From The Economist. The Risk that Iraq might Fall Apart In Sadr City, the vast shantytown east of Baghdad, cars still pack the roads, pilgrims still pray at shrines and people still gather in shops. Many see covid-19 as either a Zionist hoax or a fast track to paradise, so they feel no obligation to […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Higher Committee for Health and National Safety met in Baghdad on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi. The meeting was conducted via video conferencing. The Committee discussed a number of policy options to support Iraqi nationals abroad who wish to return home, and how to address the […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Higher Committee for Health and National Safety has decided to extend the curfew throughout Iraq until Saturday 18th April. The move is intended to slow the spread of coronavirus/COVID-19 in the country. (Source: Govt of Iraq)
By John Lee. The Cabinet held its regular weekly meeting in Baghdad on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil, Thamir Ghadhban. The meeting was conducted via video conferencing. It discussed the health situation in the country and the economic impact of the curfew on citizens, and measures to mitigate […]
By Ashley Goodall. How is the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) adapting to the COVID challenges, as a Trade Council? There is never a more important time to engage our members than now. Not only are Iraqi based businesses facing lockdown in Iraq, but the oil price, on which many are dependent, has crashed by […]
By Ahmed Tabaqchali, CIO of Asia Frontier Capital (AFC) Iraq Fund. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. "The herd instinct among forecasters makes sheep look like independent thinkers" -- Edgar Fielder The crash in oil prices, brought on by the oil price […]
Iraq produces COVID-19 laboratory supplies to more rapidly test cases In cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 Crisis Cell of Basrah University in southern Iraq has successfully produced urgently needed laboratory supplies to speed up testing of suspected cases. The global demand on supplies and equipment to fight COVID-19 has created a […]
By Ashley Goodall. At this challenging time what kind of activities are businesses undertaking in Iraq and how are they doing things differently? In canvassing Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) members, we found a consistent pattern of adaptation and response across the membership which can be summarized in three headings: Firstly, taking care of staff […]
Belgium, Netherlands and Sweden commit $5 million to tackle COVID-19 outbreak The governments of Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden have collectively committed US$5 million to support the Government of Iraq's response to the COVID-19 crisis, in partnership with UNDP Iraq. The funds, which were originally pledged under UNDP's Funding Facility for Stabilization to help rehabilitate […]
Iraqi regulator suspends Reuters' license for 3 months over COVID-19 report Iraqi authorities should immediately reinstate the license of the Reuters news agency, and allow all media outlets to cover the COVID-19 pandemic freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), Iraq's media regulator, suspended Reuters' license for […]
Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety. The Committee was established to direct and coordinate Iraq's national efforts to combat Covid-19. The Committee agreed a number of measures, including: Exempting all medicines, medical supplies and devices, diagnostic and laboratory equipment from import license regulations […]
By Lujain Elbaldawi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi government calls on civil society to fight COVID-19 Despite the Iraqi government's intensive efforts to fight the novel coronavirus, it seems unable to accommodate the difficult circumstances due to its limited […]
