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MM 1 Jul 25: 37,43,54,55,69-24 PB 2 Jul 25: 25,38,41,51,69-16 👍🏻🇺🇸

Iraq’s economy to grow by 4.1% in 2025 Iraq Amr Salem June 30, 2025 The International Monetary Fund. Photo: AP Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected on Sunday that Iraq will rank fourth among Arab oil-producing countries in terms of economic growth in 2025. According to data revealed by the IMF, the Iraqi economy is expected to grow by 4.1 percent compared to 0.1 percent in 2024, Shafaq News reported. Libya will have the highest economic growth rate, at 13.7 percent, followed by the UAE at 5.1 percent, Saudi Arabia at 4.6 percent, and Algeria at four percent, according to the IMF. In early May, the IMF reduced its growth projections for Middle Eastern and North African oil-exporting countries, including Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The IMF lowered its 2025 projection for the region’s oil exporters to 2.3 percent, which was 1.7 percentage points less than the fund’s October prediction, according to the Financial Post. The World Bank expected in mid-June that the Iraqi economy would grow by 1.2 percent in 2025, rebounding from a contraction of -1.5 percent in 2024. According to a World Bank analysis, Iraq’s economic growth is predicted to peak at 4.4 percent in 2026 before falling to 3.1 percent in 2027. The World Bank Country Director for the Middle East Department, Jean-Christophe Carret, confirmed in March the bank’s commitment to helping Iraq meet its development objectives. With an emphasis on sustainable development, the World Bank places a high priority on strengthening Iraq’s capacity to handle economic and development difficulties, according to Carret. https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq/iraqs-economy-to-grow-by-4-1-in-2025/

PowerBall #'s for 6/30 TexasGranny 08 15 29 32 34 PB 15 Jetman 02 04 06 23 69 PB 14 babycakes61 05 26 36 40 60 PB 12

The Ministry of Planning discusses progress on the electronic automation project and the electronic payment application. Monday, June 30, 2025 14:15 | EconomicNumber of reads: 190 Baghdad / NINA / The Electronic Automation and Electronic Payment Committee at the Ministry of Planning held a consultative meeting on Monday to discuss the progress made in the field of automation and digital transformation, and the measures taken in this framework within the ministry's departments and formations. A statement by the ministry said, "The meeting addressed the mechanisms for implementing the directives of the Prime Minister's Office regarding the implementation of the electronic payment system, in addition to reviewing the measures taken during the previous meeting with the ministry's formations, and the level of progress in their implementation." The meeting also discussed the adoption of the government e-mail within the secure government network, to exchange official correspondence between the ministry's headquarters and its branches in the governorates, which contributes to accelerating procedures and enhancing information security. The statement indicated that "the meeting discussed the procedures related to the central electronic mail system of the Ministry of Planning, which is supervised by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, with the aim of developing and expanding it for use in all the ministry's departments and formations." /End https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1238288

PB 30 Jun 25: 25,38,41,51,69 16 👍🏻🇺🇸

Following retirement of chief justice Iraq’s top court resumes work under new leadership after judges withdraw resignations 20:21 BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court has resumed its duties under new leadership after nine judges who had submitted their resignations earlier this month reversed their decision and returned to the bench, a court source told 964media on Monday. The judges’ return follows the appointment of Judge Mundhir Ibrahim Hussein as president of the court after the retirement of Chief Justice Jassim Mohammed Abboud, who stepped down citing “health reasons”. Abboud’s departure came after nine members of the court—six principal and three reserve judges—resigned on June 19, citing internal divisions and political interference. A source close to the court, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the judges’ decision to return was directly linked to the leadership change. “The main reason for their resignation has now been removed,” the source said, referring to what they described as “interventions that weakened the court’s independence and distorted its judicial path.” According to the source, the judges made their return conditional on Abboud’s removal, accusing him of making “individual interpretations” in rulings that allegedly violated the constitution and legal procedures. They argued that such decisions had undermined the credibility and legal standing of the court’s rulings. With Hussein now installed as chief justice, the court is expected to continue its operations with a full bench. https://en.964media.com/37583/

