Iraq Economic News and Points to Ponder Tuesday Afternoon 2-11-25

Oil Steady As Investors Digest New US Tariffs

Energy   Economy News – Baghdad  Oil prices steadied on Tuesday as traders digested another round of trade tariffs, this time a 25 percent duty on all U.S. steel and aluminum imports, which could hurt global economic and energy demand in the world's biggest oil consumer.

Brent crude futures rose 11 cents, or 0.14 percent, to $75.98 a barrel by 01:28 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 5 cents, or 0.07 percent, to $72.37.

US President Donald Trump decided on Tuesday to increase customs duties on steel and aluminum imports to the United States by 25% "without exceptions or exemptions" to help struggling industries that could increase the risk of a trade war on multiple fronts.

Investors had hoped that a Trump presidency would boost the energy sector, and the tariffs would affect millions of tons of steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and other countries.

Tariffs could weaken global economic growth and energy demand, leading to weaker oil prices.

Trump last week postponed imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, and 10% on Canadian crude oil, until March 1, pending negotiations with those countries.

The president also imposed an additional 10% tariff on China, to which Beijing responded by imposing its own tariffs on some US imports, including a 10% tariff on crude oil.

The Fed faces the risk of higher inflation. Keeping interest rates at higher levels could limit economic growth, which could impact oil demand growth.  https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=52683

Foreign Remittances Account For More Than 96% Of The Central Bank Of Iraq’s Sales

Buratha News Agency 14120 25-02-11   Foreign remittances, today, Tuesday, recorded a percentage exceeding 96% of the total sales of the Central Bank of Iraq in the hard currency auction, in an indication of the dollar’s ​​continued trend towards strengthening foreign balances.

Its sales in today’s auction amounted to 292 million, 823 thousand, and 314 dollars, at a basic exchange rate of 1310 dinars per dollar for documentary credits and international settlements for electronic cards, and foreign remittances, while the cash exchange rate amounted to 1305 dinars per dollar.

While most of the dollar sales were focused on strengthening external balances in the form of transfers and credits, amounting to 283 million, 373 thousand and 314 dollars, equivalent to 96.86% of total sales, compared to cash withdrawals that did not exceed 9 million and 450 thousand dollars.

The bank explained that only one bank bought the dollar in cash, while six banks met requests to enhance foreign balances, with 14 exchange companies participating in the auction. https://burathanews.com/arabic/economic/456295

Advisor To The Prime Minister: Iraqi-American Relations Are Very Good And The Speculations About Them Are Baseless

Time: 2025/02/11 Reading: 630 times  {Politics: Al Furat News} The financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed that relations between Iraq and the United States of America are very good and distinguished, and operate within a high-level diplomatic and economic framework.
Saleh told Al Furat News Agency that "the interests of the two friendly countries are moving in positive directions, especially in the field of economic, investment and trade cooperation."

He explained that "what is being raised by some parties regarding this relationship falls within the framework of political fears, concerns and baseless speculations, and is connected to the changes in the new administration in the United States and its connections with vast political geographies," stressing that Iraq is not a party to it.  LINK

Minister Of Finance Stresses Importance Of Regional And International Cooperation To Address Growing Economic Challenges

Tuesday 11 February 2025 | EconomicNumber of readings: 256  Baghdad / NINA / Minister of Finance Taif Sami stressed today, Tuesday, the importance of regional and international cooperation to confront the growing economic challenges.

Sami stressed, during her participation in the activities of the Ninth Public Finance Forum in Arab Countries, organized by the UAE Ministry of Finance in cooperation with the Arab Monetary Fund and the International Monetary Fund, within the preliminary day of the World Government Summit 2025, with the participation of Arab finance ministers, economic experts and officials from international and regional financial institutions, according to a statement by the Ministry of Finance,

 "the importance of adopting flexible financial policies to confront the growing economic challenges and achieving a balance between the requirements of development, financial sustainability and climate action has become an urgent necessity in light of the state of uncertainty witnessed by the global economy."

She pointed out "the importance of structural reforms in enhancing financial stability and achieving sustainability of public spending," stressing "the need to develop financial policy tools to improve spending efficiency and enhance financial transparency.

" She stressed "the importance of regional and international cooperation to support the efforts of Arab countries to confront economic challenges and achieve sustainable development."

The statement continued, "The forum, which is held under the title (Public Finance Resilience in an Uncertain World), discussed ways to achieve this balance, through four sessions that discuss the most prominent economic challenges, including the effects of the macroeconomy on public finance, debt pressures, financial policies to adapt to climate change, and developing tax systems to keep pace with economic transformations."

The participants in the forum discussed mechanisms for financing sustainable development, the role of regional and international financial institutions in supporting Arab countries to achieve their economic goals, in addition to discussing the opportunities and challenges associated with adopting modern financial technologies to enhance digital transformation in the financial sector.

The forum concludes with a ministerial roundtable that brings together Arab finance ministers and officials from the International Monetary Fund and the Arab Monetary Fund to discuss mechanisms for regional financial cooperation and priorities for the next stage in economic and financial policies. / End https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1184958

Syria Asks Iraq To Open Its Borders To Export Goods

Reports

Syria is seeking to strengthen economic relations and resume trade with Iraq, but the emergence of complex obstacles threatens these efforts, starting with Baghdad’s refusal to register new Syrian companies, to the absence of official bank transfers between the two countries, according to Ibrahim Shalash, a member of the Syrian-Iraqi board of directors.

Shalash points out that despite Syria completing the requirements for operating the Albukamal crossing, the Baghdad government is still hesitant to open the border with Damascus, which increases the challenges facing Syrian exporters.

Waiting For The Iraqi Decision

He confirms that "the Syrian side in Albukamal has been ready for 15 days to receive Iraqi cars and trucks wishing to enter Syria, from all security and administrative aspects, including customs and passports," indicating that "the Iraqi side has not opened the borders yet."

“Syrian exporters are suffering from economic sanctions that are gradually being lifted, such as the Caesar Act and US and European sanctions. However, the biggest problem facing trade with Iraq remains the lack of banking cooperation between the two countries, as there are no official bank transfers, forcing traders to use the black market, where money is transferred at a rate of 1,500 Iraqi dinars per dollar, instead of the Central Bank of Iraq’s rate of 1,320 dinars per dollar,” he added.

Shalash pointed out that "this leads to an increase in the costs of Syrian products, in addition to the high cost of shipping between the two countries, which makes Syrian products reach Iraq at high prices compared to Iranian, Jordanian, Turkish, Emirati and Chinese products."

Industry And Market Competition

Shalash continued, saying, "The Syrian industry is one of the strongest industries in the region, whether in the pharmaceutical, textile, clothing or food sectors, as it is distinguished by a quality that surpasses many competing products."

He explained that "the Syrian industry has contributed significantly to reviving the Turkish economy, as between 2 and 3 million Syrians work in it," noting that "most of the Turkish clothes that reach Iraq are in fact manufactured in Syrian factories inside Turkey."

Regarding the export of Syrian medicines to Iraq, Shalash added that “Syrian medicine is widely accepted in Iraq due to its therapeutic effectiveness,” noting that “before the Syrian crisis in 2011, the Iraqi market relied heavily on Syrian products, which constituted about 70 to 80% of the total imported goods.”

He added, "There are more than 50 Syrian factories registered in Iraq and have local agents, but in recent years 15 to 30 new factories have been established, and they need to register with the Iraqi Ministry of Health to be able to export their products to Iraq."

Iraq Hinders Registration Of Syrian Companies

Shalash revealed that, “On January 13, 2025, the Iraqi Ministry of Health issued a decision to prevent Iraqi scientific offices from registering new Syrian companies, even though these factories were primarily targeting the Iraqi market.”

Shalash pointed out that "a meeting was held with the Iraqi Deputy Minister of Health, Hani Al-Aqabi, to discuss the repercussions of the decision and its impact on the Syrian economy, where Al-Aqabi requested a one-month grace period to reconsider the issue after the situation in Syria stabilizes."

He pointed out that "Al-Aqabi expressed his fear of sending a committee from the Iraqi Ministry of Health to Syria for security reasons, despite the assurance to him that the situation in Syria is stable, with guarantees provided to protect the committee by the Syrian security authorities, the Ministry of Health, and the Syrian ambassador in Baghdad, Sattam Al-Dandah."

Shalash stressed that "the security incidents in Syria are limited to specific areas, while Damascus, Aleppo, the Damascus countryside, and the industrial areas are completely safe, and life there is normal."

Iraq Ready to Resume Trade Exchange

For his part, the head of the Iraqi-Syrian Business Council, Hassan Al-Sheikh, said, "The Iraqi side has completed preparations to resume trade exchange with Syria, and has stipulated that the Syrian side establish an integrated outlet at the border, in order to ensure that smuggled goods do not enter."

The sheikh added, "The Syrian side has fulfilled all the requirements of the port, including securing guards, customs, passports and seals, and is now waiting for the Iraqi security leaders to sign an agreement regulating the work of the port, specifying the materials allowed to be exported and the required documents, such as certificates of origin, customs declarations and inspections."

The Sheikh pointed out that "the outlet will be ready during the current week, according to what the Iraqi side was informed of."

As for the materials that will be exchanged between the two countries, the Sheikh explained that “Iraq will export dates and some food and industrial products to Syria, while it will import from Syria sweets, pastries, fruits and vegetables, in addition to cosmetics, perfumes, medicines, medical supplies and others.”

Iraqi Trade Decides The Matter

In turn, the Iraqi Ministry of Trade responded to the issue of trade exchange with Syria.

Mohammed Hanoun, the spokesman for the Iraqi Trade Ministry, said, “There is no governmental cooperation between Syria and Iraq until the situation in Syria stabilizes so that the Iraqi-Syrian committee can complete its meetings and issue a report according to the data of the political system in Syria.”

Hanoun continued, "As for the Iraqi and Syrian private sectors, there is only trade exchange related to vegetables and simple things at the present time."

It is noteworthy that the Syrian Ministry of Economy revealed, in a special statement to (January 25, 2025), its plan to strengthen the local economy, which includes supporting exports, opening new markets for Syrian products, and enhancing trade exchange with friendly countries, including Iraq, in addition to developing the logistical infrastructure to facilitate export operations.

