KTFA Members "News and Views" Wednesday PM 3-24-2021

KTFA:

Aaron:  Sunday, March 24, 1991 – Kuwait made their historic Currency Value Adjustment that we all make reference to.

Today is the 30 year anniversary of that event.

As the last sentence of every Capital-1 Visa commercial would say:

Iraq, what’s in your wallet..??

Godlover:  I will say this....
With all the articles still implying that the reforms are going to be in the budget.....
With PM K at times telling the citizens that they will have PP in this budget.....
With the talks of the oil & gas law/HCL & hopefully soon more articles...implying they are trying to include in the budget.....
With all the talking of exchange rates in the articles.....
With all of the international investment talk....
With all the other supposedly in the know people (none of the lame gurus) that claim this is THE budget....
With the dollar auctions stopping for the most part back in December of last year....
With all the back & forth on the budget....

I would actually be surprised if the budget opened at a PR (program rate) !  IMO

Samson:  Qatari Foreign Minister begins an official visit to Baghdad

11:07 - 24/03/2021

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani arrived in the capital, Baghdad, on Wednesday on an official visit.

Al Thani is scheduled to meet senior Iraqi officials and hold a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

The Qatari foreign minister will visit Erbil and meet with senior officials in the Kurdistan region, as it is scheduled to open a Qatar consulate in Erbil.   LINK

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Samson:  The start of the round of ministerial talks between Iraq, Jordan and Egypt

03/24/2021 14:24:19

The official round of talks between the Iraqi and Jordanian delegations began in the presence of the Iraqi and Jordanian delegations, with the participation of the Egyptian ministerial delegation via the closed television circuit.

The Chairman of the Council, Minister of Planning Khaled Battal Al-Najm, affirmed the Iraqi government's desire to activate memoranda of understanding on the ground, which has witnessed tangible development and is moving towards positive steps, after it made advanced strides in the fields of commercial and industrial exchange.

He indicated that the Iraqi side is keen to accelerate the implementation of joint projects aimed at deepening coordination, cooperation and strategic integration between the three sister countries in all vital sectors.

The Iraqi delegation discussed joint cooperation to rehabilitate priority Iraqi factories, establish the Iraqi-Jordanian economic city, as well as activate the Arab Bridge Company for Maritime Transport.

The delegations also discussed memoranda of understanding signed on agricultural cooperation and food security, as well as the fields of pharmaceutical, agricultural pesticides and chemical industries.

The Iraqi delegation called on the technical teams from the Jordanian and Egyptian sides to visit Iraq. To view the specific sites for the establishment of projects listed in the signed memoranda of understanding

The final record of the round of discussions will be prepared and presented to the leaders of the three countries. In order to reach the final recommendations that will be ratified during the tripartite summit to be held in Baghdad.  LINK

DeepWoodz:  Imo...This got me to thinking about all the different countries that have signed mou’s with Iraq.....

MOU’s

A memorandum of understanding allows all parties to clearly state all of their objectives and goals. This makes for less uncertainty and prevents future unexpected disputes to occur. Furthermore, by clearly laying out what each party expects of the other, an MOU provides a blueprint for any contract both parties may or may not wish to draw up in the future.

 A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is not legally binding, although it usually signals a legal contract is imminent!

That means in Iraq’s case they are WAITING ON SOMETHING.

My logic tells me that the fact there are SO MANY different countries signing MOU’s that they must all have something in common they are waiting for.  

Its not like some have signed contracts and some have signed MOU’s. (Except maybe recently like the Port of Faw)

We know what that is don’t we?

Samson:  Iraq directs a request to France regarding its seized funds in Paris

24th March, 2021
The Iraqi Minister of Justice, Salar Abdul Sattar Muhammad, called on Wednesday for the French authorities to lift the seizure of sums of money belonging to the Iraqi government withheld by the French government.

A statement by the Ministry of Justice, a copy of which was received by Mawazine News, stated that “Salar discussed during his meeting today, Wednesday, with the French ambassador to Iraq, Bruno Hubert, Consul Luke Spebrock, and their accompanying delegation, the cooperation relations between the two sides and ways to strengthen and develop them.”

The Minister of Justice emphasized, according to the statement, that "Iraq seeks to open new horizons of joint cooperation, especially in the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding or cooperation in the legal field and exchanging experiences between the Iraqi and French ministries of justice in the near future."

The minister explained that "he discussed with the French side the release of funds that belong to the Iraqi government withheld by the French government, and that he asked the French authorities to lift the seizure of these funds and return them, noting that there is a decision issued by the United Nations Security Council to release these sums."   LINK

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Samson:  Al-Bawi: The rise of the dollar, had it happened in another country, would have toppled large numbers of politicians

08:59 - 24/03/2021

Political analyst Hazem Al-Bawi said, on Wednesday, that the rise in the price of the dollar, if it had occurred in a country other than Iraq, would have toppled all those behind it, politically and electively.

Al-Bawi said in a statement to the information, that “what was revealed by informed sources that the rise in the exchange rate of the dollar has returned to political forces, including the Kurdistan region, in large sums in light of the high oil prices, which represents an increasing pressure on the lives of the people affected by the conditions imposed by the pandemic in a forced manner. And it coincided with unjustified and government-imposed austerity measures.

He added that "the parliamentary blocs and members of the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives and the supervisory authorities to verify the fact that political parties, including Kurdistan, win as a result of the high price of the dollar."

Al-Bawi pointed to "accurate information confirming that the proportion of Kurdistan from the budget amounting to 13 percent will remain the same, but the region will get additional revenues by increasing the income of the dinar in light of the high dollar."    LINK

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Samson:  Integrity: the issuance of an arrest warrant against the former governor of Babylon

12:50 - 24/03/2021

Today, Wednesday, the Federal Commission of Integrity announced the issuance of an arrest warrant against the former governor of Babylon against the background of tampering with the record of land distribution, while it indicated that it had caught an accountant in the act of embezzlement in the provincial office.

The commission said in a statement it received / the information / a copy of, that “the Hilla investigation court, which is competent to examine issues of integrity, issued an arrest warrant against the former governor of Babylon against the background of tampering with the report approved by the governorate office regarding the plots assigned to the slice of martyrs and political prisoners.”

The commission clarified the details of the case it investigated and referred it to the judiciary that “the record was tampered with,” indicating that “it focused on suspicions of tampering with the report and replacing plots of land with residential plots other than those allocated during the lottery process, as well as adding names from outside the lottery box, indicating that The arrest warrant was issued based on the provisions of Article 340 of the Penal Code.

In another context, the commission confirmed, “A team from the Commission’s investigation office in Babil governorate caught an accountant in the bid opening committee at the governorate’s bureau for having misrepresented the speculative disclosure of a project to develop a street in the city center of Hilla presented by (two private companies)

Pointing out that “the accused made the amount of the disclosure higher than the original amount that the company provided to the Babil Governorate office, with the intention of taking what was in excess of the amount from the contractor, in exchange for referring the project to the provincial office in the interest of the company.”

And she continued, “A fundamentalist seizure report was organized in the process, and it was presented with the accused and the criminal exhibitors to the competent investigating judge. To take the appropriate legal measures.”  LINK

KTFA Members "News and Views" Tuesday 3-23-2021

KTFA:

Mark:  IMO   DON'T EVEN THINK OR TROUBLE YOURSELVES ABOUT THOSE BOZO'S IN PARLIAMENT...... JUST WATCH THE CBI  AS THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN CHANGE THE RATE !!!!!!

WATCH THE CBI AND THEM ONLY !!!!!!!  THE REST IS SMOKE !!!!

CITIZENS OF IRAQ WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET  ?????    NSCN'S ? 1 TO 1 ?  INTERNATIONAL RATE ? WHEN  ? ONLY GOD KNOWS

Samson:  Representative statistics: 20 million Iraqis have been affected by the change of the dollar exchange rate

09:20 - 23/03/2021

A member of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Hussein Al-Aqabi, revealed, on Tuesday, a shocking parliamentary statistic regarding the number of people affected by the change of the dollar exchange rate, stressing that their numbers reached 20 million Iraqis.

"The return of the dollar to the forefront is very important, since this issue has been absent in the recent period," Al-Aqabi said in an interview followed by the information, indicating that "the government knows nothing but deduction, loans and the dollar price." He added, "More than 20 million Iraqis have been affected by the price of the dollar," noting that "the state's methodology targets the livelihood of the Iraqi citizen."