Electronic payment: a step towards enhancing financial confidence and reducing corruption. Reportage 06/29/2025 Facebook Twitter Telegram Print +A -A Baghdad: Al-Jumaili's drum In light of rapid technological developments globally, the shift to digital payment systems has become a necessity to enhance the efficiency of financial and government services, especially in countries undergoing transitions like Iraq. Iraq's experience in adopting these digital methods reflects the challenges and opportunities that accompany modernizing financial infrastructure, and their impact on expanding financial inclusion, combating corruption, and ensuring transparency in financial transactions. Through the insights of specialists and practitioners in the field, it is clear that the experience has gone beyond simply replacing cash with bank cards, serving as an incentive for structural changes in economic and administrative policies. However, there is an urgent need to address the technical and organizational obstacles to ensure the success and sustainability of this transformation. Government employee Wassan Sami confirmed that her experience with electronic payments was generally positive, although the system seemed strange at first, given people's longstanding habit of using cash for their daily transactions. She explained to Al Sabah: “At first, electronic payment seemed like a new and unfamiliar system, even though we have been receiving our salaries via the Qi Card for years. However, the transition to using the card for daily payments has greatly facilitated the procedures and made transactions more organized and smooth.” She added that one of the most significant benefits she has noticed compared to cash payments is convenience and time savings, noting that “money is not lost, and we don’t have to deal with the hassle of spending coins. The procedures are also much simpler; we no longer need to receive a paper receipt or visit an employee. All we need to do is enter the required number, and the payment is completed via card within seconds, which has reduced the time by almost half.” Winner Mohammed Hassan began using an electronic payment card after joining a company that relies on electronic payroll payment in 2024, stressing that his experience has been very positive and beneficial. Speaking to Al Sabah, he said, "The most important benefit I've noticed is the convenience and ease of transactions, whether withdrawing or transferring money, especially with the introduction of Mastercard payments at gas stations, which facilitates the speedy completion of transactions within the station." Despite this positive experience, Mohammed noted that he encountered a problem once when he attempted to top up his account with 100,000 dinars via an ATM. However, the transaction failed, and the funds were withdrawn from his account. He added, "I contacted the company, and the issue was resolved within a few days, and my money was returned to me." He continued, "I have continued to use the electronic payment card until now, and it has become a major part of my daily life. I never leave the card behind. I use it to purchase credit, fill up fuel, and shop online easily and quickly." Dr. Ahmed Hadhal, a professor of economics at Al-Mustansiriya University, believes that Iraq has witnessed a rapid shift toward electronic payments in recent years. This shift began in earnest after 2016 with the decision to localize state employee salaries, paving the way for the widespread use of bank cards and bank accounts. He added that the Central Bank has reinforced this trend through several regulatory measures, including issuing instructions to activate bank accounts, encouraging citizens to use modern payment tools, and linking foreign transfers to the compliance platform, leading to remarkable quantitative results. He pointed out that recent statistics show that the number of activated electronic cards exceeds 20 million, and the number of active bank accounts exceeds 15 million, with annual transfers via these cards exceeding $6 billion. The financial inclusion rate also increased from approximately 22% in 2020 to more than 45% in 2024, indicating a relative expansion in the banking transaction base, especially after the mandatory use of these methods for public sector employees. However, Dr. Hedhal pointed out that this digital expansion did not fully translate into a tangible improvement in the quality of banking services or citizen satisfaction. The experience was accompanied by a number of problems, most notably poor service from electronic payment companies, the weak response of commercial banks to digital transformation requirements, and the imposition of high and unjustified fees for basic banking services. This created a trust gap between citizens and the banking system, and sometimes led to public dissatisfaction with the adoption of electronic mechanisms without a comprehensive infrastructure. He added that electronic payment has actually contributed to reducing financial corruption in the payroll sector by eliminating the phenomenon of "ghost workers," enhancing transparency in public spending and expense classification, and enabling regulatory authorities to track many financial transactions that were previously conducted outside the banking system. However, it has not been sufficiently successful in controlling speculation or narrowing the gap between the parallel market rate and the official exchange rate, which has persisted due to some parties exploiting payment cards to speculate on the dollar or smuggle currency. Regarding digital transformation in other sectors, Dr. Hathal noted a relative improvement in e-commerce transactions and delivery services, along with the adoption of electronic payment mechanisms for fees and collection by some government agencies. However, weak coordination between institutions, the inefficiency of digital infrastructure, and the multiplicity of service providers without effective oversight remain obstacles that limit the acceleration of comprehensive digital transformation. Dr. Hithal concluded that achieving true success in the electronic payment experience in Iraq requires a strategic shift in financial and banking policies, based on enhancing citizen confidence in the banking system, improving service quality, reducing bank fees, and linking electronic payment methods to providing real incentives, not just obligations. He also emphasized the importance of stimulating stagnant liquidity in society, noting that more than 90% of the currency remains outside the banking system, representing a missed opportunity for the national economy. He said, "It can be said that the Iraqi experience in electronic payments has achieved significant strides in terms of infrastructure and quantitative expansion, but it still requires profound reforms in banking governance, service quality, and digital policy integration to establish a robust and inclusive digital economy." Anti-corruption activist Saeed Yassin explained that the governance of financial procedures and transactions is a fundamental preventative measure in accordance with international standards for combating corruption and transnational crimes. He pointed out that a significant part of this governance relates to simplifying government procedures for paying fees and collections electronically, ensuring that funds enter the public treasury and are not exposed to theft or assault, as was previously the case when cash was transferred or placed at the disposal of employees, a phenomenon witnessed by several institutions in Iraq. Yassin added to Al Sabah that the other aspect of these measures lies in containing the crime of bribery by simplifying procedures for reviewing public institutions, adopting a system for booking appointments in advance for review, and paying fees via prepaid cards, which limits the collection of undue tax money or the illegal inflating of fees and levies. He explained that the review process is subject to careful monitoring and statistics through the management of the "Aur" website and related sites, stressing that this experience has yielded tangible progress. He stated that he personally reviewed several government departments affiliated with the Ministry of Interior, such as the Passports Department, the National ID Card Department, the Traffic Department, and the Residence Card Department, all of which are processed through the pre-booking and electronic payment system, which represents a qualitative leap in combating bribery, transaction delays, and influence peddling that were prevalent in these departments. Yassin pointed out that the new procedures also include a reporting and complaints system in other institutions, in addition to the establishment of the National Emergency Center, numbered 911, which represents a major achievement in improving communication and response mechanisms. He emphasized that among the most important recommendations for developing this experience is reducing the commission collected by financial companies and banks on prepaid card transactions, and encouraging the public to purchase these cards and use them in daily financial transactions. He also emphasized the importance of continuous public awareness on how to use these cards, maintaining the speed of transactions, and ensuring that collection funds match official funds to protect funds from assault or theft. https://alsabaah.iq/116611-.html