On January 6, 2025, the Syrian Minister of Economy in the interim government, Basil Abdul Hannan, revealed that there are government plans to develop economic relations with Iraq.

Abdul Hanan stressed that "developing economic relations between the two countries includes industrial integration, enhancing trade exchange, as well as providing facilities to facilitate the movement of goods and services, encouraging the establishment of joint investment projects, and simplifying customs procedures."   https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=52690

For current and reliable Iraqi news please visit:  https://www.bondladyscorner.com/

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Tuesday Afternoon 2-11-25

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

JUST IN: JEROME POWELL AGREES TO WORK WITH LAWMAKERS TO ADDRESS CRYPTO DEBANKING

In a bold move, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has called for a “fresh look” at debanking, following criticism that the crypto industry is being denied access to banking services.

Powell Agrees to Help End Crypto Debanking

During a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Tuesday, Tim Scott, the committee’s Chair, asked Jerome Powell if he would work together to ensure that financial regulations are fair and don’t impose unnecessary burdens, to which Powell agreed to collaborate with Tim Scott, stating that the Federal Reserve aims to avoid unnecessary burdens. Powell said that he is “struck” by the increasing number of Bitcoin and crypto firms being debanked.

He also emhasized that it’s important to re-evaluate the issue of debanking. “We don’t intentionally do these things, but sometimes regulation leads things to happen and we need to be working on that,” Powell added. Scott also asked Powell if he would commit to collaborating with lawmakers to end debanking, to which Powell agreed, saying “yes.”

Crypto debanking is once again a hot topic in Washington, with lawmakers holding hearings and launching investigations into the issue. Last week, both the House and Senate held two hearings to address the concern.

Fed Not In A Hurry To Cut Rates

Furthermore, Powell has emphasized that the US central bank is “in no hurry” to reduce interest rates, despite pressure from Donald Trump to lower borrowing costs in the world’s largest economy.

“With our policy stance now significantly less restrictive than it had been and the economy remaining strong, we do not need to be in a hurry to adjust our policy stance.” he noted.

This statement follows the Fed’s decision last month to keep the federal funds target range at 4.25-4.5%, after three consecutive rate cuts that lowered it by 1 percentage point. Most investors expect US rates to stay steady until around May or June this year.

Furthermore, Powell also confirmed that the Fed will not create a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) under his leadership.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Coinpedia

~~~~~~~~~

BANKS EXPAND CRYPTO TIES TO CAPTURE IPO DEALS UNDER TRUMP: REPORT

Wall Street banks are pushing to land crypto IPO deals as Trump works to make the U.S. a crypto hub.

Big banks are looking to make more money more with crypto firms as initial public offering opportunities loom, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

According to a Feb. 10 report, Morgan Stanley is now actively seeking crypto clients, while Bank of America is considering more deals, and Royal Bank of Canada wants to expand its crypto portfolio.

The spark of interest comes as exchanges like Gemini and Bullish consider going public. Kraken and stablecoin issuer Circle have also explored public listings before.

Banks are eager to grab these deals as the Donald Trump administration hints at loosening regulations to make the U.S. a crypto leader. At the Bitcoin 2024 Conference, Trump promised that, if elected, he would make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet.”

Bullish once planned to go public in a $9 billion SPAC deal with Far Peak Acquisition. However, in 2022 the exchange dropped the idea.

Former CEO Brendan Blumer said the deal was called off because the process was taking “longer than expected.” Bank of America is also preparing for more crypto deals, though specifics remain unclear.

Meanwhile, Swedish fintech giant Klarna is making a big push into crypto ahead of its April IPO. As crypto.news reported earlier, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski shared plans on X to add crypto to the platform. With a potential $15 billion valuation, Klarna’s IPO could be one of the biggest this year.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  CryptoNews

~~~~~~~~~

SWEDISH FINTECH GIANT KLARNA WILL ‘EMBRACE CRYPTO,’ CEO SAYS

Klarna, a Swedish payments firm with 85 million users, is reportedly eyeing a US initial public offering — and its CEO is looking for ideas on how it can integrate digital assets.

This comes as Klarna is preparing for an initial public offering in the US, the Financial Times reported.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  CoinTelegraph

~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

Newshound's Podcast Link

Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

Q & A Classroom Link  

Follow the Roadmap

Follow the Timeline 

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Subscribe to Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Newsletter

Thank you Dinar Recaps

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Tuesday Morning 2-11-25

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

GRAYSCALE FILES FOR CARDANO ($ADA) SPOT ETF WITH NYSE ARCA

The Feb. 10 SEC filing proposes listing and trading shares of the Grayscale Cardano Trust, making it the first standalone ADA investment product in the U.S.

Grayscale Investments has officially filed for a Cardano ($ADA) exchange-traded fund (ETF) with NYSE Arca, marking a significant step toward institutional adoption of the blockchain’s native asset.

The filing, submitted as a proposed rule change (Form 19b-4) to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 10, seeks approval to list and trade shares of the Grayscale Cardano Trust as a spot ETF.

If approved, this would be Grayscale’s first standalone Cardano investment product and the first spot ADA ETF in the U.S. market.

Institutional Partners and Market Reaction

According to the filing, the Coinbase Custody Trust Company would serve as the custodian for the ETF’s assets, while BNY Mellon Asset Servicing would act as its administrator. The Delaware Trust Company has been named as the trustee.

A Cardano ETF would allow institutional and retail investors to gain regulated exposure to ADA without directly purchasing or storing the cryptocurrency. It would also add credibility to Cardano as an investment asset and open the door for broader adoption in traditional finance.

Grayscale is already a major player in the crypto ETF market, managing products like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF and Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF. Adding Cardano to its lineup would further diversify its offerings and provide investors with more blockchain-based investment options.

Regulatory Hurdles and Market Landscape

So far, the SEC has only approved spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Ethereum. Other cryptocurrencies, including Solana (SOL) and XRP, have faced delays due to regulatory uncertainty. The SEC previously classified ADA as a security in its 2023 lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase, which could pose additional challenges for approval.

Despite these hurdles, interest in crypto ETFs continues to grow. Recent filings for XRP, Solana, Dogecoin, and Litecoin ETFs suggest that more assets could soon enter the regulated investment space.

Cardano Joins the Growing ETF Race

Grayscale’s move follows a wave of crypto ETF applications in recent months:

XRP Spot ETFs:

WisdomTree, Bitwise, 21Shares, and Canary Capital submitted four 19b-4 applications to the SEC.

Bitwise filed an initial spot XRP ETF application in October 2024.

WisdomTree launched the Physical XRP ETP (XRPW) in Europe.

Cardano Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs):

Virtune AB launched a Cardano ETP on Nasdaq Helsinki in February 2025.

Tuttle Capital filed for a 2x leveraged ADA ETF in January 2025.

