No TNT Call today unless warranted but go out and enjoy your weekend. Just be sure to have your phone close incase we get an update!
TNT Forum is down and many other's in dinarland are down too I am waiting to see if one other group has their call today and I will update here later.
**UPDATE -Activeboard.com is DOWN for everyone. It is not just you. The server is not responding...
We have tried pinging ActiveBoard website using our server and the website returned the above results. If activeboard.com is down for us too there is nothing you can do except waiting.
We have tried pinging ActiveBoard website using our server and the website returned the above results. If activeboard.com is down for us too there is nothing you can do except waiting.
Word on the Street Friday 4/21/17:
Forex Rates:
| Symbol | Bid | Ask | High | Low | Open | Change | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD/IQD | | | 1,144.5000 | 1,139.6000 | 1,144.5000 | | 07:30 |
| USD/VND | | | 22,446.0000 | 22,338.0000 | 22,446.0000 | | 07:30 |
| USD/CNY | | | 6.9059 | 6.8763 | 6.8820 | | 07:31 |
| USD/KWD | | | 0.3041 | 0.3041 | 0.3041 | | 18:55 |
| GBP/USD | | | 1.2833 | 1.2773 | 1.2798 | | 07:31 |
| USD/IRR | | | 12,048.0000 | 12,048.0000 | 12,048.0000 | | 17:51 |
| USD/IDR | | | 13,324.0000 | 13,306.0000 | 13,317.0000 | | 07:25 |
CNBC Link: http://www.cnbc.com/markets/
DC NY Iraq Articles:
America agrees to sell Peshmerga worth $ 295 million
Follow-up / Sky Press
The United States agreed to sell military equipment to Peshmerga forces worth $ 295.6 million.
According to Reuters, "The Pentagon said that" the State Department agreed to sell military equipment worth 295.6 million dollars to Iraq for the artillery and infantry units of the Peshmerga
"The equipment requested by the Iraqi government aims to equip two Peshmerga infantry battalions and two artillery support manuals," the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. "The Congress received a notification of approval Tuesday, but it does not mean the completion of the sale."
The Peshmerga is involved in the war to liberate the land controlled by the Da'ash gangs and the Peshmerga is the term Kurds use to refer to their fighters, a Kurdish word meaning "those who face death.
Tamimi calls for the implementation of the stall ready
(Independent) .. said the leadership in the National Coalition Sabah al-Tamimi that the draft kiosks ready has many positive aspects, the most important of which is the organization of the streets and provide opportunities for the unemployed, in addition to the aesthetic that characterizes.
Al-Tamimi inspected the Dora area to find out the reality of the service and the problems it is experiencing, pointing out that the most important problems to suffer are cleanliness due to the population density which is about one and a half million people, in addition to problems of roads and agriculture.
During the visit Tamimi met a number of elders and dignitaries of the region and toured with them to see the reality of the service, in addition to visiting some parks and playgrounds and meet some citizens and listen to their problems and service need
Demanding the formation of a committee to resolve the issue of flour, trade and waste of wealth and hard currency
Editorial Date: 2017/4/20 17:39 • 37 times scheduled
(Baghdad: Al-Furat News) demanded a member of the Committee on Economy and Investment parliamentary MP Abdul Karim al-Naqib to consider the complaints received from the owners of mills in Iraq, especially those affected by their work as a result of the obligation to work less than a quarter of the production capacity of their laboratories.
"The owners of the mills have been working 10 days for every 40 days, despite the need of the Iraqi market for flour, zero and continuously, and there is no local production of this main article, and allowed only to import from abroad in quantities up to 2.5 million Tons per year, which is surprising. "
"The owners of the local mills must be authorized to produce this type of flour by granting them the license to import wheat directly through them or the Ministry of Commerce to secure wheat from the international markets."
"The importation of these quantities of this material cost the Iraqi economy large losses and the limit of $ 300 per tonne of flour, zero, or about 750 million dollars a year in addition to the loss of jobs very large, not to mention the waste of the opportunity to extract significant quantities of accompanying materials Including animal feed (bran).
"The lack of planning and wise management of this economic sector by the Ministry of Commerce and over many years, has left the bread loaf of Iraqi prisoners of speculation flour traders of the countries of the region, where respond to Iraq daily at least 6 thousand tons of flour daily" .
He stressed the need to "form a committee with the authority to take the decision of the relevant parties to resolve the issue of flour commercial, and investigate the phenomenon of waste of public resources and hard currency to import material can be secured locally and at a much lower cost, not to mention that the management of this productive file inside Iraq will provide jobs for A large workforce and most important is the support of the private sector, which needs to take an active role in the development of the Iraqi economy. "
"The owners of the local mills must be authorized to produce this type of flour by granting them the license to import wheat directly through them or the Ministry of Commerce to secure wheat from the international markets."
"The importation of these quantities of this material cost the Iraqi economy large losses and the limit of $ 300 per tonne of flour, zero, or about 750 million dollars a year in addition to the loss of jobs very large, not to mention the waste of the opportunity to extract significant quantities of accompanying materials Including animal feed (bran).
"The lack of planning and wise management of this economic sector by the Ministry of Commerce and over many years, has left the bread loaf of Iraqi prisoners of speculation flour traders of the countries of the region, where respond to Iraq daily at least 6 thousand tons of flour daily" .
He stressed the need to "form a committee with the authority to take the decision of the relevant parties to resolve the issue of flour commercial, and investigate the phenomenon of waste of public resources and hard currency to import material can be secured locally and at a much lower cost, not to mention that the management of this productive file inside Iraq will provide jobs for A large workforce and most important is the support of the private sector, which needs to take an active role in the development of the Iraqi economy. "
Total: Oil prices may drop again at year end
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices could fall again by the end of the year because of the rapid increase in US oil production, French oil and gas giant Total's chief executive Patrick Boyan warned on Thursday.
"Prices may fall again," Bojan told a news conference in Paris. "Fast-recovering US producers will replenish supplies by the end of the year, which could negatively affect markets."
"It will take 18 to 24 months, not just six months, to outperform demand," he said.
"The OPEC agreement is in place and going very well. I think it will be extended but simply the short-term effect on the markets will not be immediate because stocks are too high. "
Oil prices recovered from low levels in January 2016 and have often traded above $ 50 a barrel since the start of this year after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to cut output. Ending / 2
Humvees & howitzers: US approves $ 300mn sale of military equipment for Iraq's Kurdish forces
Published time: 20 Apr, 2017 16:06
© Reuters
The US has approved the sale of $ 295.6 million worth of military equipment for Kurdish Peshmerga artillery and infantry units in Iraq, a Pentagon agency has announced, adding that the sale is intended to support the country's fight against Islamic State.