Al-Uqabi pointed out that "the prices of consumer goods have risen to more than 30 percent," explaining that "poverty rates in the south have reached 50 percent."

On the other hand, Al-Puni stated that "the exemptions for Jordan reduced customs revenues by 45 percent," noting that "what is declared customs revenues is a clear misleading."   LINK

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Samson:  Parliamentary warning of "street anger" if the budget is not passed next Saturday

12:59 - 23/03/2021

The MP for the Al-Fateh Alliance, Mithaq Al-Hamdi, warned on Tuesday of “the anger of the street” in the event that the vote on the budget was postponed in the session next Saturday, calling on the political forces to speed up reaching an agreement satisfactory to all, and on the contrary, they should go to the majority vote.

Al-Hamdi said in a statement to / the information /, that “delaying and delaying the vote on the current year’s budget has made the citizen more tired of the political forces,” warning the political forces that “in the event that the vote on the budget is postponed to another date, the street will come out forcefully. To hold them accountable for the delay.”

She added that "the passage of a third of the year without a vote is a defective matter and there is no such thing in any country in the world," calling on "the political forces to speed up to reach an agreement satisfactory to all, and on the contrary, they must go to vote by the majority."

And the head of Bayariq Al-Khair Parliamentary Bloc, MP Muhammad Al-Khalidi, revealed in a statement to Al-Maalouma, today, Tuesday, that there are 5 difficult files in the budget, which are likely to be passed by the parliamentary majority.   LINK

GodLover:  Well...here we go again, citizens angry because these fools keep delaying the budget. Will the budget finally be voted on this Saturday? Time will tell.

The citizens have a right to be angry & completely confused, like the rest of the world. The citizens were promised this budget will have the MR in it, sure hope for their sake & ours, to be true. 
Is the budget waiting for the rate? Personally I do not think so. I still say the Kurds are one of the main issues, along with their interests with the oil & gas law, etc. I am hoping all issues will be settled prior to the possible budget vote this Saturday per articles.

I do not watch the CBI...never have. My main focus continues to be on the budget.....or to be clear, the opening of the budget. The budget opening will reveal our timeline...period. They are not going to open a budget, only to amend it soon after.

What the budget opens at, that is what it will be for the remainder of this year. I do not expect to see anything prior to the budget vote. I am looking for the new rate/figures to be added after the budget vote & prior to the signing of the budget....

God willing, any other way does not make any sense to me. 

Samson:  The UAE Is Investing $ 10 Billion In The Indonesian Wealth Fund

23rd March, 2021

The UAE announced today, Tuesday, that it will invest $ 10 billion through its governmental and private investment tools and equipment, in the Indonesian sovereign wealth fund.

The Emirates News Agency said that the investment of $ 10 billion in the Indonesian Investment Authority came in implementation of the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Investments will focus on strategic sectors in the Republic of Indonesia, including infrastructure, roads, ports, tourism, agriculture and other promising vital sectors, which have great prospects and potential for growth and contribute to the promotion of economic and social growth and progress in Indonesia.

The Indonesian sovereign fund aims to implement strategic projects that support national development in Indonesia, including the development of infrastructure and the construction of the new capital in Kalimantan.  LINK

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Samson:  The Kurdish delegation returns to Baghdad at this time

13:28 - 23/03/2021

Member of the Parliament of the Kurdistan Region, Othman Karim, revealed, on Tuesday, that the delegation of the Kurdistan Regional Government will return to Baghdad one day before the vote on the budget.

Karim said in a statement to "the information", that "in the event that an understanding has been reached between the political blocs on Saturday as a date for voting on the budget, the delegation will visit Baghdad last Friday."

He added, "This visit will be crucial to stabilizing the region's share, and there are good signs of reaching an agreement, especially since the region is fully committed to delivering 250,000 barrels of oil and half of the proceeds from the border crossings, and we hope that no new conditions are presented to the delegation that would delay reaching an agreement."    LINK

ATPinfinity:  "to Baghdad one day before the vote on the budget" until then HOLIDAY/VACATIONING IN KURDISTAN...the delegation of the Kurdistan Regional Government SPEAKS SOFTLY…..THIS HAS TO BE A DONE DEAL

Monday Night KTFA CC "Give Us Your Tired and Poor...and Torn" 3-22-2021

KTFA Monday Night CC 3-22-2021

With Frank26 and team MilitiaMan, Petra and Walkingstick.

3-22-21.....BRING ME YOUR TIRED AND POOR...AND TORN

This video is in Franks and teams opinion only

PLAYBACK IS:  605.313.5163  PIN: 156996#

What Frank’s suit color’s mean…. FRANKS SUIT COLORS FOR CC'S..... WHITE = NEW INFO…. SILVER = INTEL FROZEN…. RED= HIGH ALERT… PURPLE=GUEST WITH US…. BLUE = AIR FORCE…. BLACK = GROUND/FF’S…. GREEN= MR OR FAB 4 ... GOLD = CHANGE

Clare:  FRANK SAID THE PINK WAS COMPASSION- WHITE IS NEW INFO...PINK IS A NEW COLOR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJmrBo7GkbI

KTFA Members "News and Views" Monday Afternoon 3-22-2021

KTFA:

Samson:  The Central Bank of Iraq adds a new feature to Iraqi banknotes

22nd March, 2021

The Central Bank of Iraq announced that it has added the feature of protecting banknotes from bacteria and viruses, including the CoronaT virus strain, which will soon be put into circulation, by adding the biological pesticide developed by international companies specialized in printing banknotes in coordination with the competent authorities.

The Central Bank of Iraq
Information Office March 

March 22, 2021  LINK

Coco: This is great!  An excuse to issue new currency (New small category notes) due to the China Virus.

Snod:  Considering all the other information around this, this could be the beginning of the NSCN education.

DeepWoodz:  Imo....Considering they’ve been collecting and destroying 000’s one can logically assume this wouldn’t be more of the same. Actually one could assume that they are just now reporting some details of what’s in the ATM’s!!! It’s getting round here!!!   THIS SHOULD TELL A TALE OF NSCN’s!!! (new small category notes)

Trevor:  id like that but is only a biological pesticide

DeepWoodz:  Imo.... I think more to it than that....

FA 123  (Final Article)

Author - Ahmad Salami

- Dinar plastic (polymer) 

- Restructuring of the Iraqi currency 

- Re-evaluate the value of the dinar

 - Iraqi dinar (polymer):

 1.eetm the use of plastic money and made of material plastic polymer high-efficiency rather than paper made from cotton material and paper used in the money industry today and that are exposed to rapid deterioration use life short and the movement of disease transition and endemic and infectious bunches bacterial with it and move on to people when you touch Kalmndel infested.

 2. plastic money outlive most of its peers paper twice a number of years and do not affect the high temperatures and humidity, water, dyes, crushing and does not allow the formation of clusters of bacterial Ovairoseh.

 3. plastic money security features very high degree forgery make it almost impossible to 99.9%.

 4. plastic money can be recycled after it is damaged and the use of new raw materials reduces costs to a very high percentage Unlike paper that Taathra and lose parts and comes with stickers or dyes, which burned and then buried. Nor used as the raw material.

 5.alncod plastic as far as being the most evolved its industry costs less than the cost of paper-based counterparts.

 6.dol world began a gradual transition to plastic money instead of paper and the first Arab state of Kuwait is applied to the new currency system.

DeepWoodz:  FA   1,,,,,,,2,,,,,,,3 this is it!!!

Cheers...FA 105 also gives mention of polymers for their currency.....

"The world is beginning to turn into plastic prints, Malaysia, so the currency is long and non-perishable and counterfeit, and here we call on the Central Bank of Iraq to take the same step because the life span of the current paper currency does not exceed 6 months," suggesting "conversion Coins of small groups of paper to metal and thus longer life

AND....if you want some interesting reading check out FA 231....tells of American plastic coated currency being sent to Iraq for oil....

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Don961:  Iraq uses a feature for banknotes to protect against viruses

356 Economie 2021/03/22 10:07 am   Baghdad today - Baghdad

Today, Monday (March 22, 2021), the Central Bank of Iraq announced the addition of a new feature to protect Iraqi banknotes from viruses and bacteria.

The bank’s media office stated, in a statement received (Baghdad today), that it “added a feature to protect banknotes from bacteria and viruses, including the Corona virus strain, which will soon be put into circulation.”

The statement added, "This is by adding the biological pesticide that has been developed by international companies specialized in printing banknotes in coordination with the competent authorities."