Worth noting, Grayscale is also working to convert its XRP Trust into an ETF.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  BSC News

~~~~~~~~~

BRICS:  RUSSIA AND INDIA CUT DOLLAR USE: 90% OF DIRECT TRANSACTIONS IN NATIONAL CURRENCIES

Russia and India now conduct nearly 90% of direct transactions in their national currencies, deepening financial ties and accelerating the global shift away from the U.S. dollar.

Moscow and New Delhi Tighten Financial Ties—Is the Dollar Era Ending?

Countries worldwide are increasingly shifting away from reliance on the U.S. dollar in international trade, a process known as dedollarization. Russia and India have strengthened their financial cooperation, with nearly 90% of direct transactions now conducted in their respective national currencies. 

Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov stated in an interview with Tass:

Mutual payments in national currencies are stable. As of today, national currencies account for around 90% of direct payments between Russia and India.

He also noted that discussions are ongoing about the mutual recognition of Russia’s Mir and India’s RuPay payment systems, a step that could further enhance financial integration between the two countries.

Trade between Russia and India has continued to expand, with Indian statistics showing an 8.6% increase in the first 11 months of 2024. “According to Indian statistics, bilateral trade added 8.6% in 11M 2024 and amounted to $64.5 bln,” Alipov said.

He further detailed the contributions from each country, emphasizing: “Russian exports reached $60 bln (up by 7.7%), while supplies of Indian goods rose to $4.5 bln (up by 23.3%).

Russia is one of India’s four biggest trade partners, while in terms of the volume of products supplied it is the second-largest after China.” These figures highlight Russia’s growing importance as a key trading partner for India.

The increasing use of national currencies in trade between Russia and India reflects a broader global shift toward reducing dependence on the dollar amid evolving geopolitical and economic conditions. 

As both countries work to integrate their financial systems, the potential recognition of the Mir and Rupay payment networks could simplify trade settlements and further strengthen economic ties between Moscow and New Delhi. With Russia securing its position as India’s second-largest supplier after China, these developments signal deeper financial and trade cooperation between the two nations.

@ Newshound News™

Source:  Bitcoin News

~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

Newshound's Podcast Link

Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

Q & A Classroom Link  

Follow the Roadmap

Follow the Timeline 

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Subscribe to Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Newsletter

Thank you Dinar Recaps

“Tidbits From TNT” Tuesday Morning 2-11-2025

TNT:

Tishwash:  MP calls for enacting oil and gas law to solve salary crisis

Member of the Parliamentary Oil, Gas and Wealth Committee Nazim Al-Shabli called on the federal government today, Tuesday, to expedite sending the draft oil and gas law.  

Al-Shabli told / Al-Maalouma / agency, “The legislation of the oil and gas law is sufficient to solve the crisis of salaries of the region’s employees, indicating that the law contributes greatly to stopping oil smuggling as well as addressing the salary crisis.”

He added that "the salary crisis is ongoing until now and there is hope and a beginning to solve it after the legislation of the oil and gas law within the Council of Representatives," noting that "the region continues to smuggle oil."

He stressed "the need to expedite sending the oil and gas law to solve the giant problems between Baghdad and Erbil."  link

**************

Tishwash:  Government advisor: Financial concerns unfounded

The Prime Minister's advisor for financial affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed that the financial concerns raised from time to time about the economic situation in Iraq are "baseless."

Saleh told {Al-Furat News} that "Iraqi diplomacy is one of the most successful in protecting the country's supreme interests, according to the government program's adoptions and national constants, whether with the United States or others."
He added, "There is a high degree of consistency in managing the country's financial affairs in a stable manner within the framework of the general economic policy, which is a positive thing that is always indicated by the ability and flexibility to confront economic challenges with high rationality during the past years."

Saleh pointed out that "the country enjoys good financial flows from oil revenues and others, supported by efficient foreign reserves and promising economic activity in the real sector and partnership with the private sector witnessed by the country, especially in the sectors of renewable energy construction, fossil oil, electricity, gas, infrastructure, reconstruction and housing in an unprecedented manner."

Despite the statements of government officials reassuring the financial situation in Iraq, there are some concerns that are raised from time to time due to fluctuations in oil prices.

The Iraqi economy depends heavily on oil exports, which makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices. Any drop in oil prices could significantly impact government revenues and lead to a budget deficit.
While there are some financial concerns, the economic situation in Iraq appears stable at the moment, thanks to good oil revenues and foreign reserves at the Central Bank of Iraq. link

************

Tishwash:  PM's Advisor: Government has taken steps to revive manufacturing industry

The financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Mohammed Salih, confirmed that the government has taken steps to revive the manufacturing industry.

Salih told the official agency: "The revival of the manufacturing industry in Iraq is a strategic issue with multiple dimensions, the first of which is that the industrial operator, whether small, medium or large, is one of the most important activities responsible for employing 60% of the workforce."

He pointed out that "eliminating sustainable unemployment requires economic diversification, and the basics of diversification start with the industrial construction of Iraq. Secondly, the partnership with the private sector is an ideal solution for reviving the industrial sector itself, whether this partnership is in providing financing and government support or a partnership in ownership or capital.

This requires a balance between the public interest and private interests, while ensuring the existence of a transparent regulatory environment with high governance that encourages effective cooperation in an integrated social market between the two parties," noting that "the partnership in management and ownership between the public and private sectors leads to stimulating innovation and technological development and encouraging research and development, in addition to investing in advanced manufacturing technology such as automation, artificial intelligence and 3D printing."

He stressed that "the financing partnership represents the provision of financial support to small and medium enterprises operating in the field of manufacturing to create an optimal operating lever," explaining that "the national development plan indicates efforts to rebuild the foundations of the manufacturing industry through real partnerships with the private sector, where the state contributes to guaranteeing sovereign financing for manufacturing industries by 85%, while the private industrial project bears 15% of the financing."

He continued that "this financing strategy is devoted to financing industrial projects at five levels, foremost of which are projects whose products are related to construction and housing or contribute to development road works, then pharmaceutical industries, petrochemical industries, and others," noting that "the government's economic philosophy, in accordance with the government program, is based on the partnership between the state and the market with broad social security, and this is what makes it work according to the social market theory, which is a departure from economic liberalism and its risks."

He explained that “Riyada Bank was established with the support of the state to provide small and medium-sized loans to young people, and this was preceded by the Prime Minister’s Riyada Initiative, which paved the way for this by providing thousands of loans to youth sectors and stimulating their innovations,” explaining that “this will lead to encouraging the country’s regulatory and investment environment and adopting policies that encourage competition, improve the business environment, and reduce bureaucratic regulations that may hinder the industrialization process and its rapid advancement.”   link

***********

Tishwash: Regional demonstrations: The political class lives in isolation from the suffering of the street

The wave of anger escalated in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq with the continuation of the crisis of delayed payment of salaries, which pushed thousands of employees and teachers into the streets, in protests that did not subside despite the cold weather and snowfall.

In Sulaymaniyah, where the sit-ins are concentrated, a number of protesters decided to go on a hunger strike, stressing that they will not back down until their demands are met.

A political source from Erbil said that the current crisis is not a recent one, but rather the result of political and financial accumulations between Baghdad and Erbil, as these scenes are repeated every few months without radical solutions.

He added that the partial solutions proposed after each crisis do not guarantee the stability of the financial situation of the region's employees, which increases the state of frustration and popular resentment.

While the regional government is trying to reassure employees, security forces in Erbil continue to prevent the protests from spreading to it, as they refused to receive demonstrators coming from Sulaymaniyah. Local sources said that dozens of those who tried to organize gatherings in Erbil were subjected to security harassment, which increased tensions between the two cities.

“We don’t want slogans, we want our salaries,” tweeted a Kurdish activist on the X platform. “We don’t care about the conflict between Erbil and Baghdad, we want our children’s livelihood, which has become hostage to political differences.” In another Facebook post, a citizen from Sulaymaniyah wrote: “If we were demonstrators in any other country, we would be a global trend, but we are Kurds, so no one cares.”

Economic sources reported that the financial crisis in the region is not only a result of the delay in transferring funds from Baghdad, but also due to the lack of transparency regarding local revenues, especially from border crossings and oil revenues, the numbers of which remain vague despite the demands of the federal parliament to disclose them.

A social researcher believes that the current crisis goes beyond the economic dimension, as it represents a crisis of confidence between the Kurdish citizen and his government, as many feel that the political class lives in isolation from the suffering of the street. He added that the continued security suppression of the demonstrations may lead to a greater escalation, and perhaps to the emergence of new protest movements that are not subject to traditional political leadership.

“Every month we live with the same anxiety: When will we get our salaries? Will the high prices be enough? We don’t even have the luxury of planning for the future,” said Farid Othman, a government employee from Sulaymaniyah. “The regional government justifies, Baghdad evades, and we pay the price. How long will the citizen remain the victim?” said Shireen Abdullah, a resident.

Analysis of the situation indicates that the crisis is likely to worsen, especially if a clear mechanism is not found to ensure salary stability away from political conflicts. link

************

Mot: . the 7 dwarves of Valentines!!!

Mot: Yeppers -- A ""Love Poem"" frum ole ""Earl"" 

Iraq Economic News and Points to Ponder Monday Evening 2-10-25

 Iraq Is Ranked One In Global Gold Reserves
 
Economics     Breaking  2025-02-08 Shafaq News/ The World Gold Council announced, on Sunday, that Iraq is providing one rank in the ranking of the countries most retaining gold in the world.
 
According to the last schedule published by the Council in the month of February, and it was seen by the Shafaq News Agency,  Iraq ranked 28 out of 100 countries listed in the table, after it was ranked 31 globally, to be ranked fourth in the Arab world after Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Algeria.

According to the table, Iraq raised its possession of gold to 162.7 tons, representing 12.7% of its total reserves.

The council pointed out that "the United States of America tops the list of the largest gold-holder in the world, with 8.133 thousand tons, followed by Germany with 3.351 thousand tons, then Italy with 2.452 thousand tons, while Trinidad and Tobago, the list with 1.9 thousand tons."
 
It is noteworthy that the World Gold Council, which is based in the United Kingdom, has extensive experience and deep knowledge of the factors affecting market changes, and its members include the largest and most advanced gold mining companies in the world.   https://shafaq.com/ar/اقتصـاد/العراق-يتقدم-مرتبة-واحدة-في-احتياطي-الذهب-العالمي  

The Ministerial Council For Economy Discusses Maximizing Revenues And Confronting Economic And Financial Crises

Economy  | 10/02/2025  Mawazine News – Economy  The Ministerial Council for the Economy discussed, on Monday, ways to maximize revenues and confront economic and financial crises, and took a set of important decisions regarding the import of cars and agricultural projects.

The Council stated in a statement received by "Mawazine News" that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein chaired the fourth session of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, which was held in the presence of a number of ministers and advisors.

The statement indicated that the Council discussed maximizing revenues to confront the economic challenges resulting from political and economic changes in the region and the world, with a focus on estimates of state real estate for the purposes of sale or rent, and following up on the collection of revenues for various state departments, in addition to emphasizing the Cabinet's decision to use electronic collection.

The Council also decided to authorize Salah al-Din Governorate to directly implement projects that were previously studied, in a manner that does not conflict with the budget law and applicable instructions.

A decision was also taken to complete the work of the committee specializing in studying the import of cars, with the addition of representatives from the General Traffic Directorate, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Construction and Housing, and the Ministry of Environment.

Regarding the agricultural sector, the Council affirmed the commitment of all parties to the approved agricultural plan, and recommended mobilizing all ministries to allocate the available warehouses of the General Company for Grain Trade to store wheat received from farmers. It was also decided to allocate lands in the governorates to establish silos to store marketed wheat.

In the field of industry, the Council decided to include chicken, cuts and processed products in the agricultural calendar, while requesting the Ministry of Agriculture to provide accurate data on the cut chicken industry and the extent to which it covers the needs of the local market. https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=259488

British Ambassador To Nina: Baghdad And London Will Implement Major Projects And Our Companies Are Ready To Invest In Iraq

Monday 10 February 2025 | Economic Number of readings: 70   Baghdad / NINA / The British Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hitchcock, confirmed that British companies are very willing to invest in the Iraqi market.

Hitchcock said in a statement to the National Iraqi News Agency ( NINA ) that "diversifying the Iraqi economy and sources of national income has become necessary to face the challenges of the decline in global oil and gas prices, and to enhance the revenue cycle that Iraq relies on within the year 2040."

“During Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s recent visit to London, agreements were signed for major projects worth £12 billion, which do not include BP investments,” he added.

 “This is a major advance in the readiness and willingness of British companies to work in Iraq, and the Gulf states are also well prepared to invest in Iraq,” he said, noting that “one of the agreements signed by the governments of Iraq and Britain relates to a British energy technology company linking the Iraqi national grid with the Saudi electricity grid.”

He explained that “BP, a private company not affiliated with the government, has decided to invest again and expand its operations in Iraq, and this is evidence that British companies in general are more willing to invest in the Iraqi market, which reflects investors’ confidence in the country’s future.”/ https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?Key=1184876

Ministry Of Finance: Federal Budget Revenues Exceed 135 Trillion Dinars In 11 Months

The Ministry of Finance announced today, Monday, that the volume of revenues in the federal budget for the fiscal year 2024 exceeded 135 trillion dinars during the period from January to November.

Data issued by the ministry showed that total revenues amounted to 135 trillion, 322 billion, 716 million, 694 thousand, and 603 dinars, while the value of advances amounted to 17 trillion, 352 billion, 387 million, 556 thousand, and 226 dinars.

The tables showed that oil revenues accounted for 88% of total revenues, amounting to 119 trillion, 33 billion, 253 million, and 845 thousand dinars, which confirms the continued reliance of the general budget on the rentier economy, while non-oil revenues amounted to 16 trillion, 289 billion, 462 million, and 848 thousand dinars, representing 12% of the general budget.
https://www.radionawa.com/all-detail.aspx?jimare=41164

Government Advisor: Financial Concerns Unfounded

Time: 2025/02/10 17:46:39 Reading: 645 times  {Local: Al Furat News} The Prime Minister's advisor for financial affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed that the financial concerns raised from time to time about the economic situation in Iraq are "baseless."

Saleh told {Al-Furat News} that "Iraqi diplomacy is one of the most successful in protecting the country's supreme interests, according to the government program's adoptions and national constants, whether with the United States or others."

He added, "There is a high degree of consistency in managing the country's financial affairs in a stable manner within the framework of the general economic policy, which is a positive thing that is always indicated by the ability and flexibility to confront economic challenges with high rationality during the past years."

Saleh pointed out that "the country enjoys good financial flows from oil revenues and others, supported by efficient foreign reserves and promising economic activity in the real sector and partnership with the private sector witnessed by the country, especially in the sectors of renewable energy construction, fossil oil, electricity, gas, infrastructure, reconstruction and housing in an unprecedented manner."

Despite the statements of government officials reassuring the financial situation in Iraq, there are some concerns that are raised from time to time due to fluctuations in oil prices.

The Iraqi economy depends heavily on oil exports, which makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices. Any drop in oil prices could significantly impact government revenues and lead to a budget deficit.
While there are some financial concerns, the economic situation in Iraq appears stable at the moment, thanks to good oil revenues and foreign reserves at the Central Bank of Iraq.  LINK

Dollar Prices Fall In Baghdad And Erbil With Closing

 10/02/2025   Mawazine News – Economy  The US dollar fell against the Iraqi dinar on Monday in the markets of Baghdad and Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, with the closing of the stock exchange.

The dollar fell with the closing of the two main stock exchanges in Baghdad, Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya, to record 150.200 dinars per 100 dollars, while the prices were 150.250 dinars per 100 dollars this morning.

The selling prices in exchange shops in the local markets in Baghdad were also stable, where the selling price reached 151.250 dinars per 100 dollars, while the purchase price reached 149.250 dinars per 100 dollars.

In Erbil, the dollar also fell, where the selling price reached 1,500.00 dinars per 100 dollars, and the purchase price was 149.900 dinars per 100 dollars. https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=259483

For current and reliable Iraqi news please visit:  https://www.bondladyscorner.com/

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Monday Evening 2-10-25

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

REP. WATERS PROPOSES STABLECOIN RULES, FEDERAL OVERSIGHT

Both House Republicans and Democrats have introduced proposals to regulate U.S. stablecoins, signaling that the sector is a legislative priority under President Donald Trump.

Maxine Waters, the ranking Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, published a proposal for stablecoin oversight through federal watchdogs such as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Federal Reserve, according to Punchbowl News.

Waters’ discussion draft also outlines regulatory frameworks for state regulators. Back in 2022, Rep. Waters criticized a Republican-led House Committee bill, calling it “deeply problematic” due to concerns over allowing state regulators to approve stablecoins without Federal Reserve oversight.

 At the time, she argued before former Committee Chair Patrick McHenry that this approach could introduce unforeseen risks.

Rep. Waters’ proposal means that both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have now introduced stablecoin regulations since President Trump took office.

Last week, Rep. French Hill, the new Republican Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, submitted a draft bill for stablecoin regulation, co-sponsored by Rep. Bryan Steil. The bill would grant the OCC authority to approve and supervise payment stablecoin issuers.

Specifically, the OCC can license and oversee nonbank stablecoin operators with federal permits. The rules could allow firms like Ripple to enter the $220 billion market.

Rep. Hill’s bill contrasts with Rep. Waters’ proposal, as it assigns stablecoin oversight to the OCC rather than the Federal Reserve, which Waters had advocated. Waters previously stated that House lawmakers needed a “grand bargain on stablecoins” to move forward with regulation.

In the Senate, GOP Senator Bill Hagerty also introduced the “Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins” Act. Policymakers also unveiled a bi-cameral working group focused on passing crypto regulation at a press conference hosted by White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  CryptoNews

