Frank, Walkingstick and KTFA Members Monday PM 3-2-2020

KTFA:

BlueJen:  IMO Frank alluded to a Delay in the last UB2B.

Harb, the Legal Expert has extended the Deadline of Mar 2nd to Mar 8th due to Holidays. Harb also stated Allawi has met the Deadline by Presenting the Cabinet and he has a Legal Right to remain in Office. This "Throwing in of the Towel" is a weak move for someone who has stood against Corruption and also Declared on TV he would Prosecute any Minister who was Corrupt and was Paid to come Against the Cabinet.  Completely un-Trump Clone-like. This is becoming very Theatrical and illogical.

Khoumeni arrives for a Mtg and no one is talking about it....Why? I expected Iran to be given Terms and the remaining Proxies to run back to Iran with their tails between their legs. Instead the Embassy deals with another Missile Attack. Potentially the Citizens are going to escalate and more than likely burn out Halbousi, maybe even Sadr and a few others.

The UN n USA are putting great pressure to Prosecute the Caretaker GOI for Human Right Violations. The GOI looks like Keystone Cops. Meanwhile the Banks continue Training, now Customer Service material.

And so we wait for Monday's UB2B for a Clue about next Sunday's reveal??? 
We're gonna need more Cookies IMO

The Snod:  Several months ago, WS said there was a back-up gov’t in place if necessary.   Iran trumps Trump? Trump and China trumps all.

GodLover: If what you state is accurate as far as WS stating this......then it does give some peace of mind imo. With that said, makes me wonder why the back-up government has yet to be exposed? There has to be an actual reason for this back-up government not being exposed yet...imo.
I have made it known that I feel the need for a seated GOI prior to the MR....per articles that have stated this as well over the last months imo. Not to mention the thought of releasing the MR without a seated GOI seems impractical imo. On that same thinking.....maybe it's not the CBI waiting for the GOI seating....but the back-up government is waiting for the CBI to be ready? imo. Some will agree....some will disagree....it is what it is, but ultimately we are still hoping & praying we are at the end of this ride, grasping for reasons why it has yet to happen imo.

Walkingstick:  Ftti (For those that inquired) : IMO...Too much, focus ... on Allawi... Keep in mind, whether... Allawi is seated or not..  Iraq, does have ..  a seated and functioning government/cabinet in place.. which, continues to convene and issue directives under Mahdi..... 

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GodsServant:  Thank you for your post WS. The existing Govt as I understand it is a Caretaker Govt and cannot pass any new laws. They can only enforce what has been approved.

As Frank said the button was pushed on the 24th IHO and many in here are wondering what was initiated on the 24th. In following the constitution Salih has 7 days to accept MTA's resignation and then 15 days to name the new PM. In the meantime Mahdi is still the PM , and he is suggesting in articles that he can dissolve Parliament.

It appears that the CBI is waiting on Citizens to be satisfied as they remain the largest Bock.

My understanding is Parliament can be dissolved by the PM and President agreeing along with a 1/3 vote from Parliament. IMO MTA was not able to get his vote of confidence even with his independent cabinet.

 IMO we should study the constitution and see what it takes to dissolve Parliament and watch the actions of the incumbents and what they do for the Citizens. Can the CBI move forward, I believe the answer is yes. The question is why haven't they and what stopped them the last two times.

All open for study and comments.   Thank you KTFA

Walkingstick:  Agreed, Mahdi and his cabinet (form) nothing more then a care-taker government... Yet, they are in fact a seated government... Nor, can they now or have they ever had the authority to vote on a bill, to become law ... The PM and his cabinet propose bills, which...in turn, are forwarded to parliament for a vote, which are then voted on... becoming law, or not....

Parliament, on the other hand... is not, part of the executive branch... Any bill that has reached parliament, sitting in parliament (100's ) or was approved prior to Mahdis resignation can be voted on in parliament. ie: 2020 budget..  Parliament must also vote on the acceptance of a cabinet put forward by any PM... 

As a caretaker government Mahdi and his cabinet cannot issue bills to parliament but they can issue directives to other branches of the government. ie: release of funds to citizens, claim a holiday,   etc..These do not require a vote in parliament... 

I agree, and yet the CBI has been prepared for quite some time... An event, Mahdi failed twice in its implementation...

Myself, I put no faith in their abiding by their constitution... They opt to select when to abide by it when it's in ones best interest... In the years since it was voted on, all sitting governments have been in violation.... Article 140, HCL... only 2 of many clear violations....Regards.....

Frank26:  3-2-20. SCANDALOUS

Monday Conference Call: 7 pm est   605-313-5164 PIN: 156996#

Playback Number: 605-313-5163 PIN: 156996#

Livestream: https://livestream.com/frank26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIyid0kqxig

MilitiaMan and KTFA Members "News and Views" Sunday PM 3-1-2020

KTFA:

Don961:  Al-Sistani sets the ruling on selling foreign currencies at `` time '' above their market value

Localities 02/20/2020 20:06 1566     Baghdad today - Najaf

Religious authority Ali al-Sistani defined the ruling on selling foreign currencies as “forward” above their market value.

Al-Sistani answered a question in which he said: Is it permissible for a person to buy cash and give a specific profit for it?

Sistani said in his answer, "There is nothing wrong with selling foreign currency in the local currency, even if it is more than the market value (in the future), but it is not permissible to increase the price named in exchange for extending the period."   link  

MilitiaMan:  Why is this one catching attention? Well he is the head Cleric of the region. When he talks many listen. He is telling the people it is okay to use forward contracts for protection of their interests. He is essentially warning and giving assurances to the people that it is okay to protect your self with forward contracts and not to worry about any religious issues in doing so in the future. His timing is suggesting they are going to be using the Forex, as that is where they can facilitate the forward contracts. In other words, the rate is expected to change and be prepared and know your all good to use the forwards!! ~ WOW, more signs.. imo ~ MM

MilitiaMan:  A currency forward is a binding contract in the foreign exchange market that locks in the exchange rate for the purchase or sale of a currency on a future date. A currency forward is essentially a customizable hedging tool that does not involve an upfront margin payment.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/forward-exchange-contract.asp

Currency forwards are OTC contracts traded in forex markets that lock in an exchange rate for a currency pair. They are generally used for hedging, and can have customized terms, such as a particular notional amount or delivery period.Sep 18, 2019

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/currencyforward.asp

DELTA:  Baghdad sends late wages to employees of the Kurdistan region

1st March, 2020
The Central Bank of Iraq announced, on Sunday, the salaries of employees of the Kurdistan Region, estimated at more than 450 billion Iraqi dinars per month.

The delay in sending salary salaries by Baghdad has been delayed for about 50 days, due to special measures from the Iraqi Finance. (wink)

The bank branch told Barbel Shafak News, that Baghdad has put on the branch account the salaries of Kurdistan Region employees, and it will be disbursed after a technical defect has been exceeded.

He explained that the account is not available yet due to a defect in the electronic system of the account, which will be resolved in the coming hours.    LINK

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Don961:  Urgent .. Sources: Allawi Is Preparing To Announce His Withdrawal From The Mandate To Form A Government  LINK  

MilitiaMan:  I am not buying this latest news on withdrawal.. Not yet anyway.. Way to much at stake at this stage.

And not to forget the accomplishments of the CBI.. The country still needs to run on money. Oil is putting pressure on everyone in the Region. So Rouhani's meeting in Baghdad yesterday, probably has a fire up some behinds trying to garner any leverage he can get. With oil dropping it will put so much pressure on the Iranian's economically they could implode quite quickly. Therefore, the meeting could very well be in Allawi's favor..

As the above suggests there could met a temporary truce.. Which, whereby, the legal guy supports that Allawi has things up to snuff. ~ imo. So lets just see where it goes.. ~ MM

Abrams41:  I agree MM.  We were cautioned about fake news.  In war the enemy uses false propaganda.  Iran will fight to the end.  Allawi is a fighter and will not surrender IMO.

Cleitus:  Do you really think the GOI and CBI have spent millions upon millions to get us to this point and all of a sudden based on a couple of articles EVERYTHING goes poof! There would be hangings from the citizens to those responsible should that happen..., the politicians and media know it!   IMO of course!!!

MilitiaMan:  Which shoe is on which foot? lol I have to say they are surely looking to keep everyone guessing.. They are not that stupid over there. They know how to use the media to influence things. Keep in mind there are those that are fighting to the end for this to fail.. imo ! ~ MM

Samson:  Al-Nassiri: Delaying the approval of the 2020 budget will lead to economic stagnation and harm the people

1st March, 2020

The advisor at the Iraqi Private Banking Association, Samir al-Nassiri, confirmed on Sunday that the delay in approving the general budget law for 2020 will have major negative economic impacts and will lead to economic stagnation and harm to citizens and affect clearly the movement of the market

Al-Nusairi said in his interview with "Al-Iqtisad News" that "the economic elites were hoping the resigned government would move from preparing them from the budget of items and numbers to the budget of development programs and plans and contribute to the implementation of investment projects and stimulate investors and encourage them to invest and reconstruct liberated cities, but unfortunately they were not Sending them to the House of Representatives according to the time ceilings in effect in most countries of the world, but the circumstances of Iraq and its environment unstable politically, security and economically, and this was accompanied by a peaceful popular movement demanding reform and economic and political rights. In addition to this the government disclaims Resigned from bearing the responsibility of the large budget and planned deficit of 48 trillion dinars, and relying on it being a caretaker government and it cannot refer it to the House of Representatives constitutionally

Al-Nusairi explained that "failure to approve the budget means that it is considered a payroll budget only, and will be spent at 1/12 of the actual expenditures for the previous fiscal year for each month, and this means giving negative indicators to private investors to start their investments

He pointed out that "this will inevitably affect the increase in the unemployment rate and the poverty rate due to the suspension of investment projects, which were planned to be implemented, which will prevail the economic recession, and if the recession continues for a period of six months, it will lead to recession

Al-Nassiri hinted that "the delay in approving the budget will lead to the failure to implement the reform decisions promised by the demonstrators, whose allocations amounted to 10 trillion dinars, and that the Iraqi-Chinese agreement allocated to the budget in 3 trillion dinars will be delayed, too

Al-Nusairi concluded his speech with the effects of Corona virus on the planned deficit increase due to the decrease in Chinese demand by 3 million barrels per day and the decrease in global demand also due to the decline in commercial and tourism activity and transportation between countries in addition to expectations of low oil prices during the second and third quarter of 2020 and the possibilities of OPEC's decision to reduce production by borders 500 barrels a day

He called on the interim government and the parliament to speed up the amendments to the budget and give a clear and essential role for the private sector in the implementation of reconstruction and investment projects and not neglect its role as in the 2018 and 2019 budget. And they transcend political polarizations while discussing them in the parliament because it is the budget of the patient Iraqi people   LINK

MilitiaMan:  All the bounce back and forth in politics in regard to the PM, is creating even more stress on and toward the end result to be sooner now than later for the economic reforms to be completed now. The oil price decline, the fears of corona virus, unemployment, economic stagnation, etc., the list goes on! The advice it appears to be from Samir al-Nassiri, is to get the reforms done and now. imo ! ~ MM

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Youngsc:  It seems that most in here forgot that FRANK had already stated there WAS NOT GOING TO BE ANY VOTE to begin with and that he does not care for any qurom. The 24th in his strong opinion started the 15 days where budget would appear with a new rate intact. Frank, walkingstick and his teams know alot more then us students as he also stated. MM posted an article which stated MTA and his cabinet had accomplished what they needed to accomplish. We study here for a reason and we should trust in what Frank had stated from the get go instead of putting most of our energy into articles imo.  