On Tuesday (August 18, 2020), the Central Bank of Iraq called on citizens to "not hoard money in homes", and to deal with banks and financial intermediation companies during large cash exchanges, warning of the role of securities in transmitting viruses and bacteria, including Corona .

A statement by the bank said that it seeks, through these directives, to "preserve the money supply of citizens, avoid cases of theft and fraud, and promote counterfeit currencies."

The bank stressed the need to reduce trade exchange in paper currencies, "which medical studies have proven to be an effective vector for viruses and bacteria, especially since the country is going through a crisis of spreading the Coronavirus."

The Central Bank indicated that it adopts "mechanisms for the spread of financial inclusion in Iraq, which enhances the banking culture and the shift to monetary exchange through banking transactions with modern technologies and in all their forms."  LINK

DeepWoodz:  Imo....We heard this before...I believe it’s another attempt at getting them mattress dinars. Of course with the inclusion of “Hey, we are going to be issuing new currency!”

Samson:  Baghdad hosts a tripartite international summit at the end of this month

16:40 - 22/03/2021

An Iraqi government source revealed, on Monday, that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and King Abdullah of Jordan will visit the Iraqi capital Baghdad at the end of this month to hold a tripartite summit with the Iraqi prime minister with the aim of discussing building an independent political axis in the region.

The Russian agency "Sputnik" quoted the source as saying that "at the end of this month, a visit will be made by the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, as well as by the Jordanian King Abdullah II, and it will be a tripartite summit that brings together brothers in the three countries, Iraq, Egypt and Jordan."

He added that "the summit aims to build an independent political axis in the region, and will discuss political, economic and security files."

It is noteworthy that the Jordanian capital, Amman, hosted a summit between the three countries late August of last year, with the participation of King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, focused on expanding economic, commercial and investment cooperation between the three countries, in order to achieve their common interests. And it serves Arab causes.   LINK

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Samson:  New York Convention: Legal Opinion

19th March, 2021

Iraq finally says YES to Arbitration.

The Law on the Accession of the Republic of Iraq to the New York Convention 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards finally got assent from parliament.

For many years, the law of arbitration has been on the parliament's desk awaiting approval. The Iraqi parliament has finally decided to accept the ratification of the New York Convention of 1958 on March the 4th, 2021, to support the government's efforts to promote international investment and commerce in Iraq.

On the 4th of March 2021, the Iraqi Parliament has approved the "Accession of the Republic of Iraq to the Convention on the Recognition of Foreign Arbitral and its Implementation (New York 1958)" which ratifies the Iraqi government accession to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.[1] The Cabinet of Ministers headed by Haider Al-Abadi voted to approve the Convention in April 2018.

Iraq is now attracting more investors than ever before; implementing this law will assist the Iraqi rule of law framework and road map in attracting more foreign investors. The ratification of the New York Convention has the ability to simplify and strengthen the method of enforcing international arbitral awards in Iraq.

The convention gives international investors a sense of security by ensuring that international arbitral awards can be enforced against companies with assets in Iraq. Arbitration remains the best guardian for international trade and foreign investments. At a time of fallback and protectionism, it also remains a powerful peacemaker.

Initially, The Riyadh Arab Agreement for Judicial Cooperation of 1983 (the "Riyadh Convention") and the Enforcement of International Judgments Law (No. 30) of 1928 established the essential basis for the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards before the New York Convention. The jurisdictions from which awards could be granted is severely restricted by these rules.

There are three limiting clauses in the Law of Accession that should be considered:

The provisions of this Convention vis-à-vis the Republic of Iraq shall not apply to arbitral awards made prior to the entry into force of this Law.[2]

The Convention shall apply only to the recognition and enforcement of decisions made in the territory of another Contracting State on the basis of reciprocity.[3]

That the Convention shall only apply from the Republic of Iraq only to disputes arising out of contractual legal relations that are commercial under Iraqi law.[4]

The Law of Accession will take effect once it has been published on the (Al-Waqai Al-Iraqiya), the official newspaper of the Republic of Iraq, which should happen soon.  LINK

DeepWoodz:  Imo...Another huge milestone that we didn’t know was coming and definitely needed! At least I didn’t know!! This is HUGE!!!

Samson:  Pope: The mafia is exploiting the Corona pandemic for more wealth

22:28 - 21/03/2021

Pope Francis called for the fight against organized crime groups, such as the Mafia, around the world, warning that criminals are taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to gain more wealth.

In a sermon delivered at noon on Sunday, in which Italy commemorates the victims of organized crime, the Pope said that "mafia gangs are present in many regions of the world and are gaining more wealth for themselves through corruption, taking advantage of the pandemic." He described them as sinful organizations that "are not part of the religion in anything."

He added, "Let us today remember all the victims and renew our commitment to fighting the mafia gangs."

Italian police say crime groups are using the pandemic to gain the confidence of poor families facing financial hardship by providing loans and food commodities. 

Last December, the Paris-based International Police (Interpol) issued a global warning that organized crime networks were targeting Covid-19 vaccines. LINK

KTFA Members "News and Views" Sunday 3-21-2021

KTFA:

Samson:  In Iraq ... trading in dollars was stopped due to the curfew and Nowruz holidays

21st March, 2021

On Sunday, the main stock exchange in Baghdad stopped trading as a result of the comprehensive ban that was applied from Friday, and which continues until Monday.

Shafaq News Agency correspondent stated; The stock exchange in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, did not witness any trading today either because there is an official holiday there on the occasion of Nowruz holidays.  LINK

Al-Kazemi congratulates Nowruz and Saleh urges a "fair and legal" solution to Baghdad and Erbil problems   LINK

DeepWoodz:  “For his part, Al-Kazemi said in a tweet, "We congratulate all of our Kurdish people and Iraqis and all those celebrating the Nowruz holidays."

"On this happy occasion, we affirm adherence to the unity of our country and our democratic gains, and we look forward to overcoming economic and health challenges, and for the brotherhood of the Iraqi people of all sects to be a title for a better future,"he added.”

Ya know,,,,, if anyone had the notion that if everything was said and done and the MR is completely ready to release.....and it “USED TO BE WEEKS”.....and you figured like I did that they would commemorate the LAUNCH of the new rate with a major holiday like Ramadan...... LET ME SUBMIT that NOWRUZ is just as likely!!! 

Haven’t we been taught that Baghdad always follows Erbil and the Kurds? I mean FRANK sounds like it’s imminent!!! 

They keep talking of the Shiites having the problem with the budget!!! Maybe it’s due to some religious disagreement of when they should celebrate the new era that Iraq is about to embark upon!!! 

ITS THE KURDISH NEW YEAR!!! And we been looking for a fiscal year!! Haha

Newroz or Nawroz[1] (Kurdish: نه‌ورۆز/Newroz/Nawroz‎)[2] is the Kurdish celebration of Nowruz; the arrival of spring and new year in Kurdish culture. In Zoroastrian doctrine, fire is a symbol of light, goodness and purification. Angra Mainyu, the demonic anti-thesis of Zoroastrianism, was defied by Zoroastrians with a big fire every year, which symbolized their defiance of and hatred for evil and the arch-demon.

 In Kurdish legend, the holiday celebrates the deliverance of the Kurds from a tyrant, and it is seen as another way of demonstrating support for the Kurdish cause.[3][4][5][6][7] The celebration coincides with the March equinox which usually falls on 21 March[8]and is usually held between 18 and 24 March. The festival has an important place in terms of Kurdish identity for the majority of Kurds.[3][4][6] Though celebrations vary, people generally gather together to welcome the coming of spring; they wear coloured clothes and dance together.[9][10]

OF COURSE the Shiites would have a problem as the Kurds are mostly Sunni Muslims!!!imo

PS.....if you break it down you gotta love it...NOW-ruz!

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Samson:  Representative of the Union: The Kurdish delegation is still in Baghdad

13:38 - 21/03/2021

The deputy of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Rizan Delir, denied, on Sunday, that the region’s delegation had withdrawn from the ongoing negotiations on the budget law, confirming that the Kurdish delegation is still in Baghdad.

"The delegation of the region negotiating the region’s share of the budget has not withdrawn from negotiations with government and political authorities," Dlir said in a statement to "the information", indicating that "the collapse of the consensus that occurred at dawn yesterday, Saturday, suddenly collapsed without knowing the reasons."

She added that "the delegation is still in Baghdad and will continue to negotiate for the extended period of the voting session," stressing that "an agreement must be reached between the region and the center during the current week."

