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March 18, 2016

Migration of Diyala: 41 thousand displaced families got on the smart card to secure their financial dues

5:39:16 p.m. 3.18.2016 | (Voice of Iraq) - Baghdad confirmed Displacement and Migration Department in Diyala province, said Friday that more than 41 thousand displaced families got on the smart card to secure theirfinancial dues, noting that the granting of the card being in accordance with the instructions set by the Ministry of Displacement and Migration. The director of immigration department Diyala Ibtihal Daini in an interview with Alsumaria News's, said that "more than 41,000 displaced families from different areas of Diyala got a smart card within 15 integrated meal was sent to the Department of information and research programming department at the Ministry of Displacement and migration in order tosecure their financial dues approved by the central government." she Daini, that " the granting of the smart card for the displaced families are inaccordance with specific instructions by the Ministry of Displacement and migration in order to facilitate financial grants to deliver for the displaced inaccordance with the sophisticated mechanisms contribute to reduce the size of the burden on families file." the Ministry of Displacement and migration has adopted the principle of granting the smart card for families displaced to secure allocated to them by the federal government grants to deliver.

Read more:http://www.sotaliraq.com/newsitem.php?id=323085#ixzz43GeSU9Lt

March 18, 2016

Parliamentary committee announces the initiation amending municipal revenue law

03/17/2016

BAGHDAD / JD / .. the parliamentary finance committee, announced an end to amend the draft of the municipal councils in the sixties of the last century, revenue law, likely approval in the next few sessions of the House of Representatives.

A member of the committee MP Hussam punitive Agency / KD /: The committee ended its own amendment to the draft of the municipal councils in the sixties of the last century, revenue law, especially related to real estate and property and a review of fees and taxes.

He added that the law is ready to vote and will be put in the next few sessions of the House of Representatives for the purpose of voting on it.

http://www.dananernews.com/News_Details.php?ID=7032

March 18, 2016

Industry Announces offer 25 plant investment

News Source:Ali Abd al - Salman

Section:page economic

March 18, 2016 11:55

The Ministry of Industry, on Thursday, displaying 25 plant investment, stressing that the ministry plans to open new lines of plants in the coming days.

The Minister of Industry Mohammed Darraji in an interview, "The ministry offered 25 laboratories for investment and partnership with the private sector," noting that "the ministry will in the coming days, the opening of new lines of plants, including a new line of fertilizers and other products for national industry."

He Darraji, that "in light of the difficult economic circumstances in which we live must be a solution of industry solutions," adding that "the ministry's plan in the first stage is to profit by the beginning of self-sufficiency and then provide the state with money from the national industry."

Most of the companies and laboratories of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals has stopped production due to looting and sabotage their companies and factories after the events of 2003.

March 18, 2016

Mr. al- Sadr: we will not allow any armed spread and damage the protest march life Mr. Qabbanji: Iraq does not accept prejudice Bthoapth and sanctities infringement of the crowd the popular Mr. Sadr thank the security forces for their cooperation and the fulfillment of the streets of the Pakistani capital (Islamabad) celebrates the arrival of the holy shrines in Iraq , the religious authority Supreme continue reminding those in a position of power tracing of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) for managing the affairs of the country and the parish .. Associate jihadist Mr. Muqtada Alsdraaln start sit - ins "officially" when the green gates of the security forces to deal calmly with the sit - ins Mr. Qabbanji: Iraq prejudice Bthoapth and sanctities infringement on the popular crowd does not accept Saleem Jubouri calls for restraint and a commitment to the peaceful demonstrations of the United Nations condemned the "massacres" coalition of the Saudi aggression in Yemen

Gulf Keystone $ 178 million debt Kurdistan

News Source:Ali Abd al - Salman

Section:page economic

March 18, 2016 12:45

Gulf Keystone Petroleum Corporation said on Thursday that Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government still owes it an amount of $ 178 million in exchange for oil exports, and costs related to the oil field Sheikhan.

The company announced the oil - producing incurred losses amounting to $ 135 million in 2015 versus $ 248 million in the previous year.
The company said that Sheikhan field production may begin to decline in the current year if it is available to them between $ 71 million and $ 88 million to beinvested in the field , did not agree its partners and the government on the plan quickly

http://burathanews.com/news/288786.html

March 15, 2016

ISIS leader al-Shishani dies of wounds from U.S. strike in Syria

By Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Bassen Mroue, Associated Press

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 | 8:03 a.m.

BAGHDAD — Top Islamic State commander and feared ethnic Chechen jihadi fighter Omar al-Shishani has died of wounds suffered in a U.S. airstrike in Syria, a senior Iraqi intelligence official and the head of a Syrian activist group said Tuesday.

Al-Shishani, who was wounded in a U.S. airstrike earlier this month, died on Monday outside the Islamic State group's main stronghold of Raqqa in Syria, the two told The Associated Press.

There was no immediate confirmation of his death from the Islamic State group but the IS-affiliated Aamaq news agency denied he was killed, saying that the "he was not subjected to any injury." The outlet quoted an unnamed "source" for the denial, without giving further details or evidence that al-Shishani was still alive.

An American spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition battling the Islamic State group in Iraq said the alliance was also confirming the militant commander had died.

The red-bearded ethnic Chechen was one of the most prominent IS commanders, who earlier served as the group's military commander for the territory it controls in Syria. He later became the commander of the group's ground forces, according to Hisham al-Hashimi, an Iraqi scholar and author who closely follows the group.

According to Rami Abdurrahman, of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which tracks the Syrian conflict through a network of activists on the ground, after al-Shishani was wounded, IS "brought a number of doctors to treat him, but they were not able to."

Abdurrahman said al-Shishani died in a hospital in the eastern suburbs of Raqqa. The Iraqi intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to talk to the media, said the IS commander was buried in Deir el-Zour on Tuesday.

Al-Shishani, whose real name is Tarkhan Batirashvili, was an ethnic Chechen from the Caucasus nation of Georgia, specifically from the Pankisi Valley, a center of Georgia's Chechen community and once a stronghold for militants.