"The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of the equipment necessary to fully outfit two full Peshmerga Regional Brigades of light infantry, as well as the equipment necessary to outfit two artillery battalions that will absolutely provide support to those regional brigades," the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a Wednesday press release.
The requested equipment includes 4,400 M16A4 rifles, 46 M2 50-caliber machine guns, 186 M240B machine guns, 36 M1151 Humvees, 77 M1151 up-armored Humvees, and 12 three-kilowatt Tactical Quiet Generator sets.
Thirty-six refurbished M119A2 105mm howitzers are also on the list, along with spare parts, training, and equipment for the aforementioned vehicles.
Medical and radiological gear, ambulances, and mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles are also noted in the press release, among other equipment.
According to the DSCA, the proposed sale will "contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States, by supporting Iraq's capacity to degrade and defeat Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS / ISIL)."
The agency's press release also stressed that the proposed sale would not require the deployment of additional US government or contract personnel in Iraq.
The sale was green-lighted by the US State Department on Tuesday, and Congress was notified of the approval on the same day.
However, the notice does not indicate the sale has been concluded, according to DSCA.
The proposed deal marks the second sale of military hardware to be approved for Iraq under the Trump administration, according to Defense News.
The newest proposal brings the total amount of foreign military sales approved by the State Department in fiscal year 2017 to $ 48,857,700. The record, which was set in 2012, is $ 68.6 billion.
Kauaihn Iraq Articles:
Iraq again protests Turkey
April 20, 2017 The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Thursday called on the Turkish ambassador to hand over a protest note against the background of comments by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the popular rally.
"It was decided to summon the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad to hand him a formal protest note regarding the Turkish president's recent statements to the popular crowd," foreign ministry spokesman Ahmad Jamal said in a statement received by the daily News.
On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the popular rally in Iraq as a "terrorist organization", accusing Iran of infiltrating four countries in the region to form a "Persian power."
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said in a speech at a forum that the popular crowd is a force of the Iraqi government "and we will cut off the hand of anyone who harms him, whether at home or abroad."
Warnings of America's intervention in reducing the price of oil
France's Total Oil and Gas warned on Thursday that oil prices could fall again by the end of this year because of the "rapid increase in the production of US rock oil."
"Prices may fall again," Chief Executive Officer Patrick Boyan said, adding that "rapidly recovering US producers will replenish supplies by the end of the year, which could adversely affect markets."
"It will take 18 to 24 months, not just six months, to outperform demand," he said. Pointing out that "the OPEC agreement is applied and goes very well."
Oil prices recovered from low levels in January 2016 and have often traded above $ 50 a barrel since the start of this year after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to cut output.
Trade is looking with Iranian companies to supply construction materials to Iraq
The Ministry of Commerce discussed with a delegation representing the Iranian companies producing the construction materials and the possibility of cooperation between the two sides.
"The meeting was attended by a delegation representing the Iranian companies dealing with various construction materials such as iron and stone materials, water mixers, wood, steel and other construction materials," said General Director of the General Company for Building Materials Trading Sabah Al-Saadi in a statement to the ministry. "The meeting discussed the possibility of cooperation with these companies to supply construction materials with high quality specifications and acceptability in terms of quality and quality standards approved that the General Company for construction materials are absolutely independent in terms of financial allocation and sales centers in all provinces of Iraq.
Al Saadi added that "the foundation adopted by the company to deal with construction companies wishing to cooperate with them is the high quality of these materials and their conformity with the standards adopted by the company, in addition to the appropriate prices for construction materials," Mirdafa "also owns a large transport fleet and all these features send a message of satisfaction to major companies In dealing with us. "
He pointed out that "the meeting also touched on the subject of the agreement on the receipt of Iranian goods drawing discharge and the extent of acceptance by the Iraqi market as a first stage and in light of it is agreed to open documentary credit."
For his part, the delegation expressed its thanks to "the Ministry of Commerce represented by the General Company for the trade of construction materials," expressing the desire and concern "to deal with the construction company for its reputation in the Iraqi market."
The delegation invited the Ministry of Commerce to "visit factories and exhibitions dealing with building materials and to learn about the latest developments in the field of construction plans and ages."
Jaafari to the new Iranian ambassador: Iraq is determined to establish the best relations with all the neighbors
History of edits:: 2017/4/20 11:00 • 100 times readable
{Baghdad: Euphrates News} received Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a copy of the adoption of the new ambassador Iraj Masjedi of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Baghdad, papers, and were reviewed bilateral relations between Baghdad and Tehran, and ways of boosting them in the interests of the two neighboring countries.
"He wished the Iranian ambassador success in his duties in Baghdad," said a foreign ministry statement. "The Foreign Ministry is ready to provide all support to the diplomatic mission to increase the volume of cooperation and coordination in various fields," he said, referring to the depth of bilateral relations and friendship. on the basis of historical facts, geographical, common interests, common risks that combine between Baghdad and Tehran, in advance of thanks and appreciation for the positions of Iraq, Iran, in many humanitarian areas, and service, security and support in the face of gangs Daesh Terrorist. "
The Foreign Minister stressed "the determination of Iraq to establish the best relations with all neighboring countries, and to extend the bridges of cooperation and restore the security and stability of the region, looking forward to do more efforts to promote joint coordination between the two countries and open new horizons in various fields."
He pointed out that "Iraq is going through exceptional circumstances represented by the security challenge, the war against the terrorist gangs, the economic challenge due to the drop in oil prices and the cost of the war against terrorism, and called on all countries to support it in overcoming its current crisis. war against terrorists Daesh, calling for the need to continue the technical committees between the two countries to address the problem of water file, shared rivers that caused the increase of salinity in the land of southern Iraq. "
For his part, Iran's new ambassador to his country's keenness to raise the level of relations and deepen mutual cooperation to serve the interests of the two countries, pointing out that he would do what he could to activate common interests in the fields Kavh.anthy
The Foreign Minister stressed "the determination of Iraq to establish the best relations with all neighboring countries, and to extend the bridges of cooperation and restore the security and stability of the region, looking forward to do more efforts to promote joint coordination between the two countries and open new horizons in various fields."