~~~~~~~~~

BRICS: NEW NATION REJECTS DE-DOLLARIZATION AMID TRUMP TARIFFS

The last several weeks have seen geopolitical tensions growing. With both sides reaching a fever pitch, the BRICS has seen yet another nation reject de-dollarization amid the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s new tariffs. Indeed, the president is set to introduce new 25% import taxes Monday as his aggressive economic policy continues.

The move has propelled the US dollar upward, as it seems to reinforce faith in the greenback. However, its potential impact on the United States and the world economy remains to be seen.

 All that is certain is that the country is setting the planet on course for a trade war that is wide in its scope and impact.

BRICS Sees Yet Another Country Reject De-Dollarization as Trump Tariffs Take Effect

En route to his campaign victory in November, Trump had championed the importance of the US dollar. Indeed, he noted that the greenback losing its status as the world’s currency would be akin to the nation losing a war. 

This has driven his economic policy, as he looks to defend the nation’s currency against lessened international usage and thwart potential expansion of the idea.

To this point, it appears the aggressive stance is working. Indeed, a new BRICS nation has spoken out rejecting de-dollarization as Trump’s tariff plan begins to take effect. It joins nations like India in reassuring that the bloc’s operations are not directly tied to harming the US dollar.

Specifically, Indonesia’s chief economist, Josua Parde, recently confirmed it has no interest in targeting the greenback. Alternatively, its BRICS participation is merely tied to its own economic growth. Indeed, Pardede notes that the distinction between the two is of the utmost importance to the nation.

“We are entering BRICS not to support the de-dollarization of China and Russia but rather to expand trading partners,” Pardede said. “This de-dollarization that we are encouraging is to provide an option for the business world not to always depend on the dollar,” they added.