A U.S. airstrike targeted al-Shishani on March 4 near the town of Shaddadeh in Syria, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters in a statement last week.

Al-Shishani "had been sent to Shaddadeh to bolster ISIL fighters following a series of strategic defeats," Cook said in the statement, using an alternative acronym for the Islamic State group.

The spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren said on Tuesday that the coalition was able to "assess that he is dead" and that it "got the word Monday morning."

Warren described al-Shishani as a "very important figure," in the Islamic State group, who was hit as part of a stepped-up campaign of U.S.-led airstrikes targeting IS leadership.

Last week, Waren told reporters that the airstrike that targeted al-Shishani was part of a series of stepped-up coalition strikes targeting IS leadership.

Al-Shishani was in the area of Shaddadeh "along with about a dozen other fighters who were in one spot ... and we struck it," Warren said at the time.

The extremist IS group, which emerged from al-Qaida's branch in Iraq, has many Iraqis among its top leaders. It blitzes across much of Iraq in the summer of 2014, capturing vast swaths of the country's north and west. It also exploited the chaos of Syria's civil war to seize large chunks of territory there as well and declared an Islamic self-styled "caliphate" on the territory it controls in both countries.

It subsequently drew hundreds of foreign fighters into its operations in Syria. The United Nations estimated that around 30,000 so-called foreign fighters from 100 countries are actively working with the Islamic State, al-Qaida or other extremist groups. An earlier estimate by the International Center for the Study of Radicalization, a think tank at King's College London, said IS fighters include 3,300 Western Europeans and 100 or so Americans.

Yet despite the U.S.-led campaign of coalition airstrikes in both Iraq and Syria, IS still controls large areas, including Iraq's second largest city of Mosul and also Raqqa, the group's main stronghold in Syria.

http://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/mar/15/isis-leader-al-shishani-dies-of-wounds-from-us-str/?

March 15, 2016

One of the largest oil companies in Iraq may close its office

10:10:59 03/15/2016 | (Voice of Iraq) - Twilight News is considering Russian energy company "Rosneft", which is the major oil companies operating in the Russian market, the issue of the closure of its office in theMiddle East. She said , "Rosneft" company in its statement , according tothe agency "RIA Novosti" Russian, the Council Company management will discuss during its meeting tomorrow , the issue of the closure of theRepresentation of the company in Abu Dhabi, without specifying thereasons for it. She also drew "Rosneft" that will make decisions on a series of transactions. owns the Russian government is currently 70% of "Rosneft" shares, which controls 40 percent of Russia 's production of oil. it is noteworthy here that "Rosneft" is one of the largest Russian companies in prospecting for oil and gas extracted, and it has seven large factories for oil refining and gas processing, is also working in some Arab countries such asIraq and Algeria.

Read more:http://www.sotaliraq.com/newsitem.php?id=322604#ixzz42zCPdCAm

March 15, 2016

Industry signed a contract with the UAE company to assemble and marketing of buses

03/15/2016

BAGHDAD / JD / .. Public carmaker signed and equipment, one of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals signed a contract with UAE company provides collection, production and marketing of buses.

The general director of the company Adnan Ahmed demure in a written statement / KD / received a copy of it: that his company signed a contract with the United Arab Emirates Jblko Company (Under Croatian Acrobas Company) for assembling, producing and marketing multiple sizes buses from 14 passengers to 54 passengers for a period of (10 ) Years .

He noted that his company is one of the leading manufacturing and production of buses for companies, adding that the company has released a new output of pickups type (Arsene) with Qmarp one load (1) tons to the domestic market at a very appropriate with traffic signs after it began the actual production card (15) car / per day in conjunction with Aiko Iranian company.

He noted that the company started processing of peasants and farmers who obtained loans from the agricultural initiative Balsahbat According to the date of obtaining the loan with providing all the necessary facilities for them ended

http://www.dananernews.com/News_Details.php?ID=7012

March 15, 2016

Eliminating delivers its final accounts completion rates of 100% of the investment side, and 97% for operational

News Source:Ali Abd al - Salman

Section:page economic

March 15, 2016 8:14

Hits:18

The federal judiciary has announced, Monday, for the delivery of final accounts to the Audit Court, pointing out that the percentage of completion of 100% in the investment side and more than 97% in the operational side.
The financial judiciary Director symbolic Kadhim in a statement that " the Iraqi judiciary handed over to the Office of Financial Supervision final accounts after the completion of deliverables , " indicating that "rates of completion of thebudget for last year was very high."
She added, " The investment side of the budget amounted ratios accomplished 100% , "indicating that" rates of completion of the operational side amounted to97.3%. "
She explained," The remainder did not spend because of the financial crisis plaguing the country about a year and a lack of liquidity , "asserting that" the delivery of the accounts received within the prescribed time. "

http://burathanews.com/news/288544.html

March 8, 2016

Parliamentary committee threatens to question Iraqi PM

Tuesday, 08 March 2016 14:03

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Haider al-Abadi, Iraq’s Prime Minister. [File photo]

Iraq's National Security and Defence Committee called for Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi to investigate the reasons behind the latest security breaches that led to the killing and wounding of more than 1,000 people, the Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

The committee threatened to question the prime minister if he did not launch a comprehensive investigation.

In a press conference, committee head Hakem Al-Zameli said: “A number of security breaches and detonations took place recently in several neighbourhoods across Baghdad… These acts caused the killing and wounding of more than 1,000 Iraqis. This proves weak intelligence and preventive security.”

“I am calling for the General Commander of the Armed Forces Haidar Al-Abadi to open and investigation into this issue to know the reasons for these security breaches and propose plans to treat them.”

Al-Zameli noted that the committee is to host a number of the security leaders, including the operations director and the interior and defence ministers, as well as the general director of the armed forces.

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https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/24379-parliamentary-committee-threatens-to-question-iraqi-pm?

