KTFA Members "Thursday News" 1-30-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Iraq “Well Positioned” to Service its Debts

29th January, 2020
Iraq is well positioned to service its debt obligations, according to an article in Australia’s Investor Daily.

Responding to the question “what’s your view on bonds issued by Iraq’s government?“, Mark Baker writes:

“Iraq is a net external creditor, meaning its external assets are greater than its external liabilities. That means the nation is well positioned to service its debt obligations.”

More here.   LINK

Samson:  Al-Tamimi: The government completed the budget before it resigned, and we do not know why it was not sent

11:32 - 01/30/2020

Member of Parliamentary Finance Committee Magda Al-Tamimi said on Thursday that the government had implemented the 2020 budget law before its resignation, expressing surprise at the failure to send the budget after its completion.

Al-Tamimi said in a statement to "Information", that "the government could have sent the 2020 budget in mid-October last year," stating that "the government completed the budget before announcing its resignation, so what is the secret that prompted the government to refrain from sending the project?"

Al-Tamimi pointed out that "the government, by doing not to send the budget, may have hidden something that it does not want the parliament to see."  The member of the Parliamentary Law Committee, Hussein Al-Oqabi, had confirmed in a previous statement/the information, the inability to send the caretaker government a draft budget law to parliament, stating that allowing the budget to be sent is a legal disaster.   LINK

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Samson:  Parliamentary shock from "smuggled money" and calls for a strong government to settle it

13:44 - 01/30/2020
The deputy of Al-Fateh Alliance Fadel Jaber, Thursday, announced by the Supreme Council for Combating Corruption, described "shocking", stressing the need for a strong government to resolve the corruption files.

Jaber said in a statement to the "information", that "what the Anti-Corruption Council announced about the volume of funds stolen and smuggled out of Iraq constitutes a great shock to public opinion," surprising from "not paying attention to it and not highlighting the light and attention to it."

He added that "this dreadful amount is equivalent to the budgets of previous years, and a strong government must be formed to uncover the corrupt and hold them accountable and recover those enormous sums", noting that "opening these files will end the existence of large political blocs, but it will stand against the formation of a strong government."

Yesterday, Wednesday, the Supreme Council for Combating Corruption estimated the value of the funds stolen from Iraq. It is equivalent to investment budgets approved since 2003 until now.   LINK

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Don961:  76 countries participated in it .. Advisor to Mahdi: What Iraq earned from the Kuwait conference very little money and `` good intentions ''

Politics 01/20/2020 21:26 168 Editor: amm       Baghdad today - Baghdad

Despite the participation of 76 countries during its contract in 2018, the Prime Minister's advisor for financial affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, affirmed that Iraq only received “moral support and goodwill” from the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq.

Saleh said in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency, and followed him (Baghdad today), "Iraq submitted the cost of reconstruction for the losses caused by ISIS, which is estimated at 88 billion dollars, in addition to providing an investment map contributed by foreign countries and companies during the Kuwait International Conference for Reconstruction". Iraq".

He added that "the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers was running the work at the time and submitted a document of pledges," noting that "40% of countries answered the document that was submitted and 60% did not answer."

He stressed that "the countries that answered the document were limited to granting commercial loans," noting that "the Kuwait conference supported Iraq morally only."

He pointed out that "all credit facilities and investments in order to rebuild what was destroyed by the war were just pledges that did not take their way to the course of implementation."

He explained that "what was previously implemented was called (the Stability Cell) provided by the United Nations, the World Bank, international agencies and the European Union gave aid to the liberated areas to return the displaced, build the main infrastructure and remove mines," noting that "the amount of this aid does not exceed two billion dollars."

". He added, "The government is following up the file of the Kuwait conference, but some of them present difficult conditions," noting that "the other side is hesitant, but these pledges exceeded only good intentions."

He continued, "There are no sums transferred to Iraq after the conference, except for a very weak thing that does not amount to the reconstruction of all liberated areas."

The pledges made by the countries participating in the Kuwait Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq amounted to 30 billion dollars on the third and final day, so that such aid be in the form of loans, credit facilities and investments provided to Iraq in order to rebuild what was destroyed by the war.

In a press statement, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah said at the time that "the commitment of the international community to Iraq was clear during the conference" with a total amount of 30 billion dollars. At that time, former Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari said, in the first reaction to the declaration, "We were hoping For an even greater amount. "   LINK

Samson:  Details Of The Economic Part Of “Deal Of The Century"

29th January, 2020
The US peace plan that President Donald Trump unveiled on Tuesday focuses on the economic side for a qualitative shift in Palestinian life in exchange for peace and security for Israel.

The economic aspect of the 80-page plan focuses on investing $ 50 million in the Palestinian territories and neighboring Arab countries over a 10-year period.

At the invitation of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the United States had put forward the economic aspect of the peace plan in the Middle East, under the title ( Peace for Prosperity: A New Vision for the Palestinian People ), at a conference held in Manama last June.

The text of the plan, published on the White House website, indicates that the successful signing of the agreement on the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan will have a significant impact on the region's economic prosperity, and notes that the international community has affirmed in Bahrain its commitment to the economic plan and its necessity, as is the case for the possibility of starting to Implement it as soon as the peace agreement is signed.

The plan includes three initiatives that will support the main pillars of Palestinian society, namely the people, the economy, and the government.

With the possibility of facilitating more than $ 50 billion in new investment over a decade, Peace for Prosperity is the most ambitious and comprehensive international effort to date for the Palestinian people.

And the American administration asserts that "the plan has the ability to implement a radical transformation of the West Bank and Gaza, and to open a new page in the history of the Palestinians, a specific page, not with hostility and loss, but through opportunity and dignity."

The first initiative - the economy:

The plan indicates that “the first initiative will unleash the economy of the Palestinian people, through property rights and contracts, the rule of law, anti-corruption measures, capital markets, an escalating tax structure, and low tariffs while reducing trade barriers,” adding that “this initiative envisions policy reforms alongside Investments in strategic infrastructure that improve the business environment and stimulate private sector growth. ”

The plan aims to make electricity, clean water, and digital services secure for hospitals, schools, homes, and businesses, at reasonable rates. And it confirms that "millions of billions of new investments will flow to various sectors of the Palestinian economy."

Implementation of the plan will allow "businessmen to enjoy increased access to capital," and the West Bank and Gaza Strip markets will be linked to major trading partners, including Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. This will lead to the growth of the economy, which would lead to ending the unemployment crisis and turning the West Bank and Gaza into a center of opportunity.

The second initiative - Quality of Life for the People:

The second initiative enables the Palestinian people to achieve their aspirations, by leading new data and outputs based on education options, strengthening online education platforms while increasing professional and technical training, and expanding international scientific exchange.

This initiative will enhance the diversity of programs that will directly improve the ability of the Palestinian people, as it will strengthen the Palestinian educational system and ensure that students are able to achieve their academic goals and prepare for the labor market.

Equally important, the plan sees that "access to quality health care will be greatly improved, and Palestinian hospitals and clinics will be equipped with the latest healthcare technology and equipment."

In addition, the plan indicates that "new opportunities will be created for cultural and recreational activities that will improve the quality of life for the Palestinian people, whether from gardens and cultural institutions to sports facilities and libraries, and the projects of this initiative will enrich public life throughout the West Bank." West and Gaza. ”

The third initiative - the government:

The third initiative will focus on strengthening the Palestinian government, improving the capacity of the public sector, to serve its citizens and the ability of the private sector to grow.

This initiative will support the public sector in making the necessary improvements and reforms. To achieve long-term economic success.

The plan says that “commitment to support property rights, improve legal and regulatory frameworks for the work of companies, adopt a taxable, growth-oriented and enforceable tax structure, and develop strong capital markets, increase exports and foreign direct investment,” adding that “a fair judiciary would exist It is independent to ensure this growth, and new regulations and policies will help enhance government transparency and accountability. ”

The plan affirms that the international partners will work to end the dependence of the Palestinian public sector on donors and dependencies, and "put the Palestinians on a path to achieve financial sustainability in the long run, and that the institutions will be modernized and more efficient to facilitate the provision of the most effective basic services to citizens."

The plan believes that "with the support of the Palestinian leadership, this initiative can lead to a new era of prosperity and prosperity for the Palestinian people and institutionalize the policies necessary for the success of the economic transformation."

How to manage funds

The plan believes that "these three initiatives are more than just a vision for a promising future for the Palestinian people. They are also the basis for any actionable plan."

The plan defines the management of funds through "placing the capital raised through this international effort in a new fund managed by a multilateral development bank," noting that "accountability, transparency, anti-corruption and conditional guarantees will protect investments and ensure the allocation of capital efficiently and effectively."

She adds that "the leadership of the fund will work with the beneficiaries to set the outlines of annual investment, development goals and government reforms that will support the completion of the plan or project in the areas identified in the" peace for prosperity "framework.

As for grants, loans on concessional terms, and other forms of support, they will be distributed to projects that meet the specified criteria through a simplified process characterized by flexibility and accountability, according to the plan.

The plan sets conditions for the Palestinian leadership, saying that "in addition to the requirement for the state of Palestine to comply with all aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, the" peace for prosperity "agreement will be conditional on the following:

The establishment of the State of Palestine for transparent, independent and credit-worthy financial institutions capable of engaging in international market transactions in the same way as financial institutions in Western democracies.
Establish an appropriate system of governance to ensure the proper use of the funds.
Establishing a legal system that protects investments and fulfills trade expectations.
The plan indicates that "the United States will work with the Palestinian Authority to define economic projects for the city of Jerusalem and employ them in" peace for prosperity "projects.

The economic plan published on the White House website concludes that it "will enable the Palestinian people to build a society that they aspire to establish for the sake of future generations." It will allow the Palestinians to achieve a better future and pursue their dreams. We are confident that the international community will support this plan, but in the end, the ability to implement it lies in the hands of the Palestinian people.”   LINK

"Wednesday Iraq News" Posted by Don961 1-29-2020

KTFA:

Don961:  Source: Saleh gives political blocs until Friday evening, on the candidate of the Prime Minister

2020-01-29 09:44:16 

A well-informed source revealed, on Wednesday, that the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, had given the political blocs until Friday evening about the prime minister's candidate.

The source said, "The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, gave the political blocs until Friday evening to present a non-controversial candidate for prime minister."

