Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Saturday Morning 1-3-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

U.S. Strikes Venezuela as Trump Claims Maduro Captured

Direct military action escalates regime-change risk and global fallout

Overview

• U.S. President Donald Trump announced a large-scale U.S. military strike on Venezuela

• Trump claimed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and removed from the country

• Multiple explosions were reported across Caracas, including military and aviation sites

• U.S. officials confirmed Maduro has been indicted on narco-terrorism charges

• Russia, Iran, and regional actors condemned the operation as armed aggression

Key Developments

• U.S. forces reportedly targeted major Venezuelan military installations, including airbases, ports, and command centers

• Trump stated the operation was conducted with U.S. law enforcement, with a press conference scheduled to provide details

• U.S. Attorney General confirmed Maduro and Cilia Flores were indicted in the Southern District of New York

• Flight tracking transponders were disabled, obscuring U.S. military aircraft movements

• Russia and Iran called for emergency clarification, warning of escalation and sovereignty violations

• Colombia deployed forces to its border, citing regional security concerns

Why It Matters

This marks a dramatic escalation in U.S.–Venezuela relations, shifting from sanctions and pressure to direct kinetic action. The removal of a sitting head of state by force represents a rare and destabilizing precedent in modern geopolitics.

Venezuela sits atop some of the world’s largest oil reserves. Any disruption to governance, energy infrastructure, or regional stability has direct implications for energy markets, sanctions frameworks, and geopolitical alignment.

The operation also raises serious questions about international law, sovereignty, and retaliation risk, particularly given condemnation from major powers.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, this event highlights acute reset risks:

• Regime removal events trigger immediate FX and capital flow shocks

• Sanctions, asset freezes, and payment restrictions escalate rapidly

• Energy-linked currencies face heightened volatility

• Political legitimacy directly impacts monetary credibility

In reset terms, forceful regime change accelerates currency repricing and settlement fragmentation.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Geopolitics Now Overrides Monetary Stability
  Military action can instantly invalidate financial assumptions.

• Pillar: Energy and Currency Risk Are Interlinked
  Resource control remains central to financial power.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Newsweek – “Trump Says Maduro Captured as U.S. Attacks Venezuela: Live Updates”

• Reuters – “Russia and Iran condemn U.S. strikes on Venezuela, call for de-escalation”

~~~~~~~~~~

Contenders Emerge to Replace Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela’s Leader

Power vacuum opens amid claims of regime removal

Overview

• U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Nicolás Maduro had been captured and removed from Venezuela

• The announcement has created an immediate political power vacuum

• Opposition figures long sidelined by Caracas are now emerging as potential successors

• The situation remains fluid, with competing claims and high uncertainty

• Leadership transition carries major implications for sanctions, energy markets, and currency stability

Key Developments

• Trump stated the operation was conducted with U.S. law enforcement, asserting Maduro and his wife were flown out of the country

• Edmundo González, recognized by the U.S. as the winner of the disputed 2024 election, is viewed as a leading contender

• González fled to Spain after an arrest warrant was issued, following the Supreme Court’s validation of Maduro’s re-election

• María Corina Machado, head of Vente Venezuela, is widely regarded as the true opposition leader

• Machado won the 2023 opposition primary but was barred from running by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice

• She has remained in exile after escaping Venezuela and received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

Why It Matters

The removal of Maduro — if confirmed — represents a historic rupture in Venezuelan politics. Leadership transitions following external intervention are inherently unstable, particularly in a country facing economic collapse, sanctions, and institutional erosion.

Who governs next will determine whether Venezuela moves toward reintegration with global markets or descends into prolonged instability. Competing claims to legitimacy, fractured institutions, and external influence raise the risk of prolonged uncertainty.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, leadership uncertainty in Venezuela highlights critical reset dynamics:

• Political legitimacy directly affects sanctions relief and settlement access

• Regime change events trigger rapid FX repricing

• Energy-linked currencies and regional trade flows face elevated volatility

• Confidence, not reserves, drives currency stabilization in transition periods

In reset terms, currency value depends on governance credibility and access to global systems.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Political Transitions Drive Monetary Repricing
  Leadership legitimacy shapes currency access and trust.

• Pillar: Sanctions Relief Hinges on Governance Outcomes
  Reset pathways open or close based on political alignment.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Newsweek – “Contenders to Replace Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela’s Leader”
  

• Reuters – “Venezuela opposition figures re-emerge as power vacuum opens after Maduro removal claims”

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BRICS Shapes a New Global Economy as Canada Weighs Strategic Alignment

Commodity power and multipolar finance redraw global trade pathways

Overview

• The BRICS bloc is reshaping global trade through commodity concentration and alternative financial infrastructure

• BRICS members now control roughly 44% of global grain production and nearly half of the world’s population

• Canada’s position as a major commodity exporter places it at a strategic crossroads

• Multipolar settlement systems are expanding alongside traditional markets

• Middle powers are gaining leverage by navigating between economic blocs

Key Developments

• BRICS has expanded to ten full members, significantly increasing control over agricultural output and strategic resources

• Plans for a BRICS grain exchange aim to establish independent pricing mechanisms, reducing reliance on Western benchmarks

• Local-currency settlement frameworks are advancing, offering alternatives to dollar-denominated trade

• Canada remains the world’s third-largest wheat exporter, accounting for roughly 15% of global trade

• Rising U.S. tariff pressure and trade uncertainty are accelerating diversification discussions in Canada

Why It Matters

The BRICS initiative reflects a structural shift in how trade and pricing power are organized. Rather than replacing the existing system outright, BRICS is building parallel channels that allow commodity exporters and importers to operate with greater flexibility.

For countries like Canada, this moment is pivotal. Access to alternative markets representing a substantial share of global demand offers resilience, especially as traditional trade relationships face rising political and tariff risk.

This is not ideological realignment — it is strategic optionality.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, these developments highlight key reset dynamics:

• Commodity-backed trade strengthens currency credibility

• Settlement optionality reduces single-currency dependency

• Bloc-based pricing alters FX demand patterns

• Middle-power currencies gain leverage through access, not dominance

In reset terms, currencies tied to real assets and diversified trade routes gain strategic value.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Commodity Control Shapes Monetary Influence
  Pricing power follows production and access.

• Pillar: Multipolar Settlement Expands Currency Choice
  Optionality replaces dependence.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Watcher.Guru – “BRICS Shapes a New Global Economy as Canada Prepares to Lead”
  

• Reuters – “BRICS expansion boosts commodity influence and local-currency trade”

~~~~~~~~~~

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RV Facts with Proof Links Link

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Thank you Dinar Recaps

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Friday Afternoon 1-2-26

The First American Convoy To Leave Ain Al-Asad Base In Anbar In 2026... Indications Of A Partial Withdrawal

Baratha News Agency1682026-01-01   An informed source revealed on Thursday (January 1, 2026) that the first convoy moved from Ain al-Assad base west of Anbar, in an indication of the beginning of a partial withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.

The source said, “Dozens of large trucks moved this morning from Ain al-Assad base towards the highway, amid tight security measures and escort by more than one Apache helicopter,” noting that “the exact destination of the convoy is unknown, whether it is towards Harir base in Erbil or one of the crossings with Syria towards its bases in Hasakah.”

The source indicated that "this convoy is the first during 2026, and may constitute a new indication of a partial withdrawal of US forces, which are expected to end their presence at this base in the coming months."

This development comes within the framework of the agreement between Baghdad and Washington to end the mission of the international coalition in Iraq, which was established through the work of the “Higher Military Committee” and the joint statement issued in September 2024, where the two sides agreed to set a timetable for reducing the military presence of the coalition and turning it into a bilateral security partnership, with a gradual reduction of the number of forces and the redeployment of some of them in the Kurdistan Region, and the handover of military sites, including the Ain al-Asad base, to the Iraqi authorities during the years 2025 and 2026. https://burathanews.com/arabic/news/469463

.An Economist Identifies Possible Government Strategies To Reduce Waste And Financial Corruption.

Time: 2025/12/27 21:19:46 Readings: 105 times  {Economic: Al-Furat News} Economic expert, Salah Nouri, confirmed that the government has the ability to take a number of practical measures to reduce waste and financial corruption, noting that the success of these steps depends on political will and commitment to actual implementation.

The most concise and informative news can be found on the Al-Furat News Telegram channel. To subscribe, click here.

Nouri told Al-Furat News Agency that: “The Central Bank of Iraq had previously implemented an initiative to support small and medium enterprises by providing funds for lending,” indicating that “the initiative achieved modest success, while the Ministry of Finance is currently unable to support this sector due to the financial difficulties and shortage of cash liquidity it is suffering from.”

Regarding measures to reduce waste and financial corruption, Nouri pointed out that "the most prominent of these is full compliance with the decision of the Supreme Federal Court No. 89/Federal/2019, which canceled Legislative Decision No. 44 of 2008, especially paragraph six related to political quotas in filling special grades from director general and below," stressing that "failure to comply with this decision has contributed to the continuation of administrative failures."

He added that “supporting the Integrity Commission and the Federal Board of Supreme Audit with competent, honest, and politically independent staff is a fundamental step in combating corruption,” noting that “the retirement law that suddenly reduced the legal age has led to the depletion of a large number of advanced and highly competent experts in the two institutions.”

The expert explained that “the Prime Minister’s adoption of periodic evaluations of the performance of central ministries and local governments throughout the year will enable the government to identify shortcomings and obstacles and take the necessary administrative and legal measures to correct implementation paths and improve overall performance.”   Raghid    LINK

Iraq Ranks High Among The Largest Oil Exporters For 2025

December 31, 2025  Baghdad/Iraq Observer   Iraq ranked fourth globally in oil exports for 2025, despite recording a relative decline in exports of about 190,005 barrels per day.

Oil trade in 2025 was affected by geopolitical turmoil and changes in shipping routes for the second year in a row, and traded volumes saw notable changes among major exporters and importers.

The world’s largest oil exporters boosted their shipments to markets as production increased, and this was met with a smaller increase in global imports, amid weak economic activity and slowing demand growth, particularly in Asia and Europe, according to data from the 2025 Annual Harvest File issued by the Washington-based Energy Research Unit.

This, along with Western sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil and changes in shipping routes, led to a rise in floating oil stockpiles, curbing the increase in oil trade in 2025 to approximately 4% (1.8 million barrels per day).

Trade was also affected by geopolitical turmoil throughout the year; from US-China tensions over the Panama Canal, to concerns about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – through which 21 million barrels of oil pass daily – during the Israel-Iran war, to the continued impact on traffic in the Red Sea, despite a relative improvement over 2024     .  LINK

Oil Announces Its Annual Liquefied Gas Production
 
January 1, 2026    Baghdad/Iraq Observer    The Ministry of Oil revealed on Thursday that annual production of liquefied gas in Iraq will reach three million tons during 2025, stressing that this achievement  will boost oil revenues,  with a plan to   expand and  develop production  to seven million tons.
 
The Undersecretary of the Ministry for Gas Affairs, Izzat Saber Ismail,   said in a press statement seen by the “Iraq Observer” agency that “the current production capacity of liquefied gas has   reached three million tons per year of gas” (LPG), noting that “the Basra Gas Company contributes two million tons, about one million of which are allocated for export,  while the remaining quantity is directed to cover local consumption.”