He pointed out that "Iraq is going through exceptional circumstances represented by the security challenge, the war against the terrorist gangs, the economic challenge due to the drop in oil prices and the cost of the war against terrorism, and called on all countries to support it in overcoming its current crisis. war against terrorists Daesh, calling for the need to continue the technical committees between the two countries to address the problem of water file, shared rivers that caused the increase of salinity in the land of southern Iraq. "
For his part, Iran's new ambassador to his country's keenness to raise the level of relations and deepen mutual cooperation to serve the interests of the two countries, pointing out that he would do what he could to activate common interests in the fields Kavh.anthy
High oil prices despite the tendency to incur a weekly loss
Baghdad / Sky Press:
Oil prices rose on Friday, despite heading for the biggest weekly loss this month amid expectations that OPEC-led production cuts would rebalance the market due to oversupply.
Global Brent crude <LCOc1> rose 8 cents to $ 53.07 a barrel.
US WTI crude for the month hit $ 50.82 a barrel, up 11 cents from the previous close and heading for a weekly 4.5 percent drop, the biggest since March 10.
The crude fell more than 3.5 percent each earlier this week after doubts about the impact of OPEC-led efforts to cut output by 1.8 million bpd in the first half of this year.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided in the first quarter of last year to reduce oil production by 1.2 million barrels per day, which came into force from January this year.
Kauaihn Economic Times:
ECONOMIC TIMES / CHATTER
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GLOBAL/NEWS/INFO
How Amazon will become the first $1 trillion stock
MarketWatch
MarketWatch
Stocks look set to rebound this morning after their two-day skid, as some traders gripe about Mr. Market’s aimless action lately. But here’s something that really has been moving: Amazon.com’s stock. Today’s call says more gains are ahead. Read the full story
This new luxury card competes with Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve
MarketWatch
MarketWatch
Is U.S. Bank’s new Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card worth it? Read the full story
OIL/COMMODITIES/ENERGY
Oil prices move higher after sinking to nearly three-week lows
MarketWatch
MarketWatch
Oil prices fell by almost 4% in the U.S. session on Wednesday, marking the steepest drop since March 8. Read the full story
Gold deepens pullback from 5-month highs but geopolitical jitters limit metal’s loss
MarketWatch
MarketWatch
Gold prices dropped in back-to-back sessions Thursday, even as the dollar eased, after a five-day run had driven the safe-haven precious metal to five-month highs that failed to clear the closely watched $1,300 mark. Read the full story
BANKS / BANKING
How Banks Are Turning Fees Into a Profit Machine
Investopedia
Investopedia
Wall Street is using the fiduciary rule to phase out retirement commissions. Read the full story
IMF encourages banks to sack staff amid weakness due to 'legacy of bad debt'
Express
Express
THE International Monetary Fund is warning banks to get rid of their staff amid concerns over their assets. The fund said the £27trillion of assets held by 172 large European banks are being affected by "system-wide challenges" that could wipe out their profits. A new IMF report issued yesterday ahead of their spring meetings in Washington paints a bleak picture for banks that cannot adapt to change. Read the full story
Ex-Santander CFO Stephen Jones approached about top bank lobbying post
Sky News
Sky News
A former chief financial officer of Santander UK has been approached about heading the new body charged with steering Britain's banking industry through Brexit. Read the full story
Canada’s $1.1 Trillion Shadow Banking Sector Is Now Half As Large As Banks
Better Dwelling
Better Dwelling
Canada's addiction to credit has created a massive shadow banking sector, which is now more than half the size of traditional banks. The post Canada’s $1.1 Trillion Shadow Banking Sector Is Now Half As Large As Banks appeared first on Better Dwelling. Read the full story
TREASURIES/ BONDS/ STOCKS
Dow dragged down by single stock sell-offs
USA TODAY
How can one stock influence the Dow so much? The answer has a lot to do with how its daily moves are calculated. Read the full story
A new reality may be driving stocks — and it could spell volatility ahead
CNBC
Investors may wonder: Are the markets entirely hinged on political outcomes? Read the full story
Stock market sees modest gains as earnings season hits stride
MarketWatch
U.S. stocks edged higher on Thursday as investors focused on corporate earnings and economic data Read the full story
FTSE 100 stuck in neutral as sterling returns to favour on foreign exchange markets
Proactive Investors
Unilever the best performing blue-chip after generous dividend hike Sterling's strength crushes Ashtead FTSE 100 down 12 at 7,103 The FTSE 100 remained stuck in neutral as the pound continued to rise in expectation of an increased Conservative majority after the general election. Considering around two-thirds of the top-share index’s constituents were in the red, the FTSE 100 was doing well to be only 12 points lower at 7,103. Index heavyweight Unilever plc (LON:ULVR), up 1.5%, was doing its bit Read the full story
CURRENCIES
Forex - Dollar trims losses but remains weak after U.S. data missInvesting.com
© Reuters. Dollar eases off session lows but remains on the downside Read the full story
Dollar edges down, euro resists French election volatility
CDA News
By Patrick Graham LONDON (Reuters) – The dollar inched lower against a basket of major currencies on Thursday, suffering from a solid performance by the euro before the first round of French presidential elections and from an improvement in sentiment towards Britain’s pound this week. The biggest mover overnight was the New Zealand dollar, jetting […] Read the full story
Pound to euro exchange rate: General election tipped to FINALLY stabilise sterling
Express
POUND sterling could be stabilised after months of volatility thanks to the general election called by Theresa May, according to analysts. The pound has performed exceptionally well against most of the major world currencies this week. Sterling is buying €1.19 this morning after soaring to four-month highs against the euro yesterday. Read the full story
Forex - Euro hits 3-week high as poll points to Macron winInvesting.com
© Reuters. Euro hits 3-week high as poll points to Macron win Read the full story
NZ dollar slips
Inside Retail New Zealand
The New Zealand dollar has fallen as weaker commodity prices sapped demand for currencies linked to primary production and ahead of local figures expected to show consumer prices have risen at their fastest annual pace in more than five years. The kiwi dropped to US69.99 cents as at 0800 on Thursday in Wellington from US70.44c on Wednesday. The trade-weighted index declined to 76.11 from 76.47. The Thomson Reuters/CoreCommodity CRB index, a broad measure of prices for raw materials, fell 1.4 per Read the full story
Rupee weakens against US dollar in morning trade
Livemint
Mumbai: The Indian rupee on Thursday weakened against the US dollar after foreign investors continued to sell in local equity markets. Read the full story
USA
The IMF and World Bank are meeting — and it's all about Trump
Business Insider