Yesterday, Saturday, the House of Representatives decided to postpone the session for voting on the budget for a full week due to political differences and the breakdown of negotiations with the region.

LINK

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Don961:  With the end of the first quarter of the year approaching ... a keen anticipation of the budget, which has been absent for two years: This is what the budget will leave in the effects on the Iraqi street.

2021-03-20  Yes Iraq: Baghdad

 With the approach of the first quarter of this year coming to an end, the Iraqi street lives in the atmosphere of approving the 2021 budget as the first public financial budget in two years, as the last budget that Iraq witnessed was the budget of the year 2019, with the absence of the budget in the past year 2020, which witnessed the organization of government spending according to borrowing laws And investing in low oil revenues due to the Corona pandemic, which led to a reduction in the global oil price.

 Large Iraqi segments hope to live in relative financial relaxation following the approval of the budget that coincided with the rise in global oil prices and the spread of Corona vaccines, as the projected revenues during the current year were estimated at more than 110 trillion dinars, with the addition of financial allocations for different segments of contract holders in the Ministry of Electricity as well For confirming the clause of appointing and directing those covered by the medical progression law and amending it from doctors and health and support professions, in addition to confirming the clause for appointing postgraduate degree holders and first graduates.

 The atmosphere of approving the budget witnessed many obstacles and difficulties, including the discussion of the possibility of returning the dollar exchange rate to the previous one or choosing an average rate set at about 130 thousand dinars per hundred dollars, while other parliamentary blocs, as well as the government side, objected to any new manipulation of the dollar price.

 Among the paragraphs that represented the biggest obstacle in the way of approving the 2021 budget, is the share of the Kurdistan region and the conditions that must be adhered to, which were included in Article No. 11 of the Budget Law, where the Kurdish side agreed to the governmental formula of giving the regional government 250 thousand barrels per day to the federal government in Baghdad as well as 50% of the border crossings' revenues, but parliamentary objections rejected this agreement, demanding that the region hand over all its financial and oil revenues to the federal government.

The discussions witnessed the presentation of a proposal that obtained relative consensus, represented by the payment of the Kurdistan region, 460 thousand barrels per day to the federal government, provided that the costs of production, operation, transportation, domestic consumption and petrodollars be deducted for the region, and the remainder must be no less than 250 thousand barrels, paid in the form of financial dues at the market price to the government Central Baghdad.

Among the hoped-for effects of approving the budget is the final settlement of the dollar exchange rate issue and whether it will change or not, as the push and pull, promises and objections in this aspect cast a shadow over the market and its stability, and the constant fear of any commercial process for fear of new manipulations of the dollar price, which would cause With losses for any process or commercial deal that may take place in this unstable atmosphere.

 In addition to what may result from the budget in approving job grades for some groups, as well as paying financial dues to free lecturers, farmers, contract holders, and other groups, and all of this will inject tangible activity into the commercial and purchasing movement in the Iraqi markets.  LINK

Don961:  Deputy .. political parties obstruct the return of the dollar exchange rate to its previous era

Saturday March 20, 2021 at 19:06 pm

Today, Saturday, the deputy of the Al-Fateh Alliance, Uday Shaalan Abu El-Joun, accused some political figures of making statements and attacking those who care about the interest of the citizen without personal interests, accusing them of obstructing the return of the exchange rate to its previous one.

Abu El-Jon said, "The high exchange rate of the dollar has greatly affected the ordinary citizen more than other classes, and that its continuation without control over the high prices of goods in the local markets does not harm anyone other than the citizen." A decent life, they are the ones who obstruct the return of the exchange rate to its previous one and agree with others for personal interests only.

He stressed that "reviving the Iraqi economy by raising the value of the dinar and reducing the dollar, and not the other way around, because all countries that revived their economy were by weakening foreign currencies and raising the value of the local currency."    LINK

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Don961:  Iraq Starts Action to Recover "Billionaires Stolen"

- Two Days Passed

Iraqi President Barham Salih announced that the Presidency of the Republic is preparing a legal code on mechanisms to recover "money stolen from Iraq" estimated by experts at about 250 billion dollars in the period following the fall of the regime of former President Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Saleh said in a televised interview yesterday (Wednesday). ), "The Presidency of the Republic is in the process of developing a legal code dealing with mechanisms to recover funds stolen from Iraq, and located abroad." He added that "the file of corruption is dangerous and huge and needs broader and deeper treatments," indicating that "with all these challenges there were procedures and courts that worked to rule on important corruption cases."

Saleh added that «the Presidency of the Republic is in the process of developing a legal code that we will negotiate with the House of Representatives, to recover the looted funds from Iraq, which may have gone to capitals and investments abroad». He pointed out that "there are important measures" that are being taken, considering that "striking financial corruption is an essential pillar for establishing security, and without it, security will not be established." He continued, "We are interested in having fair elections, and the Iraqi citizen feels reassured that his vote is protected and his decision is respected and that it is not tampered with through fraud and other measures."

Saleh’s announcement regarding the development of this code of conduct comes at a time when the work of a supreme committee formed under the order of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, is continuing to fight corruption. While the Iraqi judiciary has condemned a number of officials accused of corruption referred to the committee and issued penalties against them, the investigation is still ongoing with a number of other officials in a number of Iraqi ministries and institutions.

Regarding what is meant by the code of conduct announced by Saleh, economist Bassem Jamil Antoun told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the code of conduct is a set of points and standards related to the professional behavior of the parties concerned with this matter and which binds themselves to this code.” 

Regarding how Iraq can move in order to recover its stolen money, Anton says that “efforts are required, both domestic and international, in order to prepare the ground for recovering what can be recovered from those funds that were smuggled abroad in one way or another, including This is to use Iraq's international relations in this regard, as well as to Interpol, as Iraq is a member of this body (the international police) ».

"The money smuggled abroad, part of it goes back to the period of the former Iraqi regime, and the other part goes back to the post-2003 period," Anton said. While the size of the sums that were smuggled before the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime is not known, however, Anton says that “the money that was smuggled after the fall of the former regime is estimated at 250 billion dollars, although there are other numbers that may be much higher than this number, but it may be an exaggeration. ». 

And on whether it is possible to recover these funds, Anton says that "it is difficult to recover all the smuggled money, but it is possible to recover large amounts of it in various ways and methods." He explained that «there are different ways and methods to recover it, such as the Iraqi embassies abroad, according to the code of conduct that will be prepared in this regard, as well as the possibility of seeking help from countries or companies in countries where the largest amount of smuggled money is counted, and therefore appropriate plans are put in this regard».

Among what the legal expert, Antoon, proposes to retrieve these funds or a portion of them, is “an agreement with specialized companies in exchange for a percentage of the money that is recovered, in addition to following the method of spying on smugglers in unforeseen ways. It is also possible to negotiate with the thieves themselves in some cases” to return what they stole.

According to estimates of officials and experts, the total income of the Iraqi state’s treasury after 2003 and until today exceeds a trillion and 200 billion dollars, which are the funds resulting from the net proceeds of exported Iraqi oil, as well as the grants and financial aid that Iraq obtained from countries and companies. 

Despite these enormous funds, the poverty rate in the country is still high, as well as the lack of real change in the infrastructure throughout the country.   LINK

KTFA Members "News and Views" Friday Afternoon 3-19-2021

 KTFA:

Samson:  Kurdistan Democratic Party announces the agreement to pass the budget

19th March, 2021

On Friday, a member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee for the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Bashar al-Kiki, announced that a political agreement had been reached to pass the budget.

Al-Kiki said in a statement, "We congratulate all the Iraqis that Erbil and Baghdad have agreed to pass the budget."

"A new phase of stability and coexistence between the components of the Iraqi people has begun," he added.  LINK

DeepWoodz:  Imo...."A new phase of stability and coexistence between the components of the Iraqi people has begun," Could this be part of the STABILITY that Dr. Shabibi was thinking of? I think maybe so. This feels deeper than just a budget agreement.  Could the REAL SHOULDER TO SHOULDER be happening? I think so.  Has the Near Proximal Future arrived?