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Don961:  Rockets fell on the US embassy in Baghdad

Baghdad today - Baghdad

A security source in Baghdad said, on Monday, that rockets landed on the American embassy in the capital.

The source told (Baghdad Today), that "missiles launched from the municipalities area fell on the American embassy in the green zone in the center of the capital, Baghdad."

And the American embassy in the capital Baghdad, from time to time, is subjected to missile targeting by unknown parties.   LINK

Frank, Delta and MilitiaMan Saturday Night 2-29-2020

KTFA:

Article:  Al-Shammari: There is no truth to present a new candidate for prime minister, and we hope that youth elements in the booth   LINK

MilitiaMan:  The media has been used to keep the pot stirred. Behind the scenes, is probably more refined than what is being portrayed. Some confusion, some propaganda, some truth and even blatant lies are all mixed in the pot. 

This was told to us time past and many years ago would be a part of the process by Dr. Shabbibi . As 2 Cents has just reminded us these articles lately are all too familiar. The back and forth sown to the wire is culturally a norm. Going to negotiate to the last second..

The new PM designate has nothing to lose, yet, the corrupt have everything to lose.. They clearly don’t have the will of the masses in mind. They have themselves and those close more in mind and most likely have them on the dole in some shape or fashion. 

The re iteration that the validity of having another choice for PM is not true according to the above. Whereby, it is imo supporting a view this is being orchestrated to a specific time that gets it down to the wire. With Allawi having been very focused and working behind the scenes long before it was made public and having the support of the citizens has possibly fueled their behavior to do whatever it takes and as long as it takes to save what they may or should know is lost by now. 

So within the next day or so we should see the results of Allawi’s efforts. Those efforts should have the citizens in mind away and devoid of corruption as best as possible and additionally the personal and economic needs of the citizens met. 

From the CBIs perspective they are and have been ready and it is my understanding the CBI has publicly shown the citizens they are accepting the IMF obligations of Article 8. That was back on the 23rd of February 2020 in a 55 page report in Arabic. It mentions getting the flow of money to the citizens, lifting restrictions on their funds and allow freedom of external transfers of such funds. 

That report has me of the mind once it was published for the citizens, it was notice to the BIS the citizens, and then to us that they are going to be lifting the exchange rate at a very close point in time, imo. Add in the printing of new notes, minting coins, all have been done with the afore being and end game notification if you will.. imo.. ~ MM. 

DELTA:  HELLO FAMILY THIS IS THE PROVE OF ARTICLE VIII FROM CBI 55 PAGES DOCUMENTS ...

9.. Restricting foreign transfers or regulating the flow of money out to citizens is a trend that is not consistent with the fact that the Iraqi dinar is transferable with its equivalent of hard currency inside Iraq, as well as that is inconsistent with  external transfer and Iraq’s commitment to international agreements, in particular the application of provisions of texts Article 8 of the International Monetary Fund agreement, which obliges member states to adopt the freedom of external transfer and lift restrictions on the movement of citizens ’funds, except for legal violations resulting from terrorist financing

MilitiaMan:  Foreign Currency Equivalent means, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Foreign Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Foreign Currency with Dollars. Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Based on 97 documents

https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/foreign-currency-equivalent

MilitiaMan:  Thank you Delta, bringing in the proof is fascinatingly apropos. You supported the data we have that they the CBI has offered the public. They have given notice of a change to come. They are on a time line now.. That link above gives legal text examples of the meaning for Foreign Currency and Hard Currency (USD)  with respect to samples of internationalism to go along with it. They have and will have obligations now that they came out with that data. Whoo yahhh! imo Lets hope we see the train stop and the whistle blows the IQD announcement of a new international rate... !!!+ ~ MM

Frank26:  2-29-20 Q&A

This video is in Frank’s opinion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra21smcM4s0

"Saturday News" Posted by Samson 2-29-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  The US Secretary of State arrives in Doha

02/29/2020 14:01:38

 US Secretary of State Mark Pompeo arrived in Doha on Saturday to attend the signing ceremony of a historic agreement between the United States and the Afghan Taliban.

The agreement, which is scheduled to be signed today, opens the door to a gradual withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, after 18 years of fighting, in exchange for security guarantees by the rebels.   LINK

Samson:  What is the relationship of the leap year to postponing the extraordinary session of Parliament?

29th February, 2020

Political expert, Basil Hussein, mocked the ongoing postponement of the extraordinary parliament session in order to vote on the cabinet of Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi.

Hussein said in a tweet on Twitter, "He believes that the Iraqis who marry during the leap year in general, and on February 29 will be the fate of his unhappy marriage."

He added, "It seems that the politicians of Iraq decided to postpone the passage of the government today for fear of the miserable end of it," noting by saying, "Why is it the most miserable end of the Abdul-Mahdi government?"  LINK

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Samson:  Shankali: Iraq is on the verge of economic collapse if it does not maximize its revenues

29th February, 2020

Iraqi politician and former MP in Parliament Majid Shankali stressed that Iraq is on the verge of economic collapse if it does not maximize its revenues.

Shankali said in a tweet on his account on Twitter, "Iraq is heading towards an economic collapse if it does not reduce its expenditures and maximize its revenues, because the price of a barrel of Brent reached $ 50 and the world expects an economic crisis because of Corona exceeds the crisis of 2008 and Iraq depends 95% on oil in its budget".

He added, "Maximizing revenues is what we hear without seeing it a reality."  LINK

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Samson:  For not closing it, demonstrators block the Munthiriya port, for fear of spreading Corona

29th February, 2020

Al-Akhbariya correspondent reported that angry demonstrators closed the Munthiriya border crossing, fearing that Corona virus could spread to their areas.

Our correspondent said, "Protesters in the Khanaqin district have cut off the Al-Munthiriya access road with Iran for fear of corona."

He added, "The cut came as pressure on the government to permanently close the port and prevent entry of immigrants into Iraq."   LINK

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Samson:   The UK is preparing for an economic hit as Corona spreads further

28th February, 2020

Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England, stressed that his country must prepare for an economic blow with the increasing repercussions of the outbreak of the Corona virus.

Carney added in an interview that the central bank has already detected a shortage in supply chains, but it is too early to determine how negatively affected Britain.

 Carney said that the bank expects global growth to decrease compared to what it will be if the situation is different, and that this will have a negative impact on the United Kingdom, "We have not yet revealed that in all European economic indicators and in the UK, but if the world is slower than the UK, which is a very open economy, this will have an impact," Carney said.

Carney said that the central bank is constantly monitoring British banks, to ensure that they remain in good strength so that there is no risk of a financial crisis.

On Thursday, the British Northern Ireland confirmed the first case of coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the United Kingdom to 16.  LINK

Samson:  The death of a candidate, winner of the Iranian parliamentary elections, Coronavirus

29th February, 2020

Iranian media reported, on Saturday, that a winning candidate in the parliamentary elections that took place on February 21, died of being infected with the Corona virus.

The "News Generation" website said, "The candidate who won the parliamentary elections for Rasht (the capital of Gilan), Muhammad Ali Ramdani Destak, was recently transferred to the hospital due to an influenza infection."

He added that, as a result of previous chemical injuries in the Iraq-Iran war in 1980, Dostak died Saturday morning.

And news channels concerned with the Gilan Governorate reported that Muhammad Ali Ramdani Destak had been infected with the Corona virus, which had spread in the province, and had become the second governorate after Qom spread this new virus.

Ramadan Destak is a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and head of the Mobilization Forces Organization (Basij) in Gilan Province.

Last Saturday, the Iranian "Election" website reported that the candidate who won the parliamentary elections for Rasht Muhammad Ali Ramadhani was infected with the Corona virus, and the winner of a seat in Rasht from the hard-line fundamentalist (Ali Aghazadeh) was infected with this virus.

According to medical sources, the site stated that "the new deputy, Muhammad Ali Ramadani, was in a very critical situation and was lying in a hospital in the city of Rasht, the capital of Gilan province, located in northern Iran."

In light of the preliminary results of the recent parliamentary elections in Iran, Ramadhani and Aghazadeh managed to win membership of the Islamic Shura Council (parliament) for the hard-line fundamentalist trend.   LINK

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Samson:  The son of Khamenei's advisor has been infected with the Corona virus

29th February, 2020

Iranian media reported that two cases of infection with the Corona virus were recorded in Iran, one of whom is a member of the Expediency Council, and the son of Supreme Leader Advisor Ali Khamenei.

And the agency "Fars" reported the death of a member of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Ramadanani, who was infected with the Corona virus.   LINK

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Samson:  Corona virus hits the world economy hard

29th February, 2020

The global economy was greatly affected by the Corona virus outbreak today, Saturday, while US President Donald Trump condemned the criticism after describing the Corona threat as a "hoax" prepared by his competitors.

New data from China's manufacturing giant, as the virus was first detected in December, showed a sharp drop in the PMI to 35.7 in February, down from 50 in January, where any reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below It shows a contraction.

