“Tidbits From TNT” Sunday 2-1-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Source: Al-Sudani, Al-Amiri, and Al-Mandalawi are visiting Erbil today, Sunday.

A high-level source in the Kurdistan Democratic Party revealed on Sunday (February 1, 2026) that there is intensive political activity to resolve the issue of the presidency, stressing adherence to the existing agreement with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and not going to break the understanding between the two parties.

The source told Baghdad Today in a special statement that “what has been agreed upon so far is not to cancel the existing agreement, and it is likely that tomorrow will witness a visit by Hadi al-Amiri, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and Acting Speaker of Parliament Mohsen al-Mandalawi to Erbil, to resolve the issue of the presidency with the Kurdistan Democratic Party, within the existing agreement with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.”

The source explained that "this visit is moving within the framework of coordination, which does not prefer that the Kurdish component bring two candidates, but rather one compromise candidate, in order to ensure ease in the appointment of the presidency and ease in completing the process of forming the next government," considering that "unifying the Kurdish position within the parliament will be a decisive factor in the session to elect the president and stabilize the political process in the next stage."

It is worth noting that the parliamentary session scheduled for today, Sunday (February 1, 2026), to elect the president of the republic is taking place amidst a clear political deadlock regarding the Kurdish issue.

This comes after weeks of dispute between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) over the presidential candidate, with multiple names still being put forward within the Kurdish political sphere.

 Meanwhile, the Coordination Framework prefers to resolve the issue with a single consensus candidate to ensure the stability of the new government formation process. This complexity, coupled with the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for prime minister and escalating regional and international pressure, has transformed the presidency from a largely ceremonial position into an additional political hurdle requiring a comprehensive settlement among Shia, Kurdish, and Sunni forces alike.  link

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Tishwash:  An economist reveals urgent solutions to address the financial crisis and secure employee salaries.

Economic expert Ahmed Al-Tamimi revealed today, Saturday (January 31, 2026), a number of urgent solutions required to confront the financial crisis that Iraq is going through, and to ensure the regular disbursement of employee salaries.

Al-Tamimi said in a press statement that “the current financial crisis, which has directly impacted the delay in releasing employee salaries, requires immediate government measures and real structural reforms to prevent it from worsening in the coming period.”

He explained that “the delay in salaries is not only due to the decline in cash liquidity, but is the result of accumulations that have continued for years, due to the almost complete dependence on oil revenues, in contrast to the weak diversification of income sources and the decline in non-oil revenues.”

He added that “continuing this approach will increase pressure on the general budget, unless action is taken quickly to rearrange spending priorities, control operating expenses, and secure employee salaries as a top priority to maintain social stability.”

Al-Tamimi pointed out that “among the urgent solutions is activating the tools of fiscal policy in coordination with the Central Bank, improving liquidity management in government banks, as well as accelerating the reform of the tax system and expanding the collection base, in a way that does not burden those with limited income.”

He stressed that “confronting the current crisis requires a clear political will to combat waste and financial corruption, enhance transparency in the management of public funds, and support productive sectors, especially industry and agriculture, to alleviate pressure on the public treasury and create sustainable financial resources.”

Al-Tamimi concluded his remarks by stressing that “any further delay in addressing the issues will exacerbate the repercussions of the crisis,” calling on the government to take swift and well-considered decisions that ensure the regular disbursement of salaries and restore confidence in the state’s financial situation.

The country is currently experiencing increasing financial pressures that have affected the salaries of employees in a number of government institutions, amid challenges related to declining liquidity and the general budget's heavy reliance on oil revenues.

These developments come at a time when calls are mounting for urgent financial and structural reforms to ensure economic stability and secure the state’s basic obligations, foremost among them employee salaries.  link

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Tishwash:  Explosions rocked several Iranian cities: What are the reasons? Authorities explain 

Iranian authorities announced that the sounds and explosions heard on Saturday in the cities of Qasr-e Shirin, Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, and southern Tehran were due to different and unrelated causes.

The authorities confirmed that these explosions are not related to any exceptional security developments, and that the general situation is stable.

Local sources in Qasr-e Shirin, in the west of the country, reported that the loud sounds heard this morning were the result of pre-planned military maneuvers and exercises carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, as part of periodic programs aimed at raising the level of combat readiness.

She confirmed that these exercises ended according to the schedule, and that the situation in the city is completely normal and does not warrant concern.

In the southwestern city of Ahvaz, the head of the city's fire and safety services organization announced that an explosion occurred inside a residential complex in the Kianshahr area, as a result of a gas leak, killing four people.

He explained that emergency teams rushed immediately to the scene of the incident to control it and secure the area, and the competent authorities began investigating its circumstances.

In Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan province in southern Iran, the province's Director General of Crisis Management, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, explained that the loud noise reported in some parts of the city was caused by an incident inside a residential building on Moallem Street, stressing that the incident had no security implications.

He added that ambulance and fire crews began relief work immediately upon receiving the report.

The authorities urged citizens not to be swayed by rumors and to obtain information from official sources, stressing that the safety of citizens is a priority and that the relevant authorities are monitoring all incidents in accordance with the approved legal and procedural frameworks.

Iranian authorities have denied any security or military incidents in the cities of Parand and Rabat Karim, southwest of Tehran, after reports circulated of explosions being heard and heavy smoke seen in some areas.

The administrative official of Rabat Karim, Reza Aghaali Khani, explained in an official statement that the rising smoke was not caused by any security or military incident, indicating that its source was due to fires that broke out in dry reed plants on the banks of the Shur River.

The official added that such fires sometimes occur as a result of negligence or the actions of some unknown people, and that the authorities are closely monitoring the situation and taking precautionary measures to prevent the recurrence of such fires and to protect the environment.

Meanwhile, the public relations department of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied on Saturday claims of the assassination of naval commander Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri.

In the same context, the Revolutionary Guard's naval force denied what was being circulated regarding its headquarters in Hormozgan province being attacked by a drone, stressing that none of the force's buildings were destroyed, and that the news published in this context is baseless.

The Public Relations Department of the Revolutionary Guard explained that the methodology of spreading rumors followed by the “Terror Alarm” account in security and military issues has known precedents, considering that the aforementioned Israeli account works as an operational arm of the Mossad, within the framework of psychological warfare.

She pointed out that the same account had previously claimed the assassination of Quds Force commander Brigadier General Ismail Qaani, which proved to be false.

The Guard noted that “given the psychological operation being carried out by Trump, the dissemination of assassination rumors by Terror Alarm takes on greater significance.”

This comes amid the US threat to launch an attack on Iran, which Tehran insists will be met with an unprecedented response.  link

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Mot: Being the Designated Driver is Great !!! 

Mot: As We Move Forward!!!! 

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

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

A ‘Republican New Deal’ Signals Regime Change at the Federal Reserve

Trump’s Fed pick and Hamiltonian revival point to a production-first economic reset.

 Overview

• President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Worsh to the Federal Reserve is being framed as a fundamental shift away from Wall Street–driven monetary policy.

• Administration officials argue the Fed has suppressed growth to protect financial markets at the expense of workers.

• A renewed emphasis on tariffs, industrial policy, and Treasury authority echoes Alexander Hamilton’s “American System.”

• Manufacturing investment and domestic production are cited as early evidence of a structural economic shift.

Key Developments

1. Kevin Worsh Nomination Signals ‘Regime Change’ at the Fed
Kevin Worsh, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, has openly criticized the central bank’s role in asset inflation, emergency bailouts, and money creation. He rejects the long-held assumption that higher wages cause inflation, instead placing blame on excessive liquidity and Wall Street rescues. Worsh has called for restoring the Fed to a narrower mandate and shifting crisis intervention back to the Treasury.

2. Treasury–Fed Power Balance Moves Toward Fiscal Authority
Worsh and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are aligned in arguing that the Federal Reserve has exceeded its historical role by acting as a capital allocator and de facto fiscal authority. Both support returning responsibility for emergency lending and capital deployment to the Treasury, reviving the constitutional balance envisioned in early U.S. economic policy.

3. Hamiltonian Economics Revived on the Global Stage
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, U.S. Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer explicitly invoked Alexander Hamilton’s Report on Manufactures, advocating tariffs, subsidies, and industrial protection to secure economic sovereignty. The speech challenged globalization and signaled a return to national development strategies over transnational financial integration.

4. Manufacturing Investment Accelerates Across the U.S.
Administration officials cite approximately $18 trillion in announced domestic and foreign investment tied to tariffs, deregulation, and reshoring incentives. Reported developments include expanded steel production, new heavy equipment plants, revived critical-materials processing, and factory restarts not seen in decades. These projects are presented as evidence that production, not financial speculation, is driving growth.

Why It Matters

This shift reframes economic success away from asset prices and toward wages, output, and industrial capacity. If sustained, it represents a break from four decades of finance-led growth and central-bank dominance, replacing it with a production-centered national economic strategy.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Structural changes in U.S. monetary and fiscal policy affect global liquidity, reserve currency dynamics, and capital flows. A reduced role for Federal Reserve emergency intervention and a greater reliance on Treasury-led growth may:

• Alter global demand for dollars

• Pressure existing debt and currency relationships

• Precede broader realignments in exchange rates and valuation mechanisms

Such transitions historically accompany periods of monetary reset.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Central Banking Power Is Being Reined In
The proposed shift limits the Fed’s ability to support global markets during crises, forcing nations and institutions to adjust to a less interventionist dollar system.

Pillar 2: Production Replaces Financialization
By prioritizing manufacturing, infrastructure, and wages, the U.S. model moves closer to a multipolar economic framework where value is tied to output rather than leverage.

Closing Insight

This is not an argument over interest rates — it is a struggle over who controls economic destiny.

This is not just policy reform — it is an attempt to restore the American System in a post-globalization world.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Youtube -- "Trump vs. Wall Street: The "Republican New Deal" Begins"

• Promethean Action

• Transcript and remarks from U.S. administration officials, cabinet meeting statements, and public speeches referenced in the provided material

• World Economic Forum (Davos) remarks by U.S. Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer on Hamiltonian economic principles

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The New Colonialism: Energy, Minerals, and the Return of Resource Empire

Rare earths, green energy, and financial leverage revive old imperial dynamics under modern disguise.

Overview

• Colonialism has not disappeared but evolved into subtler forms centered on resource extraction, finance, and technology.

• The global shift toward green energy and advanced weapons has intensified competition for rare minerals.

• Resource-rich nations remain economically constrained despite vast natural wealth.

• Financial systems, debt structures, and processing chokepoints reinforce modern dependency.

Key Developments

1. From Fossil Fuels to Rare Minerals
While 20th-century geopolitics revolved around oil and hydrocarbons, the 21st century is defined by competition over lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements. These minerals are essential for renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, digital technology, and modern weapons. Control over these inputs increasingly determines industrial competitiveness and geopolitical power.

2. The Persistence of the ‘Resource Curse’
Countries holding the largest mineral reserves — including Congo, Chile, and Indonesia — remain among the poorest globally. This paradox is often attributed to currency distortion, overreliance on commodity exports, and weak diversification. However, historical and structural factors reveal deeper causes rooted in foreign ownership, external political interference, and enforced dependency.

3. Financial and Monetary Levers Replace Direct Rule
Modern resource dominance is maintained through conditional lending, debt dependency, and monetary subordination. IMF and World Bank programs often require austerity, privatization, and trade liberalization, limiting domestic industrial development. Dollar- and euro-based pricing systems further expose resource economies to external interest rate shocks and currency instability.

4. Processing Bottlenecks Create New Imperial Chokepoints
Even where extraction occurs locally, processing remains concentrated elsewhere. China dominates rare mineral refining, battery manufacturing, and component supply chains, allowing it to control prices and availability. These industrial chokepoints function much like colonial ports once did — determining who can participate competitively in global markets.

5. Geopolitical Realignment Through ‘Friend-Shoring’
Supply chains increasingly double as security alliances. Western nations pursue strategic resource partnerships to counter Chinese dominance, while sanctions and selective relief are used as bargaining tools. Resource-rich nations are pressured to align with competing power blocs, trading sovereignty for market access and financial survival.

Why It Matters

The green transition and digital economy depend on uninterrupted access to strategic minerals. Without structural reform, the pursuit of sustainability risks entrenching a new form of imperial extraction — one that replaces armies with contracts, and colonies with balance sheets.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Resource control and processing dominance shape currency strength, trade balances, and long-term valuation. Nations unable to control extraction or processing face:

• Persistent trade deficits

• Chronic currency weakness

• External debt dependence

These dynamics often precede currency realignments, debt restructuring, or broader monetary resets as systems strain under structural imbalance.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Resource Sovereignty as Monetary Power
Control over energy and minerals increasingly underpins currency credibility and national economic independence.