He added that  “the North and South Gas Companies have a plan aimed at raising total production in Iraq to more than four million tons   during the next year.”

He pointed out that  “the ministry’s plans include  reaching a production capacity of seven million tons, which will enhance Iraq’s position in regional markets and   generate additional economic returns for the public treasury.”
 https://observeriraq.net/النفط-تعلن-انتاجها-السنوي-من-الغاز-الم/ 

 Al-Lami: Iraq Is Nearing Self-Sufficiency In Gas.
 
Economy  January 1, 11:39  Information/Baghdad... MP Ali Al-Lami confirmed on Thursday that the timeframe for Iraq to reach self-sufficiency in gas has been reduced by 20%,  expecting this to be achieved during the first quarter of 2027.  

Al-Lami told Al-Maalouma that “the file of achieving self-sufficiency in gas and   ending the flaring of associated gas in oil fields  has reached advanced stages,  with the time period specified for achieving this goal being reduced by up to 20%,”   predicting that it will be officially announced in the first quarter of 2027. 

He added that “ending the flaring of associated gas has multiple positive dimensions, most notably   reducing the negative impacts on the   environment and   public health, as well as  investing large quantities of gas in  generating electricity and  supporting national industries.” 

He pointed out that “the introduction of other projects to develop gas fields  will contribute to increasing production capacity nationwide,   leading to  a reduction in reliance on imports and achieving self-sufficiency in this vital resource.” https://almaalomah.me/news/119662/economy/اللامي:-العراق-يقترب-من-الاكتفاء-الذاتي-من-الغاز

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

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Friday Afternoon 1-2-26

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

Global Government Debt and Bond Stress Re-Emerge as 2026 Begins

Rising yields expose the limits of fiscal and monetary support

Overview

• Global sovereign debt levels remain at historic highs, pressuring government finances worldwide

• Bond market volatility is resurfacing, particularly in long-dated government debt

• Higher-for-longer interest rates are colliding with massive refinancing needs

• Central banks are constrained, unable to stabilize bond markets without risking inflation credibility

• Bond stress is increasingly viewed as a leading reset trigger

Key Developments

• Governments face trillions in debt rollovers over the next two years, raising refinancing risk

• Rising yields are increasing debt-service costs, squeezing fiscal budgets

• Bond markets are no longer acting as shock absorbers, amplifying volatility instead

• Foreign demand for sovereign debt is weakening, especially where fiscal discipline is questioned

• Central banks continue balance-sheet reduction, removing a major source of artificial bond demand

Why It Matters

Debt markets form the foundation of the modern financial system. When confidence in sovereign bonds weakens, currencies, equities, credit, and trade financing all reprice.

Unlike banking crises, which can be addressed with liquidity, bond crises are credibility crises. Once investors question a government’s ability to service debt without inflation or monetization, stabilization becomes far more difficult.

Historically, systemic resets follow bond market stress — not equity selloffs.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, bond instability creates asymmetric risk:

• Debt-heavy currencies weaken first, regardless of reserve status

• Rising yields can signal distress rather than strength

• Capital flows shift rapidly when fiscal sustainability is questioned

• Settlement confidence erodes when monetization becomes the backstop

In reset terms, currency value increasingly reflects debt credibility, not political power.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Debt Sustainability Defines Monetary Credibility
  Currencies fail when debt cannot be credibly serviced.

• Pillar: Bond Markets Trigger Repricing Cycles
  They move slowly — then all at once.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters – “Why investors will learn to love government bonds again — after volatility”

• Bank for International Settlements – Annual Economic Report: Global Debt and Financial Stability

~~~~~~~~~~

Iran Unrest Escalates as Inflation and Currency Collapse Fuel Instability

Domestic pressure collides with external escalation risk

Overview

• Nationwide protests have erupted across Iran, driven by soaring inflation and currency collapse

• The unrest represents Iran’s most serious internal challenge in three years

• Security forces have reportedly used force against demonstrators, resulting in deaths and arrests

• U.S. warnings of possible intervention have heightened geopolitical risk

• Economic stress and external pressure are converging at a critical moment

Key Developments

• Protests began over rising prices and cost-of-living pressures, then spread across multiple cities

• The Iranian rial has plunged to historic lows, intensifying public anger and instability

• President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged government failures, while warning unrest would not be tolerated

• U.S. President Donald Trump warned Washington could act if protesters are fired upon, escalating tensions

• Iran continues to face sanctions pressure and regional confrontation, limiting policy flexibility

Why It Matters

Iran’s unrest reflects a classic reset pattern: currency failure precedes political instability. Inflation, sanctions, and isolation have eroded purchasing power and public trust, leaving the government with narrowing options.

What makes this episode particularly dangerous is timing. Domestic unrest is unfolding amid heightened regional tension involving the United States and Israel, increasing the risk that internal instability spills outward into broader conflict.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, Iran’s situation highlights systemic warning signals:

• Currency collapse accelerates social unrest and political fracture

• Sanctions magnify FX volatility and settlement risk

• Escalation risk drives capital flight and safe-haven demand

• Access to global payment systems matters more than reserves

In reset terms, currencies fail first at home — then in global markets.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Currency Credibility Equals Political Stability
  When money fails, legitimacy erodes.

• Pillar: Sanctions Expose Structural Weaknesses
  Isolation accelerates internal fracture points.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters – “Trump warns Iran as protests rage over inflation and currency collapse”

• Financial Times – “Iran unrest tests leadership as economic pressure mounts”

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Eurozone Expands as Bulgaria Moves Closer to Adoption

Currency bloc growth signals deeper monetary realignment

Overview

• Bulgaria has moved closer to joining the euro area, advancing deeper European monetary integration

• The expansion comes amid global currency volatility and geopolitical fragmentation

• Eurozone growth strengthens bloc cohesion but also raises policy complexity

• Monetary alignment increasingly reflects access and stability, not just growth metrics

• Currency blocs are becoming more relevant in the reset phase

Key Developments

• European institutions approved Bulgaria’s progress toward euro adoption, citing fiscal and inflation benchmarks

• The move expands the euro’s geographic and financial footprint

• Concerns over disinformation and political influence accompanied the process, underscoring strategic sensitivity

• Eurozone policymakers face rising internal divergence, even as membership expands

• Bloc expansion reinforces the euro’s role as an alternative settlement anchor

Why It Matters

Eurozone expansion reflects a broader reset trend: currencies are consolidating into trusted networks. As global trade and finance fragment, nations are seeking protection through larger, rules-based monetary blocs.

While expansion strengthens the euro’s reach, it also increases internal complexity. More members mean greater strain on shared fiscal discipline and monetary coordination, especially during periods of stress.

This is less about optimism — and more about positioning for stability in a fractured global system.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, eurozone expansion signals:

• Bloc-aligned currencies gain settlement credibility

• FX stability increasingly depends on network inclusion

• Peripheral currencies outside blocs face repricing risk

• Monetary policy becomes more political and structural

In reset terms, access to trusted currency systems matters more than independence.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Currency Blocs Replace Global Uniformity
  Monetary order is reorganizing around trusted networks.

• Pillar: Access Defines Currency Value
  Inclusion matters more than scale alone.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Financial Times – “Bulgaria moves closer to joining the eurozone despite disinformation concerns”

• Reuters – “Bulgaria clears hurdles toward euro adoption as bloc expands”

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BRICS De-Dollarization Agenda for 2026 Enters Implementation Phase

From planning to parallel financial systems

Overview

• BRICS has shifted from de-dollarization rhetoric to real-world execution

• India’s 2026 BRICS presidency is accelerating alternative financial infrastructure

• Payment systems, gold-backed settlement, and CBDC interoperability are now operational

• Dollar use in intra-BRICS trade is already sharply reduced

• This marks a structural change in global settlement architecture

Key Developments

• India formally assumed the BRICS presidency, with the 18th BRICS Summit expected in New Delhi later this year

• BRICS Pay is expanding as a decentralized payment network, linking national systems such as CIPS, SPFS, and UPI

• Intra-BRICS trade has reduced U.S. dollar usage by roughly two-thirds, according to bloc-linked estimates

• CBDC interoperability frameworks are under active development, connecting the digital yuan, ruble, and rupee

• The BRICS Unit, a gold-backed settlement instrument, is scheduled for launch in 2026, following a 2025 pilot backed by gold and member currencies

• The New Development Bank continues expanding local currency lending, reducing reliance on dollar-based debt

Why It Matters

The BRICS agenda has entered what analysts describe as “De-dollarization 2.0” — not the abandonment of the dollar, but the construction of parallel systems that make the dollar optional.

Rather than challenging the dollar directly, BRICS members are routing around it, building payment rails, settlement units, and financing mechanisms that operate independently of Western-controlled systems.

This is not a sudden break — it is a gradual rebalancing of monetary power.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, the implications are clear:

• Settlement optionality weakens single-currency dominance

• Gold-linked and asset-backed instruments regain relevance

• Currencies tied to alternative payment rails gain strategic value

• Dollar-based leverage tools lose exclusivity

In reset terms, currency power now flows through infrastructure, not headlines.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Parallel Financial Systems Are Now Live
  De-dollarization is operational, not theoretical.

• Pillar: Gold Re-enters the Settlement Layer
  Asset backing restores trust outside fiat-only systems.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Watcher.Guru – “BRICS De-Dollarization Agenda for 2026 Advances With Global Launch”

• Reuters – “BRICS nations expand local currency trade and payment systems amid sanctions pressure”

~~~~~~~~~~

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RV Facts with Proof Links Link

RV Updates Proof links - Facts Link

Follow the Gold/Silver Rate COMEX

Follow Fast Facts

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Thank you Dinar Recaps

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Friday Morning 1-2-26

Trade Fragmentation: The Downstream Consequence of Systemic Stress
How fractured commerce and payment systems reveal deeper global economic realignments

Overview

• Global trade networks are increasingly splitting into regional and strategic blocs as geopolitical tensions, sanctions regimes, and financial fragmentation intensify.

• Trade fragmentation is not the initial trigger of systemic crisis — it is a downstream consequence of deeper monetary and financial stress.

• As payment system access becomes weaponized and currency volatility rises, nations are realigning trade corridors based on trust, interoperability, and financial access rather than comparative advantage.

Key Developments

• Sanctions and counter-sanctions have constrained access to traditional trade settlement systems, prompting several nations to explore alternative payment rails and bilateral settlement arrangements.

• Major economies and trading blocs are increasingly negotiating currency swap lines, local currency trade agreements, and digital payment linkages to bypass dominance by any single system.

• Supply chains are being reshaped — not just for efficiency, but for redundancy and security, with firms and governments diversifying sourcing to reduce exposure to any one currency or financial network.

• Emerging markets with limited access to major payment systems face higher financing costs, greater FX volatility, and reduced foreign demand for sovereign debt — accelerating trade realignment.

• Regional trade groupings — both economic and geopolitical — are prioritizing internal trade facilitation over integration with traditional global chains, reflecting trust over optimal economic logic.