U.S. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he boards Air Force One upon departure from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., April 18, 2017. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World finance leaders are gathering on U.S. President Donald Trump's home turf on Thursday to try to nudge his still-evolving policies away from protectionism and show broad support for open trade and global integration. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings bring the two multilateral institutions' 189 Read the full story
U.S. weekly jobless claims up; continuing claims hit 17-year low
Reuters
New applications for U.S. jobless benefits rose slightly more than expected last week, but a drop in the number of Americans on unemployment rolls to a 17-year low suggested the labor market continues to tighten. Read the full story
TREASURIES/ BONDS/ STOCKS
Dow dragged down by single stock sell-offs
USA TODAY
USA TODAY
How can one stock influence the Dow so much? The answer has a lot to do with how its daily moves are calculated. Read the full story
A new reality may be driving stocks — and it could spell volatility ahead
CNBC
CNBC
Investors may wonder: Are the markets entirely hinged on political outcomes? Read the full story
Stock market sees modest gains as earnings season hits stride
MarketWatch
MarketWatch
U.S. stocks edged higher on Thursday as investors focused on corporate earnings and economic data Read the full story
FTSE 100 stuck in neutral as sterling returns to favour on foreign exchange markets
Proactive Investors
Proactive Investors
Unilever the best performing blue-chip after generous dividend hike Sterling's strength crushes Ashtead FTSE 100 down 12 at 7,103 The FTSE 100 remained stuck in neutral as the pound continued to rise in expectation of an increased Conservative majority after the general election. Considering around two-thirds of the top-share index’s constituents were in the red, the FTSE 100 was doing well to be only 12 points lower at 7,103. Index heavyweight Unilever plc (LON:ULVR), up 1.5%, was doing its bit Read the full story
CURRENCIES
Forex - Dollar trims losses but remains weak after U.S. data missInvesting.com
© Reuters. Dollar eases off session lows but remains on the downside Read the full story
Dollar edges down, euro resists French election volatility
CDA News
CDA News
By Patrick Graham LONDON (Reuters) – The dollar inched lower against a basket of major currencies on Thursday, suffering from a solid performance by the euro before the first round of French presidential elections and from an improvement in sentiment towards Britain’s pound this week. The biggest mover overnight was the New Zealand dollar, jetting […] Read the full story
Pound to euro exchange rate: General election tipped to FINALLY stabilise sterling
Express
Express
POUND sterling could be stabilised after months of volatility thanks to the general election called by Theresa May, according to analysts. The pound has performed exceptionally well against most of the major world currencies this week. Sterling is buying €1.19 this morning after soaring to four-month highs against the euro yesterday. Read the full story
Forex - Euro hits 3-week high as poll points to Macron winInvesting.com
© Reuters. Euro hits 3-week high as poll points to Macron win Read the full story
NZ dollar slips
Inside Retail New Zealand
Inside Retail New Zealand
The New Zealand dollar has fallen as weaker commodity prices sapped demand for currencies linked to primary production and ahead of local figures expected to show consumer prices have risen at their fastest annual pace in more than five years. The kiwi dropped to US69.99 cents as at 0800 on Thursday in Wellington from US70.44c on Wednesday. The trade-weighted index declined to 76.11 from 76.47. The Thomson Reuters/CoreCommodity CRB index, a broad measure of prices for raw materials, fell 1.4 per Read the full story
Rupee weakens against US dollar in morning trade
Livemint
Livemint
Mumbai: The Indian rupee on Thursday weakened against the US dollar after foreign investors continued to sell in local equity markets. Read the full story
USA
The IMF and World Bank are meeting — and it's all about Trump
Business Insider
Business Insider
U.S. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he boards Air Force One upon departure from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., April 18, 2017. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World finance leaders are gathering on U.S. President Donald Trump's home turf on Thursday to try to nudge his still-evolving policies away from protectionism and show broad support for open trade and global integration. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings bring the two multilateral institutions' 189 Read the full story
U.S. weekly jobless claims up; continuing claims hit 17-year low
Reuters
Reuters
New applications for U.S. jobless benefits rose slightly more than expected last week, but a drop in the number of Americans on unemployment rolls to a 17-year low suggested the labor market continues to tighten. Read the full story
EMERGING MARKETS
Beware the weak debt tail wagging emerging markets
Livemint
Singapore: It’s not often that the International Monetary Fund warns of a risk to global financial stability at its spring meeting in Washington, and almost immediately evidence jumps out of a bank earnings report in Mumbai. Read the full story
Venezuela donated $500,000 to Trump fund amid spiralling economic woes and rising death toll
CNBC
The Venezuelan government donated $500,000 to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund despite on-going economic and political turmoil that has spouted the worst protests in years and a rising death toll. Read the full story
Venezuela seizes General Motors plant as country's crisis escalates
USA TODAY
General Motors halted operations in Venezuela, calling the move "illegal." Read the full story
MIDDLE EAST
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait signal likely extension of oil output cut
Reuters
Leading Gulf oil exporters Saudi Arabia and Kuwait gave a clear signal on Thursday that OPEC plans to extend into the second half of the year a deal with non-member producers to curb supplies of crude. Read the full story
Gulf states reassure market that supply deal holds firm after oil prices slump
The Telegraph
The Gulf states have scrambled to reassure the oil market that a renewed deal to shore up prices is on track in the face of rising US crude supplies. Read the full story
EMERGING MARKETS
Beware the weak debt tail wagging emerging markets
Livemint
Livemint
Singapore: It’s not often that the International Monetary Fund warns of a risk to global financial stability at its spring meeting in Washington, and almost immediately evidence jumps out of a bank earnings report in Mumbai. Read the full story
Venezuela donated $500,000 to Trump fund amid spiralling economic woes and rising death toll
CNBC
CNBC
The Venezuelan government donated $500,000 to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund despite on-going economic and political turmoil that has spouted the worst protests in years and a rising death toll. Read the full story
Venezuela seizes General Motors plant as country's crisis escalates
USA TODAY
USA TODAY
General Motors halted operations in Venezuela, calling the move "illegal." Read the full story
MIDDLE EAST
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait signal likely extension of oil output cut
Reuters
Reuters
Leading Gulf oil exporters Saudi Arabia and Kuwait gave a clear signal on Thursday that OPEC plans to extend into the second half of the year a deal with non-member producers to curb supplies of crude. Read the full story