"Otherwise, Saleh will assign an independent figure who will accept the street," he added.

 Yesterday, a source close to the President of the Republic denied agreeing to a candidate for prime minister.   LINK

Don961:  A source confirming to NINA, the Sadrists and Al-Fateh agreement that Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi will be nominated to head the next government

Wednesday 29 January 19:31 2020 

Baghdad / Nina / An early source confirmed the arrival of the Sadrists and the Al-Fatah coalition to an agreement on the candidate for the post of prime minister of the next government.

He said in a brief statement to NINA news agency: The Sadrists and the Al-Fateh Alliance agreed this evening to nominate the candidate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi for the post of Prime Minister. / End 3    LINK

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Don961:  Anti-corruption: Iraq’s smuggled money has matched investment budgets since 2003

2020 - 01-28

On Wednesday, the Supreme Council for Combating Corruption estimated the value of the looted funds smuggled from Iraq as parallel to the investment budgets approved since 2003 until now, revealing the willingness of France and the United Arab Emirates to cooperate in recovering these funds.

Observer member Saeed Yassin Mousa said in a press statement, "The council took a huge number of measures, some of which are related to the executive authority and others are related to legislation," noting that "the recent events that took place in the country did not affect the progress of the council's decisions that are still under Follow-up and implementation.

"The council cooperated with the Judicial Council and the Integrity Commission - as the spearhead in combating corruption - through the Prevention and Recovery departments," Moussa said, noting that "procedures are taking place outside Iraq regarding the recovery file, and there are a large number of issues that need an administrative investigation."

Moussa added that "the file of recovering the smuggled money needs a kind of wisdom, wisdom and patience," noting that "the ease of depositing the stolen money in banks outside Iraq creates a great difficulty in recovering it, as some of them may need a period of up to 15 years," setting an example in The state of Algeria "that has experience in recovering its money after it has spent money on legal advice and travel equal to the value of the money stolen from it, but it only wanted to consolidate the state's sovereignty and respect public funds."

Mousa estimated the value of the looted funds, as "being equal to the total investment budgets approved in Iraq since 2003 until now", noting that "Iraq has previously participated in a workshop with seven countries related to the problem of money laundering and smuggling, as it is one of those countries that suffer from the two problems that Their impact The Anti-Money Laundering Law was issued in the Central Bank to meet the international requirements of banks and financial management.

The observer member of the Supreme Council for Combating Corruption pointed to "the presence of Emirati and French cooperation to recover the stolen money from Iraq," adding that "a meeting took place between the Director General of the Recovery Department and the head of the UAE Accounting Bureau at one of the conferences and informed the latter of his country's readiness to cooperate in this matter."

Moussa added: "Officials at the Ministry of Justice met with their counterparts from the UAE side to discuss this file," revealing "serious steps from the French public prosecutor who has expressed his full readiness to help Iraq recover its looted money."   link

Don961:  Abdul Mahdi's advisor: The price of a barrel of oil in the 2020 budget will be close to last year

29/01/2020

 Economy News _ Baghdad

The appearance of Mohamed Saleh, financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Adel Abdel-Mahdi, on Wednesday, it is likely that the price of a barrel of oil approved in the 2020 budget will be close to last year 2019, expecting the budget to mature in the coming weeks

The financial advisor attributed the delay in approving the budget for the current year to "the conditions that the country has experienced recently, and the occurrence of many changes, including spending obligations and government decisions, and decisions of the House of Representatives according to the powers of the relevant authorities, which formed additional financial obligations on the budget, which led to a financial deficit." There is a lot in it, so the cabinet returned it after discussing it to the Ministry of Finance to reconsider some of the spending decisions, and to study some revenues in a way that makes them sustainable

Saleh expected, "The maturity of the budget during the coming weeks, especially as there is consultation, understanding and exchange of ideas and opinions by the concerned authorities, in an attempt to take measures in a way that makes the budget permanent, and enhance resources as much as possible, reduce deficits, and control debts"

He suggested that "the price of the approved barrel of oil in the budget will be close to last year 2019"

He pointed out that "the bodies concerned with preparing the budget work to make the deficit subject to financing and reduction at the same time through alternatives and priorities for spending and projects and presenting the most important on the important and re-arranging the so-called" financial space for the management of resources and the running of the budget, especially there is an expansion of exchange so the budget needs to restore Prepare it in the exchange doors and maximize some non-oil revenues"

He explained, "According to the timing, the budget should have been completed at the end of October of last year," expressing his regret in the event of the end of the fiscal year and then passing the budget to approval, as it will be similar to the year 2014, meaning that the spending under the applicable financial management law will be 1 on 12 of the actual expenditures for the 2019 budget"  LINK

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Don961:  Trump announces tweeting to keep 5,000 US soldiers in Iraq

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 2020 19:43 

Baghdad ( NINA ) - US President Donald Trump announced that 5,000 American soldiers will remain in Iraq.
He said in his tweet today: With regard to the war decision, which will be voted on tomorrow in the House of Representatives, we have reached the presence of 5,000 soldiers there and we will reduce the number.
And Trump added: I want everyone, Republican and Democrat, to vote in their hearts for our country. / End 3    LINK

MilitiaMan and KTFA Members "They Have a Goal in Mind Now" 1-28-2020

KTFA:

MilitiaMan:  IMO, there are views that some may have, that impressions of what we see can be taken out context with out having a broader view.

We imo don't care about the 2020 budget, we/I care about the 2019 Financial Management Law Amendment that was passed and voted through under a residing and legal Prime Minister, just as was the 2020 Budget Law was two days prior to the PM ever resigning. All legal and legit.

The 2020 budget has the ability to adjust over months at 1/12th the budget, while they get the new rate sorted out. That is why imo the law was done accordingly and hidden to a large degree. 

They haven't shown us the rate yet from the 2019 FMLA. The rate precedes the 2020 budget,just as the NSNs will need a rate and just as there is no need imo for the new PM. If it so happens they give one.

There will still be future elections to contend with and an on going concern, which are mostly un related directly daily goings of the CBI. They sorted their game plan already. Now we wait and see if the CBI reports accordingly 01/01/2020 - 01/31/2020 without a program rate attached to it.. That would be a stark day imo.. Will that day come? I'll give you many reasons as to why it won't and can't.

These items may not be in cronological order but here goes.

1)  As far back as August 2019, we have been told in the Final Article thread at KTFA the project to delete the zeros and the lifting of the exchange rate is on going again and in process.

2)  Shortly thereafter around September 30th, the CBI quits posting Credit Transfers for the IQD and the USD. We didn't notice that the CBI did that at that time, but, just recently Delta made us aware of it. The pattern shows they had the Credit Transfers for at least two subsequent  years prior to the halt.

3) The CBI charts began showing the Money Supply Reduction and the money "value" to Commercial Banks being moved was in affect a trigger to keep an eye on things more closely. Backing up just a tad, the CBI told Banks that they need to be prepared if need be to modify contracts in early November 2019.

4) In fact that is what happened on December 01, 2019 through January 02, 2020 for the suspension of loans were noted. Later in the month of December 2019, the Iraq Trade Bank comes out and tells us they are ceasing Cash Deposits up to 12/26/2019, then after 12/29/2019 they were to cease cash deposits and wire transfers through 01/05/2020. We now understand they may have resumed, yet, we don't know in what capacity, yet.

5) So, as for other curious behaviors from the CBI, they haven't reported subsequent Money Supply and Money Movement to Commercial Banks for December 2019 yet.Though, they are showing price indicators of the IQD exchange rate for January. The timing is consistent for the time they reported the money reduction. They showed that it was modified on 12/08/2019. I found that data on or around 12/23/2019 real close. Why is that curious? Because for January, the data Delta found for the "Window Price for the IQD" was updated per the CBI 01/07/2020 and wasn't found on the site until 01/22/2020, just a couple days ago. A similar pattern appears to be in play even out through 02/09/2020, imo.

6) Another curiosity to this, is the numbers they posted being in the program rate price area. Regardless to date, the December 2019 Money Supply and money to Commercial Banks has not apparently been reported yet. The implications are they will have to have the rate placed first.

7) Hence, the 2019 FML Amendment has not been exposed, nor has the 2020 budget been other than 1/12th payments, that I am aware of. 

8) As for the relationship with having a PM. I know there are differing views on the matter. My view, Deltas view and  Basra Boyz, is as well. The key items for the CBI were done under management of a residing PM. That is done and sorted.

9) A new PM is not needed for that to have an effect on the release, as if they choose to the CBI has legitimacy to go live with a new rate when they feel fit to do so. Whether or not they want a PM at the helm prior to that? I don't know. They may very well be  massaging the PM into position to coincide with the new rate to come.  Whoever that may be in the end is not needed for the RI, ioo. I do agree that it may present better if they do seat him. However, fair elections are coming soon anyway, as that is a demand from the citizens, thus a PM if seated will be voted on later on, anyway, thus may be a mute point, imo..

10) Research on the CBI site per Delta shows that they spent upwards of $190,000,000.00 on print and minting new money.

11) Delta showed us a video that he translates to be about the process of taking in 25k notes and them being destroyed. Just like the Turk model has told us that will be apart of the process.. (Reduction of note count went from 50+- Trillion IQD down to 5+- Trillion, with subsequent value going to the Commercial Banks). They have destroyed money, that value has to still be there on the books.. With nscn's that will be replacing that value, with far fewer notes with far higher value, imo..

12) A preceding video from a similar CBI source shows and explains many things about the reforms, but, a main focus is that the CBI was given orders to complete the MRs. The CBI accepted them!!

So let all of the above set in for awhile and take it to prayer. As, imo GOD has this one in line and ready to go. Seems the CBI has a date to report what has been done in the coming days..  imo ~ MM

Rommy:  IMO MM this is an exquisite piece and should be considered as a candidate for the Final Articles!  Thank You!  

