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Thispartnership aims to provide easier payment options for StarzPlays existing and would-be subscribers with easy access to its content for Zain customers.

StarzPlay has partnered withZain, the mobile communications and data services provider in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), to offer even easier payment options for existing and would-be subscribers.

StarzPlay will accelerate customer acquisition through Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) integration, signing agreements with Zain in three countries Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. This also marks StarzPlays first-ever DCB integration in Iraq providing access to its video content for Zains 15.7m customers across the country.

DCB is a critical success factor for reaching mass audiences across MENA markets, where not all would-be-subscribers have access to a credit card. Making payments through local telecom operators as part of their standard prepaid or post-paid bills means they can watch StarzPlay content straight from their phone, or at home via smart TV or games console.

Commenting on the partnership,Maaz Sheikh, Co-founder and CEO atStarzPlay,said: Were really excited about this strategic partnership with Zain, as it means we can make watching our premium content even easier for millions of Zain subscribers in KSA, Kuwait and Iraq. Who doesnt want hassle-free payments, no extra bills or paperwork, and access to binge-worthy series and blockbuster movies on demand? This is a great opportunity to continue to broaden our reach and connect with those new audiences across the MENA region that we know will love StarzPlay.

STARZPLAY has strategic partnerships with21 telcos across the region includingEtisalat Group, du, STC, Mobily, Orange Group, Viva Group, Ooredoo Group, Maroc Telcomoffering subscription via prepaid and post-paid mobile to subscribers.

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StarzPlay ties with Zain to boost subscriptions in KSA, Kuwait and Iraq - BroadcastProME.com

The aim of this vulnerability index is to understand the capacity of camps to deal with the impact of a COVID-19 outbreak, understanding the camp as a single system composed of sub-units. The components of the index are: exposure to risk, system vulnerabilities (population and infrastructure), capacity to cope with the event and its consequences, and finally, preparedness measures. For this purpose, databases collected between August 2019 and February 2020 have been analysed, as well as interviews with camp managers (see sources next to indicators), a total of 27 indicators were selected from those databases to compose the index.

For purpose of comparing the situation on the different camps, the capacity and vulnerability is calculated for each camp in the country using the arithmetic average of all the indicators (all indicators have the same weight). Those camps with a higher value are considered to be those that need to be strengthened in order to be prepared for an outbreak of COVID-19. Each indicator, according to its relevance and relation to the humanitarian standards, has been evaluated on a scale of 0 to 100 (see list of indicators and their individual assessment), with 100 being considered the most negative value with respect to the camp's capacity to deal with COVID-19.

More here:
Iraq: COVID-19 Camp Vulnerability Index (As of 17 May 2020) - Iraq - ReliefWeb

Fiji-born Taitusi Ratucaucau was told he did qualify for free NHS treatment as had been classified as an overseas patient by hospital bosses. The 49-year-old is recovering in a London hospital after an operation to remove a brain tumour on April 30. Friends say he is meant to be focusing on his physical rehabilitation but was spending most of his time worrying about how he would meet the demand for payment.

He has no savings, is the main breadwinner for his family and is currently too unwell to work.

And the hospital bill is increasing by around 1,500 for every day he remains an inpatient.

He told the Guardian: Where can I get money to pay for this treatment when Im in hospital?

He said he had felt proud to be accepted into the British army, after officers visited Fiji to sign up new recruits in 2001.

He said: I gave up years of my life to fight for this country. We cant believe that the Home Office could be like this. I feel sad and angry.

In a witness statement given to his lawyer, Vinita Templeton of Duncan Lewis, before he became ill, he said: As I had served for 10 years, I expected that I would be able to remain in the UK after being discharged.

"I feel that the position I have had to endure since being discharged from the army is very unfair.

"The army let me down badly by not giving me enough notice about steps that needed to be taken in order for me and my family to remain in the UK, and also about the cost of the Home Office applications.

"I feel that the fees that the Home Office charge foreign national veterans for the right to remain is extremely unfair, considering the committed service we have given to this country.

READ MORE:UKs army veterans let down as vital helpline closed due to COVID-19

Mr Ratucaucau served for more than a decade in the British army after joining up in 2001.

He has lived in the UK continuously with his wife and three daughters since being discharged from the military in 2011 and insists he has always paid tax and national insurance.

Mr Ratucaucau is one of a group of Commonwealth-born military veterans who launched legal action against the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence earlier this year.

The ex-servicemen claim there was a systemic failure to advise them of the need to apply for settlement in the UK on discharge and a failure to assist them with complex, expensive immigration rules.

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British Army veteran who fought in Iraq handed 27,000 bill by NHS hospital bosses - Express

Iraqs economy is gradually picking up following the deep economic strains of the last four years. Real GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.6 percent in 2018, thanks to a notable improvement in security conditions and higher oil prices, reversing the contraction of 1.7 percent seen in 2017. The non-oil economy picked up speed and grew at 4 percent, while oil production was slightly less than 2017 in line with the OPEC+ agreement. Recently, the Iraqi economy has received a boost of confidence with the signing of several trade agreements with its neighbors. Reconstruction efforts have been proceeding at a moderate pace. Inflation remained low at 0.4 percent in 2018, but slightly up from 2017, due to higher domestic demand in addition to rising food and transportation costs.

The economic outlook has improved due to higher oil prices and improving security situation, but constraints on capital spending will impede a recovery-driven growth acceleration. Growth is expected to spike to 8.1 percent in 2020 due mainly to higher oil output, with OPEC+ agreement coming to an end in mid- 2019.

Non-oil growth is expected to remain positive on the back of higher investment needed to rebuild the country's damaged infrastructure network, private consumption and investment. However, the recently approved 2019 budget presents a sizable increase in recurrent spending, and unless there is a significant reorientation in fiscal policy to a comprehensive recovery approach, there will be limited fiscal space to sustain post-war recovery and longer-term development.

Higher spending together with easing oil prices will result in a high fiscal deficit projected at 5.4 percent of GDP in 2019 before narrowing down to about 3 percent throughout 2020-2021.

Lower oil prices and increased imports will cause the current account balance to turn into deficit, financed partially by international reserves decumulation.

Iraq's Economic Update - April 2019

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Iraq's Economic Update - April 2019

Iraqs growth outlook is expected to improve thanks to a more favorable security environment and the gradual pickup of investment for reconstruction. Overall GDP growth is projected to return to a positive 2.5% in 2018 despite the extension of the OPEC+ agreement till end-2018, and it will further increase in 2019 as the agreement expires. From 2020, oil production is expected to increase only marginally, reducing overall economic growth, as the Government of Iraq (GoI) cannot afford to significantly increase investments in the oil sector.

The poverty rate increased from 18.9% in 2012 to an estimated 22.5% in 2014. Recent labor market statistics suggest further deterioration of the poverty situation. Labor force participation rate of youth (ages 15-24) has dropped markedly since the onset of the crisis in 2014, from 32.5 % to 27.4%.

Unemployment increased particularly for individuals from the poorest households, youth, and those in the prime working age (ages 25-49). The unemployment rate is about twice as high in the governorates most affected by ISIS-related violence and displacement compared to the rest of the country (21.1% versus 11.2%), especially among the young and the uneducated.

Link:
Iraq's Economic Outlook - April 2018