Why It Matters
Trade fragmentation is significant because it reveals a shift in the underlying architecture of global commerce. Traditional trade theory assumes frictionless movement of goods and capital underpinned by trusted settlement systems and credible currencies. But as financial stress rises and central banks’ policy space narrows, trade is no longer just about comparative advantage — it’s about access and survivability.

When settlement systems become perceived as weaponizable, and when financing costs vary sharply across currency regimes, countries begin to reroute trade flows based on financial trustworthiness and system access. This isn’t a temporary distortion — it is a structural change in how cross-border commerce operates.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders
For foreign currency holders, trade fragmentation introduces complex new dynamics:

• Settlement Access Becomes a Currency Driver: Access to major payment networks becomes as important as reserve status in determining currency demand.

• Regional Bloc Currencies Strengthen Internally: Currencies within tightly integrated trade blocs may gain relative stability even if they lack traditional reserve status.

• FX Volatility Increases Along New Trade Routes: As trade flows reroute, demand and liquidity for certain currencies can surge or collapse based on access rather than economic fundamentals.

• Hedging Costs and Financial Risk Rise: Fragmented trade pathways elevate hedging costs and complicate risk management for multinational enterprises and investors.

• Reserve Strategy Shifts: Portfolio and reserve allocations begin to tilt toward currencies that facilitate diversified trade network access, not just those with high liquidity.

Implications for the Global Reset
Pillar 1 — Fragmentation Reflects Deeper Financial Stress:
Trade fragmentation is not causal — it is a structural signal that financial and monetary stress has exceeded thresholds where traditional settlement systems can function smoothly.

Pillar 2 — Systemic Realignment Around Trust and Access:
New trade corridors, settlement mechanisms, and financial interoperability standards are emerging based on trust networks and risk exposure, not purely import/export balances.

Pillar 3 — Currency Utility Reprices with Trade Role:
As trade networks reorganize, currency utility increasingly depends on system access and settlement integration, altering long-term valuation models.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters — Global trade fragmentation and output losses warning

• Reuters — WTO sees signs of fragmented trade (but no de-globalization)

• Federal Reserve — Note on understanding trade fragmentation

• World Bank — Trade policy and fragmentation visualization tools

• IMF Blog — Confronting fragmentation where it matters most

• World Economic Forum — Mitigating impacts of global financial system fragmentation

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Maduro Signals Willingness for Talks With U.S., Offers Cooperation on Oil and Drugs

Venezuela shifts tone as sanctions pressure and energy geopolitics converge

Overview

• Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro signaled openness to renewed dialogue with the United States, proposing cooperation on drug trafficking and offering U.S. companies access to Venezuela’s oil sector

• The remarks mark a notable shift from months of hostile rhetoric and confrontation

• Maduro framed Venezuela as a “brother country” to the U.S., emphasizing willingness to engage President Donald Trump directly

• The outreach comes amid heightened U.S. military activity in the Caribbean and ongoing sanctions pressure

• Energy access and geopolitical stability are central to the subtext of the overture

Key Developments

• Maduro referenced a prior conversation in which Trump addressed him as “Mr. President,” portraying it as recognition of his authority

• The interview aired on state television and was staged in militarized areas of Caracas, projecting strength and control

• Maduro offered cooperation on drug trafficking and openness to U.S. oil companies, including expanded access to Venezuela’s reserves

• U.S. officials have accused Maduro of leading a “narco-state,” a charge Caracas denies

• Chevron and other U.S. firms already maintain limited operations under sanctions exemptions

Why It Matters

Maduro’s conciliatory tone reflects mounting economic pressure and a search for legitimacy amid years of sanctions, inflation, and capital flight. For Washington, any engagement carries implications for energy security, regional stability, and sanctions enforcement.

This is not merely diplomatic theater. Energy access, sanctions relief, and political recognition are deeply intertwined, especially as global oil markets remain sensitive to supply disruptions and geopolitical shocks.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, Venezuela’s outreach highlights several critical dynamics:

• Sanctions relief directly impacts currency stabilization prospects

• Energy access influences hard-currency inflows and balance-of-payments pressure

• Political recognition can unlock settlement channels and foreign investment

• Currencies under sanctions reprice rapidly when access conditions change

In reset terms, currency value increasingly depends on access, legitimacy, and settlement pathways — not just reserves.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Energy Access Shapes Monetary Breathing Room
  Oil revenue remains a decisive lever for sanctioned states.

• Pillar: Sanctions Are Negotiation Tools, Not Permanent States
  Reset dynamics favor conditional reintegration over isolation.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Modern Diplomacy – “Maduro Signals Willingness for Talks With U.S., Offers Cooperation on Oil and Drugs”

• Reuters – “Maduro signals openness to U.S. talks as sanctions and oil loom”

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Trump Threatens Action Over Deadly Protests in Iran

Inflation-driven unrest collides with geopolitical escalation risks

Overview

• U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington could intervene if Iranian security forces fire on protesters

• Nationwide protests over soaring inflation and currency collapse have entered their fourth day

• Several deaths have been reported, marking Iran’s most serious unrest in three years

• Trump’s comments follow recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities

• The situation raises the risk of escalation between Washington and Tehran

Key Developments

• Trump stated the United States was “locked and loaded” in response to reported violence against protesters

• Demonstrations erupted across multiple regions, driven by inflation, unemployment, and economic hardship

• Iranian officials condemned Trump’s remarks as foreign interference

• Security forces reportedly used force against demonstrators, prompting international concern

• President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged government failures, while warning unrest would not be tolerated

Why It Matters

Iran’s unrest represents a convergence of economic collapse and geopolitical pressure. Inflation above 36%, a rapidly weakening rial, and years of sanctions have eroded public trust. Trump’s warning injects an external escalation risk into what is already a fragile domestic crisis.

This moment is especially volatile because economic legitimacy, internal stability, and external deterrence are all under strain simultaneously. Any miscalculation could rapidly widen the conflict beyond Iran’s borders.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, Iran’s situation highlights critical reset dynamics:

• Currency collapse accelerates social unrest and political instability

• Sanctions and isolation magnify FX volatility and settlement risk

• Escalation risk drives capital flight and safe-haven demand

• Access to global payment systems matters more than nominal reserves

In reset terms, currency credibility fails first at home — then abroad.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Currency Failure Precedes Political Instability
  Inflation and FX collapse undermine state legitimacy.

• Pillar: Sanctions Amplify Internal Fracture Points
  Prolonged isolation accelerates systemic stress.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Modern Diplomacy – “Trump Threatens Action Over Deadly Protests in Iran”

• Reuters – “Trump warns Iran as protests rage over inflation and currency collapse”

~~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

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RV Updates Proof links - Facts Link

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“Tidbits From TNT” Friday Morning 1-2-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Hassan Ali Al-Daghari: Expanding banking services is the focus of the next phase.

Financial expert Hassan Ali Al-Daghari stressed that expanding banking services is an urgent need for the Iraqi economy at the present stage, in light of growing commercial activity and increasing demands of the local market.

Al-Daghari said that Iraqi banks have begun to take clear steps towards developing their financial tools and expanding the scope of their services in line with the ongoing economic transformations.

Al-Daghari explained that expanding modern banking services, such as electronic payment, facilitating account opening procedures, and expanding the branch network, contributes to enhancing citizens' confidence in the banking sector and encourages official transactions instead of relying on cash.

He pointed out that this expansion not only benefits banks, but also supports market activity and provides a better environment for investment.  link

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Tishwash:  Trump's envoy begins 2026 with a strong message to those who "wrought havoc in Iraq": Your time is up. He outlined a list of 18 objectives.

Mark Savaya, US President Donald Trump’s envoy to Iraq, sent a congratulatory message to the Iraqi people on the occasion of welcoming the year 2026, in which he expressed his wishes for peace, unity and renewed hope.

In his message, which he published in Arabic and English via his account on the X platform, Savaya said: “To the people of Iraq, as we welcome the year 2026, I extend to you my sincerest wishes for peace, unity, and renewed hope. Your strength and resilience are an inspiration to the world,” adding that “the new year will bring better opportunities, stability, and a brighter future for all Iraqis.”

The US envoy affirmed that work will continue with the government of the Republic of Iraq within the framework of the Iraqi constitution and law, in order to secure a bright future for Iraq and its people, expressing his hope that 2026 will be the year of the end of instability, the plundering of the country’s wealth, poor services, uncontrolled weapons, smuggling, unemployment, militias, money laundering, corruption, poverty, foreign interference, and all other manifestations of injustice and circumvention of the law.

He added that this message is directed “to those who have spread corruption in the land of Iraq,” stressing that “your time is over and the time of Iraq and the Iraqis has begun,” and emphasizing that Iraq will remain a flag raised high and a source of pride for all its people.

Savaya concluded his message by saying, “We are still at the beginning  link

Tishwash:  Sudani congratulates Halbousi and his deputies: Political stability depends on prioritizing Iraq's interests.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stressed on Wednesday the need to work towards achieving the country's higher interests.

A statement from his office, received by (Al-Mada), said that “Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani met with the new Speaker of Parliament, Hebat Hamad Al-Halbousi.”

Al-Sudani congratulated Al-Halbousi and his two deputies, Adnan Faihan Al-Dulaimi and Farhad Amin Atroushi, on their election and gaining the confidence of the representatives, praising this step that enhances the political stability of our democratic system.

He also pointed out the need to work towards achieving the country's higher interests.

The Prime Minister stressed "the need to complete the remaining constitutional requirements in order to continue providing public services to citizens in various fields."  link

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Mot: Goal fir da New Year and am working on it Already!!!

Mot:  . Winter - in ""2 stages""

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Thursday Afternoon 1-1-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

Market Risk Signals Flash Red as 2026 Begins

Peak optimism masks structural fragility across bonds, credit, and valuations

Overview

• Global markets enter 2026 with elevated optimism but growing structural risk.

• Bond market instability is resurfacing, driven by sticky inflation and fiscal strain.

• Equity valuations — especially in AI and tech — are increasingly detached from fundamentals.

• Cash levels among investors are historically low, reducing shock absorption.

• Risk concentration is rising just as macro uncertainty widens.

Key Developments

• Fund managers and strategists warn of multiple converging risks, including bond volatility, credit stress, and valuation excesses.

• Government debt issuance remains elevated, placing upward pressure on yields.

• Inflation progress has stalled, complicating central-bank rate paths.

• Consumer credit stress is rising, particularly in lower-income segments.

• Markets remain priced for soft landings, leaving little margin for error.

• Geopolitical and trade risks remain underpriced relative to historical cycles.

Why It Matters

Markets are not fragile because prices are falling — they are fragile because confidence is high while buffers are thin.

Periods of peak optimism combined with leverage, low cash, and bond instability historically precede repricing events. When bonds fail to act as stabilizers, risk spills rapidly across equities, currencies, and credit.

This environment does not require a shock — it only requires disappointment.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Bond volatility directly impacts currency stability, especially in debt-heavy nations.

• Rising yields weaken fiscal flexibility, pressuring sovereign credibility.

• Risk-off events strengthen settlement-safe currencies, while peripheral currencies reprice sharply.