MilitiaMan:  Thank you Rommy... I believe the data we have from reliable sources shows that they have a goal in mind now.. Clearly a case can be made from what they tell us, that goal is about done.. imo ~ MM

Hammy14:  MM, these are all valid points and for the most part proves that the CBI is ready to launch the new exchange rate and all that goes with it.  HOWEVER, you make no mention of the fact that Iran and/or Iranian influence is STILL a major concern in regards to the releasing of the monetary reforms.  I believe it will take military intervention by the United States to rid Iraq from the evil scourge that is Iran.  How long that may take and at what point in that process is it "good enough" remains to be seen, but in my strong opinion, we are not there yet.  So, as with all the fine facts you bring showing us why we may soon see this, allow me to point out one very glaring fact as to why we haven't seen it YET.  Only time will tell us for sure where we really stand.  All IMO

MilitiaMan:  My view is the Iran circumstance is serious as it is and has been a very big concern and at this stage, it is what it is and you’r right, it is a scourge.

A rate change though imo may have to for the aforementioned reasons above and possibly because the potential effects than may come by putting even more pressure on Iran from within, that may negate or offset the risk of not doing RI. Time sensitive it is.. The citizens of Iran if Iraq RIs will see the prosperity it brings, they'll get more emboldened to take out those that oppress them..  A tactic that may work very well in our favor..

The Iraq CBI has a money issue that is staring them in the face, I am sure they are well aware of. A massive reduction in in note count is one of them. They also have contracts in the wings and in addition today, they tell there is a whole lot of monies ready to flow to create an environment for the Iraq citizens to be beneficial, one where that Iran will fail in at home..

The support from the international world is front and center in Iraq even today we see petitions in that regard. So, of course, we will wait and see how this plays out.

My view is they have to go now and in short order, no going back. There is no time to print all that they destroyed.. Makes no sense what so ever.. In my view the Iranian issue will be sorted biggly and imo with the potential power and of the strength in the IQD to come may just be the sword that cuts more of the tail. jmtc.. Thanks for the input.. ~ MM

Tony777:  MM, I thought the 1/12 monthly is based on the 2019 budget and not the 2020 budget that is not in effect yet, IMO.  Additionally, the2020 Budget was adjusted to contain the demands of the demonstrators, so those changes have to be voted/approved???  IMO

MilitiaMan:  Per my conversation with Delta and others the 1/12 is to be sued into the 2020.. ioo.. The citizens will imo will be very happy with the FML Amendment that will precede the 2020 budget. The 2020 needs the rate prior to open.. imo ~ MM

KTFA Monday Night CC Replay and Tuesday News 1-28-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Barclays expects oil prices to be affected by two dollars a barrel due to Corona

28th January, 2020

Barclays Bank said on Tuesday that oil prices will be affected by two dollars a barrel due to the potential economic impact of the outbreak of the Corona virus in China

China confirmed more than 100 deaths and more than 4,000 infected with the virus, prompting authorities to step up preventive measures, impose travel restrictions and extend the Lunar New Year holiday to limit the spread of the virus

The bank expects Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude prices to fall by two dollars throughout the entire year to 62 and 57 dollars a barrel, respectively

Oil prices have declined over the past six sessions, but the bank says the market's reaction may be overrated

Brent is currently trading near $ 59 a barrel and US crude near $ 53 a barrel   LINK

Monday Night CC with Frank, Walkingstick and Delta  1-27-2020

PLAYBACK : 605.313.5163 PIN: 156996#

https://fccdl.in/wy8txTQIKw

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Don961:  Mr. Sadr summarizes the demands of the demonstrators by 3 points

Saleh Muhammad al-Iraqi, spokesman for the Sadrist movement leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, published a picture from Tahrir Square, bearing 3 demands, one of which concerns the candidate for prime minister in the transitional government.

Al-Iraqi posted a post on his account on Facebook today (January 28, 2020), a banner raised by the demonstrators in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad, which includes 3 points, under the comment "Our demands":

1- Resolve the new election law

2- Nomination of an incontestable Prime Minister –

3- Set a date for the early elections

LINK

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Don961:  Trump Offers China Help: Our Experts Are Exceptional

January 27, 2020

 Scientists expect the infection of the Corona virus will exceed   40 thousand

 Washington — Morsi Abu Touq

Hong Kong AP

US President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States has offered China help in fighting the spread of a virus Corona, which sparked panic from its spread worldwide. Chirp Trump « We continue very closely with China with regard to the virus » . He added « very few cases monitored in the United States , but we are watching closely. We put on China and President Xi ( Jinping ) any necessary assistance. Our experts are exceptional .

 ” The   researchers from the University of Hong Kong said that the government should take measures « strict »Restriction of people's movements to control the spread of the emerging corona virus, and researchers estimated based on mathematical models that the number of casualties exceeded forty Olva.oukalt World Health Organization said the threat of Corona virus has become the emerging « high » at the international level, China 's first recorded case of death Bkrona in the capital city of Beijing .oosdr these Scientists from the University of Hong Kong warn them after the spread of the virus has accelerated A it led to 80 deaths declared in China

Officially declared 2744 cases in China, including a baby aged nine months, while the number of suspected cases has doubled in 24 hours to reach 6 thousand cases

The research group said Gabriel Leung Director « We must prepare for the possibility of this extraordinary epidemic became an epidemic world » . He added « must take important and tough measures as soon as possible to limit the movements of the population »

On Sunday, Chairman of the Chinese National Health Committee Ma Xiaoyi said that the incubation period for the emerging virus is up to two weeks And that infection is possible during the incubation period, that is, even before the symptoms of infection appear

Based on the mathematical models of the spread of the virus, Leung and his team concluded that the true number of infections far exceeds the toll Announced by authorities that only include officially declared cases

Leong estimated, based on the theory of statistical data, during a press conference in Hong Kong Saturday that « the number of confirmed cases bearing the symptoms must be within 25 or 26 thousand in the first day For the Chinese New Year » 

He added that if the cases that are still in the incubation period, and which have not yet been shown to them, are calculated symptoms of the virus, « is approaching the number of 44 thousand » 

Saw Leong it can to double the number of casualties every six days, reaching its peak in April / April the May / May in the areas where the epidemic has already found, but acknowledged the possibility of reducing the infection pattern in Once effective public health measures are taken

Wuhan and Hubei Province generally remain the epicenter of the disease. But cases have also been detected in a number of major Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Canton

Young said « We expect to see the spread of permanent centers of the epidemic in these major cities » 

While quarantine considered that « quite sound » , the researcher felt that the measures « may not "It would be sufficient to prevent the epidemic from spreading to other major cities "

The Hong Kong University Institute of Medicine team is a WHO collaborating center in the field Control of infectious diseases   LINK

Samson:  Historically, how do markets interact in times of viruses and outbreaks?

28th January, 2020

Days she witnessed many developments regarding the "Corona" virus with the fact that the disease spread inside and outside China, but historically, how will the markets and the economy perform in times of epidemic

Investors have recently interacted with updates related to the prevalence of a pneumonia-like disease, as news continues to emerge about the announcement of cases of corona

"There are fears that the Corona virus may spread quickly inside and outside China, which could cause economic and market damages," says Charles Schwab, global investment strategist Geoffrey Kleintop, in a memo quoted by Market Watch

The Corona virus was first detected on December 31 in Wuhan, the capital of the Chinese province of Hubei, but it has spread to other major cities. Eighty-one people have died in China so far as a result of the rapidly spreading virus, with the fact that about 2,681 people have been infected inside the country. The disease has spread outside China to countries such as the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, and others

Ultimately, the severity of the virus will determine the response of markets, as the success of indicators in overcoming infection from past disease outbreaks does not mean that this will be the case this time. The World Health Organization last week avoided declaring a global health emergency, but noted severe consequences in China

The head and chief financial officer of consulting firm "Cumberland" David Cotok wrote in a research note that infectious diseases and epidemics have consequences for the markets as they increase the risks and can be fatal. He continued: "External shocks can hinder economic trends and suddenly change market sentiment. Not all risks lie in economic or monetary policy

In 2003, while the Chinese authorities were struggling to combat the SARS virus, the MSCI Chinese stocks fell more than 10 percent. SARS had infected about 8,100 people with the virus during its outbreak in 2003, with 774 deaths, according to WHO data and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but the economic damage caused by SARS was more sustainable, according to a study by economists Gong Wha Lee, from the University of Korea, and Warwick Maqueben from the Australian National University. They said during a research paper published in 2004 that the rapidly spreading virus wiped out more than 1 percent of China's gross domestic product and 2.6 percent of Hong Kong's economic growth

It should be noted that during the peak of the spread of the SARS virus in the period from December 2002 to April 2003, the Standard & Poor's index declined by about 8.3 percent, and that the stocks related to discretionary spending and emerging markets (especially China) recorded a weak performance against A jump of 4.8 percent in gold prices. But the markets recovered quickly, in conjunction with the control of SARS, which indicates that in most cases any financial damage will be short-lived, as the chief market economist at Capital Economics in London wrote to “Oliver Jones” during a memo quoted by The Washington Post

Looking at the United States, which reported two cases of the disease in 2020, we find that Wall Street has historically interacted with such outbreaks and rapidly spreading diseases. According to Dow Jones Market data, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index registered gains of 14.59 percent after the first outbreak of SARS in 2002 and 2003, based on the performance of the index in the six months ending in April 2003 but its rise of 20.76 Percentage in the twelve months ended in the same month

Separately, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose nearly 11.66 percent in the six months following the 2006 bird flu virus announcement. But the broader US benchmark gained 18.36 percent in the twelve months to June 2006

The aforementioned data on the performance of stocks worldwide are similar based on the data of "Charles Schwab", where the MSCI index, which follows global stocks, rose by an average of 0.4 percent after a month of the epidemic and 3.1 Percent within the next six months and 8.5 percent a year later

In 2014, the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa led to a stoppage of US stocks as investors worried about the negative impact on consumer spending, as the Dow Jones index fell about 7 percent between mid-September and mid-October of the same year

As for the Corona virus, which causes respiratory syndrome in the Middle East, it scared investors from the end of 2012. From November 1, 2012 to December 1, 2012, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index declined by 0.8 percent, while gold prices rose 0.5 percent. But the broader index quickly recovered from losses much more quickly, gaining 15.1 percent over the next six months

The spread of the virus this year coincides with the country's Lunar New Year holiday, which is usually characterized by travel, leisure and increased consumption by the Chinese people. Analysts at Wells Farges Securities said in a report led by Jay Bryson that celebrating the lunar new year could increase the spread of the virus as well as the economic impact

