Iraq Economic News and Points to Ponder Tuesday Evening 2-18-25

Iraq loses 10% of its total foreign official reserves in 2024 .. What are the reasons?
 
Economics     2025-02-18 | Source: Alsumaria News     2,299 views  Alsumaria News – Economy  witnessed Iraq During the year 2024, a remarkable decline in its foreign official reserves, as  it decreased to 130 trillion Iraqi dinars by the end of the year, recording a loss of 6 trillion Iraqi dinars during the month of December alone, which represents 4% of the total reserves, according to what he mentioned The head of the Iraq Future Foundation for Research and Economic Consultation, Manar Al -Ubaidi.  says Al -Ubaidi in a post followed by Alsumaria News, that
 
throughout the year, Iraq lost a total of 15 trillion Iraqi dinars, which is equivalent to 10% of its official reserves, to reach its lowest level in more than two years, as the reserves were at this level at the end of a year 2022, before it rose to 147 trillion Iraqi dinars in November 2023, and then re -decreased at the end of 2024.

This decline is due to several main factors, foremost of which is the
 
     high government expenditures, as
     revenues were unable to achieve sufficient levels to cover the increasing expenses, which necessitated
     resorting to reserves to fill the financial deficit and financing operational and investment expenditures that are still in continuous escalation. Besides,
 
there are other factors that have contributed to this decline,
 
     imposing economic challenges that require a review of financial policies to ensure the stability of cash reserves in the future, according to Al -Ubaidi.    
  
https://www.alsumaria.tv/news/economy/516887/العراق-يخسر-10-من-مجمل-احتياطياته-الرسمية-الاجنبية-في-2024-ما-الأسباب

The Central Bank Organizes A Workshop To Introduce Artificial Intelligence
 
February 18, 2025  The Information Security Department, one of the formations of the Central Bank of Iraq, organized  an introductory workshop for its employees with the concepts of artificial intelligence and its relationship to the security of cyber information and security.
 
The workshop discussed the
 
     stages of the development of artificial intelligence and
     its relationship with the security of cyber information and security, as well as
     its new role in the financial and banking sector and the
     risks that this sector can be exposed to.
    
    The Central Bank of Iraq   Media Office   February 18, 2025    https://cbi.iq/news/view/2796

Banking Sector And Economic Bases 
 
Economic 2025/02/17  of the. He Hamid Rhyme Janani  It can be likened to the artery of life in relation to economic activity, and  its role in any economy cannot be overlooked, regardless of that economy, sophisticated or developing, and even if it is backward, the
 
     first model needs a banking system that is pushed through its sustainable activity to achieve positive growth in the gross domestic product, while the
 
     second model has a role Under importance is to mobilize savings and direct them to investments to push towards the sustainability of development transformations. As for the
 
     third category, it must activate the role of banks and improve their performance in a way that ensures the finding of the introductions of the economic transformation and change to move from the clutches of backwardness to the desired economic development.
 
Investments need financing and 
 
the last is supposed to achieve by the banking sector and
 
this is what is discovered from the (Hardo-Dumar) model that is supposed to be
 
Economic growth as a product of economic development is based on the explicit relationship between the volume of savings and investments in the economy, and
 
this is definitely the role of banks.
 
The aforementioned roles are achieved through the mechanism of work of the banking system in any economy with the different pattern of its work, as
 
commercial banks that work with their credit policies using the teams that have the price of creditor and debtor, and
 
those Islamic ones that take a pattern based on speculation, agency, murabaha, participation and consultation, as some banks invest Trade in securities with its various types.
 
The essence of banking operations in its various forms is looking to achieve a very important purpose,
 
which is to find an economic balance between financial surpluses on the one hand and financial scarcity on the other hand, but how? 

Of course, there are individuals in society who have financial resources and do not have investment thought, in return  there are individuals and institutions that have investment thought but they need financial financing,
 
the banking system comes to exercise the role of the mediator between the two categories and through the interest rate and credit policy or the tools of Islamic banks to withdraw financial surpluses to re-pump it into the economy By directing it to the business sector, and
 
here is the secret behind the state of economic growth and enhancing development gains and shift towards the beginnings of economic development, and
 
it must be indicated by the transit role of the borders of the process of transporting capital across countries,
 
everything that is presented expresses the governing economic rules of the work of the banking system.
 
Iraq and the dilemma of the banking apparatus,
 
that dilemma that begins with international sanctions inherited from the previous regime, which was imposed on the largest banks, Al -Rafidain and Al -Rasheed, which have not been raised to this day, and
 
despite the establishment of many private banks, the number of banks reached (79) banks distributed according to ownership (8 (Government banks, (71) private banks, and (7) of private banks in which foreign partnerships, the observer did not touch the economic situation a developmental role for the banking system by noting
 
the general economic situation dominated by the rentier style according to the diversity indicators issued by the Ministry of Planning, the transformational industrial sector contributes to a rate The percentage of (2 percent) only and the agricultural (5 percent) only and other low percentages from other contributions and
 
the most important point is that the rate of what the banking sector maintains from the cash source by
 
the central bank did not exceed (12 percent) only and the rest is cash in trading the banking sector did not succeed in Attracting it, and  this reflects the weak confidence in the device Banking.
 
The most important misfortunes on the banking system are the international sanctions imposed, as the number of punishable banks in 2023 (14) banks reached the penalties before them (4) other banks.
 
Despite the efforts to address the defect in the banking system, such as government attempts to structure the largest banks (Al-Rafidain and Al-Rasheed) by relying on international advice, the central bank’s policies to enhance control over its work and the ongoing negotiations to lift the sanctions and others, the banking system is still suffering from clear challenges.
 
The desired economic development in Iraq needs a banking sector working (with economic rules) a necessary condition and not sufficient to achieve the shift towards the beginnings of development, and without it the problems of (monetary Liquidity) remain stuck because the monetary bloc in the economy is with its largest part of The banking system.    https://alsabaah.iq/110251-.htm

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

Iraq Economic News and Points to Ponder Tuesday Afternoon 2-18-25

The Wave Of Penalties For Iraqi Banks .. Is It The Beginning Of New Pressure?
 
Economics     2025-02-17 | 3,633 views  Alsumaria News – Local  The economist, Manar Al-Ubaidi, said today, Monday, regarding the imposition of sanctions on Iraqi banks.  said Al-Ubaidi in a statement followed by Alsumaria News, that   "there are 10 Iraqi and foreign banks working to carry out external transfer operations in various currencies, led by the dollar," noting that "there are news about the joining of two new bankers,   one of which is Iraqi and  the other is a foreigner, to the Citi Pilot platform responsible for Transfer the dollar." 

He added that "what is happening in the Iraqi banking sector is not a collapse as some depicts it, 
but rather a process of reshaping aimed at ensuring compliance with international standards,
 which reflects a new stage of organization and adaptation to the requirements of transparency and financial compliance", "noting that "we were hoping to lead This change is Iraqi banks, but the nature of the emerging sector and the leniency that it witnessed during the past twenty years made it unstable for such changes, as banks   believed that the existing situation would continue and   did not initiate the preparation of the requirements of the new stage.

He stated that "there are banks that organized their conditions and managed their business properly and managed to withstand and continue in the market,"
 
calling on "Iraqi banks to re-evaluate their work and work to achieve international governance standards and compliance."
 
Those responsible for the financial and banking educational system must, Al-Ubaidi stressed
 
"the necessity of re-evaluating the content of teaching materials to graduate human competencies and energies
 
     needed by the banking sector and is
     able to compete with foreign human energies from different countries to
     ensure the sector's sustainability with Iraqi cadres and Iraqi institutions."
 