The Associated Press quoted Zhao Qinghe, chief statistician of the National Bureau of Statistics, as saying that the outbreak of the new corona virus was a direct cause of the sharp decline.

Elsewhere around the world, financial markets have retreated while fears of the virus have led to the emptying of shops and parks, the cancellation of events and events, and the dramatic reduction in business and travel.

Despite fears of a wider outbreak in the United States, Trump defended the measures taken and on Friday criticized Democrats who questioned his handling of the threat, describing their criticism as a new "hoax" aimed at undermining his leadership.

Shortly before Trump's speech started, health officials confirmed a second case of the Corona virus in the United States at someone who had not traveled internationally, or had close contact with anyone with the virus, and some Democrats said that Trump could have moved sooner to bolster state response United Virus.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers also said that his request for an additional $ 2.5 billion to defend against the virus was not enough, and indicated that they would provide more funding.

On the other hand, Trump said that Democrats want him to fail, and he said that the steps he has taken so far have kept the cases to a minimum and prevented deaths from the virus in the United States.

"A virus that started in China, and that is spreading to various countries around the world, is not spreading widely in the United States due to the early actions that my administration and I took, against the desire of many, and the only point of the Democrats' talk, and you see that, is that it is a mistake," Trump said. Donald Trump. "

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that the US economy remains strong, and that policy makers "will use our tools" to support it if necessary.  LINK

KTFA Members "News and Views" Friday Afternoon 2-28-2020

KTFA:

Don961:  What after Sunday ... a legal expert clarifies Allawi's fate and options for Saleh 

Time: 02/20/28 12:09:37

{Baghdad: Al Furat News} A legal expert revealed the fate of the Prime Minister-designate, Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi, after his constitutional deadline to form his cabinet was set for next Sunday.

"Constitutionally, the President of the Republic assigns another candidate to form the ministry in the event that the Allawi Ministry does not gain confidence in the parliament session tomorrow, Saturday, according to paragraph V of Article 76 of the constitution, and this is most likely after having Most of the Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish blocs agreed not to vote and give the Prime Minister-designate confidence as long as these parliamentary blocs did not take their share of the ministries, "he said.

He pointed out that, "Although the candidates for the ministry represent all components, these blocs require the ministers to be the ones that nominate them, and each block has its share of ministers, that is, party partisanship, not sectarian quotas that the prime minister took into consideration. Rather, the blocs request that the ministers be subordinate to them.

They nominated them, not the prime minister, and so the parliamentary quotas were behind the removal of Allawi and his project to establish a government that is far from quotas, while respecting the components by representing them in the ministry he prepared. "

Harb pointed out that "the failure to grant Allawi confidence after the vote would entail constitutionally assuming the President of the Republic to appoint another candidate and note that in this case there are no more parliamentary blocs, but rather an absolute authority of the President of the Republic (Barham Saleh), an absolute authority in the nomination to head the Personal Ministry that he deems necessary without Relationship to the more numerous bloc or the fewer bloc, so the issue is subject to the discretion of the President of the Republic only without restriction or condition in assigning anyone to exclude Allawi because the constitution decides another candidate and the other is not the former Allawi and this constitutes his government and presents it to Parliament to request that he be given confidence.

The House of Representatives, held postponed its special session was scheduled to give confidence and vote on the cabin Prime Minister - designate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi because of continuing differences between the blocs Alssayash.anthy

Ammar al – Masoudi   LINK

Sawco: I have a question,, if you please...…….I do not see anywhere in this article,, that Saleh will, or has to option to dissolve the current parliament... I thought that was what we were looking for,, if MTA, and his cabinet did not get a vote of confidence by March 2...  Would appreciate any, and all thoughts.....

2Cents:  IMO.....Only Parliament can vote to dissolve itself..........I don't know why we would hope for parliament to dissolve.....We need "Security and Stability" do we not?........No GOI and no Parliament is certainly not stability.....It is bad enough with no GOI.....

Additionally, it is logical to conclude that a GOI is required to formally "Accept Article VIII Obligations"...No GOI, No Article VIII and thus no RI unless the IMF just bypasses the formalities and says by Iraq's actions they have complied with and Accepted Article VIII....

IMO.....If Allawi's GOI is not given a vote of confidence, Saleh will have 15 days to appoint another PM designate who will then have 30 days to put a cabinet together to be passed......

I, for one, certainly don't want to see any more delay.....Parliament is not going anywhere until the next election (Unless the Protestors start taking actions as Chris C has suggested)....

IMO, we NEED the GOI of Allawi voted in as soon as possible.  If not, WE certainly don't expect the RI.......perhaps the RV/RD, as WS reportedly said it was already to occur twice this year, but certainly no RI anytime soon.............Although, the IMF could be threatening to RI whether they RD/RV or not......that would force the hand of the CBI.....WE believe this is not the case......

WE believe Allawi is threatening to "Accept" thus shutting off the money flow to Iran, Hezbollah and the corrupt politicians which is the biggest reason for so much opposition.......

IMO....The pressure is on (based on WS reports) as the USD use is on the clock........They are running out of time to demonstrate stability and officially accept Article VIII obligations.....

Prior (or simultaneous) to that, they must RD/RV or the expense to the CBI will be immense....They can be RI'ed at 1190 but it certainly is not the plan and certainly not what the CBI wants to occur.....

Hence, why I say the IMF could be threatening to RI without the CBI doing a RD/RV but I don't think so.....The IMF and Trump are not Best Buds either.....

IMO......Realize what we are seeing......the CBI and Trump are antagonistic to each other just like every other Central Bank in the World....They HATE Trump!!!!.....however, Trump, through the UST, controls the flow of USD to the CBI........

If this flow is stopped and there is no RI, the country's economy will implode as they will have no ability to pay for imports and limited ability to conduct business.  This almost assuredly forces the hand of the IMF to RI Iraq.....

If the flow is stopped and the RI occurs at 1190, the expense to the CBI will be intolerable as trillions of IQD will flow out of the country and the pressure will be on the CBI to flood the market with IQD including the 3 zeros and the 50,000 and 100,000...

Can you see how the best and only play Trump can make to force both the CBI to RD/RV and the country to gain stability and formally Accept Article VIII Obligations is to stop the flow of the USD???   Masterful!!!!

The clock is ticking......26 and counting!!!!

BlaqueBeauty:  Imo I thought I heard mr Frank vote does not matter because reality cabinet already done per eddy from Iraq tv MTA speaking to the citizens... and the movement behind the scenes we are not aware of, lately the cc/ub2b be beyond the what it's people has been posted.   Imo it's just the corrupt holding up and trying to find the next hold up in the middle of the delays already out there

2Cents:  IMO.....Eddie stated Allawi has "completed his cabinet".......This is true!!!!.....Now it has to be voted by Parliament and at least 50% plus 1 must be approved in order to give confidence to Allawi to be PM.....No Parliament vote ---> No Confidence and under the Constitution, Allawi is done within 30 days of being appointed as PM-designate....

Mahdi is still PM and the Mahdi GOI is still in charge of conducting the affairs of the country.... Mahdi says he will not remain after 3/02 as that is 30 days since Saleh appointed a PM- Designate....Some argue that he must remain as PM of his Caretaker government until a new PM is given confidence......As of today, Mahdi and his entire Cabinet remain.......If Allawi gets at least 50% plus 1 voted in by Parliament, Mahdi AND HIS GOI are gone.....   IMO

2Cents:  Just so all understand.....I believe the Allawi GOI will be approved prior to the deadline and certainly hope it does......It may push to Sunday but I think and hope it will get done one way or another....

This all came about as comments were made that we don't want a vote to happen and Parliament dissolved.....If this would occur, new elections will have to occur prior to a new PM being appointed.....Allawi will be out....Saleh takes over everything if Mahdi is correct that he can disband his GOI 3/2...Personally, I believe Mahdi and his GOI would have to remain and continue in "caretaker" status as now or there would be no cabinet and the country would be in total Constitutional crisis and even basic services would implode.....

I, for one, certainly don't want to see this or wait for this all to occur as that would almost guarantee 2021 for a RD/RV ----> RI at the earliest........

Personally, WE hope and expect the RD/RV this weekend if Allawi is given a vote of confidence Saturday....In fact, I was hoping the Thursday vote would be pushed to Saturday.....All IMO of course

In our words:  The Study is over!!!!  The Clock is ticking!!!!!  Get it ALL done or implode!!!!

Don't forget, there is also a 45 day deadline on exemptions from sanctions on Iran that expires approximately 3/30/20 just to add more pressure....  Go Trump!!!!

Don961:  Al-Fateh: Allawi's cabin will pass tomorrow   02/28/2020  LINK

MilitiaMan:   They sound confident in passing to the vote tomorrow. Probably so, as it has already been sorted to the degree or at a level of confidence they have in them passing this tomorrow is very strong that it will be passed. They are going to have a high level of security (FOGGING) in the parliament. They are going to broadcast the event to the public. Thereby, everyone can see who is for and who is against the citizens demands. Being on the wrong side of the fence can have harsh consequences. As we have seen in recent past, housing being burned down, bulldozers, etc.. They clearly are standing up to the political pressure and being public about it may be the edge Allawi has in his favor! imo ~ MM

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Don961:  The banking system and economic crises

Friday 28 February 2020

Samir Al-Nassery

 The government and private banks have been able to contribute to financial and monetary stability and the conduct of banking business in light of the demonstrations and peaceful popular mobility that started since October 1 of last year compared to the confusion of banking work in other countries that have already passed the same conditions or are still going through similar conditions.

This confirms the soundness of the policies and procedures set by the Central Bank in the application of monetary policy and careful implementation by banks in the application of what was stated in its strategy for the years (2016-2020) and the structural, structural and technical developments that contributed to the emergence of prominent features to achieve financial and monetary stability, 

This reinforced the support provided by the central bank and banks to the national economy during economic and financial crises, which is a bright spot and a success experience in a country that is going through difficult and complicated circumstances and a historical stage that is the most difficult to face Economic challenges .

Efforts, wise policies, rational monetary policy applications, and developmental measures for the banking sector in stimulating economic growth, financial inclusion, structural and institutional building and optimal investment in human capital have led to important achievements, most notably: maintaining inflation at a rate not exceeding 2% and at a level of foreign reserves within rates higher than Acceptable ratios according to international standards, as the foreign reserves of Iraq amounted to more than 80 billion Dollars. 

