Breaking World News: Friday 7-19-2024

Breaking World News: 

BREAKING - London stock market hit by technical fallout‼

BREAKING: Major US airlines including American Airlines, Delta and United grounding all of their flights due to IT issues

BREAKING : A significant Microsoft outage has occurred, causing major issues to dozens of services and affecting thousands to millions of users nationwide

BREAKING: Global IT outage live: Computer havoc caused by Crowdstrike outage could take days to fix - ABC News

Widespread technology outage disrupts flights, banks, media outlets and companies around the world

CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY and ELAINE KURTENBACH

Updated Fri, July 19, 2024 at 7:09 AM EDT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A global technology outage grounded flights, knocked banks and hospital systems offline and media outlets off air on Friday in a massive disruption that affected companies and services around the world and highlighted dependence on software from a handful of providers.

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said that the issue believed to be behind the outage was not a security incident or cyberattack — and that a fix was on the way. The company said the problem occurred when it deployed a faulty update to computers running Microsoft Windows.

But hours after the problem was first detected, the disarray continued — and escalated.

Long lines formed at airports in the U.S., Europe and Asia as airlines lost access to check-in and booking services at a time when many travelers are heading away on summer vacations. News outlets in Australia — where telecommunications were severely affected — were pushed off air for hours. Hospitals and doctor's offices had problems with their appointment systems, while banks in South Africa and New Zealand reported outages to their payment system or websites and apps.

Some athletes and spectators descending on Paris ahead of the Olympics were delayed, but Games organizers said disruptions were limited and didn't affect ticketing or the torch relay.

DownDectector, which tracks user-reported disruptions to internet services, recorded that airlines, payment platforms and online shopping websites across the world were affected — although the disruption appeared piecemeal and was apparently related to whether the companies used Microsoft cloud-based services.

Cyber expert James Bore said real harm would be caused by the outage because systems we’ve come to rely on at critical times are not going to be available. Hospitals, for example, will struggle to sort out appointments and those who need care may not get it.

“There are going to be deaths because of this. It’s inevitable,’’ Bore said. “We’ve got so many systems tied up with this.”

Microsoft 365 posted on social media platform X that the company was “working on rerouting the impacted traffic to alternate systems to alleviate impact” and that they were “observing a positive trend in service availability.”

The company did not respond to a request for comment.

CrowdStrike said in an emailed statement that the company “is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts.”

It said: “This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed.”

The Austin, Texas-based company's Nasdaq-traded shares were down nearly 15% in premarket trading early Friday.

A recording playing on its customer service line said, “CrowdStrike is aware of the reports of crashes on Microsoft ports related to the Falcon sensor,” referring to one of its products used to block online attacks.

Meanwhile, governments, officials and companies across the world scrambled to respond.

New Zealand's acting prime minister, David Seymour, said on X that officials in the country were “moving at pace to understand the potential impacts,” adding that he had no information indicating it was a cybersecurity threat.

The issue was causing “inconvenience" for the public and businesses, he added.

On Friday morning, major delays reported at airports grew, with most attributing the problems in booking systems of individual airlines.

In the U.S., the FAA said the airlines United, American, Delta and Allegiant had all been grounded.

Airlines and railways in the U.K. were also affected, with longer than usual waiting times.

With athletes and spectators arriving from around the world for the Paris Olympics, the city's airport authority said its computer systems were not affected by the outage, but that disruptions to airline operations was causing delays at two major Paris airports. The Paris Olympics organizers said the outage affected their computer systems and the arrival of some delegations and their uniforms and accreditations had been delayed.

But the impact was limited, the organizers said, and the outages had not affected ticketing or the torch relay.

In Germany, Berlin-Brandenburg Airport halted flights for several hours due to difficulties in checking in passengers, while landings at Zurich airport were suspended and flights in Hungary, Italy and Turkey disrupted.

The Dutch carrier KLM said it had been “forced to suspend most” of its operations.

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport warned that the outage was having a “major impact on flights” to and from the busy European hub. The chaotic morning coincided with one of the busiest days of the year for Schiphol.

Widespread problems were reported at Australian airports, where lines grew and some passengers were stranded as online check-in services and self-service booths were disabled — although flights were still operating.

In India, Hong Kong and Thailand, many airlines were forced to manually check in passengers. An airline in Kenya was also reporting disruption.

While the outages were being experienced worldwide, Australia appeared to be severely affected by the issue. Disruption reported on the site DownDetector included the banks NAB, Commonwealth and Bendigo, and the airlines Virgin Australia and Qantas, as well as internet and phone providers such as Telstra.

National news outlets — including public broadcaster ABC and Sky News Australia — were unable to broadcast on their TV and radio channels for hours. Some news anchors went on air online from dark offices, in front of computers showing “blue screens of death.”

Hospitals in several countries also reported problems.

Britain’s National Health Service said the outage caused problems at most doctors’ offices across England. NHS England said in a statement said the glitch was affecting the appointment and patient record system used across the public health system.

Some hospitals in northern Germany canceled all elective surgery scheduled for Friday, but emergency care was unaffected.

Israel said its hospitals and post office operations were disrupted.

In South Africa, at least one major bank said it was experiencing nationwide service disruptions as customers reported they were unable to make payments using their bank cards in stores. The New Zealand banks ASB and Kiwibank said their services were down as well.

Shipping was disrupted too: A major container hub in the Baltic port of Gdansk, Poland, the Baltic Hub, said it was battling problems resulting from the global system outage.

Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed. LINK

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Thursday Evening 7-18-24

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

An Update on Vietnam’s Quest for Crypto Regulation

An article by Hudson Reporter dated April 21, 2024 titled:  Vietnam’s Path to Crypto Regulation by 2025:  A Governmental Necessity, gives an update on Vietnam's quest for Crypto Regulation.

The article states that Vietnam plans to develop a legal framework for cryptocurrency regulation by May 2025 to address ownership risks and prevent illegal activities such as money laundering

Key Takeaways from the article:

1.  Cryptocurrencies are not banned in Vietnam but regulation is urgently needed.
2.  The Finance Ministry has been tasked to draft a regulatory framework by May 2025.
3.  Measures against misuse, like money laundering, are also being studied.

@ Newshounds News™

To learn more:  Hudson Reporter

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DE-DOLLARIZATION CONTINUES TO BE THE THEME OF BRICS NATIONS

"All are trying to make themselves safe. Information leaked not long ago that in the environment when the United States and the whole collective West want to steal Russian money Saudi Arabia is thinking how to reduce dependence on the dollar. THE PROCESS OF DE-DOLLARIZATION IS UNDERWAY, IT CANNOT BE STOPPED, he said."
Quote from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  X

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Crypto Regulations in Vietnam 2024

The post Crypto Regulations in Vietnam 2024 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Vietnam, a socialist country in Southeast Asia, has a population of 99.46 million and covers 331 thousand square kilometers. It has developed a strong market economy with socialist influences, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in terms of GDP. This economic growth has attracted significant foreign investment.

Vietnamese Government on Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrency is not banned in Vietnam, but a legal framework is needed to ensure its proper development and mitigate risks, according to a representative from the Ministry of Justice. Cao Dang Vinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Economic and Civil Legislation, noted on April 12 that there are varying understandings of virtual assets, digital currencies, and cryptocurrencies, with different countries adopting diverse management approaches.

Cryptocurrency is not banned in Vietnam: Ministry Cao Dang Vinh noted global variations in cryptocurrency perspectives and the absence of specific regulations in Vietnam. Vietnam lacks a legal framework for cryptocurrencies, stressing the need for regulation.

Cryptocurrencies carry risks that can lead to appropriation or money laundering. Vietnam currently lacks regulations to manage their development, and cryptocurrency is not considered a legal asset. Vinh emphasized the need for a legal framework to prevent these risks and illegal activities. The Ministry of Finance will provide specific proposals, and the Ministry of Justice will offer detailed opinions accordingly.

In addition to this, the Vietnamese state authorities are working on the possible applications of blockchain technology in the country.

Blockchain for Vietnam’s Cashless Society

The deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Vuong Dinh Hue signed out a policy decision in 2017,  setting out the government’s plan to reduce the cash transactions in the country to less than 10%. The State Bank of Vietnam also announced the development of $700 million cashless payment network in collaboration with South Korean payment service provider Alliex.

Another bank, Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank(TPBank) moving one step further in the use of blockchain technology, joined hands with Japan’s SBI Ripple Asia to develop Ripplenet blockchain-based global payment network for processing cross-border transactions.

Launch of the First Money Transfer Service between Japan and Vietnam that Utilize Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT).  TPBank is the latest financial institution supported by SBI Ripple Asia to leverage Ripple

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Cryptocurrencies law

In Vietnam, cryptocurrencies were not considered legal means of payment but could be bought, held, and traded. The government continued to reevaluate its approach to the crypto space, with the central bank maintaining that cryptocurrencies were not legal tender.

Cryptocurrencies were categorized as assets or goods under the 2015 Civil Code and the Commercial Law of 2005. These laws defined property broadly to include objects, money, valuable papers, property rights, and movable property, including future assets, allowing cryptocurrencies to be traded within the country.

What led to look over the need of Regulations?

The government of Vietnam cites many official reasons for the need for regulations and ban them as a means of payment,

—The crypto industry has no government supervision and therefore prone to illegal activities.

—Cryptocurrencies lack customer protection as they are volatile in nature which leads to price instability, security concerns, and market manipulation.

—Cryptocurrencies are open to illegal activities such as tax evasion, money laundering, terrorist funding and hacking.

The cryptocurrencies might possess the capacity to destabilize existing financial systems which can affect the nation’s economy.

Regulatory RoadMap of Cryptocurrencies

Vietnam has made several efforts to regulate the country’s cryptocurrency space. On 21 August 2017, the Prime Minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved a project to complete the legal framework for managing digital assets and their activities.

On April 11, 2018, a directive was issued to the relevant authorities to manage crypto transactions in order to analyse the negative impact on the nation’s economy. In the directive, Bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies were banned for using them as a mode of payments for any goods or services. But the users were free to invest in Cryptocurrencies. Those who found guilty would be penalised with a fine up to VND 200 million ($ 9,000).