 Iraqi banking sources, quoting diplomats working in Baghdad, revealed that
 
new sanctions will be issued against 5 Iraqi banks who violated international standards and some of them transferred money to illegal parties,  while the Central Bank denied the validity of these news.
 
The sources stated in a news followed by Alsumaria News, that
 
"the sanctions will include bank owners after accusing at least one of the five banks to work completely for one of the armed factions in Iraq." It was later published that
 
"the five banks covered by the procedures are the" Musk "bank, the" Sanam "bank, the" United "bank, the" Al -Amin "bank and the" East "bank.
 
After the five banks including the penalties, 34 private banks will be out of 44 banks in Iraq that included the sanctions to remain 5 Iraqi banks operating in Iraq along with 5 other Iraqi banks working with Arab and foreign capital ..

The total number of banks operating in Iraq becomes 10 banks except government banks
 
The other is the Rafidain Bank, the Rashid Bank, the Iraqi Bank for Trade, and other specialized banks, such as agricultural, industrial, and others. https://www.alsumaria.tv/news/economy/516701/موجة-العقوبات-على-مصارف-عراقية-هل-هو-بداية-لضغوط-جديدة؟ 

The Central Bank Of Iraq Signs A Memorandum Of Understanding With Frankfurt School For Administrative And Financial Sciences
 
February 17, 2025  The Center for Banking Studies, the training arm of the Central Bank of Iraq,
was keen to achieve one of its strategic goals of
 
     upgrading training by enhancing cooperation and
     building communication channels, and
     holding partnerships with many vocational academic and training institutions. 

The Center for Banking Studies and the Frankfurt School of Administrative and Financial Sciences signed a memorandum of understanding, to frame cooperation efforts between the two sides, and
 
this memorandum aims to
 
    enhance cooperation in the field of training and development of staff in the financial and banking sector in the two countries, as well as
 
    exchanging experiences and experiences between the two sides, especially in modern areas that It serves the Iraqi financial and banking sector, and the
 
signing of the Memorandum of Understanding comes in light of the central bank’s approach to the cadres of the Iraqi banking and financial sector, as one of the most important notes that the
 
Banking Studies Center aims to sign with internationally accredited training and training centers.
    
The Central Bank of Iraq  Media Office  February 17, 2025 https://cbi.iq/news/view/2795

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

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Tuesday Afternoon 2-18-25

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

CREEPING DOUBTS OVER US GOLD RESERVES MAKE CASE FOR TOKENIZED COMMODITIES

America’s Fort Knox, Kentucky gold reserves haven’t been audited in more than 50 years.

The tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) has reached a record high in 2025, driven by institutional demand for US dollar-denominated yield products.

As the technical barriers to RWAs continue to erode, commodities that require continual verification, like gold reserves, are likely to find a home on the blockchain very soon, according to Michele Crivelli, founder and chief operating officer of digital asset issuer NexBridge.

In an interview with Cointelegraph, Crivelli explained why US Treasurys and other fixed-income instruments have been the biggest targets of tokenization.

“These assets offer stability, transparency and clearly defined yields,” said Crivelli. “There is strong demand for dollar-denominated instruments for various reasons, including the need to combat inflation in certain regions and preserve purchasing power in countries where you don’t have direct access to [US dollar] currency or investment.”

Tokenizing Treasury bonds is a natural first step in a market that Crivelli calls a “small, knowledgeable niche.”

However, it’s only a matter of time before more assets become tokenized.

“Beyond US Treasury bills, gold and other commodities are prime candidates for tokenization, thanks to their potential to reduce correlation with traditional markets,” said Crivelli.

“There are different tokenization models — some replicate financial instruments linked to gold, while others directly represent physical bullion,” he said.

Anxiety over US gold reserves grows

The tokenization of real-world assets like gold is taking on newfound importance as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) seeks to cut wasteful spending and increase the transparency of US federal agencies.

Musk has even proposed using blockchain technology to track federal spending — a motion that was supported by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong.

Anxiety over federal gold reserves has grown since Zerohedge reminded Musk that the country’s Fort Knox, Kentucky deposits haven’t been audited in more than 50 years.

“Surely it’s reviewed at least every year?” Musk asked.

In response, US Senator Rand Paul has called on DOGE to investigate the status of Fort Knox’s nearly 4,600 tons of gold.

Blockchain technology can render these issues obsolete, according to Crivelli. Tokenizing bullion on the blockchain can increase the security and transparency of gold reserves, which enables “continual verification of gold’s ownership,” he said.

In the meantime, betters on Polymarket say there’s a 50% chance that DOGE will audit the Fort Knox gold reserves by May of this year.

@ Newshounds News
Source:  CoinTelegraph

~~~~~~~~~

TETHER CO-FOUNDER IS WORKING ON YIELD-BEARING STABLECOIN RIVAL

▪Pi Protocol is set to launch in the second half of the year
▪The project will let minters of stablecoin earn yield

One of the original founders of Tether is backing a new stablecoin project — one that will compete with the world’s most traded cryptocurrency.

Reeve Collins, who along with Brock Pierce and Craig Sellars launched precursor to the original stablecoin, served as Tether’s first chief executive officer from from 2013 to 2015. 

He is chairman and co-founder of Pi Protocol. The so-called decentralized project is expected to debut on both the Ethereum and Solana blockchains in the second half of this year or sooner. No financial terms were disclosed.

Pi will use so-called smart contracts, or computer programs that automatically execute transactions between parties like exchanges and market makers, to mint its USP stablecoin. 

As a reward, the minters will earn another token, called USI, as yield. The stablecoin will be backed by yield-bearing real-world assets such as bonds.

After initially being used in crypto to facilitate trading and serving as a refuge from the extreme swings in the prices of most other tokens, stablecoins have been touted more recently as a method of payment.

The idea is to let industry participants marketing the stablecoin to get the lion’s share of the profits from it — something that doesn’t happen with Tether, which is supposed to be tied one-to-one to the dollar. Tether, which has grown to have over $140 billion in USDT tokens in circulation, profits from investing the reserves backing the coins. Tether said it had about $13 billion in profit last year.

“We view Pi Protocol as the evolution of stablecoins,” Collins said in an interview. “Tether has been extremely successful in showcasing demand for stablecoins. But they keep all the yield. We believe 10 years later the market is really ready to evolve.”

Collins, 49, and his partners sold Tether to the operators of the crypto exchange Bitfinex in 2015, when the USDT stablecoin’s market value was less than $1 billion. Collins has since co-founded several other companies, including NFT platform BLOCKv.

“I very much supported Tether over the years, it’s an extraordinary invention that we’ve developed,” Collins said. “Hindsight is always 20/20,” he said when asked if he regretted selling his stake in Tether.

Stablecoins have gotten a boost this year, with the election of US President Donald Trump. In his first days in office, Trump released an executive order promoting US dollar-backed stablecoin adoption, and Congress is working on a bill that offers a regulatory framework for stablecoins in the US.

Major financial companies like PayPal Holdings Inc. are already issuing stablecoins, while many others are considering issuing them.

Pi Protocol seeks to take advantage of the fast growth of not only stablecoins, but also real-world assets, a category which companies like the world’s biggest asset manager, BlackRock Inc., already play in. 

The stablecoin will be over-collateralized by assets like Treasuries, money-market funds and insurance products represented on blockchain ledgers. Pi’s smart contracts will evaluate the collateral’s value and enforce an over-collateralization ratio, according to the project’s whitepaper.

“You want assets that are non-correlated to crypto that are mid- to high yield, low risk,” Pi Chief Executive Officer Bundeep Singh Rangar, who previously founded insurance platform PremFina, said. “We have a mechanism that assesses the quality of the asset. They are ones that are vetted on their loss ratio and origination of where they are coming from.”

Pi will be ruled by a governance token, USPi, whose holders will get a cut of the platform’s revenue, coming from sources like yield from minting the stablecoin on the platform. The token’s users will be able to vote on decisions such as setting risk parameters, adjusting collateral policies and distribution of protocol revenue. The project’s team and advisors got 25% of the governance token supply. A pre-sale of the governance token is currently ongoing.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Bloomberg

~~~~~~~~~

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Gold Telegraph: The Best Part of the Last 48 Hours

Gold Telegraph: The Best Part of the Last 48 Hours

2-18-2025

Gold is nearing $2900 to start the week in US dollar terms.