And building the banking sector organizationally, supervisory and control, and establishing new units within the organizational structures of banks such as compliance, combating money laundering and terrorist financing, managing credit and operational risks, issuing the Money Laundering Law 39 of 2015, forming the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Council, developing payment systems, applying all retail and mobile payment operations, and establishing the exchange NBK and working to implement international standards in financial reports in line with the principle of transparency, disclosure and the composition of the Payments Council

The Iraqi added to the efforts exerted on a daily basis to stimulate financial inclusion processes and form the Supreme Committee for Financial Inclusion and work to draw up a national strategy for financial inclusion and focus on the project of localizing employee salaries for the purpose of raising the percentage of financial inclusion for the population who do not have accounts in the banking system and for the purpose of restoring confidence in the banking sector

Also the establishment of the Deposit Guarantee Company with the aim of raising the savings rate at banks and reducing the percentage of hoarding in homes and thus stimulating the economy by activating investment and bank financing and taking regulatory and structural measures and introducing the deposit center in the market Iraq Securities and the establishment of a national Fiduciary information center .

The above positive aspects of our banks confirm that they still need government support to implement all previously issued decisions of the Council of Ministers and the Economic Affairs Committee which unfortunately did not 

It is activated by the concerned authorities.

I also believe that banks should take care of overcoming self-failures and constraints that have led to poor customer confidence in their banking dealings; the intention here is troubled banks and diagnosed by the Central Bank and the Association of Iraqi private banks and citizens.    LINK

Frank26 Video "Sterilize the Zeros with Corona" and more....2-27-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Muhammad Allawi applies to Britain to give up his nationality

27th February, 2020

Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi sent a request to the British ambassador to give up his citizenship.

Allawi had promised to give up his British citizenship when assigned to head the new government. LINK

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Frank26:  2-26-20 STERILIZE THE ZEROS WITH CORONA

THIS ENTIRE YOUTUBE IS IN FRANK'S OPINION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8gpTQh7Pg

Samson:  Iraq is reassured that the production and export of oil are not affected by the Corona virus

27th February, 2020
The Iraqi Ministry of Oil confirmed that its preventive measures in oil installations to prevent corona virus did not affect the production and export of crude oil.

Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency "conscious": "The ministry and since the beginning of the emergence of Corona took several preventive measures, especially for Chinese oil companies. "And that "the measures were to postpone the arrival of Chinese workers who enjoy holidays to Iraq, as well as allocating Health awareness teams to define this disease and ways to prevent it, whether for Iraqi or foreign workers in the oil fields. ”

Jihad added, “Preventive measures did not affect the production and export of Iraqi crude oil,” stressing that “there are no symptoms of Corona virus on workers in the fields.” Oil." The committee of Diwaniya Order No. 55 of 2020 decided to suspend official working hours in all educational institutions and universities, and to close public shops for a period of 10 days. It also decided to ban travel to 9 countries and examine arrivals from those countries.

This comes after the Iraqi Ministry of Health announced today the registration of the first infection with the "Corona" virus in the capital, Baghdad.   LINK

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Samson:  The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are considering holding "virtual" spring meetings with the spread of Corona

27th February, 2020

Informed sources said that the increasing concerns within the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank about the spread of the new corona virus led them to consider reducing the spring meetings scheduled for April or holding them via internet conferences

About ten thousand government officials, journalists, businessmen and representatives of civil society from around the world will participate in the meetings of the two institutions that take place between April 17 and 19 and will be held in a crowded area in the center of Washington, DC, where their headquarters are

Financial markets have fallen sharply in recent days due to news of the rapid spread of the virus in Europe. Italy announced that more than 400 people were infected with the virus, and it was confirmed that people who visited Italy in Brazil, Algeria, Austria, Croatia, Greece and other countries were infected

In the past few days, the IMF has warned of more economic damage due to the spread of the Corona virus outside China and the reduction of its forecast for global growth in 2020

The spread of the virus raises fears within the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank that the mixing of delegations of the 89 member states during the spring meetings may contribute to the problem inevitably

Officials from the two institutions and members of governments said that talking about canceling the entire meetings is premature, but they are considering several options to amend them. They added that no decision had been taken yet, noting that this would depend heavily on efforts to contain the virus in the coming days and weeks

Options include reducing the number of meetings, canceling additional activities, and reducing the number of delegates who will travel to Washington. Another alternative is to conduct “virtual” meetings over the Internet, while the possibility of holding the meetings as usual continues to exist

In response to inquiries from Reuters, the IMF and the bank said that the senior leadership teams were closely monitoring the spread of the Corona virus

"The issue of the arrangements for the Spring Meetings is coordinated by the Fund and the Bank with the respective secretariat, and it is our main liaison office with shareholders. We are awaiting a decision on the scope and scope of the Spring Meetings in the coming days," the statement said

The two international institutions previously canceled their annual meetings in the American capital after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and then took place in November of the same year in Ottawa, Canada

Samson:  The world incurs more than $ 3 trillion in losses due to Corona

27th February, 2020
The number of new cases of coronavirus emerging outside China, by the end of Wednesday, exceeded the number of cases of the disease in China within one day, according to the World Health Organization.

Italy has become a hotbed of disease outbreak in Europe, and Iran has become a hotbed of outbreaks in the Middle East, which has helped the virus appear in a large number of countries within days. And Pakistan, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Romania and Algeria announced the first cases of HIV infection, and Brazil announced the registration of a case of the virus, as the first case in Latin America. The rapid spread of the disease during the past few days afflicted the world markets with panic and panic, and the global stock exchanges lost billions of dollars.

Stock markets around the world have lost about $ 3.3 trillion during the last four trading days, and the American Wall Street has suffered severe losses during the past two days, as the Dow Jones index lost about 1900 points. The New York Times confirmed that the Wall Street Stock Exchange will be subject to the largest losses compared to other stock exchanges in the world, given the complexity of trade links between major American technology companies and their Chinese counterparts. Oil prices fell to their lowest level in a year.

European losses and in Europe, European stock losses continued in the last five trading sessions, the British "FTSE" index fell 0.5 percent to 6979.8 points, and the French "CAC" index decreased by 1.08 percent, recording 5643.9 points, as the DAX index decreased "The German increased by 2 percent, to record 12,790.5 points.

In Asia, Japanese stocks continued their losses during the past days, and in Wednesday's session they closed at the lowest level in more than four months. Chinese factories also continued to close their doors, the movement of ships between the ports was disrupted, hundreds of flights and tourism, dozens of carnivals and celebrations were canceled, and dozens of recreational parks were closed. Since the outbreak of the disease in late December, nearly 81,000 people worldwide have been infected, and nearly 3,000 people have died.   LINK

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Samson:  Infection with a prominent Iranian lawmaker with the Corona virus

27th February, 2020

The head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian parliament, Mujtaba Dhul Nur, has been infected with the Corona virus, Russia Today reported.

Dhul Nur said that he imposed a quarantine on himself after he was confirmed to be infected with the Corona virus, stressing that Iran would be able to overcome the virus.

It is reported that Dhul Nur is also a deputy for the city of Qom in Parliament. Earlier, the Iranian authorities announced that the results of the analyzes, conducted by Erg Hariri, Deputy Minister of Health confirmed that he was infected with the Corona virus.  LINK

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Samson:  Corona Kills Iranian Riyal

Iranian riyal reached its weakest level in a year against the dollar, on Wednesday, as a sharp increase in the number of cases of coronavirus led to the closure of most of the country's borders, threatening non-oil exports, which are the main lifeblood of its economy.

According to the "Punpast.com" website for exchange rates, which tracks the free market, the dollar was offered at a high level of 158 thousand and 500 riyals, while its official price is 42 thousand riyals, which implies a 10 percent decline in the currency from it a week ago.

The number of Iranian deaths from the Corona virus rose to 19, the highest number outside China, which prompted several countries to stop flights and most of their neighbors to close their borders with them.

Already, increased pressure from US sanctions is undermining Iran's oil industry and reducing its crude exports. “The entire market is currently in shock,” said Buya Zainali, director of exports for an Iranian pistachio producer and exporter.

Closing the border and canceling flights is certain to deepen Iran's economic isolation, and it relies on trade ties with its neighbors to partially offset the devastating impact of the sanctions that Washington reimposed in 2018 after it withdrew from a nuclear agreement it and other major powers had signed with Tehran in 2015. "The economic risks are great," said Henri Rom, analyst at Eurasia Group. Non-oil exports to neighboring countries were the lifeblood of Iran during the past year. "If this temporary closure of the borders continues indefinitely, Iran may face a serious economic crisis at a time when the economy is already improving," he added.

The International Monetary Fund predicts that Iran’s growth will stabilize this year after shrinking 9.5 percent last year in the wake of US sanctions that have undermined oil sales and pushed annual inflation close to 40 percent. The currency’s decline may exacerbate inflation and harm domestic consumption, while falling exports may cause more unemployment, which some analysts expect to exceed 20 percent this year.  LINK

Delta and KTFA Members "Sterilization" Wednesday 2-26-2020

KTFA:

Walkingstick:  ftti:(for those that inquired) note, sterilization....

Samson:  The Central Bank issues the brochure of the Foreign Currency Sales Window for 2019

24th February, 2020

The Central Bank of Iraq issued a brochure entitled: “The window for selling foreign
currency in the Central Bank of Iraq”, which clarifies the administrative framework
for financing imports and the mechanism of selling foreign currency to banks in covering
their customers’ requests, and the process of collecting and sterilizing the local currency
considering that this bank represents the monetary authority in Iraq.

The Central Bank of Iraq

information Office

2/24/2020   

https://cbi.iq/news/view/1437

Samson:  The central bank clarifies the administrative framework for financing imports and the mechanism for selling foreign currencies

25th February, 2020
The Iraqi Central Bank issued, on Tuesday, a brochure entitled "The Window for Selling Foreign Currency in the Central Bank of Iraq."

"The brochure explains the administrative framework for financing imports and the mechanism of selling foreign currency to banks in covering the requests of their customers," the bank said in a statement.