Jerry1971:  GREAT NEWS TURNING OUT TO BE A SUPER FANTASTIC WEEK END AFTER THE BUDGET VOTE THE NEW SHINY RATE TO OPEN BOMBASTIC PROSPECTS FOR IRAQ AND ITS CITIZENS IMO

Trevor:  the budget will come out with a programe rate IMO - many will be disappointed and best to prepare for that

Deepwoodz:  Imo...I hate to say it but I agree with Trevor. Frank has stated the rate waits for nothing. On top of that, no one in parliament seems to know about a rate change but all have seen the budget and already voted on parts of it according to other articles.
Obviously they will pass the budget without disclosing the rate because the rate isn’t waiting on the budget.....it’s waiting on a date that has been selected. Does the date coincide with the passing of the budget??? Who knows but the fact they seem to be taking this big step forward after kickin it for a couple months means they are gearing up for it. Finally!!! All imo

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GodLover:  Here are my thoughts.....I have said many times, watch the budget.....more than that, the opening of the budget. Many look to the CBI, which is fine, I think likely the budget opening & a new rate posted on the CBI would be simultaneous. None the less, the rate will not be usable until the budget is opened...hence why I say watch the budget.

As far as a second budget...it may not be literal. Could be that after a rate change, in a sense it's a new budget. If the second budget is actually real, it would have to become the primary budget, eliminating the other budget. One cannot expect for them to open the budget & start allocating funds, etc...only then to open a second budget? Not imo. I would think they then would need to amend the second budget prior to even opening if they did that. So with that said....if there is an actual second budget...it would need to be exposed immediately after the current budget & before it was opened. 

Once the budget is voted on, I will not be too distraught if it has a PR. I am looking for an amendment prior to the signing into law. Once opened, that is what I will expect for the remaining of this year. With all the good articles & the hopes of the HCL, etc.....I am very hopeful we are at the end of this ride God willing. 

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DeepWoodz:  More of a question here or just a thought to ponder.....

Frank has stated that everything waits for the rate. The rate waits for nothing. 

So if the budget is passed, can one assume the rate will be exposed?

With the size of the budget being a record setter you would think, as has been stated by Petra and MM, that this budget is no good without an international rate. One that is comparable to the currency they have been using for nearly 18 years...aka the usd.

An easy transition for all to comprehend. From politicians to the poorest and most vulnerable. 

The when is all that’s left to figure isn’t it?

I heard an opinion that said not in years, not in months, not even really in weeks! That only leaves days, unless you wanna go to hours and minutes! Let’s continue to be fair and leave it at days. Lol

I can tell you one thing, I’m excited for us all. I’m excited for Eddie and look forward to hearing his update!

We finally have a break in the pattern we can all recognize! Thank God!!!

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Samson:  Al-Abadi calls for a review of the dollar’s ​​exchange rate

19th March, 2021

On Friday, the head of the victory coalition Haider al-Abadi called on the House of Representatives to reconsider the exchange rate of the dinar in order to control inflation

Al-Abadi wrote on his personal account on the "Twitter" site, saying that "the reduction in the exchange rate of the dinar has negatively affected citizens, especially those with limited income

He added, "With the significant increase in oil prices during the past month, I call on the House of Representatives to stand with the citizens and reconsider the exchange rate of the dinar in order to control inflation   LINK

DeepWoodz:  Imo... I find this very interesting because Abadi used to be prime minister so he isn’t ignorant of who controls the exchange rate.

There has been talk of him and Kadhimi forming a coalition and the politics of giving an interview is obvious. It appears he is laying the responsibility (or blame) on the current blocs in parliament, at least in the unknowing public’s eye, for the condition of the exchange rate. 

Soooooo......more positioning?    We all know that as soon as the budget is passed parliament will be dissolved and then the circus of new elections by October. Imo

Samson:  Representative economy: Oil prices in the budget do not fit reality and should be adjusted

10:51 - 19/03/2021

The Parliamentary Economic and Investment Committee stressed the need to adjust the price of a barrel of oil in the budget, pointing out that the prices set within the budget are $ 42 per barrel, not commensurate with reality after the barrel price reaches $ 70.

"The budget must include an amendment to the price of a barrel of oil, which is set at $ 42, as it must be appropriate to reality," said a member of the committee, Mithaq Al-Hamdi.

She added that "Parliament sessions will witness the demand to amend the price of a barrel of oil in the budget, in order to take advantage of the rise in global prices to bridge the budget deficit."

She indicated that "the price of a barrel of oil and its rise in the markets must be matched by a reduction in the exchange rate of the dollar against the dinar, especially since there is no need for the continuation of the specified price, with the recovery of oil prices." LINK

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Samson:  Finding millions of counterfeit Syrian pounds from the new Syrian currency

15:40 - 19/03/2021

The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of a person promoting fake currency, most of them in the new 5,000-Syrian Pound denomination, in the second case this month.

The Ministry stated that the Criminal Security Branch in Hama received information about the presence of forged sums of money inside a house in the village of Deir Shamil, and said that it had investigated the house and arrested the accused of promoting the currency, after finding 23 counterfeit US dollar coins.

About 4 million liras (3.985 million) forged, all of them were found in the new 5 thousand liras currency. An amount of 5 million 50 thousand pounds was also found, in the two thousand pounds.

In addition to the forged sums, a forged university degree in the name of the accused was found, issued by the Lebanese American University.

And the Ministry had previously announced on the 3rd of this month the arrest of a network for promoting drugs and counterfeiting the new Syrian currency of 5000 pounds in Al-Sayeda Zeinab, in the countryside of Damascus.  LINK

KTFA Members "News and Veiws" Thursday Afternoon 3-18-2021

KTFA:

Ross:  Count the cost of the RI/RV: So if it comes out at 1:1 and you exchange 1,000,000 dinars for $1,000,000 what is the net ?? Tithe is off the top of 10%.   O'Biden's capital gains tax proposal is about 45%. Estimating about 10% tax for most states (wag). Leaving a balance of roughly 35% or $350,000 instead of $1,000,000.  Think about that in your dream planning. 

MrDon:  I researched "Biden Tax Hike"every way I could. There is a ton of information on it online. Yes, it's going to be brutal...BUT...the vast majority of experts on tax and finance issues say that everything points to the new Biden plan becoming effective for the 2022 tax period.

We just MAY get around it this year.

By the time he gets it through congress, IF he is successful, it will be closer to Jan 2022 than Jan 2021.

When Trump did his big tax change it got approved in late summer and became effective the upcoming year. I feel pretty good about this. Google it..."Biden tax hike" or "When would new tax plan take effect?" It's out there.

Assuming the "masses" are correct and the Obiden plan is effective in 2022, then we would be blessed with the current 15-20% 'long term gain' tax (% dependant on income), of course assuming you have held currency for more that one year. IMO   BIG difference!!!!   This is all IMO, of course.  

Samson:  Today ... an evening meeting to decide the fate of the budget

18th March, 2021

The Finance Committee in the House of Representatives revealed, on Thursday, an evening meeting today to resolve the fate of the budget.

The deputy of the committee, Sherwan Mirza, said, "The Presidency of the House of Representatives will hold a meeting this evening, with the heads of parliamentary blocs and members of the Finance Committee to discuss the draft federal budget bill for 2021."

He added, "This meeting will determine the date for voting on the budget," adding: "We in the Finance Committee want the budget to be presented in the House of Representatives in an atmosphere far from convulsions."

Mirza explained, "The issue of the Kurdistan region’s share is not the only file that has not been resolved in the draft budget law. The Shiite blocs have observations, and the Sunni blocs also have observations, so the meeting that will be held this evening will decide the fate of the budget."  LINK

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Samson:  Political agreement to pass the Federal Court law today and the budget tomorrow

18th March, 2021
The representative of the Al-Fateh bloc, Mithaq Al-Hamidi, announced, on Thursday, a political agreement to pass the Federal Court law today, likely to pass the budget law tomorrow, Friday.

Al-Hamdi said to Shafaq News, "The Presidency of Parliament has agreed with the heads of political blocs that today's session will be devoted to the final vote on the Federal Court law," explaining that "the session will take place after an hour." And she continued, "If there is enough time, the budget law will be included for voting, and if there is no session on Friday to vote on the budget law."

A parliamentary source revealed, today, Thursday, that Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi held a meeting with the Shiite blocs to bring closer views of the Federal Court law. The source told Shafaq News Agency that Al-Halbousi and his first deputy, Hassan Al-Kaabi, met with the heads of the Shiite blocs at the headquarters of the Badr Bloc and in the presence of the head of the block and its members and the Deputy Secretary-General of Badr Abdul Karim Al-Ansari Organization, to discuss the controversial points about the Federal Court law. 