Pillar 2: Multipolar Competition Replaces Globalization
As supply chains fragment into rival blocs, the post-Cold War globalization model gives way to strategic nationalism and managed trade — hallmarks of a systemic reset.

Closing Insight

Empire did not vanish — it adapted.

This is not just a struggle for minerals — it is a battle over sovereignty, currency power, and who controls the future of the global economy.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Modern Diplomacy — The New Colonialism: Energy, Minerals, and the Return of Resource Empire

• World Bank — Minerals for Climate Action: The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition

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🌱 A Message to Our Currency Holders🌱

If you’ve been holding foreign currency for many years, you were not foolish.
You were not wrong to believe the global financial system would change.

What failed was not your patience — it was the information you were given.

For years, dates, rumors, and personalities replaced facts, structure, and proof. “This week” predictions created cycles of hope and disappointment that were never based on how currencies actually change.

That is not your failure.

Our mission here is different:   • No dates • No rates • No hype • No gurus

Instead, we focus on:
• Verifiable developments • Institutional evidence
• Global financial structure • Where countries actually sit in the process

Currency value changes only come after sovereignty, trade, banking, settlement systems, and fiscal coordination are in place. History and institutions confirm this sequence.

You will see silence. You will see denials. That is not delay — that is discipline.

Protect your identity. Organize your documents.       Verify everything.
Never hand your discernment to anyone who cannot show proof.

You deserve truth — not timelines.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News

~~~~~~~~~~

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Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Sunday Morning 2-1-26

Parliamentary Confirmation Of The Need To Postpone Economic Decisions Until The Formation Of The Next Government.

Money and Business   Economy News – Baghdad   Amid escalating controversy over recent decisions regarding financial deductions or tax additions, several members of the House of Representatives affirmed that the current government, as a caretaker government, is constitutionally restricted and does not have the authority to make decisions with a direct economic impact on citizens' livelihoods. While they stressed that the economic reform file and the approval of the 2026 budget are among the priorities of the next government, they indicated that there is no real financial crisis.

In this context, MP Ghaith Al-Kalabi, from the Al-Asas bloc, said that “the decisions issued by the Economic Ministerial Council are not within the powers of a caretaker government, which is a government that must be bound by the laws and legislation in force, with the need to take into account the living conditions of citizens,” considering that some of these decisions are a constitutional violation, according to the MP.

 Al-Kalabi explained that the current government is constitutionally restricted and unable to take financial measures or make significant economic changes, and does not have the legal authority to infringe upon citizens' living or educational rights. He indicated that the House of Representatives represents the constitution and will not allow the powers or acquired rights of citizens to be taken away, stressing full solidarity with the people's demands.

 The MP rejected the notion of using citizens as a means to address economic shortcomings, stating that Parliament categorically rejects these decisions and calls for waiting until the new government is formed to assess the economic situation, particularly regarding the approval of the 2026 budget.

He emphasized that there is no genuine financial crisis. Al-Kalabi further explained that a large segment of the population faces real financial obligations, including loans, the need for treatment for chronic illnesses, and reliance on private hospitals. This makes these decisions unacceptable under the current circumstances, and he called for postponing any economic measures until the new government officially assumes its duties.

 For his part, MP Haider Ali, representing the Faili Kurds, affirmed that “the selection of the President of the Republic in today’s session will contribute to accelerating the formation of the new government,” indicating that “the next government will begin its work and implement its government program, which will focus primarily on economic reforms and addressing financial issues, foremost among them the 2026 budget.”

 For his part, MP Hussein Al-Batat said that this session will see a clear focus on a number of important aspects, most notably adherence to the timelines for forming parliamentary committees and selecting their chairpersons, as the formation of committees represents the actual launch of the work of the House of Representatives.

Al-Batat added that a proposal has been submitted stipulating that an MP should be a member of only one committee, in accordance with their area of ​​expertise, noting that this measure would serve the public interest and focus efforts on a specific area.

 He explained that one of the important issues that should be placed on the agenda of the sixth session of the House of Representatives is the issue of recording the attendance and absence of representatives, especially during the sessions in which laws are voted on, and the necessity of their remaining until the end of the session, as their absence leads to the lack of a quorum and the postponement of the approval of laws, stressing the need to address this problem during the current session.    https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=65201

The Central Bank Of Iran Is Distributing The 500,000 Toman Note Through The Banking Network, Featuring 11 Security Features.

Banks   Economy News — Follow-up   The Central Bank of Iran announced that the distribution of the 500,000 toman note (equivalent to 5 million rials), which was printed in advance, will begin in the banking network starting from February 1, 2026.

This step comes within the framework of managing and regulating cash transactions and facilitating financial transactions, with the aim of speeding up the completion of cash transactions, as the Central Bank has begun distributing this new category in banks within the banking network in the country.   https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=65213

German Central Bank Warns Of Risks To The Dollar’s Global Status

The German central bank has warned that the US dollar’s position as the world’s reserve currency could come under question as early as this year.

According to the annual report of Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), the dollar may face funding pressures, geopolitical shocks, and the growing politicization of institutions. The report expressed concern about the risk of liquidity shortages stemming from geopolitical tensions, describing this as a particularly serious threat.

BaFin Chairman Mark Branson stated, “There remains a risk that markets may begin to question the US dollar’s role as the world’s reserve currency.”

He warned that radical attempts to politicize institutions could undermine the effectiveness of international cooperation, especially during economic or financial crises.

This warning follows the dollar’s worst single-day decline in nearly a year. The dollar index, which measures the currency’s performance against a basket of major peers, recorded its sharpest drop since last April on Tuesday.

The decline came after US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping global tariff agenda https://ina.iq/en/economy/45158-german-central-bank-warns-of-risks-to-the-dollars-global-status.html

Dollar Faces Weekly Loss As Geopolitical Tensions Weigh On Markets

The dollar is headed for its second consecutive weekly loss on Friday as global tensions escalate and pressure on U.S. assets increases.

Tariff threats on countries that trade oil with Cuba have heightened international uncertainty, weakening demand for U.S. assets and contributing to downward pressure on the dollar. The White House announced that President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba, adding to recent geopolitical strains involving Iran, Venezuela, Greenland, and Europe.

Reports that Trump is considering potential strikes against Iran have driven up oil prices, adding further pressure on the dollar index (DXY).

Meanwhile, a bipartisan Senate agreement has offered some hope of averting a partial U.S. government shutdown, and Japanese data showed that inflation in Tokyo slowed but remained within the central bank’s target range.

The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency against a basket of other major currencies, rose 0.2% to 96.35, trimming its weekly decline to about 1.1%.

In currency markets, the euro fell 0.2% to $1.194, the yen weakened 0.17% to 153.39 against the dollar, and the pound sterling slipped 0.1% to $1.3791. https://ina.iq/en/economy/45153-dollar-faces-weekly-loss-as-geopolitical-tensions-weigh-on-markets.html   

Gold And Silver Plunge Sharply In Global Markets

Precious metal prices declined sharply in global markets during spot trading on Friday, with gold falling by more than 8% to drop below $5,000 an ounce.

Silver also recorded a steep decline, plunging by more than 20% in spot trading to below $90 an ounce, marking one of its largest single-day drops in recent years.

The sell-off comes amid heightened volatility in global markets, driven by shifts in investor demand and broader financial market movements.   https://ina.iq/en/economy/45159-gold-and-silver-plunge-sharply-in-global-markets.html

Oil Prices Fall More Than 1%

Oil prices fell by more than 1% on Friday, retreating from multi-month highs, although they remained on track for their strongest gains in years as risk premiums rose on concerns that a potential U.S. attack on Iran could disrupt supplies.

Brent crude futures fell 91 cents to $69.80 a barrel, after settling up 3.4% in the previous session at their highest level since July 31. The March contract expires later on Friday, while the more actively traded April contract slipped $1.07 to $68.52 a barrel.  Source: Al Arabiya  https://ina.iq/en/economy/45150-oil-prices-fall-more-than-1.html

Weekly Crude Prices Edge 5% Higher Amid Geopolitical Risks, US Supply Disruptions

Oil prices are on track for a weekly gain on Friday, supported by escalating geopolitical tensions, severe weather-related supply disruptions in the US and heightened uncertainty surrounding sanctions and trade policy, although the rally lost momentum toward the end of the week as fresh supply prospects capped further upside.

International benchmark Brent crude traded at $68.53 per barrel at 2.46 p.m. local time (1146 GMT), up 4.8% from last Friday's close of $65.40.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 5.1% to $64.33 per barrel, compared with $61.20 a week earlier.

The main driver of the rise was the sharp escalation in geopolitical risks centered on the Middle East. Tensions between the US and Iran significantly lifted risk premiums, as Washington's increasingly aggressive rhetoric and the deployment of US naval assets raised fears of potential supply disruptions.

Iran's pledge to respond forcefully to any attack, combined with its role as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) fourth-largest producer, kept markets focused on the risk of disruptions to regional oil flows throughout the week.

Ongoing coordination between US and Israeli military officials further reinforced perceptions of rising regional instability.

Prices also found strong support from supply disruptions in the US, where extreme cold weather severely curtailed crude production, refinery operations and exports, particularly along the Gulf Coast.

The National Weather Service reported snow depths exceeding 50 centimeters in parts of the country, while wind chill temperatures plunged to as low as minus 31 degrees Celsius, highlighting the severity of the cold wave. Adverse weather conditions brought crude oil exports from the US Gulf Coast close to a standstill, tightening near-term supply.

Market estimates indicated that around 2 million barrels per day of oil supply were temporarily taken offline over the weekend.

Officials warned that the cold wave, affecting roughly two-thirds of the US, could persist in the coming days, raising concerns that supply disruptions may last longer than initially anticipated.

These outages were reflected in falling inventories, with data from the US Energy Information Administration showing that commercial crude oil stocks declined by about 2.3 million barrels last week, reinforcing expectations of a tighter market in the world's largest oil-consuming country.

Monetary policy developments further supported the market. Comments suggesting that progress in the US fight against inflation has been uneven kept expectations for policy easing alive.

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate steady at 3.5%-3.75% at its first Federal Open Market Committee meeting of the year, in a decision approved by a 10-2 vote.

Expectations that lower interest rates later in the year could stimulate economic activity continued to underpin oil demand.

Geopolitical risks were also influenced by Washington's latest sanctions move targeting Cuba. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency and authorizing tariffs on countries supplying oil to the island, a step intended to protect US national security and foreign policy interests by restricting energy flows to Havana, which has already faced critical shortages due to halted Venezuelan shipments and a suspension of Mexican deliveries.

This escalation lifted geopolitical risk premiums and added upward support to prices.

However, markets also weighed the potential impact of these tariffs on global economic activity, with analysts warning that heightened trade barriers could dampen growth and weaken oil demand, exerting downward pressure on prices.

China's public rejection of the tariffs and its support for Cuba further underscored broader geopolitical and trade frictions, creating mixed signals for oil markets.

Gains were also capped by mounting expectations of rising supply, particularly from Venezuela.

Venezuelan lawmakers enacted sweeping reforms to the country's hydrocarbon laws, significantly reducing the state's oil monopoly and opening the sector to greater private and foreign participation. The reform lowers taxes and royalties, grants private producers operational autonomy and allows disputes to be settled in international or US courts.

On the same day the law was signed, the US Treasury Department issued a general license easing several sanctions on Venezuelan crude, allowing US companies to lift, transport and refine Venezuelan-origin oil. These developments reinforced expectations of increased Venezuelan output over time, easing near-term supply concerns.

Additional pressure came from progress toward restarting production at Kazakhstan's Tengiz field and the normalization of export capacity through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. Strong non-OPEC supply growth continued to weigh on the medium-term outlook, fueling concerns that global oil markets could slip into surplus later in the year.

Lingering uncertainty over US trade policy and the absence of any expected changes to production levels at the upcoming OPEC+ meeting also limited upside momentum, prompting some profit-taking toward the end of the week despite sustained geopolitical risks.

SOURCE: Anadolu Agency  https://ina.iq/en/economy/45168-weekly-crude-prices-edge-5-higher-amid-geopolitical-risks-us-supply-disruptions.html 

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Saturday Afternoon 1-31-26

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

BRICS Quietly Rewrites the Plumbing of Global Money

CBDC settlement corridors signal a structural shift away from dollar-dominated rails — without forming a single currency. 

Overview

• BRICS nations are advancing cross-border payment settlement systems using CBDCs and blockchain-based platforms.

• India is emerging as a central architect through the RBI’s push for CBDC interoperability.

• The strategy avoids a shared BRICS currency while reducing reliance on SWIFT and Western financial infrastructure.

• Capital controls remain embedded by design, reinforcing sovereign monetary authority.

Key Developments

1. RBI Pushes BRICS CBDC Settlement to the 2026 Agenda
India’s Reserve Bank has formally urged that BRICS payment settlement frameworks be prioritized at the 2026 summit. Officials emphasize resilience, cost efficiency, and strategic autonomy rather than overt de-dollarization. The RBI has positioned CBDC-enabled payment corridors as the only viable solution to slow, expensive cross-border settlement systems that still dominate global trade.

2. mBridge Model Shapes the Architecture — Without Monetary Union
BRICS payment infrastructure mirrors the BIS Innovation Hub’s mBridge design. Domestic CBDC ledgers remain sovereign and ring-fenced, while a neutral bridge layer enables payment-versus-payment foreign exchange settlement. This structure eliminates settlement risk while deliberately avoiding a supranational currency, shared reserves, or pooled monetary authority.

3. De-Swifting Progress Confirmed by BRICS Officials
At the July 2025 Rio Summit, Belarus and other participants confirmed support for a multi-level settlement system integrating innovative payment instruments with security safeguards. While full replacement of SWIFT is not imminent, secure links between Russia’s SPFS and partner systems are progressing incrementally, signaling a clear long-term trajectory.

4. Capital Controls Are Embedded by Design
India’s e-rupee remains a direct RBI liability, and its lack of full capital-account convertibility shapes the system’s limits. CBDC corridors are expected to permit non-resident access only within tightly defined parameters. Offshore circulation of the e-rupee is explicitly assumed to be prohibited, reinforcing sovereign control even as interoperability expands.

Why It Matters

Global finance is shifting from currency dominance to infrastructure dominance. Control over settlement rails — not just reserve status — determines who sets the rules of trade, liquidity, and sanctions enforcement. BRICS is not attempting a sudden dollar replacement; instead, it is quietly building parallel rails that reduce dependency on Western-controlled systems over time.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For those holding foreign currencies in anticipation of revaluation, these developments signal structural preparation rather than headline announcements. CBDC settlement corridors provide the technical foundation for future currency realignments by:

• Enabling direct settlement between sovereign currencies

• Reducing friction that suppresses true market valuation

• Allowing controlled liquidity release when political conditions align

Infrastructure always comes before repricing.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Settlement Infrastructure Comes First
Before currencies can revalue, they must move efficiently, securely, and independently. BRICS CBDC corridors address this prerequisite directly.

Pillar 2: Sovereignty Without Chaos
By rejecting a shared currency and embedding capital controls, BRICS nations preserve domestic stability while still participating in a multipolar settlement environment — a critical balance for any global reset scenario.

Closing Insight

This is not a rebellion against the dollar — it is an exit from dependence.

This is not just monetary innovation — it is the slow, deliberate rewiring of global finance beneath the surface.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Watcher.Guru — The BRICS Settlement Push and Its Monetary Consequences

• Bank for International Settlements — mBridge Project Overview

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Europe Eyes Its Crisis War Chest for Defense

ESM’s €500 billion fund may be repurposed as Europe retools security financing amid geopolitical strain.

Overview

• The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is considering using its €430+ billion crisis fund to finance defense spending.

• ESM Managing Director Pierre Gramegna proposed low-stigma credit lines without harsh reform conditions.

• The move reflects Europe’s shifting security posture following the Ukraine war and evolving U.S.–EU relations.

• Smaller euro zone nations, especially near Russia, could benefit most from the proposal.

Key Developments

1. ESM Crisis Fund Repositioned for Defense Financing
Pierre Gramegna confirmed that the ESM’s unused lending capacity — originally designed to stabilize economies during the euro zone debt crisis — could be redirected to provide defense loans. The fund currently holds more than €430 billion in firepower, giving Europe a ready-made financing tool at a time of rapidly rising military expenditures.

2. Loans Without Austerity Conditions
Unlike past ESM rescue programs, Gramegna emphasized that defense-related credit lines would not require strict economic reforms. This approach aims to eliminate the political stigma traditionally associated with ESM assistance, making it easier for financially stable but budget-constrained countries to seek support.

3. Security Pressures Drive Policy Rethink
Gramegna cited Europe’s changing relationship with the United States and heightened threats from Russia as catalysts for rethinking defense funding. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European governments — particularly in the Baltics — have sharply increased defense spending, straining national budgets and exposing limits of existing EU fiscal frameworks.

4. Structural and Political Hurdles Remain
Any deployment of ESM funds would require approval from member states and policy shifts, particularly from Germany. The ESM was not designed for frequent use, and loans would be limited to euro zone members, excluding countries such as Poland. Still, Gramegna suggested that joint applications could further reduce stigma and accelerate adoption.

Why It Matters

Europe is quietly transforming financial crisis tools into permanent strategic instruments. Using the ESM for defense blurs the line between fiscal stabilization and security policy, signaling a future where financial architecture is mobilized to support geopolitical objectives — not just economic emergencies.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For currency holders watching global realignment, this move reinforces a key pattern: sovereign debt mechanisms are being retooled ahead of monetary repricing. Defense-backed credit expansion:

• Alters sovereign risk profiles

• Pressures existing debt ceilings

• Increases the likelihood of future fiscal and monetary restructuring

Such shifts historically precede currency resets, revaluations, or system-wide policy overhauls.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Crisis Tools Become Permanent Infrastructure
The ESM’s evolution mirrors a broader trend where “emergency” mechanisms quietly become standing facilities within a restructured global financial system.

Pillar 2: Defense, Debt, and Currency Are Converging
As defense spending is increasingly financed through supranational mechanisms, national currencies become more tightly linked to collective fiscal policy — a prerequisite for deeper monetary realignment in Europe.

Closing Insight

What began as a bailout fund may soon function as Europe’s defense bank.

This is not just military financing — it is financial architecture adapting to a multipolar world.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Modern Diplomacy — ESM Chief Proposes Using €500 Billion Crisis Fund for European Defense

• Reuters — Europe’s bailout fund could help finance defense spending, ESM chief says

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Zelensky Pitches Bigger Truce Than Trump’s Winter Energy Ceasefire

Kyiv offers a broader pause in Russia-Ukraine hostilities as severe winter hardships mount and Washington claims a short energy-sector halt.

Overview

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a more expansive truce to Moscow than the limited pause U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia had agreed to on energy infrastructure.

• Trump announced that Putin had agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid for about a week during severe cold, though Kyiv did not confirm an official ceasefire.

• Zelensky insists on a longer and more substantive-limited truce — ideally a 30-day unconditional pause — rejecting short “theatrical” proposals that lack credibility.

• Russia’s leadership has floated brief pauses tied to festive dates or limited targets, but Ukraine and its allies are pushing for broader and enforceable terms.

Key Developments

1. Zelensky Offers Broader Conditions for Peaceful Pause
According to reporting, Zelensky publicly framed a truce proposal that goes beyond Trump’s announcement regarding energy-sector strikes. He framed this offer as an “opportunity, not an agreement,” while affirming that if Russia ceases attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukraine will reciprocate in kind.

2. Trump’s Claimed Window Reflects Extreme Humanitarian Pressures
President Trump publicly stated that Putin had agreed to a brief pause on attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure — a gesture timed with frigid winter conditions that are worsening civilian hardship. Russia had not officially confirmed the ceasefire at the time of reporting.

3. Zelensky Rejects Short “Theatrical” Truces — Pushes 30-Day Model
Earlier reporting shows that Zelensky dismissed Russia’s three-day ceasefire proposal as insincere and insufficient, while supporting a 30-day ceasefire framework aligned with the U.S.’s model of a longer unconditional pause.

4. Trust Deficit in Temporary Ceasefires Remains High
Ukraine’s leadership has expressed skepticism toward brief pauses offered by Moscow, citing a history of violations. Kyiv and Western partners argue that short truce windows can be exploited and do not create substantive progress toward peace.

Why It Matters

The conflict’s humanitarian dimension — especially during winter darkness and extreme cold — adds urgency to ceasefire negotiations. A broader truce proposal from Kyiv signals Helsinki-style pragmatism aimed at relieving civilian suffering while pressing Moscow on enforceable terms. It also highlights a growing diplomatic rift between Ukraine’s approach and external mediators’ limited-scope proposals.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Large geopolitical conflicts with shifting negotiation dynamics affect global risk sentiment, safe-haven demand, and sovereign debt pricing across regions. Major shifts in war-pause negotiations can influence:

• Market volatility and FX safe-haven flows

• Risk premia on European and emerging markets assets

• Long-term capital repositioning toward defense-heavy government spending

These macro pressures often precede structural reset narratives in global capital markets.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: War Diplomacy as Financial Centrality
Peace negotiations and their framing influence investor confidence and fiscal burden sharing — both of which are vital inputs to any paradigm shift in monetary regimes.

Pillar 2: Geopolitical Risk Repricing
Unresolved conflicts create persistent risk premia. Moves toward a credible ceasefire reduce risk spreads — a necessary precursor for stable currency and debt repricing.

Closing Insight

What appears on the surface as a humanitarian pause in hostilities is actually a strategic recalibration of diplomatic leverage — with Kyiv pushing for substantive terms while external actors weigh political and military realities.

This is not just a ceasefire proposal — it is a test of political credibility in wartime negotiations.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Zelenskyy rejects Russia’s 3-day ceasefire proposal and backs a 30-day plan (Euronews/AP)

• Ukraine rejects short “theatrical” ceasefires and backs U.S. model ceasefire terms (Kyiv Independent)

