News, Rumors and Opinions Monday 11-17-2025
KTFA:
Clare: Iraq is nearing full membership in the World Trade Organization.
11/16/2025— Baghdad
The Ministry of Trade is adopting strategic steps to enhance Iraq’s chances of joining the World Trade Organization as a full member.
The official spokesman for the ministry, Mohammed Hanoun, said in a statement followed by “Al-Eqtisad News” that “joining the organization represents an important step towards full integration into the global economy and reflects Iraq’s commitment to reforming its economic and trade system in accordance with international standards.”
Hannon added that “joining requires the government to implement a reform program that includes strengthening trade policy, improving the business environment, and creating favorable conditions for foreign investment,” explaining that the ministry is working in coordination with the relevant authorities to take all necessary steps to complete the joining process. LINK
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Clare: "At the last minute": A legal comment on calls for "extraordinary sessions"
11/17/2025
On Monday, legal and constitutional expert Salem Hawas commented on calls to hold extraordinary sessions of the Iraqi parliament days before its constitutional term ends.
Hawas told Shafaq News Agency that "the calls made in the last days of the parliamentary term to hold emergency or extraordinary sessions do not change the deteriorating legislative reality over the past four years, and the lost time cannot be suddenly remedied a few weeks before the end of the parliament's term."
He explained that “the Iraqi Constitution, in Article (58/First), allows the Speaker of Parliament or fifty members of parliament to call for an extraordinary session dedicated to a specific topic. However, this text should not be used as a cover to pass laws that have been stalled for four years, and then to suggest that Parliament is fulfilling its duties at the last minute.”
He added that "real legislative work is measured by adherence to constitutional deadlines and the principle of legislative continuity, not by intensifying sessions in a few weeks to complete what has accumulated in shortcomings. The laws that have been discussed since the first day of the parliamentary session have not seen the light, despite their importance and sensitivity, including laws on compensating victims, the Popular Mobilization Forces, drugs, the various amendments to the service and salary scale, minors, civil defense, and others."
He added that “intensifying the calls now does not absolve the House of Representatives of its political and constitutional responsibility for the delay, nor does it grant full legitimacy to pass complex legislation without sufficient discussions or technical consultations. The House of Representatives must exercise its legislative and oversight role fully and regularly throughout the years of the session, not just in its final weeks.”
The legal and constitutional expert concluded by saying that "the constitution does not recognize the term 'wasted time,' but it does recognize the principle of the proper functioning of public facilities, which has not been achieved in legislative performance during the past years. Extraordinary sessions are a constitutional right, but they are not a substitute for a genuine commitment to legislative duty, and they should not turn into a cosmetic attempt in the last days of the parliament's term."
Earlier today, Mohammed al-Khafaji, a member of the legal committee in the Iraqi parliament, called on the Speaker of Parliament to hold extraordinary sessions to finalize some important laws before the end of the current parliamentary session. LINK
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Courtesy of Dinar Guru: https://www.dinarguru.com/
Militia Man There's a very interesting thing that's taking place today...It's an article...with Sudani from Newsweek. It's going to come out on November 21st...I think it has some serious significance with timing...Iraq has been really vocal that she's doing things...but there's a lot of things in the background they're not telling us...Many different things haven't been exposed yet...because it's about an exchange rate...The BIS...IMF... United States Treasury Federal Reserve and everybody have to be very quiet about certain things. But they have to give education...That article in Newsweek...is about the Prime Minister Sudani and his plan to Make Iraq Great Again...It's not just a feel good story. To me and I think to the world, it's a signal. It's a real sign Iraq is getting ready for a major changes in money, trade and global standing...It's Newsweek for crying out loud.
Frank26 There was a wonderful release from an American Magazine called Newsweek...concerning the Iraqi Prime Minister... Newsweek is telling the world it's time to shine... Do you think 1310 deserves to be put in any spotlight? What is it Newsweek is trying to tell the international world? ...Time to shine, prime minister. It's going to shine like a diamond.
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25 Major Banks Hold Emergency Meeting As Liquidity Crisis Get's Far Worse
Michael Cowan: 11-16-2025