• Capital flows become disorderly when confidence shifts quickly.

For currency holders, bond stress is the transmission mechanism — not equities.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar: Bonds Are the System’s Load-Bearing Wall
When bonds wobble, everything else follows.

Pillar: Valuation Excess Signals Transition Phases
Overconfidence often marks inflection points.

Pillar: Liquidity Is Being Quietly Withdrawn
Reset dynamics accelerate when buffers vanish.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters – “Global markets face rising risks in 2026 as bond volatility returns”

• Bank for International Settlements – Annual Economic Report: Global Financial Fragility

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Alternative Payment Rails Advance as Dollar Stress Quietly Builds

Trade settlement diversification accelerates beneath the surface

Overview

• Global trade and payment systems are quietly diversifying away from dollar-only settlement.

• Alternative rails are expanding, including regional payment systems, bilateral currency arrangements, and asset-backed mechanisms.

• This shift is evolutionary, not revolutionary, occurring below headline levels.

• Central banks and sovereigns are prioritizing access, redundancy, and resilience over ideology.

• The process is gradually reshaping global liquidity flows.

Key Developments

• Cross-border payment systems outside traditional Western rails continue to expand, particularly across Asia, the Middle East, and parts of the Global South.

• Bilateral trade settlement in local currencies is increasing, reducing FX exposure and sanctions vulnerability.

• Gold, commodities, and energy contracts are increasingly referenced as settlement anchors, even when transactions remain fiat-denominated.

• Financial hubs outside the U.S. and Europe are strengthening clearing, custody, and settlement infrastructure.

• Central banks are prioritizing interoperability, not speed, as they modernize payment frameworks.

• Payment redundancy is now treated as a national security issue, not a fintech trend.

Why It Matters

The global reset does not begin with a currency collapse — it begins with optionality.

When nations can trade, settle, and store value outside a single system, leverage shifts. This does not eliminate the dollar’s role, but it ends exclusivity. Over time, liquidity fragments, pricing power diffuses, and financial influence becomes conditional rather than absolute.

This phase is quiet by design. Systems are being built before they are needed.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Settlement access increasingly matters as much as reserve size.

• Currencies supported by diversified trade rails retain stability during stress.

• Sanctions-exposed or single-rail currencies face amplified repricing risk.

• Liquidity can reroute faster than capital, changing FX dynamics without warning.

For currency holders, the key question is no longer what backs the currency —
it is where and how it can settle.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar: Access Replaces Dominance
Power flows to those with multiple settlement options.

Pillar: Fragmentation Is Functional, Not Chaotic
Parallel systems reduce shock concentration.

Pillar: Infrastructure Precedes Repricing
The reset happens after the rails are ready.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters – “Countries expand use of local currencies in trade as dollar risks rise”

• Bank for International Settlements Bulletin – “Enhancing cross-border payments: state of play and way forward”
  

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Global Debt and Bond Market Stress: The True Reset Trigger

Why sovereign debt — not currencies — is the system’s breaking point

Overview

• Global debt levels are at historic highs, spanning sovereign, corporate, and household balance sheets.

• Bond markets are showing renewed stress, with volatility returning to long-dated government debt.

• Higher-for-longer interest rates are colliding with record refinancing needs.

• Central banks are constrained, unable to fully rescue markets without reigniting inflation.

• Bond instability represents the most credible trigger for systemic repricing.

Key Developments

• Governments face massive rollover risk, with trillions in debt maturing over the next two years.

• Rising yields are increasing debt-service costs, squeezing fiscal space.

• Bond markets are no longer acting as shock absorbers, amplifying volatility instead.

• Foreign demand for sovereign debt is weakening, particularly where fiscal discipline is questioned.

• Central banks are reducing balance sheets, removing a major source of artificial demand.

• Credit rating agencies have issued warnings over debt sustainability trajectories.

Why It Matters

Debt is the foundation of the modern financial system — and bonds are its plumbing.

When confidence in sovereign debt weakens, everything reprices: currencies, equities, credit, and real assets. Unlike banking crises, which can be contained with liquidity, debt crises are credibility crises. They cannot be solved quickly without consequences.

This is why systemic resets historically follow bond market stress, not stock market crashes.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For currency holders, debt stress creates asymmetric risk:

• Debt-heavy currencies weaken first, regardless of reserve status.

• Rising yields can signal strength — or distress, depending on context.

• Capital flight accelerates when fiscal paths appear unsustainable.

• Settlement confidence erodes when governments rely on monetization.

In reset terms, a currency’s debt backing matters more than its headline strength.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar: Debt Sustainability Defines Monetary Credibility
Currencies fail when debt cannot be serviced.

Pillar: Bond Markets Trigger Repricing Cycles
They move slower — then all at once.

Pillar: Central Banks Are No Longer Omnipotent
Inflation has capped their rescue capacity.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Bank for International Settlements – Annual Economic Report: Global Debt and Financial Stability

• Reuters – “Rising debt and bond market volatility test governments in 2026”

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Central Banks Boxed In: Inflation vs Recession vs Credibility
Monetary authority constraints reveal systemic pressure points ahead of broader resets

Overview

• Central banks around the world — including the U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan — are visibly struggling to balance inflation control, economic growth, and policy credibility. Recent policy debates show heightened internal divisions and persistent inflation above targets, even amid calls for rate cuts and economic stimulus. 

• This squeeze reflects a broader global trend: slower growth prospects combined with entrenched inflation expectations constrain monetary policy effectiveness and heighten uncertainty. 

Key Developments

• Fed policy fissures: Minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting reveal deep disagreements among policymakers on whether to prioritize inflation control or support a weakening labor market. Several officials opposed recent rate cuts, arguing persistent inflation risk undermines policy credibility.

• BOJ recalibration: The Bank of Japan’s policy committee debated further rate hikes even after a recent increase — underscoring the challenge of containing inflation that has remained above target despite decades of ultra‑loose policy, highlighting global central banks’ credibility dilemma. 

• Global economic slowing: Broader economic analysis shows global growth weakening amid supply shocks, geopolitical tensions, and policy uncertainty, making it harder for central banks to steer economies without risking recession or further credibility erosion.

Why It Matters
Central banks sit at the apex of the financial system: they set interest rates, manage liquidity, backstop bond markets, and anchor expectations. In normal times, they can respond to shocks by adjusting policy rates, expanding balance sheets, or guiding expectations — tools that support market confidence and economic stability. But when inflation remains persistent while economic growth falters, policymakers face a stark trade‑off: attempt rate cuts and risk inflation expectations becoming unanchored, or keep policy restrictive and risk recession.

This dynamic boxes in central banks:

• Rate cuts become fraught: Cuts risk fueling inflation expectations that are already above target, undermining long‑term credibility. 

• Credibility at stake: When markets perceive central banks as uncertain or inconsistent, forward guidance loses its power and markets begin to price outcomes based on fiscal math and shock risks rather than policy signals. 

• Policy signaling fractures: Internal disagreements at major central banks reflect deeper tensions between inflation control and growth support, reducing confidence in monetary authority direction. 

This constraint is not merely technical — it signals a shift in how monetary policy interacts with broader economic reality. When central banks can no longer act with clear authority and predictable outcomes, the system loses one of its key stabilizing pillars.

Implications for the Global Reset
Pillar 1 — Monetary Constraint as Systemic Trigger: The inability of central banks to freely use their full set of tools without risking credibility or sparking inflation expectations undermines the traditional crisis‑response framework, forcing economic actors to rely more on fiscal policy, private risk assessments, and structural adjustments.

Pillar 2 — Credibility Erosion Alters Expectations Frameworks: As confidence in central bank commitments weakens — especially around inflation targets and forward guidance — expectations shift, potentially making inflation more backward‑looking and less responsive to policy signaling. This dynamic changes market behavior, investment decisions, and long‑term pricing structures.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters coverage of U.S. Fed policy divisions and internal debates at the Bank of Japan (Dec 2025).

• EY global economic outlook highlighting slowing growth and policy uncertainty.

• Federal Reserve credibility dynamics and inflation expectations research.

~~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

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Follow the Gold/Silver Rate COMEX

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Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Thank you Dinar Recaps

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Thursday Afternoon 1-1-26

Trump's Envoy: We Are Working With The Government To Secure A Bright Future For Iraq And The Iraqi People.

Thursday, January 1, 2026, 9:52 AM | PoliticsNumber of views: 694   Baghdad / NINA / Mark Savaya, US President Donald Trump's envoy to Iraq, addressed a message to the Iraqi people on the occasion of the arrival of 2026, offering his congratulations and wishes for peace, unity, and renewed hope.

In his message, published in both English and Arabic on his X account, Savaya said, "To the people of Iraq, as we welcome the year 2026, I extend to you my sincerest wishes for peace, unity, and renewed hope. Your strength and resilience are an inspiration to the world." He added that "the new year will bring better opportunities, stability, and a brighter future for all Iraqis."

Savaya affirmed that "work will continue with the government of the Republic of Iraq within the framework of the Iraqi constitution and law to secure a bright future for Iraq and the Iraqi people," expressing his hope that "2026 will be the year of the end" of what he described as "instability, the plundering of the country's resources, and the weakness of services." /End   https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?Key=1269583

The United Nations Affirms A Strong Partnership With Iraq To Support National Development Priorities

Local | 05:29 - 01/01/2026   Mawazin News – Baghdad  
The United Nations team affirmed on Thursday its strong and robust partnership with the Iraqi government to support national development priorities.

A UN statement, received by Mawazin News Agency, indicated that with the conclusion of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the UN team in Iraq continues its work under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator.

The statement added that the UN team works in close partnership with the Iraqi government to support national development priorities through the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Document (2025–2029), signed on December 25, 2025.

It noted that this transition represents a clear step towards achieving long-term, sustainable development led by national leadership and based on stronger institutions and effective partnerships.

The statement concluded by emphasizing that, from supporting economic diversification, climate action, and water resource management to strengthening social protection, governance, and sustainable solutions, the United Nations continues its role as a trusted and committed partner in supporting the Iraqi government. https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=272130

Iraq Exported More Than 70 Million Barrels Of Oil To The US In 10 Months.

Money and Business   Economy News — Baghdad   The U.S. Energy Information Administration announced on Thursday that Iraq's exports of crude oil and petroleum products to the United States amounted to more than 73 million barrels during the first 10 months of 2025.

A table from the administration showed that "Iraq exported 73 million and 449 thousand barrels of oil and its derivatives during the 10 months from January to September of last year."

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that Iraq's crude oil exports to the United States during the first ten months of last year showed varying figures, with exports in January reaching 7,136,000 barrels, February 5,427,000 barrels, March 7,040,000 barrels, April 6,951,000 barrels, May 7,114,000 barrels, June 8,262,000 barrels, July 9,528,000 barrels, August 10,234,000 barrels, September 6,285,000 barrels, and October 5,472,000 barrels.

According to the data, August was the highest in terms of the volume of Iraqi oil exports to America, while February was the lowest during the aforementioned period.

