the National Coalition, Iyad Allawi, confirmed his rejection of the decision to reduce the price of the dinar against the dollar, describing it as the wrong decision.

Allawi said in a tweet to him on his Twitter account, "I warned five years ago about the deterioration of conditions and their access to the current situation and the spread of corruption, and I also called for an honest international body to supervise the dollar market in the Central Bank."

He continued, "The decision to reduce the price of the dinar is wrong, and this indicates the inability to deal with the economic crisis, as it seriously harms Iraqi families." LINK

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Samson: Two Iraqi governorates will not work next Thursday

22nd December 2020

Each of the local governments in Nineveh and Kirkuk decided next Thursday to suspend official working hours in government departments on the occasion of Christmas.

The governor of Nineveh, Najm al-Jubouri, decided in a statement today to suspend official working hours throughout the governorate next Thursday 12/24/2020 on the occasion of Christmas, with the exception of service and health departments.

The local government in Kirkuk directed the suspension of official working hours throughout the governorate’s departments on next Thursday, 12/24/2020, to celebrate birthdays and honor the genuine Christian component in the governorate. LINK

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Samson: Iraq decides to close the land borders and restaurants and ban flights with several countries

22nd December 2020

The cabinet decided to close land borders, ban flights with 8 countries, and adhere to social distancing measures

In a Cabinet statement, these decisions stated

1- Urging citizens to wear masks and apply social distancing and other prevention measures

2- Preventing travel to each of the following countries (Britain, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Iran, Japan, and any other country determined by the Ministry of Health in the future), as well as preventing entry to immigrants from them (except for Iraqis and obligating them to be quarantined for a period of 14 days. In places designated for this purpose, they are not allowed to mix with others until it is proven that they do not have the disease by examining them with PCR for a period of two weeks, and until the global and regional health situation is clear for the spread of this strain

3- The Ministry of Finance secures the first payment of (3001050) dollars, for the purpose of paying it in advance to Pfizer, as well as securing the remaining amount of the total cost of the vaccine, which is $ 15005250

4- Emphasis on the Ministry of Education and governors in all governorates not to give any exceptions regarding school days, especially private schools, in contravention of the decisions of the Supreme Committee for National Health and Safety in this regard

5- Emphasizing on the Ministry of Education to instruct the education directorates in all governorates to cooperate with the school health divisions in the health departments, to examine students and cadres within educational institutions, and to follow up the measures that must be taken in schools to limit the spread of the disease, as well as to emphasize all ministries and state departments to adhere to preventive measures, To limit the transmission of the disease and prevent any employee or references from entering state departments without wearing a muzzle

6- Close social facilities (restaurants, malls, etc.) for a period of two weeks, starting from 12/24/2020

7- Close all land border crossings, except for emergency cases  LINK