March 8, 2016

Diyala stopped issuing licenses and paintings market forms in preparation for the second phase of the national project

5:18:55 p.m. 8/3/2016 | (Voice of Iraq) - Diyala , announced theDepartment of Diyala province , later, Tuesday, for stop issuing plates ofvehicles market leave forms until further notice, while attributed the reason to prepare for the start of the second phase of the national project. He said media director of Diyala passage of Colonel Ali al - Tamimi in an interview with Alsumaria News, " The Diyala traffic stopped issuing forms to leave the market and Alsnuyat plates numbers beginning with 6 of this March since and until further notice , " explaining that "it comes to updating thesystem and maintenance of computers and increase the number of printers to absorb the momentum and get ready for the start of the second phase of the national project." among Tamimi, that "the citizens who were withdrawn Astmarathm review of vehicle registration complex at theintersection of Canaan, (7 km east of Baquba), in order to complete atransaction as quickly as possible." It is noteworthy that most of the traffic circles provinces of the country except for the Kurdistan region are promoting the switch old registration plates transactions Almnafist new figures within the project dubbed "project" for the registration of vehicles and leave the market.

Read more:http://www.sotaliraq.com/newsitem.php?id=321717#ixzz42K7xNhNC

March 8, 2016

Experts: freeze the work of the provincial councils will reduce the waste of money and eliminates corruption

03/08/2016

BAGHDAD / JD / .. invited a number of experts and specialists in the financial and economic affairs, the government and parliament to pass a resolution to freeze the work of the provincial councils being impede the work of the executive bodies and caused the waste of money and corruption, stressing that stopping their work will save billions of the state in the current financial crisis.

The economist said Mohammad al-Hassani, said the provincial councils become today obstructive president in the implementation of vital projects and infrastructure as the policy conflict with the executive government policy making, there is a big gap between the work of local governments and the federal government, plus it's a problem on the basis of partisan and sectarian Each bloc is working for their own benefit only.

He said al-Hassani told / KD / Since the day the country is going through a severe financial crisis and needs to be large to stroll matters of state money he should issue a decision from the government and be voted on by the House of Representatives to freeze the work of the provincial councils to another logo until the improvement in the financial situation in the country.

He explained that this measure will provide billions of dollars to the state on the grounds that a very large councilors salaries plus Hamayatem wheels convoy.

The head of the independent parliamentary bloc frankincense Sadiq said his bloc adopts a collection of signatures of members of the House of Representatives, to freeze the work of the provincial councils and stop its members.

Said chewing gum in a press statement, that some members of the provincial councils have taken it upon themselves to obstruct the work of the executive bodies in the provinces, and caused the waste of public money and corruption, as well as to hand them huge salaries and have the protections and wheels drains a lot of money from the state treasury.

He explained that the performance of some members of the provincial councils is very bad and overwhelmed by their personal interests and partisan to the supreme interests of the provinces, pointing out that the provincial councils took disruptive to the work of the provinces and the role of their projects, play a negative role in it.

He said the economic situation that Iraq is going through now and austerity measures, the freezing of the work of all the provincial councils requires, pull all the powers granted to the councils, and stop their salaries during this period until the improved economic situation of the country.

Meanwhile, an expert on financial affairs spokesman Tamimi stressed the need for some members of the provincial councils accountable and brought to justice because they are accused of major corruption issues.

He said al-Tamimi told / KD /: that some members of the provincial councils accused of financial corruption issues regarding the assignment of some of the projects to companies lagging behind and the federal government are familiar with them, but these people are affiliated with certain political parties can no hold them accountable, but it is time to hold accountable the corrupt and looters, whether official the federal government or the provincial councils.

http://www.dananernews.com/News_Details.php?ID=6966

March 8, 2016

Government bears 50% of the actual cost of housing stalls and distributed to the poor

03/08/2016

BAGHDAD / JD / .. Cabinet approved the proponents of the Ministry of Planning on housing stalls and distributed to the poor controls, stressing that he bears 50% of the actual cost.

A government statement received / JD / copy of it: that the Council of Ministers approved during its regular meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the proponents of the Ministry of Planning on housing stalls and distributed to the poor controls.

The statement said that the government bears the proportion (50%) of the cost of the actual housing unit and borne by the beneficiary ratio (50%) of the remaining cost to be paid in monthly installments in accordance with the alternative either to pay over (20 years old) or at (15 years), that devolves payments to the public treasury of the state, and the state bear the administrative expenses of the recovery of funds (1%).

The statement added that the government also bears the proportion (50%) of the cost of the stalls and the actual shops and borne by the beneficiary ratio (50%) of the remaining cost to be paid in monthly installments in accordance with the alternative either to pay over (10 years) or at (5 years), that devolves payments to the public treasury of the state, and the state bear the administrative expenses of the recovery of funds (1%), according to the provisions of Article (40) of the sale and lease of state property law No. (21) for the year 2013.

http://www.dananernews.com/News_Details.php?ID=6971

March 8, 2016

The start of the Iraqi Finance Forum in Beirut to support investment and the banking sector

03/08/2016

BAGHDAD / JD / .. launched in the capital, Beirut, on Tuesday, the World Conference and Exhibition on third for the financial and banking services in Iraq (Iraq Finance 2016), under the slogan "Gateway Financial Inclusion and a pillar of sustainable development of the banking sector", organized by the company "Szimksko" Iraq, under the auspices of the Central Bank of Iraq and cooperation with the Banque du Liban (Central Bank of Lebanon), and the participation of ministries and banks, including Rafidain Bank and the national investment Commission.

The focus of the conference, according to a statement of the Central Bank of Iraq received / JD / a copy of it, the financial banking and investment industry in Iraq's development, and is limited to the purpose of organizing this conference to develop the infrastructure of the banks and financial institutions in Iraq through the activation of cooperation between the central and the Iraqi ministries, banks and enterprises Iraqi Finance concerned on the one hand, banks and international financial institutions and international investors on the other.