Gulf states reassure market that supply deal holds firm after oil prices slump
The Telegraph
The Telegraph
The Gulf states have scrambled to reassure the oil market that a renewed deal to shore up prices is on track in the face of rising US crude supplies. Read the full story
AFRICA
Africa: World Bank Names Rwanda Among Most African Resilient Economies
AllAfrica
(Photo: The New Times) Rwanda and six other African countries have exhibited economic resilience in recent past that saw them post annual growth rate above 5.4 per cent in 2015-2017, according to a new World Bank report released yesterday. The six others include Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Senegal and Tanzania, said the latest Africa's Pulse, a bi-annual analysis of the state of African economies conducted by the World Bank. These economies, the World Bank said, registered upswing in Read the full story
Zimbabwe: Hwange Signs 25-Year Coal Supply Deals
AllAfrica
(Photo: The Herald) HWANGE Colliery Company Ltd has signed off-take agreements with two thermal power stations, which will see it supplying the firms with 400 000 tonnes of coal per month. The 25-year coal supply deals will see Hwange supplying more than 200 000 tonnes of coal per month each to the Zimbabwe Power Company and Lisulu Power, an independent power producer in the Matabeleland North Province, MD Mr Thomas Makore said. He gave no further details on the off-take agreements but indicated Read the full story
Zimbabwe marks 37 years of Independence
RiyadhVision
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has marked the country’s 37th anniversary of independence with a call for tranquility even as the economy has collapsed to the point where livestock is being accepted in place of cash. The 93-year-old Mugabe broke his tradition of walking the 100 meters to the podium and instead was driven in his official car before soldiers helped him into place. Mugabe has been in power since the end of British colonial rule. This Read the full story
Zimbabwe: Elderly People's Homes in Sorry State
AllAfrica
(Photo: The Herald) Charity Ruzvidzo The sombre atmosphere that welcomes you upon arrival at Bako Redonhodzo Old People's home in Highfield, one of Harare's oldest suburbs is unsettling. Some of the elderly people talk amongst themselves in low voices as they hide from blazing sun rays under a tree shade. Others sit quietly in a big room which serves as the living room watching television. Hopelessness is written all over their faces, a feeling unexpected of a group of people who have presumably Read the full story
ASIA
China to cut taxes by $55 billion this year
CNBC
China is cutting taxes this year by 380 billion yuan ($55 billion) in efforts to encourage spending and boost growth. Read the full story
China is reportedly relaxing measures that restrict money leaving the country
Business Insider
Participants run from the starting point at Tiananmen Square during the annual Beijing International Running Festival and Beijing Half Marathon, in Beijing China April 16, 2017. China's central bank, the PBoC, has reportedly relaxed measures to curb capital outflows from the nation, perhaps encouraged by signs that the latest US dollar rally may have run its course. Reuters, citing unnamed banking sources, says that the decision comes as China's leaders and financial markets feel more confident Read the full story
Japan’s Mitsui Life shifting to euro bonds from dollar due to hedging costs
CDA News
By Hideyuki Sano TOKYO (Reuters) – Mitsui Life Insurance Co plans to shift some funds to euro-denominated bonds from dollar bonds this year, as currency hedging costs for the dollar are expected to rise, a senior company official said on Thursday. While the company pays close attention to political risks in Europe, it would view […] Read the full story
Nikkei up for 4th straight session, leading Asian market recovery
MarketWatch
Asian stocks posted broad early gains Thursday after wide weakness Wednesday as investors eased up on worries. Read the full story
AFRICA
Africa: World Bank Names Rwanda Among Most African Resilient Economies
AllAfrica
AllAfrica
(Photo: The New Times) Rwanda and six other African countries have exhibited economic resilience in recent past that saw them post annual growth rate above 5.4 per cent in 2015-2017, according to a new World Bank report released yesterday. The six others include Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Senegal and Tanzania, said the latest Africa's Pulse, a bi-annual analysis of the state of African economies conducted by the World Bank. These economies, the World Bank said, registered upswing in Read the full story
Zimbabwe: Hwange Signs 25-Year Coal Supply Deals
AllAfrica
(Photo: The Herald) HWANGE Colliery Company Ltd has signed off-take agreements with two thermal power stations, which will see it supplying the firms with 400 000 tonnes of coal per month. The 25-year coal supply deals will see Hwange supplying more than 200 000 tonnes of coal per month each to the Zimbabwe Power Company and Lisulu Power, an independent power producer in the Matabeleland North Province, MD Mr Thomas Makore said. He gave no further details on the off-take agreements but indicated Read the full story
Zimbabwe marks 37 years of Independence
RiyadhVision
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has marked the country’s 37th anniversary of independence with a call for tranquility even as the economy has collapsed to the point where livestock is being accepted in place of cash. The 93-year-old Mugabe broke his tradition of walking the 100 meters to the podium and instead was driven in his official car before soldiers helped him into place. Mugabe has been in power since the end of British colonial rule. This Read the full story
Zimbabwe: Elderly People's Homes in Sorry State
AllAfrica
AllAfrica
(Photo: The Herald) Charity Ruzvidzo The sombre atmosphere that welcomes you upon arrival at Bako Redonhodzo Old People's home in Highfield, one of Harare's oldest suburbs is unsettling. Some of the elderly people talk amongst themselves in low voices as they hide from blazing sun rays under a tree shade. Others sit quietly in a big room which serves as the living room watching television. Hopelessness is written all over their faces, a feeling unexpected of a group of people who have presumably Read the full story
ASIA
China to cut taxes by $55 billion this year
CNBC
CNBC
China is cutting taxes this year by 380 billion yuan ($55 billion) in efforts to encourage spending and boost growth. Read the full story
China is reportedly relaxing measures that restrict money leaving the country
Business Insider
Business Insider
Participants run from the starting point at Tiananmen Square during the annual Beijing International Running Festival and Beijing Half Marathon, in Beijing China April 16, 2017. China's central bank, the PBoC, has reportedly relaxed measures to curb capital outflows from the nation, perhaps encouraged by signs that the latest US dollar rally may have run its course. Reuters, citing unnamed banking sources, says that the decision comes as China's leaders and financial markets feel more confident Read the full story
Japan’s Mitsui Life shifting to euro bonds from dollar due to hedging costs
CDA News
CDA News
By Hideyuki Sano TOKYO (Reuters) – Mitsui Life Insurance Co plans to shift some funds to euro-denominated bonds from dollar bonds this year, as currency hedging costs for the dollar are expected to rise, a senior company official said on Thursday. While the company pays close attention to political risks in Europe, it would view […] Read the full story