The epidemic comes at a time when China's economy is experiencing its worst annual growth rate in three decades, with gross domestic product slowing to 6.1 percent in 2019. Wells Fargo analysts added that if the SARS epidemic is used as evidence, the economic impact of the current coronavirus, however, is likely to be temporary

So far, preliminary data on the virus that erupted in the Chinese city of Wuhan indicates that it is less severe, both in terms of infection and severity of impact compared to "SARS", according to analyst at Bank of America "Helen Qiao" in comments reported by "Penzinga

Investigators Robert Sevens, founder of Tom Asai, added during comments commented by Penzinga that investors should be prepared for more headlines on Wuhan which will move markets in the coming weeks. He continued: "From a market perspective, given that this disease is closely related to SARS, I believe that the market's response to the SARS outbreak provides a good model that should be followed

This turmoil comes at a time when Chinese economic growth is already fragile and will unfortunately remove some support in consumer and corporate sentiment from the trade deal between the United States and China, according to the former head of China’s unit at the International Monetary Fund, “Eswar Prasad,” during a comment with a newspaper. Washington Post. He pointed out that the spread of this disease on a larger scale has the potential to disrupt travel, trade and supply chains throughout Asia, with impacts on the global economy, given that Asia is a major driver of global growth

However, experts stress that it is important not to generalize the possibility of unforeseen outcomes from epidemics in economies and markets

Bloomberg cited a 2006 report by Fidelity Investments, indicating that no firm conclusions could be drawn about the effects of epidemics on stock market performance, as stock markets interact unexpectedly with the unknown. However, such events should not be interpreted in isolation, but should be viewed jointly with other prevailing market conditions, the report continued   LINK

Frank26 Videos Saturday Night "An Announcement to the Citizens" 1-25-2020

KTFA:

Frank26:  1-25-2020 AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE CITIZENS  Part 1

Intel starts about minute 17:00

This video is in Franks opinion.

Saturday Night Q&A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-_Fd3CVowg

1-25-20 part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVtlb6z4NBc

KTFA Members "News and Views" Saturday Afternoon 1-25-2020

KTFA:

Delta : AUG 20, 2012 - Central Bank Deputy Director Mohammad Saleh appearance drew the interest
of the Exchange must be with the new fiscal year, "the Iraqi Government's accounts
cannot be registered in the same year, two forms of financial values" "Delete the zeros MUST be at the beginning of a fiscal year"

"Delete the zeros MUST be at the beginning of a fiscal year"

IMO........... THEY HAVE A GRACE PERIOD OF 30 DAYS...

2cents :  DELTA DELTA I would like you to consider: We know Iraq Fiscal Year is 1/1/-12/31.

However, in business, the Fiscal year functionally starts upon spending monies specifically allotted for that Fiscal Year and Functionally ends when all approved allocations for that specific Fiscal Year have been remitted. The specific dates on a calendar are not the over-riding factor.

Therefore, until the budget for a given Fiscal Year for Iraq is approved posted in the Gazette
and disbursements made, the Fiscal Year has not commenced. We have seen many years that the
budget, upon approval is retroactive to 1/1 even though it may have been May or even June when
it was finally made law and subsequently disbursed. While technically, the Fiscal year started
1/1 in those years, it didn't commence until months later and was made retroactive to 1/1.

IMSO, the Fiscal Year of Iraq does not commence until the budget allocations begin to be disbursed
and will be retro to 1/1/.....

In light of the above, I will not be alarmed if we do not see the RD/RV -------->RI by 1/31.

I will be alarmed if the RD/RV ----->RI does not occur by the time the budget is passed
retroactive to 1/1 and disbursements initiated.....IMO that is when the Fiscal Year commences......

GodLover:  I completely agree with you 2cents on your thoughts on this imo. Furthermore, I still consider a new citizen approved PM is needed before any MR imo. As well, the budget hasn't even reached parliament per articles imo. I think a new PM will be what rids the corrupt enough to finally move forward on the 2020 budget & the MR imo.

What I do find interesting that I think I was the only one to mention it the last time it was posted is this quote below from the article...…..
 
"the Iraqi Government's accounts cannot be registered in the same year, two forms of financial values"

To me this states that, in line with 2cents thinking.....once the 2020 budget opens, this begins the 2020 fiscal year & it must open with the rate they plan on using for that fiscal year imo.

Jamie-O:  IMO that pretty well spells it out - so we wait and watch for the OFFICIAL announcement and swearing in of the new PM AND the approval AND opening of the new 2020 budget......Then we see the new rate!    

2Cents:  Just to clarify, hopefully, we will not care about the approval AND opening of the 2020 budget.........However, until it is, we can safely state the 2020 Fiscal year has not begun.....IMO

Jaimie-O:  THANK YOU 2 CENTS......Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think we can all agree on this - When we do see the opening of the 2020 budget - we will also see the new rate with it.  That FAT budget cannot work at a program rate!   OMO  

2Cents:  You may or may not be wrong.   IMO.....that is unfounded conjecture......We have heard similar statements for years and yet we still stay at 1190........An increased rate will only decrease the printing costs of currency by the CBI.  

The majority of Iraq income is from oil sales in USD....Based on the Budget Law, the MOF is then authorized to have the CBI exchange the USD from oil sales to IQD to pay the authorized expenses.....I cannot see where an increased rate of the IQD can have any effect on the profit level of Iraq oil sales when the IQD is not involved in the initial transaction......

That being said, when the IQD is recognized and publicly acknowledged to be Article VIII compliant, many countries and companies will flood Iraq with business and reconstruction projects enacting the contracts we have read about for years.  This will generate more income into the country and will contribute to reduce the deficit.  Realize, technically they could be acknowledged to be Article VIII at 1190.  Look at the rate of the Article VIII compliant VND.  The actual rate is irrelevant.  It is all just a fiat tally system.  Whether $100 USD is equivalent to 119,000 IQD or 25IQD, it is still the equivalent of $100 USD.....

However, that being said, we can surmise that that is not their plan.  They have told us they fully plan to "Delete the Zeros" and that this project is still planned to occur.  This is the RD which will require a RV.  They (except the corrupt, Iran and Hezbollah) certainly hope to be able to RI and be Article VIII compliant but that is not their ultimate choice.

I am certainly open for positions as to why a increase in rate is required for the 2020 budget or how that will eliminate the deficit in the budget.   I just cannot come up with any justification for such a statement......

Additionally, the 2019 budget was about 125 trillion IQD (10.4 Trillion/month).  We hear the 2020 budget is about 148 trillion IQD (12.3Trillion/month).......If the 125 trillion budget was functional at 1190, why would the 148 trillion budget not be?????

Are we to believe they can make 10.4 Trillion/month budget work at 1190 but they can't make 12.3 Trillion/month work at 1190????

It predominantly comes down to Oil sales in USD

Jaimie-O:  ALL GOOD POINTS......THANK YOU.  I certainly get what you're saying IF they continue operating on the USD - but what about when they are forced to operate on THEIR OWN CURRENCY as we are taught is coming?  But - I guess the oil sales would still be in the USD?
I see your point.  And Vietnam, as you say, has thrived a LONG time on a worthless currency!

2Cents:  Exactly.....if shut off the USD - game changer !!!! They can run internally at 1190 but are not set to run externally.  Their economy would quickly collapse, IMO

Frometad:  Let's go President Trump...shut of the USD in Iraq.

ChrisC:  Watching Iraq is like watching a bunch of drunk idiots drive the Pacific Coast Highway at night.  Finally after scraping the rail a few times, one of them is sobering up enough to realize they are going to die if somebody doesn't get control of things.  They need to stop the car, kick the drunk driver and his buddy who keeps handing him the beers out of the car and let them walk home or they are going to be a pile of metal at the bottom of the cliff.  IMO.

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

Don961:  Pictures: Ivanka Trump at Ain Al-Assad base with an unannounced visit

2020-01-25

Yassin Iraq: Baghdad,
media and activists have circulated on social media, photos of Ivanka Trump's daughter, Ivanka, visiting Anbar al-Assad base in Anbar.

This visit comes amid talk about the increasing number of injuries in the ranks of the US military and the appearance of complications in the brain against the background of the missile strike launched by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in response to the killing of Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani in an American raid near Baghdad airport south of the capital.  LINK

Samson:  Al-Fateh: The nomination of the Prime Minister will be decided this evening or tomorrow morning

16:26 - 25/01/2020

The Al-Fateh coalition announced, on Saturday, that the candidate for prime minister will be announced this evening or tomorrow morning, indicating that the number of demonstrations is decreasing after achieving most of its demands.

“Most of the demands of the demonstrators were fulfilled in the matter of the election law and a new independent commission, and their contracts and others were abrogated, which led to a decline in the number of demonstrators in the squares,” said the deputy from Al-Fath Fadhel Jaber.

He added that "the last important joint is the naming of the prime minister from a non-dialectical figure that eliminates the tension that exists between the demonstrators and the government and contains them, which is the most important point for them."

He explained that "the president of the republic will announce the name of the candidate to form the government this evening or Sunday morning, in response to the demands of the demonstrators and the demands of the religious authority in Najaf."   LINK

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Don961:  In response to attempts to break the sit-in .. Protesters burn the headquarters of my party in southern Iraq

ARAB WORLD

GMT 11:26 25.01.2020(Updated GMT 11:49 25.01.2020)

"Sputnik" correspondent in Iraq, quoting an eyewitness, said that protesters set fire to the headquarters of a partisan military wing, in Dhi Qar Governorate, south of the capital Baghdad, to condemn the attempts to break the sit-in and open roads.

The witness, who declined to be named, said that the protesters burned the headquarters of the Badr Organization "a partisan military wing" in Al-Nahr Street, in the middle of Nasiriyah , Dhi Qar Center, in the south of the country, in response to the attempt to open the international highway linking the province with the capital, and all of the southern provinces

And the witness, who is one of the most prominent activists participating in the demonstrations of Dhi Qar, said that there is news about the intention of the security forces to storm Al-Haboubi Square, which is controlled by the demonstrators

.......CONTINUES    LINK

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

Samson:  Legal: Abdul-Mahdi is a key partner in killing protesters in accordance with the constitution

25th January, 2020

Legal expert Ali al-Tamimi confirmed today, Saturday, that the resigned commander in chief of the armed forces, Adel Abdel-Mahdi, was a key partner in killing protesters in accordance with the constitution.