Addressed the plenary of the Iraqi Central Bank's plans, strategies, financial reforms that government is trying to implement to attract investors, and the future of the State-owned banks, and the role of Islamic banks, and the role of the Iraqi financial markets to support the economy, the current situation of the banking sector and the participation of foreign lending companies, and technological environment and its central role in driving innovation and risk mitigation, as well as sources of funding for large projects and infrastructure, and the development of Iraq Stock Exchange, funding opportunities, the Iraqi private sector.

The governor of the Central Bank, on the Keywords in the conference: "There are great opportunities to diversify the production base offered by the application of this approach," pointing out that "commodity production contribution of the total output of only 16%, which means that there is ample room for the growth of agriculture and industry, any Iraq near self-sufficiency in the production of wheat, while imports millions of tons of them every year. "

Keywords and explained that "the banking sector's important role in the growth and reduce the unemployment rate in Iraq to support, through the various sectors of finance and expand the purchasing power of citizens."

He added that "Iraq today is facing a financial and economic challenges, so he is looking for stability in the banking and financial sector and that these items are not only with the cooperation and support of everyone through communication and participation in the success."

He noted the central bank governor to "the importance of the banking sector to play important role in the face of the current financial crisis experienced by the reduction of unemployment and the expansion of the purchasing capacity and gross domestic product in general," pointing out that "the most important conditions for stability in the sector, bank and finance is to determine the economy and general trends structure to him, as well as economic activities. "

He pointed to "the need for the Iraqi economy is heading at the moment to support the private sector by creating real competition and active participation in the framework of a free economy, whom he joined after Iraq was governed by a totalitarian economy."

For his part, the President of the Association of private banks, the depositary Handal, during the forum, "The conference was held under the slogan (the banking sector gate of financial inclusion and a pillar of sustainable development), attracting many of the economic and financial Arab personalities," adding that "banks can contribute to treat problems such as unemployment and poverty by financing projects of all kinds and create jobs for young people. "

Handal and pointed to "the importance of having an economic informing on the degree of awareness of the challenges facing the Iraqi economy," stressing that "distortion and lack of understanding affects the economic situation of Iraq."

Handal said, "The conference called on the central bank and the competent authorities to apply financial inclusion, and the formation of a committee to develop the financial, monetary and banking system of the central bank and the Ministry of Finance and experts."

Handal urged "the need to deploy financial and banking culture in the Arab world," stressing "the importance of the media's role in spreading this culture of financial inclusion, in addition to committing various stages of education material developed for banking and financial education into the curriculum."

He noted "the need for the Arab League, through the leaders of the Arab countries to compel publication of financial inclusion," explaining that "Cyprus suffering from a financial crisis up financial inclusion rate to 60%, while the Arab countries does not exceed 8%, which requires the need raise awareness in the Arab countries. "

And the Head of Private Bankers Association, that "the current situation in Iraq, we are used to, and confidence increases in Iraqi banks," adding that "the Central Bank of Iraq put steps that will strengthen Iraqi banks, it also put serious steps through the general assessment of the Iraqi banks in cooperation with Orncion company , leading to more global confidence in the Iraqi banks. "

In this context, the Iraqi minister of planning occur, Salman al-Jumaili, for the five-year plan for the years 2013 2017, which the government spent under $ 75 billion, or 20% of total investment, before re his ministry considered, because of the collapse in oil prices and because of the cost of fighting al Daash, to deliberate on the government to reducing its investment spending, and the trend towards the private sector, for "not to rely on the public treasury," this requires the creation of "an attractive investment environment" for foreign capital, and rehabilitation of state-owned companies, and converted to private companies profitable, and the adoption of the partnership (between the public and private sectors) and their subdivisions, such as the projects of term funding, any funding deficit, and the BOT projects, and programs to support small and medium enterprises.

He pointed Jumaili, that "the Iraqi Central Bank is working on the preparation of similar reports for those that work by the World Bank, to facilitate the latter to monitor the work of the central bank," the To this head of the National Investment Commission, Sami al-Araji, explained that "the amendments made to the investment law flowing in investor interest, "calling on Arab and foreign companies to" increase its investment in Iraq, it represents a significant weight in this area, "al-Araji, stressing" the need to turn to private banks, development banks, rather than in the remaining business. "

The head of the Bank of Credit Libanais, Joseph Tarabay, representatives of Lebanese banks, may occur at the opening of the conference on the prospects for the exchange of experiences between the Lebanese and Iraqi banks, as well as the possibility of the first contribution in the modernization of the banking system in Iraq, a special mention "militancy" in the application of legal compliance policy US of "anti-money laundering and terrorist financing."

He expressed the hope that the banks play a key role in re-Aammar.otkhallt the first session of the forum discussions, as well as to answer some questions to representatives of the Iraqi and foreign private sector, Arab, and there will be offers banking research are debated by the Iraqi and Lebanese sides.

http://www.dananernews.com/News_Details.php?ID=6965

March 8, 2016

Every two months instead of three social welfare benefits ..

03/08/2016

BAGHDAD / Karim Jassim al-Tai / .. social protection body under the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has decided to launch a subsidy protection for covered in Baghdad and the provinces every two months instead of three.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Labour Ammar Menem in a statement / KD / received a copy of it: that the Minister of Labour and Social Protection Authority chairman Mohamed Xiaa Sudanese decided to launch a subsidy protection for covered in Baghdad and the provinces every two months instead of three. He said, adding that the decision will be implemented starting from the middle of this year. He pointed out that the Sudanese instructed the release of the first installment of the subsidy of social protection in 01.04.2016 and the same amount of benefit without increasing, and will be shortened accounting departments.

Menem and between the Sudanese are also instructed to quickly coordinate with the Ministry of Planning to launch a comprehensive and controls according to the new law for social protection No. 11 of 2014 and the inclusion of which in accordance with the map of poverty.