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In February 2019, The Ministry of Justice also filed a report that reviewed the current legislation on crypto-related business in the country. They proposed three different policies that the government could consider and start working on the policy selected by the government. They are:

1.  Floating and lax Regulatory approach

2.  Straightforward approach

3.  Legislation of digital Assets transactions under specific conditions.

Recently on May 11 2020, the Vietnamese Finance Ministry has approved to establish a research group to review, analyse and develop various regulatory policies around crypto-assets.  The research group would be comprised of nine members of the group of the following departments,

—General Department of Taxation

—National Institute of Finance

—General Department of Vietnam Customs

—Department of Banking and Financial Institutions of the State Bank of Vietnam

The research group would be led by the Vice-Chairman of State Securities Commission, Pham Hong Son.

Authorities in Vietnam to Establish Crypto Research Group to Evaluate Policy. On May 11, the Ministry of Finance in Vietnam said it will come up with a research group responsible for examining & making policy proposals about crypto and virtual assets

1.  Taxation and Mining

2.  Taxes on Cryptocurrencies

As you have already aware of the fact that, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are not considered as legal tenders and are banned to use them as a mode of payment, the tax policies are also not framed yet. Cryptocurrency taxation in Vietnam remains uncertain due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

The tax authorities have lost a lawsuit against a local citizen who was been taxed on the Bitcoin earnings. As the cryptocurrencies are not considered as a legal asset under Vietnamese law, the court ruled the authorities that they have no right to tax him.

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Mining of Cryptocurrencies

The Cryptocurrencies remain illegal as of now and restricted with the use of payment methods and so the mining. It is also considered illegal  The government has also has passed a law which bans the import of bitcoin mining equipment into Vietnam.

However, the Ministry of Industry and trade expressed displeasure towards the ban and also showed concern over the decline in the mining business. The ministry sent a proposal to the Prime Minister of Vietnam, called the Document 5964 / BTC – TCHQ, mentioning that the mining pieces of equipment are not listed in the banned list of import or unsafe list. Hence the import should be allowed which was accepted by the government.

12-04-2024: Vietnam Does Not Ban Cryptocurrency, Confirms Ministry of Justice

A Ministry of Justice representative clarified that while cryptocurrency isn’t banned in Vietnam, there’s a need for a legal framework to guide its development and mitigate risks. Cao Dang Vinh, Deputy Director of the Economic and Civil Legislation Department, noted varying global perspectives on virtual assets, digital currencies, and cryptocurrencies.

Concluding Note

The Vietnamese Government has now acquired a progressive approach towards regulating the cryptocurrencies and initiated various steps. The various other approaches, however, are still vague and lack clarity.

More laws and reforms are required to ascertain the secured flow of cryptocurrency transactions in the country so that no scams or fraud occur risking the investor’s funds. The future of the cryptocurrencies are more secure and reliable in the country when these regulatory frameworks are put in place.

Read more:  Binance

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BASEL 3 AND GOLD REGULATIONS

"Basel III is a set of financial reforms developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. It introduces stricter capital requirements to increase the resilience of banks. The main focus is on improving the quality of capital, particularly Tier 1 capital, which is essential for absorbing losses."

The Significance of Gold in Basel III Regulations

"Gold’s role in Basel III significantly changes how banks handle this asset. With the new Basel III Bank Accords, gold is taking center stage again as an important asset for financial institutions. The most significant change is that Basel III regulations treat gold held in vaults as a zero-risk asset, a status previously reserved for cash. This change elevates gold’s importance in ensuring the stability and liquidity of banks."

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Impact on Liquidity and Stable Funding

"Gold significantly impacts banks’ liquidity. Under Basel III’s measures, banks must maintain a specific Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) to ensure they have enough high-quality liquid assets to survive financial stress. Gold can be considered part of these High-Quality Liquid Assets (HQLA)"

"Basel III regulations make gold a more attractive asset for banks by allowing bullion held in vaults or on an allocated basis to be treated as cash with a 0% risk weight. "

"Basel III demands that financial institutions hold a higher proportion of physical gold, rather than trading in derivatives. This change increases financing costs and demands more robust liquidity buffers. Banks must now hold physical assets to meet liquidity requirements, pushing the preference for tangible gold. As a result, this regulation stabilizes the gold market by reducing reliance on paper gold and emphasizing the importance of physical gold holdings. This shift supports higher demand and potentially boosts the price and stability of gold in the long term."

"With Basel III, gold is now considered a High-Quality Liquid Asset (HQLA)"

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Metals Edge

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BASEL 3 ENDGAME

"Many parts of Basel III are already in place worldwide, including the U.S. However, the final changes, called Basel III Endgame and agreed upon in 2017, have been delayed for years by the COVID-19 pandemic and banks calling for more time to adjust to and lobby against the new regulations."

"12 Deadlines have come and gone, with mid-2025 the latest date for when the rules are supposed to go into effect in the U.S., which means announcing them months earlier to provide regulators, banks, and other stakeholders the time needed to prepare to meet the new standards. Banks would start using the rules on July 1, 2025, with the goal of having them fully in place three years later."

What Affect Would Basel III Have on Small and Medium-Sized Banks?
"While Basel III primarily targets very large, internationally active banks, critics charge that its regulations would also affect small and medium-sized banks. "

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When Does Basel III Go Into Effect?

"Since the Basel III Endgame process began, bank requests for more time to digest and comment on the plans, COVID-19, and shifts in the post-pandemic economy have all pushed back the deadlines. As it stands now, the regulations should start taking effect July 1, 2025, followed by a three-year phase-in period to give banks time to transition to the new rules. While previous deadlines have come and gone, the commentary period is over, which offers U.S. federal regulators more room to maneuver in going ahead with implementation."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Investopedia  

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Chainlink’s tokenization sandbox cuts trials to days instead of months

The sandbox could lead to more financial institutions adopting asset tokenization solutions.

Chainlink is ushering in a new turnkey solution for institutions looking to conduct tokenization trials in the latest development for the tokenization industry.

Chainlink has introduced its new Digital Assets Sandbox (DAS) for financial institutions, which aims to accelerate digital asset innovation.

DAS will enable financial institutions to quickly experiment with new revenue-generating opportunities, like bond tokenization, with improved time-to-market and greater overall efficiency.

According to Angela Walker, the global head of banking and capital markets at Chainlink Labs, the new sandbox was born due to institutional demand for secure digital asset experimentation environments.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Coin Telegraph

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KTFA Members “News and Views” Thursday 7-18-2024

KTFA:

Clare: FRANK TOLD US LAST NIGHT THAT WALKINGSTICK SAID, FOR FRANK TO PUSH THAT WE ALL REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE TURKMEMISTAN ARTICLE WHICH I HAVE REPOSTED FOR YOU IN POST #23... FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS WERE DONE BY WALKINGSTICK HIMSELF YEARS AGO.

FROM WALKINGSTICK

BR..... FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, NOT INCLUSIVE...AND/ OR MAY NOT BE DEFINING THE EXACT MANNER IN WHICH IRAQ WILL EMPLOY THEIR CURRENCY REFORM...

 Turkmenistan ......New Money

FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT, December 2013, Vol. 50, No. 4

Introducing a new currency is a complex process—one that Turkmenistan completed successfully

A popular destination for visitors to the IMF’s Washington, D.C., headquarters has long been a 40-foot-long display of each member country’s currency.

Most countries have their own currency, which is an important part of their national identity, though some belong to a monetary union and share a common currency with the union’s members; others use that of another, often larger, country.

On occasion, a country must introduce a new currency. Turkmenistan, the former Soviet republic in central Asia, decided in 2008 to undertake a currency reform.

A major gap between the official exchange rate and the informal or market rate meant that Turkmenistan’s price system had become complex and inefficient. This, in turn, created complexities in accounting and statistical reporting. So the government decided to introduce a new currency before launching market-oriented reforms. Currency reform was regarded as the foundation for further strengthening the macroeconomic framework, particularly monetary transmission: the more the population relies on the local currency rather than U.S. dollars, the more control the government has over macroeconomic policy.

The total and orderly overhaul of Turkmenistan’s currency system in 2008–09 in many respects serves as a model for other countries.

Big decisions

The introduction of a new currency is not undertaken lightly. The motivation could be hyperinflation, exchange rate collapse, massive counterfeiting of the existing currency, or even war. Or it could be an intentional change—for example joining a monetary union, such as the European Monetary Union.

Changing a national currency is a highly political decision. Sometimes the existing currency does not meet the economy’s needs.

The typical economy in need of currency reform is cash based and highly dollarized, with multiple currencies circulating at the same time.

The single most important price in any economy is the price of its currency vis-à-vis other currencies. Countries that assign non-market-based exchange rates for different goods or services—or for imports versus exports—tend to have significant distortions in their economy. Over time, this usually leads to slower growth overall. Eventually, the general public, the business community, and politicians may start pressing for currency reform and the introduction of a new currency.

Currency reforms are typically complex and risky: global experience confirms that a successful outcome is never guaranteed. The main ingredient in the successful introduction of a new currency is a strong commitment by the central bank together with the government to take the steps needed to ensure that the new currency is perceived as stable by companies, the general public, and the international community.

Introduction of a new currency comprises four phases. First, the necessary preconditions—sound macroeconomic policies and strong financial sector legislation—should ideally be in place or under way. Next, careful preparation is required, setting up the policies and processes behind the reform and drafting a detailed budget for the entire currency reform (including the cost of printing and minting the new cash currency). Then comes production of the new currency, and finally the most challenging phase: implementation.

Setting the stage

A government facing currency reform often has limited ability to pursue macroeconomic policy. If the country is suffering from hyperinflation, its macroeconomic policies to date by definition were unsound. In some cases, a currency reform must be implemented despite a difficult macroeconomic situation. Currency reform alone is unlikely to resolve such problems and will yield its benefits only if underpinned by fiscal and monetary action. But psychologically, introducing a new currency can itself facilitate the stabilization of an economy. It is sometimes combined with exchange rate unification—to eliminate the complications of both an official exchange rate and unofficial market rate.

Turkmenistan was able to achieve favorable macroeconomic conditions before it implemented exchange rate unification and currency redenomination. During 2006–07, the economy was growing more than 11 percent a year, inflation was in single digits, and fiscal and external balances were strong.