~~~~~~~~~~

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Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Saturday Afternoon 1-31-26

 An Economic Expert Reveals A Roadmap For Freeing Iraqi Funds From The Grip Of The US Federal Reserve.

Money and Business    Economy News – Baghdad   On Friday, economist Nabil Al-Marousmi revealed several solutions and proposals to free Iraqi funds from the control of the US Federal Reserve. 

 Al-Marsoumi said in a post followed by “Al-Ahd News”: “The United States has effectively controlled Iraqi oil revenues since 2003 through its management via the Federal Reserve. The United Nations had provided legal protection for these funds under Resolution 1483, until it was terminated in 2011, following the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1956.”

He added that "the US president issued Executive Order 13303 to protect Iraqi funds, an order that remains in effect today despite some amendments." He explained that "the objectives of US protection of Iraqi funds are to safeguard them from compensation claims by companies and individuals, as well as to prevent the seizure of Iraqi assets in cases filed since the 1990s.

" He emphasized that "despite the expiration of many of the legal reasons that necessitated this financial arrangement, Iraq remains subject to strict financial oversight by Washington, which differs from the usual procedures in the international banking system."

 Al-Marsoumi pointed out that “most oil-producing countries deposit their money in the US Federal Reserve because oil is sold in dollars, but Iraq suffers from complete dependence on oil revenues without alternative resources,” explaining that “this means that the problem is not in depositing money with the US Federal Reserve, but rather in the restrictions imposed on the ability to dispose of it freely, unlike what other countries enjoy.”

 He continued: “It is known that there are cases filed against Iraq by dozens or hundreds of companies that were harmed by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, and representatives of Iraq did not attend the court sessions at the time to defend or reduce the compensations, and therefore the courts issued default judgments for very high amounts.”

 He noted that “linking the issue of protecting Iraqi funds from prosecution to America gives Washington great influence over Baghdad, and resolving the crisis requires a political decision, as happened with Greece and Argentina, by employing a reputable law firm that is given full powers, whose task will be to accurately inventory the cases filed against Iraq and how much money has been awarded in judgments.”

 Al-Marsoumi concluded that “Iraq is unable to resort to the courts because the judgments have become final, so a deal can be reached with the beneficiaries to drop the lawsuits in exchange for giving them a percentage of the money, which is called buying the debts, and most likely they will accept because they will get money instead of waiting and possibly not getting anything.”     https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=65137

Why Is Gold Jumping To Record Levels As The US Dollar Falls?