Al-Tamimi told Al-Akhbaria that, “According to Iraqi law, Article 24 of the Military Penal Code, the matter is responsible for the crime and is considered a partner even if he does not give the orders to kill,” noting that “the same is the case in Article 52 of the Internal Security Forces Law and even in the Iraqi Penal Code Article 48 and 49 are held accountable for incitement, direction, and assistance, and commanders are held accountable for intentional killing, causing disabilities and bodily harm.

And he added, "Articles 6, 7 and 28 of the International Criminal Court Law punished the leaders for genocide and crimes against humanity even if they did not give orders because their duty necessitates their knowledge." Likewise, the ruling by the Criminal Court in Cairo against Hosni Mubarak for the same matter and the killing of demonstrators, in addition to the fact that these crimes are not subject to statute of limitations.  LINK

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

Don961:  Iran does not rule out negotiating with America even after the assassination of Soleiman

01/25/2020 05:36:50

Shafak News / Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday that Tehran does not exclude negotiations with Washington even after the assassination of the Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, provided that it changes its approach and removes sanctions.

In an interview with the German newspaper, "Der Spiegel", Zarif added that the assassination of Soleimani was the beginning of the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq and possibly from the region, noting that Iran had done a lot of harm to the United States.

He said, "The United States, with all its military might, was unable to prevent Iranian missiles from targeting American bases in Iraq."

Iran targeted two US military bases in Iraq, on January 8, in response to the assassination of Soleimani with a US air strike.  LINK

Moparman:  These fools remind of the movie from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The part where the black night was getting his arms cut off and then his legs and saying It's just a flesh wound. They just don't get it. The United states is playing Iran's game for diplomatic reasons and for the benefit of Iraq. At any given moment the US could crystalize Iran. But, the US are not blood thirsty savages like Iran.

KTFA Members "News and Views" Friday Afternoon 1-24-2020

KTFA:

ChrisC:  I want to bring to everyone's attention the startling fact that last night the amount needed to keep the banks solvent jumped an unbelievable amount.  It jumped in one day 1/4 of a TRILLION dollars!  That is right, over 250 BILLION in one day! 

The sun still came up today, but this has to be a sign of something big getting ready to happen, IMO. 

I remember the first big crash I was personally involved in and when you start seeing things like this happen, you better hold onto something and brace for impact. 

Some people like Bix Weir and some don't, but so far he has been amazingly accurate on what he predicted would happen and this vertical rise is leading to something big, IMO.

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

BMCG:  Question? Didnt Delta say the had to ri/rv delete the zeros etc in Jan? I am asking so I am remembering correctly. Something about the CBI legally needing to do it Jan and thats why it was delayed?

DELTA:  HI.... BMCG...YES AND THAT CAME FROM CBI FROM 2012..

AUG 20, 2012 - Central Bank Deputy Director Mohammad Saleh appearance drew the interest of the Exchange must be with the new fiscal year, "the Iraqi Government's accounts cannot be registered in the same year, two forms of financial values"

"Delete the zeros MUST be at the beginning of a fiscal year"

IMO........... THEY HAVE A GRACE PERIOD OF 30 DAYS...  WISH YOU ALL THE BEST MY BROTHER..

Dan:  The USA needs to make the US dollar Very scarce in Iraq. If not we will continue on the the merry go round with Iran continuing to steal and trying to impose their will in Iraq.

A best case scenario is new PM is announced soon. Iraq ALWAYS drags everything out as long as possible. After announcing the new PM they have 30 days according to recent Intel at ktfa. That puts us into March.  The only way I see this speeding up is dry up The US dollar and force Iraq to RI there currency to pay bills.

If this does not occur. We Will be doing good to see it in March. This is what Intel is currently showing us. Would love to be wrong. Ok everybody go ahead and slam me for my post

BMiddle48:  Hannity on Fox tonight just announced POTUS Trump is scheduled to announce next week a HUGE new deal in the Middle East

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

Don961:  Trump will release by Tuesday the details of the century deal in the Middle East

- 31 Minutes Ago

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will unveil the US Middle East peace plan known as the "Deal of the Century" before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington next Tuesday.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Miami to participate in a political event, that the Palestinians might initially react negatively to his plan, but made it clear that it would benefit them. "It is a great plan, it is a plan that will actually succeed," Trump added.

Trump has said that reports circulating about the details or timing of the US plan to liquidate the Palestinian issue known as the "Deal of the Century", which were not disclosed "purely speculation."

This comes after Israeli media said, on Thursday, that President Trump decided to publish the details of the "deal of the century" before the Israeli elections scheduled for next March 2, while the private channels "12" and "13" were quoted by Israeli and American sources (you did not name them). ), That the White House will release within 24 hours a statement regarding the release of transaction details.
The two channels indicated that Trump invited outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz to visit Washington next Tuesday, to meet them and place them within the details of the deal, to be published before the Israeli elections, according to what was quoted by "Anatolia."

Later, US Vice President Mike Pence said that President Donald Trump invited Netanyahu and his rival in the elections, Benny Gantz, to visit Washington next week to discuss the "Deal of the Century".

"President Trump asked me to invite Prime Minister Netanyahu to come to the White House next week to discuss regional issues, in addition to the prospects for peace here in the Holy Land," Pence added, after a meeting with Netanyahu at the US embassy in Jerusalem.

"Trump called Israeli Prime Minister outgoing Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of the party" white blue - "Benny Gantz, to visit Washington next Tuesday, the meeting and put them under the details of the transaction, to be published before the Israeli elections"

I believe that the president seeks to give Israel peace and security as it deserves, and therefore I accept with pleasure the invitation," Netanyahu said.

From Washington, the White House confirmed, in a statement, that Netanyahu will visit Washington next Tuesday.

The White House added that Gantz also accepted the invitation of the US president to visit Washington, but he did not specify a date yet, according to "Reuters".

A source familiar with the plan said that US officials would likely reveal some details of Trump's plan for Netanyahu and Gantz.

Netanyahu and Gantz support the publication of the deal before the Israeli elections, which was considered a change in the position of Gantz, which was considered interference before the elections.

On Tuesday, Gantz expressed support for publishing the deal before the elections in Israel.

Jared Kushner, Senior Adviser to the President of the United States, and the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Avi Berkowitz, were supposed to arrive in Israel to participate in the fifth "Holocaust" forum in West Jerusalem, and to meet Netanyahu and Gantz to discuss the details of the deal.

However, they were unable to come due to bad weather, as reported by Channel 12.

The Palestinian presidency is waving the response

On the other hand, Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for the Palestinian Presidency, stressed on Thursday evening the Palestinian rejection of the American decisions that were announced about Jerusalem and considered it the capital of Israel, along with all the American decisions that violate international law, threatening that the Palestinian leadership will take measures if it is announced Any American move.

Abu Rudeina said in a statement, in light of what is reported by the media and other sources, about the near announcement of the rest of the "deal of the century", that "if this deal is announced with these rejected formulas, the Palestinian leadership will announce a series of measures in which we maintain Our legitimate rights, and we will demand Israel to assume its full responsibilities as an occupying power. ”He warned Israel and the American administration not to cross the red lines.

Abu Rudeina affirmed the steadfast Palestinian position calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of the land of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Hamas vows to thwart the "Deal of the Century"

For its part, Hamas movement vowed to thwart the "Deal of the Century", stressing that "any deal or project that detracts from our full rights to our lands and our sanctities, will not pass."

"All attempts to pass this deal will be destroyed by the rock of our people's resistance and steadfastness," said Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for the movement.

He added: "It is our Palestinian people who will determine their fate on their own, through their continuous revolution, legitimate struggle, and their absolute belief in the justice of their cause, and their ability to sacrifice until they extract their freedom."

He stated that the borders of Palestine "were drawn by our people with his blood that was shed through the history of his resistance to the occupier, and these borders will not be drawn by an American decision, and no force will be able to reduce these registered borders with the blood and body parts of our nation's martyrs and our nation."

He pointed out that "successive leaks about the US administration's announcement of the so-called deal of the century, insistence on participating in the aggression against the rights of our people."

The "Deal of the Century" is a peace plan prepared by the Trump administration, and it is said that it is based on forcing the Palestinians to make unfair concessions in the interest of Israel, including the status of occupied East Jerusalem, and the right of return of refugees.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly declared, during the past two years, that the Palestinians reject the "deal of the century", because it takes Jerusalem, refugees and borders from the negotiating table.

And the US administration has suspended, for the past two years, all forms of financial support to the Palestinians, including infrastructure projects and hospitals in East Jerusalem, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

In turn, the Palestinian leadership suspended its political contacts with the US administration after Trump's decision, on December 6, 2017, to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the Washington embassy to the occupied city.

New Arab   LINK

KTFA Members "News and Views" Wednesday PM 1-22-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Armed factions threaten the President of the Republic because of Trump

22nd January, 2020

The Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq, President Barham Saleh, has threatened to prevent him from entering the capital, Baghdad, if he meets US President Donald Trump at the Davos conference.

"We stress the need for Barham Saleh's commitment not to meet with the foolish Trump and the group of killers accompanying him," the brigade's security official, Abu Ali Al-Askari, said, adding: "We will then say: Neither welcome nor easy, and the free people of our children will expel him from Baghdad".

The "Al-Nujaba movement" also made a threat to President Saleh if Trump met, according to a statement of the movement, in which she said, "At this crucial and important stage in the history of our country ... This occupier who usurped his land and refuses to withdraw, "(referring to US President Trump).

It is noteworthy that Iraqi President Barham Saleh left yesterday to attend the "Davos" economic conference in Switzerland, where a number of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the conference to discuss bilateral relations  LINK

Samson:  A source reveals the main goal of Iraq to participate in "Davos" and what Saleh will discuss with Trump

22nd January, 2020

An informed Iraqi source revealed the main goal of participating in the Davos Economic Forum in Switzerland, as well as what President of the Republic Barham Saleh will discuss with US President Donald Trump.

The source said in a statement to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, which was followed by "Al-Ikhbaria", that "Iraq seeks to diversify the sources of its economy and its national income, especially after the start of signing agreements with many countries of the world, especially China, for this purpose."