A currency reform must be supported by financial sector legislation. Existing legislation—including the law establishing the central bank and regulation of banks and other financial institutions—should be reviewed to ensure consistency with international best practices. A law and regulations on the specific currency reform are also necessary, and other legislation—for example, governing accounting and financial reporting—may require updating. This work can be supported by technical advice from the IMF and other countries’ central banks. Such technical assistance includes initial general guidance as well as detailed recommendations based on currency reforms in other countries.

In a crisis situation, the government has little, if any, control over the circulation of different currencies. For that reason, the economy tends to be highly dollarized—that is, many transactions are made with a foreign currency, often the U.S. dollar.

Moving forward, the government should favor a currency regime that supports open trade and free markets—one that allows international competition and is not overly protectionist.

The central bank is the arm of the state responsible for introducing a new currency, but it is not necessarily in a position to do so.

It may lack staff with relevant experience, or sufficient branches throughout the country from which to operate, or even the funds necessary to finance a reform. Strengthening the institutional capacity of the central bank and ensuring it has the resources needed are critical preconditions for currency reform.

Private banks also play a key role in currency reform. But the banking sector may be weak or, in some cases, virtually nonexistent. In some parts of the world, informal funds transfer systems such as hawala and hundi are more vibrant or have nationwide networks that surpass those of banks. In such cases, collaboration between the central bank and these payment system operators is critical to the success of the reform.

The central bank must assess the extent to which counterfeit banknotes circulate. Together with the ministry of finance and the commercial banks, it should formulate a strategy to avoid an increase in counterfeit currency during the critical implementation stages of the currency reform.

The central bank should prepare a budget for the entire currency reform early on and revise it as necessary over time. The IMF can offer technical advice on preparing such a budget.

Introducing a new national currency is a highly complex project, which requires a well-functioning accounting system. Throughout the various stages, tested systems must be in place for independent auditors to safeguard the integrity of the currency reform, by ensuring correct reporting and accounting of the currency exchange. Failure in this area is not only costly but also potentially devastating to the currency reform’s reputation.

Important as all these preparations are, the success of a currency reform depends just as much on a successful public education campaign. The central bank needs to coordinate this campaign with other agencies, financial sector representatives, merchants, and the general public. A delicate balance must be struck between providing sufficient public information and the need for confidentiality to avoid releasing clues to counterfeiters that could be used to undermine the integrity of the new currency.

The information campaign should encourage people to deposit their cash currency in accounts at banks. The campaign must make it clear that once the currency reform is initiated, account holders can withdraw their money in the form of new banknotes.

A second important point for the public education campaign is timely information on the stages of the currency reform to discourage a run on banks with temporary liquidity problems.

In Turkmenistan, the central bank conducted a proactive public communications strategy that began early in the currency reform.

The terms of the redenomination were carefully defined and announced in advance. An awareness campaign was carried out throughout the country. Booklets, illustrating the new banknotes to be distributed, were published in national and local newspapers along with explanatory articles. In addition, pocket-size cards comparing the denomination of old and new manat were distributed to the public. And the Central Bank of Turkmenistan set up a phone hotline to answer questions from businesses and the public.

Lights, camera, action

A new currency’s name is a psychologically important decision for the government. One option is to emphasize continuity with the old currency by retaining the old name or adding “new” to it. Alternatively, the government may choose to underscore a break with the past by giving a completely new name to the currency to mark the start of a new monetary era.

In Turkmenistan, the government decided to keep the name “manat” for the redenominated currency. However, in line with an international convention among countries and central banks, the International Standards Organization changed the three-digit ISO 4217 code from TMM for the pre-2007 manat to TMT for the new Turkmen manat.

The banknote printer and the minter of coins should be selected competitively and in the international market. Even if domestic producers are available, they should be required to compete for the contract. It is not uncommon, by the way, for various banknote denominations to be produced by different international firms.

Turkmenistan’s banknotes were printed by the British firm De La Rue, and the coins were minted by another U.K. company, the Royal Mint. De La Rue is now testing production of the banknotes from paper produced with local raw materials—Turkmen cotton, renowned since ancient times for its high quality.

Decisions on the artistic design of banknotes are almost always complex and time consuming. The design must be integrated with necessary security features: the higher the denomination, the more advanced security features are required. These often include watermarks, security threads, see-through registers, and hidden numerals. Decisions also need to be made on the size of banknotes—a uniform size as for U.S. banknotes or a different size for each denomination as for euro banknotes. Finally, the color scheme should be determined—again, uniform colors, like U.S. banknotes, or clearly different colors as for most other banknotes.

Hyperinflation and exchange rate collapse slash the value of a national currency, forcing the issuance of banknotes in ever higher denominations. In Yugoslavia in 1993, a banknote reached 500 billion dinars, and Zimbabwe’s highest banknote issued was 100,000 trillion Zimbabwe dollars in 2008. In such situations, a redenomination of the currency is not only appropriate but also necessary. Redenominating a currency means administratively changing its face value. In itself, a redenomination makes no one richer or poorer. Technically most redenominations of currencies are undertaken by using factors of 10, 100, or 1,000 and simply moving the decimal point a certain number of steps to the left to establish a new value. Such a change is simple to explain to the general public and easy for companies to implement. It also represents a clear way of monitoring whether price gouging is taking place.

The first step in the Turkmen currency reform was to unify the exchange rate. In the past, because of a shortage of foreign exchange, there had been a dual exchange rate system made up of an official rate pegged at 5,200 manat per U.S. dollar and an informal parallel market rate of about 23,000 manat per U.S. dollar.

Later, the government devalued the official rate to 6,250 manat per dollar and introduced a commercial rate of 20,000 manat per dollar at which banks could trade freely with the public. The two markets were successfully unified on May 1, 2008—at the rate of 14,250 manat per dollar, a level consistent with the country’s strong external position.

Currency exchanges were located wherever customers might want to exchange dollars for manat, offering easy and official access at close to the informal rate, thus killing off demand for the informal market.

At the beginning of June 2008, the Turkmen government issued new foreign exchange regulations under which the Central Bank of Turkmenistan began providing banks and authorized currency changers ready access to foreign exchange, which in turn became available to the market-oriented private sector. Previously the central bank had been propping up the official, unrealistically low, exchange rate by restricting access to dollars. The provision of sufficient foreign exchange to an extensive network of exchange bureaus across the country eliminated the black market rate.

While unifying the exchange rate is important, the authorities must also modernize the national currency for a currency reform to be comprehensive. In Turkmenistan, the modernization entailed issuing a new family of banknotes that were smaller in size than the unnecessarily large old banknotes.

It also included the reintroduction of coins. The Turkmen economy had been cash oriented for a long time, and the U.S. dollar was extremely popular. The weakness of the manat to the dollar, which required thousands of manat in an exchange conversion, was deemed unacceptable. One way to correct this was to redenominate the national currency.

After the successful exchange rate unification, the authorities moved forward with the introduction of the new manat, revaluing the currency by a factor of 1 to 5,000. The pegged exchange rate of 14,250 manat per dollar resulted in an exchange rate of 2.85 new Turkmen manat to the dollar.

A presidential decree issued August 27, 2008, announced the introduction of the redenominated manat on January 1, 2009.

Even without redenomination, the denomination structure of a new cash currency is worth considering. Usually, lower denominations are eliminated and higher denominations added. There is generally a shift into coins from denominations that were previously issued in banknotes. Cultural and sociological preferences must be considered. For example, in some countries, such as Somalia and South Sudan, coins are not popular. In other countries, such as Germany, people want access to very high-denomination banknotes. A rule of thumb often applied in developing economies is to set the highest denomination of the national currency no lower than the equivalent of 20 dollars.

Money in hand

Turkmenistan issued six new banknote denominations on January 1, 2009: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 new manat. This was a major expansion of the upper denominations—the previously highest denomination, 10,000 old manat, now corresponded to a mere 2 new manat. The six newly issued banknotes each differed in size and were all shorter and narrower than previous banknotes. The design of the front of the banknotes presented prominent historic Turkmen personalities. The reverse side, as in the past, portrayed new key buildings and monuments of modern Ashgabat, the Turkmen capital.

In parallel, new coins were issued in the following denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 tenge; and the following year, two more coins were circulated with 1 manat and 2 manat denominations. This represented a de facto reintroduction of coins after high inflation and intense exchange rate pressure had rendered the previously issued coins valueless.

Once the design and denominations of a new currency are selected, the central bank must decide how much to produce, based on research on the demand for money in general and on various cash currency denominations in particular. Data on past orders of banknotes and coins should give reasonable estimates, which must be assessed in light of recent changes in public demand for the currency compared with other currencies. Technical advice is available from international banknote printing firms such as De La Rue and Giesecke &Devrient, and for coin denominations from mints such as the Royal Mint.

The next phase of currency reform is the conversion from old cash currency to new. The authorities must decide—at first privately—when the currency exchange will begin, when it will end, and whether or not to cap, in absolute terms, the amount to be exchanged.

Then, decisions on the announcement of and publicity for the currency exchange must be made. Other essential decisions include the conversion rate and how financial assets, resident/nonresident accounts, and existing currency contracts will be treated in the currency exchange.

In addition to the guidance of the central bank and the ministry of finance, the views of the ministries of justice, commerce, and defense; the police force; the chamber of commerce; bank representatives and representatives of the informal payment system (if it plays an important role in the country); the general public; nongovernmental organizations; and key media outlets should be considered.

The key stakeholders, under the leadership of the central bank, should develop a detailed plan for distribution of the new currency. They must identify exchange points (places where the public can exchange the old money for new and where cash currency can be stored temporarily); establish facilities for more permanent storage of currency, such as vaults and strongboxes; and address various logistic issues, including exchange point staffing.

In its plan for the currency reform, the central bank must decide how to handle the soon obsolete cash currency. Old banknotes that have been exchanged for new currency should be immediately invalidated via ink markings or holes drilled in the currency.

After a second counting, the then invalidated banknotes should be destroyed by shredding or burning. Routines should also be established for the collection and transportation of old coins, which may be sold by the central bank for scrap metal and ultimately melted down.

In line with common international practices, the Turkmen central bank allowed the two sets of banknotes to be circulated during 2009. By 2010, all banks were expected to exchange the old currency for new manat. And after that, the old currency was demonetized and retained only numismatic value.