Money and Business   Economy News - Follow-up   Gold prices recorded a sharp and unprecedented jump, exceeding the level of $5,600 per ounce, after a daily rise of more than $300, in one of the most violent price movements in global markets, coinciding with the decline of the US dollar to its lowest levels in about 4 years.

This remarkable rise came after statements by US President Donald Trump in which he expressed his satisfaction with the decline in the value of the dollar, which the markets interpreted as a clear indication that the current US administration prefers the currency to remain weak, prompting investors to intensify their bets on gold as a safe haven.

Historical Inverse Relationship Between Gold And The Dollar

Historical data shows a clear inverse relationship between gold and the US dollar, as the precious metal is priced globally in dollars. This means that a decline in the value of the US currency against major currencies makes gold less expensive for holders of other currencies, which leads to an increase in global demand for it, and consequently, higher prices.

 According to market traders, the recent upward surge was not solely due to technical factors, but was driven by a change in political and monetary expectations regarding the future of the dollar.

 Political Messages Reshape Market Expectations

Analysts believe that Trump’s statements carried indirect messages to the markets, indicating that the White House does not see a strong dollar as a priority at the present stage, but rather believes that a weak currency may serve economic and trade objectives, especially in light of the escalating competition with China.

Trump had indicated in his statements that rival countries, especially China, deliberately devalue their currencies, making trade competition unfair, which was understood as an indication that Washington would accept policies that contribute to weakening the dollar in order to enhance the competitiveness of American exports in global markets.

 A Weak Dollar: Trade Gains And Monetary Risks

A weaker dollar usually makes U.S. exports more attractive in terms of price, which supports the manufacturing sector and reduces the trade deficit. However, this policy carries risks related to the erosion of the currency's purchasing power, which prompts investors to seek safer hedging instruments.

In this context, investors have begun to redirect an increasing portion of their investment portfolios towards gold, amid expectations that pressure on the dollar will continue in the coming period.

Silver Enters The Spotlight

The momentum was not limited to gold alone, as silver prices recorded a remarkable rise of nearly 60% since the beginning of this year, in a performance that is considered one of the strongest among the different asset classes.

Analysts attribute this rise to the return of what is known in the markets as "Debasement Trade," that is, betting on the erosion of the value of paper currencies, and the trend towards precious metals as a store of value and a means of hedging against monetary risks.

Are We Witnessing A Shift In Investor Behavior?

Recent developments are raising increasing questions about whether markets are entering a new phase, in which confidence in paper currencies is declining in favor of gold and silver, especially in light of escalating trade tensions and the increasing use of monetary policies as an economic tool.

Observers believe that what is happening in the precious metals markets may not be a temporary wave, but rather a reflection of a deeper shift in investors' expectations regarding the future of the dollar and the global monetary system.   https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=65141 

Fiscal And Monetary Policies: Between Divergence And Unified Vision

Economy News – Baghdad   Economic expert Dr. Haitham Hamid Mutlaq Al-Mansour                                                  

An analysis of the Iraqi economy at the macro level clearly reveals that the failure to coordinate government and monetary policy, in terms of both objectives and tools, only confirms its persistent structural crises stemming from weak governance. It is evident that the deep imbalances in the macroeconomy are an inevitable consequence of the divergence and absence of a unified strategic vision.

The two policies operate in isolation, and the dominant fiscal policy tools, centered on oil revenues and their consumption, taxes, deficits, and public debt, undermine the effectiveness of monetary policy. This over-reliance has contributed to weakening economic diversification, exacerbating financial fragility, and linking economic stability to the volatility of global markets.

This rentier model has led to a decline in the effectiveness of monetary policy, liquidity management, inflation control, and exchange rate stability, thus transforming monetary policy into a defensive rather than a proactive one. Furthermore, budget instability inevitably leads to liquidity volatility, weakened monetary planning, and a loss of forecasting tools.

Consequently, the central bank becomes subservient to public finances instead of leading them, forcing it to finance deficits and prop up the exchange rate to fund salaries, thereby jeopardizing its independence. In this scenario, monetary policy becomes subordinate to public finances.

 As specialists know, the expansion of salaries and subsidies, weak tax collection, chronic budget deficits, and rentierism compel the central bank to constantly intervene to protect the dinar rather than manage growth. In such cases, monetary policy becomes reactive rather than developmental. Alternatively, inaction would lead to increased inflation, exchange rate volatility, declining confidence in the Iraqi dinar, capital flight, and the erosion of savings.

Therefore, we see that most government spending methods for fiscal policy are economically inefficient, as they rely on current spending represented by salaries, government subsidies, fluctuating revenues, and recurring government fiscal deficits, which generates conflicting objectives and continuous pressure on monetary policy.

Unified Vision Of The Two Policies

Hence the importance and necessity of building a unified vision that ensures coordination in objectives and tools, and strategic harmony between fiscal and monetary policy in setting economic priorities and selecting implementation methods. This guarantees that public resources are directed towards achieving stability, growth, and sustainable development, avoiding conflicting and fragmented decisions.

The unified vision derives its importance from its ability to enhance macroeconomic stability, reduce the risks of inflation and monetary imbalances, increase the efficiency of public resource utilization, and bolster investor and market confidence. It also ensures the sustainability of medium- and long-term policies.

One of the manifestations of the lack of a unified vision, clearly evident in the reality of the Iraqi economy, is the existence of fiscal expansion coupled with monetary tightening.

This is further compounded by short-term spending objectives at the expense of long-term monetary goals, and a conflict between stimulating demand, controlling liquidity, and curbing inflation. Additionally, there is a duplication of economic decisions, which weakens the effectiveness of public policies.

 Foundations for building a unified vision

To unify strategic objectives, the two policies should agree on a set of central goals, including:

Price stability, fiscal sustainability, support for real growth, and enhancement of employment and purchasing power.

Linking oil spending to clear development plans.

Coordinating reserve management with fiscal policy.

Directing spending towards productive sectors.

Aligning the exchange rate with development goals.

This transforms economic policy from crisis management to development management.

Obstacles to achieving coordination between the two policies

Iraq suffers from fundamental obstacles that hinder coordination between the two policies and reinforce the divergence between them, which together constitute real challenges for the decision-maker, the most important of which are:

The fragility of the financial and banking system, the weakness of financial inclusion, the limited productive credit, and the control of government banks over employment levels will all lead to disruption of monetary policy transmission channels.

The absence of a national strategic framework and the lack of a comprehensive economic vision linking the budget, monetary policy, development plans, and public debt management result in fragmented policies and conflicting priorities.

The imbalance in the structure of public spending, the volatility of public revenues, and the reliance on fluctuating sources, especially oil revenues, lead to instability in the general budget and make it difficult for the central bank to build long-term monetary policies under the dominance of public finances.

Weak institutional coordination between the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank and other relevant ministries.

The cumulative interaction of obstacles means that these obstacles do not operate in isolation, but rather interact with each other, such that: rent-seeking + financial dominance + weak institutions + political pressures = a chronic structural imbalance in economic coordination. This renders partial reforms insufficient without a comprehensive and fundamental overhaul.

Corruption and systematic waste have deepened in the allocation of resources and their deviation from their true economic course.

Thus, economic policy in Iraq is regressing from being a long-term strategy and using the rentier tool for spending to ensure short-term stability, which is reflected socially in the management of poverty as temporary solutions such as the food ration card, government employment and social welfare, and the end result is the sustainability of structural poverty and the growth of consumer culture.

All the above points pose real challenges to government policy towards transforming it from a state of divergence to a state of coordination.

Effective economic policy comes as a long-term strategy aimed at achieving diversification of income and exports through coordination between fiscal and monetary policies, to address the imbalance in priorities through an economic government that rebuilds long-term policies that support the rentier economy with more diversification, deepen development, achieve stable and diversified growth, and create job opportunities, through the development of non-oil sectors to build a productive and diversified economy that reduces corruption and raises productivity. https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=65170

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Saturday Morning 1-31-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

Warsh Nomination Sparks Market Volatility — Fed Independence in Focus

Trump’s pick for Fed chair sends ripples through markets and reserve currency sentiment

Overview

President Donald Trump announced his nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, setting off mixed market reactions and renewed discussion about U.S. monetary direction. Warsh’s nomination — coming amid broader economic uncertainty and a weak dollar environment — has implications for confidence in central bank independence and the global monetary hierarchy.

Key Developments

Trump Picks Warsh for Fed Leadership:
President Trump formally nominated former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed Chair, a move that lifts months of speculation and signals potential changes in monetary policy direction.

Uneasy Market Reaction:
Financial markets reacted with volatility — U.S. stock futures dipped, the U.S. dollar initially weakened then regained ground, and precious metals such as gold and silver saw significant price swings.

Political and Confirmation Risks:
Warsh’s nomination now faces Senate confirmation, with some lawmakers signaling conditional support and others raising concerns over Federal Reserve independence and ongoing investigations tied to the outgoing chair.

FX & Asset Impacts:
Early move reaction included a strengthening dollar and rising U.S. yields — suggesting traders view Warsh as less dovish than market expectations — while precious metals corrected sharply on the news.

Why It Matters

The Fed Chair controls the world’s most influential central bank, and leadership changes directly shape interest rate expectations, liquidity conditions, and global dollar sentiment. Warsh’s nomination during a period of structural currency competition makes this more than a U.S. domestic story — it’s a signal to global markets about Washington’s economic priorities.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Leadership bias toward higher rates or monetary discipline supports dollar strength in the near term.

• Signs of political influence on central banking can weaken long-term dollar credibility in reserve portfolios.

• Rapid repricing in metals and FX markets reflects sensitivity to U.S. policy changes that feed broader currency reallocation trends.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1 — Institutional Trust Under Test:
Warsh’s nomination raises questions about central bank independence — a foundational pillar of modern reserve confidence.

Pillar 2 — Reallocation Pressure:
Markets reassessing risk & reserves (FX, gold, commodities) may accelerate structural shifts in global finance.

This is more than a chair change — it’s a directional moment in monetary hierarchy.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• AP News (via Yahoo Finance) — “Federal Reserve chair nomination live: Wall Street reacts to Trump’s Fed pick, Kevin Warsh, as hurdles remain in the Senate”

• AP News (via Local10) — “Markets swing in uneasy trading after Trump nominates Kevin Warsh to be next Fed chair”

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Central Bank Gold Pivot: A Structural Monetary Reset Signal

Major reserve managers accelerate gold accumulation as trust in fiat wanes

Overview

Central banks worldwide are dramatically increasing gold holdings, indicating a structural reassessment of reserve management. This shift — coming at a time of dollar weakness, geopolitical fragmentation, and rising geopolitical risk — aligns with deeper systemic realignment in global monetary frameworks.

Key Developments

Gold Accumulation Surpasses Treasuries:
Recent research shows central banks actively rebalancing reserves toward gold even as U.S. Treasury holdings shrink, signaling reduced reliance on dollar-denominated assets.

Persistent Multi-Country Buying:
Multiple central banks — including those in Poland, Kazakhstan, and Turkey — have increased gold reserves over extended periods, highlighting an ongoing strategic hedging trend rather than opportunistic buying.

Long-Term Reserve Shifts:
Institutional commentary underscores that gold’s share in official reserves is rising as the dollar’s influence recedes — potentially reversing decades of dollar dominance in reserve allocation.

Safe-Haven Demand Amid Risk:
With macro uncertainty high — including political pressure on leading central banks and inflation risk — gold is increasingly seen not just as a hedge but as a core reserve asset with systemic importance.

Why It Matters

A coordinated pivot by central banks toward gold — historically a foundation of monetary trust — points to growing skepticism about fiat supremacy and the durability of a dollar-centric system. This trend also reinforces narratives around de-dollarization and multipolar monetary architecture.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Rising gold holdings reduce exposure to dollar risk in official portfolios.

• Commodity-anchored reserve strategies support alternative currency frameworks.

• Gold’s enhanced role can precede recalibration of global liquidity and FX hierarchies.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1 — Reserve System Reconfiguration:
Central bank behavior is a leading indicator of shifts in global monetary order — and gold accumulation ahead of fiat confirms structural change.

Pillar 2 — Multipolar Monetary Stability:
Gold backing stabilizes confidence where fiat credibility is questioned, supporting a multi-anchor reserve architecture.