During the last period, Parliament voted to pass 21 articles of the Federal Court bill, and disputes revolve around three pending articles. The differences focus on granting seats to Islamic law jurists from the Shiite and Sunni sects, seats in the Federal Court, and giving them the power to vote on decisions. Disputes also revolve around the voting mechanism in the Federal Court as to whether unanimity is required to pass decisions or simple majority.  LINK

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Samson:  The House of Representatives sets tomorrow, Friday, the date for voting on the federal budget

03/18/2021 19:19:21

The House of Representatives has set tomorrow, Friday, the date for voting on the federal budget bill for 2021.

The media department of the council stated in a statement that the Euphrates News received a copy of it that "the voting session on the federal budget will be tomorrow, Friday, at exactly one o'clock in the afternoon."   LINK

Jerry1971:   HOPEFULLY FINALLY THEY GET THE BUDGET VOTE DONE TOMORROW FOR THE NEW RATE TO COME OUT THEREAFTER IMO

Samson:  Economist: Private sector debts owed by the government have reached 45 trillion dinars

19:48 - 17/03/2021

The economist Basem Jamil Antoine announced that there were debts to the private sector of factories and companies owed by the government amounting to 45 trillion dinars, which caused the market movement to be paralyzed and stopped.

Antoine said to / the information / that "legally and economically it is assumed that the private sector occupies 50% of the employment in the country and occupies 40% of the investment budget of the country annually by local companies."

He added, "What is happening is that the government killed the private sector by not paying the debts owed to the owners of companies, factories and others," noting that "the total private sector debts owed by the central government exceeded 45 trillion dinars."

He explained that "the government's failure to pay these debts caused an increase in unemployment and completely paralyzed the sector and the Iraqi market," noting that "if it were the opposite, the government would have gone to penalties, imprisonment and exclusion of those who did not pay what they owed to the government."

He stated that "the government, with its decisions, destroyed the country's economy and eliminated the economic movement of the private sector in the country."  LINK

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Don961:  New York maintains its top spot for the global financial centers index, followed by London

151 Economie 2021/03/17 19:51 Baghdad Today - Follow-up 

New York held the first place in the latest reading of the Global Financial Centers Index, while London ranked second in the face of competition from Shanghai and other Asian centers.

The index, compiled by the London-based research institute Z / Y Group and the China Development Institute, looks at 143 standards submitted by outside parties such as the World Bank, the information unit of The Economist, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations.

Based on 65,507 financial position ratings submitted by 10774 people who responded to an online index survey, New York remained in first place after scoring 764 points, while London fell 23 points to 743, one point ahead of Shanghai.

"Four points would have made Singapore second directly after New York. The differences are slight between the top places," said Michael Minnelli, CEO of Z / Y.

And occupied six Asian financial centers out of the top ten on the index with three from Europe, including Frankfurt and Zurich.   LINK

MilitiaMan: "Gear Up-It's Getting Real!" Wednesday Night 3-17-2021

KTFA:

MilitiaMan:  So lets take a peek at something.. There is talk about the postponement of the Federal Budget Law for 2021 is about the resolving of the exchange rate until a final agreement in that regard. Then look a bit further they have it ready and it is inevitable.

So to have it resolved means they have already decided the exchange rate.

They have agreed to not only this month but last month were okay with 21-50% deductions in pay.. All projects are stalled until the exposure of the rate.. imo..

This data supports we are all in a good place.. Note the below on the 11th and then further down on 17th.. There is no way the Kurds would agree to deductions in salaries without an exchange rate to support it and that off sets the loss.

 Gear up it is getting real!!! ~...imo... ~ MM

288 Policy 03/2021/11 19:43 

Dad Today- Special

Today, Thursday, March 11, 2021, a member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Jamal Cougar, confirmed that the Federal Budget Law for 2021 cannot be passed partially in response to the requests to vote on the budget with the postponement of resolving the exchange rate paragraph and Kurdistan’s share in it until final agreement regarding them.

Cougar said in an interview with him (Baghdad Today), “Passing the budget bill with the postponement of the vote on the Kurdistan quota and the exchange rate due to deep disagreements about them is impossible.”

MilitiaMan:  (Careful on this part.They know that it would be impossible without the new exchange rate. imo ~ MM)

He added that “the exchange rate of the dollar is decided and the House of Representatives does not have any authority to pass it,” noting that “the budget cannot be passed without deducting the share of the Kurdistan region in it.”  

MilitiaMan:   Well they decided on the exchange rate. imo ~MM

Member of Parliament, Asaad Al-Morshedy, confirmed yesterday, Wednesday, that the session of the House of Representatives set for next Monday to put forward the budget bill for 2021 will be decisive, given that the only victim is the citizen from the delay in passing the budget.

Al-Morshidi said in an interview with (Baghdad Today), “The budget is ready for voting and the parliamentary finances have sent the bill to the Presidency in order to put it to vote next Monday.”

MilitiaMan:  (That was last Monday. imo~ MM)

He added that “political differences between Baghdad and Erbil were behind the delay in approving the draft budget, and therefore it is inevitable to pass it in the next parliament session.”

And that “all economic projects are stalled in the country because of the delay in approving the budget, so the Iraqi citizen is the only one affected by what is happening,” stressing that “the dismissal will be said to Parliament regarding the passing of the budget.”

And that “all economic projects are stalled in the country because of the delay in approving the budget, so the Iraqi citizen is the only one affected by what is happening,” stressing that “the dismissal will be said to Parliament regarding the passing of the budget.” Link

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LINK

Kurdistan announces the date of salary disbursement, with a deduction of 21% for employees

17th March, 2021

The Ministry of Finance in the Kurdistan Regional Government announced today, Wednesday, the date for the salaries of employees for the current month of March, confirming that the distribution mechanism will be the same as it was last month.

The Ministry of Finance in the Kurdistan Regional Government said in a statement: The salaries of employees for the current month of March will be distributed as of Thursday 3/25/2021. The statement added: The distribution mechanism will be as it was last month, with a deduction of 21% for employees and 50% for special grades. 

The Ministry of Finance distributes the employees’ salaries according to the deduction system, and every month the Ministry of Health becomes the first ministry to receive the salaries of its employees

LINK

Kurdistan announces the date of distributing employees' salaries while keeping the deductions

11:59 - 17/03/2021 The Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Kurdistan Regional Government announced, on Wednesday, the date for the distribution of salaries of employees in the region.

The ministry said, in a brief statement, which it had seen "the information", that it "will start distributing the salaries of Kurdistan employees on the 25th of this March, using the same mechanism last month."

On the other hand, a source in the ministry revealed that the salaries of employees will be distributed according to a deduction rate of up to 21% on the salaries of employees.

The source said in a statement to Al-Maaloumah, that “despite the availability of financial liquidity, the regional government maintained the deduction rate for this month, pending the results of negotiations to stabilize the region’s share in the budget.

KTFA Members "News and Views" Wednesday Afternoon 3-17-2021

KTFA:

Samson:  A deputy refers to a strategic project and confirms: Iraq will have huge sums of money

17th March, 2021

Today, Wednesday, the representative of the Iraqi coalition, Jasim Al-Bakhati, referred to a strategic project that, if implemented, would draw huge sums of money to Iraq, explaining that the rail link with neighboring countries would kill the large port of Faw.

Al-Bakhati said in a statement to "Tigris", that "the rail link with neighboring countries will lead to the death of the large Faw port project, on which the state spent billions of dollars," considering that "if this connection is made, it will indicate the government's short-sightedness economically."

He added that "the alternative to railways and connectivity is to announce the dry canal linking from FAO to Turkey and Europe, and this strategic project will enter an additional budget where about 200 dollars will be imposed on one ton of goods passing through Iraq, which are huge sums."

Al-Bukhati called on the House of Representatives to "stop any project that stands against the great port of Faw, whose profits are estimated after 20 years at about $ 100 billion, equivalent to Iraq's oil budget, which no Sharif can ever give up."  LINK

Samson:  The National High Speed ​​Internet Project announces the start of its service with 500 homes

17th March, 2021

The National Internet Project

Saadoun indicated that "the national project has contributed a large percentage to curbing smuggling, and it is not related to the telecommunications and Internet sectors only, but to the educational, health and even security sectors by providing an environment, capacities and real internet networks for the subject of surveillance cameras, and all that is needed by the competent institutions to install security in Baghdad and the provinces."    LINK

DeepWoodz:  Imo....This is a VERY big deal and part of the technology infrastructure needed to facilitate the RI.

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Samson:  Saleh : A Presidential effort to recover the stolen money from Iraq

17th March, 2021

Today, Wednesday, the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, revealed a presidential effort to recover the looted funds from Iraq.