He added, "It also clarifies the process of collecting and sterilizing the local currency considering that this bank represents the monetary authority in Iraq."  LINK

MilitiaMan:  The act of sterilizing the local currency is a practice by major global players. It appears the CBI is preparing or is now prepared to defend their currency in world markets.. Something that the CBI has now been told to the world that they are now obliged to play by the IMF Rules.. imo.. Very good indeed imo ~ MM 

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sterilizedintervention.asp

"The U.S. Treasury Department is responsible for determining the nation’s exchange rate, and for that purpose, it maintains the Exchange Stabilization Fund, which is a portfolio of foreign currency and dollar-denominated assets. The Federal Reserve also has a foreign currency portfolio for the same purpose. Exchange rate intervention is carried out jointly by the Treasury and Federal Reserve.

 One of the main tools used by the Federal Reserve to influence monetary policy is its target for the federal funds rate, which is set by the Federal Open Market Committee primarily to achieve domestic objectives.

Since the Federal Reserve would never permit its intervention activities to have an impact on its monetary policy operations, it always uses sterilized intervention. Central banks of major nations—such as the Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank—which also use an overnight interest rate as a short-term operating target, likewise sterilize their currency interventions."

DELTA:  GREAT JOB MM.....

Will:  Sterilization is a form of monetary action in which a central bank seeks to limit the effect of inflows and outflows of capital on the money supply. Sterilization most frequently involves the purchase or sale of financial assets by a central bank, and is designed to offset the effect of foreign exchange intervention.

JamieO:    So what specifically does this mean to us???

DCDriver:  International (wink)

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DELTA:   The Arab Monetary Fund Announces the Launch of the Buna Payment Platform: the platform serves to enhance opportunities for financial integration and to support economic and investment ties with the trading partners of Arab countries

23 February 2020

The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) is pleased to announce the launch of Buna, the regional payment platform, as a culmination of months of planning and collaboration with global and regional stakeholders.

"Buna" which is a multi-currency payment platform, provides clearing and settlement services, in Arab and international currencies that meet the eligibility criteria related to the clearing and settlement of inter-Arab financial transactions, as well as transactions between Arab countries and their main trading partners.

Buna, as a centralized multicurrency platform, aims to enable financial institutions, including commercial and central banks, to send and receive cross-border payments across the Arab region and beyond in Arab currencies, as well as key international currencies, in an efficient, cost-effective, risk-controlled and transparent environment.

Buna offers its participants a state-of-the-art payment platform compliant with international standards. In fact, bringing Buna to reality constitutes a major, tangible and irreversible step towards the empowerment and integration of Arab economies.

The launch of Buna signals the start of the gradual onboarding operations of financial institutions that have opted to be pioneers of this first-of-its-kind regional financial market infrastructure, aiming to process the first payment transaction in a few weeks.

On this occasion, His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman A. Al Hamidy, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Arab Monetary Fund, expressed his gratitude and appreciation of the strategic launch of the platform which aims to encourage and develop Arab financial activities, commercial trade and cross-border investments.

This system aims to promote trade relations and develop investment activities between the Arab countries and providing an environment that facilitates the development of financial and banking services and products in the region.

 His Excellency also expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Governors of the Central Banks and Arab monetary institutions, the Board of Governors of the Fund and its Board of Directors for their efforts in supporting the platform’s inauguration. His Excellency especially expressed his gratitude to the United Arab Emirates authorities for providing significant reinforcement for the launch of the platform.

His Excellency also thanked the central banks, Arab monetary institutions and the team of experts from the international financial institutions for their continuous cooperation during this implementation phase.

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DELTA:  THE EXCHANGE RATES OF ARAB CURRENCIES AGAINST THE ARAB ACCOUNT DINAR

02/25/20

1 ARAB DINAR=$4.09645

Samson:  Kuwait prevents ships coming or heading to 7 countries, including Iraq, from stopping at its ports

26th February, 2020

Kuwait decided, Wednesday, to prevent ships coming or going to China, South Korea, Italy, Singapore, Thailand, Japan and Iraq from stopping at Kuwaiti ports

She explained that ships belonging to the oil sector are excluded from the ban on stopping at Kuwaiti ports

This comes in conjunction with the announcement by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health earlier Wednesday that two new cases of Coronavirus had been detected in the country, linked to "travel to Iran

A statement of the Ministry of Health stated that the total number of injured Kuwait has reached 11 injured so far

Kuwait had previously announced the suspension of flights to a number of countries that were infected with the Corona virus

The Kuwaiti News Agency reported on Tuesday that the Civil Aviation Authority announced the suspension of all flights with Singapore and Japan due to fears of the Corona virus, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health

On Monday, flights were suspended with South Korea, Iran, Thailand, Italy and Iraq, as instructed by the Ministry of Health due to concerns over the spread of the Coruna virus

It is noteworthy that the first injuries recorded in the country were between 700 who were evacuated on Saturday from the Iranian city of Mashhad   LINK

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Samson:  The global markets are entering the quarantine stage

26th February, 2020

Interested in the economic issue expected more losses amid rising concerns about the spread of Corona, which pushed oil prices to the lowest level in more than a month, as well as exacerbated global stock losses. Oil prices tumbled about 4 percent, as the rapid spread of the Corona virus outside China fueled investor concerns about the implications for crude demand. Global stocks also continued to lose in light of growing concerns about the virus, after the number of new cases jumped in Iran, Italy and South Korea.
 
Magnitude of the risks

Oil prices fell in European exchanges because of the risks that the spread of the Corona virus emerging outside China will affect global demand in a market that is already in surplus. The price of a barrel of Brent North Sea oil for April delivery was 56.05 dollars in London, recording a decrease of 4.19 percent compared to the closing price at the end of the week. In New York, the West Texas Intermediate barrel for the same month’s delivery lost 3.97 percent to $ 51.26, shortly after reaching $ 51.24, a decrease of 4.19 percent. This significant price drop ends yesterday, Monday, with higher prices Barclay Brent and light oil, which reached 2 percent and 10 percent, respectively, last week since resuming its rise on February 10.
 
OPEC is currently awaiting market activists from member states of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies who will meet next week in Vienna to try to secure a response to the oversupply, which is the size of the risks currently faced by demand. China has indefinitely postponed the annual meeting of its parliament due to the emerging Corona virus, in a rare change in the Chinese system’s events that are organized and normally run smoothly. The work of the People's National Assembly was scheduled to open on the fifth of next March, as every year, in one of the meetings that highlight the country's unity with the red flags in which it is raised and the decisions that are taken almost unanimously. However, the appearance of the new Corona virus, which has infected thousands of people and killed 2,500 many of the infected, has changed the schedule.
 
The National Assembly seemed to gather three thousand deputies in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing is out of the question while a part of the country is still under quarantine, while a large part of the Chinese live under strict quarantine measures or are hiding in their homes for fear of infection and not coming out Without masks.  Parliamentary official Zhang Xiaoyi admitted last week that postponing this year's session was "necessary" in order to "focus attention on preventing and controlling the epidemic." Growth may experience a noticeable decline in 2020 due to the severe slowdown in the economy about a month ago due to the spread of the  virus.

Gulf stock exchanges also ended the end of their dealings on a collective retreat after the announcement of cases of Arab countries, particularly Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, the emergence of cases of the emerging Chinese virus. And he expected that the world gold prices would witness record increases until he exceeded $ 1700 an ounce, the highest level for this most active contract since February 2013.   LINK

Samson:  To avoid Corona .. calls for sterilization of banknotes in Iraq

26th February, 2020

A member of the Iraqi Economic Council, Ghadeer Al-Attar, called on Wednesday to start precautionary measures on the Iraqi and foreign currency to prevent the transmission of the Corona virus.

"The People's Bank of China has subjected sterilization and stone banknotes to fight the Corona virus," Al-Attar said in a statement.

Al-Attar pointed out that "the Iraqi Central Bank and Iraqi banks work using ultraviolet radiation or very high temperatures to sterilize banknotes, before isolating them for a period ranging between 7 and 14 days to prevent the spread of the Corona virus through banknotes."

And the member of the Economic Council said, "The relevant authorities must maintain the safety and health of the users of cash flow in Iraq.  LINK

Don961:  CERTAINLY ANOTHER WAY TO GET THOSE CRUNCHY, HOARDED OLD BANKNOTES OUT FROM UNDER THE MATTRESS AND INTO THE BANKS .. IN EXCHANGE FOR NICE , CLEAN , SHINY NEW ONES ... IMO 

KTFA Members "Iraqi News" Tuesday 2-25-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Iraq prohibits entry to arrivals from seven countries because of Corona

25th February, 2020

Iraq announced that visitors from Corona virus cases were diagnosed as entering the country, as part of a series of procedures followed after the announcement of the first infection in the country of an Iranian expatriate. 

He added that he excludes from the procedures above that they are subject to the procedures of the Iraqi Ministry of Health coming from the aforementioned persons persons working in diplomatic missions and official delegations and checking his visa entry of the arrivals to the countries referred to above by workers in the border outlets during the past fourteen days.

The Minister of Health and Environment, Jaafar Sadiq Allawi, chaired the meeting of the committee formed under Diwaniya No. (55) for the year 2020, in the presence of committee members, Major General Saad Maan, Director of Information of the Ministry of Interior, and Brigadier Qusay Sobeih, director of residence affairs.

The decisions of the committee included forming a crisis cell in each governorate headed by the governor and membership of the Health Department and the supporting authorities to follow up and implement the committee’s decisions and extend the suspension of entry of foreign arrivals directly or indirectly and to another notice from the countries shown below the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran and stop entry of foreign arrivals directly Or indirectly and to other notification from the countries (Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Singapore).

The Committee called on all Iraqis not to travel to the countries referred to and to review the Ministry of Health for the position of the aforementioned procedures on a daily basis and according to the developments and around the clock and to mobilize all ministries resources to contain this crisis and each according to its specialization and disrupt the official working hours in schools and universities for ten days and prevent gatherings in all parts of Najaf and not Traveling to and from the province of Najaf, except in cases of extreme necessity, as well as legalizing travel between governorates, except in cases of extreme necessity. It was also advised not to hold unnecessary conferences, celebrations, and gatherings throughout the Republic of Iraq.

The Minister stressed the importance of following up the stores, pharmacies and offices for the sale of medical supplies to ensure that this crisis is not used to monopolization, raise prices and unify the language of media discourse, and authorize the Iraqi media network in awareness and education issues in coordination with the media office of the Ministry of Health and Environment.  LINK

Samson:  Disrupting school hours in Sulaymaniyah for one month

25th February, 2020

Today, the Sulaymaniyah Governorate Council voted on Tuesday to suspend official working hours in all study centers.

