News, Rumors and Opinions Tuesday PM 12-31-2024
KTFA:
Clare: For four days.. Suspension of withdrawal and deposit operations in all Iraqi banks
The Central Bank of Iraq decided, on Tuesday, to suspend withdrawal and deposit operations for four days.
December 31, 2024 Baghdad /
According to a document, the bank decided to close the bank's doors on January 2, 2025 and stop conducting banking transactions for customers.
The bank also decided to suspend withdrawal and deposit operations on savings accounts in bank branches for the period from 12/30/2024 to 1/2/2025 for the purpose of completing the annual budgets. LINK
Clare: "Major Security Event"... US Treasury Under Cyber Attack"
12/31/2024
The U.S. Treasury Department was hacked in what it described as a major security incident, attributed to a Chinese state-backed entity, according to a document seen by Bloomberg.
The breach was carried out via a third-party software provider called BeyondTrust, where the hackers gained access to a cloud-based service used to provide technical support to the ministry's offices.
The ministry said the documents accessed were unclassified, and that the affected service had been completely shut down.
Reports indicate that Chinese hackers were involved in the incident, while the Chinese embassy denied the accusations, considering them to be smear attacks that are not based on evidence.
The attack is part of a series of cyber espionage operations targeting the United States, including telecommunications companies, which has raised significant concerns at the national level.
The Treasury Department confirmed that investigations are ongoing in cooperation with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, while receiving support from the affected service provider, BeyondTrust. LINK
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Clare: Baghdad is preparing to open 4 hypermarket centers.. 20% discount
12/31/2024
The Ministry of Commerce announced today, Tuesday, the opening of new hypermarket centers in the capital, Baghdad, in the coming days.
The ministry's spokesman, Mohammed Hanoun, told {Euphrates News} that: "Regarding the work of hypermarkets, a center was operated on a trial basis in the Al-Bayaa and Al-Hurriyah areas in Baghdad, and four more will be launched in the coming days, bringing the number to 6 in the capital."
He added, "The markets include all the needs of citizens, and there is cooperation with government and private markets for the purpose of purchasing materials on credit," indicating that "the prices of some materials are 20% lower than the local market, and many of them are 20% lower."
According to his statement, Hanoun looks forward to "fulfilling citizens' requirements of pharmacies, banks, restaurants, rest stops, and garages, most of which are free, civilized, and paid."
Raghad LINK
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Courtesy of Dinar Guru: https://www.dinarguru.com/
Frank26 [Iraq boots-on-the-ground report] FIREFLY: Alaq is talking about a big party they're having right now at the CBI for all the CBI employees who have worked so hard on the process and on the development of a new currency. They are celebrating along with the US Treasury delegation here on a visit. FRANK: I will admit that's pretty cool. It's also a telltale sign. That's why the US Treasury is there.
Militia Man It appears they're gearing for a change and that change is coming...The exchange rate could come when Alaq is ready to tell us and the world. If that 'mechanism' has to deal with an exchange rate, they're talking about that today. That's fascinating...
"I Find This Scary Because It's What Happens In A Blow-Off Top" - Mike Maloney
12-30-2024
Prepare to be startled by the dramatic extremes in today’s stock market. Mike Maloney and Alan Hibbard discuss the urgent red flags signaling a potential “blow-off top,” where market gains soar to dizzying heights before a sudden collapse.
Learn how the top 10 S&P 500 stocks alone are worth more than some of the world’s largest stock markets combined, why one of America’s biggest tech giants trades at all-time-high valuations, and how economic indicators are flashing warnings that many have chosen to ignore.
Key Topics Covered:
Why a narrow market rally can be alarming
The meaning behind “blow-off top” risks Understanding the divergence between market cap and economic indicators
How valuations compare to historic bubbles like the dot-com era
Actionable insights for navigating uncertain market conditions