It will be interesting to observe how Trump responds. With his targeting of Mexico and Canada, things may have changed. Indeed, it appears that his economic policy may be less tied to the US dollar’s status than originally perceived. However, he could redirect his approach to BRICS. Instead, targeting nations actively seeking to decrease the value of the dollar in the coming weeks.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Watcher Guru

~~~~~~~~~

PRO: NORTH CAROLINA’S STRATEGIC BITCOIN RESERVE BILL A ‘BIG DEAL’

Introduced by Rep. Destin Hall, Speaker of the NC House of Representatives, the bill would allow state lawmakers to invest up to 10% of the state’s funds into exchange-traded products tied to digital assets with a market capitalization exceeding $750 billion.

It also authorizes Bitcoin investments for state-managed funds, including teachers’ and state employees’ pensions, insurance funds, and veterans’ home trust funds.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Crypto News

~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

Newshound's Podcast Link

Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

Q & A Classroom Link  

Follow the Roadmap

Follow the Timeline 

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Subscribe to Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Newsletter

Thank you Dinar Recaps

Economist’s “News and Views” Monday 2-10-2025

Is GOLD The ONLY Thing That Will SURVIVE The Global Debt CRISIS? - Matthew Piepenburg

In this latest interview, Matthew Piepenburg discusses how the global debt crisis, particularly U.S. sovereign debt, is driving both inflation and gold prices higher, while explaining how BRICS nations are gradually moving away from dollar dependence.

He argues that while the U.S. won't lose its reserve currency status immediately, the combination of debt, currency debasement, and BRICS nations' increasing oil trades outside the dollar system will continue to strengthen gold's position as a long-term store of value.

0:00 Introduction

 0:28 Risk that trade wars become military wars

2:06 How will gold respond in this environment?

5:26 BRICs and de-dollarization

 8:53 Outlook for gold in 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZssvNfz8rc

Is Bitcoin REALLY The NEW GOLD?

Lynette Zang:  2-9-2025

In this video Lynette breaks down the key differences and similarities between the two so you can make educated decisions, that benefit you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXlXyYR8LDY

A "Gold Run" May Have Begun at the Bank of England

Heresy Financial:  2-10-2025

TIMECODES

 00:00 Surging Gold & Market Stress

 00:24 Bank of England Bullion Discount

00:50 Spot Price Gap & Delivery Delays

 01:12 $5 Discount & Bank Run Concerns

 01:33 Confiscation History & Gold Repatriation

01:57 Poland’s Example: Moving Gold Home

 02:18 Delays & Fractional Reserve Suspicions

 02:42 Storing Gold Privately

03:00 BofE Issues vs. Wider Market

03:19 Global Demand & Lease Rate Jumps

 03:43 Gold’s 40% Price Surge

04:12 Parallels to 2020’s Rapid Run

04:33 Gold as Stability & Inflation Hedge

05:00 Big Money Positioning for Uncertainty

 05:39 Silver Markets & SLV Borrowing Fees

06:01 Shorting Difficulty & Physical Metal

06:22 Tariff Premium & BofE Explanation

06:50 Fractional Reserve Gold Exposures

 07:15 Gold’s Purchasing Power Over Time

07:38 Outpacing Tech-Driven Deflation

07:54 Gold as Savings & Asset Reserve

08:22 Get It Before You Need It

08:39 Affiliate Links & Closing Remarks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdpf34TyVI0

Iraq Economic News and Points to Ponder Monday Afternoon 2-10-25

Complex Networks And Ways To Smuggle The Dollar From Iraq To Iran .. An American Report Reveals The Details

2025-02-07 |10,063 views  Alsumaria News – Economy  An American report stated that numbers the huge of the auctions of the Central Bank of Iraq in selling hard currency raises doubts and anxiety about the possibility of smuggling a large part of the currency to Iran. The report stated that
 
"the sales of the Central Bank of the currency amounted to more than 81 billion dollars during 2024, which is a significant increase from the year 2023, as sales were approximately $41 billion."

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed a presidential note to take immediate action from federal agencies to prevent Iran from using the Iraqi financial system.
 
"The country is facing a difficult test, as  Baghdad wants to meet the imposition of US sanctions, and  
at a time it seeks to maintain the stability of the country's economy and not enter into new crises," said Iraqi economic experts.
 
According to the report,
 
"Iran is using the financial system in Iraq in order to circumvent international sanctions, and  to find an important outlet to obtain the hard currency and smuggle it to Tehran."
 
The professor of international economic relations, Abd al-Rahman al-Mashhadani, stressed that "Iran's exploitation of the Iraqi financial system is a problem that we have warned about for years," noting that
 
"there" a set of methods that Iran follows in Iraq, which appears clearly in the balance of trade that tends to benefit exports Tehran, where Baghdad with a value of less than one billion dollars for this neighboring country.
 
Republican MP, Joe Wilson, revealed that  Trump issued a directive in which he called the Treasury and other American agencies to take immediate steps to ensure that the Iraqi financial system is not used by Iran to evade or overcome sanctions.
 
He also directed not to use the Gulf states as re-charging points in order to evade sanctions.
 
Wilson said in a post on the X platform, which attached it to a picture of the decision that Trump signed, that  these steps should ensure Iran financial system does not use the Iraqi to evade the sanctions, or bypass them, and the failure of the Gulf states as re-recharge points in favor of Tehran.
 
While the academic and professor of economics, Nabil Al -Marsoumi, said that  "Iran is officially issued by about $12 billion for Iraq, and  these are all revenues achieved in the dollar in favor of Tehran," noting that  "these numbers only reflect what is happening on the level of trade,  but there are many amounts that are smuggled By complex networks.”

 Al-Marsoumi agrees, "the existence of a group of importers, banks and money transfer offices to form networks that depend on fabricated documents, whether in quantities or value, in order to transfer billions of dollars annually", stressing "the presence of  two types of smuggling to the dollar in Iraq,
 
     one to introduce the hard currency to the Iraqi market, and the
     second to return His smuggling to Iran."

In August 2023, the Iraqi National Security Agency announced in a statement,
 
"The overthrow of the most prominent currency smuggling networks, which "included a group of suspicious financial and banking activities, has admitted that  fake companies have practiced commercial businesses as a cover for currency smuggling out of the country."
 
needs Iran currency the dollar to stabilize its deteriorating economy, which has been severely affected by US sanctions, while the troubled Iranian currency has lost much of its value.
 
"The mechanisms followed by Tehran in Iraq target official institutions such as the Central Bank, or private banks, some of which are considered facades of political parties," according to a member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, MP Jamal Koger.
 
To ensure commitment to American standards regarding money laundering and sanctions on Iran, more than 20 Iraqi banks were prevented from carrying out transfers in dollars, but they are still working in Iraq using the dinar.
 
"Among the most prominent ways that Iran follows with the exploitation of the commercial sector, which provides Tehran, as goods are imported that are amplified, for example, the  deal may be worth a million dollars, to become on paper worth four million dollars," noting that "the method is The 
 
     second that began to spread to the establishment of Iranian factories inside Iraq, and
     their products are sold on the market, and revenues are transferred to Iran through specialized networks.
 
Even some cash amounts are sent directly by individuals crossing the border to Iran, especially with the boundary ports in the boundaries to track or prevent the smuggling of the currency.
 
private sector And Professor of International Economic Relations, Abdul Rahman Al-Mashhadani, stated that
 
"the Iraqi, which imports billions from Iran, usually depends on collecting the dollar from the parallel market, through specific exchange networks or even from individuals directly," stressing that
 
"these financial transactions with Iran usually does not take place through the central bank, especially after the electronic platform was imposed in a previous period.

Al-Mashhadani pointed out,  "The existence of information confirming that there is a fake Iraqi currency that is printed in Iran, and is pumped into the Iraqi market to obtain the dollar."

He explained that  "there are armed factions in Iraq, some of which were founded by investment companies, which transferred billions of dollars directly to Iran."
 
"Despite talking about the existence of Iranian-Iranian exchanges in which the Iranian Toman is used, the bulk of the deals are made in the American dollar," according to Al-Mashhadani. Al-Mashhadani asked,
 
"How do goods bought about $25 million per day from Iran?"

Among the means also in which Tehran is exploited by Baghdad, according to Al-Mashhadani,
 
"the operations of Iranian oils or the sale of Iranian oil as an Iraqi oil, as exchanges are carried out in the territorial waters in a step to circumvent international sanctions."

Al-Mashhadani identified  the mechanism that "certificates of origin and export of this oil are fabricated as from Iraq, and it is  re-exported to countries in East Asia, which is reselling."
 
On Thursday, the United States announced the imposition of financial sanctions, the first since President Donald Trump, targeting an "international network" accused of transporting Iranian oil to China to finance Tehran's military activities.
 
The US Treasury said in a statement that
 
"the sanctions target an international network that facilitates the transportation of millions of Iranian crude oil barrels, by hundreds of millions of dollars, to China," the US Treasury said in a statement.
 
In early 2023, the Central Iraq announced the adoption of an electronic platform in order to monitor the movement of the dollar sale and money laundering operations.
 
The academic and professor of economics, Al-Marsoumi said that  "the mechanisms that were developed during the last period to curb the currency smuggling to and from Iraq, did not succeed, especially the electronic platform."

He added that  "in some Iraqi markets, the Iranian transactions are made, but these sums are replaced again in the Iraqi interior in dollars."
 
At the beginning of this year, the Central Bank of Iraq suspended the work of the electronic platform mechanisms related to the sale of the dollar, while indicating the continuation of the mechanism of granting the dollar to travelers at airports.

Al-Marsoumi stated that  "the platform did not perform the purpose required of it, as the sales of the central bank increased from the dollar during the period that followed the opening of the platform, simply the importers were providing fabricated bills and even if they followed them in a fundamental way that cannot be detected."
 
Koger agrees that "the electronic money transfer platform was unable to stop smuggling difficult currencies from Iraq to Iran, and networks are active in transferring the cash dollar in the parallel markets."

Al-Mashhadani fears that "Baghdad affects the effects of international sanctions on Iran, as the recent decisions of Washington include stopping the import of Iranian gas in favor of Iraq."

 He said that  "the Iraqi economy may be shocked by these decisions, especially since Iraq depends on Iranian gas to generate electricity, and what may happen is a crisis in the event that the alternative to Iranian gas is not found."
 
The electricity file is sensitive in Iraq, as its 43 million residents suffer on a daily basis of electricity that may reach 10 hours. The matter is worse, the temperatures rise up to fifty during the summer.
 
In the event that the sanctions are expanded to include the banking system, it will lead to more economic pain, especially since 28 banks are subject to sanctions from 62 banks in Iraq.
 
"Iraq will not be able to break its economic association with Iran, especially with the great dependence on gas imports to generate electric energy to the Iraqi provinces."

 He said,  "The Iraqi government must talk to the American authorities, in order to continue to take exceptions to ensure the continued flow of gas."
 
has long granted The United States exemptions from applying sanctions by paying money to Iran in exchange for supplies of electricity, that Tehran does not use these funds except in "transactions that are not subject to sanctions" such as buying humanitarian goods, including food and agricultural products.
 
On Wednesday, Trump canceled the exemption granted to Iraq to import electricity and gas from Iran, while he also decided to prevent Tehran from "exploiting the funds of Baghdad."    
  
https://www.alsumaria.tv/news/economy/515580/شبكات-معقدة-وطرق-تهريب-الدولار-من-العراق-لإيران-تقرير-امريكي-يكشف-التف    

Prime Minister's Advisor Presents Model To Enhance Liberalization Of Monetary Bloc
 
Economy   02-8-2025, Baghdad - WAA - Nassar Al-Hajj   The Prime Minister's Financial Advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, presented a proposal today, Saturday, that contributes to mobilizing idle funds for development projects.
 
Saleh told the Iraqi News Agency (INA):
 
"The presence of a large monetary bloc outside the banking system, which exceeds 85% of the total monetary issuance, constitutes a phenomenon with repercussions on the national economy." He explained that  "this is a phenomenon
 
     deeply inherited in the country's economic history, and is
     linked to the citizen's confidence in the banking systems and
     in long years of instability, which
     created a state of tendency towards widespread hoarding, as
 
this behavior involves the demand for cash in liquid form outside banks accompanied by a lack of confidence in this monetary behavior."

He added, "This leads to two main problems, the  first is the presence of idle money that   does not contribute to the completion of the income cycle, which  affects the balance between savings and investment, and thus  limits the potential for economic growth.

The  second problem is the spread of credit operations outside the banking system, where this money is lent at high interest rates of up to five times the official bank interest rates, which   increases the cost of economic financing and  leads to significant financial risks."
 
Saleh presented "a financing model that combines equity (shares) and credit rights (bonds), so that the
lender is treated as a shareholder, with a minimum guarantee of losses through insurance companies." He pointed out that  "this model, which is common in global financial markets,
 
     can contribute to mobilizing idle money for development projects,
     creating a new investment culture that supports the national economy."  
  
https://www.ina.iq/227648--.html  

For current and reliable Iraqi news please visit:  https://www.bondladyscorner.com/

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Monday Afternoon 2-10-25

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

GOLD REACHES ALL-TIME HIGH AS BITCOIN STRUGGLES FOR MOMENTUM AMID MARKET UNCERTAINTY

▪️Gold has surged to a new all-time high, outperforming bitcoin year-to-date, as central banks continued aggressive purchases.

▪️Meanwhile, bitcoin’s price increase of around 5% since the beginning of the year has been marked by volatility, with markets reacting to Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs and broader macroeconomic risks.

Gold reached a fresh all-time high of $2,902 per ounce as of Monday, marking a 17.5% increase since the start of the year.

Gold’s bullish trajectory has been fueled by ongoing central bank purchases, concerns over global trade policies, and investor demand for safe-haven assets, according to a report from the World Gold Council. Its data shows global gold reserves increased by 694 tons in the first ten months of 2024, continuing the record accumulation trend from previous years. 

The report said central banks are expected to remain net buyers of gold in 2025, citing de-dollarization efforts and geopolitical risks as key drivers.

Among the largest gold buyers in 2024 were Poland, India, Turkey and China, with net purchases of 89.5 tons, 72.6 tons, 74.8 tons, and 44.2 tons respectively. Western sanctions on Russia’s central bank reserves in 2022 have been cited as a turning point, reinforcing gold’s role as a geopolitical hedge.

The World Gold Council report found that 69% of central banks expect to continue accumulating gold, while 83% of those in industrialized nations cite it as a hedge against inflation and financial instability.

Trump’s tariffs and market impact

Markets remain uncertain after President Donald Trump announced on Sunday a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, renewing fears of a global trade war. Steel and aluminum stocks surged in premarket trading in New York, with U.S. Steel and Nucor rising 8% and Cleveland-Cliffs gaining 9%. Alcoa also saw a 4% increase.

With Mexico and Canada among the top three U.S. suppliers, the tariffs cast doubt on last week’s temporary delay and could reignite trade tensions. Although stock futures showed optimism on Monday, QCP Capital sees a feedback loop emerging.

"President Trump, highly sensitive to market reactions, is facing a market increasingly calling his bluff. This could embolden him further, adding another layer of volatility," said QCP Capital.

While bitcoin is often discussed as a hedge against monetary and geopolitical uncertainty, its correlation with risk assets has remained elevated, making it susceptible to shifts in market sentiment, according to a Bitwise report on Monday. In contrast, gold’s traditional role as a safe haven has strengthened its appeal amid growing concerns over inflation and trade disruptions.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  The Block

~~~~~~~~~

CFTC ANNOUNCES CRYPTO FRAUD ACTION AFTER ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES SHIFT

Acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham announced on Feb. 4 that the commission would essentially end its practice of regulation by enforcement.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced a consent order charging a New York resident with fraud in one of the agency’s first crypto-related enforcement actions under acting Chair Caroline Pham.