The IMF’s currency display was recently dismantled to allow for repairs to the building. If and when the display is restored and updated, there will be several new currencies for visitors to view, including the new Turkmen manat. ■

http://www.imf.org/external/pu.....nnberg.htm

Clare:  Al-Sudani receives a call from Mohammed bin Salman

7/17/2024

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani received a phone call on Wednesday evening from the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

A statement from Al-Sudani's office stated that during the call, bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to develop and grow them in various fields were discussed, in addition to discussing the latest developments in the region.

The call also addressed a number of issues of common interest, especially in the political, economic and developmental aspects, which will lead to achieving integration and mutual benefit between the two countries.  LINK

Paulette:  Interesting timing considering Sadia Arabia just educated its citizens that Iraq plans to "delete the zeros" through the Sadia Arabia  Argaam financial Services video.....

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Alicia2015:  A change in Iraq's monetary value appears to be immanent. This is a speculative investment, so the question is will it meet our expectations or not.
Nobody knows for certain, but logic seems to point in the direction of "yes it will be". Regardless, I'm glad something is finally happening and looking forward to the completion of this part of our journey. IMO

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Clare: Selling commemorative coins to collectors

July 18, 2024

The Central Bank of Iraq announces the sale of currently circulating and withdrawn banknotes and commemorative coins for collectors

♦ Application form for purchasing commemorative coins and their prices .. For more click here LINK

“Tidbits From TNT” Thursday 7-18-2024

TNT:

Tishwash:  100 investment opportunities next November100 

The National Investment Commission has completed its preparations for holding a major investment conference next November.

The head of the authority, Haider Makiya, explained that the authority has completed all its preparations to hold a major investment conference in which about 100 investment opportunities will be presented in all of Iraq’s governorates, noting that invitations have been sent to ambassadors, officials, and all ministers.

 He pointed out that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani will attend the conference as he is the biggest supporter of such conferences to see the extent of the readiness of major companies to invest in Iraq as a fertile and promising land, pointing out that the role of embassies is great in this matter, as they conveyed an appropriate image of Iraq and its enjoyment of unparalleled security and economic stability during this important stage of its history.

Makiya added that the conference, which will be held on November 2-3, will be a major economic event in the capital, Baghdad, to present exceptional investment opportunities that the world's largest companies can work on. link

Tishwash:   Minister of Trade stresses importance of Arab support for Iraq's accession to WTO

Minister of Trade, Athir Dawood Al-Ghariri, stressed today, Thursday, the importance of Arab support for Iraq's accession to the World Trade Organization.

A statement by the Ministry of Commerce, received by "Al-Eqtisad News", stated that "Minister of Commerce Athir Dawood Al-Ghariri met with the Saudi Ambassador and Head of the Working Group on Iraq's Accession to the World Trade Organization, Saqr Al-Muqbil, in the presence of the ambassadors of the Arab countries in the organization, to discuss mobilizing Arab support for Iraq's accession file to the World Trade Organization."

The statement added, "During the meeting, the progress made by Iraq in meeting the requirements for accession and the challenges it faces in this path were reviewed."

During the meeting, Minister Al-Ghariri stressed the "importance of Arab support to strengthen Iraq's position and achieve its goals in joining the organization."

At the same time, the Minister pointed out "the economic and commercial benefits that will accrue to Iraq and the Arab countries through this accession."

For their part, the Arab ambassadors expressed their "readiness to support Iraq in its efforts," stressing "the importance of strengthening Arab cooperation in international organizations link

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Tishwash: The Economic Situation in Iraq: Challenges and Future Prospects

 Iraq is currently going through a critical economic phase, as the country faces many challenges that hinder its growth and stability. The Iraqi economy is one of the most diversified in the region, but it continues to suffer from the effects of internal conflicts and fluctuations in global oil prices.

Economic Challenges

One of the most prominent challenges facing the Iraqi economy is high unemployment among young people, with statistics indicating that the unemployment rate exceeds 25%. This is attributed to the decline in foreign and local investments as a result of the security and political unrest that the country has witnessed over the past years.

Financial and administrative corruption is another obstacle to economic growth. Iraq ranks high in global corruption indices, which negatively impacts the business environment and limits the ability to attract foreign investment. This corruption affects all sectors of the economy, from oil and gas to infrastructure and public services.

Economic Reforms

In the face of these challenges, the Iraqi government is implementing a package of economic reforms aimed at enhancing economic growth and achieving financial stability. Among these reforms are improving the management of oil revenues and diversifying sources of income by supporting non-oil sectors such as agriculture, industry and tourism.

The government is also working to improve the business environment by simplifying administrative procedures and fighting corruption. Oversight bodies have been established to enhance transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

Future Prospects

Despite the major challenges, there are signs of hope that Iraq’s economic situation can improve. Government initiatives to diversify the economy and boost investment in vital sectors could create new jobs and improve living standards for the population.

In addition, the stability of global oil prices represents an opportunity for Iraq to generate additional revenues that can be used to finance development projects and improve infrastructure.

In conclusion, achieving an economic renaissance in Iraq requires concerted efforts between the government, the private sector, and civil society, in addition to benefiting from international support to enhance economic and social stability. link

Tishwash:  A military delegation headed by Yarallah will visit Washington soon...and the American withdrawal may take 3 to 5 years

Baghdad has not yet commented on the attempt to assassinate former US President Donald Trump, while Muqtada Al-Sadr, the leader of the Sadrist movement, described what happened as a “clip from a movie.”

Since the beginning of this year, Baghdad and the United States have been engaged in dialogues about the Western military presence in the country, which have reached the procedures stage, according to the parties to the coordination framework.

A former politician and attempted MP warns that the assassination of Trump, whose interpretations of the incident are now limited to an individual act, may affect Washington's policy in Iraq at a later time.

The Iraqi military leadership is supposed to meet with American officials this July in Washington to complete negotiations on withdrawal.

The two parties held three meetings in Iraq about the fate of the coalition forces, while it is likely that Abdul Amir Yarallah, Chief of Staff of the Army, will lead the next delegation.

A few days ago, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said while he was in Washington to attend NATO meetings that "a military delegation will visit Washington to hold discussions about the security agreement concluded between Iraq and the United States."

There is still a conflict in statements between Baghdad and Washington regarding the nature of the negotiations that began at the beginning of this year, regarding whether the United States will withdraw or stay for a longer time.

According to leaks from political circles, the military delegation that will soon go to the United States will ask for “3 or 4 months to finalize the withdrawal arrangements.”

But there are other political parties who doubt the possibility of withdrawing forces so quickly, and talk about the United States requiring between “3 to 5 years” to evacuate the forces.

Ali Nimah, a member of the Security and Defense Committee in Parliament, says that the issue of removing foreign forces from Iraq will not end “overnight,” noting that it is hoped that the transition to bilateral relations will begin during the next year.

Last June, the government confirmed that it had begun new measures in preparation for the withdrawal of coalition forces present since 2014, by developing military infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Hassan Fadaam, a former leader of the Popular Mobilization Forces, said in contact with (Al-Mada) that “the decision to withdraw is final and final, and there is no retreat from the Iraqi government.”

Fadam, a former representative of the Al-Hikma Movement, points out that “the withdrawal is within the government program and also within the political agreement that occurred between all political parties and was informed by the American authorities through diplomacy and by the political forces in all their meetings with American officials.”

Fadham, a member of the coordination framework, confirms that there are major changes in this file. “Work has moved from dialogues to procedures. There are daily procedures in preparation for withdrawal.”

The former MP revealed that a recent visit by a US Defense Department official to Baghdad was part of these arrangements, as he "visited the American bases to begin the withdrawal."

A week ago, Al-Sudani's office reported that the latter received the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle Eastern Affairs, Daniel Shapiro, in Baghdad.

The office confirmed in a statement that the meeting included talk about "proceeding procedures to end the mission of the international coalition to fight ISIS, and to activate bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States."

Hassan Fadaam says that the United States may try to reverse the withdrawal under various pretexts, “but Iraq is monitoring these moves that Washington could use to disrupt the withdrawal.”

Last February, the Iraqi factions retreated from targeting American forces in an undeclared truce, to give the government the opportunity to negotiate with Washington.

The number of American forces in Iraq since the beginning of 2003 was about 130,000, and it remained fluctuating between 100,000 and 150,000, but it rose again to about 170,000 with the intensification of violence in 2007.

At the end of 2011, the United States withdrew its forces during the era of former President Barack Obama. Except for a few military advisors.

However, with the spread of ISIS in 2014, Washington doubled its forces to more than 5,000 members, before reducing them again to 3,000 in 2021, then to about 2,500 this year.

Withdrawal...and Trump is the example of Alusi, the politician and former MP, who says that the presence of American forces in Iraq was “always the focus of discussion in all American governments after 2003,” but he did not raise, not Once, either secretly or publicly, the idea of ​​“reducing the level of forces to zero.”

Successful American administrations, according to Al-Alusi, who spoke to Al-Mada, were thinking about withdrawing the strike force "and leaving elite forces that represent the American moral and strategic presence in Iraq."

A few days ago, Arab media close to Tehran said that the United States “withdrew an official announcement to schedule a reduction in the number of its forces in Iraq.” It is likely that this is related to the process of withdrawing American forces from Niger.

America, according to Al-Alusi, will reduce the military presence in Iraq and not the political, diplomatic or economic presence if it finds that "the government is part of American ideas and interests, but the opposite will happen if the militia penetration and preoccupation With opening camps for the Houthis in Iraq continues.”

The United States will soon enter into a sensitive political situation with the approaching presidential elections, which may not greatly affect the nature of relations with Iraq, according to Al-Alusi, a former member of the Foreign Relations Committee in Parliament.

He says that the change in the US government “affects foreign relations on major issues with Russia and China,but not with Iraq and Iran.”

But on the other hand, he points out the possibility that the attempt to assassinate Trump may affect Washington policy if it is proven that the perpetrator, whose action is explained as an isolated incident, influenced Iraqi and Iranian propaganda against the nominated president, especially if he wins the elections.

In 2021, an Iraqi court issued an arrest warrant against Trump, against the backdrop of the assassination of Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis and Qassem Soleimani.

So far, Baghdad has not commented on the assassination attempt, at a time when Muqtada al-Sadr said in a tweet on the “Just allegations.”

Al-Alusi advised the Iraqi government to denounce the assassination attempt, "not for Trump's sake, but in rejection of the assassination attempts that the authorities in Iraq accused of against activists and protesters."  link

Mot: Gunna be un of Those Daze!!!