According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Iraq's exports to the United States are concentrated on crude oil, particularly heavy crude, with limited or no exports of refined petroleum products.
https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=64082

Oil Records Its Biggest Annual Decline Since 2020... Down 20% In 2025

Energy    Economy News — Follow-up   Oil prices fell sharply on Wednesday, settling down on an annual loss of nearly 20%, as expectations grew of a supply glut in a year marked by wars, high tariffs, increased OPEC+ production, and sanctions on Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. Brent crude futures recorded a decline of nearly 19% in 2025, the largest annual percentage drop since 2020 and the third consecutive year of losses, marking their longest losing streak to date.

Venezuela shuts down oil wells in the Orinoco Belt due to escalating US sanctions.

US West Texas Intermediate crude oil recorded an annual decline of 20%.

On the last trading day of 2025, Brent crude fell 48 cents, or 0.8%, to settle at $60.85 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 53 cents, or 0.9%, to $57.42.

Jason Ying, a commodities analyst at BNP Paribas, predicted that Brent crude would fall to $55 a barrel in the first quarter of 2026 before recovering to $60 for the rest of the year, as supply growth is expected to return to normal and demand remains steady.

US Shale Oil Producers Hedge

He said, "We believe that US shale oil producers have managed to hedge at high levels... so supplies coming from shale oil producers will be more stable and less affected by price movements."

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed that U.S. crude inventories fell last week, but distillate and gasoline stocks grew more than expected.

John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital Markets, said, "The EIA report offered modest support regarding the decline in crude oil inventories, but the internal aspects of the report were not so good, and January and February are likely to be difficult months as the holidays pass."

US Crude Oil Inventories Decline

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that crude oil inventories fell by 1.9 million barrels to 422.9 million barrels in the week ending December 26, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll of a drop of 867,000 barrels.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that U.S. gasoline inventories rose by 5.8 million barrels during the week to 234.3 million barrels, compared to analysts' expectations of a 1.9 million barrel increase. Distillate fuel inventories, including diesel and heating oil, rose by 5 million barrels to 123.7 million barrels, versus expectations of a 2.2 million barrel increase.

The latest data from the Energy Information Administration indicated that U.S. oil production hit a record high in October.

Oil markets got off to a strong start in 2025 when former US President Joe Biden ended his term by imposing tougher sanctions on Russia, disrupting supplies to China and India, the biggest buyers of Russian crude.

The Conflict Between Russia And Ukraine

The war in Ukraine intensified when drones launched by Kyiv damaged Russia's energy infrastructure and disrupted Kazakhstan's oil exports.

The 12-day Iran-Israel conflict in June increased threats to supplies by disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key seaborne oil route in the world, leading to higher oil prices.

Blockade On Venezuelan Oil Exports

US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade on Venezuelan oil exports and threatened to launch another strike against Iran.

But prices fell after the OPEC+ alliance, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, accelerated its production increase this year, and amid growing concerns about the impact of US tariffs on global economic growth and fuel demand.

Oil Price Forecasts For 2026

Most analysts expect supply to exceed demand in 2026, by a margin of between 3.84 million barrels per day according to the International Energy Agency, and 2 million barrels per day according to Goldman Sachs.

Morgan Stanley analyst Martin Rats said: "If the price falls really big, I imagine we'll see some cuts (from OPEC+)... but maybe the price should fall further from now on - perhaps to the $50 mark." https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=64067

The Price Of An Ounce Of Gold Fell By $18 After An Exceptional Year Of Strong Gains

Thursday, January 1, 2026, | Economy Number of views: 409  Baghdad/ NINA / The price of an ounce of gold fell by approximately $18.67 as global markets closed on Wednesday evening, settling at $4,322.

This decline is primarily attributed to profit-taking by investors following the significant rise in gold prices last week, which led to the price drop in recent days.

Despite this decrease, the precious metal recorded its strongest annual increase in over four decades, rising by 64.60% during 2025.

On January 2, 2025, the first day of the year in which global markets opened, the price of an ounce of gold was $2,624, meaning that gold rose by $1,698 during the year.

The main reason for this increase began in late April following US President Donald Trump's decisions to impose global tariffs, and this upward trend continued until the end of the year.

Ongoing global tensions, interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, large-scale gold purchases by central banks, and increased investment in gold-backed investment funds all contributed to this rise.

The minutes of the Federal Reserve's September meeting indicated that a majority of officials supported further interest rate cuts if inflation continued to decline, although opinions remained divided on the timing and magnitude of such a reduction.

Politically and in terms of security, gold continued to serve as a safe haven for investors amid uncertainty surrounding the fate of the Russia-Ukraine peace agreement, renewed tensions in the Middle East, and escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela. /End    https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1269586

An Expert Explains The Reasons For Deflation Despite Low Inflation Rates.

Time: 2026/01/01 18:14:34 Reading: 120 times    {Economic: Al-Furat News} Economic expert Salah Nouri confirmed on Thursday that the relationship between the decrease in the inflation rate and economic recovery depends mainly on consumer behavior and the purchasing power of the currency, noting that citizens’ expectations of further price decreases may sometimes lead to a temporary state of stagnation.

Nouri told Al-Furat News Agency, in a copy of which he said, “In normal circumstances, the relationship between a decrease in the inflation rate leads to an economic recovery, as it represents an increase in the purchasing power of the local currency and a decrease in the prices of basic commodities,” explaining that “this decrease pushes citizens towards spending, which enhances market activity and achieves recovery.”

He added that "the tendency to buy goods depends primarily on consumer behavior," explaining that "there are rare cases where a decrease in the inflation rate coincides with an economic recession."

Nouri continued, "Some economists attribute this situation to the consumer's desire and expectation of further price reductions, which reduces market demand compared to supply," stressing that "this behavior leads to economic contraction (recession), a situation considered temporary."   LINK

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

“Tidbits From TNT” 1-1-2026

TNT:

Cutebwoy:  :  Rashid Congratulates on the New Year: We Hope It Will Be Full of National Achievements

Today, 19:31  Baghdad - INA

President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid expressed his hope on Wednesday that the new year would be full of national achievements.

In a post on the (X) platform, which was monitored by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Rashid said, "On the occasion of the new year, we extend our sincerest congratulations to the people of our nation," wishing everyone "more security, stability, and progress."

He added, "We hope that this year will be full of national achievements, progress on the path of construction and reform, strengthening the rule of law, and fulfilling our people's aspirations for a dignified and secure life, one of peace and prosperity." He concluded with, "Happy New Year to all Iraqis

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Tishwash:  Deputy: Approval of the 2025 and 2026 budgets after the formation of the new government

Deputy Speaker Mazr al-Karwi stated on Thursday that the 2025 general budget will be discussed after completing the nomination and election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

According to al-Karwi in a statement: “After the completion of the vote on the Speaker of the Council of Representatives [Majlis al-Nuwwab], the second stage of constitutional entitlements will begin. These include the election of the President of the Republic, and then assigning the task to the largest parliamentary bloc to form the government, followed by voting on it.”

“The budget for the past or current year cannot be approved until after the government is fully formed. If the budget is sent by the current government,” he said, adding that “the Council of Representatives will conduct a different reading of the nature of the country's financial situation.

Its official oil prices have a direct impact on the budget, which means that more than 90% of its revenue relies on the sale of crude oil,” he said.“Iraq's finances need to be re-examined in terms of text and figures, which puts pressure on foreign expenditures and does not exempt them from it,” he added, referring to “the difficult nature of the stage and the permanent financial challenges.” link

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LouNDebNC: Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa rolled out the country’s new currency at a ceremony in Damascus on Monday.

The redesigned banknotes have been redenominated, which means they have fewer zeroes in the amounts, and they no longer bear the visage of deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad, memorably condemned as a “gas-killing animal” by President Donald Trump in 2018.

Sharaa noted during the ceremony that changing the denominations on the Syrian pound was an accounting convenience and did not materially change their value or reverse the high inflation suffered during the long Syrian civil war.

“Changing the zeros and removing two zeros from the old currency to the new currency does not mean improving the economy, but rather it is easier to deal with the currency,” he said.

“Improving the economy depends on increasing production rates and reducing unemployment rates in Syria, and one of the basics of achieving economic growth is improving the banking situation because banks are like arteries for the economy,” he added.

The new notes are available in denominations ranging from 10 to 500 pounds, while the old bills ran from 1,000 to 50,000 pounds. The new ten-pound note buys roughly the same amount of goods as the old 1000-pound note.

The new bills are quite colorful compared to the drab old bills, and they replace images of the brutal Assad dynasty with some plants native to Syria, including roses, wheat, olives, oranges, and mulberries – a fruit prized in Middle Eastern cuisine.

Sharaa said the new designs symbolize “the end of a previous, unlamented phase and the beginning of a new phase that the Syrian people, and the peoples of the region who are hopeful about the modern Syrian reality, aspire to.”

“The new currency design is an expression of the new national identity and a move away from the veneration of individuals,” he said.

Some Syrian online commentators were not thrilled with the new design, feeling that the cheerful bright colors and crop displays did not accurately reflect Syria’s long history, or the grim realities of the civil war.

“Syria is not just a few trees and crops. It’s about civilizations and history and cultures,” one critic wrote on Instagram.

“Honestly, whoever designed the new Syrian currency should have their hands broken. It’s like they went to a vegetable market and said: this one’s for the five, this one’s for the 10 and this one’s for the 100,” said an even more trenchant critic of the new bills.

“Not a fan of the new Syria banknotes. Even Assad put the Umayyad Mosque on his currency. Come on, guys,” grumbled a third.

The Umayyad Mosque is a historic structure in Damascus. It was a Christian basilica before it was converted into a mosque centuries ago, and some believe that John the Baptist (or at least part of him) is interred there.

Sharaa said one objective of the currency relaunch is to make Syria less dependent on foreign currency and restore their trust in the pound. The Syrian pound was trading at about 50 to the U.S. dollar when the civil war began in 2011 – and about 11,000 to the dollar when it ended with Assad’s ouster in December 2024. Syria’s currency lost so much of its value that citizens grew accustomed to lugging heavy bags of cash around to make even the smallest market purchases.

Sharaa and Syrian central bank governor Abdulkader Husrieh asked the public to be patient during the currency transition.

“Everyone who has old currency will have it replaced with the new one, so there is no need to insist on changing it because that may harm the exchange rate of the Syrian pound. We need a calm approach to currency replacement, and the central bank has made it clear that this will be done according to a specific timetable,” Sharaa said.

Husriyeh said the exchange was expected to take about 90 days, with extensions possible if needed.

“This will help stabilize prices, and we confirm that pricing during this phase will be in both the old and new currencies. There will be a media campaign to accompany the currency change and explain the details in the coming days,” he said.

Possibly for security reasons, Husriyeh declined to answer questions from reporters about where the new bills would be printed. Before the fall of the Assad regime, Syria’s currency was printed in Russia.

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Tishwash:  We exchange an orange for a hundred olives... The new Syrian currency is a "basket of vegetables," citrus fruits, and grains.

Social media platforms in Syria have become a stage for biting satire following the official announcement of the new Syrian currency designs, which replace historical symbols with images of agricultural crops, prompting Syrians to dub it a "cash shopping basket."