Copper exploding higher. +2%

Elon Musk says it would be cool to do a live video walkthrough of Fort Knox reviewing gold reserves… This would be massive.

Elon Musk confirms that Americans want to know whether the gold is still at Fort Knox. Seems like an audit is coming…

After years of Western central bankers dismissing gold, the world is now demanding an audit of Fort Knox to verify if it’s actually there. Are you not entertained?

I asked Ron Paul whether he believes the Trump Administration could remonetize gold and about @judyshel’s gold-backed bond. He emphasized that gold should be RETURNED to the people and revisited his iconic exchange with former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke on whether gold is money. He says the current system is over, and price inflation will continue to go up.

Dr. Paul highlighted that one of the most magnificent developments is that some states are passing legislation recognizing gold and silver as legal tender, in line with the Constitution.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1891650999820882286

Dr. Ron Paul spent a lot of time highlighting the importance of gold in the global system.

Watch the full episode, here:

GOLD TELEGRAPH CONVERSATION #5: DR. RON PAUL "I think the country would thrive tremendously if we see it in moral terms and don’t have some Federal Reserve being the chief counterfeiter. It’s fraud."

@RonPaul

Three-time U.S. presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul joins me for a powerful discussion on the Federal Reserve, fiat money, government waste, and key moments from his career.

A former U.S. Congressman and physician, Paul has been a relentless advocate for limited government, free markets, and sound money. Serving Texas for decades, he became one of the loudest critics of the Federal Reserve, pushing for monetary reform, a gold standard, and fiscal responsibility. In our conversation, Dr. Paul reflects on the growing awareness of monetary policy and government corruption—a fight he’s led for years. We begin with @elonmusk call for him to investigate the Federal Reserve, a move Dr. Paul doubts will happen but sees as a sign that the debate is shifting. He emphasizes that the real battle is ideological, as the current monetary system is crumbling under debt, inflation, and authoritarianism.

Dr. Paul revisits his push to audit the Fed and America’s gold reserves, recalling repeated efforts to block transparency.

While he believes the gold is still there, questions remain over ownership and manipulation. He also highlights the Fed’s secrecy in international finance, warning that the system thrives on deception and interventionism. We explore many more themes in this fascinating discussion. Thank you, Dr. Paul, for joining me. I hope you all enjoy.

https://x.com/i/status/1889741052665270319

Things are getting real.

Elon Musk:  This gold is the property of the American people. I sure hope it’s still there!

Suddenly, The entire world realizes a monetary reset is no longer a conspiracy. It’s in motion. To top it all off: Gold will be at the centre of it all.

I follow zero script. I just have spent my career trying to write the golden story. Coming at us fast now.

“He who has the gold makes the rules.”

Bingo.

There is still a weeks-long queue to withdraw gold from the Bank of England vaults. If they did not know by now… Countries now fully know how difficult it has become to bring their gold home. This explains why many have rushed to do so over the years.

Who has brought some gold home in recent years?

• India
• Germany
• Netherlands
• Turkey
• Austria

The list goes on. Who is next?

BREAKING NEWS: GERMANY’S LIKELY NEXT CHANCELLOR IS WARNING THAT EUROPE IS ON THE BRINK OF ANOTHER FINANCIAL CRISIS

Oh?

“It will be a sovereign debt crisis. We don’t know when it will come. We don’t know from where it will come from, but it will come…”

Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-friedrich-merz-germany-eu-debt-dinances-france-italy/

The best part of the last 48 hours? It’s only a matter of time before Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is forced to address growing public concern over whether the U.S. still owns all the gold at Fort Knox. Peak financial comedy is on the way.

Source(s):  https://x.com/GoldTelegraph_/status/1891324810405310716

https://dinarchronicles.com/2025/02/18/gold-telegraph-the-best-part-of-the-last-48-hours/

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Tuesday Morning 2-18-25

Good morning Dinar Recaps,

FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR BACKS BITCOIN AS ‘DIGITAL GOLD’—A TURNING POINT FOR CRYPTO?

Despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell has revised his stance on Bitcoin, which has given investors cautious hope for cryptocurrencies.

Comparing Bitcoin to gold during an appearance at the New York Times DealBook Summit, Powell characterized the flagship crypto as a “speculative asset” rather than a direct competitor to the US dollar.

This is a significant departure from his previous dismissive stance toward the world’s largest cryptocurrency, which has a market capitalization of approximately $1.4 trillion.

Powell’s Changing Viewpoint On Bitcoin

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) promptly emphasized this development as “an improvement to the previous narrative,” indicating that industry leaders were aware of Powell’s rhetorical shift.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Boiitcoinist

Powell Interview, Audio:  X . Com

~~~~~~~~~

TEXAS SENATE’S BITCOIN RESERVE HEARING FEBRUARY 18: A GAME CHANGER OR SYMBOLIC MOVE?

The Texas Senate is all set to hold a public hearing, Tuesday, to discuss creating a Bitcoin reserve. However, market analysts believe that the move may be symbolic unless the state announces a clear investment plan.

The first public hearing for the establishment of a potential strategic Bitcoin reserve in Texas is scheduled for Feb. 18, less than a week after the bill was received by the Secretary of the Senate, as per the Texas government’s website.

“A Symbolic Move”

Despite being a positive step for Bitcoin adoption, the hearing may only represent a ‘symbolic move’ for cryptocurrency markets, according to Iliya Kalchev, dispatch analyst at Nexo.

“Texas considering Bitcoin as a reserve asset is another chess move in BTC’s march toward institutional legitimacy, but state-level initiatives often make ripples, not waves, compared to ETF inflows or corporate treasury allocations,” Kalchev noted.

Kalchev pointed out that unless Texas announces specific actions, like buying Bitcoin soon or a major policy shift, the market won’t react strongly. This is because Texas is already known for its pro-crypto stance, and hence the news itself won’t be surprising.

Lately, Bitcoin has lacked upside momentum, trading under the $100,000 for over nine days since Feb. 7. COO of Bitget, believes that Bitcoin will continue to face pressure in the short term due to the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China.

Upcoming Events Could Reignite Interest

Nevertheless, Key events this week like the upcoming FOMC minutes could reignite the markets. The Federal Reserve will release the minutes from its January meeting on Wednesday, where it decided to keep interest rates steady. Besides, Trump’s tariffs are also adding inflationary pressure.

While the positive developments surrounding Bitcoin reserve legislation signal growing institutional adoption, Kalchev noted that macro forces like fed policy and regulatory shifts will ultimately shape Bitcoin’s trajectory.

Texas’ push for a Bitcoin reserve marks a significant shift in both economic and political landscapes, with other states following suit. Kentucky, for example, has become the 16th state to propose legislation that would allocate up to 10% of excess state reserves into digital assets. These moves highlight the growing trend toward crypto adoption across the U.S.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Coinpedia

~~~~~~~~~

FED GOVERNOR CALLS FOR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ALLOWING BANKS AND INSTITUTIONS TO ISSUE STABLECOINS

A member of The Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve is calling for laws that would allow banks and institutions to issue dollar-pegged digital assets.