Mot: Seeeeeeeeee -- Ya Can Always Find the ""Positive"" of things!!!

Iraq News Highlights and Points To Ponder Thursday AM 7-18-24

Economist Calls On The Government To Delay Joining The World Trade Organization

Money  and business  Economy News – Baghdad   Today, Thursday, economic expert, Bassam Raad, called on the Iraqi government to delay Iraq's accession to the World Trade Organization.

Raad said in an interview with Al-Eqtisad News, "Iraq, which has observer status in the World Trade Organization, seeks to join it after the removal of political restrictions that prevented this, including its exit from Chapter VII procedures of the United Nations Charter."

He added, "This endeavor has positive effects, including expanding economic partnerships and integrating it into the global economy, but on the other hand it represents a problem, especially since the demands of the World Trade Organization are to allow the access of its members' trade to the markets and to free trade from all restrictions, as it is an organization of producing and manufacturing countries, which means opening the Iraqi local markets to imports, and thus negatively affecting any attempt to rebuild the productive, industrial and agricultural sectors and leaving the economic horizon dependent on consumer imports coming from abroad."

The economic expert explained that "since Iraq depends on oil exports and oil is not subject to customs barriers by importing countries, it should be cautious before seeking to join the World Trade Organization and work towards economic reform and begin implementing plans to diversify local production and build industrial capabilities that support the trend towards exporting abroad, which contributes to enhancing the positive effects of the accession process."

113 views  2024/07/18 - https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=45350

Minister Of Trade Stresses Importance Of Arab Support For Iraq's Accession To WTO

Local  Economy News – Baghdad  Minister of Trade, Athir Dawood Al-Ghariri, stressed today, Thursday, the importance of Arab support for Iraq's accession to the World Trade Organization.

A statement by the Ministry of Commerce, received by "Al-Eqtisad News", stated that "Minister of Commerce Athir Dawood Al-Ghariri met with the Saudi Ambassador and Head of the Working Group on Iraq's Accession to the World Trade Organization, Saqr Al-Muqbil, in the presence of the ambassadors of the Arab countries in the organization to discuss mobilizing Arab support for the file of Iraq's accession to the World Trade Organization."

The statement added, "During the meeting, the progress made by Iraq in meeting the requirements for accession and the challenges it faces in this path were reviewed."

During the meeting, Minister Al-Ghariri stressed the "importance of Arab support to strengthen Iraq's position and achieve its goals in joining the organization."

At the same time, the Minister pointed out "the economic and commercial benefits that will accrue to Iraq and the Arab countries through this accession."

For their part, the Arab ambassadors expressed their "readiness to support Iraq in its efforts," stressing "the importance of strengthening Arab cooperation in international organizations." 2024/07/18 - https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=45340

An Expert Calls On The Government To End The Waste Of Billions Of Dollars On Importing Gas

Economy  ,  07/18/2024 11:59  Number of readings: 129  Baghdad - Iraq Today:  The expert in energy economics, Kofd Sherwani, called on the government to accelerate the implementation of gas isolation projects associated with oil extraction operations, while he stated that importing natural gas from countries costs Iraq billions of dollars.

Sherwani said, “Iraq possesses huge natural gas reserves amounting to 132 trillion standard cubic feet.” Pointing out, "Projects for isolating associated gas in the southern fields must be expedited, so that they can be used in operating electrical power plants."

Sherwani added in a press interview, “These projects were supposed to be accelerated more than ten years ago so that Iraq would reach the stage of sufficiency and dispense with importing natural gas and electricity from any other source.”

He pointed out, "The rate of burning gas in Iraq decreased from 40% to 35%, according to the statements of the Ministry of Oil, that stopping gas burning will occur within three years, while sufficiency of natural gas will occur within five years " Noting that, “This matter will save the state billions of dollars, amounting to 4 or 5 billion dollars spent annually on importing natural gas and electricity.”

He continued, “The reason for the interruptions of imported natural gas from Iraq is that the areas from which gas is supplied from countries are already in need of gas, and this need increases in some seasons, because this gas is used in power stations and to equip some laboratories, because they represent the regions."

In the final distribution network, there is always little flow and many stops, and this causes interruptions that directly affect the supply of electrical energy, some of whose stations depend on imported Iranian gas at an amount of 50 million cubic meters per day.”

The energy economics specialist stated, “The United States has placed restrictions within the sanctions imposed on Iran, while placing restrictions on sending the financial compensation for imported gas and electricity, and when these payments are delayed, Iran sometimes reduces or cuts the quantities processed as a form of pressure on the Iraqi government to pay what it owes.” Accumulated costs of supplied gas.

He stressed, “Iraq has already paid all of Iran’s dues for the price of gas and electricity, but despite that we hope that the Ministry of Oil’s projects in isolating gas and investing in it will be accelerated to reach the stage of sufficiency, and save These amounts, and perhaps in the event of strengthening the capabilities to produce gas, Iraq is reaching a stage.” Export for the period after five years or a little more.”  LINK

Despite Objections, Basra Council Prepares To Vote On 2024 Budget

Economy |Baghdad Today – Basra  Basra Governorate Council confirmed, today, Thursday (July 18, 2024), its intention to pass the budget for the current year 2024 at the end of next week, as the study of the project plan for the current year 2024 will be completed and approved in general.

The head of the Design Bloc in the provincial council, Aqil Al-Furaiji, told Baghdad Today, "The council will work to host officials from the directors of all departments to discuss the sectors included in the projects of the current year 2024, as they are the beneficiaries, to involve them in the discussions and for the purpose of reviewing them in detail."

He explained that "the committee's work continues even on holidays to complete the plan and submit it to the provincial council for approval at the end of next week," noting that they are "promising projects that will benefit the Basra citizen."

Basra Governorate MP Dhurgham Al-Maliki had confirmed in previous press statements that the governorate was counting on the 2023 budget, of which only 30% had been spent.

MP Al-Maliki said that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani confirmed to him that there is 70% of Basra’s money remaining and has not been circulated. It is a trust with the government and will be spent with what was allocated to Basra in the current year’s budget.

Al-Maliki pointed out that there are accumulated amounts of Basra's dues from petrodollar amounts estimated at 20 trillion dinars, and that schedules and a mechanism for disbursement must be established, noting that many projects have been allocated to Basra in the 2023 budget and are awaiting the release of funds to complete them.

He explained that Basra is not counting on the 2024 budget, but rather on last year's budget to complete projects.

Members of the Basra Council and representatives of the province in the House of Representatives had criticised and objected to the decision to reduce the financial allocations for the province from 2 trillion and 900 million dinars to only 850 billion.

This came as a great shock to the governorate, which is the economic capital of Iraq, as the allocations are not even enough to cover the debts of companies and contractors tasked with service projects, according to official statements, stressing the need to reconsider the decision in a manner that is consistent with the size of the governorate and its needs for projects.  LINK

MilitiaMan: IQD Update - Iraq Dinar - Iraqi Dinar Update - WTO - Global Economy Trade - International Support

IQD Update - Iraq Dinar - Iraqi Dinar Update - WTO - Global Economy Trade - International Support

MilitiaMan and Crew:  7-17-2024

The Crew:  Samson, PompeyPeter, Petra, Daytrader, Sunkissed, GIGI and Militia Man

Be sure to listen to full video for all the news……..

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

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Wednesday Evening 7-17-24

Through The Dollar And The Yuan... The US Treasury Continues To Impose Its Guardianship Over The Iraqi Economy

 July 16 Information/report.. The Parliamentary Finance Committee indicated earlier that it would demand that the Central Bank address the issue of the exchange rate and the flow of foreign trade through the use of the currency basket diversification system, so that there would be more options for the Central Bank and Iraqi merchants.

 The currency basket system is a monetary system used by the central banks of countries to determine the exchange rate of their local currencies.

 The system is based on a group of currencies chosen by the central bank of each country, and the basket consists of a group of the most powerful banknotes affecting the global economy.  In an “unsuccessful” step, as experts in economic affairs describe it, the Central Bank of Iraq stopped dealing in the Chinese yuan after the US Federal Reserve accused Iraq of “inflating remittances.”

 While economic experts warned of the effects of this decision on the local market and its cause of an increase in the exchange rate of the US dollar and an increase in exchange rates.

 Inflation, which has negative repercussions on the economic situation of the Iraqi family, presented 3 solutions to the Central Bank of Iraq to continue the flow of remittances to China.

 Through the dollar and the yuan... the US Treasury continues to impose its guardianship over the Iraqi economy Clip_image004

In the latest Iraqi government move to stop dealing in the Chinese yuan, informed sources revealed to Shafaq News Agency, yesterday, Saturday, that the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Al-Alaq, is making an officially unannounced visit to the United States of America to discuss with officials in Washington regarding the US Federal Reserve’s decision to stop dealing in Baghdad. In Chinese yuan.

The Central Bank of Iraq had previously strengthened its assets denominated in the yuan through the Singapore Development Bank to finance Iraqi trade and imports with China by about 12 billion dollars annually,

but the US Federal Reserve’s policy is still putting the stick in the wheel of liberating the Iraqi dinar and achieving gains at the expense of the dollar exchange rate, Therefore,

when the US Federal Reserve saw that the Chinese yuan was being used in foreign transfers,

 it quickly issued a decision to stop transfers under the pretext that there were suspicions in some transfers in the Chinese yuan.

A member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Representative Moeen Al-Kadhimi, described the

US Federal Reserve’s decision to stop remittances in the Chinese yuan as “arbitrary” against the Iraqi economy.  Al-Kadhimi said in a statement to the Al-Ma’louma Agency,

  “The decision to stop transfers in the Chinese yuan was issued by the US Federal Bank due to its claim that there were suspicions about some transfers in the Chinese yuan.”  He pointed out that

"the Central Bank of Iraq has contracted with an international company to evaluate and monitor remittances, and this company is a supplier of acceptance and trust for the US Federal Reserve." 

He pointed out that  "after a short period, the Central Bank of Iraq will resume transferring remittances in Chinese yuan to Iraqi merchants and in general," noting that  "these US Federal Reserve measures are considered arbitrary against Iraq and its national economy."

For his part, commenting on this decision, the economic expert, Zia Al-Mohsen, confirmed that

 “stopping dealing in the Chinese yuan by the Central Bank of Iraq is an unsuccessful step if we take into account that trade dealing with China exceeds 65 billion dollars.”