Nikkei up for 4th straight session, leading Asian market recovery
MarketWatch
MarketWatch
Asian stocks posted broad early gains Thursday after wide weakness Wednesday as investors eased up on worries. Read the full story
EUROPE
REPORT: Brussels has already started shutting Britain out of billion euro contracts
Business Insider UK
Thomson Reuters LONDON — Brussels has started freezing out British firms from contracts worth billions of euros and urging them to decamp to other EU countries, according to an internal memo seen by the Financial Times. The memo, written by senior EU officials, reportedly tells staff to encourage the UK's private sector to consider the need "to have an office in the EU" and prepare for the "legal repercussions" of Brexit. Britain's two-year exit process from the European Union began in March Read the full story
REPORT: Theresa May is going to promise to end the EU's free movement of people into the UK
Business Insider
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives in Downing Street, in central London, Britain April 19, 2017. LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May will make a formal pledge ahead of the June 8 election to end European Union free movement of people into Britain, the Daily Mail newspaper reported, citing unidentified party sources. May will also include pledges in her election manifesto to pull out of both the EU single market and European Court of Justice, the newspaper said. May surprised Read the full story
Clothing and furniture could be cheaper after Brexit
Daily Mail
Quitting the EU gives Britain the opportunity to slash EU single market tariffs on a raft of goods sent here from around the world, the British Retail Consortium said today. Read the full story
U.K. snap election ‘virtually rules out’ staying in EU’s single market, says Morgan Stanley
MarketWatch
The U.K.’s upcoming snap election whisks away the chance for the country to remain a part of the European Union’s single market, according to Morgan Stanley. Read the full story
EUROPE
REPORT: Brussels has already started shutting Britain out of billion euro contracts
Business Insider UK
Business Insider UK
Thomson Reuters LONDON — Brussels has started freezing out British firms from contracts worth billions of euros and urging them to decamp to other EU countries, according to an internal memo seen by the Financial Times. The memo, written by senior EU officials, reportedly tells staff to encourage the UK's private sector to consider the need "to have an office in the EU" and prepare for the "legal repercussions" of Brexit. Britain's two-year exit process from the European Union began in March Read the full story
REPORT: Theresa May is going to promise to end the EU's free movement of people into the UK
Business Insider
Business Insider
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives in Downing Street, in central London, Britain April 19, 2017. LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May will make a formal pledge ahead of the June 8 election to end European Union free movement of people into Britain, the Daily Mail newspaper reported, citing unidentified party sources. May will also include pledges in her election manifesto to pull out of both the EU single market and European Court of Justice, the newspaper said. May surprised Read the full story
Clothing and furniture could be cheaper after Brexit
Daily Mail
Daily Mail
Quitting the EU gives Britain the opportunity to slash EU single market tariffs on a raft of goods sent here from around the world, the British Retail Consortium said today. Read the full story
U.K. snap election ‘virtually rules out’ staying in EU’s single market, says Morgan Stanley
MarketWatch
MarketWatch
The U.K.’s upcoming snap election whisks away the chance for the country to remain a part of the European Union’s single market, according to Morgan Stanley. Read the full story
Blessed and Highly Favored:
CBI Update:
The CBI is closed on Friday and Saturday
ISX Update:
The ISX is closed on Friday and Saturday
The Central Bank grants bonds to contractors instead of the Ministry of Finance
The Central Bank of Iraq revealed on Thursday that the interest rate for contractors' entitlements in the national bonds to be given by the Ministry of Finance will be 5%, while stressing that it will not bear any error in the receivables of contractors.
"The Central Bank of Iraq will be on behalf of the Ministry of Finance as a financial agent to pay the dues of the contractors in arrears after the completion of the Federal Audit Office to audit these receivables," the statement said, noting that "the interest of the bonds will be 5% annually The maturity period is three years. "
He added that "the Ministry of Planning will prepare lists of names of eligible contractors and amounts owed to them and send them to the Ministry of Finance after being signed and stamped by the ministries," pointing out that "the role of the Central Bank of Iraq is to hand over bonds to contractors and according to their entitlements based on the lists received from the ministries Financial and planning and does not bear the Central Bank of Iraq any responsibility for the validity of amounts owed to contractors. "
The Ministry of Planning, on March 20, that the payment of contractors amounts will be 100% for projects exceeding the completion rate of 85%, showing completion and audit about trillion and 300 billion dinars.
Kauaihn Chatter:
4-20-2017 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat Article: "Governor of the Central Bank: To cancel the dollar sale window, if canceled to become exchange rate 3 or 4 thousand and perhaps more??" Quote: "On the prospects of floating, similar to other countries in the region, Keywords said that it is sealed now, and we are working on editing currency and not float, a large difference between the two." It is telling us the CBI is working on the replacement of the currency and bringing it out of the program rate as he says “editing” the currency. The fact that he says this process is much different than what was done in other countries is the key here. To me “editing” means to change. When he mentions “float” he is talking to parliament and telling them the CBI is not going to float the program rate but will wait until the editing process is done...So they can float but only when it goes international. [post 1 of 2....stay tuned]
4-20-2017 Newshound/Intel Guru BGG [is the new rate inside the budget?] There is no "new rate" inside the budget...in fact, one of the recent interviews with a CBI official - all but said it wouldn't happen that way...they did give us an actual list of what was required and in what order it should occur.
4-20-2017 Newshound/Intel Guru BGG [so we are waiting on Mosul's liberation and then it rv's?] That is a pretty "canned" statement... though it may not be far from the truth...as in- pretty absolute. [What about the other currencies?] Dong looks to be a ways out (at best).
4-20-2017 Newshound/Intel Guru BGG [is the new rate inside the budget?] There is no "new rate" inside the budget...in fact, one of the recent interviews with a CBI official - all but said it wouldn't happen that way...they did give us an actual list of what was required and in what order it should occur.
4-20-2017 Newshound/Intel Guru BGG [so we are waiting on Mosul's liberation and then it rv's?] That is a pretty "canned" statement... though it may not be far from the truth...as in- pretty absolute. [What about the other currencies?] Dong looks to be a ways out (at best).