He said the ministry spokesman said the meeting discussed several topics, including the position of the last update of the data of beneficiaries and displaced persons, as well as the results of the intersection of the data for 2015 sent by the Office of the Inspector Am.makda that the meeting discussed the General Secretariat of the Cabinet Directive on the Iraqi Media Network support for the work of the social protection measures issued by the ministry. /

http://www.dananernews.com/News_Details.php?ID=6970

March 8, 2016

Erbil cut rents by 30% due to the financial crisis in the region

News Source:Ali Abd al - Salman

Section:page economic

March 8, 2016 8:00

Hits:50

I decided to Erbil province, on Monday, to reduce rents by 30% due to the financial crisis in the region.
In a statement to maintain it "and taking into account the financial crisis in the Kurdistan region, and to balance expenses and revenues of the citizens, the province decided to reduce the rents of houses by 30% for all contracts signed in 2015 and earlier, also decided to reduce tests and medical clinics prices by 25 to 30%."
The statement added that "the province has asked the Transportation Directorate prepare a list of prices transport students by bus and taxi, mentioning the old price and compare it with those proposed, as requested by a survey for violators of these decisions."
http://burathanews.com/news/288051.html

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March 2, 2016

02 March 2016 16:32

Iraq’s Mosul Dam Collapse Could Kill Million and Half

Iraqi engineers involved in the construction and maintenance of the Mosul dam in the 1980s have said they fear the structure could collapse within weeks, causing catastrophic flooding that could kill more than one million people.

The Iraqi government on Sunday publicly acknowledged for the first time that the dam was at risk of collapsing and said that a subsequent flood could inundate nearby Mosul before sending an "inland tidal wave" surging down the Tigris River as far as Baghdad, 400kms to the south.

The US embassy also said that the dam, which has required constant maintenance since 1986 because of structural flaws in its foundations, faced “a serious and unprecedented risk of catastrophic failure with little warning” and suggested that a breach could put up to 1.47 mn lives at risk.

But a former chief engineer for the dam told the UK’s Guardian newspaper on Wednesday that the Iraqi government’s advice to residents living along the Tigris to move at least six kilometres from the river and its tributaries and seek higher ground isn’t enough.

“Nobody knows when it will fail. It could be a year from now. It could be tomorrow,” said Nasrat Adamo, who is now an engineering consultant in Sweden.

"

“If the dam fails, the water will arrive in Mosul in four hours. It will arrive in Baghdad in 45 hours. Some people say there could be half a million people killed, some say a million. I imagine it will be more in the absence of a good evacuation plan.”

"

The statement issued by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s office describing the possibility of collapse as “very unlikely”.

Officials also told Middle East Eye that the situation was under control.

"Maintenance work is ongoing, the situation is under control and the current inventory is equivalent to just one-third of the tank's capacity,” said Mahdi Rasheed, the general director of the Iraqi Dams Company.

"The contingency plan is a routine warning to educate people about this issue, so people will be sure that everything will be okay."

Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources, which is in charge of the country’s dams, has also played concerns and argued that similar warnings had been issued in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

“The dam will be safe as long as the water level is low,” it said.

But an extensive investigation conducted earlier this month by the parliamentary committee of water and agriculture concluded that water levels were expected to rise significantly in March and April and that the “stress on the dam will be increased”.

Adamo said that maintenance work to ensure the structural safety of the dam required at least 300 people working 24 hours a day over three shifts, but that a full workforce with the required machinery had not been in place since the dam was briefly captured by the ISIS terror group in 2014, which still controls nearby Mosul.

"There are perhaps 30 people there now,” he said. “The machines for grouting have been looted. There is no cement supply. They can do nothing. It is going from bad to worse, and it is urgent. All we can do is hold our hearts.”

The Iraqi government has appointed TREVI, an Italian engineering firm, to carry out emergency maintenance work, but some fear the situation may already be out of control.

Nadhir al-Ansari, who worked on the construction of the dam and is now an engineering professor in Sweden, said that rising water levels in April and May caused by melting snow posed a further problem.

“The fact that the bottom outlets are jammed is the thing that really worries us,” he said. “The water level is now 308 metres but it will go up to over 330 metres… I don’t think the dam will withstand that pressure.”

Ansari said that construction of the dam was pushed through despite concerns about the water-soluble bedrock on which it was built because consultants said the structural weakness could be addressed by constant concrete grouting.

Water began seeping through soon after the dam opened in 1986 when it became apparent that the geological issues were worse than had been predicted.

Construction of a second nearby dam intended to prevent a disaster if the Mosul dam failed started in 1988 but the project stalled in 1991 because of economic sanctions imposed on Iraq as a result of the first Persian Gulf War.

- See more at: http://en.alalam.ir/news/1794873?#sthash.fFPhqqpr.dpuf

March 2, 2016

Wed Mar 02, 2016 6:10

EXCLUSIVE: Iraqi Volunteer Forces Seize Back 9 More Key Villages Near Samarra

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iraqi volunteer forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) backed by the country's army won back nine more strategic villages in the Western part of Salahuddin province.

The Takfiri terrorists were purged from Al-Awaqeleh, Um Jahir, Ala al-Nayef, Ala al-Manfa, Tarki al-Zafir, Ala al-Hamid, al-Fayaziyeh, Sarsar Hayef and Taha al-Bu Wasma villages in Western Salahuddin.

Scores of terrorists were killed and injured in tough battle with the Iraqi army and volunteer forces.

In a relevant development earlier today, the Iraqi army and volunteer forces had captured three strategic regions near the city of Samarra.

The Iraqi joint forces took full control over Um al-Tus, al-Bukadod and al-Shananeh villages to the West of Samarra city.

Scores of militants were killed and wounded in fierce clashes with the Iraqi army and volunteer forces near Samarra city.

Also today, Iraqi volunteer forces voiced their readiness to seize back two key regions in Salahuddin province.

"The volunteer forces will begin their military operations to take control of the strategic Sharqat and al-Sarsar regions in Salahuddin province," Iraqi volunteer forces commanders said.

Al-Sarsar region is located to the West of Samarra and to the North of Ramadi city. This highly strategic region links several Iraqi provinces to each other.

Meantime, the Iraqi forces are purging terrorists from more areas in the Southwestern part of Kirkuk to pave the way to Sharqat region in the Northern part of Salahuddin, the popular commanders added.