In a speech given by Christopher J. Waller at a recent conference in San Francisco, the Fed governor argues for a regulatory framework that would allow blue-chip financial institutions to issue regulated stablecoins.

According to Waller, stablecoins could be extremely beneficial to the financial system because they have numerous use cases such as broadening access to US dollars, easy cross-border payments and retail payments.

“The first theme I will explore is one that I have discussed in the past – the safety and soundness of stablecoins and the need for a clear regulatory regime for stablecoins in the United States…

This framework should allow both non-banks and banks to issue regulated stablecoins and should consider the effects of regulation on the payments landscape, including competing payment instruments.”

However, Waller says there are potential risks associated with stablecoins, including the possibility that they could become de-pegged from the fiat currency they are linked to.

“Stablecoins are forms of private money and, like any form of private money, are subject to run risk, and we have seen ‘de-pegs’ of some stablecoins in recent years. Additionally, all payment systems face the risk of failure, and stablecoins are subject to clearing, settlement, and other payment system risks as well.”

Earlier this month, Republican Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee proposed the GENIUS Act, a bill to regulate and define stablecoins as well as establish licensing and reserve requirements for issuer.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  DailyHodl

~~~~~~~~~

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“Tidbits From TNT” Budget Published in Gazette 1-18-2025

TNT:

Tishwash:  Issue No. (4814) of the Iraqi Gazette was published on 2/17/2025.

 2025-02-18 10:28:00

 - Law No. (1) of 2025 “Amending Personal Status Law No. (188) of 1959.”

- Law No. (2) of 2025 “Second Amendment to General Amnesty Law No. (27) of 2016”.

- Law No. (3) of 2025 “Cancelling the decisions of the (dissolved) Revolutionary Command Council and returning the properties to their owners.”

- Law No. (4) of 2025 “First Amendment to the Federal General Budget Law of the Republic of Iraq for the Fiscal Years (2023-2024-2025) No. (13) of 2023.”

- Regulation No. (3) of 2025 “The first amendment to the Civil Airports Wages System No. (6) of 2018 issued by Cabinet Resolution No. (67) of 2025.”

- Instructions No. (1) of 2025 “Implementing the Second Amendment Law to Amnesty Law No. (27) of 2016, effective from the date of voting on it in the Iraqi Council of Representatives on 1/21/2025.”

To download the issue click here

Anyone wishing to purchase issues of the Iraqi Gazette can visit the Iraqi Gazette Department located in Al-Salihiya/Haifa Street (Ministry of Justice building) and obtain the required issue

Resolution No. (1)

Based on what was approved by the House of Representatives based on the provisions of Clause (First) of Article 21

Article 73, paragraph (Third) of the Constitution

The President of the Republic decided on 2/11/2025

Issuing the following law:

No. (1) of 2025  law

First Amendment to the Federal General Budget Law of the Republic of Iraq

For the fiscal years (2023-2025-2025) No. (13) of 2023

Article 10 - The text of Paragraph (c) of Clause (Second) of Article 12 of the Federal General Budget Law of the Republic of Iraq for the fiscal years (2023) 2024-2025 No. 13 shall be cancelled.

Year 2023 and shall be replaced by the following:

A1: The Federal Ministry of Finance shall compensate the Kurdistan Regional Government from the sovereign expenses for the costs of production and transportation of the quantities of oil produced in the region that are received by the State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) or the Federal Ministry of Oil in accordance with paragraphs (b) of this clause, provided that the calculation is made C

10. The Federal Ministry of Finance shall compensate the Kurdistan Regional Government from sovereign expenses for the costs of production and transportation of the quantities of oil produced in the region that are received by the State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) or the Federal Ministry of Oil in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this clause, provided that the fair estimated costs of production and transportation for each field separately are calculated by a specialized international technical consulting body determined by the Federal Ministry of Oil in agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources in the region, within a period of (60) sixty days from the date of entry into force of this law, and in the event of failure to reach an agreement within the aforementioned period, the Federal Council of Ministers shall determine the aforementioned consulting body.

The technical advisory body referred to in (1) of this paragraph shall submit the estimated cost of production and transportation to the Federal Ministries of Finance and Oil.

2/17/2025

(65)  laws

Iraqi Facts - Issue 4814   190

The Kurdistan Regional Government, and it is approved for the purposes of this law, and the compensation stipulated in (1) of this paragraph shall be calculated based on the aforementioned cost per barrel multiplied by the number of barrels received in accordance with paragraphs (a, b) of this item, and the Federal Ministry of Finance shall undertake to pay the amounts to the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Immediately commence the delivery of oil produced in the region to the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) or the Federal Ministry of Oil in accordance with paragraphs (a, b) of this clause, and the costs of production and transportation shall be compensated by the Federal Ministry of Finance as advances at a rate of $16 per barrel, to be settled later after the specialized technical advisory body referred to in paragraph (1) of this paragraph completes its work and retroactively from the date of commencement of delivery pursuant to this amendment.

Article 2 - This law shall be implemented from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Abdul Latif Jamal Rasheed   president  link

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Tishwash:  Federal Reserve Praises Development of US Dollar Cash Distribution System in Iraq

The Central Bank announced, today, Sunday, the details of its meetings with the US Treasury and the US Federal Reserve.

The Central Bank stated in a statement received by / Al-Maalouma / agency, that “the first quarterly meetings for the year 2025 with the US Treasury and the US Federal Reserve, which were held in Dubai with the participation of international auditing and consulting firms (EY, K2 Integrity, Oliver Wyman), ended and the meetings were crowned with praise for the steps taken by the Central Bank of Iraq and the Iraqi government to reform the banking sector.”

He added that "the most important steps that have been taken are the development of the cash distribution system for the US dollar in Iraq, which they considered the most controlled and controlled system in the world, which limits manipulation and smuggling of the US dollar."

The Central Bank explained that “the consulting firms (EY and Oliver Wyman) reviewed the plans to reform the public and private banking sector and upgrade it in line with international standards and to facilitate the involvement of Iraqi banks in the international financial relations network . international correspondent banks in the Iraqi banking sector.”  link

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Tishwash:  Regional Oil: The Path to Resuming Exports and Its Next Stages: New Hopes on the Road to Economic Recovery

Former member of the Natural Resources Committee in the Kurdistan Parliament, Jihad Hassan, commented today, Monday (February 17, 2025), on the statements of the Minister of Natural Resources in the regional government regarding the resumption of the region’s oil exports.

Hassan said in an interview with Baghdad Today, "This is an economic step that will revive the economy of the region and Iraq in general, and the matter was dependent on Baghdad and Ankara, as the region has been ready for a long time to export oil without any obstacles."

On the other hand, the expert and advisor on oil affairs, Govind Sherwani, confirmed that “the President of the Republic signed the amendment to Article 12 of the budget law related to the allocations for production and transportation of the region’s oil, and this issue was the obstacle to resuming exports.”

In an interview with Baghdad Today on Monday (February 17, 2025), Sherwani said, "The law will come into effect after its publication in the Official Gazette, and with regard to the technical aspect, a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Oil visited the region to review the technical aspects."