In a Feb. 10 notice, the CFTC said US authorities had charged Rashawn Russell with engaging in a digital assets trading scheme from 2020 to 2022, in which he solicited investors to contribute cryptocurrency to a fraudulent fund.

 According to the complaint, Russell misappropriated roughly $1.5 million through the scheme, which had him plead guilty to wire fraud in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

“Russell guaranteed no loss to investors, and in some instances, guaranteed a minimum twenty-five percent return,” said the CFTC complaint filed on Jan. 16. “In reality, Russell intentionally and/or recklessly made false or misleading statements to solicit and retain investors.”

The enforcement case was one of the agency’s first actions since acting Chair Pham announced on Feb. 4 that the CFTC would be restructuring its Division of Enforcement’s priorities to focus on fraud.

 The commission said it planned to divide responsibilities for enforcement cases into two task forces focused on retail fraud and “complex fraud and manipulation.”

Crypto enforcement cases going into 2025?

Members at the CFTC elected Pham as acting chair on Jan. 20 amid the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, whom many expect will nominate a commissioner to fill former Chair Rostin Behnam’s seat. Behnam stepped down as chair on Jan. 20 but remained at the CFTC until Feb. 7, leaving the commission one seat shy of a full panel.

During the 2024 fiscal year under Behnam, the CFTC reported more than $17 billion in monetary relief, stemming mainly from the agency’s actions against crypto exchange FTX. 

Pham’s announcement regarding the commission’s shift in priorities suggested that the CFTC would focus less on regulating by enforcement for crypto firms handling digital assets considered commodities.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission — the country’s other significant financial regulator overseeing digital assets — announced in January that it would form a crypto task force to develop a regulatory framework.

Trump appointed SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda as acting chair following the departure of Gary Gensler until the US Senate can consider the nomination of former commissioner Paul Atkins.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  CoinTelegraph

~~~~~~~~~

RIPPLE'S FIRST FORAY INTO PORTUGAL: PARTNERS WITH UNICÂMBIO USING BLOCKCHAIN FOR INSTANT CROSS-BORDER PAYMENTS

Ripple has expanded its European presence by partnering with Unicâmbio, a leading currency exchange provider in Portugal, to facilitate instant cross-border payments between Portugal and Brazil

This collaboration marks Ripple's first foray into the Portuguese market, leveraging Ripple Payments to enable Unicâmbio's corporate clients to transfer funds quickly and efficiently between the two countries.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  The Defiant

~~~~~~~~~

HONG KONG SCIENTISTS BUILT A LICKABLE DEVICE THAT LETS YOU TASTE THINGS IN VR

The 15-gram "lollipop" uses food-grade chemicals and electrical currents to simulate nine different flavors, bringing a sense of taste to VR and AR environments.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Decrypt

~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

Newshound's Podcast Link

Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

Q & A Classroom Link  

Follow the Roadmap

Follow the Timeline 

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Subscribe to Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Newsletter

Thank you Dinar Recaps

Some “Iraq News” Posted by Clare at KTFA 2-10-2025

KTFA:

Clare:  Iraq's revenues exceed 135 trillion dinars in 11 months

2/10/2025  Baghdad

The Ministry of Finance revealed, on Monday, that the volume of revenues in the federal budget during 11 months exceeded 135 trillion dinars.

Al-Eqtisad News followed the data and tables issued by the Ministry of Finance in February 2025 for the accounts from January to November 2024 for the past fiscal year, which showed that revenues from oil stabilized at about 88%, but it still constitutes the main resource for the general budget, indicating that the rentier economy is the basis of the country's general budget.

The financial tables showed that the total revenues for the eleven months of last year amounted to 135 trillion, 322 billion, 716 million, 694 thousand, and 603 dinars, indicating that the total advances amounted to 17 trillion, 352 billion, 387 million, 556 thousand, and 226 dinars. 

According to the financial tables, oil revenues amounted to 119 trillion, 33 billion, 253 million, and 845 thousand dinars, which constitutes 88% of the general budget, while non-oil revenues amounted to 16 trillion, 289 billion, 462 million, and 848 thousand dinars, which constitutes 12% of Iraq’s general budget.  LINK

************

Clare:  Parliamentary Finance Committee reassures employees and retirees: Delay in budget schedules does not affect salaries

2/10/25

The Parliamentary Finance Committee reassured employees and retirees that the delay in the arrival of the 2025 budget schedules does not affect the distribution of salaries.

Committee member Jamal Kojer explained in a press statement that "the date of the budget schedules reaching parliament is still unknown."

He added that "despite this, salaries are secured as amounts and liquidity, and there is no delay in their distribution so far."   LINK

************

Clare:  Trump: US debt may be less than reported due to fraud

2/10/2025   Economy News - 

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his administration is reviewing US Treasury debt payments to uncover any potential fraud, suggesting that the total national debt of $36 trillion may be less than the announced figure.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said his administration was scrutinizing government spending records to detect unnecessary spending, and had recently begun focusing on debt payments, which are a key part of the global financial system.

Trump added that his administration is reviewing US Treasury bonds, indicating that there may be problems with them. He added: "There may be a problem, you've been reading about it, and it may be interesting."

"It's possible that a lot of these things are not being accounted for, in other words, we may discover that some of these transactions are very fraudulent, which means that the total debt may be less than we thought," Trump continued.

It was not clear whether Trump was referring to debt service payments or any other government payments made by the Treasury Department.

US debt value

The U.S. national debt currently stands at $36.2 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, or more than 120% of gross domestic product. Because the U.S. government is spending more than it takes in, President Donald Trump and Republicans, who control Congress, will have to approve more borrowing this year to avoid a default, a scenario that could be disastrous for the economy.

Independent budget monitors have warned that Trump's proposed tax cuts could add trillions of dollars to the national debt, further straining the country's finances.

US President Donald Trump has tasked businessman Elon Musk with a sweeping overhaul of the federal government, sparking protests on the streets of Washington amid accusations that the administration is breaking laws.

Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has disrupted the work of several federal agencies and raised privacy and security concerns because of his access to sensitive records related to government salaries and spending.

In a legal development, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction Saturday blocking Musk's team from accessing government systems that process trillions of dollars in payments, citing potential risks of unlawful disclosure of sensitive information.

After the court ruling, Elon Musk called for the “do not pay” list of entities that should not receive government payments to be updated at least weekly, if not daily.

For his part, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a Trump appointee, confirmed last week that Musk's team has "read-only" access to the payments system, meaning he cannot make any changes.

Meanwhile, while courts have blocked Trump’s attempt to freeze broad domestic aid, project managers across the country say billions of dollars remain stuck, affecting clean energy and transportation projects.   LINK

************

Clare:  In light of the liquidity crisis... Why doesn't Iraq resort to printing more currency?

Sami Al-Salehi Journalist   Published in Saturday 8 February 2025

Iraq is facing increasing challenges due to the scarcity of cash liquidity, which negatively affects the markets and daily financial transactions. While some are looking for quick solutions to overcome this crisis, the option of printing more local currency remains controversial, given the serious economic repercussions that may result from it.

The Iraqi government faces challenges in managing cash liquidity in dinars, as it suffers from a chronic shortage of this currency, which affects its ability to meet its financial obligations to pay employee salaries, repay debts, and finance projects.

Since the 1990s, and specifically during the period of the economic blockade, Iraq has witnessed hyperinflation in its national currency (the dinar). This situation prompted the ruling regime at the time to take the decision to print the currency locally.

After 2003, the previously circulating currency was disposed of, new denominations with updated designs were issued, and the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar was fixed against the US dollar based on a decision by the then civil governor of Iraq, Paul Bremer, who in turn announced the details of the new currency and its official exchange rate.

Iraq currently has a range of paper denominations that cater to various daily transactions, starting from small denominations such as 250, 500 and 1,000 dinars, all the way to larger denominations such as 5,000, 10,000, 25,000 and even 50,000 dinars that are used in major transactions.

Where is the Iraqi currency printed?

On January 19, 2025, the Central Bank of Iraq revealed new security features on circulating banknotes, with the aim of reducing counterfeiting and protecting the national currency.

According to economic observers, the Central Bank has included these signs in the new banknotes to raise awareness among the public, companies and banks alike.

A source in the Central Bank of Iraq spoke about details related to the process of printing Iraqi banknotes, indicating that “the currency was previously printed in Switzerland, but the printing is currently done at the British Institute in London,” which is considered one of the most prominent institutions specialized in printing currencies globally. 

In an interview with Al-Jabal platform, the source explained that “Iraqi banknotes are manufactured according to high-quality specifications, aiming to prevent their rapid damage and ensure their ability to withstand daily use for long periods, through the use of modern materials and technologies that increase their lifespan.”

According to the same source, “the cost of printing one banknote ranges between 4 and 5 US cents, a cost that includes the use of the latest security technologies to prevent counterfeiting, such as watermarks, optically variable inks, and security threads.

In contrast, the Central Bank confirms that currency printing operations are subject to strict standards to ensure their quality and durability. The design of banknotes is also updated from time to time according to technical and security needs, to ensure the currency is protected from counterfeiting and improve its technological properties.

An option on the government's table

In addition, Mazhar Mohammed Saleh, the economic advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, says, “Financing the deficit in the general budget through the issuance of cash is a cautious approach, but it remains a possible option in light of the availability of high foreign reserves, capable of covering the money supply of the national currency by no less than 75%.”