Baghdad agrees to pay salaries to Kurdistan Region employees under temporary understandings First ← بواسطة azzaman Baghdad agrees to pay salaries to Kurdistan Region employees under temporary understandings Baghdad - Ibtihal Al-Arabi Reports revealed that the federal government will disburse May salaries to Kurdistan Region employees within the next two days. A source was quoted as saying yesterday, "The federal government will disburse the salaries of the region's employees within the next two days, even before the oil agreement is finalized, for humanitarian purposes." The source added, "If the oil agreement is reached between Baghdad and Erbil, the Audit and Accounting Department of the federal Ministry of Finance will review the lists sent by the regional Ministry of Finance, and will release June salaries a few days later." He continued, "The federal government delegation pledged that the region's salaries will be released monthly along with the salaries of employees in other Iraqi governorates and not delayed by a single day, provided that the oil agreement is reached and that 50% of internal revenues are delivered digitally, to be sent daily to the Ministry of Finance's bank account." A high-level delegation from the regional government held a meeting with the Prime Minister's office in Baghdad as part of talks aimed at resolving the issue of the region's oil exports. According to information, the delegation is scheduled to hold a meeting later with the Iraqi Supreme Economic Council and will also meet with officials from the Ministry of Oil and the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), in a step prior to the announcement of upcoming agreements between the two sides related to regulating Kurdistan's oil exports. Last Thursday, the federal government delegation discussed most of the technical aspects related to the export process with the Ministry of Natural Resources in Erbil. The current year's budget stipulates that the region is committed to delivering between 280,000 and 300,000 barrels of oil per day to SOMO, for marketing through international ports. However, despite the progress achieved, some obstacles remain to signing the final agreement, most notably the objections of foreign oil companies operating in the region, which are demanding guarantees related to their financial rights. Sources indicate that these companies are stipulating two basic conditions before resuming exports: the first is the payment of debts accumulated by the Iraqi government since 2023, amounting to approximately one billion dollars, and the second is the signing of a written agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Ministry of Oil regulating the oil export process. The meetings are expected to continue in the coming hours, amid anticipation of an official announcement revealing the details of the upcoming agreements between the two sides. Meanwhile, PUK leader Ziyad Jabbar affirmed his party's support for any agreement that would end the salary crisis, which he attributed to the lack of a clear and binding agreement between the regional government and the federal government. Jabbar said in a statement yesterday that "the current crisis is one of the worst crises that citizens in the region have experienced, due to many complications that can only be resolved through a comprehensive oil agreement with Baghdad," stressing that "despite the promises made by various parties that 2025 would mark the end of the salary delay crisis, the reality reflects the opposite, as citizens have not received their salaries for two consecutive months, which represents a stifling crisis that affects the daily lives of the people of the region ." 453 views Added 06/29/2025 - 5:45 PM Last updated 07/01/2025 - 1:01 AM https://azzaman-iraq.com/content.php?id=107386

Saxophone solo in "Blue in Green" by John Coltrane

Too beautiful....Makes me melt.... From masterpiece album "Kind of blue" 1959...The LP which got me hooked to jazz ( and Miles specifically....)

Just superb Tony Williams - RIP (dr) Ron Carter (b) Herbie Hancock (p) George Coleman (ts) Miles Davis (tr)

Yep....We thought alike, bigwave....Just posted in the health section myself.....