He added, "It is expected that within a week or the end of this month, the technical arrangements will be completed, and export will become possible. It is certain that the previous quantities, which are 400 thousand barrels per day, will not be, because these arrangements and the rehabilitation of the oil wells that were left for two years require a long time, and it may take more than 3 months to reach the previous rates."

He pointed out that "the beginning will not be less than 250 thousand barrels exported daily, and it is possible that within a month or two, exports will return to 400 thousand barrels, and this is a new resource to raise the public treasury, especially since this oil can be marketed to European markets without any obstacles."

At the beginning of 2025, new developments came in the amendment of Article 12 of the budget law, which paved the way for the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region. This step is considered an important solution to a legal problem that was hindering oil exports, and provides the region with an opportunity to enhance its economic revenues by exporting oil to global markets, especially European ones.

Despite the technical challenges facing the process of resuming exports, such as rehabilitating oil wells that have been out of service for two years, experts expect that the export process will begin in limited quantities, with the possibility of gradually increasing them in the coming months  link

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Mot: Multi Talented I Is!!!  Procrastinating is a talent

Mot..... and then there is ""Grandma's Tea"" 

MilitiaMan & Crew-Iraq Dinar News-Finance & Banking Advisors speakout-Truth-Oil Exports-Exchange Rate Expectation

MilitiaMan & Crew-Iraq Dinar News-Finance & Banking Advisors speakout-Truth-Oil Exports-Exchange Rate Expectation

2-17-2025

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=-rtcvEOPD7A

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Monday Evening 2-17-25

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

ELON MUSK’S D.O.G.E. SET TO INVESTIGATE FORT KNOX’S $425B GOLD RESERVE

A groundbreaking D.O.G.E. investigation has catalyzed some more intense debate across multiple financial sectors after Elon Musk brought to the surface questions about the Fort Knox’s $425 billion gold stockpile verification process.

The Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) has engineered a comprehensive review to verify whether Fort Knox actually maintains its reported 4,580 tons of gold, revolutionizing traditional Treasury oversight.

How Elon Musk’s D.O.G.E. Investigation Could Impact Fort Knox’s Gold Reserves

Political Response and Bitcoin Alternative

The D.O.G.E. investigation has leveraged significant political momentum, with several key lawmakers spearheading support initiatives.

Senator Rand Paul said:

“Nope. Let’s do it”

Senator Cynthia Lummis had this to say:

“Bitcoin fixes this. A bitcoin reserve could be audited anytime 24/7 with a basic computer. It’s time to upgrade our reserves.”

This pivotal D.O.G.E investigation comes after Senator Lummis created the groundbreaking Bitcoin Act, which aims at creating a strategic reserve formed out of 1 million Bitcoins, which would be optimizing a whopping amount of 5% of the total BTC supply.

The initiative deploys secure Bitcoin vaults operated through some sophisticated Treasury protocols. This would be leveraging the existing Federal Reserve and Treasury resources.

How States Use & Their Own Gold

Several major states have spearheaded their own cryptocurrency initiatives while Fort Knox discussions continue at the federal level. 

Pennsylvania, Texas, Wyoming, Arizona, and Wisconsin have engineered innovative state-based Bitcoin reserve strategies, catalyzing significant momentum for cryptocurrency adoption across various government sectors.

The Treasury has leveraged its existing 200,000 BTC holdings, primarily acquired through strategic asset seizures coordinated by US Marshals. Under the groundbreaking BITCOIN Act, these digital assets would be integrated into Treasury operations, pioneering a new era of national cryptocurrency reserves.

The Current Position of the Treasury

A pivotal inspection of Fort Knox was conducted in 2017 during Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin’s visit. The facility had remained sealed since 1974, when select journalists and lawmakers gained unprecedented access following widespread concerns about missing gold.

The vault’s sophisticated security architecture requires multiple authorized personnel for access, presenting ongoing challenges for comprehensive verification.

Also talking about gold reserves, Senator Lummis said:

“A bitcoin reserve could be audited anytime 24/7 with a basic computer. It’s time to upgrade our reserves.”

@ Newshounds News™
Source:  Watcher Guru

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HESTER PEIRCE ON CRYPTO INDUSTRY'S 5 BIGGEST CONCERNS

The SEC's lead Crypto Task Force regulator talks early action.

President Trump made big crypto promises on the campaign trail. With Gary Gensler gone and the SEC now under new management, his administration stands ready to deliver on the agenda with digital asset regulatory clarity.

Hester Peirce – an outspoken advocate for digital asset liberties and regulatory restraint – joined David Hoffman to discuss the implications of changing agency leadership on crypto’s future.

Day one of the Trump Administration saw Commissioner Peirce appointed as head of the SEC’s freshly formed Crypto Task Force, and its first move was rescinding SAB 121, a controversial accounting policy that restricted financial institutions from offering crypto custody services.

Although Gary Gensler’s relentless trickle of crypto lawsuits traumatized industry participants and discouraged engagement with American regulators, Commissioner Peirce hopes to build healthy relationships with crypto projects and encourage experimentation through practical solutions that uphold regulation.

We didn’t get all the answers, but it was certainly refreshing to hear a lead crypto regulator finally engaging with the industry! Here’s how Hester responded to the crypto industry’s top 5 pressing concerns.

1 Regulatory Clarity for Tokens
One of the biggest shifts is the potential retroactive regulatory relief for token issuers. Peirce outlined a roadmap whereby projects that issued tokens in the past can gain legal clarity by providing disclosures and agreeing to certain conditions.

For years, the SEC's aggressive stance against tokens has discouraged transparency, leaving many projects afraid that disclosures could be used against them in future enforcement actions. Commissioner Peirce hopes to flip that dynamic by encouraging voluntary disclosures.

2 No-Action Letters
Peirce discussed the no-action letter process, which allows companies to request an official statement from the SEC confirming that a specific activity will not result in an enforcement action.

The SEC continues to solicit input from the crypto industry on how these processes should work, as it did under Gensler, and interested parties can reach out directly to provide feedback via the email: crypto@sec.gov.

3 Securities Laws and Crypto
Historically, being labeled a security has been a death sentence for crypto tokens in the U.S. due to the regulatory burdens it imposes. But does it have to be that way?

Peirce acknowledged that while some crypto assets will clearly fit within securities laws, the industry needs new frameworks to accommodate decentralized networks.

She also touched on meme coins, stating that just because something is popular doesn’t necessarily make it a security, but warned individuals against assuming that the SEC (or any regulator) will act as a safety net for those making speculative bets.

4 Airdrops and Retail Access to Crypto
Crypto projects often exclude U.S. citizens from their airdrops over fears they could become embroiled in legal troubles with securities regulators.

While Commissioner Peirce didn’t provide a definitive answer on airdrops, she signaled that the SEC is working on clearer guidance and encouraged projects to submit scenarios to the Crypto Task Force so they can better understand what the industry needs.

Additionally, Peirce indicated openness towards modernizing American financial regulations and expanding private market access through novel investor accreditation standards.

5 The SEC’s Relationship with the CFTC
Under previous leadership, the SEC and CFTC had an almost territorial fight over which agency would regulate crypto. Peirce expressed optimism that this will change, emphasizing that collaboration between regulators is now a priority.

Rather than seeking jurisdictional dominance, Commissioner Peirce hopes regulators will work together to create frameworks that actually make sense for crypto markets.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Bankless

Link to the Podcast:  Bankless

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Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