The Iraqi volunteer forces' commanders reiterated that their next objective will be capturing Fallujah city after taking full control of more strategic regions in Salahuddin province.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi and volunteer forces made considerable advances in the Western part of Salahuddin province just hours after they started their Samarra operations.

The Iraqi forces started moving towards Samarra region from the Western part of al-Siniya town, al-Salam village, Spiker region, Tikrit Island, Mokshefiya and Samarra Island.

Meantime, a group of volunteer forces attacked the ISIL's military positions in Samarra region, destroying nine military vehicles of the Takfiri terrorists and killing several of their snipers.

Also on Tuesday, the Iraqi army and volunteer forces started their massive operations against the ISIL terrorist group in Samarra region.

The Iraqi joint operations command center confirmed the beginning of new operations against the ISIL militants in Samarra.

In a relevant development on Monday, a senior commander of Iraqi volunteer forces disclosed that his forces have thwarted the ISIL's toughest attacks on strategic heights in Salahuddin province.

"Our forces have repelled the ISIL's attacks on Hamreen heights in Salahuddin province," Commander of Imam Khamenei Battalion Haidar al-Hosseini al-Ardavi told FNA.

He noted that after the mop-up operations in the Northern parts of Salahuddin province over the past two months, the Iraqi government commissioned the volunteer forces to purge terrorists from Hamreen heights as far as al-Sharqat region.

"The ISIL has carried out heavy attacks against the military positions of the Iraqi volunteer forces, including Imam Khamenei Battalion and Imam Mohammad Javad Brigade, since yesterday, but the Iraqi volunteer forces have managed to kill 53 ISIL terrorists and injure scores of others," al-Ardavi added.

Also in December, a spokesman of Saraya al-Salam group affiliated to the Sadr movement said that at least 70 ISIL terrorists were killed during the cleansing operations in the Western parts of Samara.

"During the attacks against the ISIL positions in Western Samara nearly 100 terrorists, including the infamous terrorist, Ali Abdullah al-Asafi, one of the ISIL ringleaders and 6 of his senior assistants were killed," Safa al-Tamimi told FNA.

He said that the operations also set fire to the terrorists' buildings and destroyed their positions.

"Initial reports said that over 70 ISIL terrorists have been killed in the attack," Tamimi added.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941212001294

March 2, 2016

Labour announces the re-launch and the allocation of 9 billion dinars to the provinces recovered to levels of lending

0:56:00 3.2.2016 | (Voice of Iraq) - Twilight News announced the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Mohammad Sudanese allocation (9) billion dinars especially to the provinces that have large proportions in recoveries lending borrowers. The Sudanese presided over the Board of Directors tosupport small projects generating fund that the ministry has reconsidered controls and mechanisms of granting loans within the scope of fund tosupport small projects for the purpose of simplification of procedures and reduction of time and provide the best we can to facilitate the task of thecitizen and ensure you get the loan. He said the ministry has achieved good rates of reimbursement lending from the provinces reached more than 9 billion dinars, equivalent to 48% of the disbursements, pointing out that these amounts will be distributed with priority given to the provinces that have achieved higher rates to recover the amounts. of Sudan, said the Minister of Labour that the sum of the amounts that have been recovered in favor of the lending fund during the current year amounted to nearly three billion dinars in Baghdad and the provinces given the program's (1503) borrowers were distributed between the first and second installments andindustrial services. He pointed out that there are some provinces that havenot exploited well the amounts granted to them to lend to private citizens and the province of Basra.

Read more:http://www.sotaliraq.com/newsitem.php?id=320900#ixzz41l6cLUDK

March 2, 2016

Basra proceed to deduct half the revenue of ports next week

5:05:08 3.2.2016 | (Voice of Iraq) - Basra announced the technical advisor to the governor of Basra , Abdul Karim Al - Roumi, the conservative Majed Nasraoui face to proceed to deduct half the imports of border crossings for the purpose of maximizing the imports treasury of Basra as of this March.He said turkey in a statement that the meeting was held in the Office of theprovince in the presence of port managers and tax and units speculative stationed at border crossing points the 9, in addition to members of theprovincial council representatives, said that next week , the local government will begin this procedure in accordance with the implementation of Article 45 of the general budget for 2016, which empowers the provinces to deduct half the imports ports law, while urging the concerned authorities in ports the need to cooperate with the local government in the application of this article. He Roumi said Nasraoui also instructed the orientation of his aides and advisers in addition to the Court accounts and the provincial council to ports starting next week in order tostand on how to implement this law. "their ministries concerned refrained from applying the law 21 for the year 2008 average, and the text of Article 45 of the budget Law for 2016, in order to get the full revenue without granting Basra financial entitlements , "noting that" imports of these benefits will be spent on providing services in various sectors, particularly municipal, health and other services Ktermam streets damaged by theconduct of the coming from other provinces pregnancy vehicles. "

Read more:http://www.sotaliraq.com/newsitem.php?id=320919#ixzz41l5yAQly

March 2, 2016

Diwaniyah calling for the central government to increase the financial allocations of the province

16:01:09 3.2.2016 | (Voice of Iraq) - Diwaniya local government called in Diwaniyah, the central government, to the need for justice for the province, and especially in relation to an increase of financial allocations for theprovince, aimed at promoting the development of reality. He pointed out the governor of Diwaniya , Sami al- Hasnawi said in a statement to the existence of many projects lagging behind to maintain since the previous years, especially those related to infrastructure and the need to intervene and resolve by the central government. He Hasnawi that " the central government and relevant ministries did not give any attention to theprovince in general , " pointing to " the possibility that the province be aconduit for religious tourism in addition to developing strategic plans to support the industrial sector . "

Read more:http://www.sotaliraq.com/newsitem.php?id=320908#ixzz41l4cIHQR

March 2, 2016

In Iraq .. (2000), banking and financial transfer company

02/03/2016

BAGHDAD / Karim Jassim al-Tai / .. Baghdad Chamber of Commerce revealed its intention to form a special regulation of banking and financial companies transfer in Iraq, as pointed out that a number of banking companies has reached 2,000 companies.