This is not a temporary hedge — it’s a strategic foundation for future monetary systems.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• EBC Financial Group — “Why Central Banks Are Buying Gold: The Shift From Treasuries”

• Khaleej Times — “Central banks’ gold rush signals reset in monetary policy”

~~~~~~~~~~

🌱 A Message to Our Currency Holders🌱

If you’ve been holding foreign currency for many years, you were not foolish.
You were not wrong to believe the global financial system would change.

What failed was not your patience — it was the information you were given.

For years, dates, rumors, and personalities replaced facts, structure, and proof. “This week” predictions created cycles of hope and disappointment that were never based on how currencies actually change.

That is not your failure.

Our mission here is different:   • No dates • No rates • No hype • No gurus

Instead, we focus on:
• Verifiable developments • Institutional evidence
• Global financial structure • Where countries actually sit in the process

Currency value changes only come after sovereignty, trade, banking, settlement systems, and fiscal coordination are in place. History and institutions confirm this sequence.

You will see silence. You will see denials. That is not delay — that is discipline.

Protect your identity. Organize your documents.       Verify everything.
Never hand your discernment to anyone who cannot show proof.

You deserve truth — not timelines.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News

~~~~~~~~~~

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Thank you Dinar Recaps

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Saturday Morning 1-31-26

Global Gold Buying Jumps, Iraq Adds Nearly 12 Tons

2026-01-31   Shafaq News– Baghdad   The Central Bank of Iraq purchased 11.9 tons of gold in 2025, ranking the country eighth globally among the world’s largest central bank gold buyers, according to data released by the World Gold Council.   According to the data, 95% of central banks expect global official gold reserves to grow over the next year, the most optimistic reading in the survey’s eight-year history. A record 43% of central banks plan to increase gold holdings, up from 29% in 2024, with none expecting reductions.

Poland topped the list with gold purchases of 101.9 tons, followed by Kazakhstan with 56.9 tons, Brazil with 42.7 tons, Azerbaijan with 38.2 tons, and China with 26.7 tons. Turkiye ranked sixth with 26.6 tons, while the Czech Republic followed with 20.4 tons.  Cambodia and Uzbekistan rounded out the top buyers, purchasing 7.9 tons and 7.7 tons respectively.  https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Global-gold-buying-jumps-Iraq-adds-nearly-12-tons   

Dollar Gains On Fed Chair Nomination Speculation

2026-01-30 Shafaq News   The dollar rose on Friday, clawing back some of its slide on the week, after U.S. ​President Donald Trump said he would soon announce his nominee to head the Federal Reserve while optimism grew for Washington to ‌avert a government shutdown.

Trump said he intends to name his pick to replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Friday, following news that former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh visited the White House. The Japanese yen fell, and cryptocurrencies tumbled.

The greenback recovered some of this week's losses after tension between Trump and Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, Greenland and Europe hit some investors' confidence in U.S. assets.

"The appointment of Warsh, if it's true, will be seen as someone who can, in a way, remain independent, and not someone seen ‌as likely to be subservient to Trump's wishes," said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research for ANZ in Singapore.

"Any sensible ​market participant would not want to carry a big position into the weekend," he added. "So some of this could just be positioning lightening up. If you're short dollars, you've done well, take your chips off the table."

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, rose 0.4% to 96.55, trimming ‍its weekly slide to 0.9%. The euro dipped 0.4% to $1.1922, while the yen weakened 0.5% to 153.85 a dollar. Sterling slid 0.4% to $1.3751.

Bloomberg News said Warsh would get the nod to replace Powell at the Fed, while a person familiar with the matter told Reuters he met Trump at the White House on Thursday.

The dollar also received a lift after Republican and Democratic ⁠lawmakers hammered out a deal to stave off a looming government shutdown.

Escalating conflict abroad and unease over domestic immigration crackdowns have hammered the U.S. currency, driving ‍the dollar index to a four-year low earlier this week.

Overnight, the White House said Trump signed an executive order for tariffs on countries that provide oil to Cuba, while he threatened ‌new tariffs ‌on Canada and said the United States was decertifying business jets made there.

With tension simmering in Iran, Trump said on Thursday he planned to speak with leaders in Tehran, even as the U.S. dispatched another warship to the Middle East and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the military would be ready to carry out whatever the president decided.

The dollar closed last week with its biggest fall since last April, driven in part by the Trump administration's tariff threats against European countries if ⁠they stood in the way of his ⁠ambition of buying Greenland.

The spat over Greenland ​was the start of wider geopolitical concerns that have dragged the currency broadly lower, said Westpac Group senior economist Mantas Vanagas.

"It's the fact that the 'Sell America" trade has resurfaced, and investors are questioning to what extent the United States is still a trustworthy partner for other economies," he added.

The dollar found some support after the Fed held interest rates ‍steady on Wednesday against the backdrop of what Fed Chair Powell described as a solid economy and diminished risks to both inflation and employment.

The yen broke back above 154 to the dollar, but is still poised for its second straight weekly gain, as Japanese policymakers hinted at possible coordinated currency market intervention with the United States to defend the currency.

The yen fell to ​a near 18-month low last week as concerns about Japan's finances mounted before a snap ‍election in which Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her opponents are campaigning on a plank of tax cuts.

The Australian dollar weakened 0.7% versus the greenback to $0.6997, and the kiwi lost 0.5% to $0.6046.

In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin ​tumbled 2.2% to $82,519.22, touching the weakest since November 21, while ether sank declined 3% to $2,732.04.  (Reuters)   https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Dollar-gains-on-Fed-chair-nomination-speculation

USD/IQD Exchange Rates Climbs In Baghdad, Erbil

2026-01-31   Shafaq News– Baghdad/ Erbil  The US dollar opened Saturday’s trading at a higher rate in Baghdad and Erbil, gaining 500 Iraqi dinars compared with the previous session.

According to a Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded in Baghdad at 150,400 Iraqi dinars per 100 dollars, up from 149,900 dinars recorded on Thursday at Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya central exchanges in Baghdad.

Local exchange shops in the capital sold the dollar at 151,000 dinars per 100 dollars, while buying prices stood at 150,000 dinars. In Erbil, the selling price reached 150,650 dinars for every 100 dollars, and the buying price was 150,300 dinars.https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/USD-IQD-exchange-rates-climbs-in-Baghdad-Erbil

US Pressure On Iran Intensifies; Analysts Assess Strike Scenarios And Regional Risks

2026-01-31 Shafaq News– Washington   Iran and much of the region are facing a period of heightened unease as Washington escalates its rhetoric under President Donald Trump, warning of possible strikes against Iran’s leadership and nuclear facilities. The external pressure coincides with weeks of unrest inside Iran, where protests have continued amid reports of widespread repression and a near-total internet shutdown, deepening international concern over Tehran’s handling of domestic dissent.

The tense atmosphere has been reinforced by the arrival of US naval and military assets in the Middle East, fueling speculation about an imminent military move. The buildup, analysts say, has raised expectations that Washington may opt for a limited strike as a way to break the political deadlock with Tehran and respond to the growing instability inside the country.

Frank Mesmar, a Republican Party member and Chair of the Advisory Council at the University of Maryland, told Shafaq News that the scale of the US military deployment suggests that action is approaching, arguing that President Trump has positioned himself in a way that leaves little room to step back without political cost, “the [US] administration has amassed a massive military force near Iran’s borders, making a strike increasingly likely.”

Mesmar outlined several possible outcomes if the United States proceeds with military action. One scenario would involve precise air and naval strikes against bases linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Basij paramilitary, missile launch and storage facilities, and what remains of Iran’s nuclear program. Such an operation, in his view, could accelerate the collapse of a system he described as already fragile, potentially opening the way —over time— to a genuine democratic transition.

He also pointed to a second scenario in which the regime survives but is forced to adjust its behavior, similar to what he described as a “Venezuelan model.” In this case, Iran would retain the structure of the Islamic Republic but would be compelled to reduce support for armed groups across the region, curb its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and ease its crackdown on protests.

Mesmar stressed, however, that this outcome is unlikely, given that Iran’s leadership has resisted meaningful change for decades and appears incapable of altering its trajectory now.

The most probable scenario, according to Mesmar, is one in which the current system collapses but is replaced not by civilian rule, but by a military-led government. While repeated protest waves have steadily weakened the regime’s legitimacy, he noted that Iran still has a powerful and deeply rooted security apparatus with a vested interest in preserving the status quo. In the turmoil that could follow US strikes, power could ultimately shift to a strong military authority dominated by figures from the IRGC.

Despite the clear imbalance between US and Iranian conventional forces, Mesmar warned that Tehran retains the ability to respond forcefully. Iran’s missile and drone capabilities could be used against US bases spread along the Arab side of the Gulf, particularly in Bahrain and Qatar. “Tehran could also target critical infrastructure in countries it views as complicit in any US attack, including Israel or Jordan.”

Maritime security presents another major risk. Iran has long threatened to disrupt shipping in the Gulf, particularly by mining key waterways. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between Iran and Oman, remains a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. Around 20 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas exports and between 20 and 25 percent of global oil and petroleum products pass through the strait each year; therefore, “Iran has repeatedly trained for rapid naval mine deployment, and any attempt to close or disrupt the passage would have immediate repercussions for global trade and oil prices.”

Beyond military retaliation, Mesmar highlighted the dangers of a power vacuum inside Iran. The collapse of central authority, he said, could lead to prolonged chaos, raising fears among neighboring states of civil conflict similar to that seen in Syria, Yemen, or Libya. Such instability could also inflame ethnic tensions, as Kurdish, Baluchi, and other minority groups seek to protect their communities amid nationwide disorder.

A similar assessment was offered by US-based Iranian-American political analyst Hassan Hashemian, who said Tehran has largely lost its room to maneuver in negotiations with Washington, arguing that the United States is now seeking sweeping concessions that go well beyond the nuclear file, including uranium enrichment, missile development, regional proxies, and Iran’s broader role in the Middle East.

Hashemian told Shafaq News that Washington also wants “guarantees related to the rights of the Iranian people,” particularly an end to the killing and repression of protesters and the restoration of internet access. Entering talks under such conditions, he said, would amount to full surrender—something the Iranian leadership is unwilling to accept.

Describing the Iranian system as suffering from a profound legitimacy crisis, he pointed out that “decades of violence and repression have alienated the population.” In his assessment, the regime no longer has a supportive public base and instead relies on security forces and allied militias abroad.

“If senior figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top IRGC commanders, were targeted in any attack, popular anger could quickly translate into mass action against state institutions.”

Hashemian also pointed to the European moves to classify the IRGC as a terrorist organization, saying such steps further isolate Tehran internationally and intensify pressure alongside US policy. He said this trend has effectively closed most diplomatic avenues, leaving the Iranian leadership with few options other than accepting both domestic and international demands.

Amid the mounting tension, Iranian officials have signaled a conditional openness to diplomacy. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking during a visit to Turkiye alongside his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, said Iran is prepared to return to negotiations with the United States if they are based on fairness and mutual respect. At the same time, he emphasized that Tehran would not bow to external pressure, adding that while Iran is ready for talks, it is also prepared for war.

The convergence of internal unrest, external military pressure, and a narrowing diplomatic path has pushed Iran into one of the most uncertain moments in its recent history. Whether the crisis leads to confrontation, forced compromise, or a deeper rupture with regional and global consequences remains unclear, but the risks of miscalculation continue to rise for all sides involved.   For Shafaq News, Mostafa Hashem, Washington, D.C.  https://www.shafaq.com/en/Report/US-pressure-on-Iran-intensifies-analysts-assess-strike-scenarios-and-regional-risks

Gold Prices Dip In Baghdad, Erbil

2026-01-31   Shafaq News– Baghdad/ Erbil   Gold prices declined on Saturday in Baghdad and Erbil markets, reversing gains from the previous session, according to a survey by Shafaq News.

In Baghdad’s Al-Nahr Street wholesale market, the selling price of 21-carat gold—including Gulf, Turkish, and European varieties—fell to 1,040,000 Iraqi dinars per mithqal (about five grams), with a buying price of 1,036,000 dinars, down from 1,171,000 dinars recorded last Thursday.

The selling price for 21-carat Iraqi gold stood at 1,010,000 dinars per mithqal, while the buying price was 1,006,000 dinars.

In jewelry shops, the selling price of 21-carat Gulf gold ranged between 1,040,000 and 1,050,000 dinars per mithqal, while 21-carat Iraqi gold sold for 1,010,000 to 1,020,000 dinars.