The currency, described as "paper money," features an olive and an orange, and its price list includes denominations bearing images of oranges, olives, grains, and the Damask rose.

 Syrians joked that the government had linked the value of each denomination to the type of "dish" or crop, with one commentator saying: "Now we can exchange an orange for a hundred olives," referring to the absence of real monetary value in the face of exorbitant prices. link

Mot: Movie Buffs!!! --- Get READY!!!!! 

Mot:  Just What is a~~~~~New Years Resolution

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Thursday Morning 1-1-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

China’s Plans to Dominate at Sea in 2026

Naval expansion signals long-term challenge to U.S. maritime dominance

Beijing accelerates shipbuilding, far-sea operations, and power projection

Overview

• China is expected to continue rapid naval modernization in 2026, expanding its reach across the Pacific and beyond.

• The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is now the world’s largest navy by ship count.

• New aircraft carriers, frigates, submarines, and amphibious vessels underscore Beijing’s maritime ambitions.

• U.S. defense officials warn China aims to displace the United States as the dominant global power.

• Naval expansion is central to China’s strategy on Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the First Island Chain.

Key Developments

• China commissioned its most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, featuring electromagnetic catapults capable of launching heavier and stealth aircraft.

• Construction indicators suggest a future nuclear-powered carrier, pointing toward sustained blue-water ambitions.

• The Type 054B stealth frigate entered service, expanding a fleet that already includes more than 40 vessels across multiple variants.

• Sea trials began for the Type 076 amphibious assault ship, a hybrid platform capable of launching aircraft and drones.

• Dual aircraft carrier deployments and operations near Australia demonstrated China’s growing comfort with long-range naval missions.

• Expanded submarine development, including new nuclear-powered attack submarines, reflects a growing focus on undersea warfare.

• Civilian vessels are increasingly integrated into amphibious exercises, highlighting China’s civil-military fusion strategy.

Why It Matters

Sea power is the backbone of China’s long-term strategic competition with the United States.

Naval dominance allows Beijing to challenge U.S. presence, protect supply lines, enforce territorial claims, and project power well beyond its shores. The scale and pace of China’s shipbuilding effort suggest this is not a short-term buildup, but a structural shift in the global balance of power.

Control of maritime routes directly influences trade security, energy flows, and geopolitical leverage, especially in the Indo-Pacific.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Maritime dominance affects global trade stability, influencing export flows and currency strength.

• Heightened naval tensions increase risk premiums, impacting capital flows and investor confidence.

• Disruptions near Taiwan or major sea lanes could trigger currency volatility across Asia and beyond.

• Defense-driven spending and alliance realignments reshape fiscal and monetary priorities.

For currency holders, sea lanes are settlement lanes — when naval control is contested, financial systems feel the pressure.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar: Maritime Power Underpins Monetary Power
Trade security precedes currency stability.

Pillar: Military Expansion Accelerates Bloc Formation
Naval reach drives alliance consolidation and financial fragmentation.

Pillar: Taiwan Remains a Systemic Risk Node
Any disruption there reverberates through global markets.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Newsweek – “China’s Plans to Dominate at Sea in 2026”

• Reuters – “China’s navy expands reach as shipbuilding accelerates, Pentagon says”

~~~~~~~~~~

The Unraveling Ambition: Inside the UAE’s Risky Quest for Power

From quiet broker to overt power player in the Middle East

Overview

• The UAE’s image as a behind-the-scenes power broker has collapsed, replaced by open military and political confrontation.

• A public clash with Saudi Arabia in Yemen marks a turning point in Gulf power dynamics.

• Abu Dhabi’s foreign policy is driven by ideology, not consensus or alliance preservation.

• Proxy warfare has become the UAE’s primary tool for regional influence.

• These actions are reshaping regional stability, alliances, and financial risk perceptions.

Key Developments

• The UAE openly backed the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen, undermining Saudi-supported forces.

• Saudi airstrikes against STC positions exposed the breakdown of what was once a unified coalition.

• The UAE has supported non-state actors across the region, including forces in Libya and Sudan.

• Abu Dhabi prioritizes countering political Islam, particularly Muslim Brotherhood-linked movements.

• Outsourced warfare tactics allow the UAE to project power while limiting direct military exposure.

• Conflicts fueled by UAE-backed proxies have escalated, producing humanitarian crises and international scrutiny.

Why It Matters

The UAE’s transformation from discreet influencer to openly transactional power marks a structural shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

By prioritizing ideological dominance and proxy control over alliance cohesion, Abu Dhabi has redefined how middle powers exert influence. The confrontation with Saudi Arabia signals that even core partnerships are expendable when strategic visions diverge.

This approach may win tactical victories, but it raises long-term risks of blowback, escalation, and reputational damage.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Regional instability elevates geopolitical risk premiums, affecting capital flows.

• Fragmentation of states disrupts trade corridors and energy logistics.

• Proxy wars weaken sovereign credibility, pressuring currencies tied to the region.

• Sanctions exposure and reputational risk complicate foreign investment and settlement confidence.

For currency holders, persistent conflict erodes predictability, which is the foundation of monetary stability.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar: Middle Powers Now Shape Regional Order
Influence no longer belongs solely to superpowers.

Pillar: Proxy Warfare Accelerates Fragmentation
Decentralized conflict undermines traditional state-based systems.

Pillar: Ideology Overrides Economics
Political objectives increasingly outweigh financial rationality.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Modern Diplomacy – “The Unraveling Ambition: Inside the UAE’s Risky Quest for Power”

• Reuters – “Saudi Arabia and UAE back opposing sides in Yemen as tensions surface”

~~~~~~~~~~

Chances of Iran Regime Falling Surge as Unrest Spreads

Currency collapse fuels protests as sanctions and war pressure converge

Overview

• Protests have erupted across Iran following a sharp collapse in the national currency.

• Demonstrations began in Tehran and spread nationwide, targeting the country’s political leadership.

• The Iranian rial has plunged to historic lows, intensifying inflation and public anger.

• Sanctions pressure and recent military conflict have weakened the regime’s position heading into 2026.

• Despite unrest, analysts caution that regime collapse is not imminent.

Key Developments

• Shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar initiated strikes after the rial fell to roughly 1.42 million per U.S. dollar.

• Protests spread to multiple cities, including Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, and Kermanshah.

• University students and demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans, including calls against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

• Police used tear gas in several locations as authorities attempted to contain unrest.

• Prediction markets lowered odds of regime collapse, even as instability persists.

• Iranian officials signaled a restrained response, emphasizing dialogue over immediate repression.

Why It Matters

Currency collapse is not merely an economic problem — it is a legitimacy crisis.

Iran’s current unrest is unfolding at a uniquely vulnerable moment: after direct conflict with Israel, amid renewed U.S. sanctions, and with declining regional influence. While protests may not yet threaten the system’s survival, they expose the fragility of public trust and the narrowing policy space available to Tehran.

The timing, rather than the scale, makes this episode particularly dangerous for the regime.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For currency holders, Iran’s situation offers a clear warning signal:

• Sanctions and isolation accelerate currency collapse under stress.

• Loss of monetary credibility fuels social unrest, which feeds back into economic instability.

• Restricted access to global settlement systems magnifies repricing risk.

In reset terms, access and interoperability matter as much as reserves.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar: Currency Credibility Equals Political Stability
When money fails, legitimacy erodes.

Pillar: Sanctions Expose Systemic Weaknesses
Prolonged isolation amplifies internal fracture points.

Pillar: Internal Stress Raises External Risk
Domestic unrest increases vulnerability to geopolitical escalation.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Newsweek – “Chances of Iran Regime Falling Surge as Unrest Spreads”