The head of the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce Jaafar al-Hamdani, during his speech during the extended seminar, which was attended by Agency / economic dinars / which dealt with the problems and obstacles to the work of banking companies and financial transfer in Iraq and organized by the chamber under the slogan (banking companies and the challenges of stability for business and finance market): the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce It plans to establish association of all banking companies and financial transfer in Iraq, to be an incubator for these companies through legal environment for their work to provide.

He noted that a number of banking companies and financial transfer in Iraq reached 2,000 companies, of which (1300) is a company in Baghdad.

He said al-Hamdani: Iraq needs to organize all the ways and means and mechanisms that will promote the national economy to address the fiscal crisis and the economic crisis is going through.

He explained: will spoon Baghdad trade configure the formation of this association and organization of work in accordance with the regulatory mechanisms through which we can guide her in the right direction serve the new Iraq, noting that he has been meeting to employers of banking companies because the work of these unregulated companies do not operate under a particular association or organization, federation or union or some other label.

He said al-Hamdani said the meeting discussed the most important problems of these companies was discussed the possibility of creating a legal recommendation legislation raises the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce to the Iraqi Council of Representatives to enact a law to do banking companies for the purpose of protecting them and organize their work.

He pointed out that al-Hamdani Baghdad Chamber of Commerce was able to establish an international gathering center to resolve trade disputes that arise between the central government and the private sector in addition to the establishment of the center for investment includes local and international investors.

As an expert specialist financial and fiscal science professor Haitham Al-Anbuge stressed that there must be planning and organizing the work of the banking companies and financial conversion the fact that the number of banking companies is too large and needs to be planning and strict control of their work, in addition to the need to develop legislation and regulations to the work of these companies and banks.

As representative of the province of Baghdad, stressed the need to control the dollar exchange rate in Iraq, they constitute a serious condition at a private Iraqi economy and that the country is going through a critical phase as a result of the financial crisis.

As owners of banking companies and financial transfer student from redrawing the registration of companies and reconsider dealings with them and be a supervisory committees committees calendar, not an authoritarian or police and to facilitate their access to licenses to bear arms process as a result of their exposure to the attempted robbery, murder and Tsil continuously as well as the use of Alantrnti Baltaamladtha with the Central Bank of Iraq and the allocation of equal shares in terms of dollar selling. /

http://www.dananernews.com/News_Details.php?ID=6927

March 2, 2016

Financial distress stopped implementation of hundreds of projects in the provinces

02/03/2016

BAGHDAD / JD / .. Despite the adoption of the 2016 budget, including the regional and provincial development budget, but he did all of its provisions implemented due to financial distress of the country as a result of falling oil prices and a decline in the volume of financial revenues of the state, has announced a number of provinces for stopping the implementation of projects services and investment because of the financial crisis, and do not fulfill the government regardless of the budget allocations.

He says the media Diyala provincial council official Hatem Idris, said the Diyala provincial council investment plan includes the establishment of a number of service projects in the province, some of which have been implemented in the previous period and the other so far not been implemented.

He Idriss told / KD /: that because of financial distress and not to launch conservative allocations from Baghdad forced the Diyala provincial council to stop the implementation of hundreds of projects as well as other Cancel that are still under way, despite the fact that the province needs to infrastructure projects and service on the grounds that she was engaged in military operations against terrorist groups over the past months.

For his part, the Basra Governorate Council, announced that the repercussions of the financial crisis caused by the collapse in oil prices has led to the suspension of all projects that were under way, saying the existence of efforts to complete form of payment on credit by the same contracting companies to implement them.

The Chairman of the Planning Commission and follow-up in the provincial council originated Mansouri told / KD /: "All service projects in Basra, which was under construction that were interrupted with the exception of two or three projects, including a project to build a bridge of Martyr Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr on the Shatt al-Arab, which is implemented by the company (Mick ) Italian ", adding that the federal government and local governments has been directed to stop the projects implemented by less than the percentage of 90%, prompting the local government in Basra, for non-payment of funds to the executing companies.

He pointed out that "a large proportion of the projects that were interrupted before completion endangered, especially the establishment of sewerage projects, as well as the construction of schools, of which there are more than 50 projects projects," adding that "the proposal to complete the implementation of the stalled projects through payment on credit by the same executing companies have apparently not viable because the instructions do not allow the cabinet to increase the costs of such projects to offset the financial benefits of the loans that executing companies will have to get them to complete the implementation of their projects. "

Iraq has been suffering from a major financial crisis as a result of the drop in oil prices to unprecedented levels, since the Iraqi economy depends 93% on oil revenues, the drop in oil prices will inevitably affect the financial situation in the country.

Analysts say that the major powers behind the decline in oil prices to achieve political goals in the region, expecting continued low oil prices until 2020

http://www.dananernews.com/News_Details.php?ID=6930

February 22, 2016

Markets | Mon Feb 22, 2016 7:58pm IST Islamic State rigs currency rates in Mosul to prop up finances

BAGHDAD | BY STEPHEN KALIN

REUTERS/STRINGER/FILES

Islamic State militants in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul are manipulating the exchange rate between U.S. dollars and Iraqi dinars to squeeze money out of local people as coalition bombers attack the group's finances.

The U.S-led coalition has said that in addition to attacking Islamic State's fighters and leaders it will go after financial infrastructure too.

Air strikes have reduced Islamic State's ability to extract, refine and transport oil, a major source of revenue that is already suffering from the fall in world prices. Since October the coalition says it has destroyed at least 10 "cash collection points" estimated to contain hundreds of millions of dollars.

U.S. military officials say reports of Islamic State cutting fighters' wages by up to half are proof that the coalition is putting pressure on the group.

Average pay has been cut from $400 to $200 a month. While wages for foreign fighters, which were between $600 to $800, have also been cut, it is not clear by how much, said U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for the international coalition.

Yet the militants, who have near total control of the local economy, appear to have adapted to these setbacks in Mosul by introducing a new revenue stream.