4-20-2017 Intel Guru EXOGEN THURSDAY INTEL UPDATE: 1. IN COUNTRY STABILITY IN IRAQ IS FINALLY ALMOST HERE. NOTE: WE TOLD PEOPLE YEARS AGO YOU CAN NOT REVALUE A CURRENCY IN AN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT CONTROLLED BY ISIS/ISIL. 2. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE KURDS. 3. THERE IS ALSO AN OIL PIPELINE TRANSACTION THAT IS THE MAJOR TRIGGER MECHANISM UNDER THE TABLE...HINT HINT! (PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO OIL JOINT VENTURES WITH IRAQ) 4. IQD PARITY TO OTHER CURRENCY IS INEVITABLE.
4-20-2017 Newshound Guru Stryker Our dinar dominoes are finally ready to topple over in the direction of the perfectly aligned stars that are overlooking the desert soaked deeply in oil.
4-20-2017 Newshound Guru Adam Montana [...I believe the darn HCL is done but they don't want the public to know about it...yet.] That's what's called as "intuition". For the record, my intuition is speaking the same language.
4-20-2017 Newshound Guru Stryker Our dinar dominoes are finally ready to topple over in the direction of the perfectly aligned stars that are overlooking the desert soaked deeply in oil.
4-20-2017 Newshound Guru Adam Montana [...I believe the darn HCL is done but they don't want the public to know about it...yet.] That's what's called as "intuition". For the record, my intuition is speaking the same language.
4-20-2017 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat From article, CBI dated November 28, 2014 "The governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Mr.Ali Al-Allaq, has declared on Tuesday that the green light was given to execute the file of zero deletion from the currency, and he confirmed that finishing the managing matters for this file will take two years. He also pointed that the bank has started preparing samples for the new currency." So 2 years from 2014 is late 2016. Just another indication they were targeting EARLY 2017. We also know from this article there is a new currency coming out. They are going to replace the larger 3 zero notes with smaller denominations and coins, but this will be a slow conversion and not what many think as 1 triggered event. ...believe me when the lower denoms begin to come out you will know it. There will be no guessing or assuming. When there is any significant change in the currency value you will know it...
4-20-2017 Intel Guru RayRen98 We are in the midst of things that should be unfolding as we speak...we now have a date it's targeted for...by April 30th, not on April 30th...from today...or anywhere up until the 30th and that's what they have now publicly put out... Information that Iraq would stop using the dollar...April 18, 2017, and the Dinar would be the only official currency and the rate would be significantly higher than the current rate (in-country) of .90. Mosul liberation now is being targeted for April 30. ...we are just waiting information ...to see what develops. I believe we're there...The writing is on the wall...
4-20-2017 Newshound Guru Aggiedad77 ...a float is coming...mucho $$$$'s are moving...a certain Foreign Reserve is swelling...Frank [Guru Frank26] is a happy camper...
4-20-2017 Intel Guru RayRen98 We are in the midst of things that should be unfolding as we speak...we now have a date it's targeted for...by April 30th, not on April 30th...from today...or anywhere up until the 30th and that's what they have now publicly put out... Information that Iraq would stop using the dollar...April 18, 2017, and the Dinar would be the only official currency and the rate would be significantly higher than the current rate (in-country) of .90. Mosul liberation now is being targeted for April 30. ...we are just waiting information ...to see what develops. I believe we're there...The writing is on the wall...
4-20-2017 Newshound Guru Aggiedad77 ...a float is coming...mucho $$$$'s are moving...a certain Foreign Reserve is swelling...Frank [Guru Frank26] is a happy camper...
Elmer:
Not in today
Artmeister:
Not in today
Catnip:
ARTICLE 1 (from PM Abadi's website; posted on both Arabic and English sides)
Press release
20 April 2017
We are surprised by the statement of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the body of popular mobilization, which is an internal Iraqi issue can not intervene and confirm that the body is the formation of an Iraqi national launched in response to the fatwa of the Supreme Religious Authority Sayyed Ali al-Sistani, as long as he contributed to the Iraqi forces to liberate the territory and achieve Triumphs on terrorist gangs.
Iraq is a sovereign state and the law of popular mobilization has made it a force of the Iraqi state and under its control, and this force owes allegiance to Iraq and its people and not to any other country and follow the orders of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
We affirm that the Iraqi constitution prohibits the carrying of arms outside the state and does not allow the work of the militias. The Iraqi people have suffered from the scourge of terrorism and made great sacrifices to confront it and is now in the final stages of eliminating the terrorist organization.
Iraq renews the call to neighboring and friendly countries not to interfere in its internal affairs and support it in its war against this enemy, which is a challenge for the entire region and the world.
Prime Minister's Media Office
We are surprised by the statement of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the body of popular mobilization, which is an internal Iraqi issue can not intervene and confirm that the body is the formation of an Iraqi national launched in response to the fatwa of the Supreme Religious Authority Sayyed Ali al-Sistani, as long as he contributed to the Iraqi forces to liberate the territory and achieve Triumphs on terrorist gangs.
Iraq is a sovereign state and the law of popular mobilization has made it a force of the Iraqi state and under its control, and this force owes allegiance to Iraq and its people and not to any other country and follow the orders of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
We affirm that the Iraqi constitution prohibits the carrying of arms outside the state and does not allow the work of the militias. The Iraqi people have suffered from the scourge of terrorism and made great sacrifices to confront it and is now in the final stages of eliminating the terrorist organization.
Iraq renews the call to neighboring and friendly countries not to interfere in its internal affairs and support it in its war against this enemy, which is a challenge for the entire region and the world.