• Reuters – “Iran faces renewed protests as currency slide deepens under sanctions pressure”

~~~~~~~~~~

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Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Thursday Morning 1-1-26

End Of The UN Mission In Iraq

December 31, 2025   Baghdad (AFP) – The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) will end its 22-year mission on Wednesday evening in a country that has become relatively stable and is working to recover from decades of conflict.

This comes at the request of Baghdad, and last year the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the mission, which was in Iraq to provide support and advice during the political transition that followed the 2003 US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime, for a final period until December 31, 2025.

On Tuesday evening, the caretaker government authorized Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein to “sign a draft memorandum of understanding for the mission closure plan (…) and transitional security needs, regarding the handover of the compound occupied by the mission in Baghdad and related matters,” according to an official statement.

The support provided by the mission to the Iraqi authorities extended to the areas of political dialogue and national reconciliation, and it helped in organizing elections and supported security sector reform.

Shortly after the mission was established, the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad was attacked by a truck bomb on August 19, 2003, killing the first United Nations Special Representative to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, along with 21 other people.

In recent years, as Iraq has regained some stability, the Iraqi authorities have concluded that there are no longer any justifications for the continued presence of a UN political mission in the country.

A former Iraqi government official confirmed to AFP that ending the mission confirms “that Iraq today is not the same as it was in 2003 or 2013.”

The official, who cooperated closely with the UN mission, particularly during the Islamic State's control of large areas of the country (2014-2017), said the timing of ending the mission was in line with "the radical shift from wars, dictatorship, sanctions and terrorism."

From Baghdad, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirmed on December 13 that “the United Nations will continue to support the Iraqi people on their path towards peace, sustainable development and human rights,” through the various UN agencies and programs operating in Iraq.   LINK

Customs Authority: Revenues Exceed 2.5 Trillion Dinars During The Current Year

Money and Business   Economy News – Baghdad   The General Authority of Customs announced that its revenues during the year 2025 exceeded 2.5 trillion dinars, an indicator that reflects the high performance of the Authority and its ability to effectively manage the transit system and customs operations, and to enhance the contribution of non-oil revenues to the state’s general budget.

The head of the Customs Authority, Dr. Thamer Qasim Dawood, told Al-Sabah, as reported by Al-Eqtisad News, that the authority achieved revenues exceeding 2 trillion and 530 billion dinars during the current year.

He added that the Authority has succeeded in implementing modern and advanced transit systems, most notably the operation of receiving transit trucks via (RORO) ships within the customs TIR system, in a step that is the first of its kind in Iraq, and aims to integrate land and sea transport within a single system in accordance with modern international standards.

He explained that operating these ships contributes to accelerating the movement of shipments and ensuring their smooth passage, through simplifying technical and administrative customs procedures, and using electronic locks to track the path of goods from entering Iraqi territory until they leave towards the destination country, in continuous coordination with the competent authorities.

Dr. Qasim emphasized that this achievement aligns with the government's vision to enhance Iraq's position as a regional trade corridor, leveraging its strategic geographical location that connects it to neighboring countries and provides opportunities to maximize non-oil revenues.

He added that the Authority has fully coordinated with the Ministry of Transport, the Ports Authority, the Border Ports Authority, and land and sea transport companies, in addition to cooperating with the International Road Transport Union (IRU), through joint working rooms and organized data exchange, to ensure the implementation of operations without any obstacles.

He explained that operating this type of multimodal transport contributes to creating direct and indirect job opportunities, increasing Iraq’s attractiveness to local and international investments, as well as revitalizing the commercial and service sectors related to transport and trade.

The head of the authority indicated that it has adopted future plans to expand (RORO) lines and link them to additional border crossings, as well as developing infrastructure and improving customs procedures in all centers, which will contribute to enhancing non-oil revenues and stimulating international transit traffic.

Regarding the challenges, Dr. Qasim stressed that the most prominent of them was the novelty of the experience and the multiplicity of participating entities. However, the Authority succeeded in overcoming them through prior planning, building specialized technical teams, continuous field coordination, and benefiting from international expertise in cooperation with the International Road Transport Union, which contributed to the success of the process and the achievement of its goals.

The head of the authority concluded his statement by saying: “The General Authority of Customs is working to provide a sophisticated and secure customs environment that ensures the smooth flow of goods and supports the national economy, and affirms Iraq’s commitment to strengthening its role as a reliable regional trade corridor, which benefits investors and companies and enhances the state’s public revenues.” https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=64038

 Reconstruction And Development Praises The Government And Announces The Beginning Of A New Chapter For Iraq After The End Of UNAMI's Mission

Political | 01:45 - 31/12/2025   Mawazin News – Baghdad   Iraq is witnessing a pivotal historical moment today with the announcement of the end of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) mission. The Iraqi people are regaining their full right to national decision-making, and sovereignty is returning to its rightful place after twenty-two years of restrictions and foreign interference.

The Reconstruction and Development Coalition expressed its appreciation and pride in the Iraqi government, headed by Mr. Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, commending what it described as the national efforts exerted by the government until the very last day of UNAMI's mandate.

These efforts, the coalition stated, were aimed at preserving the interests of the Iraqi people, safeguarding national sovereignty , and leading the country towards a new phase based on independence and self-reliance.

 The coalition also praised the role played by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of UNAMI, Mr. Mohammed al-Hassan, noting his pivotal contribution to supporting Iraq during the transitional phase and facilitating dialogue among national parties. This contributed to consolidating stability and strengthening the foundations of state institutions.

The coalition affirmed that the end of UNAMI's mission represents the culmination of national sovereignty and the beginning of a new chapter in Iraq's journey, opening broad horizons for comprehensive development, sustainable economic growth, and the building of balanced international relations based on supreme national interests.

It clarified that this step reflects Iraq's transition from crisis management to Long-term development planning, relying on self-reliance and efforts while benefiting from the United Nations' expertise in the fields of development and institutional capacity building.

In this context, the coalition appreciated the constructive efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and the work of the UNAMI mission since its establishment in 2003, which constituted an important pillar in supporting Iraq to achieve stability and build its national institutions.

The coalition concluded its statement by emphasizing that this historic day heralds the beginning of a new phase in which the future of Iraq is shaped by the will of its people and in which the people's right to determine their destiny freely and with full sovereignty is preserved, with a commitment to protecting the independence of national decision-making and consolidating the foundations of a modern and prosperous state. https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=272128

Gold Prices In Baghdad And Erbil Markets Have Fallen Again.

Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 2:27 PM | Economy Number of views: 190   Baghdad ( NINA ) – Gold prices, both foreign and Iraqi, fell on Wednesday in local markets in Baghdad and Erbil for the second consecutive day.

The wholesale price of 21-karat gold (Gulf, Turkish, and European) in Baghdad's Al-Nahr Street markets this morning was 875,000 Iraqi dinars per mithqal (approximately 4.5 grams), with a buying price of 871,000 dinars. Yesterday, Tuesday, prices

were 883,000 dinars per mithqal. The selling price of 21-karat Iraqi gold was 845,000 dinars per mithqal, with a buying price of 841,000 dinars.

In jewelry shops, the selling price of 21-karat Gulf gold ranged between 875,000 and 885,000 dinars per mithqal, while the selling price of Iraqi gold ranged between 845,000 and 855,000 dinars per mithqal.

Gold prices in Erbil also saw a decrease, with 22-karat gold selling for 916,000 dinars, 21-karat for 875,000 dinars, and 18-karat for 750,000 dinars. /End  https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1269493

Iraqi Oil Exports To America Declined During The Week.

Energy  Economy News – Baghdad   The U.S. Energy Information Administration announced on Wednesday that Iraqi oil exports to the United States decreased last week.

The administration said in a statistic seen by “Al-Eqtisad News” that “the average US imports of crude oil during the past week from ten major countries amounted to an average of 5.414 million barrels per day, a decrease of 261 thousand barrels per day from the previous week, which amounted to an average of 5.675 million barrels per day.”

She added that "Iraq's oil exports to America averaged 181,000 barrels per day, down by 125,000 barrels per day from the previous week, which averaged 306,000 barrels."

The administration also noted that "most of America's oil revenues last week came from Canada at a rate of 3.975 million barrels per day, followed by Saudi Arabia at 310,000 barrels per day, Mexico at an average of 254,000 barrels, and Libya at a rate of 175,000 barrels per day."

According to the table, "US crude oil imports averaged 171,000 barrels per day from Venezuela, 137,000 barrels per day from Ecuador, 122,000 barrels per day from Colombia, 50,000 barrels per day from Brazil, and 37,000 barrels per day from Nigeria."

The United States imports most of its crude oil and refined products from these ten major countries. Its daily oil consumption is approximately 20 million barrels, making it the world's largest oil consumer. https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=64041

Dollar Prices Rise In Baghdad And Erbil

Stock Exchange   The exchange rate of the dollar against the dinar rose on Wednesday evening in the markets of Baghdad and Erbil, coinciding with the closure of the stock exchange on New Year's Eve.

The dollar prices recorded an increase in the Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges, reaching 144,700 dinars for every 100 dollars, after it had recorded 144,250 dinars this morning.

Regarding currency exchange shops in the local markets of Baghdad, prices have risen significantly; the selling price reached 145,250 dinars, while the buying price reached 144,250 dinars for every 100 dollars.

In Erbil, prices also rose, with the selling price reaching 143,550 dinars and the buying price reaching 143,450 dinars for every 100 dollars.      https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=64054

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

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Wednesday Evening 12-31-25

Happy New Years Eve Dinar Recaps,

Russia’s New Goal: Carve “Buffer Zones” Deep Into Ukraine

Territorial expansion reframed as defensive security

Overview

• Russia is formalizing territorial expansion under the justification of border security.

• “Buffer zones” are being carved into Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions, far beyond earlier front lines.

• The strategy signals long-term occupation, not temporary military pressure.

• Moscow appears to be reshaping negotiation baselines ahead of any peace talks.

• This marks a strategic escalation, not a defensive pause.

Key Developments

• Russia’s top military commander, General Valery Gerasimov, ordered forces to continue expanding buffer zones during a visit to the “North” military grouping.

• The directive is explicitly framed as protecting Russian border regions such as Kursk and Belgorod.

• Russian officials claim approximately 950 square kilometers and 32 settlements have been seized, though figures remain unverified.

• President Vladimir Putin publicly endorsed the buffer zone concept, calling it “very important” after Ukraine’s August 2024 incursion into Kursk.

• The operations extend the conflict well beyond the Donbas, opening sustained pressure along Ukraine’s northern frontier.

Why It Matters

This move institutionalizes territorial conquest by recasting offensive action as defensive necessity.

By embedding occupation within a “security” framework, Moscow creates facts on the ground that can later be presented as non-negotiable conditions in peace talks. The buffer zone narrative also seeks to normalize expansion for domestic audiences while blunting international criticism by linking actions to retaliation and border protection.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Expanded conflict zones introduce heightened geopolitical risk premiums, especially across Eastern Europe.

• Prolonged instability affects energy routes, grain exports, and regional trade corridors.

• Sustained military escalation increases pressure on sovereign budgets, debt issuance, and reserve deployment.

• Currency volatility tends to rise when conflicts shift from limited theaters to permanent territorial control.

For currency holders, buffer zones represent long-term fragmentation, not short-term shocks.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Territorial Control Precedes Political Settlement
  Military realities are shaping diplomatic outcomes before negotiations begin.

• Pillar: Security Narratives Justify Structural Change
  Redrawing borders under “defense” alters trade, finance, and settlement flows.

As conflicts harden into permanent lines, global realignment accelerates quietly through risk repricing and regional decoupling.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters – “Russia pushes deeper into northern Ukraine, citing border security”

• Modern Diplomacy – “Russia’s New Goal: Carve ‘Buffer Zones’ Deep Into Ukraine”

• Institute for the Study of War – “Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment”

~~~~~~~~~~

Why Zaporizhzhia Power Plant Could Derail Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

Europe’s largest nuclear facility becomes a geopolitical fault line in stalled negotiations

Overview

• The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has regained a secondary external power line, temporarily improving safety conditions

• The facility remains under Russian control, despite international recognition of Ukrainian sovereignty

• ZNPP ownership and operation are unresolved in U.S.-brokered peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow

• Control of nuclear energy infrastructure is now intertwined with territorial, economic, and security demands

Key Developments

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed repairs to a backup power line supplying the ZNPP, reducing immediate shutdown risk

• Ukraine’s energy ministry said the repairs stabilize off-site power if the primary Dniprovska line is damaged

• The six-reactor facility remains in cold shutdown, though it still requires constant electricity to maintain safety systems

• Russia continues to assert operational authority through Rosatom, claiming it is the only party capable of safely managing the plant

• Ukraine has proposed partial electricity allocation, with the United States previously floated as a supervisory manager

• Repeated power losses since 2022 have raised alarm among international nuclear safety experts

Why It Matters

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is not just an energy facility — it is leverage.

Nuclear infrastructure represents economic output, political legitimacy, and strategic control. In a peace process already strained by territorial disputes, the ZNPP introduces a non-negotiable risk factor: nuclear safety.

Any agreement that leaves ambiguous control over Europe’s largest nuclear plant carries catastrophic downside risk. As long as the plant’s status remains unresolved, confidence in a durable peace remains fragile.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Energy insecurity feeds inflation, undermining currency stability across Europe

• Nuclear risk premiums elevate capital flight and insurance costs

• Infrastructure control disputes weaken confidence in post-war reconstruction financing

• Settlement trust erodes when sovereign assets remain contested

For currency holders, energy assets are balance-sheet anchors. When those anchors are politically disputed, monetary credibility suffers.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar: Energy Infrastructure Equals Monetary Stability
Who controls power controls productivity — and confidence.

Pillar: Unresolved Sovereign Assets Delay Systemic Transitions
No reset can finalize while core assets remain contested.