He pointed out that, "Saleh will discuss with the world leaders the general situation in the region, especially in the Middle East. At the forefront is the Iranian-American escalation, which Saleh will discuss with US President Donald Trump, who announced that he will discuss with Saleh the issue of the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq."    LINK

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Samson:  Political expert: Saleh and Trump's meeting with Switzerland is very important .. He will return next Thursday to resolve the prime minister

21st January, 2020

Iraqi political expert Wathiq Al-Hashemi stressed on Tuesday the importance of President Barham Saleh's meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Davos conference in Switzerland.

Al-Hashemi told Al-Akhbariya: “The visit of the President of the Republic to Switzerland is very important, especially at the present time. He added: "Saleh's meeting with Trump is very important in light of the American escalation on Iraqi soil, as well as more important issues that Saleh will discuss during his visit."

The expert Hashemi said: "Saleh will return next Thursday to Iraq, in order to resolve the prime minister's file."

It should be noted that an informed source in the Presidency Court said earlier today, in a statement to Al-Akhbariya, that the President of the Republic left for Switzerland to attend the Davos International Conference, after it was not possible to agree on the selection of a new Prime Minister during the meetings held today.  LINK

Jjimmyjj:  Iraq doing Iraq things:   They really did unofficially announce a new prime minister,  stir up confusion about who it was, didn't bother to name the prime minister officially,  then leave the country for a boondoggle trip to the Billionaire's playground at Davis-- all the while telling the citizens that they have everything under control and things will definitely get taken care of when they get back. 

If anyone wonders how we're this far down the rabbit hole with our investment,  this is why. These are not serious people. 

Why actually accomplish something,  when you can talk about accomplishing something  and steal during the confusion?

ChrisC:   Elementary my dear Watson, the whole lot of them are nothing but stinking thieves, but you have very succinctly defined their often repeated game plan.  I thought they had finished cramming the last of the bags full of bills, but they must have found another box of trash bags.  Will SOMEBODY JUST HANG SOMEBODY AND GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!?!?  These protesters are insanely brave to take on soldiers and snipers with no weapons, but they are getting nowhere.  They need some video of Maliki being dragged behind a Jeep or Mahdi running a gauntlet.  Now THAT will get somebody's attention.  IMO

Samson:  Trump's President: Iraq is keen to establish balanced relations with all

22nd January, 2020

The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, confirmed today, Wednesday, to the American President, that the Iraqi government is keen to establish balanced relations with all, while the two sides discussed reducing the American forces in Iraq. 

A statement issued by the President's Office received "Al-Akhbariya, a copy of it," that "Saleh met today with US President Donald Trump to discuss international issues and events in the region," noting that "the meeting came within the schedule of a series of daily meetings with a number of leaders and heads of state." He noted that "Saleh held in-depth discussions with Trump, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos," stressing "the need to intensify international efforts to establish security and stability at the international and regional levels."

He pointed out that "consolidating and strengthening them is the only way to ensure the achievement of a comprehensive peace in the region," stressing that "Iraq is keen to establish balanced relations with all friends and allies in a manner that enhances its sovereignty and respect for its independent decision and realizes the interests of the Iraqi people, and to continue economic development and reconstruction and not to allow it to be transformed." Iraq into an arena for conflict and settling accounts."

For his part, the American President renewed his country's support for the stability of Iraq and its keenness on strengthening common relations and expanding the volume of cooperation between Iraq and the United States in a manner that serves the interests of the two peoples, valuing the pivotal Iraqi role in the region.

The statement pointed out that "the two sides examined the presence and reduction of foreign forces in the country, and the importance of respecting the demands of the Iraqi people in preserving national sovereignty and ensuring security and stability."   LINK

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Samson:  Russian official: Whoever disagrees with America seeks to buy gold

17:40 - 01/22/2020

The amount of Russian reserves of gold increased by 159 tons in 2019, to 2270.56 tons, thus the country increased the gap between it and China, which ranks sixth (1948 tons) and at the same time narrowed the difference with Italy and France (2452 tons and 2436 tons, respectively).

While Germany, which occupies the second position with a reserve size of 3370 tons of gold, is still significantly ahead of its closest followers, the gold reserves of the United States of America is similar to the reserves of the three countries in the ranks that follow, together with a reserve of 8133.5 tons.

According to the information of the Russian Central Bank, gold has been purchased this year regularly to support the reserve, which included strengthening the country’s place in the rating.

"Gold is bought permanently by those countries that have problems with the United States, in addition to Russia, and large quantities of gold are bought by Turkey and Indonesia, for example," Alexei Vyazovsky, deputy head of the "Golden Currency House" company in Russia, said in a press interview. The example, as well as the clear interest that other big countries place on gold.

"As for the purchase of gold by Russia, work in this direction will continue, even if it is not at the level of the size it was in the past year and before, and with the waning of economic problems and the disposal of the imposed sanctions, the subject of buying gold has become, the developed countries maintain from half to a third of their reserves It is a precious metal, not just gold. If we reach this indicator, we can say that our economy is close to that of developed countries.

According to experts, Russia is still the largest buyer of gold, in 2019 its purchases of gold accounted for more than 20% of all purchases of this precious metal in the reserves of countries.   LINK

Monday Night KTFA CC and Tuesday News 1-21-2020

KTFA:

MoeApollo:  Ok folks...I spoke to a couple people about Allawi. Sorry but I had to know more and people are scared to talk these days. All this is anecdotal so consider it all opinion please.

Seems that Allawi is a consensus candidate. He is a moderate that is acceptable to most because he is a non-sectarian so he is easy to throw in the mix.

He is NOT an Iranian loyalist (which may explain the rockets & his possible reluctance) BUT some of the protesters don't want him simply because he is close to Sadr.

The fact that his nomination doesn't please everyone makes me kind of dig him lol In short...he is dispassionate & dispassionate people are unpredictable and THAT makes him a threat to people that have agendas. So yeah...there will be resistance to this one.

Now...we wait and see. As always, God's got this & I ain't sweatin it. My prayer is that we (us AND the Iraqi people) get to the promised land together

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Monday night KTFA CC

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Pete2001:  Delta can you clear up which Allawi the citizens want and which one Saleh is appointing?  Mohammed or Ali...thanks in advance

DELTA:  CITIZEN WANT ......Ali Abdul Amir Allawi

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Don961:  Allawi: The President will not charge me tonight, which is why

 Time: 1/20/2020 11:18 PM  

{Baghdad: Al Furat News} Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi revealed the reason for not mandating him to form the transitional government.

A source close to Allawi told {the Euphrates News} saying that "President of the Republic Barham Saleh will not cost Allawi today," indicating that "the incompatibility prevented that."

A political source revealed, this evening, to Al-Furat, that "the nomination of candidate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi has not been resolved, and he may falter and search for another candidate."

The (Al Furat News) revealed this afternoon, quoting a source familiar with the most likely candidate to head the transitional government, who may be assigned tonight.

The source stated to {the Euphrates News} that, “After excluding 3 candidates from the position, namely (Qasim Al-Araji, Mustafa Al-Kazemi and Ali Allawi) from the nomination, the competition between {Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi} and {Ali Shukri} was restricted.”

He added, "According to political sources," Allawi is the favorite and most likely to assign him. "

Informed sources had revealed that the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, would probably appoint the candidate for the position of head of the new government today and "obtain the acceptance of the masses and political parties."    LINK

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Don961:  IN CONTRAST TO POST 20 ,(above)  SAYING FROM ALLAWI HIMSELF , WHICH HAS A TIME STAMP OF 11:18 PM  ... THIS :

Urgent: Barham Salih commissioned Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi as Prime Minister

Monday 20 January 2020 at 21:46 pm

Baghdad / Sky Press 

The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, officially assigns Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi to take over as prime minister after a meeting that ended shortly before the presidential palace.   LINK

MarkC:  But will citizens  be happy..that's what matters  

Don961:  ACCORDING TO PREVIOUS ARTICLES YES .. BUT WE SHALL SEE .

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Don961:   Prof. Haider Wahab Al-Anzi *: Legal Spotlights on the Central Bank's Independence from the Executive Authority - A Comparative Analytical Study

01/19/2020

The issue of the independence of the central bank from the executive authority conflicts in two opposing directions.

 The first sees that the independence of the central bank is merely a myth, an illusion or an idea that is not applicable for several reasons, foremost of which is that the monetary authority has not yet reached the amount of the independent public authority, just as it is like other public legislative and executive authorities.

Judicial and the monetary policy that the central bank is concerned with formulating and implementing is part of the general policy in the state and therefore the central bank must return to the executive and legislative branches and be associated with them and is in the process of drawing monetary policy and implementing it either.

I saw that the independence and the necessary condition necessary for the success of the work of the Central Bank and other than that the bank is subject to the domination of the government and this is what causes financial risks standing in the forefront of falling into the inflationary crises.

But if independence is necessary, all its elements must be available, namely financial independence, administrative independence and technical independence.

If the constitution of the Republic of Iraq in force for the year 2005 stipulated that the central bank is an independent public body that is responsible for questioning it and interrogating its employees, the constitutional treatment of the issue of independence was not a treatment.

 Integrated, where several deficiencies were marred, and the researcher took the spotlight to highlight the constitutional and legislative deficiencies with proposing the necessary and appropriate solutions to enhance the independence of the central bank from the executive authority in a manner that guarantees the aforementioned bank’s full performance of its tasks.

To download the study as a PDF, click on the following link

Legal highlights on the independence of the Central Bank from the executive branch

(*) Professor of Public Finance and Financial Law, Faculty of Law, Al-Mustansiriya University
ARTICLE LINK  

DELTA:  THANK YOU DON...

MORE CONFIRMATION CBI ON THE VERGE OF ...YOU KNOW..MUSIC TO MY EARS 

"CBI is in the process of drawing up and implementing monetary policy"

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Don961:  Rockets fall on the Green Zone

 Time: 1/21/2020 12:19 AM

{Baghdad: Al Furat News} Three Katyusha rockets hit the Green Zone after midnight on Monday.

A security source told {Al Furat News} that “three Katyusha rockets landed near the Green Zone in Baghdad.” Noting that "the American embassy sirens sounded after the rockets fell."   LINK

Samson:  The Ministry of Interior announces the arrest of a gang that stole 63 kg of gold in Al-Kadhimiya

21st January, 2020

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of a gang that stole 63 kg of gold in Kadhimiya, Baghdad.