In Erbil, gold prices also edged lower, with 22-carat gold selling at 1,130,000 dinars per mithqal, 21-carat gold at 1,078,000 dinars, and 18-carat gold at 925,000 dinars.https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-prices-dip-in-Baghdad-Erbil-0

Crude Slides But Heads For Biggest Monthly Gain In Years

2026-01-30 00:17   Shafaq News   Oil prices slipped more than 1% on Friday from multi-month highs, though they are set for their most substantial gains in years, as the risk premium surged due to a potential U.S. attack on Iran that could disrupt supplies.

Brent crude futures fell 91 cents to $69.80 a barrel at 0332 GMT after rising 3.4% to close at its highest point since July 31 on Thursday. The March contract expires later on Friday. The more active April contract slid $1.07 to $68.52.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $1.06 to $64.36 a barrel after gaining 3.4% to settle at its highest level since September 26 in the previous session.

Prices eased after last night's rally as anticipation of a possible attack on Iran and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz has yet to materialise, said LSEG senior analyst Anh Pham.

Tensions have escalated due to a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran on Wednesday to make a deal on nuclear weapons or face an attack. Tehran responded by saying it would strike back hard.

The dollar rose on Friday, paring a weekly slide, after Trump said he would soon announce his nominee to head the Federal Reserve and on optimism that lawmakers in Washington would avoid a government shutdown.

Both oil benchmarks are set to record their first monthly gains in six months, with Brent up 14.7% to notch its biggest jump since January 2022. WTI is on track to rise 12% in January, its biggest monthly gain since July 2023.

The Trump administration is hosting senior defence and intelligence officials from Israel and Saudi Arabia for separate talks on Iran this week in Washington, according to two people familiar with the matter. U.S. officials say Trump is reviewing his options but has not decided whether to strike Iran.

"Given elevated inflation and this year's midterm elections, we do not anticipate protracted oil supply disruptions," JPMorgan analysts led by Natasha Kaneva said in a note.

"If military action does occur, we expect it to be targeted, avoiding Iran’s oil production and export infrastructure."

Citi expects the U.S. and Israel to take restrained actions against Iran in the near-term, including oil tanker seizures; it cited a 70% probability for this outcome.

Disruptions in Kazakhstan, Russia and Venezuela affected a combined 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of supply in January, JPMorgan analysts said, adding that the Arctic wave in the U.S. is estimated to reduce crude and condensate output by 340,000 bpd this month.

On Wednesday, Kazakhstan said it was restarting the huge Tengiz oilfield in stages, aiming to reach full production in a week after three unexplained electrical fires earlier this month impacted 7.2 million barrels of oil output.

Bad weather has hit Russian oil exports, while Venezuela was forced to cut production after U.S. forces ousted President Nicolas Maduro early this month.

The country's interim government on Thursday approved a sweeping reform of its main oil law. The Trump administration also broadly eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry on Thursday, actions that could raise Venezuela's oil and gas output and encourage investment.(Reuters)  https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Crude-slides-but-heads-for-biggest-monthly-gain-in-years

“Tidbits From TNT” Saturday Morning 1-31-2026

TNT:

Tishwash: Parliament sets next Sunday as the date for the session to elect the President of the Republic

The media department of the House of Representatives announced today, Friday, that next Sunday has been set as the date for holding a session to elect the President of the Republic.

Agenda for Session No. 7, Sunday, February 1, 2026

Department of Affairs

Parliamentary Session

Recitation of verses from the Holy Quran

First: Taking of the constitutional oath by some members of parliament.

Second: Election of the President of the Republic.

The session starts at eleven o'clock in the morning.  link

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

Tishwash:  An economic expert reveals a roadmap for freeing Iraqi funds from the grip of the US Federal Reserve.

On Friday, economist Nabil Al-Marousmi revealed several solutions and proposals to free Iraqi funds from the control of the US Federal Reserve. 

Al-Marsoumi said in a post followed by “Al-Ahd News”: “The United States has effectively controlled Iraqi oil revenues since 2003 through its management via the Federal Reserve. The United Nations had provided legal protection for these funds under Resolution 1483, until it was terminated in 2011, following the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1956.”

He added that "the US president issued Executive Order 13303 to protect Iraqi funds, an order that remains in effect today despite some amendments." He explained that "the objectives of US protection of Iraqi funds are to safeguard them from compensation claims by companies and individuals, as well as to prevent the seizure of Iraqi assets in cases filed since the 1990s."

He emphasized that "despite the expiration of many of the legal reasons that necessitated this financial arrangement, Iraq remains subject to strict financial oversight by Washington, which differs from the usual procedures in the international banking system."

Al-Marsoumi pointed out that “most oil-producing countries deposit their money in the US Federal Reserve because oil is sold in dollars, but Iraq suffers from complete dependence on oil revenues without alternative resources,” explaining that “this means that the problem is not in depositing money with the US Federal Reserve, but rather in the restrictions imposed on the ability to dispose of it freely, unlike what other countries enjoy.”

He continued: “It is known that there are cases filed against Iraq by dozens or hundreds of companies that were harmed by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, and representatives of Iraq did not attend the court sessions at the time to defend or reduce the compensations, and therefore the courts issued default judgments for very high amounts.”

He noted that “linking the issue of protecting Iraqi funds from prosecution to America gives Washington great influence over Baghdad, and resolving the crisis requires a political decision, as happened with Greece and Argentina, by employing a reputable law firm that is given full powers, whose task will be to accurately inventory the cases filed against Iraq and how much money has been awarded in judgments.”

Al-Marsoumi concluded that “Iraq is unable to resort to the courts because the judgments have become final, so a deal can be reached with the beneficiaries to drop the lawsuits in exchange for giving them a percentage of the money, which is called buying the debts, and most likely they will accept because they will get money instead of waiting and possibly not getting anything.”    link

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

Tishwash:  What financial challenges will the next government face?

Indicators are mounting that the financial situation in Iraq is becoming more complex, with the ongoing salary crisis and rising dollar exchange rates in local markets, amid the absence of a budget and the caretaker government's reliance on temporary solutions, which experts describe as incapable of containing the crisis or preventing its escalation during the current phase, thus placing the next government in front of these crises. 

"Temporary solutions"

In this context, MP Haider Al-Rubaie stressed that “the government’s resorting to deducting from the salaries of employees, especially those with higher degrees, reflects a clear deadlock in financial solutions, noting that these measures cannot constitute a real solution to the crisis.”

Al-Rubaie said that “the government is facing a complex financial situation in the absence of a budget and the tight time frame, which pushes it to borrow or cut as emergency options, warning of the danger of continuing to rely on internal and external debts without a stable financial vision.”

He explained that "solving the salary crisis depends on forming a new government capable of addressing economic issues and developing realistic solutions that alleviate the burdens on citizens, noting that the upcoming challenges are not limited to salaries only, but also include accumulated debts and service crises such as water and rising prices."

Dollar and gold 

In parallel, economist Duraid Al-Anzi points out that "the rise in the dollar exchange rate in Iraq is no longer only related to the measures of the Central Bank, but has become directly affected by the movement of gold and silver prices in global markets, which are witnessing a remarkable rise." 

Al-Anzi explained that "the increasing demand for dollars in the local market is also due to smuggling and hoarding operations, as a result of the gap between the official price adopted in the budget, the central bank's selling price, and the market price, which encouraged citizens and traders to acquire dollars and turn them from a savings tool into a means of speculation."

He stressed that “the continuation of political tensions in the region and the absence of global economic stability prevent any real decrease in the price of the dollar, while at the same time criticizing the performance of the caretaker government and the lack of a clear vision in managing the exchange rate issue.”

Between the salary crisis and the rising dollar, the next government appears to be facing a difficult financial and economic test, requiring bold decisions that go beyond temporary solutions and set a reform path that balances protecting citizens' income and market stability, in a highly turbulent regional and international environment.  link

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

Mot: Thinking - This Might be a Great Idea!!! -- Huh!!!! 

Mot:  .. I Can Soooooooo - Relate!!!! 

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Friday Afternoon 1-30-26

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

US Dollar Value Is Falling: 3 Trends Driving the Decline

Dollar weakness accelerates as markets pivot to safe havens and investors question U.S. policy confidence

 Overview

The U.S. dollar has been sliding sharply, prompting global markets to shift toward safe-haven assets like gold and silver. From the U.S. Dollar Index hitting multi-year lows to rising expectations of interest-rate cuts and political uncertainty, three major trends are driving the currency’s fall — with implications for reserve diversification, capital flows, and structural monetary shifts.

Key Developments

1. Political Signals Undermine Confidence

President Donald Trump’s public comments downplaying the dollar’s weakness — including calling the currency “great” even as it sinks to its lowest level in four years — have spooked markets and exacerbated bearish momentum for the greenback. Analysts say the apparent indifference to the currency’s slide signals tolerance for a weaker dollar, encouraging investors to reduce exposure to dollar-based assets.

2. Interest-Rate Policy and Fed Pressure

Expectations of future interest-rate cuts — coupled with political pressure on the Federal Reserve — have weighed on the dollar. A weaker yield environment makes U.S. dollar-denominated assets less attractive, and markets are pricing in more accommodative policy even as the Fed holds rates steady.

3. Safe-Haven Assets Gaining Traction

As investor confidence in the dollar softens, demand for gold and silver has surged, with prices hitting record territory before recent pullbacks. Precious metals are benefiting from heightened risk sentiment and serve as alternative stores of value amid currency volatility.

Why It Matters

A sustained decline in the U.S. dollar — the world’s primary reserve currency — affects global trade, capital allocation, and relative currency valuations. Persistent weakness undermines the dollar’s safe-haven status and encourages diversification into commodities, other currencies, and alternative financial instruments.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders watching the global reset narrative:

• Dollar depreciation supports broader reserve diversification away from a single dominant currency.

• Rising gold and silver prices reflect a shift toward real assets, often associated with monetary stress transitions.

• Confidence erosion in U.S. monetary policy increases interest in alternative systems and regional currencies.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1 — Confidence Erosion in Fiat Anchors:
When the dollar — a foundational reserve asset — weakens persistently, it triggers reassessment of global reserve compositions.

Pillar 2 — Safe Haven Reallocation:
Flight toward gold and silver strengthens the case for commodity-anchored frameworks as part of a broader shift in monetary architecture.

This is not cyclical volatility — it’s structural repricing.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters — “Dollar sinks to four-year low, Trump brushes off the decline”

• The Guardian — “What is behind the extraordinary rise in investment into silver and gold?”

~~~~~~~~~~

End of the Monetary System? Ray Dalio’s Warning Aligns With BRICS Rise

Debt saturation, gold accumulation, and de-dollarization converge into a structural turning point

Overview

Warnings of a global monetary breakdown are no longer fringe speculation. Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio is intensifying his long-running “Big Cycle” alarm as U.S. national debt pushes past $38 trillion in 2026. His message is stark: governments face an unavoidable choice between monetizing debt or allowing systemic debt crises to unfold.

Dalio’s assessment now directly overlaps with accelerating BRICS de-dollarization, record central-bank gold accumulation, and the emergence of alternative settlement systems. Together, these developments point toward a gradual but fundamental restructuring of the global monetary order.

Key Developments

1. Dalio Warns of Monetary Order Breakdown

Speaking publicly, including at recent global forums, Dalio described the current phase as the breakdown of a decades-long monetary system built on expanding debt and currency debasement. According to Dalio, policymakers are boxed into a dilemma with generational consequences:

“We are now dealing with the breakdown of the monetary order, and we face a terrible choice: Do you print money or do you let a debt crisis happen?”

Dalio has repeatedly warned that unchecked borrowing acts like an “aggressive cancer” on the financial system, with interest payments now consuming an unprecedented share of government budgets.

2. BRICS Accelerates De-Dollarization

While Dalio outlines the theory, BRICS nations are executing the response. Russia and China now reportedly settle roughly 90% of their bilateral trade in national currencies, bypassing the U.S. dollar entirely.

In December 2025, BRICS launched “The Unit,” a gold-linked settlement pilot composed of 40% physical gold and 60% BRICS currencies. What was once planning has moved into implementation, signaling a structural shift rather than symbolic resistance.

India’s assumption of the BRICS presidency in 2026 further institutionalizes this trajectory, even as New Delhi maintains a more cautious public stance toward outright dollar replacement.

3. Gold Re-Emerges as Monetary Anchor

Central banks purchased over 1,100 tonnes of gold in 2025, continuing a multi-year trend away from dollar-denominated reserves. Dalio himself has recommended holding 10–15% of portfolios in gold, citing protection against currency devaluation.

BRICS nations collectively control more than 6,000 tonnes of gold reserves, reinforcing credibility for gold-linked settlement alternatives. Gold prices are now widely projected toward $6,000 per ounce, reflecting not just inflation hedging—but confidence erosion in fiat systems.

4. Dollar Dominance Fractures, Not Collapses

Despite these shifts, the dollar remains dominant in global transactions. However, its share of central-bank reserves has declined from 65.3% in 2016 to roughly 59% in recent data. This slow erosion aligns with Dalio’s “Big Cycle” thesis: reserve currencies don’t disappear overnight—they fade as confidence migrates elsewhere.

Why It Matters

Dalio’s warning is not about a sudden collapse—it’s about loss of trust over time. As debt expands faster than growth and currency supply rises faster than productivity, alternatives naturally gain traction.

The convergence of theory (Dalio), action (BRICS), and behavior (gold accumulation) suggests the global system is already adjusting beneath the surface.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For those anticipating currency revaluation during a global reset, this environment favors realignment rather than delay. Gold-linked settlement systems, reduced dollar exposure, and multipolar reserve strategies historically precede repricing events.

Currency holders are watching not rhetoric—but reserve flows, settlement mechanisms, and asset backing.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Debt Saturation Forces Change
The system can no longer expand debt indefinitely without undermining confidence.

Pillar 2: Gold Returns as Neutral Trust Asset
Gold is reclaiming its role as collateral, not speculation.

Pillar 3: Multipolar Monetary Architecture Emerges
BRICS initiatives signal a transition away from unilateral monetary control.

This is not the end of money — it is the end of unquestioned monetary dominance.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Watcher.Guru — “End of Monetary System? Ray Dalio Warning Aligns With BRICS Rise”

• Financial Times — “Who’s been buying all the gold? Central banks ramp up purchases amid monetary uncertainty”