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Q & A Classroom Link  

Follow the Roadmap

Follow the Timeline 

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Subscribe to Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Newsletter

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The 10 Golden Secrets of Fort Knox

The 10 Golden Secrets of Fort Knox

2-17-2025

Think you know what’s inside Fort Knox? The 10 golden secrets of the US Bullion Depository

Doug Whiteman September 12, 2022

In This Article:

You may have learned about Fort Knox from the James Bond movie Goldfinger, or from the old cartoon where Bugs Bunny tricks Yosemite Sam into digging up some of the gold bars and getting arrested.

But what do you really know about the U.S. bullion bunker in Kentucky?

The Fort Knox gold vault is one of the most secure and secret places in America. Because few people have ever gotten inside, the gold depository is a subject of fascination and speculation.

Here are 10 things we know — or maybe don’t know.

1. It holds tons of gold — literally

Fort Knox currently houses 147.3 million ounces of gold. The government says the bullion has a “book value” of $6.22 billion.

However, that’s based on a fixed price that officials set in 1973. Based on the current market value of gold, the reserves at Fort Knox are worth a far more impressive $252 billion, roughly speaking.

Much of the gold in the vault is in the form of 27-pound bars, while a percentage is in gold coins.

At one time, the point of having all of that gold was to provide backing for U.S. currency — but the dollar was taken off the gold standard in 1971.

2. Is the gold really in there?

So why does the U.S. hang onto its gold stash?

“Just in case we need it,” is the explanation a former Federal Reserve Board chairman reportedly gave.

Conspiracy theorists have insisted that the government secretly sold off the gold and that the gold bars are actually tungsten bricks painted to look like the precious metal.

There’s no way for outsiders to say with absolute certainty if there’s really bullion — or if it’s all bull. Over the years, there have been few audits to test the gold, or inventories to count it.

3. Outsiders rarely get inside

In 2017, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin led a rare visit by outsiders to peek at the gold reserves inside the Fort Knox vault.

He was accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the two of them were photographed holding gold bars.

Afterward, Mnuchin had an answer for the conspiracy mongers. “Glad gold is safe!” he tweeted.

The last time Fort Knox had opened its vault to civilians was more than 40 years earlier. A congressional delegation and some journalists got a look at the gold in 1974.

4. Only one U.S. president ever got inside

President Franklin Roosevelt commissioned the construction of Fort Knox in the mid-1930s, reportedly because the Treasury worried that U.S. gold reserves weren’t safe from an enemy invasion.

Later, Roosevelt became the only U.S. president ever to set foot inside the gold vault’s titanic walls.

He traveled to Fort Knox to make an inspection in 1943, about seven years after construction on the vault was completed.

5. It’s one beefy building

Fort Knox contains 4,200 cubic yards of concrete, 16,000 cubic feet of granite, 750 tons of reinforced steel and 670 tons of structural steel. The cost of construction in the 1930s was a mere $560,000.

The roof is said to be bomb-proof, and the main vault door weighs 20 tons and is 21 inches thick. The Treasury says no one person knows the entire combination.

The door is resistant to torches, drills and explosives — not that any of that matters. The real challenge to any would-be intruder is reaching the building in the first place.

6. Guards and more guards

Fort Knox is guarded by members of the U.S. Mint Police, one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies. It was established in 1792.

The officers undergo 12 weeks of basic training, followed by five weeks of field training. They learn a long list of heavy-duty skills, including weapons handling, cornering, door entry and room clearing.

If that doesn’t seem intimidating enough, Fort Knox sits at the center of a 109,000-acre U.S. Army post and is a training ground for military troops from around the country.

7. A frail foreign visitor

Occasionally, the vault at Fort Knox has held other precious items, besides gold.

In 1939, one of the original copies of the Magna Carta — the Medieval English charter laying down basic human rights — was brought to the U.S. to go on exhibit at the New York World’s Fair.

When World War II erupted, the delicate document was transferred to Fort Knox for safekeeping. The Magna Carta stayed in residence until 1947, when it went back to England.

But for a time, it had some treasured American roommates.

8. Very special guests from U.S. history

World War II turned Fort Knox into a hotel of sorts for prized papers from both sides of the pond.

Originals of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution were moved to the gold vault out of fear that the nation’s capital would be attacked.

As the war wound down, the parchment was returned to its rightful home in Washington, D.C., in 1944. That left some room at Fort Knox for the next priceless guest.

9. Protection for a hallowed headpiece

Legend has it that Hungary’s King Coloman, who reigned from 1095 to 1116, declared that the Holy Crown of Hungary, and not the king, was the true ruler of the realm.

During World War II, the crown was whisked out of Hungary to protect it from falling into the clutches of the Nazis or Soviets. It resurfaced in Austria in 1945 and was handed over to American forces.

The U.S. government brought the crown to Fort Knox for safekeeping. It remained there until 1978, when it was returned to Hungary by a delegation led by U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance.

10. America’s medicine cabinet

What else has Fort Knox held, besides gold and historic artifacts? How about a hoard of d***s? Morphine sulfate, to be exact.

During the Cold War, the U.S. military wanted to be certain that it had a healthy supply of pain meds in case foreign opium sources ever got cut off. So, in 1955, Fort Knox opened its doors to tons of opium.

The government spent millions refining the stuff into morphine in 1993. However, unlike the gold — we think — the morphine is no longer there today.

Source: Yahoo Finance

https://dinarchronicles.com/2025/02/17/the-10-golden-secrets-of-fort-knox/

Economist’s “News and Views” 2-17-2025

Is the U.S. About to Revalue Gold? What It Means for You!

Financial wisdom:  2-15-2025

In latest gold news reveals the US government is considering revaluing its 8,133 metric tons of gold reserves from the current $42.22 per ounce (set in 1973) to potentially match market prices near $3,000, which could generate over $760 billion in value.

While China and other central banks added record amounts of gold to their reserves in 2024, the US debates whether revaluation could help address national debt and strengthen the dollar's global position. -----

0:00 US gold reserves valued at $42.22/oz vs. market price of $3,000/oz

0:57 Benefits of gold revaluation, including debt reduction and dollar strengthening

2:09 Impact on investors and markets

 3:46 Historical context & central bank gold buying trends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EFrv7mkHKM

MARKETS A LOOK AHEAD: (TAKE ACTION NOW). WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING, AND ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

Greg  Mannarino:  2-17-2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9W0mfP8VDY

This Always Happens Right Before a Market Crash

Heresy Financial:  2-17-2025

TIMECODES

 00:00 4 Crash Indicators: Introduction

00:26 #1 Euphoria and Fear of Missing Out

 01:17 Real Estate Example (Great Financial Crisis)

 02:13 Fear & Greed Index Explained

02:55 Social Media & Family “FOMO” Signs

03:16 #2 Illogical Valuations

 03:40 Dotcom Bubble & Pets.com

04:48 Amazon’s Overvaluation in 2000

 05:16 Possible AI Bubble

06:03 Palantir vs. AMD Example

 07:01 Summing Up Illogical Valuations

07:23 #3 Monetary & Fiscal Policy Changes

07:56 End of 2021: Top Mark & Market Drawdown

 09:08 Tracking M2 Money Supply

 09:43 Why Policy Signals Matter

10:12 #4 “Idiots Getting Rich” Phenomenon

10:40 The Uber Driver / Dentist Test

 11:24 Assessing the Market Today

11:51 Valuations, Rotations & Strategy

12:26 Inflationary Deleveraging Outlook

13:17 Government Debt & Currency Devaluation

13:36 Not All 4 Crash Indicators Are Present

 14:19 “Bull Markets Climb a Wall of Worry”

 15:07 Three Ways to Protect/Profit from a Crash

 16:35 Taking Partial Profits & Holding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1juJGETFr2U

Iraq Economic News and Points to Ponder Monday Afternoon 2-17-25

Government Advisor: Historic Decision To Protect Iraqi Gold And Revive The Craft With A New Generation