The ministry said in a statement received by Alsumaria News, a copy of it, "The detachments of the Al-Kadhimiya office affiliated to the Anti-Crime Directorate of Baghdad and in conjunction with the Al-Kadhimiya Intelligence Division managed to arrest a gang of three accused 48 hours after recording the news of the theft because they stole 63 kg. Of pure gold from inside a store of gold jewelery southwest of the capital, Baghdad.

She added, "After interrogating them, they confessed to their heinous crime where they seized the stolen items."   

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Don961:  Saleh leaves Baghdad to participate in Davos and Trump's meeting

January 20, 2020

Saleh leaves Baghdad to participate in Davos and Trump's meeting

Observers: Attending the economic forum bears the country a heavy cost

Baghdad - Time

The President of the Republic, Barham Saleh, leaves Baghdad today, heading towards the Swiss city of Davos, with the aim of participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos and conducting a special meeting with the American President.

The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, will participate in the forum and will meet the American President as well. 

A source familiar with (the time) told yesterday that (Saleh will spend four days outside the country to attend the Davos Forum and participate in his work), adding that (the President of the Republic is scheduled for a special meeting and meeting with US President Donald Trump). 

The Davos World Economic Forum will be launched during the period from 21 to 24 of this month, and its session coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the forum. 

In the same regard, a statement issued by the Kurdistan Region Presidency announced the participation of the President of the region in the work of the Barzani Forum, with an official invitation to the forum. The statement added that Barzanis meet in the framework of his participation in the forum? With Trump, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, and a number of leaders, ministers and senior officials of states to hold (discussions related to developing the Kurdistan Region’s relations with the international community, Kurdistan’s policies and positions, as well as exchanging views and views on regional and global issues) adding that the President of the region (will deliver a speech in one of Forum sessions, under the headline of the turbulent Middle East, will address the long-term consequences of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which have become a major global and regional concern and the strategic impact of the current crisis on peace and stability in the Gulf, Iraq and Syria). 

Observers expressed surprise at Iraq's participation in the Forum under the current circumstances. They told (Time) yesterday that (attending the World Economic Forum leads to heavy costs for the country because participation in its activities requires paying fees to the organizers), adding that (throwing words at the forum also requires paying additional fees), asking about (the feasibility of Iraq’s participation in Forum work during these circumstances when the country boils over the fire of demonstrations and popular protests). 

Aside from the heated economic discussions, Davos days witness night parties to the impact of the sounds of music with the participation of the world's rich, sponsored by the major companies that have membership in the forum.

According to the official website of the forum, the cost of membership ranges between 60-600 thousand dollars, while the participation fee for non-members amounts to About 28 thousand dollars per person, and the figures who wish to speak at the forum must pay a fee for that. Participants in the forum have membership cards of different colors, based on the color of each of them, allowing the participant to move from one region to another, according to the color of the card he carries.

The forum is attended by a number of world leaders, key figures from the United Nations and the European Union and heads of major companies, and the forum attracts about three And this year’s conference is taking place at a time when the prospects for trade and global economic growth, technology companies, the future of pluralism and the geopolitical system, are witnessing increasing challenges.

According to the World Economic Forum’s website, this year's conference aims to give a concrete meaning to (capitalism). Stakeholders), assisting governments and international institutions in tracking progress on the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, and facilitating discussions on technology and trade management.   LINK

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Samson:  Davos 2020 .. Everything you need to know about the World Economic Forum

21st January, 2020
With the Davos 2020 Forum due tomorrow, Tuesday, this economic event, which is considered among the most important in the world, is receiving great attention from officials, businessmen, the press and public opinion, given the importance of the topics to be presented and the weight of the participating names. In this article - published by the Italian newspaper "Mani" - journalist Christiana Cagliarduchi provided a set of information about "Davos", its origins and what it represents for world leaders, especially as it is an important opportunity to discuss thorny issues.

What is the?

In fact, Davos is the name of a small Swiss city with 11,000 residents, a small ski resort in the Alps, and it has become famous all over the world for hosting the World Economic Forum every year. Founded in 1971 by the efforts of German economist Klaus Schwab, relying on a non-governmental organization that succeeded in bringing together companies, leaders and many influential figures in the world, at the same table for discussion. Today, the Forum is an opportunity to discuss topics of concern to the international community. This event acquired its present name in 1987, and in 2015 the name officially entered the list of international organizations.

What aspirations?

"Davos 2020" will start tomorrow, Tuesday, January 21, and will last for four days, and the participants are scheduled to leave Switzerland on Friday.  As the name indicates, economic issues will be discussed in Davos, but over the past three decades, participants have also been discussing other topics related to climate and the environment. Each year, a forum theme is chosen, and this year it will be on "sustainable development" under the slogan "For a Coherent and Sustainable World."

Enormous challenges 

Observers fear could constitute a forum again Square to highlight the differences between East and West, and between the United States and the European Union, and between businessmen and activists seeking to address the impending risks that beset the world with the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century.  In addition to climate issues and the environment, overshadow the Forum risk A conflict erupted between the United States and Iran, with tension escalating following the American strike in which Quds Force commander Qasim Soleimani was killed. 

As Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Han Jing heads his country's delegation to the forum, the trade dispute between Beijing and Washington will be highlighted, despite this week reaching a truce agreement after two years of tension. The European Union’s Foreign Minister, Ursula van der Leien, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be the two most prominent European Union personalities to participate, and their attendance may highlight existing differences between Europe and the United States over key files.

The most prominent participants

The writer presented a list of the most famous international figures who will attend the forum, among them:
- Prime Minister of Finland Sanaa Marin
- President of the United States Donald Trump
- Greta Thunberg, climate activist
- President of the European Commission Ursula von der Line
- President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde
- Director International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva

- US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel
- George Soros Investor and Chairman of the Soros Investment Management Fund

It is clear that the most prominent attendees will be US President Donald Trump who signed since the days of the first part of the trade agreement with China, and he missed the forum during the past year due to The US Federal Closure Crisis. During this year, Trump's presence will be the focus of attention of the international press, especially in light of the escalating events of the past weeks and the crisis with Iran. 

In the spotlight

Thunberg will also be in the spotlight, which is the second appearance of this Swedish teenager who has taken environmental protection and combating climate change as her primary issue. Last Friday, in a speech to thousands of protesters in the Swiss city of Lausanne, she said that the global climate strike movement that started in 2018 was "just the beginning." She was chosen as the Person of the Year in Time Magazine last December. The Swedish activist stresses the extent of the "madness" of continuing to invest in fossil fuels at a time when the major disasters in the world, such as the Australian fires, highlight the negative repercussions of rising temperatures.    LINK

KTFA Members "News and Views" Monday Afternoon 1-20-2020

KTFA: 

Samson:  Parliamentary investment: the 2020 budget will be operational after the agreement with China

19:23 - 01/19/2020
The Parliamentary Investment and Economy Committee confirmed on Sunday that the draft federal budget law for 2020 will be operational after the economic agreement with the Chinese side.

Committee member Nada Shaker said in a statement to "Information", that "the 2020 budget will be operational after referring all service and investment projects to the Chinese agreement," noting that "the agreement with China will contribute to solving all service crises from infrastructure and residential complexes."

She added that "the economic agreement with China is a positive gesture for building cities and salvation from the housing crisis and lack of services," noting that "referring projects to the Chinese agreement will reduce the deficit rate in the expected federal budget by more than 40 trillion dinars."

The deputy from the Alliance of Fath, Fadel Al-Fatlawi, had confirmed, today, Sunday, that the government approved the sale price of a barrel of oil at $ 50 within the federal budget bill for 2020, pointing out that the budget deficit does not exceed 30 trillion Iraqi dinars.  LINK

DocK:  Wow great article , China deal is wiping out 40T of the deficit. In effect before Chinese New Year hopefully..

MilitiaMan:  The 2019 Financial Management Law Amendment will open the door for China and they have played their Trump Card to get it done too... Imo!! ~ MM

Samson:  A deputy reveals the price of a barrel of oil in the 2020 budget and the size of its deficit

18:01 - 01/19/2020
The House of Representatives has decided, today, Sunday, next Wednesday to hold its next session due to the lack of a quorum, as the session was expected to discuss the mechanism for the government to send the federal budget bill for the year 2020. 

The deputy of the Al-Fateh Alliance Fadel Al-Fatlawi revealed, on Sunday, the price of selling a barrel of oil within the federal budget bill for 2020, among which the fiscal deficit in the 2020 budget will not exceed 30 trillion Iraqi dinars.

Al-Fatlawi said in a statement to the "information", that "the government approved the sale price of a barrel of oil at $ 50 within the federal budget bill for 2020, according to the oil minister," noting that "the fiscal deficit in the budget does not exceed 30 trillion Iraqi dinars."

He added that "what the media reported, quoting government figures, that the deficit will reach 42 trillion dinars is inaccurate and an exaggerated matter," noting that "the House of Representatives is currently discussing a legal justification allowing the government to send the budget law to it."  LINK

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Samson:  Trump: Agreement with China is much better than expected

20th January, 2020
US President Donald Trump, welcomed the trade agreement with China, saying it was "much better" than he expected.

"This is a great success for our whole country," Trump said at a meeting in Austin, Texas, in front of the farmers ’employer association. "I think China will do everything in its power to demonstrate that the signed agreement is a good agreement. It is much more important and better than I expected to obtain," he added. Trump praised the new chapter in relations with Beijing, which he considered "the best between us for several years," saying that "China respects us now," according to "AFP."

On Wednesday, Trump and Chinese Vice Prime Minister Liu He signed a trade agreement, which he said was a "historic leg" that suspended the unprecedented trade war between the world's two largest economic powers. For his part, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a message to Trump and read by the Chinese negotiator, announced that the agreement would be beneficial "to China, the United States and the whole world." China has pledged to purchase additional US $ 200 billion worth of products over the next two years, under the agreement, the full text of which was published on its 94 pages on Wednesday.

One of the most important demands of the White House is to increase Chinese imports of American products. The interim agreement also includes provisions relating to the protection of intellectual property and the conditions for the transfer of technological knowledge, which are also among the first American demands.   LINK

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Samson:  An upcoming meeting between Trump and Barzani to agree to build the largest American base in Barbell

11:57 - 01/20/2020
The military expert, Safaa Al-Aasam, revealed, on Monday, an upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Massoud Barzani, at the Davos conference to discuss the establishment of the largest American base in Erbil.