~~~~~~~~~~

🌱 A Message to Our Currency Holders🌱

If you’ve been holding foreign currency for many years, you were not foolish.
You were not wrong to believe the global financial system would change.

What failed was not your patience — it was the information you were given.

For years, dates, rumors, and personalities replaced facts, structure, and proof. “This week” predictions created cycles of hope and disappointment that were never based on how currencies actually change.

That is not your failure.

Our mission here is different:   • No dates • No rates • No hype • No gurus

Instead, we focus on:
• Verifiable developments • Institutional evidence
• Global financial structure • Where countries actually sit in the process

Currency value changes only come after sovereignty, trade, banking, settlement systems, and fiscal coordination are in place. History and institutions confirm this sequence.

You will see silence. You will see denials. That is not delay — that is discipline.

Protect your identity. Organize your documents.       Verify everything.
Never hand your discernment to anyone who cannot show proof.

You deserve truth — not timelines.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News

~~~~~~~~~~

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Markets Repricing Now as Crisis Bigger than 2008 Unleashed

Markets Repricing Now as Crisis Bigger than 2008 Unleashed

David Lin:  1-30-2026

In a recent in-depth interview with David Lin, Peter Schiff, chief market strategist at Euro Pacific Asset Management and founder of Shift Gold, sounded the alarm on an imminent and potentially catastrophic economic collapse.

According to Schiff, the crisis will be centered on the U.S. dollar and its sovereign debt, dwarfing the 2008 financial crisis in both scale and impact.

Schiff argues that the true bubble is not in gold or silver, as many might believe, but rather in the U.S. dollar, the U.S. bond market, and the broader U.S. economy.

As central banks and private investors increasingly shift away from the dollar and towards precious metals, seen as safe havens and stores of value amid rising inflation and fiscal irresponsibility, gold and silver prices are undergoing a significant repricing.

“The crisis will be predominantly American, with global repercussions benefiting other countries as the U.S. loses its economic dominance,” Schiff warns. This sentiment is echoed in his critique of U.S. fiscal policies and tariffs, which he believes have inflationary effects and represent a political failure to address growing debt and deficits.

The decline of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency is driving a significant shift in the global monetary order.

This, in turn, will affect trade, production, and consumption patterns worldwide. As Schiff notes, the global economic landscape is on the cusp of a major transformation, one that will have far-reaching consequences for investors and economies alike.

In the face of this systemic breakdown, Schiff views gold and silver as the ultimate hedge. He dismisses Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as failed alternatives to gold, citing their lack of true correlation and value preservation.

As the crisis unfolds, Schiff predicts that gold and silver mining stocks, currently undervalued, are poised for significant gains.

Despite recent strong price rallies, most investors remain cautious about precious metals. Schiff advises investors to position themselves in foreign stocks, commodity-linked investments, and precious metals to benefit from the shifting global economic landscape. “The alarm bells are ringing, and it’s time for investors to protect their wealth accordingly,” he urges.

The interview also touched on recent developments in Japan’s bond market and potential repercussions for the U.S. Treasury market. Schiff’s personal investment strategy involves profiting from the decline of the U.S. economy while advocating for sound fiscal policies that he believes will not be implemented.

As the global economic landscape continues to evolve, it’s clear that the status quo is unsustainable. Schiff’s warning is a call to action for investors to recognize the signs of an impending economic collapse and to take steps to protect their wealth. By diversifying into precious metals, foreign stocks, and commodity-linked investments, investors can position themselves for success in a post-dollar-dominated world.

For further insights and information, watch the full video interview with Peter Schiff on David Lin’s channel. The conversation offers a nuanced and in-depth exploration of the coming economic collapse and the opportunities and challenges it will present.

https://youtu.be/QEh3pvDXZHU

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Friday Morning 1-30-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

Commodity Shockwaves Signal Structural Stress in Global Markets

Oil, metals, crypto, and geopolitics collide as reset pressures intensify

 Overview

Global markets experienced sharp cross‑asset volatility as geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran triggered rapid repricing across oil, metals, crypto, and risk assets. These synchronized moves point to deeper structural stress rather than a routine market correction.

Key Developments

1. Oil Surge on Iran Risk — Brent crude climbed above $70 per barrel as traders priced in heightened Middle East conflict risk and potential supply disruption.

2. Industrial Metals Signal Structural Demand — Copper pushed to record highs above $14,000 per tonne, reinforcing its role as a bellwether for infrastructure and monetary hedging demand.

3. Precious Metals Whipsaw — Gold and silver pulled back from record levels as volatility spiked, reflecting repositioning rather than a reversal of the broader debasement trend.

4. Crypto & Risk Assets Slide — Bitcoin and high‑beta assets fell sharply, highlighting tightening liquidity and risk‑off sentiment during geopolitical stress.

Why It Matters

Cross‑asset volatility occurring simultaneously across commodities, FX, and crypto is historically associated with monetary regime transitions. Markets are increasingly responding to geopolitical triggers as systemic threats rather than isolated events.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For holders waiting on currency revaluations, commodity price instability reinforces the shift toward hard‑asset backing and alternative settlement mechanisms. Rising metals and energy prices historically precede changes in reserve composition.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Confidence Erosion in Fiat Systems — Energy and metal surges expose inflationary pressure beneath surface stability. 

Pillar 2: Commodities as Monetary Anchors — Industrial and precious metals are increasingly acting as parallel stores of value.

This is not just market volatility — it’s stress testing the existing monetary order before realignment.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• The Guardian — "Brent crude tops $70 per barrel as geopolitical risk rattles markets"

• The Guardian — “Brent crude tops $70 a barrel on Iran concern; metals and markets swing”

~~~~~~~~~~

Dollar Slides to Four‑Year Low as Confidence Fractures

Currency weakness accelerates global diversification away from U.S. dominance

Overview

The U.S. dollar fell to its lowest level in four years, extending a sustained decline driven by policy uncertainty, fiscal concerns, and shifting global reserve strategies.

Key Developments

1. Dollar Index Breakdown — The dollar weakened sharply against major currencies, including the euro and Swiss franc.

2. Policy Signaling from Washington — President Trump dismissed concerns over the dollar’s decline, reinforcing perceptions of tolerance for depreciation.

3. Reserve Diversification Accelerates — Central banks continued reallocating toward gold and non‑dollar assets amid uncertainty.

4. Safe‑Haven Realignment — Traditional dollar safety flows weakened as alternative stores of value gained traction.

Why It Matters

A falling dollar undermines its role as the unquestioned reserve currency. Sustained depreciation incentivizes bilateral trade settlements, commodity‑linked currencies, and parallel financial systems.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Dollar weakness historically precedes revaluation cycles in select foreign currencies and commodities. This environment supports expectations of asset repricing during a reset phase.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Reserve Currency Transition — Confidence erosion drives diversification away from dollar‑centric reserves. 

Pillar 2: Multipolar Currency Architecture — Trade and settlement systems increasingly bypass dollar dependence.

The dollar’s decline is no longer cyclical — it is structural.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• The Guardian — "U.S. dollar sinks to lowest level in four years"

• Reuters — “Dollar sinks to four-year low as Trump brushes off the decline”

~~~~~~~~~~

Europe Moves Toward Financial Sovereignty as U.S. Focus Shifts

Independent payment systems emerge as reset infrastructure

Overview

European Central Bank officials publicly strengthened the case for autonomous European payment infrastructure, citing rising geopolitical risk and overreliance on U.S.‑controlled financial systems.

Key Developments

1. ECB Endorses Payments Independence — Executive Board member Piero Cipollone highlighted vulnerabilities in existing global payment networks.

2. Digital Euro Momentum — Independent settlement rails and a digital euro were framed as strategic necessities.

3. Reduced Reliance on U.S. Systems — Concerns over sanctions, weaponization of finance, and geopolitical fragmentation drive urgency.

4. Strategic Autonomy Priority — Payments infrastructure is now viewed as core national security.

Why It Matters

Control of payment systems equals control of economic sovereignty. Europe’s pivot signals a global shift away from centralized, U.S.‑centric financial plumbing.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Independent payment rails increase the probability of new valuation mechanisms for currencies outside the dollar system, supporting reset‑driven repricing scenarios.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Infrastructure Decentralization — Payment systems fragment into regional blocs. 

Pillar 2: Digital & Alternative Settlement — Currency competition expands beyond FX into system architecture.

The reset is no longer theoretical — it is being built in real time.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters — "ECB’s Cipollone says geopolitical risks strengthen case for European payments autonomy"

• Reuters — “Digital euro could help make euro zone self-sufficient in payments, ECB’s Cipollone says”
  

~~~~~~~~~~

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

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Friday Morning 1-30-26

Monetary And Financial Measures To Control The Market And Protect The Iraqi Dinar

Baghdad: Shukran Al-Fatlawi    Saja Al-Gharawi

As part of the government’s efforts to regulate the market and enhance monetary stability, the relevant financial institutions continue to implement a package of integrated policies aimed at protecting the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar and reducing the impact of emerging changes on the national economy, especially with regard to the price gap between the official and unofficial markets for foreign currencies.

For the past two days, Iraqi markets have witnessed fluctuations in the exchange rate of the US dollar, which has exceeded 150,000 dinars.

Jassim Al-Aradi, a member of the Baghdad Economic Forum, said that the recent increases in exchange rates within the local markets came as a result of the overlap of a group of factors, most notably the application of the “Askoda” system, which prompted some traders to look for quick alternatives to secure the requirements of their foreign trade. 

Procedural Paths

He added to “Al-Sabah” that some traders turned to the parallel market to obtain dollars, due to the delays or procedural paths that accompanied the first stages of implementing the system, which led to an increase in the unregulated demand for foreign currency, and directly affected the movement of the market and price levels.

Real Demand

Al-Aradi stated that the Central Bank of Iraq continues to play its role in meeting the real demand for dollars for foreign trade purposes, through official channels, and in accordance with compliance controls and international standards.

 He pointed out that addressing these increases requires giving the market a period of time. 

Sufficient to adapt to the new mechanisms, along with simplifying procedures and intensifying coordination between the concerned parties, which contributes to reducing recourse to the parallel market, restoring balance to the exchange market, and maintaining the stability of the dinar and the confidence of dealers in the adopted monetary policies. 

The Prime Minister’s financial advisor, Dr. Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, told Al-Sabah: “Reducing the gap between the official exchange rate in the organized market and its counterpart in the unorganized market is not a single monetary decision, but rather a conscious coordination between fiscal and monetary policy, supported by financial reforms that contribute to strengthening confidence and reducing risks.”