A music giant. Period https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Davis

IV therapy clinics are springing up around the country, touting quick ways to recover from a hangover or a hard workout. But doctors and regulators preach caution. The services have been on a growth spurt since the COVID-19 pandemic, offering drips that promise to boost energy, gird immune systems or relieve joint pain. This is done from bags of intravenous fluids normally seen hanging next to hospital beds. Customers must be willing to fork over as much as couple hundred dollars for each session — in some cases for a mixture of vitamins and supplements that would be considerably cheaper in pill form. Proponents say this approach helps customers hydrate faster and absorb more of a vitamin or supplement than they would by swallowing pills. But Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, says the therapy mostly helps people create “expensive urine,” with the body clearing what it doesn’t use........ By TOM MURPHY Updated 8:30 PM CEST, June 30, 2025 https://apnews.com/article/retail-iv-therapy-drip-hydration-e335f09bc013739aa69fa43d92bc4945

WASHINGTON (AP) — State and federal prosecutors have charged more than 320 people and uncovered nearly $15 billion in false claims in what they described Monday as the largest coordinated takedown of health care fraud schemes in Justice Department history. Law enforcement seized more than $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, cryptocurrency, and other assets as prosecutors warned of a growing push by transnational criminal networks to exploit the U.S. health care system. As part of the sweeping crackdown, officials identified perpetrators based in Russia, Eastern Europe, Pakistan, and other countries. “These criminals didn’t just steal someone else’s money. They stole from you,” Matthew Galeotti, who leads the Justice Department’s criminal division, told reporters Monday. “Every fraudulent claim, every fake billing, every kickback scheme represents money taken directly from the pockets of American taxpayers who fund these essential programs through their hard work and sacrifice.” The alleged $14.6 billion in fraud is more than twice the previous record in the Justice Department’s annual health care fraud crackdown. It includes nearly 190 federal cases and more than 90 state cases that have been charged or unsealed since June 9. Nearly 100 licensed medical professionals were charged, including 25 doctors, and the government reported $2.9 billion in actual losses.......... By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Updated 9:27 PM CEST, June 30, 2025 https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-health-care-fraud-schemes-6a3e11dc1827dfd20ec8ea04b7c7ce9a

Netanyahu to head to Washington next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next Monday, according to two U.S. administration officials. The visit comes as the U.S. leader has begun stepping up his push on the Israeli government to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza. The officials were not authorized to comment publicly on the visit that hasn’t been formally announced and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Netanyahu’s visit comes after Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer’s visit to Washington this week for talks with senior administration officials on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other matters. The president in public comments has signaled he’s turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas, since the ceasefire to end 12 days of fighting between Israel and Iran took hold a week ago........ By AAMER MADHANI Updated 10:56 PM CEST, June 30, 2025 https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-israel-hamas-iran-858db32968941012117dfb7d391e6f3c

NEW YORK, June 30 (Reuters) - Prices for goods made in China and sold on Amazon.com have been rising faster than overall inflation, according to an analysis of 1,400 different products conducted exclusively for Reuters by the analytics firm DataWeave, a sign that tariffs are starting to hit American consumers. The analysis shows that price increases for those goods accelerated beginning in May, a signal U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs are starting to filter through to consumers. The median price of a basket of more than 1,400 products made in China and sold on Amazon.com to U.S. buyers has gone up by 2.6% between January and mid-June, outpacing the latest U.S. inflation rate for core goods, which runs only through May. Price increases vary depending on the item sold, and prices for some goods declined. For the six months through May, core goods CPI - which excludes services - rose by 1%, implying a 2% annualized rate. Both the federal data and DataWeave's study show that goods costs have trended upward in the last couple of months as tariffs begin to exert pressure on prices. DataWeave analyzed more than 25,000 items, focusing on 1,407 products sold on Amazon because those clearly list China as the country of origin. The firm used median prices rather than averages, since averages can be skewed by short-term price spikes or unusually high or low values. The basket of China-made goods includes products sold by Amazon as well as its third-party sellers. Third-party sellers account for 62% of all products sold on Amazon. The goods rising at the fastest rate include school and office supplies, electronic items such as printers and shredders, blank media items like CDs and DVDs, and home goods such as furnishings and cookware. China, which shipped $438.9 billion of goods last year to the U.S., is a big global supplier in all of these categories.......... By Siddharth Cavale June 30, 20252:05 PM GMT+2 Vid https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/us-prices-china-made-goods-amazon-rise-faster-than-inflation-analysis-shows-2025-06-30/

And let's go for term limits too.

Recover the $14.8 billion frauded by the doctors false billing Medicare & Medicaid and that would be a good start to helping the health portion of this bill now & moving forward.