Time: 2025/02/17 11:31:22 Read: 1,905 times  {Economic: Al Furat News} The financial and economic advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed that the recent decision regarding the management and sustainability of the national wealth of gold and precious metals is one of the most important steps that will contribute to protecting the national economy and ensuring its stability.

Saleh told Al Furat News Agency that "this step comes as part of a broader strategy to make gold a safe and stable reserve for citizens and the local economy."

He explained that "the decision aims to preserve a rare and historical resource that is in line with the price and monetary systems in the economic community, and it also seeks to create an attractive industrial climate within Iraq instead of this wealth leaking into external industrial workshops, which led to a decline in quality and quality control, in addition to the depletion of national resources."

He noted that the absence of the goldsmith craft locally and its dispersion due to various circumstances and its transfer to neighboring countries has led to destabilizing dealings with this vital resource, which exposed the family and the economy to great risks,"

stressing that "the decision will revive this craft by supporting a new generation of national craftsmen, which will enhance the local market for gold and reduce dependence on foreign markets in manufacturing and remanufacturing."

Saleh stressed that "this step will lead to strengthening the position of gold as one of the basic resources within the national economy, especially after long years of leaks resulting from wars and conflicts.

He explained that the government has given this issue great attention, as the decision came to be in line with the social and economic customs and traditions of families and individuals who have relied on gold as a store of value for thousands of years.

The Industrial Coordination Council had approved in its meeting yesterday, Sunday, the localization of the precious metals industry, including gold and jewelry, in addition to cosmetic products, with instructions to provide all necessary facilities for those wishing to establish their own factories.

It was decided to monitor the quantities of gold exported abroad, through controls that determine the quantities remanufactured, and to submit documents to the Central Bank that secure the value of the exported quantity, and to return the quantity after its manufacture is completed to the country, under the supervision of the Central Bank.   LINK

Rafidain Bank Launches National Bonds Worth Two Trillion Dinars

Economy | 09:33 - 02/17/2025  Mawazine News – Baghdad   Rafidain Bank announced today, Monday, the launch of national bonds (first issue) in the amount of two trillion dinars.

A statement by the bank received by (Mawazine News) indicated "the launch of national bonds (first issue) in the amount of (2) trillion dinars for the period from February 10 to March 10, 2025.

The bonds are distributed into two categories:

- A bond of 500,000 dinars (five hundred thousand dinars) with an annual interest of 6% paid every six months for a period of two years

for a period of four years
- The bond is sold to banks as well as to the public (natural and legal persons)
- The person (natural or legal) wishing to purchase submits a direct request to the bank, bringing with him the original identification documents https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=259640

Oil Prices Fall Again As Hopes For Peace In Ukraine Rise

Monday 17 February 2025 | Economic Number of readings: 198 Baghdad / NINA / Oil prices fell for the fourth consecutive day during early Monday trading, due to expectations that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine may ease sanctions that disrupt supply flows and due to concerns that global tariff wars will slow economic growth and weaken energy demand.

Brent crude futures fell 20 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $74.59 a barrel, by this morning. Brent crude had suffered losses of 3.1 percent in the past four sessions after US President Donald Trump and officials from his administration announced that they had begun discussions with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 23 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $70.51 a barrel.

US crude fell 3.8 percent in the past four sessions, and fell earlier in Monday's session to $70.12 a barrel, its lowest level since December 30, according to Reuters data.

Trump said on Sunday he believed he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very soon” to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

His comments come as the United States and Russia prepare to hold preliminary talks in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

“Markets are down on the prospect of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and the possibility of sanctions on Moscow being eased,” said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, a unit of Nissan Securities.

“Concerns about an economic slowdown caused by tariff wars, due to Trump’s actions, are also weighing on prices.”

He expected West Texas Intermediate crude to trade between $66 and $76 for a while as further declines in oil prices could curb U.S. oil production.

U.S. and European Union sanctions on Russian oil exports have limited shipments and disrupted seaborne oil supply flows. Lifting sanctions if a peace deal is reached would boost global energy supplies. /End   https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1187091

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

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Monday Afternoon 2-17-25

Good afternoon Dinar Recaps,

SILVER PRICES SURGE TO HIGHEST LEVELS SINCE OCTOBER, EYEING $35 MARK

Silver prices surged to $33 per ounce on Friday, hitting their highest since late October at $33.41, fueled by factors driving gold to record highs. Analysts suggest silver may challenge its 10-year peak of $34.87, though some remain cautious due to the metal’s volatility and its lag behind gold in 2024.

Silver has gained 14% in 2025 after rising 21% in 2024, supported by rising U.S. Comex futures prices amid concerns over a potential U.S. trade war due to proposed import tariffs.

The March silver contract increased 3.3% to $33.79. The premium between CME futures and London spot prices has caused market volatility, drawing significant inflows into COMEX-approved warehouses. CME silver stocks surged 22% to 375.8 million ounces since November 24, when President Trump announced tariffs on Mexico and Canada, later delayed until March.

Copper prices also hit a three-month high, supporting silver. Meanwhile, London Bullion Market Association data revealed an 8.6% drop in silver inventories to 23,528 tons in January, the largest monthly decline since 2016.

Despite bullish trends, analysts caution against silver's volatility, noting its price movements often exceed gold’s by 2-2.5 times. Technical concerns arise as silver traded between $22-35 in 2024 compared to $19-27 in 2023.

Industrial demand, comprising half of silver’s usage, could face challenges if a trade war hampers global growth. Additionally, fewer U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts and slowing Chinese growth may pressure silver prices further.

The silver market's volatility and external economic factors will likely continue to influence its trajectory, with investors closely watching its attempt to reach the $35 threshold.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Economic Times

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BREAKING: ELON MUSK’S DOGE LAUNCHES SEC PROBE AS RIPPLE LAWSUIT NEARS END

In a latest development, Elon Musk’s DOGE has announced audit into the SEC for fraud, abuse and waste. The cryptocurrency community is closely watching this development, particularly as the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple is nearing its conclusion.

The DOGE_SEC account has urged the public to share information about the SEC’s actions. “DOGE is seeking help from the public! Please DM this account with insights on finding and fixing waste, fraud, and abuse,” the account posted.

This move has sparked heated debates among legal and financial experts. In reaction to this, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, suggested a rule requiring the SEC to pay legal fees for defendants who successfully fight its lawsuits. Other voices from the crypto community have also raised concerns about the SEC’s actions, especially over its ongoing litigation with Ripple.

Besides, Ripple’s CLO, Stuart Alderoty, responded to SEC’s ongoing scrutiny, saying, “I have the receipts,” suggesting that crucial documents tied to the case could soon be made public. However, it remains to be seen if this could bring a swift end to the Ripple vs. SEC case.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Coinpedia

