CNN, citing the Pentagon, reported on Thursday that Iran and its allies will launch a large-scale attack on Israel within the next 72 hours.

Senior American officials say they expect the upcoming Iranian attack to be very similar to the Iranian attack last April 13 – but on a larger scale – because it is likely to also include the intervention of Lebanese Hezbollah, which did not participate in the previous attack.

Senior officials in President Joe Biden’s administration fear that since the context this time is the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran and not an Iranian general in Damascus, it may be difficult for them to mobilize the same international and regional coalition of countries that stopped the previous Iranian attack.

Last Wednesday, US intelligence services began receiving clear indications that Iran will respond, according to an American official.

Iran had held an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council following the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran, accusing Israel of the assassination and threatening a harsh response. This coincided with the assassination of Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr in an Israeli raid hours before Haniyeh’s assassination.  link

Investment reveals the location of the first economic city in Iraq

The National Investment Commission revealed, today, Friday, the location of the first economic city in Iraq, while indicating that economic cities represent investment portfolios capable of attracting and bringing in local and foreign capital.

Hanan Jassim, spokeswoman for the National Investment Commission, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The head of the National Investment Commission, Haider Mohammed Makiya, during his meeting in the presence of committee members and representatives of the ministries and relevant sectoral bodies in Maysan Governorate

Called for the importance of intensifying efforts and coordinating them in a detailed and precise manner that contributes to creating a realistic vision and a successful announcement for investors, businessmen and companies wishing to undertake this type of investment.”

She added that “the attendees were informed of the full borders of the regions distributed according to the projects to be established and the ownership of the lands with the possibility of expanding some of them,” indicating that “it was agreed on the importance of preparing a clear map of road networks, water and electricity sources and other requirements for granting investment licenses for these projects, which will be among the topics and discussions of the upcoming meetings.”

Jassim pointed out that “the committee’s work witnessed the presentation of a number of proposals and ideas that support the implementation of such projects, based on the Prime Minister’s approval of the minutes and recommendations of the Diwani Order Committee (23674), which decided to form the Higher Committee for the Economic Development and Advancement of the Al-Tayeb Area in Maysan Governorate and its Neighboring Areas

Headed by the Chairman of the National Investment Commission and the membership of various state bodies, including the Governor of Maysan, the Chairman of the Maysan Investment Commission, the Chairman of the Industrial Cities Authority in the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, in addition to a number of general managers in the Ministries of Finance, Planning, Oil and Education and a representative of the Prime Minister’s Office.”

Jassim explained that “the Higher Committee for the Development and Advancement of the Al-Tayeb Area in Maysan Governorate and its Neighboring Areas has actually begun its work, headed by the Chairman of the National Investment Commission, Haider Mohammed Makiya.”

She stressed that “the development and Advancement of the Al-Tayeb Area, southeast of Maysan Governorate, will be the first economic city in Iraq and will represent a successful model and an economic resource for the state that can be applied in other governorates of the country,” explaining that “this model will represent diverse and ready investment portfolios capable of attracting and bringing in local and foreign capital.”

She continued, “Al-Tayeb City will include a group of diverse projects in various economic specializations, including projects specialized in the residential sector, others in the industrial sector, and other economic projects, in addition to recreational and academic projects,” noting that “developing the region will achieve a great economic return that will contribute to stimulating the economic base in the governorate, and providing job opportunities for the governorate’s people.”  link

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Tishwash:  Despite their large numbers, a shocking percentage of government and private banking services in Iraq

A government advisor revealed a shocking percentage and number of banking services in the public and private sectors provided to the public in Iraq.

Mazhar Mohammed Saleh told {Al Furat News} agency, “The point of stability in the banking market in particular and the financial market in general is not the large number of private banks and financial companies, but rather the point of achieving (financial depth), which means how much banking and financial activities and services contribute to the growth of the country’s annual gross domestic product, i.e. through the breadth of services provided by these banking companies to the public in terms of quality and quantity to maximize the added value in economic activity.”

He added that these banking services “in the gross domestic product revolve around a growth rate that does not exceed 1.5% in most cases, which is a low percentage compared to developed countries where this percentage rises to more than 20%.”

Saleh explained that “based on this, the solidity and stability of the financial and banking market in particular is measured by the number of services provided to the public, and the number of its services still does not exceed 12 services at best, while it should rise to 45 banking services as a minimum.”

“As for banking density, which is measured by the population’s share of bank branch services, despite the huge number of government and private banks, the share of their branches in providing banking services to the population is still low,” he continued. “

It is noted that the services of a single branch of these banks are still not commensurate with the population, and the banking density in our country is about 40,000 people per branch on average, while it should not exceed ten thousand people per branch unless it is less, as is the case in developed countries, where a single branch provides its services to an average of no more than six thousand people per bank branch.”  link

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Tishwash:  The Ministry of Commerce announces the launch of the electronic reservation system for participation in the 48th session of the Baghdad International Fair, starting from

The Iraqi General Company for Exhibitions and Commercial Services at the Ministry of Trade announced the launch of the electronic reservation system for participation in the 48th session of the Baghdad International Fair, starting from today, Thursday, the first of August, and through the company’s official website (www.expo.gov.iq).

The company’s general manager, Mustafa Al-Maani, said in a statement: “In implementation of the directives of the Minister of Trade, Athir Al-Ghariri, the electronic reservation system was launched for the seventh consecutive year to reserve space, location and other technical matters for participation in the 48th session of the Baghdad International Fair, which will be launched under the patronage of the Prime Minister and under the slogan (Investment, Development, Prosperity) for the period from the first to the seventh of next November.

The statement explained that “the company, within its plans, has adopted the electronic reservation system to keep pace with developments and communication to reduce routine, time, effort and reviews in this aspect.”

Pointing out that “this system aims to create an integrated database on the nature and size of participation in the Baghdad International Fair, through the electronic map through which it is possible to know the participating countries and entities and the locations of their pavilions with all related information as well as the charts.” link

Mot: .. LOL – I Thought of Who Immediately 

Mot: . soooo the WIFI is Down – Boo Hoo