The provincial council held a session earlier in the day that hosted educational officials in Sulaimaniyah to discuss granting an official holiday after the outbreak of the Corona virus in the country.  LINK

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Don961:  :  He called on Iran to intentionally deploy Corona in Iraq

Tuesday 25 February 2020

Baghdad - Writings

Local media have hinted that the Iranian student may have intentionally entered Iraq despite knowing that he was infected with the Coruna virus.

As according to what was circulated today, Tuesday, 25 February 2020, the Iranian student, “Suhail Amiri” entered Iraq knowing that he had corona. He was detained in the Iranian city of Qom for three days, but he got out of stone and arrived in Iraq immediately, realizing It will spread the epidemic.

The analyzes are based on data made by the Iranian student about his mixing with Iraqi science students at Al-Shirazi, Al-Isfahani, and Al-Tousi schools in Najaf, and he deliberately participated in scientific seminars with the generalists.

Activists considered the arrival of the Iranian casualty as an attempt to spread fear among Iraqis, especially in the uprised provinces; to quell the revolutionary movement that mainly targets Iranian hegemony over Iraq's capabilities.  LINK

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Samson:  Trump is asking Congress to allocate $ 2.5 billion to fight Corona

25th February, 2020

US President Donald Trump has called on Congress to allocate $ 2.5 billion to fight the Corona virus.

"Today, the administration will transfer to Congress a supplementary funding plan of $ 2.5 billion to accelerate the development of the vaccine, enhance the degree of preparedness and response operations, and purchase urgently needed equipment and supplies," White House Office of Management and Budget spokeswoman Rachel Simmel said in a statement on Monday.

It is noteworthy that the World Health Organization called on the countries of the world to do more and prepare for a possible epidemic due to the rapid spread of Corona virus.  LINK

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Samson:  Oil is rising and gold is backing off a seven-year high due to Corona

25th February, 2020
Oil rose on Tuesday as investors sought to hunt bargains by buying crude at cheap prices after about 4 percent plunged in the previous session, but fears that the spread of the Corona virus outside China will affect major economies and curb fuel demand curbed gains .

Brent crude, the world benchmark, rose 19 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $ 56.49 a barrel by 0436 GMT, after falling 3.8 percent in the previous session, to post the largest single-day loss since February 3 .

And US crude futures lost 17 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $ 51.60 a barrel, recovering from a drop of 3.7 percent in the previous session .

Demand fears of oil and commodities prices tumbled on Monday, while European and US stocks suffered the biggest losses since mid-2016 .

In the United States, crude inventories are expected to rise for the fifth consecutive week while refined product inventories are expected to have declined, as seen on Monday by a preliminary survey conducted by Reuters for the week ending February 21 .

Ameen Al-Nasser, CEO of Saudi Aramco, told Reuters on Monday that the impact of the Corona virus on oil demand is expected to be short-lived and consumption will rise in the second half of the year.

Meanwhile, gold prices fell on Tuesday, with investors selling the yellow metal to take profits, after hitting a seven-year high in the previous session, while stocks recovered somewhat, but higher cases of Corona virus outside China curbed the gains. And gold fell in the spot transactions 0.7 percent to 1648.36 dollars an ounce (ounce) by the time 0605 GMT. On Monday, gold rose 2.8 percent to $ 1,688.66, the highest level since January 2013 . Gold in US futures fell 1.6 percent to $ 1650.60.

Asian stock markets have stabilized somewhat after a wave of early sell-offs receded.

The death toll from the Corona virus in Italy rose to seven on Monday, while several countries in the Middle East deal with the first cases .

Regarding other precious metals, palladium rose 0.3 percent to $ 2,637.25 an ounce.  As for silver, it lost 0.7 percent to $18.50 an ounce, after touching the highest level since early September in the previous session, and platinum settled at $963.52 an ounce.   LINK

Monday Night CC  2-24-2020

Playback Number: 605-313-5163  156996#

https://fccdl.in/ogk4OK1Lgm

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Don961:  Supporting the national industry and prospects for the Iraqi economy

Tuesday 25 February 2020

Sabah Mohsen Kazem

  The phrase "Made in Iraq" has an impact on the psychology of Iraqi society and its imagination, because its profound implications refer us to citizenship and attachment to a sacred Iraq. There are requirements for developing performance in the Iraqi national economy that must be met, including: agricultural investment,

And the development of agriculture, the alternative to relying on oil, which complains of fluctuating prices. How to bridge the budget deficit of (48) trillion, there are urgent questions, how can the Iraqi economy achieve the goals for which all the demonstrators went out?

 I see the answer only to reform, except by developing the structure and structure of the Iraqi economy, and focused practical steps that are not patchy in accordance with the plans of the national interest to reduce unemployment with equal opportunities in the central appointment and the service council, and the population census. To return (Made in Iraq) by providing the appropriate climate for investment because capital - a coward - we hope our industry will return to the forefront of the markets, and reduce imports to maintain the hard currency. Economic reform needs practical and immediate steps.

John Kenneth Gallbert’s History of Past Economic Thought Presently, Ahmed Fouad Balbaa, confirms on page 302: (The ruling truth here is simply that in a rich country where individual prices are not so important socially, in the former world that prevails Poverty, the cost of food, clothing, fuel and shelter was a profound measure of suffering or enjoyment of life.) Of course, meeting the needs of the individual fulfills his hopes and ends his pain

Scientific planning for the advancement of the Iraqi industrial reality is an ambitious project, and the Iraqi industry throughout the last century was satisfying the local market with various products achieving societal sufficiency, but rather reaching the neighborhood and world markets and the brand (Made in Iraq) has a presence in various household goods and electrical appliances in the factories of the Al-Zawra, Al-Daqqa, Baghdad, and Diyala factories The local market is clogged during the seventies, in addition to heavy industries such as the iron industry in Basra, cement in Kufa and Mosul, cars and assembly in Alexandria, and woolen fabrics and aluminum in Nasiriyah reach exports to several markets, and the For medicines in Samarra, cigarettes and others. 

As for dates from Basra, Hilla and Karbala, they reach the international markets. Iraq also achieves agricultural sufficiency in dozens of agricultural crops, wheat, barley, ferment, sesame, fruits, vegetables, etc., in addition to the availability of livestock and the quality of varieties.

The reason for our declining national industry is the reckless policies of the previous regime and its wars that destroyed the infrastructure and bombed all factories with coalition aircraft. The vital question, can Iraq rise? Answer: Yes, because of what Iraq possesses of untapped and untapped wealth, as the most important oil-producing country, and provides suitable soil for investment, topographical diversity of mountains for plains for the plateau and desert, and vast storage of untapped wealth of rare precious metals, of course agricultural wealth is complementary to the industrial advancement of crops Agricultural, such as cotton cultivation, provides a textile industry and so on, and this is the way to make Iraqi industrial transitions a success. Iraqi agriculture needs five-year plans, and cooperation with Turkey to provide the water share according to the international law of the riparian states, which are located on the riverbed agree to provide water for agriculture and human and animal use and not to harm the construction of dams that prevent the flow of water flow.

Iraq needs to structure the organization of water and not waste it, use drip cultivation, and invest groundwater as water is the guarantor wealth of life, just as we have experienced the experiences of countries that began with a scientific methodology of agriculture to support its industry, and provide sufficiency to preserve the hard currency and not waste it with unjustified import.

Accompanying this import without controls! The use of Iraqi capital coming from oil exports, as the Iraqi economy is a rentier economy unilaterally with good investment for industrial development, and reducing unemployment, savings, and strategic investment.

It is noteworthy that the Memorandum of Understanding with China, which occurred despite the objections and fears, and the citizen has the right to know the details, and fear of the long period of time, it was possible to invest the 100,000 thousand barrels to 300 thousand barrels for a period of 10 years instead of an open period of up to 50 years, with the condition that they be Well-known sober companies, China has degrees by global rating .

The awareness of the Iraqi citizen today with the revitalization of the Iraqi industry, the development of industrial performance, and the return of the Iraqi product (Made in Iraq), the country that invented writing, the wheel, and mining is able to rise from its agricultural and industrial repression by achieving justice and eliminating financial and admin. corruption .

Working with the principle of integrity and sincerity enables the country to overcome its ordeal and solve all problems faced by the Iraqi people. (Made in Iraq) Our hope for developing the Iraqi industry.
LINK

MilitiaMan:  "Practical and Immediate Steps are needed for economic reforms"..

I have to say the CBI of late has shown their ability to do just that.. The CBI today has suggest they have a published brochure to outline the mechanisms they will use to defend their currency in the open markets.. The CBI published data in Arabic that has some powerful implications on where this is headed!! The direction is perfect for us.. imo ! ~ MM

"Hard currency refers to money that is issued by a nation that is seen as politically and economically stable. Hard currencies are widely accepted around the world as a form of payment for goods and services and may be preferred over the domestic currency"

The Central Bank of Iraq

information Office

2/24/2020   

The central bank clarifies the administrative framework for financing imports and the mechanism for selling foreign currencies   LINK

Frank26 and KTFA Members Monday PM 2-24-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Integrity Commission restored $2bn to Iraqi Treasury

24th February, 2020
Iraq’s official anti-corruption agency stated in its latest annual report that it restored 2.84 trillion Iraqi dinars ($2.38 billion) to the Treasury in 2019.

The Federal Commission of Integrity added that it has utilised its relationships with other state watchdogs, and that it created a national strategy for fighting corruption in collaboration with the Federal Board of Supreme Audit.

According to the report, the commission examined and was involved in 26,163 notices and court cases in 2019, with 10,143 persons accused of corruption. Those included 50 officials who were government ministers or holding equivalent positions.

There were 931 court rulings in which 1,231 defendants were convicted of corruption. They included four ministers or officials at the same level.   LINK

Samson:  Trump announces a $ 3 billion arms deal with India

02/24/2020 13:56:24

 US President Donald Trump stressed that his country is looking to provide "the best and most intimidating military equipment" to India, in addition to enhancing economic cooperation with it.

Trump's comments came in a speech he made at the beginning of his visit to India, today, Monday, in front of a crowd of Indian audiences in the western city of Ahmedabad, speaking after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump said that the United States is about to sign a deal to provide India with military helicopters and other military equipment worth $3 billion, noting that Washington and New Delhi are committed to working to stop the terrorists and fight their ideology.