~~~~~~~~~

TETHER SEEKS INVOLVEMENT IN U.S. STABLECOIN REGULATIONS

Tether has been in talks with U.S. lawmakers behind the STABLE Act. The firm aims to get more involved in shaping U.S. stablecoin legislations.

According to FOX Business reporter Eleanor Terrett, Tether has been in discussions with Rep. Bryan Steil and Republican Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, French Hill, regarding stablecoin regulations in the U.S.

Steil and Hill confirmed to Terret that the world’s largest stablecoin issuer has been engaging actively on the discussion draft for the new bill, Stablecoin Transparency and Accountability for a Better Ledger Economy, or STABLE Act.

The bill is set to require stablecoin issuers to gain permission from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and back their crypto to traditional fiat currency, short-term U.S. Treasury bills, or central bank reserves.

CEO Paolo Ardoino said that the firm plans to comply with the U.S. regulations for stablecoin, however it may turn out.

“We are not going to just throw in the towel and let Tether die just for the sake of not adapting to U.S. legislation,” said Ardoino.

This means that if the STABLE Act comes to pass, Tether will need to commit to maintaining one-to-one asset backing for its tokenized fiat and conduct monthly reserve audits through a U.S.-based accounting firm.

According to Terret, Tether has been criticized for its lack of transparency, namely due to accusations that the firm has never received a full audit. Instead, the stablecoin firm provides quarterly reports from its financial books published by global accounting firm BDO.

Furthermore, JP Morgan analysts predict that Tether will have to sell some of its Bitcoin holdings to comply to the new requirements, citing that the stablecoin firm only has 66% to 83% of the required amount to back its crypto supply.

Ardoino stated that his team aims to get involved in shaping all regulatory frameworks for stablecoins in the U.S. to ensure that they have a say in the legislative process.

“We are going to work within the regulatory framework, and we are going to try to advise on every single one of these field proposals to make sure that our voice is heard,” said Ardoino.

In the past week, there have been three stablecoin bills introduced in the House and the Senate.

Aside from the STABLE Act, there was also the GENIUS Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by the Senate team that includes an author of the Bitcoin reserve proposal, sen. Cynthia Lummis. The bill regulates stablecoins with a market cap over $10 billion.

Additionally, Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters on the House Financial Services Committee, introduced a proposal for stabelcoin oversight involving the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Federal Reserve.

On Feb. 13, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said that stablecoins have the potential to strengthen the U.S. dollar’s domination on a global scale. 

However, he believes that the stablecoin market still requires a regulatory framework that directly addresses stablecoin risks and enables banks and non-banks to issue stablecoins.

Last year, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell also claimed to fully support the creation of a stablecoin framework in a meeting with the House Financial Services Committee.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Crypto News

~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

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Q & A Classroom Link  

Follow the Roadmap

Follow the Timeline 

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Iraq Economic News and Points to Ponder Monday AM 2-17-25

Reuters: The Iraqi Central Will Prevent 5 Local Banks From Dealing With Dollars

Economy ​ Yesterday, 17:39 |  Baghdad today- Baghdad  Two informed sources reported today, Sunday (February 16, 2025), that the Central Bank of Iraq will prevent local banks from dealing with dollars.
 
"The Central Bank of Iraq will prevent 5 local banks from dealing with dollars in the US Treasury request." The two sources added,  "3 companies for payment services will be banned from dealing in dollars according to the US Treasury request," the two sources added.

They pointed out, "America has submitted its request due to severe cash violations and the smuggling of the dollar outside the country."
 
The Central Bank of Iraq had previously denied today, Sunday, that Iraqi banks were subjected to international sanctions, calling for "the adoption of official channels to find out the latest news."
 
But economist Ziad Al -Hashemi, today, confirmed that the American treasury started the campaign of punishment for Iraqi banks and companies after its meeting with the Central Bank.
 
Al -Hashemi said in a post on his Facebook account, which was followed by "Baghdad Today" that "the
 
American (non-military) operations were launched towards Iraq and the first campaign targeted the punishment of Iraqi (decorative) banks on charges of facilitating fraudulent transfers and financing groups and countries, punishing and supporting terrorism." He added that
 
"the US sanctions officially arrived at the concerned Iraqi authorities (according to internal sources) by the US Treasury Financial Intelligence Office, which is concerned with monitoring, following up and punishing entities and individuals who support terrorism, armed activities and American punishment." He continued:
 
"The punished Iraqi banks are from the category of small and medium banks, which seem to be active behind the scenes with activities that harm the Iraqi economy and in violation of the American and international sanctions system, the leakage and evasion of the Iraqi dollar for foreign trade."   
https://baghdadtoday.news/268076-رويترز-المركزي-العراقي-سيمنع-5-بنوك-محلية-من-التعامل-بالدولار.html  

Rashid Bank Capital Jumps From 2 Billion To 50: What Are The Reasons? Does Timing Have A Relationship? -
 
Economics | 13-02-2025, 14:11 | Baghdad today- Baghdad  The specialist in the banking and financial affairs, Alaa Al-Fahd, revealed today, Thursday (February 13, 2025), the reason for the increase in the capital of Al-Rashid Bank at this time. Al-Fahd told "Baghdad Today" that
 
"this measure is among the government reform of banking policy by expanding the size of banks and their participation in economic development, as
 
there is a reform policy that it pursues for a government with the Central Bank of Iraq, with the help of international companies in order to develop banking work and increase bank branches, and
 
for this reason There was obligatory to increase the capital according to the requirements of the stage. "

And that " today the capital (2) billion dinars is not commensurate with the current reality, because the Rashid Bank possesses the number of branches and number of shareholders, and
 
for this the increase in the bank's capital, will contribute to the classification of the current situation, and contribute to upgrading the current reality."
 
"This increase is the beginning of the restructuring of banks, especially the bankers of Al-Rafidain and Al-Rashid, and
     made them at a level that meets the ambition of the current stage, and
     is at the level of development and the level of the need of the Iraqi economy."
 
The Federal Cabinet agreed, during its session last Tuesday, to increase the capital of Al-Rashid Bank from 2 billion dinars to 50 billion dinars, from calculating the expansion reserves for the bank, provided that the Iraqi Ministry of Finance takes the necessary measures for implementation.
 
Earlier, the government announced ambitious plans to restructure government banks, led by Al-Rafidain and Al-Rashid bank, with the aim of converting them into more modern and efficient financial institutions capable of meeting the needs of the growing Iraqi economy.
 
The Council of Ministers also decided in its session held on January 13, 2025 to establish a completely new bank, 
 
     dependent on the latest digital banking technologies, and aims
     to provide integrated banking services to individuals and companies, whether inside or outside Iraq.    
  
https://baghdadtoday.news/267813-رأس-مال-مصرف-الرشيد-يقفز-من-2-مليار-إلى-50-ما-الأسباب-الموجبة؟-وهل-للتوقيت-علاقة؟-.html  

Gold Prices Stabilize At Highest Level As Dollar Declines In Baghdad

Stock Exchange  Economy News – Baghdad  The prices of "foreign and Iraqi" gold stabilized in the local markets in the capital, Baghdad, today, Sunday (February 16, 2025), at its highest level in the country.

Gold prices in the wholesale markets on Al-Nahr Street in the capital, Baghdad, this morning recorded a selling price for one mithqal of 21 karat Gulf, Turkish and European gold of 608 thousand dinars, and a purchase price of 604 thousand dinars.

The selling price of one mithqal of 21-karat Iraqi gold was recorded at 578 thousand dinars, and the purchase price was 574 thousand.

As for gold prices in goldsmiths’ shops, the selling price of a mithqal of 21-karat Gulf gold ranges between 610,000 and 620,000 dinars, and the selling price of a mithqal of Iraqi gold ranges between 500,000 and 510,000 dinars.   https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=52808

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