Through the dollar and the yuan... the US Treasury continues to impose its guardianship over the Iraqi economy Clip_image006

 Al-Mohsen said in a statement to the Maalouma Agency,

“This decision will have a negative impact on the local market, and the demand for the dollar will increase, which means an increase in the exchange rate of the US dollar in the local market, which will increase inflation rates, which will have negative effects on The economic situation of the Iraqi family.

 The Central Bank of Iraq stopped trading in the Chinese yuan after the US Federal Reserve accused Iraq of "inflating remittances."

 During the current period, America has worked to destroy the Iraqi currency by imposing sanctions on private banks and banning the dollar under many pretexts, which in one way or another led to a severe financial crisis in the local markets.

 It is noteworthy that the Central Bank of Iraq also moved to strengthen its assets in the UAE dirham and negotiated an increase in its assets denominated in euros to finance trade with the European Union. Iraq also began opening bank accounts in the Indian rupee for a number of Iraqi banks.  https://almaalomah.me/news/70483/economy/عبر-الدولار-واليوان-الخزانة-الأمريكية-تواصل-فرض-وصايتها-على    

A Former Deputy Reveals The “Hidden”... These Are The US Federal Reserve’s Restrictions

Information/private..  On Wednesday, former member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Abdul Hadi Al-Saadawi, revealed the US Federal Reserve’s restrictions on the Iraqi Central Bank.  Al-Saadawi said in an interview with Al-Maalouma,

 “The US Federal Reserve imposes restrictions on the Central Bank of Iraq, which is a reaction to the demand to remove American forces from the country.”  He added,

 "America is adopting an approach with specific paths in Iraq, which is to give more leeway to the work of foreign banks at the expense of Iraqi banks." 

He pointed out  "the necessity of reviewing the activities of foreign banks in the country and seeking to address corruption in local banks and uncovering fake banking windows that engage in money laundering."

  is noteworthy that the dollar exchange rates in the Iraqi markets witnessed a state of instability in the past days in terms of rising and then falling again.  https://almaalomah.me/news/70595/politics/نائب-سابق-يكشف-المستور-هذه-قيود-الفيدرالي-الامريكي

Our Financial And Banking System And The Global Economy

Economical 07/16/2024   Samir Al-Nusairi  Most of the countries of the world have been suffering from successive economic crises since 2020 until the present.

 They are the harshest and most harmful to the countries’ economies than the previous crises that swept the world previously, which began with the lockdown crisis as a result of the Corona pandemic and the (stagflation) crisis due to food shortages, high prices, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and economic conflicts between... America and China, most recently the Zionist war on Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, expectations of a new aggression against Lebanon, the struggle to control oil prices, and the attempts of the affected countries to find plans and deals to control this rise that has occurred over the past years.

 From our follow-up, monitoring and analysis of the movement of the global economy, we notice that most countries in the world have increased inflation rates and exceeded one rank, and economic growth rates have decreased, especially regional countries and most countries with major economies and even emerging countries have tried to form new axes, poles and economic blocs and conclude agreements between themselves and other countries for transactions.

 Trade and finance outside the Group of Seven major countries, such as the BRICS bloc.

The central banks in most countries have taken difficult decisions in order to control the prices of their local currencies from falling and maintain their foreign currency reserves at safe rates, thus reducing stagflation and maintaining relatively stable prices and economic growth balanced with economic conditions.

 Currently prevailing by raising interest rates at a rate that is commensurate with its economic situation.

Therefore, as far as the matter is concerned with Iraq’s economic situation, although the reports of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to evaluate the Iraqi economy for the current year indicate that the inflation rate did not exceed 3 percent, and according to what the

 Central Bank announced, it is better than the inflation rates in the regional and neighboring countries and that the growth rate in output The gross domestic product for this year is expected to be 6 percent, and Iraq still maintains a good foreign exchange reserve to cover its imports and cover its local currency in circulation.

 However, it is a one-sided economy and

     depends on oil revenues, and

     its financial and banking sector is weak and suffers from sanctions and restrictions on the use of the US dollar in foreign banking transactions, and still

     Its credit rating is within limits that are internationally classified as unstable and in the absence of...

 New policy measures: The public finance deficit is expected to reach 7.6 percent in 2024 and expand further after that with the expected decline in oil prices in the medium term.

 As a result, public debt will almost double from 44 percent in 2023 to 86 percent by 2029.

 The sector also The real sector suffers from many problems that prevent it from achieving the necessary revenues to reduce the share of oil revenues in public budgets.

 This means that the deficit in the balance of payments and the deficit in the trade balance are prevalent despite the fact that the government, finance and central bank are making great efforts to rebuild a solid and solid banking sector because

  without the existence of a sector With developed banking, it is not possible to build a sound national economy.

The inherited and complex problem is the weak compliance of the Iraqi financial and banking sector with international standards, and the

 foreign trade policy is unclear despite the measures taken by the Central Bank to regulate trade financing and the accreditation of some reputable foreign registered banks, but the

 presence of informal border crossings and intra-trade is not Legitimate speculators in the foreign exchange trading market have led to fluctuations in exchange rates from time to time.

For the purpose of the Central Bank exercising its role in

      reducing inflation,

     controlling the general level of prices,

     maintaining the dinar exchange rate within its target limits,

     controlling the interest rate, and

     maintaining its foreign cash reserves within the required rates, as well as

     controlling the money supply, and certainly

 all of these aspects are within the goals and interests of the Central Bank.

 Its Board of Directors during the next stage and for the purpose of avoiding the harm that currently threatens the global economy.

 This requires taking bold steps, as follows:

 First - reconsider the structure and presentation of the general budget and determine the contribution percentages of the agricultural, industrial, tourism sectors and non-oil revenues at no less than 30 percent during the coming years until 2030.

 The total expenditures must not exceed the total revenues in any case and the deficit must be zero.

 Second - Adopting agricultural, industrial and commercial policies that are consistent with the trend to support and support the private sector and stimulate and encourage it to contribute to sustainable development projects and move to market leadership in 2030.

Third - Recreating a new strategy for the Central Bank for the years (27-2030) in the field of

      monetary policy applications,

     enhancing financial inclusion,

     controlling exchange rate stability,

     enhancing compliance with international standards,

     comprehensive application of digital transformation in the banking sector, and

     transforming Iraqi government banks into mixed joint-stock companies

 in accordance with government procedures in this regard. Relevant and internationally classified.

 It is managed in accordance with

     modern banking techniques,

     lifting sanctions on private banks,

     developing their work in accordance with international standards,

     not allowing the weak ones to remain working within the banking market, and

     adopting the principle of competing for whichever is better and serving sustainable development.  

 https://alsabaah.iq/99579-.html    

To read more current and reliable Iraqi news please visit:  https://www.bondladyscorner.com/

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Wednesday Afternoon 7-17-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

OPEC Plus alliance agreement enhances the balance of the global oil market in the second half of 2024

Russia announced that the global oil market will be balanced in the second half of the year and beyond thanks to the OPEC Plus alliance agreement on production.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that the OPEC Plus alliance, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, has been implementing a series of production cuts since late 2022 to support the market.

The Alliance agreed on June 2 to extend the previous cut of 2.2 million barrels per day until the end of September and gradually remove it starting in October.

The US Energy Information Administration said last week that global oil demand will exceed production by about 750,000 barrels per day in the second half of 2024 due to the decline in OPEC Plus production.

The OPEC report last week also indicated a deficit in oil supplies in the coming months and in 2025.

Novak explained that the global oil market will be balanced thanks to Russia’s moves.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Iraq News Gazette

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TOKENIZED GOLD- WHAT IS IT?

" Tokenization of gold is one of the recent blockchain use cases quickly gaining popularity among crypto enthusiasts, investors, and businesses. The present-day market cap of tokenized gold has already reached 1.17 billion, which is a firm upward trend reflecting the rising prices of physical gold. "

" But is investing in a gold-backed cryptocurrency as safe as physical gold? What are the benefits of tokenized gold, and what risks are involved?"

"Investment in ETFs is a safer option in terms of pure gold investment. Yet, ETFs are not stocks, bonds, or other securities that you may hold in your bank account and exchange for physical gold. Like any other ETFs, gold-backed ones are only derivatives of the stock exchange instrument that an owner doesn’t actually own. That’s why such investments are also a risky strategy with limited investor control. "
"When it comes to investment in tokenized gold, things are much more transparent and simpler for investors here. The scheme works as follows: "

1. The project acquires a certain amount of physical gold and stores it securely in its deposits.

2. The company issues tokenized gold coins, the cumulative number and value of which equal the amount of gold in its vaults.  

3. The coins get into circulation and are used by traders, project users, buyers, and sellers. Their price is stably pegged to the price of gold, and in some cases, the coins may be exchanged for the respective amount of physical gold at any moment the owner claims such a possibility.

"This way, you may perceive digital gold as gold ownership tokens – securities that verify your right to a specific amount of physical gold."

THE ROLE OF BLOCKCHAIN IN GOLD INVESTMENT
"All of the risks and challenges with digital gold security, liquidity, and fungibility have given rise and popularity to the tokenized gold market. Digital gold is equivalent to physical gold stored in a safe location by the coin’s issuer, which frees you from the need to take care of the gold storage solutions."

"At the same time, every coin you own comes with the ownership right for physical gold, giving you direct ownership rights, unlike those of gold ETF investments. These are the reasons why tokenization of precious metals has become so popular in the crypto space. "

"All in all, gold investments open many exciting opportunities for you.."
1.  First, you can address inflation by investing in this conservative instrument with fewer risks and limitations.
2. Second, you can take advantage of the rising gold prices similar to traditional gold investments.
3. Third, getting some digital gold to your portfolio is always a great diversification measure that can protect your assets from rapid price turns in the crypto market.  

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:   4 IRE Labs

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Study: Digital Wallets to Overtake Debit Cards for In-Store Payments by 2027

Digital wallets have revolutionized the payment space in recent years. They provide an easy, contactless and secure way to make purchases and transfer money through the convenience of smartphones.

The method is the fastest-growing payment option in the United States, which is especially true among younger consumers. Most Americans say they use digital wallets more often than traditional payment methods. Even more intriguingly, consumers who use this payment method tend to spend more than nonusers. According to a new Worldpay report, the payment method will overtake debit cards in transaction value in North America for in-store payments by 2027.