The group earns dollars by selling basic commodities produced in factories under its control to local distributors, but pays monthly salaries in dinars to thousands of fighters and public employees, currency traders in Mosul told Reuters.

It earns profits of up to 20 percent under preferential currency rates it imposed last month that strengthen the dollar when exchanged for smaller denominations of dinars, they said.

"Daesh sells (the products) to traders in dollars, but it pays salaries in small denominations of dinars," said an exchange bureau employee in Mosul, using an Arabic acronym to refer to Islamic State.

At the official rate set by the Iraqi government, $100 is currently valued at around 118,000 dinars.

In Mosul, the same amount costs 127,500 dinars when purchased with 25,000-dinar notes, the largest bill in circulation, according to the owner of a currency exchange bureau. The rate rise to 155,000 dinars when purchased with 250-dinar notes - the smallest bill available. Islamic State prefers the larger bills as they are easier to transport.

'NOBODY WOULD RISK IT'

Three other currency traders confirmed those details. They all spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity for fear of being punished by Islamic State. Security restrictions in areas the group controls prevented Reuters from independently verifying their accounts.

It was not possible to determine how much money Islamic State is making by controlling the currency market. It was also unclear if these practices extended beyond Mosul, the largest city under Islamic State control, to other territories in Iraq and Syria.

Parallel trading at more competitive rates is very limited, traders said, because Islamic State has threatened to confiscate the money of anyone who breaks the rules. If it happens, it is in complete secrecy.

"Nobody would risk it," one of the traders told Reuters.

Islamic State, which is frozen out of traditional financial institutions by international sanctions, operates a cash economy and controls most means of production, including factories producing cement, flour and textiles.

U.S. officials have described it as the world's wealthiest terrorist group. The group looted nearly half a billion dollars from banks in areas it seized in 2014, and besides smuggling oil has derived millions of dollars from taxes and ransoms.

In January, the coalition said air strikes against Islamic State oil facilities had cut the group's oil revenues by about 30 percent since October, when U.S. defense officials estimate the group was earning about $47 million per month.

Iraqi authorities want to retake Mosul this year from Islamic State, which poses the largest threat to the country's security since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. That is also part of the U.S. strategy for defeating the group.

Warren said air strikes against Islamic State's financial infrastructure were "body blows like a shot to the gut".

"(It) may not knock you out today but over time begins to weaken your knees and cause you to not be able to function the way you'd like to," he told reporters last week.

Eyewitnesses said the latest target was the central bank building in Mosul, destroyed in an air strike this month.

A photo published by Amaq, a news agency that supports Islamic State, showed the collapsed building surrounded by other destroyed structures; no obvious sign remained of its former role in regulating Iraq's financial system.

(Additional reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Giles Elgood)

http://in.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-mosul-idINKCN0VV1FO

February 22, 2016

First Published: 2016-02-21

Iraq tribesmen end clashes with ISIS amid fears of massacre Tribesmen in three areas of Fallujah withdraw from clashes with ISIS, fearing for fate of detainees. Middle East Online

Imbalance of power

BAGHDAD - Clashes between Iraqi tribesmen and the Islamic State group in Fallujah have halted after the jihadists detained dozens of residents of the city west of Baghdad, officials said Sunday.

Tribesmen in three areas of the city "withdrew from the clashes (with ISIS), fearing for the fate of the detainees", an army lieutenant colonel said on condition of anonymity.

"The clashes stopped because of the imbalance of power and fear that the detainees would be executed," said Issa Sayir who was appointed by the Anbar governor to administer the Fallujah area.

Raja Barakat, a member of the provincial council in Anbar, where Fallujah is located, said: "We now fear that the (ISIS) organisation will carry out a massacre in the city."

Sayir estimated the number of detainees at around 60, while the lieutenant colonel said the figure was over 110 and a tribal leader said more than 100.

Sheikh Majeed al-Juraisi, a leader in one of the tribes fighting the jihadists in Fallujah, said ISIS had seized the residents over the previous two days.

"We hold the prime minister responsible for any massacre carried out against the people of Fallujah," Barakat said, calling for the launch of a military operation to retake the city.

ISIS, which has a reputation for extreme violence against its opponents, has already executed a large number of tribesmen elsewhere in Anbar province.

Officials said the clashes began Friday as a fight between tribesmen and Al-Hisba, ISIS members charged with enforcing religious strictures in the city.

The fighting escalated into gunbattles involving members of several tribes.

IS launched a sweeping offensive that overran swathes of Iraq in June 2014, but security forces and allied fighters have pushed the jihadists back with US-led air support.

Fallujah, 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad, is the only Iraqi city apart from ISIS's main hub, Mosul in the north, still under jihadist control.

The militants also hold some large towns, such as Tal Afar and Hawijah.

Anti-government fighters seized Fallujah in early 2014 during unrest that broke out after security forces demolished a protest camp in western Iraq, and it later became an ISIS stronghold.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=75347

February 22, 2016

First Published: 2016-02-22

Iraq prepares for new Anbar push with deployment of major reinforcements Forces from counter-terrorism service and police will take part in operation to retake town of Heet and nearby Kubaisa area. Middle East Online

Towards gaining more ground

BAGHDAD - Iraq deployed reinforcements to a military base in Anbar on Monday for an impending operation against the Islamic State group in the western province, a senior officer said.

ISIS overran large parts of Anbar province in 2014, but Iraqi forces recaptured provincial capital Ramadi from the jihadists and are now setting their sights on areas farther up the Euphrates river valley.

"Major military reinforcements... arrived today to the Ain al-Asad base," army Major General Ali Ibrahim Daboun said.

The forces from the counter-terrorism service and police will take part in an operation in the coming days to retake the town of Heet and the nearby Kubaisa area, Daboun said.

The Al-Asad base is located northwest of those areas, while Ramadi, where government forces are also deployed, lies to its southeast.

ISIS overran swathes of Iraq in 2014, but its forces have since regained significant ground from the jihadists with the help of US-led air strikes.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=75372

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