Saleh added, during his interview with the “Al-Jabal” platform, that “resorting to this method is temporary and periodic, as 40% to 50% of the issued cash is directed towards internal transactions, not just external transactions, which makes it an available option when needed, provided that the coverage rate remains high according to the mentioned standards.”

Saleh continues his talk by saying: “The monetary policy in Iraq is proceeding according to balanced standards with the fiscal policy, and is consistent with the cycle of oil assets. In the event that oil prices fall to low levels, it is possible to resort to financing the deficit by borrowing from banks and deducting the borrowings from the monetary issuance authority, provided that the coverage equation is maintained until the end of the cycle of falling prices.”

Saleh points out that "the decline in oil prices to below their real value in energy markets is not unusual, and it happens sometimes, which requires dealing with it through balanced monetary and financial mechanisms to ensure the stability of the national economy."

It is noteworthy that the Central Bank of Iraq issued, in 2018, a second edition of banknotes in denominations (25,000, 10,000, 1,000, 500, 250).

The Central Bank also previously added some technical and technological updates to the 2003 issue for all types of local currency, except for the (50) dinar category, which was withdrawn from circulation in 2015, while at the end of 2015 it issued the (50,000) dinar category to complete the current series in circulation.

Pros and cons of printing

In this regard, financial expert Jalil Al-Lami said, during his interview with Al-Jabal platform, that “the issue of printing local currency is one of the most sensitive economic policies, given its direct impact on the financial and economic stability in the country.”

Iraq, according to Lami, sometimes faces cash liquidity crises due to economic and political challenges. Technically, it can resort to printing currency to cover the deficit, but this does not depend only on technical capacity, but is subject to complex economic determinants such as the level of foreign exchange reserves, the monetary policy of the Central Bank of Iraq, and general economic stability.

Al-Lami added that "the Central Bank of Iraq, as the only body authorized to issue the currency, adheres to strict standards to ensure that it does not harm the national economy," warning against "unstudied monetary expansion, which could lead to dire economic consequences."

Regarding the positives of printing currency, Al-Lami reviewed some of the potential positives of printing currency, including providing quick cash liquidity, which helps finance salaries and projects and pay urgent obligations, in addition to supporting the economy in crises such as wars or epidemics, in addition to stimulating local demand by increasing the money supply.

Regarding the negatives of printing currency, Al-Lami believes that it may lead to hyperinflation, as when currency is issued without real economic cover, it leads to an uncontrolled rise in prices, in addition to a loss of confidence in the national currency, in addition to the deterioration of the exchange rate as a result of the increase in the money supply without sufficient economic support, and the gap between wages and prices may widen.

Al-Lami suggested a number of sustainable solutions that could help Iraq confront liquidity crises without resorting to printing currency, including “reforming the tax system by improving tax collection and reducing tax evasion to increase government revenues and diversify sources of income, in addition to internal and external borrowing and reducing unnecessary expenses.”

Other proposals, according to Al-Lami, include “enhancing foreign investment and reforming the financial and banking sector.”

The former governor of the Central Bank, Mustafa Makhif, announced in 2022 that "the bank is working on completing a new denomination worth 20,000 dinars based on a study and comparative research with neighboring countries, and is working on completing the shape of the note and it will be announced in the coming days."

At the time, he also spoke about the “issue of deleting zeros from the local currency,” and stressed that “the process of deleting zeros from the currency requires enacting a law and making some amendments.”

Numbers and statistics

The Iraqi government decided to change the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar against the US dollar in 2020, as the price was adjusted from 1,182 dinars per dollar to 1,450 dinars per dollar.

This decision sparked widespread popular discontent, especially after the prices of food and all commodities in the markets witnessed a significant increase, and this change was confirmed in the federal budget approved by the Iraqi Council of Representatives on March 31, 2021.

Data from economist Nabil Al-Tamimi indicate that printing any currency clearly contributes to increasing inflation, as the increase in the volume of cash in circulation leads to an increase in prices. Therefore, countries are keen to avoid printing money to cover the deficit in their budgets except in limited and studied proportions, through which they try to achieve a balance between the volume of cash circulation and economic activity, i.e. the gross domestic product, which is known as natural inflation.

Al-Tamimi continued, in his interview with Al-Jabal platform, saying: “In some cases, monetary authorities may resort to withdrawing part of the cash and drying up the markets to control inflation, despite the economic slowdown that may result from that.”

According to Al-Tamimi, “Increasing the volume of printing leads to an increase in demand for hard currency, especially in countries that depend on importing goods and services, such as Iraq. The more local currency in circulation in dinars, the higher consumer spending, and most of this spending goes to imported goods and services that are paid for in foreign currency, which leads to an increase in demand for the dollar.”

In a free market, Tamimi said, “this could lead to fluctuations in the exchange rate, but if the central bank intervenes through a currency auction, the daily sales volume will increase to maintain monetary stability.” Data indicates that the Iraqi central bank’s dollar sales have reached about $300 million a day, compared with about $180 million a day in previous years.

He added, "The Central Bank of Iraq relies on its foreign currency reserves on government revenues from oil sales, which change according to the fluctuations of the oil market, as the reserve ranges between 50 and 100 billion dollars. To ensure monetary stability, the Central Bank's accounts must be based on the minimum reserve, i.e. 50 billion dollars, to cover imports and control local demand for hard currency at approximately this level."

Al-Tamimi concluded his speech by saying, “The period from 2003 to 2019 witnessed a relatively balanced monetary policy regarding printing currency, as the total issued currency during this period amounted to about 55 trillion dinars. However, the monetary policy during 2020 and 2021 led to clear inflation, with the volume of issued currency doubling to more than 100 trillion dinars. This was reflected in a significant increase in prices, as the inflation rate reached about 15%.”

Many years ago, the Director of Issuance at the Central Bank, Ihsan Al-Yasiri, said, “The Central Bank of Iraq prints a thousand 25,000-dinar notes in the most reliable international companies at a cost of less than $60,” noting that “the bank will not spend a large amount of cash to print the new banknotes, because their cost is low.”  LINK

************

Clare:  "From Cradle to Ruin"...an exhibition that embodies Iraq's journey in Jerusalem

2/9/2025

In  exceptional event, the Museum of Islamic Art in Jerusalem hosts an exhibition entitled “From Cradle to Ruin,” which tells the story of Iraq through contemporary artworks by Iraqi artists .

The Israeli newspaper, "The Jerusalem Post", reported in a report translated by Shafaq News Agency, that "an American officer contributed to purchasing these artworks to sell them to artists in the United States. After that, an Israeli-American artist of Iraqi origin intervened to purchase the works and facilitate their display in Israel."

He pointed out that "the exhibition is about Iraqi art and that part of the credit for organizing it goes to the efforts of the Israeli-American artist of Iraqi origin, Oded Halhami, who is 86 years old and resides in New York City."

The report explained that "Oded runs his own gallery in New York, specifically in the Soho neighborhood, and devotes much of his effort to his art gallery, including providing a space for Iraqi artists to display their work and introduce the world to another side of Iraq that is not associated with the violence and death that appears in the news."

The report quoted the museum's director general, Gilad Levin, as saying, "Iraqis are very proud of their culture. Iraq is the cradle of human culture and history, and that is why we chose this title," explaining that "this is the place where the oldest cultures in human history began."

Levian added, "Iraq has witnessed ups and downs throughout its history, but he stressed that heritage exists within the people regardless of the ruling regime."

The report referred to Oded's passion and keen interest in this exhibition, as there is a text on the opening wall near the entrance to the exhibition hall, quoting his words in which he says, "It seems that I left Iraq, but Iraq never left me."

The report also quoted Levian as saying, “Oded lives his Iraqi identity, and lives this culture through the books he writes, the art he creates, and the clothes he wears,” indicating that “Oded surprised me… We had never met before, but we had talked on the phone for years, and he makes his own clothes, clothes in the traditional Iraqi style.”

He explained that "the title of the exhibition refers to the hardships and disasters that Iraq has gone through over the centuries, especially in the last fifty years, following the rise of Saddam Hussein's regime to power in the late seventies."

The report pointed out “a wonderful dramatic story related to the exhibition, which is the story of an American soldier who loved art while serving on a military mission in Iraq, where he obtained permission from his commander to follow local artists and transfer some of their works to the United States, then arrange for the sale and delivery of the financial proceeds to the artists who were struggling in difficult circumstances. When Oded heard about this initiative, he included this idea in his charitable works.”

While Levian said that Oded "told them that he would display the works in his gallery, and that he would buy any artworks that were not sold," hence the opening of the exhibition of Iraqi works at the Islamic Museum in Jerusalem .

The report continued, "Oded also owns a collection of artworks that reflect the depth of anxiety in Iraqi society at the present time, in addition to the cultural richness of Iraq that extends back thousands of years."

"Oded, in his octogenarian years, calls two of his exhibits Mercy for Baghdad, and they reflect the Iraqi national tricolour flag, whose design has been modified several times since the 1960s, and refer to a pre-Gulf War version of the flag with three stars, and the version introduced by Saddam Hussein that includes the phrase 'God is Great' instead of stars," he added.

The exhibition includes works that reflect Iraq's long and winding road and attempts to heal the rift and wounds, while Levian says that "when Iraq is damaged, it is on a large scale. But it always recovers."

The report indicated that the exhibition may be surprising to many who know Iraq only through the prevailing media images of it, and perhaps visitors will be able to learn about aspects of Iraqi culture through the memories they heard from elderly people who immigrated from Iraq in the early fifties and their children .

The report continued, "There is a painting representing three men embodying an atmosphere of close friendship and mutual respect in a café on the banks of the Tigris River, where people, especially men, would gather to smoke a hookah, drink coffee or tea, and play backgammon."

He said, “There is a miniature image of that atmosphere in the exhibition through a painting by the artist Fadhel Abbas,” pointing out “an amazing painting that reflects the artwork of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, a painting by the artist Naziha Rashid that depicts a woman with dark, strong eyes that reflect a feeling of inner strength.”

The exhibition also includes a collection of miniature oil paintings by artist Amal Alwan that convey a sense of daily life, including a scene of a riverside café .