Digital wallets’ popularity and payment values make them a priority tool for businesses to incorporate into their payment suites. However, merchants have some catching up to do to keep pace with this unstoppable trend. Some notable stumbling blocks — including perceptions about security, complexity and legacy technology — are still holding many back.

The “Money Mobility Tracker®” examines the meteoric rise of digital wallets. It also looks at how payment providers can help small merchants overcome concerns about security, complexity and technology to offer this payment method to their customers.

—Convenience Translates to Higher Use — and Spending
—Broadening Merchant Adoption of Digital Wallets
—Consumers Crave Additional Uses and Features in Digital Wallets

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  PYMNTS 

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HOW DO YOU INVEST IN TOKENIZED GOLD AND SILVER?

"In recent years, the concept of tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) has gained significant traction in the world of finance and investment. RWAs refer to the process of representing physical or financial assets on a blockchain through the use of tokens. This innovative approach has opened up new opportunities for investors, particularly in the realm of precious metals."

REMEMBER THIS TERM- (RWA) Real World Assets)

"By incorporating tokenized precious metals into a well-balanced investment portfolio, investors can potentially mitigate risk and protect their wealth from the erosive effects of inflation."

The Process of Investing in Tokenized Precious Metals
"Investing in tokenized precious metals is a straightforward process, but it requires careful consideration and due diligence."

1. The first step in investing in tokenized precious metals is selecting a reputable platform or issuer. It is crucial to choose a provider with a proven track record, strong security measures, and transparent operations.

2. Understanding the custody and storage of the underlying physical assets is another critical factor when investing in tokenized precious metals. Reputable issuers should provide clear information about the location and security of the vaults where the physical precious metals are stored.

3. Once you have selected a reputable platform and evaluated the regulatory compliance, the next step is purchasing and storing the tokenized precious metals. Investors can typically buy tokenized precious metals directly from the issuer or on secondary markets, such as cryptocurrency exchanges.

4. Finally, some tokenized precious metals platforms offer the option to redeem the tokens for physical precious metals. This feature provides investors with the flexibility to convert their digital holdings into tangible assets if desired.

"One of the primary risks associated with tokenized precious metals is regulatory uncertainty and the evolving legal landscape. As highlighted in The Legal Roadmap: Tokenizing Commodities within Regulatory Frameworks, the regulatory environment for tokenized assets varies across jurisdictions, and there is a lack of clear global consensus."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Block Apps

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Why is XRP price up today?

XRP has outperformed the broader crypto market, boosted by its underbought RSI and whale interest.

Crypto market rebound boosts XRP higher
On July 17, XRP price jumped by nearly 7% to $0.618, its highest in three months, despite the sell-off fears led by the ongoing Mt. Gox reimbursement. The XRP/USD pair has climbed by around 62.20% when measured from its local low of $0.381 established on July 5.

Interestingly, the crypto market capitalization has vastly underperformed XRP’s rebound, rising by about 24.50% in the same period. In fact, XRP/USD is still down 1.71% year-to-date compared to the crypto market’s 40% returns.

This puts XRP holders in a good position to benefit from such a catch-up rally, particularly with growing interest rate cut chances in September.

"We might be on the verge of witnessing one of the most significant breakouts in crypto history," stated pseudonymous crypto trader Crypto Michael on X. He highlighted a bullish pennant pattern forming on XRP’s price chart over seven years, a rare occurrence where the price consolidates within a triangle pattern following a strong upward movement.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Coin Telegraph

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Hong Kong to Prepare Stablecoin Legislation as Public Consultation Ends

Hong Kong authorities plan to introduce a bill into the Legislative Council before year-end.

—Hong Kong's regulators published the conclusions from their consultation on a stablecoin regime.
—The next step is to prepare a bill for the Legislative Council.

Hong Kong's financial regulators said they plan to present a bill on fiat-referenced stablecoins to the Legislative Council later this year.

The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published the results of a consultation, and concluded that the stablecoin regime would "primarily focus on representations of value which rest on ledgers that are operated in a decentralised manner" in which "no person has the unilateral authority to control or materially alter its functionality or operation."

The consultation paper for stablecoin guidelines published at the end of last year received 108 submissions from stakeholders. The regulators plan to take suggestions from respondents before finalizing the bill for the legislative process.

The regulators confirmed their initial proposal that any person who issues a stablecoin in Hong Kong must obtain a license. While they say keeping reserve assets with banks licensed in Hong Kong could provide greater user protection, they are open to considering proposals on placing reserve assets in other jurisdictions.

Foreign entities intending to apply for a license will be required to establish a Hong Kong subsidiary and have key management personnel, including a CEO, in the territory.

After considering the responses, the HKMA said it is "inclined to reduce the frequency of public disclosure." It had proposed monthly attestation by an independent auditor, and will continue discussions on the matter.

Hong Kong is trying to keep pace with other major jurisdictions in becoming a leading crypto hub. Europe's MiCA stablecoin regime came into force this month and members of Congress in the U.S. are actively attempting to push forward stablecoin bills.

In March, the HKMA started a regulatory sandbox to give potential stablecoin issuers immunity in testing certain operations. In today's announcement, the HKMA said it is processing the applications for the stablecoin issuer sandbox and will announce more shortly.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Coindesk, HKMA,  Coindesk Policy

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BRICS Overtake US and G7 According to IMF: Is it the end of Bullying?

BRICS Overtake US and G7 According to IMF: Is it the end of Bullying?

Fastepo:  7-17-2024

In recent years, the BRICS countries have shown remarkable economic dynamism, often outpacing the traditional economic powerhouses of the G7. This trend is highlighted in the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook report, a key publication from one of the major Western-led financial institutions which is released on July 16th, 2024.

According to the IMF's projections for 2024-2025, these emerging markets are not only recovering robustly from the global disruptions of the past few years but are also establishing themselves as pivotal engines of global growth.

The IMF report underscores a significant shift in the global economic landscape. While advanced economies such as those in the G7 are expected to maintain steady but modest growth rates, the BRICS countries and their emerging market peers are projected to experience much higher growth trajectories.

 In this video, we delve into discuss the details of this report by comparing BRICS countries against G7. This divergence in growth rates is not just a temporary phenomenon but a reflection of deeper structural changes and strategic economic policies in these emerging markets.

The BRICS nations and their allies are leveraging their large populations, growing middle classes, and strategic investments in infrastructure and technology to boost their economic performance. In contrast, the G7 countries are grappling with aging populations, slower productivity growth, and the lingering effects of the financial crises and economic uncertainties.

As the IMF report indicates, the global economic center of gravity is gradually shifting towards these dynamic emerging markets.

This shift is likely to have profound implications for global trade, investment, and geopolitical relations. The sustained higher growth rates in the BRICS and other emerging economies highlight the increasing importance of these countries in driving global economic progress and underscore the need for a more inclusive and representative global economic governance structure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI9ScJNF-6k

“Tidbits From TNT” Wednesday Morning 7-17-2024

TNT:

Tishwash:  this video is not coming from the CBI or iraq   this video is from Saudi Arabia just fyi

Video that Frank showed tonight

This is the information they have typed below the video on Youtube

“The project to delete zeros from the currency is still in place,” this was confirmed by the Governor of the Central Bank, Ali Al-Alaq, in his latest statements about the project to delete three zeros from the Iraqi dinar. So what does that mean?

The policy of deleting zeros from the currency means, for example, that the value of a one-thousand note is 1,000 dinars, and will be replaced by a note worth one dinar of the new currency.

Iraq is not the only country that resorts to the policy of deleting zeros from the currency, but there are seventy-70 cases that the world has witnessed since the year one thousand nine hundred and sixty 1960, including

Türkiye: Deleted six zeros from its currency in 2005

Zimbabwe: deleted twelve 12 zeros from its currency in 2009.

And Venezuela: Five zeros were deleted in 2018

 But how will the Iraqi economy be affected by deleting the zeros if it is implemented? Although the actual value of the money that people own does not change after deleting the zeros, this step contributes to simplifying the buying and selling processes for individuals and companies.

It makes financial amounts simpler and more understandable. Instead of dealing with huge numbers such as one million 1,000,000 Iraqi dinars, they can be converted into one thousand 1,000 dinars only after deleting three zeros.

Removing zeros may also help in issuing small currencies such as coins, enabling small commodities to be repriced at lower prices. It gives a positive psychological boost to citizens that the Iraqi dinar can now buy more goods and services.

Therefore, countries aim by deleting the zeros to restore confidence in the local currency among citizens and investors

The demand for it increases, and the local currency becomes more competitive with foreign currencies and its exchange for other currencies decreases.

 The policy of deleting zeros is often linked to broader economic reforms, such as raising interest rates on bank deposits, to encourage people to save within banks and benefit from high interest on their bank deposits, in an attempt to withdraw liquidity from the market, reduce consumption and decline in prices.

Then exploit this liquidity to expand productive projects, attract local and foreign investments within the country and create many job opportunities to eventually revive the local economy.

But on the other hand, deleting the zeros may cost Iraq money to print new banknotes to no avail. For example, after eliminating 3 zeros from the Iraqi dinar, when we talk about a 200 dinar banknote, it is actually equivalent to 200,000 dinars.

 Therefore, it may be necessary to print 4 more 50 dinar notes instead of the 50,000 dinar note.

However, this may not have a clear impact on improving the local economy if it is not part of an economic reform package that helps reduce the amount of money circulating among people and stimulate the economy.

Especially since Iraq's economy is an oil economy that needs to stimulate other productive sectors to drive the local economy

Could deleting the zeros from the Iraqi dinar be a real start to stimulating Iraq's economy?

https://youtu.be/kTL-jZko4GE

Tishwash:  Iraq and Vietnam discuss tea farm mechanisms and ways to develop them

The General Company for Foodstuff Trading at the Ministry of Trade discussed with the Vietnamese side the mechanisms of the tea farm and ways to develop it.

The Ministry of Trade's media stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the General Company for Foodstuff Trading at the Ministry of Trade held a joint meeting (online) today, Tuesday, with the Vietnamese side to discuss the mechanisms of the tea farm's work and ways to develop it, headed by its Director General, Lama Al-Moussawi, in the presence of the departments of financial, legal and import affairs." 