Saleh said, in a televised interview, seen by the "National News Center," that "the file of corruption is dangerous and huge and needs broader and deeper treatments, but with all these challenges there were procedures and there are courts that worked to rule in important cases of corruption."

He added, "I am in the Presidency of the Republic, in the process of putting the final touches on a legal code that we will discuss with Parliament, to put in place mechanisms to recover the stolen money from Iraq, which may have gone to capitals and investments abroad."

He stressed that "striking financial corruption is essential to establishing security, and if we do not have fair elections, and the Iraqi feels reassured that his vote is protected and his decision is respected. It is not tampered with and is not changed through fraud and other measures, security will not be established."  LINK

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Samson:  Integrity: the former director of the Iraqi Trade Bank was issued with a prison sentence

17th March, 2021

Today, Wednesday, the Federal Commission of Integrity announced that it issued a prison order to the former General Manager of the Iraqi Trade Bank (TBI), while it clarified the details of its appeal against the release decision issued by the Al-Karkh Criminal Court / First Body, against him in the case of granting a loan without adequate guarantees.

The commission stated in a statement that Mawazine News received a copy of, that “after it was not convinced of the release decision issued by the Al-Karkh Court / First Commission, it decided to appeal it to the Federal Court of Cassation,” indicating that “the Federal Court of Cassation decided to accept the appeal submitted by the Authority. Deciding to return the case to the criminal court."

The statement added, “The Karkh Criminal Court / First Authority, and following the discriminatory decision issued based on the appeal submitted by the commission, issued a new sentence in absentia, serving a seven-year prison term against the former director general of the Iraqi Trade Bank (TBI).”

He pointed out, "The case centered on the violations that were included in the loan granted to one of the bank's customers at the time the convict occupied the responsibility of managing the bank, as the investigations conducted by the authority at that time led to the fact that the loan was granted without sufficient guarantees."   LINK

DeepWoodz:  Imo....Another step towards SECURITY & STABILITY.

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Kurdistan announces the date of salary disbursement, with a deduction of 21% for employees

17th March, 2021

the Ministry of Finance in the Kurdistan Regional Government announced today, Wednesday,
The salaries of employees for the current month of March will be distributed as of Thursday 3/25/2021. The statement added: The distribution mechanism will be as it was last month, with a deduction of 21% for employees and 50% for special grades.  LINK

TIM:  imo how do you do that on a programed rate? you dont. imo something is happening

DeepWoodz:  Yes I think it’s unanimous. From MM on down through the ranks and finally to me. It only makes sense with an RI. Imo

Pete2001:  Deepwoods, is this good or bad in your opinion for us?? thanks in advance  

DeepWoodz:  Well Pete imo...On the surface it appears to be a signal that someone is keeping a good secret. Like how can you expect the citizens to take this beating. By offering them a ration card? Nah

It gives me hope that they are going to do something big, like add purchasing power to their currency. Just like we been hearing from Frank and teams. 

Of course things they do don’t have to make sense. We assume that Kadhimi and Allawi care about the welfare of their citizens. We also assume that a positive rate change is the only means of helping the citizens. The whole while they are trying everything else first. I guess it’s part of being fiscally responsible first. Getting the country off to a solid foundation. Then adding the wealth when they are capable of managing it better. 

It’s a critical period right now that has to change soon imo. Things are getting worse for the people especially when they keep seeing their salaries come in with these deductions. 

Add taxes to it probably when the budget comes out. 

Samson:  Central bank sales of hard currency are recording a noticeable decline

17th March, 2021

The central bank’s hard currency sales fell, on Wednesday, for a third consecutive day, recording only $ 32 million.

The auction of buying and selling foreign currencies, according to the Central Bank's daily bulletin, saw a decrease in its sales by 31.71 percent, to reach 32 million and 827 thousand dollars. The bank’s daily bulletin stated that it "covered its sales at a base exchange rate of 1460 dinars per dollar."

She added that "the purchases amounting to 32 million and 827 thousand dollars, went to strengthen the assets abroad in the form of transfers and credits, while the banks did not make any purchase of dollars in cash."

The bulletin indicated that "six banks have fulfilled the requests to enhance assets abroad." It is noteworthy that the central bank’s sales of hard currency, on Tuesday, amounted to 48 million and 67 thousand dollars.    LINK

Bravo13:  Does this mean they don't want american dollars because they know their own currency is going to be worth quite alot in the near proximal future, not sure I fully understand this subject but that's how it appears to me. 32% is a big change in just a few days. imo

Add this to their lowering the employees salaries by 20 and 50% after just decreasing their purchasing power by what 20% just 3 months ago and they are lowering these wages on the 25. Huge huge clues here i would say. they can't do this to the citizens without them having an absolute break down fit. All this tells me they are going to Raise the value and do it before the 25 !!!   all imo

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Samson:  Iraq and Hungary sign a comprehensive economic agreement

17th March, 2021

The Ministry of Trade, Alaa Ahmed Al-Jubouri, announced, on Wednesday, the signing of a comprehensive economic agreement with the Hungarian ambassador to Iraq.

Al-Jubouri said, according to the official agency, that "an agreement was signed with the Hungarian ambassador, and the agreement will be comprehensive between the two parties, as the importance of this agreement was discussed with the ambassador, its importance and the number of countries that signed it."

He added, "Discussions were held with the Hungarian side in economic relations, as trade exchange between the two countries reached 45 million dollars," indicating that "there is an idea to hold a hypothetical conference between businessmen of the two countries and to study investment opportunities."

Al-Jubouri added that "the embassy praised the decision to grant a visa upon arrival at the airport, where it must be economically invested," noting that "there will be other investment meetings, and the ministry is about to open an international center for Iraqi trade and this will regulate the commercial work in a large way." There are centers for countries that are interested in the Iraqi economy."

He explained, "There will be centers for countries that are interested in the Iraqi economy, and this will reduce the red tape and corrupt episodes that led to mistrust, as the dealings are direct through those centers."  LINK

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Samson:  Iraq is discussing with Finland the issue of nominations for international positions

17th March, 2021

Head of the International Organizations and Conferences Department, Abbas Kazem Obaid, met the Finnish Ambassador to Iraq, Mr.Visa Häkenenovy, at the Ministry's headquarters, on Tuesday.

And a press release conveyed that the two sides discussed during the meeting ways of cooperation between the two countries in international organizations and mutual support between Iraq and Finland on the issue of nominations for international positions, stressing to move forward on the issue of joint coordination between them.   LInk

KTFA Members "News and Views" Monday Afternoon 3-16-2021

KTFA:

Coco:  This is the time frame Kuwait reinstated their currency.  I've been waiting for this time frame since last summer.  Perfect timing for a long holiday and the people off from work.

Pattycakes77:  I agree. My fingers are crossed for this weekend.

Samson:  Kurdistan announces the suspension of the official working hours for 5 days on the occasion of the Nowruz holidays

03/16/2021 16:12:32

The Kurdistan Regional Government issued, on Tuesday, a decision to suspend official working hours in government departments and institutions for a period of five days on the occasion of Nowruz holidays.

  Government spokesman Gutiar Adel said in a statement that it had been decided to suspend work hours on the occasion of Nowruz holidays, from the 21st to the 25th of this March. He explained, that {Sunday, Monday and Tuesday} of next week is an official holiday on the occasion of Nowruz holidays, and that {Wednesday and Thursday} of the same week are also an official holiday in government institutions.

The regional government spokesman called on citizens to adhere to the health instructions for preventing Corona virus during Nowruz holidays.   LINK

Samson:  The Central Bank reveals the size of Iraq's foreign currency reserves

16th March, 2021
The Central Bank of Iraq revealed, on Tuesday, that its total foreign currency reserves amount to approximately 56 billion dollars, stressing that it maintains the stability of exchange rates in the markets through the use of its various monetary tools.
 
An official source at the Central Bank said in an interview with the official newspaper, that "foreign reserves are still within the limits of sufficiency," noting that "the total foreign reserves decreased by about 20% during the year 2020." The source pointed out that "gold holdings are approximately $5,703 million, and there are no plans to increase investment in gold in light of the continuing impact of the crisis," explaining that "the Chinese yuan currency is one of the currencies invested in foreign reserves."