Trump also confirmed continuing to work with Pakistan to eliminate terrorism, expressing his hope to ease future tensions between all South Asian countries. Trump said he would discuss with Modi efforts to develop economic ties between the two countries, adding that Washington was in the early stages of the path to a "incredible" trade deal with New Delhi.

Trump indicated that he hoped for rapid progress in improving the investment climate in India, and that the United States was looking forward to developing space cooperation with India. Trump (along with his wife Melania) arrived Monday morning in Ahmedabad on his first two-day official visit to India. Trump will hold a meeting with Modi in Ahmedabad, then he will visit some of the tourist attractions in India before heading to New Delhi, where bilateral meetings will be held between the American and Indian officials on Tuesday.   LINK

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ChrisC:  Dow down almost 800.  It was always said a market crash will precede the RV.  Watch the cattle stampede.

I, me personally, am not worried about the Corona virus but it is jamming up Chinese businesses bad.  This had to happen once the supply of Chinese products slowed. 

 IMO this is all a masterfully planned event.  I watched Trump say in an interview last week that Corona virus would be over by April.  How in the heck would he know that a supposed worldwide pandemic would be over in a couple of months? 

Corona virus panic, market crash, bank collapse, nationalization of collapsed banks, RV, in my conspiratorial minded sequence of events.  Of course it may not happen anything like that.  

Mr. Harfax:  If you are going to implement a new economic system based on new trade deals/agreements ….you'll have to address the old economic system.   How do you replace one with the other?  One option - You vacate, destroy or raze to the ground the old system. You take it down to nothing and replace it to something new......

ChrisC:  Here is the BS about this whole deal, and this is IMO.  This virus has a patent connected with it, so not natural but man made.  They already have a vaccine, that was known weeks ago, but it will not be available for 18 months or so.  Plenty of time to let it do what it will do, which I still think is not that much. 

Mr. Harfax is right, you have to handle the old system and that is what I have been warning about for some time now.  Do NOT be like the kid on my boy's T Ball team years ago that was just looking around picking flowers in center field. 

He didn't think he was in any danger since nobody had hit a ball even back to the pitcher's mound yet.  My boy got up to bat and it looked like Jose Canseco hit the ball.  That poor unsuspecting kid took it right in the chest and dropped like he had been shot with a deer rifle. 

The coach ran out and said "breathe Bobby breathe!".  Don't be picking flowers when this happens.

MaOakes12:  Chris, the info. I heard concerning the corona virus was that it was manufactured in a lab in China. A firm in Texas stated they have a cure for it here in the US. Just like the HIV virus all this crap is planned by the so called "elite".

Just like the so called "crash of 1929 it was planned. The big boys sold and when the price reached their buying level they started buying again. The stock market is manipulated like no other business in the world.

Time marches on and the money "boys" know when, where, how, etc. it is all going to play out.

Don961:  Al-Nasr Coalition: Allawi hides his cabinet from Parliament, and Representatives knew the CV of the nominated ministers through the media!  LINK  

MilitiaMan:  ""The government program and CVs of cabinet members must be sent to Parliament 72 hours before the day of the vote to give confidence, while Allawi promises us to send them daily without doing so."

MilitiaMan:  72 hours from now is Thursday. The President of Parliament set a date for a confidence vote for Thursday.

So, since Pompeo rang up Allawi on the phone yesterday, maybe Allawi was given the nod to let the names fly... We shall see on that. All the while we wait, there has been more data coming out of the CBI. The below is not about Banks.. That would suggest the Banks already have been accounted for. So for the smaller folks, they need to get the 2019 data reported by the 29th..

Then there is the laws that are in place for those that are in the need to know realm. Like large investors, corporations, conglomerates, etc.. So, the seemingly syncronized data is in our favor they Monetary Reforms are coming to fruition.

The demands of the Citizens are still front and center. Don't forget that the new designate PM told us in the speech of his recently that the personal needs as in economic area priority! imo ~ MM

https://cbi.iq/news/view/1433

https://cbi.iq/news/view/1438

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Frank26:  2-24-20  IGNORANT IRAN

Streamed live 46 minutes ago

This Video is in Frank’s opinion

Monday Conference Call: 7pm est 605-313-5164 PIN: 156996#

Playback Number: 605-313-5163

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlUSWSkcOO8

KTFA Members "News and Views" Sunday 2-23-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Economists: 2000 dollars annually for each Iraqi within seven years

22nd February, 2020

Experts in the economic affairs confirmed today, Saturday, that the volume of Iraqi imports for the period from 2011 to 2018 has exceeded 620 billion dollars at an average income of 2000 dollars per year for each Iraqi citizen.

Experts revealed, quoting the Central Bureau of Statistics, that oil imports from total imports amounted to 564 billion dollars while non-oil imports amounted to about 58 billion dollars, and in contrast, the total expenses of Iraq for the same period amounted to more than 619 billion dollars, including current expenses of 450 billion dollars and investment expenses worth 169 billion dollars, while Iraq’s financial surplus for the same period amounted to only 4 billion dollars.  LINK

Samson:  Rafidain Bank confirms its readiness to finance companies and investors to complete their investment activities

23rd February, 2020

Rafidain Bank has announced its willingness to finance investment companies and investors who want to build or complete housing complexes or commercial centers and other investment activities that contribute to supporting the national economy.

The bank’s media office said in a statement that “investors and companies wishing to obtain finance and financial marketing for them should visit the bank to review the conditions for granting loans in the interest of the public interest.”

The statement added that "the bank has funded and marketed many housing complexes and other investment activities in Baghdad and the provinces, in a move aimed at strengthening the economic sector, stimulating investment movement and creating job opportunities."    LINK

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Samson:  The Central Bank concludes the e-clearing system course

23rd February, 2020

The Central Bank of Iraq concluded a course entitled (electronic clearing
system C-ACH ) on February 20 , 2020 organized by the Center for Banking
Studies in this bank.

The course aimed to provide bank employees with comprehensive knowledge
about the clearing system approved by the Central Bank of Iraq, and 31 trainees
from government and private banks participated in the course.

The Central Bank of Iraq

information Office

2/23/2020

https://cbi.iq/news/view/1432

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Samson:  The bank warns of a delay fine for all approved electronic payment companies

23rd February, 2020

To / All Approved Electronic Payment Companies ( Warning )

Issue: 9/5/9

Date: 20/20/2020

It was decided to warn your companies not to provide us with the required financial
data and that this bank will impose a daily delay fine in the event of not receiving the
financial statements for the fourth quarter of 2019 and the data mentioned in our
Circular No. 9/5/365 of 9/4/2019 within a maximum period of 2/2020 / 29.

https://cbi.iq/news/view/1433

Samson:  Economists warn of recession because the draft budget for 2020 is not approved

23rd February, 2020

Economists feared the repetition of the 2014 experiment by making Iraq without a financial budget, as a result of the political tension that has occurred as a result of the continuous protests since last October, which led to the resignation of the government headed by Adel Abdel-Mahdi and its transformation into a caretaker government that is not authorized to send the draft budget budget to Parliament

The current year’s budget (according to the government’s proposed project) is 162 trillion dinars (135 billion dollars), with a planned financial deficit of 48 trillion dinars (40 billion dollars), including three trillion dinars (2.5 billion dollars) to implement the projects agreed with China

The government was late in sending the draft budget to include the reform decisions that cost the country more than ten trillion dinars ($ 8.3 billion

And the financial advisor to the Iraqi government, Dr. Mazhar Muhammad Salih, warned of the dangers of not approving the draft budget this year and entering Iraq into a depression six months from now

Saleh said that public spending in Iraq constitutes about 45% of the gross domestic product, and that this spending and its high composition through a planned annual budget have wide positive effects on achieving the real planned growth rates in the national product itself and in particular the use of the main production forces

He pointed out that the delay in approving the budget means a delay in the completion of new investment projects covered by the allocations of the federal budget 2020, and it will give a negative signal to investors in the private sector to start their investments

Saleh added that stopping the approval of the budget and the failure of the planned or new investment spending will lead to increased unemployment rates and high poverty rates due to the annual growth of the population and the workforce that is looking to work, and thus will interfere with many interconnected and dependent interests on investment spending, especially the new government that ultimately leads To stagnation

He added that the continuation of the recession for more than six months leads inevitably to the recession, which means that the economic losses will widen for the joints of the economy on a large scale, and this is what must be avoided

Meanwhile, member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Ahmed Hama, said that the financial budget for Iraq is now spent in accordance with the "12/1" mechanism, which means spending on salaries only, and this will harm the country's economy because it will disrupt development, noting that the resigned government was late in sending the bill to Parliament because of the high deficit

He added that the new government takes several days to send the draft law to parliament, and the project also needs to be read and approved in parliament for some time, so we may exceed the first quarter of this year without a budget

He noted that Iraq will not be able to implement the Chinese agreement, because its provisions are part of the budget and need to be approved by Parliament

For his part, Iraqi economist Aqeel Al-Ansari said that the delay in approving the budget has major negative repercussions on the Iraqi economy, as it would send an unsuspecting message to investors and delay the investment operations in small and medium projects, while large projects are now suspended

He pointed out that the financial budget in Iraq has two wings, one operational and one investment, and that delaying the approval of the budget means converting the budget into a payroll budget only and canceling the investment, and consequently high unemployment and its economic consequences such as entering the country in an economic recession, especially in light of the low demand for oil (The main source of income in the country) after the spread of the Corona virus in China

Al-Ansari added that if the situation remains as it is, it means increasing chaos and organized crime, opening the door to thefts from political rulers and power parties, and continuing the popular curse of the political system in general    LINK

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DELTA:  URGENT FROM IRAQI TV:

Postpones the confidence-giving session for Allawi's government from tomorrow to next Wednesday...