"The United States of America does not plan to withdraw from Iraq, but has started establishing two new military bases in the Nineveh and Erbil Plain," Al-Asam told Al-Maalouma. He added, "The President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, will meet in the coming hours with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Davos conference."

"The meeting will discuss the establishment of the largest American military base in the region and the transfer of the headquarters of the US forces in the Middle East in Erbil, as an escalation step against the Iraqi government and parliament," Al-Aasm said.   LINK

Don961:  President Barzani to meet US President Trump at Davos summit

15 hours ago

Mohammed Rwanduzy

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani has announced he will meet US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, which begins on Tuesday.

Barzani announced his attendance at the forum in Davos, Switzerland in a statement released on Sunday.

“On the sidelines of the summit, President Nechirvan Barzani will hold meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and the United Nations’ Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The President is also expected to meet with a number of other world leaders, ministers and high ranking officials.,” the statement said.

“In the meetings, the President is expected to focus on strengthening Kurdistan Region’s relations with the international community and to convey the policies and position of Kurdistan Region on regional and world affairs.,” the statement continued.

Barzani will be speaking at a panel at Davos titled “An Unsettled Middle East”, the statement further added.

Scheduled for January 21 to January 24, this year’s summit is themed “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World”. It brings the world’s political leaders together with kingmakers of some of the world’s biggest corporations.

According to the WEF, the 2020 meeting is slated to be “among the most sustainable international summits ever held”, with focus on the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Sunday’s announcement sets a time and place for a Barzani-Trump meeting, after the KRG leader told al-Monitor on Thursday that there was a standing invitation to meet the US President with a date not yet set.

US and Kurdish officials have met and spoken frequently in recent weeks as Washington’s tensions verged on breaking point, following the assassination of high-profile Iranian general Qasem Soleimani on January 3. Barzani and other Kurdish leaders have insisted they do not want the Kurdistan Region to become a battleground on which US-Iran tensions play out.   LINK

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Don961:  Trump to headline Davos summit as Iran drops out

Updated / Friday, 17 Jan 2020 09:27

Donald Trump, pictured at Davos in 2018, is expected to be the star attraction this year

US President Donald Trump will be the star attraction at this year's Davos forum, which will also focus on the fallout of climate change and a more inclusive model of capitalism, organisers have said.
The annual gathering of global movers and shakers in the village of Davos in the Swiss Alps will draw a total of 53 heads of government and state for four days starting on January 21. 

But Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who had been due to attend, cancelled his visit amid a spike in global tensions following a US drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani. 

The 50th edition of the Davos Forum will have more than 2,800 participants, including Swedish teenage eco-warrior Greta Thunberg, who will renew her call on attendees to stop subsidising fossil fuels. 

"We demand that leaders play their part in putting an end to this madness," the 17-year-old, who is also due to take part in protests outside the summit, said. 

The World Economic Forum, which organises the summit, said other participants will include Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Donald Trump will be accompanied by his daughter Ivanka and her husband and top presidential adviser Jared Kushner, as well as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. 

The situation in the Middle East will be a key focus for the summit. 

Soleimani's killing near Baghdad international airport on January 3 has sparked fears of conflict between Iran and the US.

Iran has also been shaken by demonstrations after admitting it "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet a few hours after a retaliatory missile strike against US bases in Iraq. 

"I think we have to understand the cancellation from the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif against the backdrop of the uncertainty in the region and what is unfolding in Iran," WEF president Borge Brende said.

But Brende said other key figures will be present, including Iraqi President Barham Saleh and the president of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani. 

Notable absentees include British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is busy finalising Britain's departure from the European Union at the end of this month after a drawn-out political crisis. 

But Prince Charles, who is trying to mend frayed relations within the royal family over his son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan's shock decision to give up on high-profile royal duties, will be there.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe have also pulled out to concentrate on preparing for the election in February.

The meeting's theme this year is "Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World" and organisers said they would ask participants to sign up to a "Davos Manifesto" for a more inclusive model for capitalism.

"The world is in a state of emergency and the window to act is closing fast," Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman at the World Economic Forum, told reporters. 

"We do not want to face continued political and economic disintegration, we do not want to reach the tipping point of irreversibility on climate change and we do not want that the next generations to inherit a world which becomes ever more hostile and ever less habitable," he said. 

After some criticism last year over the number of private jets ferrying political and business leaders to the summit, organisers were also keen to show off the meeting's environmental credentials. 

For the first time this year, solar panels and geothermal heating have been introduced in the Congress Centre and there will be a temporary railway station to encourage participants to use public transport. 

Ahead of the meeting, the Swiss army has begun deploying in the area around Davos under a security plan that will involve up to 5,000 soldiers. 

Swiss broadcaster SRF estimated the costs of policing the summit at 45 million Swiss francs (€41.7m).

LINK

MilitiaMan and KTFA Members "A Lot of RISK Talk" 1-20-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Corruption reaches a boiling point .. $ 800 million is the value of the contract to build the headquarters of the Central Bank (video)

19th January, 2020

The contract for the construction of the headquarters of the Central Bank has sparked great controversy with the Iraqi parliament and citizens, as the value of the building of the central bank is (800) million US dollars.    VIDEO LINK     LINK

MilitiaMan:  Why would they be having an issue with $800 million, the Iran BS Auction scam shows they were stealing $40 billion in 2019 alone? lol Just ask Soleimani... Oops, we can't.. lol ~ MM

Samson:  The central bank decides to extend the suspension of the promotion of applications for licensing electronic payment companies

19th January, 2020

The Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Iraq, at its meeting on December 24, 2019
decided to extend the period of suspension of the promotion of applications for licensing
electronic payment companies until December 31, 2020

  The Central Bank of Iraq information Office  January 19, 2020  

https://cbi.iq/news/view/1394

MilitiaMan:  So if you have no license guess what? Your out of luck this year.. !   MM lol

DELTA:  YES.......... GAME OVER MY BROTHER....

MilitiaMan:  Knowing what we know, this shows those that had issues they'll not be feasting with us this year.. Or off us.. lol ~ MM

Popeye7:  No auctions for you... Come back, NEVER!... LOL... A little Soup Nazi reference...lol

FBS:  Is this a good or bad thing? Thank you.  

Samson:  It is a GOOD thing.  It is in regard to the post it was put on re some companies not complying with CBI rules. 

 MM's comment said "So if you have no license guess what? Your out of luck this year..  !MM lol "

So it's good they are punished - it's game over for them trying to break the rules - not complying.  Game over for corruption 

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Samson:  The Mosul branch organizes an introductory lecture to manage bank risks

19th January, 2020
The Banking Supervision Department at the Central Bank of Iraq / Mosul Branch organized
an introductory lecture entitled “Banking Risk Management” on Wednesday January 15,
2020 which included concepts (credit risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, reputation risk, legal risks) 

The lecture included staff of departments and divisions in a branch The conductor of this
bank.   https://cbi.iq/news/view/1390

MilitiaMan:  That is a lot of RISK talk. Like don't risk your freedom by money laundering, doing bad loans, not having capital on hand, basic operational needs met, amnd stay away from any of the afore, as out reputation as being corrupt is bad enough, just look at the legal issues the those that are arrested already have us under. Get the Risk out! lol ~ MM 

Popeye7:   Being bad boys always carries consequences... It is the everyday folks that suffer for the corruption that permeates a nations government... Eventually spawning tyranny if left unchecked... God was merciful to the US, and in turn that mercy is being shown Iraq as well...  

MilitiaMan:   Yes, it sure looks that way my friend! They'll be starting a new chapter from here on out.. imo!~ MM

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Samson:  Requesting data of merchants contracted with electronic payment companies

19th January, 2020

To / electronic payment companies / collectors (online payment services)

Issue: 9/5/32

Date: 1/16/2020

Later in the book of Payments Department numbered (23/260) on 12/12/2019

Please provide the Payments Department with an Excel table containing data for merchants
contracting with your companies on CD or flash drives, including the following:

Names of their authorized dealers and their full addresses (governorate, region, building)

The nature of the business

The number of devices per dealer

The date of signing the contract with the merchant

Date of starting work

Provided that it is updated quarterly, when any amendment or update is made, or as requested by this bank, for the period it deems appropriate.  

https://cbi.iq/news/view/1393

MilitiaMan:  This one is about accountability. Just as the RISK classes were provided. They want to know who is doing what. With the graft the corrupt knuckle heads were stealing, needs to be nipped in the bud!! This looks like the PTB are at work.. imo ~ MM

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Samson:  The Association of Private Banks concludes the "Capital Adequacy" course

19th January, 2020

The Iraqi Private Banking Association concluded the session "Capital Adequacy according to the requirements of Basel III

The session was held in cooperation between the Association of Iraqi Private Banks and the Central Bank - the Center for Banking Studies and the Banking Control Department

The course, which spanned over 7 days, targeted the directors of financial departments and their assistants, and the managers of the risk department and their assistants   LINK

MilitiaMan:  I'll bet the scuttlebutt was busy during breaks... lol Did you hear what so and so did and is now behind bars? Yes, they'll be covering that in Chapter 10..... lol ~ MM  ROTFL

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Samson:   Parliamentary Finance: The 2020 budget will see a deficit of 48 trillion dinars

19th January, 2020

Member of Parliamentary Finance Committee, Magda Al-Tamimi, confirmed today, Sunday, that the 2020 budget will witness a deficit of 48 trillion dinars, while noting that the value of waste in fake projects until 2014 exceeded 282 trillion dinars.

Al-Tamimi told Al-Akhbaria that “more than 6000 fake projects were registered with us until 2014, when the budget was not approved,” stressing that “financial waste in fake projects until 2014 exceeded 282 trillion dinars.”

She noted, "The 2020 budget will witness a financial deficit of 48 trillion dinars," noting that it "raised a number of files to the Integrity Commission for consideration and until now no legal measures have been taken against the whales of corruption.  LINK

MilitiaMan:  They better get busy looking for some money.. lol The CBI Site only shows a note count of $5 trillion.. lol

https://cbiraq.org/Serieschart.aspx?TseriesID=157

https://cbiraq.org/DataValues.aspx?dtFrm=01/31/2004&dtTo=01/19/2020&tmId=157&dtformat=MMM,yyyy