The source pointed out, "The Central Bank of Iraq maintains the stability of exchange rates in the markets by exploiting its various monetary tools, the most important of which is the foreign currency sale window that aims to finance imports of goods and services, in accordance with the provisions of the Iraqi Central Bank Law No. 56 of 2004 in Article 28 / b (Simple, unconditional buying and selling of foreign currency), in a manner that maintains acceptable rates of inflation.

The source attributed the reason for the decline in the price of the dollar in the markets, especially last month, from the price specified in the bank, by saying that “the exchange rate of the US dollar in the local markets retreated from the approved official selling price after the price change by the bank at the end of December The year 2020 is due to the fact that the change in the exchange rate initially formed a shock to the local market, which required an adjustment period to make the settlements that took place between each of the merchants (wholesale, retail, and singular) and the settlements of wholesalers with banks, where imports decreased to severe levels, and consequently. Reduced demand for foreign currency."   LINK

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Samson:  Report: Iraq, the country with floating oil wells, is suffering from poverty and unemployment

15th March, 2021

Economically, Iraq had the opportunity to be one of the richest countries in the world, and for its citizens to become the highest-earning countries in the region, and the most fortunate to obtain all the necessary services such as bread, food, electricity, water, fuel and public transportation for free or at least at a price. Suitable for their entry.

In practice, however, that oil-rich country, which is floating on wells in the north, south and west, suffers from extreme poverty, worsening unemployment, the spread of slums and the deterioration of infrastructure, and that millions of families find it difficult to obtain one meal a day. 

According to a report by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper. Also, 10% of Iraqis do not have enough food for them, according to figures from the United Nations World Food Program, and that the devaluation of the dinar against the dollar led to a 14% increase in the food basket, which led to millions of people being pushed from the middle class to the poor.

Indeed, the official figures issued by the Ministry of Planning acknowledge the increase in the number of citizens who fall under the heading of extreme poverty to 11.5 million Iraqis, as the Corona pandemic and the financial crisis in the country since the fall in oil prices and the outbreak of the epidemic caused more than 1.5 million citizens to enter below the poverty line, to be added. To the previous number of 10 million citizens.

Indeed, the Iraqi Human Rights Commission warned, today, Monday, that there are risks threatening food security in the country. Because of the measures taken by the government during the recent period, including reducing the value of the Iraqi dinar against the dollar. The matter did not stop at this deteriorating living condition for the citizen, rather it came to the point where millions of poor, needy and people with limited incomes demand the government to return to the monthly ration system, which was in place during Saddam Hussein’s days and even before the US invasion of the country in 2003, due to the exorbitant high prices, especially for the prices of materials.

The government adopts a policy of reducing commodity subsidies, as well as the partial floatation of the local currency by reducing the value of the dinar starting from last February, which led to jumps in the prices of all imported goods.

Economically again, Iraq is currently the fifth largest oil producer and exporter in the world, and is also classified as the second largest oil producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) after Saudi Arabia, with an average production of 4.6 million barrels per day in normal conditions, and it depends on oil revenues to finance what it reaches 95% of the state's expenditures, which makes both the citizen and the economy vulnerable to any risks or fluctuations in global oil prices.

 In April 2019, the International Energy Agency announced that Iraq is on track to produce nearly six million barrels of crude oil per day by 2030, which will make it the third largest exporter of oil in the world. Iraq also has a stockpile of 132 trillion cubic feet of gas, of which 700 billion cubic feet have been burned, as a result of the weak ability to exploit it.

According to the figures of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) issued in 2010, Iraq ranks third in the world in stable recoverable oil reserves, with its oil reserves reaching 143.1 billion barrels, it is preceded by Saudi Arabia with quantities of 264.59 billion barrels, Venezuela 211.17 billion barrels, just as Iraq precedes Iran. In the reserve, which has about 137 billion barrels.

Despite all these huge quantities of energy sources, whether oil or natural gas, Iraq imports about 30% of its energy needs, especially electricity and gas, from Iran, and it does not achieve self-sufficiency even at the level of electric power generation, and negotiations are currently underway with Turkey. To import electricity from them. Iraq also imports about 60% of its food needs, despite its agricultural and water wealth.

In contrast to that oil and agricultural glut that qualifies any government to provide all the welfare requirements and services for its citizens, we find that recent figures indicate that poverty rates in Iraq have reached 31.7%, a rate that exceeds those in other Arab countries that do not possess even a quarter of Iraq's oil wealth.

And others. What brought the Iraqi citizen in that big oil country to the miserable situation that the citizens of poor countries suffer from, whose governments do not possess oil, natural, or even agricultural wealth?

It is the rampant corruption in all the veins of the Iraqi state, which prompted the government to borrow from home and abroad to pay salaries and spend on support items, and perhaps spend on the corrupt themselves.   LINK

Samson:  Politics ... and their stance on the exchange rate of the dollar

17:19 - 16/03/2021 - Books / Fadel Hussein Al-Khafaji

The Iraqi society is known to be a consumer society, and it is the milk cow for the trader and the middleman .. And these people are not satisfied with imposing the prices that suit them, but some of them also master the methods of fraud, so that their profits reach 100%, and this is the one who possesses it at times? Who stands in the way of manipulating his daily power? 

And we all know that there are health conditions (the Corona pandemic) that passes through Iraq and all countries of the world, and this pandemic has caused the government to be forced to repeatedly ban for several days a week, which makes many of the workers who live in their daily strength on the daily work wages.

This made many of the Iraqi people who depend on their daily livelihoods suffering from hardship, and the government did not think to deal with this situation .. which caused negative social consequences, including cases of suicide and divorce ..

The people in Iraq are divided into two parts, the same as most societies: the poor and the rich, and between them the middle class that resembles the baromer, which can, according to the circumstances, decide whether to belong to one of the two approaches: ... and the poor in Iraq are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer, especially in the wave of high prices ... and for the poor who do not have a stable resource or a depression in their profession, unless he knocks on his head so that the government will listen to his voice ..

In the media every day and during this period close to the elections, we hear voices of (the representatives or representatives of the people) that they object to raising the price of the US dollar against the Iraqi dinar ..

And in the dark rooms .. they agree to raise the price of the dollar .. even if they really object They did not force the Minister of Finance to return to the old price, and they have the compelling argument, which is the return of the oil price to what was before the Corona pandemic ... and they embarrass the government to return the price of the Iraqi dinar to its previous state in the budget for the current year 2021. 

The problem is that they perceive that the Iraqi people do not know their misdeeds and these maneuvers, which are in order to prepare for the next elections scheduled to take place in October 2021 ..   LINK

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Samson:  The Lebanese pound continues to collapse

16th March, 2021

The Lebanese pound recorded a new decline in the parallel (black) market transactions today, Tuesday, to an average of 14.5 thousand pounds per one dollar

Lebanese media outlets and websites monitoring exchange rate developments reported today, Tuesday, that the sale of the dollar to consumers in early transactions on the black market ranged between 14.3 and 14.5 thousand pounds, a new low that had not previously been recorded in the local currency

Domestic demand for foreign exchange, especially the dollar, rose within the markets, amid declining customer confidence in the pound, which threatens to accelerate the hypothesis of implementing a full or directed float in exchange rates. The exchange rate on the official market is 1510 liras per dollar. This comes while fears of a further escalation in the pace of popular protests in several cities increased, and the possibility that banks will be unable to provide customers' deposits, after the expiration of a deadline set by the Central Bank to raise bank capital

The relationship between banks operating in Lebanon and depositors is heading to more complexity, following a deadline set by the Central Bank of Lebanon, which expired on February 28, last year, which decided to increase the capital of these banks

In August 2020, the Banque du Liban obligated the banks operating in the market to increase their capital by 20%, and to reconfigure their accounts with correspondent banks by 3%, no later than the end of last February

The capital of banks operating in Lebanon amounts to $ 20 billion, and an increase of 20% means that there is an addition of $ 4 billion, and most banks will face difficulty in fulfilling them   LINK

Monday Night KTFA CC with Frank26 and Team "We Now Have ........Value"

Monday Night KTFA CC

Frank26:  3-15-21......WE NOW HAVE....................VALUE

This video is in Frank’s and team’s opinions.

Frank’s Team is Walkingstick, Militiaman and Petra

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What Frank’s suit color’s mean…. FRANKS SUIT COLORS FOR CC'S..... WHITE = NEW INFO…. SILVER = INTEL FROZEN…. RED= HIGH ALERT… PURPLE=GUEST WITH US…. BLUE = AIR FORCE…. BLACK = GROUND/FF’S…. GREEN= MR OR FAB 4 ... GOLD = CHANGE

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