Economic Behavior

Saleh pointed out that this coordination aims to redirect economic behavior from hedging and speculation to stability, through the continuation of financial and trade policies and in full cooperation with the Central Bank of Iraq, in a way that enhances monetary stability and preserves the purchasing power of the citizen.

He stressed that controlling public spending and directing it towards development priorities, along with regulating the demand for foreign currency through official banking channels, represent two fundamental pillars in reducing the artificial pressures on the parallel market and narrowing the gap between the official and parallel prices, in line with the objectives of monetary stability stipulated in the Central Bank of Iraq Law No. (56) of 2004.

Boosting Confidence In The Dinar

Saleh explained that the monetary authorities' continued adoption of a policy to defend the exchange rate, supported by strong foreign reserves, in conjunction with liquidity management and bolstering confidence in the national currency, has contributed to maintaining stable prices for basic commodities and citizens' living standards within safe inflation ranges.

He pointed out that these measures are part of a broader reform path aimed at enhancing the transparency of public finances, improving compliance with the global financial system, and supporting the resilience of the banking sector, thereby consolidating economic stability and strengthening the confidence of citizens and stakeholders in the national economy.

Market Regulation

For his part, economist Ziad al-Hashemi told Al-Sabah that regulatory and control measures in local markets directly contribute to reducing speculation, which in turn reduces artificial demand for dollars in the parallel market, even if it doesn't eliminate it entirely. Al-Hashemi explained that factors contributing to high exchange rates remain, especially with the implementation of new systems such as the unified customs system (ASYCUDA), which was accompanied by uncontrolled demand for dollars, leading to additional pressure on the exchange rate in the recent period.

Cash Reserve

For his part, Dr. Sadiq Al-Rikabi, Director of Economic Research at the Global Center for Development Studies in the United Kingdom, pointed out that the Central Bank of Iraq's reserves represent the first line of defense for the dinar. He explained that the reserves' ability to meet the demand for dollars during any significant increases contributes to strengthening public and commercial confidence in the national currency.

Al-Rikabi also addressed the issue of inflation, clarifying that the rise in prices is not related to monetary inflation, but rather to structural inflation stemming from Iraq's heavy reliance on imports to meet its needs. This creates a continuous demand for dollars and affects the exchange rate.   https://alsabaah.iq/127173-.html

Economists: Lower Inflation Rates Reflect A State Of Stability

 Baghdad: Al-Sabah   Economists described the decline in inflation rates as a positive sign reflecting a state of relative stability in local markets. These indicators come at a time when many countries are facing inflationary pressures resulting from geopolitical tensions and rising energy and transportation costs, giving the Iraqi experience special importance in understanding the current economic landscape.

Economic expert Dr. Salwan al-Hashemi stated that the current decline in inflation rates in Iraq indicates a period of relative economic stability, particularly given the challenging economic conditions facing the region and the world. He noted that geopolitical fluctuations and rising global transportation and energy costs often impact local markets, but recent indicators suggest the Iraqi market's ability to absorb some of these pressures.

Trade Finance

Al-Nouri added that this decrease is largely due to the stability of foreign trade financing at the official exchange rate, which contributed to reducing the waves of unjustified increases in commodity prices, especially imported ones, indicating that monetary and regulatory measures helped to control market activity and limit speculation that was a direct burden on the purchasing power of the citizen.

Local Products

For his part, economist Ahmed Mukallaf confirmed that the abundance of supply in local markets, whether of imported goods or local products, contributed to creating a state of balance between supply and demand, and indicated that this balance helped to curb inflation, despite the continued challenges related to operational costs, fees and taxes imposed on commercial activity. 

Makhlef pointed out that maintaining low inflation rates requires continued monetary stability and boosting domestic production, along with diversifying income sources and reducing reliance on imports, and that these steps represent the real guarantee for the sustainability of price stability.

Food Department

At a time when the Ministry of Planning announced a decrease in the annual inflation rate by (1.2 percent) during December of 2025, compared to the same period of 2024. The Ministry explained that the food sector recorded a decrease in its prices by (0.7 percent) during the same month, in a positive indicator related to basic commodities.

Inflation Rate

Ministry spokesperson Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the inflation rate in December 2025 remained stable, showing no increase or decrease compared to the preceding month of November. He added that the core inflation rate decreased by 0.4 percent, noting that seven sectors experienced slight price increases, while three sectors saw price decreases, and two sectors maintained the same price levels as the previous month. https://alsabaah.iq/126932-.html

Expert: Salary Payments Delayed Due To Cash Liquidity Crisis... And This Is The Reason For The Dollar's Rise

Time: 2026/01/29  Readings: 375 times  {Economic: Al-Furat News} Economic expert, Jalil Al-Lami, confirmed that the delay in paying employee salaries is due to a cash liquidity crisis, while he attributed the reason for the rise in the dollar exchange rate to the law of supply and demand and the increase in speculation in the parallel market.

Al-Lami told Al-Furat News Agency that "the delay in employee salaries is technical due to poor management of transfers between the Ministry of Finance and the banks, in addition to problems with the electronic file and the existence of a liquidity crisis for the Iraqi dinar, which greatly affected the disbursement of salaries, and I believe that the crisis has been overcome after the Ministry of Finance's statement."

He added that "the dollar is subject to the law of supply and demand, and the rise in its prices is due to speculators and demand from small traders in the parallel market to cover their needs. Information also indicates a decline in the value of the dollar globally, which is met with a rise in the prices of goods and services, which has increased the demand for the currency in Iraq."

Al-Lami stressed "the need for the government to work through market and bank monitoring committees to ensure the stability of exchange rates, and for there to be transparency in dealings between the Iraqi bank and importing merchants, especially with the approach of the month of Ramadan."

He explained that "there is a direct relationship between gold and oil on one hand and the dollar on the other, as demand for oil from China has increased from two million barrels per day to three million barrels per day, at a time when OPEC has decided to reduce production by about one million two hundred thousand barrels per day. In addition, most global oil traders are working to raise prices to control the volatility in the markets."

Al-Lami concluded by saying, "The rise in oil prices is yielding positive results for the Iraqi economy and contributing to covering employee salaries."

Global oil prices recorded a significant jump in trading on Thursday, achieving gains of more than 4.3%, pushing Brent crude above the $70 per barrel mark, recording $70.33.   Wafaa Al-Fatlaw     LINK

“Tidbits From TNT” Friday Morning 1-30-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Ministry of Planning: The World Bank is proceeding with opening a dedicated office in Baghdad.

The Ministry of Planning confirmed that the World Bank is proceeding with opening a special office in Baghdad, in a move that reflects the bank's support for the Iraqi government, noting that Iraq has taken excellent steps in terms of reforms, while the bank expressed its readiness to provide greater support in areas of joint cooperation.

A statement from the ministry, a copy of which was received by Al-Furat News, stated that: “This came during a joint meeting with the World Bank team to discuss new projects in the current year’s budget 2026, within the framework of strengthening joint development cooperation between the two sides, in the presence of the World Bank’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Jean-Christophe Carré.”

Undersecretary for Technical Affairs Maher Hammad Johan said, “This meeting is an important step to frame the future relationship, whether at the level of the government or sectoral institutions, with the World Bank,” explaining that “the new projects were prepared in coordination with the various government institutions and ministries, especially the Ministry of Finance, in addition to the Prime Minister’s Office.”

He added, "The meeting was fruitful, during which the extent to which the Iraqi government can prepare its commitments to move forward under the umbrella of joint work with the World Bank was discussed, as well as which sectors will be targeted and the time limits for those projects." He explained that "higher authorities will be addressed regarding what the World Bank will provide in order to benefit from it in organizing priorities before proceeding with the new budget law."

Johan noted that "the World Bank is proceeding with opening a special office in Baghdad, which confirms the bank's support for the government, given that Iraq has taken excellent steps, and that they are ready to provide greater support in the field of joint cooperation with Iraq."  link

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Tishwash:  International Finance Corporation: Central Bank of Iraq measures are leading banks to finance development projects

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) confirmed on Thursday that the Central Bank's measures are leading banks to finance development projects, while calling for the creation of a market for syndicated bank loans in Iraq.

Bilal Al-Saghir, the resident representative of the International Finance Corporation, said during his participation in the (Iraq Development Platform), which was attended by a correspondent from the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The measures taken by the Central Bank of Iraq are leading the banking system to carry out the process of financing development projects, including energy projects of all kinds, but there are a set of limitations that frame the work of local banks operating in Iraq.”

He added that "there are two main links, the first is the financing of energy projects, which is a large-scale financing process, and therefore may conflict with the rules of credit concentration. The second link is the required financing periods, which exceed the ability of any bank to provide them, as the financing operations exceed 10 years and more, and therefore this conflicts with the scale of bank maturities."

He added that "the banking system has a major role in financing energy projects," calling for "the creation of a market for syndicated bank loans to combine their capabilities to provide the required financing amounts and terms."

He continued: "The other aspect relates to activating the capital sector in Iraq," referring to "green, regular, or blue bond operations, or green and blue sukuk, meaning the capital market."

He explained that "international financing institutions provide ample room for partnership with local banking institutions to provide financing operations in the required sizes because they are not bound by the controls imposed on banks."

He called for "a full partnership between the Iraqi banking sector and international financing institutions to participate in providing the required financing, which is of large volumes," noting that "the call for participation between local institutions and the relevant international financial institutions comes to provide the required financing, as our need to implement energy projects of all kinds is an urgent need."  link

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Tishwash: The Iraqi economy: US pressure and a liquidity crisis threaten financial stability.

Worrying indicators show the fragility of the Iraqi economy, with escalating external pressures and fluctuating oil prices, in parallel with an internal liquidity crisis that has begun to affect salaries and markets.

At a time when Iraq faces complex political and economic challenges, alarming indicators of a fragile financial situation are mounting, amidst ongoing US pressure, sharp fluctuations in oil prices, and a domestic liquidity crisis that is beginning to directly impact the lives of citizens and local markets. These factors combined are putting the Iraqi economy to a difficult test and raising serious questions about the government's ability to contain the repercussions and maintain economic stability in the coming period.

In this context, economist Bassem Anton stressed that Iraq is subjected to multi-dimensional pressures, in which political and economic considerations are intertwined, noting that these pressures are used to achieve gains related to sensitive regional issues, most notably the Palestinian issue, the Iranian file, and the power struggles in the region.

Anton explained that the United States adopts an approach of pressure, threats, and then gradual retreat as part of managing its political interests, indicating that Iraq is still unable to draw clear paths to deal with these pressures in a way that protects its economy.

He added that a drop in oil prices to levels that could reach $45 a barrel, in the event that the markets are flooded with Venezuelan oil, will directly affect the Iraqi economy, noting that the general budget depends on oil revenues by nearly 90%, which means a possible deficit in the implementation of projects, disruption of reconstruction plans, and exacerbation of service problems.

Employee salaries

In parallel, economist Mustafa Al-Faraj warned that the continued delay in paying the salaries of employees and retirees is a dangerous indicator of a severe liquidity crisis that could lead to a gradual paralysis of local markets.

Al-Faraj explained that more than 60% of consumer activity in Iraq depends on a fixed monthly income, stressing that any delay in salaries immediately affects purchasing power and leads to a recession that begins with non-essential goods before extending to food items.

He pointed out that the repercussions of the crisis are not limited to citizens , but also put pressure on traders and small business owners, and lead to a slowdown in the cash cycle, which negatively affects tax revenues and commercial activity in general.

Al-Faraj linked the salary delay crisis to the increasing financial deficit, explaining that internal debts exceeded 80 trillion dinars, and warning of a monthly liquidity crisis if the structural imbalance in public finances is not addressed.

He stressed that the solution lies in real reforms that include reducing unnecessary expenditures, reviewing the salaries and allowances of senior officials, and controlling public spending, in order to ensure the sustainability of salaries and market stability.

Between external pressures controlling oil prices and an internal liquidity crisis threatening the regularity of salary payments, the Iraqi economy faces complex challenges that require bold decisions and urgent reforms. Continued over-reliance on oil and the postponement of financial solutions portend deeper repercussions that could affect economic and social stability, compelling the government to act swiftly to avert a recession that will be difficult to contain in the future.   link

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Mot: Ya Just Gots to - REALLY - Think it Through - HUH!!!! 

Mot: Ya KNows!!! Question Everything!!!!