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Samson::  Hassan Al-Kaabi announces next Wednesday a session to give confidence to Allawi's government

23rd February, 2020

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hassan Al Kaabi announced on Sunday that he will hold a parliament session to give confidence to the government of Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi next Wednesday

Al-Kaabi said in a brief statement received to Shafaq News, that "the session of the House of Representatives to give confidence to the Allawi government will be held next Wednesday

The session was supposed to be held tomorrow, Monday, at the invitation of the resigned Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi

However, Speaker of Parliament Muhammad Al-Halbousi said that the date of the session cannot be determined unless the government program and the curriculum vitae of ministerial candidates arrive

Allawi was named after a consensus between the leader of the Alliance of the Hadi al-Amiri and the leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr

However, he faces widespread objections from the Kurdish and Sunni political forces as well as the popular movement, which demands an independent personality far from subordination to the parties and abroad   LINK

Samson:  Integrity announces arrest and recruitment orders issued against officials during the past month 

23rd February, 2020

The investigations department of the commission announced all the details of arrest and recruitment orders against ministers, their ranks, deputies and those with special grades during the month of January.

The department confirmed, according to a statement, that "90 warrants of arrest and recruitment were issued against (86) of special ranks during the past month, including (9) arrest warrants and (81) recruitment orders, stating that among those covered by orders to recruit (3) former ministers and They are in their rank and (3) are former members of the House of Representatives, (6) current and former government ministers, in addition to (5) former governors, (20) current and former general managers, and (40) members of dissolved governorate councils.

She added that "arrest warrants have been issued against (3) governors, (4) current and former general directors, and (2) members of dissolved governorate councils."

And the department stated that "those covered by arrest and recruitment orders work in the ministries of culture, health, higher education, scientific research, electricity, defense, industry, minerals, municipalities, works and transport, in addition to the House of Representatives, the ministers, the local administrations of the governorates and the provincial councils."  LINK

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Samson:  India finds an "enormous" amount of gold equivalent to five times the country's reserves LINK

S41755k:  First i believe Gold and Silver will increase, a lot! But, time to time articles come out such as this one stating they have found " tons" of gold. Since Gold is consider rare which makes it valuable when they find undiscovered tons of it, how does it not become devalued? In my mind it is like printing money, m1,m2,m3 numbers. Just wondering on blog site (out loud)!

ChrisC: There is a supply and demand situation, true, but it is not like printing money.  As many who have tried it in the past found out, you cannot make gold like you can print money.  You would have to find a GREAT deal of it to affect its value very much.  There are some really interesting stories that seem to have some backing of a massive find in the Grand Canyon and a huge strike on Chocolate Mountain.  That is why National Parks were developed around these areas supposedly.  The fight over the Bundy ranch a few years ago was supposedly about a huge find there on the land that he has leased.

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Don961:  China is preparing for it with an army of 100,000 hungry ducks

Locusts invade the Middle East towards Asia

Publish date: 02/23/2020

"Middle Eastern" and Asian countries took intensive measures to confront many locust swarms that began invading large areas after they crossed the Red Sea, amid warnings of a dangerous pest threatening food security due to targeting the major agricultural areas.

At a time when China is fighting the emerging "Corona" virus, it has mobilized an army of about 100,000 hungry ducks to confront massive swarms of locusts that have struck the Arabian Peninsula, the Sinai, occupied Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, India and Pakistan, all the way to China.

While some countries count on winds and cold weather to keep the path of hundreds of millions of these creatures, a Saudi official expected the arrival of locust swarms to the south of the Riyadh region soon, warning against eating it, fearing that it might have eaten crops grown with chemical drugs, denying that locusts are transporting to some Diseases to humans.

The Jordanian authorities announced taking intensive measures, and said that they are in direct and permanent communication with Riyadh regarding dealing with locust swarms, while specialists stressed that this phenomenon is increasing rapidly due to changes in global climate patterns that caused hurricanes and heavy rains.

In East Asia, it appears that China is not afraid of locusts having prepared an army of 100,000 hungry ducks to tackle the hundreds of millions of locusts expected to reach their borders soon, according to the British "Daily Express". 

- See more at: LINK

Frank26 Video "Q&A at Pearl Harbor" and more Saturday Night 2-22-2020

KTFA:

Frank26: 2-22-20. Q&A AT PEARL HARBOR

THIS IS ALL IN FRANK'S OPINION

Saturday Night Q&A

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

Don961:  I served in Iraq ... Trump plans to appoint a security advisor of Arab descent

Arab and International 02/22/2020 10:43 326 Editor: ha   
Baghdad today - follow up

The US CNN reported on Saturday (February 22, 2020) that US President Donald Trump is planning to appoint a local official in the state of Florida who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a security advisor.

The network reported, "Julia Nshiwat, who is in Florida who is responsible for dealing with natural disasters, will replace Adm. Peter Brown, the head of the Coast Guard, who took over as President's Homeland Security advisor about six months ago."

In its new role, Nshiwat will protect the United States from terrorist threats, reinforce protection from cyber attacks, and respond to natural disasters.

She had worked for the US State Department during Trump's term, and the office of the director of national intelligence in the administration of former President George W. Bush.

Nishiwat, of Jordanian origin, is a former intelligence officer in the army, has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and during her work she has directed a senior operations officer for terrorist network assessments in Asia and the Middle East.

And Trump's decision to raise the position of homeland security advisor to the same position occupied by the President's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, with whom Nichiwat worked for the State Department.

And Jordanian media said that "Nshiyat belongs to a clan that lives in the city of Salt (central of the Kingdom), and that she speaks Arabic fluently despite her origins in the United States."  LINK

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2Cents:  WE have been discussing the following:

Our understanding.......Frank's teams have reported that the Fab 4 has been unhappy with the failure of the CBI to make the "Article 2 speech" on two different occasions over the last few weeks.

They have been given 30 days from the seating of the government to stop the currency sales of the USD for conducting business in the country which would require official Article VIII acceptance.  

It does not seem logical to be unhappy on one hand for failure to act, but yet, give 30 days after the government seated.  The Fab 4 obviously, by the reports given, expected action of some sort notwithstanding the fact that the government is not passed.

That being said, are we clearly now looking for two very distinct events separated by as much as 30 days after government seated, RD/RV ------->RI just as WS posted so long ago?  

If so, could we expect the RD/RV just prior, during or just after Allawi getting a vote of confidence and prior to the 1/12 system of disbursements being made Tuesday to the Kurds??   Could the "30 day" timeframe be referring to the RI allowing the new government to complete something specific to allow the IMF to report Iraq as accepting Article VIII obligations??

Time will tell but IMO, all should be thinking of their game plan if RD/RV occurs absent the RI......

I would love, but certainly do not expect, a short WS reply as to the above....

If there is any construed opinion here, please accept as IMO

Hammy14:  2cents, in the YouTube video yesterday, Frank was talking about the tellers getting trained by someone other than Iraq.  I believe he referred to these trainers as an international group of some sort, although he didn’t give their name, he did say this move “guarantees” they are reinstating their currency.  Just as we have suspected all along, IMO.

2Cents:  Hey Hammy.........I agree that they must be reinstating at some point soon and by reports, within 30 days of new government seating.......What I am trying to point out is that we may very well see the RD/RV well before........Just trying to point this out for the "family" so all are thinking of their game plan if that occurs.  I am not saying that it might not happen simultaneously within the "30 days" but am trying to have all think what they plan to do if not......

Don961:  International Monetary is assessing his advice to emerging markets

Saturday 22nd February 2020
Capitals / Follow-up 

How can we make capital flows safer for emerging market economies? Finding the right answer to this question is crucial to financial stability, growth, and jobs.

"It states that the fund is reassessing the advice it was giving to emerging markets and how they fit into the current situation," the International Monetary Fund director "Cristalina Georgievia" wrote an article for the Financial Times.

"Emerging markets benefit from an abundance of external capital, which can be used to fund new ideas and critical infrastructure," she says. But emerging markets also face episodes of large fluctuations in capital flows, which can harm financial stability and the outlook for companies and households. Addressing capital fluctuations can be a daunting task, because there is not much consensus on the right mix of economic policy measures and timing.

Looking at the 2018 episode of capital outflows from emerging markets, we find that Brazil and Malaysia actually interfered in foreign exchange markets to support their currencies, while Colombia and South Africa barely interfered in the exchange rate, while some central banks raised interest rates while others He did not.

Heavy intervention often mitigates currency losses, but not always.
 All this raises questions, including for the International Monetary Fund, so we rethink and update our advice to member states

 The goal since then is to provide country-specific advice on the appropriate mix of policies needed to maintain financial growth and stability. The new IMF’s “Integrated Policy Framework” will reassess the costs and benefits of four instruments - monetary policy, macro prudential policy, exchange rate interventions, and capital flow measures - to help stabilize economies vulnerable to domestic and external shocks. More importantly, the integrated aspect of the new framework will explain how these tools interact with each other and with country conditions. 

The current framework of the International Monetary Fund, based on more traditional economic thinking, directed members broadly towards the use of the exchange rate to absorb shocks, and this approach provides a good convergence of how advanced economies adapt to external shocks and exchange rate movements. 

But the current approach can ignore the important characteristics of emerging markets that change their economies ’response to external shocks, and may require a different recipe. 

A recent study indicates that although emerging markets are deeply integrated into global trade, their trade is invoiced disproportionately in dollars, and therefore flexible exchange rates provide limited isolation.   LINK

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Don961:  The effects of Corona virus on the Iraqi economy

THURSDAY, 20-02-2020, PM 4:47  KARAR AL-ASADI

Written by: Baqir Jabr Al-Zubaidi

The global economy is witnessing a sharp negative decline in the effects on the global economy exceeding $ 1.5 trillion in early March, while gold prices have risen significantly as a safe haven in the fever of conflicting stocks and global currency prices, while oil prices witness fluctuations and expectations of its decline as a result of the economic recession that the world will live in the future.

With the work of the resigned government continuing, the Iraqi market is witnessing a severe recession for internal and external reasons, foremost of which is the Corona epidemic.

The reassured brothers reassured employees and retirees that the salaries were insured for the current year and the coming years, and there was no need for unjustified panic and not listening to malicious rumors.

That the Iraqi dinar retains its value with the presence of the financial reserve in the central bank, which has witnessed growth exceeding $ 70 billion, knowing that the central bank reserve called "reserve generations" can protect the stability of the Iraqi dinar price until the coming years.

We call on the government in charge to form a specialized working group to study the negative effects of Corona virus on the Iraqi economy and develop scientific and practical solutions, to face the recession in the Iraqi market, develop plans and study a solution to the "dilemma of high unemployment" and stimulate investment and benefit from the experiences of the International Monetary Fund to reformulate the provisions of the budget in 2020 .   LINK