The idea of ​​destruction in the work “Night of Fire” by artist Mohammed Al-Hamdani shows what the American army did when it bombed Baghdad during the Second Gulf War in 2003 .

The report concluded by saying, "The Iraqi exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art in Jerusalem represents a wonderful and rare opportunity to understand the spirit of the current era in Iraq."

LINK

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Monday Morning 2-10-25

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

TOP ECONOMIC EVENTS TO WATCH NEXT WEEK: US CPI & PPI REPORT, POWELL’S TESTIMONY MIGHT SET CRYPTO MARKET’S TREND

▪️Crypto markets brace for key economic events, including CPI, PPI data, and Jerome Powell’s testimony, which could impact price trends.

▪️Fed interest rate outlook and U.S. tariff updates may influence investor sentiment, with inflation reports playing a crucial role next week.

Next week is important for the crypto market because a few major events are happening. These include the release of the CPI and PPI data, speeches from important Federal Reserve officials, and testimony from Jerome Powell, which could all influence the direction of the crypto market in the coming week.

Jobs Report and Tariff Concerns Shake Markets Before Inflation Data

After the January jobs report came out on February 7, the dollar and bond yields increased, but stock and crypto prices dropped. These market changes were influenced by more than just the jobs report.

 It concluded a week filled with strong economic data and growing concerns about upcoming U.S. tariffs. The January 2024 jobs report was a key highlight of last week, but other economic data also came in strong and exceeded expectations.

At its latest meeting, the Federal Reserve kept its main interest rate steady at 4.25%-4.50%, stressing that they need to see continuous improvement in inflation before thinking about reducing rates.

Several Fed officials also mentioned that prices pushed up by tariffs might lead to keeping their policies stricter for a longer period than what the markets anticipate.

CPI Report on 12 February

U.S. inflation figures and remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will play a crucial role in deciding the direction of U.S. interest rates. Additionally, any new updates on tariffs from the Trump administration will be closely watched.

With the first central bank decisions of 2025 behind us, this week might be quieter. However, there’s still significant news for investors, as the crucial CPI report from the United States is coming up.

In December, the main CPI rate slightly increased to 2.9% year-over-year, while the core rate decreased to 3.2%. According to predictions from the Cleveland Fed’s Inflation Nowcasting model, the main CPI rate is expected to have dropped to 2.85% in January, and the core rate to have slightly decreased to 3.13%.

On February 11, key figures from the Federal Reserve, including Hammack, Williams, and Powell, along with the Bank of England’s Mann and Bailey, will deliver speeches.

The next day, February 12, will feature talks from the Fed’s Bostic and Powell, as well as the ECB’s Nagel and the BoE’s Greene, potentially impacting financial markets with their insights on monetary policy.

Attention will also turn to inflation numbers from China, economic statistics from Japan, and data on the U.K.’s gross domestic product.

Jerome Powell’s Testimony to Take Place

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell probably won’t share much new information this week during his twice-a-year report to Congress, but his appearance could still affect the markets.

Powell will testify in the House of Representatives on Wednesday and then in the Senate on Thursday, discussing the Fed’s view on the economy.

Deutsche Bank analysts said,

“He will likely stick to the January FOMC script but the market always seems to get something new out of these appearances, which include a lot of congressional Q&A.”

Economists believe he will echo a common theme from recent Federal Reserve meetings: there is currently no hurry to lower the key fed funds interest rate.

US PPI Report

If the US releases strong producer price index (PPI) or retail sales figures, it could boost the dollar by making investors think that interest rate cuts might be delayed. Although markets have been doing well lately, any unexpectedly high inflation could make investors feel less bullish.

Additionally, if industrial production numbers are strong, it could increase the prices of oil and metals. However, if retail sales are weak, it could reduce demand for commodities driven by consumer spending and could also negatively impact the dollar. As a result, we might see a bullish comeback in the crypto market.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Coinpedia

~~~~~~~~~

BRICS CURRENCY PLAN IS OFFICIALLY NO MORE: WILL TRUMP LIFT TARIFFS

The ongoing tensions between the United States and the BRICS alliance have reached a fever pitch. With the world concerned about a burgeoning trade war, both sides seem no closer to any sort of resolution. However, a recent statement confirmed that the BRICS currency plan is officially no ore, but will US President Donald Trump lift his proposed tariffs?

During his campaign for re-election, Trump originally warned tariffs to dissuade the nation from embracing de-dollarization. He targeted the BRICS bloc specifically because they had so blatantly embraced the native currency settlement of their trade. Yet, with them confirming they are no longer a threat to the world’s currency, will Trump relent?

BRICS Currency Plan Confirmed to be Done, but Will Trump No Longer Target Alliance?

Donald Trump once said that the US dollar ceasing to be the world’s global reserve currency would be akin to the nation losing a war. That is what first placed the BRICS alliance in his crosshairs. For years, the nation has sought to implement its very own currency. Although never announced, the rumor had been present for much of 2024.

That caused the current US President to threaten significant tariffs on these nations. Specifically, he targeted those who would not commit to ensuring the status of the greenback. However, BRICS has officially confirmed its currency plan is no more, but will a Trump tariff also be rejected?

Dimitry Peskov, a Russian spokesperson, recently confirmed that “the BRICS are not discussing the creation of a common currency.” Indeed, the statement looked to put to rest the popular rumor. Alternatively, Peskov confirmed that the bloc was simply focused on joint investment and economic cooperation.

The question is, how will Trump respond? He is already planning reciprocal tariffs to match those imposed by other countries. 

Additionally, China has already responded to its 25% tariff with a 10% import tax on the US. With these nations already deeply embedded in an ongoing trade war, it is difficult to imagine Donald Trump would end the policy before it truly was implemented.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Watcher Guru

~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

Newshound's Podcast Link

Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

Q & A Classroom Link  

Follow the Roadmap

Follow the Timeline 

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Subscribe to Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Newsletter

Thank you Dinar Recaps

“Tidbits From TNT” Monday Morning 2-10-2025

TNT:

Tishwash:  Parliamentary Finance: No new appointments in the 2025 budget

The Parliamentary Finance Committee confirmed, on Sunday, February 9, 2025, that there are no appointments in the federal budget for the current year. 

Committee member Mustafa Al-Karawi said in a statement followed by Al-Jabal, "According to the latest amendments, there is no fundamental change in the budget law, and no new appointments have been included, but it is possible for the government to move within the budget schedules to reactivate some of the previous specializations and texts."

He stated that "the amendments sent by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers were limited to Article (12) related to the cost of extracting oil in the Kurdistan Region," indicating that "the amended article is supposed to enter into force soon, which will allow the start of exporting oil from the region's wells through the SOMO company."

The Ministerial Council for the Economy recommended a few days ago to stop listing new investment projects except for necessary ones.

The Council sent its recommendation to the Council of Ministers regarding new investment projects to stop listing these projects except for the necessary ones, with the approval of the Council of Ministers and the endorsement of the Ministry of Planning and Finance to provide financial allocation before entering into any financial obligations  link

************

Tishwash: The dollar stabilizes in the parallel market.. Is the price madness over?

The US dollar exchange rate is witnessing remarkable stability in the parallel market in Iraq at the present time, after a period of fluctuations and rising prices.

This stability is mainly attributed to the decrease in demand for the dollar for import purposes.
Economic expert Salah Nouri told {Euphrates News} that: “The stability of the dollar exchange rate in the parallel market is due to the decrease in demand for imports by traders who import goods from neighboring countries, as a result of anticipation of the outcome of the US decisions regarding sanctions.”

Nouri stressed that “the decrease in the dollar exchange rate has a positive impact on citizens’ purchasing power, but to varying degrees depending on the type of goods, such as basic food items other than medicines.”

Is the price madness over?

This stability indicates the possibility of an end to the “price madness” that the dollar market witnessed in the previous period; however, the economic expert believes that this stability is dependent on the decisions of the United States of America regarding sanctions, which means that the market may witness other fluctuations in the future.

Its impact on citizens

The decline in the dollar exchange rate has a positive impact on citizens’ purchasing power, as they can buy more goods and services with the same amount of Iraqi dinars. However, this impact varies depending on the type of goods, as citizens benefit more from the decline in the prices of basic food items other than medicines.  link

************

Tishwash:  Saeed Tavakli: Iraq signs new gas export contract with Iran

 The CEO of the National Iranian Gas Company, Saeed Tavakoli, confirmed today, Saturday, "The export of gas to Iraq is currently ongoing, and we have recently signed a long-term contract with Iraq."

Tavakoli told the Iranian Mehr News Agency regarding US President Donald Trump's decision last Wednesday to cancel the exemption granted to Iraq to import electricity and gas from Iran as part of new sanctions against Tehran, "The decision represents an escalation of US pressure on Iran, as it pressures Iraq to reduce its dependence on Iranian energy."

Saeed Tavakoli stressed, "The export of gas to Iraq is currently underway, and since we have recently extended a good contract for exporting gas, it is likely that the cancellation of the exemption granted to Iraq to import electricity and gas from Iran was for another form of gas import."

The Iranian official continued, "Fortunately, the Iranian-Iraqi contract is in place, but the volume of exports increases and decreases according to the contractual terms."

Regarding gas imports and swaps, Tavakoli also said, "We do not import gas, but gas imports and swaps, such as electricity, are carried out from Armenia."

The CEO of the National Gas Company also stated regarding the drop in temperatures and the state of gas supply: "Currently, the network conditions are stable, and in the current situation, 72 percent of the gas produced is consumed in the domestic sector, and thanks to the cooperation of citizens, the gas supply network will remain stable in the coming days."

Iranian officials said last year that Iraq owed Iran $11 billion in debt due to the gas it purchased, and the payment of this debt was postponed by Iraq to the extent that Iran was forced, in response, to reduce gas exports due to the heavy debt.  link

*************

Mot: You Can Spoil Her With Something Expensive This Year

Mot ... AAaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! 

MilitiaMan & Crew-Dinar-IRAQ-News-Constitutional Entitlements-Digital Economy Infrastructure-AI-Monetary Mass

MilitiaMan & Crew-Dinar-IRAQ-News-Constitutional Entitlements-Digital Economy Infrastructure-AI-Monetary Mass

2-9-2025

The Crew:  Samson, PompeyPeter, Petra, Daytrader, Sunkissed, GIGI and Militia Man

Be sure to listen to full video for all the news……..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbm6wecbVIM