Pillar: Safety Risk Overrides Diplomatic Optics
Nuclear facilities impose hard limits on compromise.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Newsweek – “Why Zaporizhzhia Power Plant Could Nuke Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks”

• Reuters – “IAEA warns repeatedly of safety risks at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant”

~~~~~~~~~~

Asia in 2026: Conflict Continues to Dominate

U.S.–China rivalry and regional flashpoints signal prolonged instability

Overview

• Asia enters 2026 under the shadow of unresolved conflicts rather than renewed stability.

• The U.S.–China rivalry remains the dominant strategic force, shaping security, trade, and diplomacy.

• The Thailand–Cambodia conflict has emerged as a regional pressure point, reflecting great-power competition.

• ASEAN cohesion remains strained, limiting effective conflict resolution.

• Prolonged instability risks spillover into global economic and financial systems.

Key Developments

• The United States formally identified China as its foremost strategic competitor, reinforcing the Indo-Pacific as a primary theater of confrontation.

• Washington continues to apply pressure on Beijing to limit China’s ability to project power beyond Asia, including support for Russia.

• Concerns over Taiwan remain elevated, with analysts warning of potential Chinese military action.

• The Thailand–Cambodia dispute escalated in late 2025, resulting in temporary ceasefires that failed to produce durable agreements.

• Economic losses from regional instability already total billions of dollars, undermining growth across Southeast Asia.

• China is expanding its influence through infrastructure and Belt and Road projects, while the U.S. deepens engagement with key partners.

Why It Matters

Asia is no longer a backdrop to global power competition — it is one of its primary engines.

When regional disputes align with great-power rivalry, local conflicts take on global significance. The persistence of unresolved tensions in 2026 suggests a shift from episodic crises to structural instability, where economic growth, trade routes, and political alignment are increasingly subordinated to security concerns.

This environment raises the risk of miscalculation and escalation in a region central to global manufacturing and supply chains.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For currency holders, sustained instability in Asia carries systemic implications:

• Trade disruption affects export-driven economies, pressuring regional currencies.

• Capital flows become more selective, favoring perceived safe havens.

• Defense spending and supply-chain reshoring strain fiscal balances.

• Currency volatility increases when geopolitical risk becomes persistent rather than episodic.

In financial terms, prolonged conflict environments reprice risk over time, not overnight.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Multipolar Competition Is Structural
  Power rivalry now defines global alignment.

• Pillar: Regional Conflicts Accelerate Fragmentation
  Trade, finance, and settlement increasingly split along bloc lines.

As Asia’s stability erodes, global realignment accelerates quietly through trade rerouting, reserve diversification, and financial decoupling.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Modern Diplomacy – “Asia in 2026: Conflict Continues to Dominate”

• Reuters – “Taiwan stays on high alert as Chinese ships pull back after massive drills”

• Council on Foreign Relations – Asia and the Indo-Pacific Strategic Outlook

~~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

RV Facts with Proof Links Link

RV Updates Proof links - Facts Link

Follow the Gold/Silver Rate COMEX

Follow Fast Facts

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Thank you Dinar Recaps

VND Summary 2025 and 2026 Expectations

VND Summary 2025 and 2026 Expectations

Edu Matrix: 12-31-2025

As we approach 2025, investors are keenly watching the Vietnamese Dong (VND) to gauge its potential for growth and stability. In a recent video from Edu Matrix, Sandy Ingram provides a comprehensive overview of the VND’s outlook, sharing insights into her unique investment strategies and the factors influencing the currency’s performance.

 Here, we’ll delve into the key takeaways from the video and explore the opportunities and challenges facing VND investors.

Sandy Ingram begins by sharing her personal approach to investing, which involves purchasing foreign currencies during her travels. This strategy not only makes her travel expenses tax-deductible but also allows her to benefit from fluctuations in currency values against the US dollar.

While this may not be a conventional investment strategy, it highlights the potential for creative approaches to managing investments.

The video also touches on the channel’s investments in micro real estate loans, gold, and silver. These investments have provided steady returns and low default rates, underscoring the importance of diversification in a robust investment portfolio.

The core of the video focuses on the VND’s depreciation against the US dollar in 2025. This trend is driven by factors common to emerging markets, including interest rate differentials, global risk sentiment, and trade investment flows.

While the depreciation may seem concerning, Vietnam’s fundamentals remain solid, driven by its strong manufacturing sector, ambitious public investment plans, and steady foreign currency inflows.

The State Bank of Vietnam plays a crucial role in managing the VND’s volatility by maintaining a trading band. This approach helps to moderate fluctuations and ensure stability in the currency markets.

Looking ahead, a stronger VND is expected to emerge gradually, driven by factors such as lower US interest rates, a healthy external balance, and improved financial stability. While a sudden appreciation is unlikely, a gradual strengthening of the VND is anticipated.

For investors, the video concludes with a pragmatic recommendation: holding the VND is a viable strategy, as near-term fluctuations are likely, but long-term prospects remain positive. As with any investment, it’s essential to maintain a nuanced understanding of the market and be prepared for potential fluctuations.

The Vietnamese Dong’s investment outlook for 2025 and beyond is characterized by both challenges and opportunities. While the currency’s depreciation against the US dollar is a concern, Vietnam’s strong fundamentals and steady foreign currency inflows provide a solid foundation for long-term growth.

 By understanding the factors influencing the VND’s performance and maintaining a diversified investment portfolio, investors can navigate the complexities of this emerging market.

For further insights and information, be sure to watch the full video from Edu Matrix. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting out, staying informed about the VND’s outlook can help you make more informed investment decisions.

https://youtu.be/_jYBDh7lYlY

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Wednesday Afternoon 12-31-25

Happy New Years Eve Dinar Recaps,

CLARITY Act Advances — But Does It Gate the Global Reset?

Crypto regulation moves forward as markets wait — and misunderstand — the timeline

Overview

• The U.S. Senate Banking Committee has set January 15 as the markup date for the CLARITY Act.

• Bipartisan agreement is not yet confirmed, though negotiations appear to have narrowed.

• Crypto markets are betting the bill becomes law in the first half of the year, with April–May emerging as the realistic window.

• The CLARITY Act defines key digital asset and stablecoin parameters, increasing speculation it is required before broader financial restructuring.

• It is not a prerequisite for a global reset, but it is a synchronization milestone.

Key Developments

• Markup scheduled for January 15 signals the bill is moving procedurally after months of delay.

• Prior negotiations stalled over stablecoin yield limits, token classification, illicit finance controls, and ethics provisions.

• Bipartisan support remains essential to avoid delays similar to those faced by the GENIUS Act.

• Market odds currently price a 42% chance of passage before April and 69% before May.

• If passed, CLARITY would become the second major U.S. crypto framework law, expanding beyond the GENIUS Act.

Why It Matters

Regulatory clarity is not transformation — it is codification.

The CLARITY Act does not create new monetary systems; it legally defines how existing digital rails may operate inside the U.S. framework. Its importance lies in removing ambiguity for institutions, custodians, and issuers — not in triggering a reset event.

Delays are frustrating, but they reflect a deeper truth: the reset is structural, not legislative. Laws follow infrastructure, not the other way around.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For currency holders, the CLARITY Act matters because it formalizes how digital dollars and stablecoins are recognized, governed, and constrained within U.S. law.

However:

• Global settlement rails already exist

• Cross-border liquidity mechanisms are already operational

• Stablecoins already function internationally, regardless of U.S. statute

Currencies anchored to diversified reserves, interoperable rails, and trade access do not wait on U.S. legislative timing. The bill provides regulatory comfort, not monetary permission.

In reset terms: access beats authorization.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Law Codifies — It Does Not Create
  The reset is underway; legislation catches up later.

• Pillar: Stablecoins Are Rails, Not Currency
  Defining them does not delay value realignment.

• Pillar: Timing Frustration Is Structural Stress
  Transitional systems always feel “late” from inside the shift.

The CLARITY Act does not have to pass for a reset to occur. It simply aligns U.S. law with a system that is already evolving globally.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• CoinGape – “CLARITY Act Set to Advance as Senate Picks January 15 for Crypto Bill Markup”

• Kalshi – Crypto Legislation Market Odds

~~~~~~~~~~

Why Stablecoin Laws Don’t Trigger Resets

Regulation follows infrastructure — not the other way around

Overview

• Stablecoin legislation is often mistaken as a reset trigger, but it is not.

• Laws like CLARITY and GENIUS define rails, not value.

• Stablecoins already operate globally without U.S. statutory permission.

• Monetary resets are structural events, not legislative announcements.

• Regulatory clarity provides comfort — not ignition.

Key Developments

• Stablecoins are defined in law as payment instruments, not sovereign currency replacements.

• Global settlement using tokenized value already exists, regardless of U.S. bills.

• Central banks and institutions have already integrated digital rails into back-end systems.

• Legislative delays reflect political timing, not monetary readiness.

• Markets consistently misprice laws as triggers due to visibility bias.

Why It Matters

Stablecoin laws are about control and compliance, not transformation.

They clarify:

• Who may issue

• How reserves are held

• Which regulators oversee activity

They do not:

• Revalue currencies

• Activate new money

• Change purchasing power

• Trigger systemic resets

History shows that money systems shift first — laws are written afterward to legitimize what already works.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For currency holders, believing legislation triggers resets creates false timelines and unnecessary frustration.

Currencies reset when:

• Settlement trust shifts

• Trade access changes

• Liquidity pathways realign

None of those require U.S. Congressional approval.

Stablecoin laws simply ensure domestic alignment with global reality. They do not delay — nor enable — currency value changes.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Infrastructure Precedes Regulation
  Systems run before they are regulated.

• Pillar: Rails Are Not Value
  Stablecoins move money; they do not redefine it.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• CoinGape – “CLARITY Act Set to Advance as Senate Picks January 15 for Crypto Bill Markup”

• Bank for International Settlements – Annual Economic Report

• International Monetary Fund – Digital Money and Cross-Border Payments

~~~~~~~~~~

What Must Be in Place for a Currency Reset — and What Is Just Cosmetic

Separating structural readiness from surface noise

Overview

• Not everything labeled “important” is essential to a currency reset.

• Structural resets occur when settlement, liquidity, and trust align.

• Many high-profile events are cosmetic confirmations, not requirements.

• Understanding the difference prevents timeline fatigue.

• The reset is about access and interoperability, not headlines.

Key Developments

• Global payment rails are already interoperable (ISO-based messaging, real-time settlement).

• Bilateral and multilateral trade settlement frameworks are active outside dollar dependency.

• Reserve diversification is ongoing, including gold and commodity backing.

• Liquidity windows are pre-positioned, not announced.

• Legal frameworks are catching up, not leading.

What Actually Must Be in Place (Structural)

• Functional settlement rails across borders

• Liquidity availability at sovereign and institutional levels

• Trade access and counterpart trust

• Reserve credibility (diversified, auditable assets)

• Operational readiness inside banks and treasuries

These are already in motion or complete.

What Is Cosmetic (Not Required)

• ❌ Stablecoin bills passing

• ❌ Public announcements

• ❌ Media timelines

• ❌ Political consensus

• ❌ Retail-facing explanations

These follow the shift — they do not cause it.

Why It Matters

Confusing cosmetic milestones with structural readiness creates false delays.

Resets feel late because they are quiet by design. When systems change loudly, it is usually because they already have.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For holders, the danger is waiting for permission that is not required.

Currencies reprice when:

• Access changes

• Settlement routes shift

• Trust migrates

Those dynamics are invisible until they are irreversible.

In reset terms: by the time it’s explained, it’s done.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Access Is the Trigger
  Not laws. Not headlines.

• Pillar: Silence Signals Readiness
  Loud systems are unfinished ones.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Bank for International Settlements – Cross-Border Payments Roadmap

• International Monetary Fund – Reserve Diversification Reports

• World Economic Forum – Global Financial Infrastructure

~~~~~~~~~~

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