Al-Moussawi said, according to the statement, that "the meeting discussed the mechanisms that would develop the work by introducing modern mechanization in the packaging and sorting processes of tea types prepared for marketing, in addition to purchasing new plants to increase production,"

Indicating that "during the meeting, the Vietnamese side was asked to prepare technical and financial studies regarding the development of the work, which expressed its satisfaction with the level of accuracy and transparency in the dealings adopted by the General Company for Foodstuff Trading, which contributed to obtaining positive results for both parties."   link

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This is the volume of our trade with Iran.. An economist reveals the reasons for the dollar problem inside Iraq

Economic expert, Munir Al-Abidi, revealed today, Tuesday (July 16, 2024), the volume of trade between Iraq and Iran, while indicating that the dollar problem in Iraq is not due to official trade.

Al-Obaidi said in a clarification he published on Facebook, which was followed by "Baghdad Today", "The Iranians say that our trade with Iraq during three months amounts to 3 billion dollars, distributed as 1.2 billion to meet the need for gas, 700 million dollars for electricity, while 200 dollars are for food, and another 200 million for iron trade."

He added, "This means that the value of food and iron during the year amounts to only 1.5 billion dollars annually," indicating that "some say that our trade with Iran amounts to 12 or 14 billion dollars, which is the reason for the dollar crisis."

Al-Obaidi said, "Our official trade for the private sector does not exceed 3 billion dollars with Iran and does not exceed 300 million dollars with Syria," stressing that "the problem with the dollar is not the official trade with Iran and Syria."

He pointed out that "the problem of the demand for dollars in the local market is to cover the needs of other types of informal and illegal trade, most notably drugs," stressing that "all this fuss, crying and wailing in the channels is to reopen the money channels for this trade  link

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Tishwash:  Drones target Ain al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq

Two drones targeted the vicinity of Ain al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq, where Global Coalition forces are stationed, an Iraqi security source reported on Tuesday evening.

The source, speaking to Shafaq News Agency, confirmed the attack but did not provide further details on casualties or damage.

Earlier this year, factions within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) had announced a halt to operations against US forces in Iraq, leading to a period of relative calm.

This drone attack marks a resumption of hostilities.

IRI refers to Tehran's military allies in Iraq, such as Kata’ib Hezbollah and Harakat Al-Nujabaa, it is a part of the "Axis of Resistance" alongside Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Ansarallah (Houthis), and other Iran-backed factions.

All groups within the Axis have declared that their attacks will persist until a ceasefire is achieved in the Gaza Strip, where Israel's actions have resulted in the deaths of over 39,289 Palestinians, predominantly children and women. link

Mot: This Journey Has Been Really Hard on My Fairy GodMother!!!.........

When I Started the Journey

Just Last Week!!!

Iraq News Highlights and Points To Ponder Wednesday AM 7-17-24

An Expert Reveals The Reasons For The Return Of The Dollar’s ​​Price Rise.. What Is The Relationship With The “Chinese Yuan”?

Economy |An expert reveals the reasons for the return of the dollar’s ​​price rise.. What is the relationship -31-3-2023   Baghdad Today - Baghdad

Today, Wednesday (July 17, 2024), the economic and financial affairs specialist, Nawar Al-Saadi, revealed the reasons for the return of the rise in the dollar exchange rate in local markets.

Al-Saadi said in an interview with Baghdad Today, "The rise in the price of the dollar in Iraq is due to a group of complex and intertwined factors, the first of which is the decision of the Central Bank of Iraq to stop dealing in the Chinese yuan after the US Federal Reserve accused Iraq of inflating remittances, which directly affected the local market."

He explained that "this decision prompted traders and companies that were relying on the Chinese yuan in their commercial transactions with China to resort to the US dollar as an alternative, which increased the demand for the dollar and raised its price. In addition, the US sanctions imposed on some Iraqi banks reduced the flow of dollars to the market, which reduced the supply and increased the demand for it."

The economic and financial expert added, "The rise in the price of the dollar naturally leads to an increase in inflation rates in the country, which negatively affects the purchasing power of Iraqi families and increases the complexity of the economic situation."

The past two weeks have witnessed a significant increase in the exchange rate of the US dollar against the Iraqi dinar, with the 100 US dollar denomination reaching more than 150,000 dinars.

On Monday (July 4, 2024), the Central Bank of Iraq issued new instructions regarding granting US dollars to travelers, indicating that these instructions will come into effect starting from July 14.

According to the statement issued by the bank, it was directed to Rafidain, Rashid, and Iraqi Trade Banks, exchange companies currently operating at airports, and exchange companies of category  A and  B , that "in order to ensure that travelers receive cash dollars and to prevent exchange companies from passing improper transactions, it was decided to set 7/14/2024 as the final date for starting the mechanism of granting dollars to travelers at airports exclusively."

According to the Central Bank, the aforementioned banks and exchange companies operating at the airport are entitled to a fixed commission of (15,000) dinars from the customer for each transaction, and the exchange companies outside the airport collect it for the benefit of the companies and banks operating at the airport, according to a mechanism determined between the two parties, the banks and companies operating at the airport and the exchange companies outside the airport.  LINK

Al-Sudani Stresses The Need For Real Reforms In The Economy And The Correct Direction Of Resources

Posted On 2024-07-17 By Sotaliraq   2024/07/17  Hussein Al-Saadi:  Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani stressed the need for real reforms in the economy and the correct direction of resources, while stressing the need for private sector companies to adhere to the retirement and social security law for workers. The

Prime Minister's media office stated in a statement: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, during which the most important decisions related to economic affairs were discussed, and work within the framework of the basic determinants of financial and administrative reform included in the government program.

He added that the meeting hosted a group of businessmen specializing in the oil industries, as His Excellency affirmed the government's support for the active private sector, and its belief in its ability to support the Iraqi economy by providing job opportunities, and establishing a national industry that meets the needs of the local market, indicating that there are practical steps to achieve this support, as it is the only option for the government to cover the needs of citizens, and achieve the requirements of reconstruction and services, in implementation of the government program.

Al-Sudani stressed the need for private sector companies to adhere to the retirement and social security law for workers; In order to expand their care in this sector, and increase the number of insured persons, stressing the importance of carrying out real reforms, and directing resources in the right direction, so that reliance on oil revenues does not continue as the sole source of income, and meeting the requirements of the operational and investment budget.

The statement continued that the Council discussed the work of the Diwani Order Committee (24573 in 2024) on studying the economics of oil and gas in the country, leading to the adoption of showing the real costs along the value chain, according to economic foundations.

He continued that “it was decided, during the meeting, to find a mechanism for marketing petroleum products expected to increase in the coming years, and to audit the quantities of petroleum derivatives supplied to factories and plants by the Financial Supervision Bureau, as well as to know the size of the current support for factories, and the amount of benefit achieved from it, in addition to evaluating factories according to production capacity and actual production and the extent of compliance with controls.

He continued by saying: It was also decided that the government support provided to companies would be based on the products, the number of insured workers, and the factory’s ability to export according to a specific mechanism. A committee was formed that includes the Ministries of Oil and Industry, the Investment Authority, and National Security to follow up on the work of the factories and verify the information. It was also decided, during the meeting, to grant brick factories a period of one and a half years to convert their accreditation from black oil to liquefied gas. LINK

International Oil Companies Involved In Oil Smuggling Network In Kurdistan Region

Money  and business  Economy News - Follow-up  More than a year has passed since the Kurdistan Region was banned from exporting its oil through oil pipelines, but crude oil is still flowing from the region on tanker trucks towards the border with Iran.

She told Reuters, in a report translated by "Al-Eqtisad News", that "there are more than 1,000 tanker trucks transporting at least 200,000 barrels per day of Kurdish oil to both Iran and Turkey."

Although the price of crude oil smuggled from the semi-autonomous northern region is reportedly around $40 a barrel in these shady deals, the trade is lucrative, especially when compared to the difficulties the Kurdistan Regional Government has experienced after being deprived of oil revenues over the past year.

Reuters estimates that oil smuggling generates revenues for the region of about $200 million per month.

These estimates came after the World News Agency correspondents contacted more than 20 people, including oil engineers, oil industry sources, traders, government officials, politicians and diplomats.

Some of them said that the oil smuggling was likely taking place with the knowledge of the provincial and federal governments. When the oil reaches Iran, it is loaded onto ships at Iranian ports in the Gulf, such as Port Imam Khomeini and Bandar Abbas, or transported by land to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The ban on oil exports to Turkey, which amounted to about 450,000 barrels per day, from the territory of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq via the pipeline, came in March 2023 due to disagreements over who should issue permission to export Kurdish oil.

The ruling, issued by the International Chamber of Commerce in March 2023 after a dispute between Turkey and Iraq over Kurdistan’s oil, deepened the region’s wounds. It ruled in Iraq’s favor, and prevented Turkey from allowing Kurdish oil to be exported through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline and the Turkish port of Ceyhan without the approval of the Iraqi federal government.

After this decision, the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company SOMO became the sole owner of the right to sell crude oil produced anywhere in Iraq.

Reopening the pipeline to Ceyhan on Turkey's Mediterranean coast does not appear to be a priority for politicians in Baghdad.

Norway’s DNO, a six-member oil company in the Kurdistan Petroleum Industry Association (APIKUR), said in November 2023 that international companies operating oil fields in Kurdistan would not produce oil for export until payments and future terms of sales and purchases were clarified.

While some companies have started to resume oil production for the local market, oil industry sources told Reuters that local buyers, who are allowed to buy crude, are selling the oil through middlemen who then export it without the knowledge of international companies about the resale.

Estimates from various Reuters sources range from 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) to more than 300,000 bpd. The smuggled oil is being added to Iraq’s oil supply. Iraqi officials have privately suggested that the trade is one of the reasons why Iraq, OPEC’s second-largest producer, has so far failed to cap its output under the OPEC+ deal.

The Iraqi government has not committed to the current cuts, despite its continued pledge that it will show better commitment in the future.

Compensation plans have been put in place for both Iraq and Kazakhstan, which also failed to meet their quotas. In the period from January to March 2024, Iraq produced 602,000 barrels per day above its quota, according to OPEC estimates.

Iraq has been capped at 4 million barrels per day (bpd). But Iraq pumped 4.189 million bpd in June, down 25,000 bpd from May, OPEC secondary sources said in their latest monthly report this week. That’s still about 200,000 bpd above the OPEC+ target.

133 views   2024/07/17 - https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=45313