Prime Minister's Media Office
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ARTICLE 2
Abadi threatens Kirkuk .. Kurdish flag or budget
20-04-2017 08:02 PM
The Euphrates -
An official source in the provincial council of Kirkuk in a statement singled out by the Euphrates news that Prime Minister Haider Abadi ordered the suspension of disbursement of the operational budget of the province unless it retracts the decision to raise the flag of Kurdistan on government buildings
The source, who declined to be named, said that intensive negotiations and meetings held by the members of the Council of Karkrak province with the governor Najmuddin Karim in order to convince the parties that decided to raise the flag of Kurdistan on all government buildings in the province of Kirkuk to reverse this decision
The source revealed that al-Abbadi sent a delegate to Kirkuk in a secret visit not announced to inform them of the decision of the Prime Minister to suspend the disbursement of the operational budget as a first step, threatening his intention to stop the payment of salaries for the month of April if the Kurdish flag is not removed from all Kirkuk buildings
20-04-2017 08:02 PM
The Euphrates -
An official source in the provincial council of Kirkuk in a statement singled out by the Euphrates news that Prime Minister Haider Abadi ordered the suspension of disbursement of the operational budget of the province unless it retracts the decision to raise the flag of Kurdistan on government buildings
The source, who declined to be named, said that intensive negotiations and meetings held by the members of the Council of Karkrak province with the governor Najmuddin Karim in order to convince the parties that decided to raise the flag of Kurdistan on all government buildings in the province of Kirkuk to reverse this decision
The source revealed that al-Abbadi sent a delegate to Kirkuk in a secret visit not announced to inform them of the decision of the Prime Minister to suspend the disbursement of the operational budget as a first step, threatening his intention to stop the payment of salaries for the month of April if the Kurdish flag is not removed from all Kirkuk buildings
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ARTICLE 3
Jubouri and Mutlaq discuss the expected compromises and improve confidence between the political parties
2017/4/20 18:30
[Ayna - Baghdad]
Speaker of the House of Representatives Salim al-Jubouri, on Thursday, with the head of the National Dialogue Front, Saleh al-Mutlaq, the upcoming political compromises and improve confidence among the actors in the arena.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Salim al-Jubouri, on Thursday, with the head of the National Dialogue Front, Saleh al-Mutlaq, the upcoming political compromises and improve confidence among the actors in the arena.
"Jubouri and al-Mutlaq discussed in detail the latest developments in the political situation, in addition to the security file, in addition to the progress of the political process and the expected compromises and measures to improve confidence among the actors in the arena," said a statement by Jubouri office.
The statement pointed out that "the meeting touched on the progress of the legislative process and mechanisms to speed up the legislation of laws, in addition to the conduct of military operations and victories achieved by our heroic forces in the city of Mosul."
He pointed out that "the need to seek a convergence of views between the political blocs in order to achieve security and political stability in the country."
The statement pointed out that "the meeting touched on the progress of the legislative process and mechanisms to speed up the legislation of laws, in addition to the conduct of military operations and victories achieved by our heroic forces in the city of Mosul."
He pointed out that "the need to seek a convergence of views between the political blocs in order to achieve security and political stability in the country."
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ARTICLE 4
Found a stack of hardware in the hand of peace and thwart infiltration in the Nineveh Desert
Diyala - April 21 - The General Directorate of Intelligence and Security, al-Hamdah, announced that it, in coordination with the al-Wondiyeh police station, found a pile of equipment in one of the abandoned houses in al-Salam district of Khalis district, consisting of mortars and RPGs.
Separately, the 33rd Brigade was able to kill Abu Omar al-Musli during a failed infiltration operation to break through the supply lines to Mosul from the Nineveh Desert, while the rest of the group fled. AH
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ARTICLE 5
Edit Al-Nasr and raise the Iraqi flag over its buildings
NINEWA, April 20 (Xinhua) - The Anti-Terrorist Corps liberated the Al-Nasr neighborhood on the right-hand side of the city of Mosul and raised the Iraqi flag over its buildings after the enemy suffered material and human losses, the command of operations said.
"The security forces have been continuing their advance in the Hayah neighborhood on the right side of Mosul to make him free from the crowd," said Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yaarallah.
On Thursday, the military information cell announced the liberation of Al-Thawra neighborhood on the right side of Mosul and the lifting of the Iraqi flag over its buildings.
"The security forces liberated the Al-Thawra neighborhood on the right side of the Mosul and the security forces raised the Iraqi flag over its buildings," the statement said. "Since October 17, 2016, Where it was able to liberate the entire left coast of the city, as, and moved to the right side of the city and is still progressing to eliminate the organization is fully advocating. "
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ARTICLE 6
Violin strings play for life amid blood and destruction in Mosul
NINEWA, Iraq - April 20: An Iraqi violinist made his first musical performance since a three-year-old al-Qaeda organization controlled Mosul in the ruins of an archaeological site dedicated to Muslims and Christians in the city.
Amin Muqdad, 28, played a secret while he was living under the hardline organization until the organization's gunmen confiscated his musical instruments, forcing him to flee to Baghdad but returned to his city on Wednesday.
Iraqi forces have been able to recover large parts of the city during operations that have been going on for about six months.
Only 20 people attended the concert as the music was interrupted by the sound of explosions and gunfire from western neighborhoods of Mosul, where US-backed Iraqi forces are still fighting a resurgent organization to regain control of the rest of the city across the Tigris River.
The organization has banned entertainment since it took control of the city, including playing music, watching television and satellites, using telephones and smoking, and punishing those who violated it with murder or skin.
"I would like to take the opportunity to send a message to the world, a blow to terrorism and all the ideologies that restrict freedoms because music is wonderful," Mekdad told Reuters. Anyone who opposes music promotes ugliness. "
The ceremony, whose images spread on social networking sites, was held at an archaeological site believed to be the burial place of Prophet Younis, whose militants blew up parts of it in 2014.
"This place is for everyone and not for one sect," Mekdad said. "Do not represent any religion but an ideology that suppresses freedom."
According to Reuters, soldiers guarding the site, located near the ruins of Nineveh, initially refused to allow people to enter after a rocket exploded near him, saying they could not guarantee the safety of the public, but later acquiesced and then joined the masses.
"The ceremony was like a dream," said Tahani Saleh, who says she was forced to give up her university studies. I wanted to get to send a message that the war did not stop life in Mosul. You can see the destruction here but we still want to be happy. We want to hear music. "
The city's last musical performance was held on June 10, 2014, the same day the organization dominated the city where he stood on the roof of his house to play solo, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Mekdad, who learned the music himself, told the British newspaper that he hid the violin and the cello in the basement of his home and fled and his family to Baghdad.
When he returned months later to his city to retrieve his machines, the organization's gunmen allowed him to enter Mosul but did not allow him to leave, which led him to continue to play in secret until the organization confiscated his machines and threatened to inflict severe punishment on him, but managed to return to his family in Baghdad when Iraqi forces achieved victories to the east Mosul.
"People love music but they were afraid of the power of the organization, but we challenged it and risked our lives," Mekdad said.
"I stopped playing because I was very scared but Amin continued," said Anas, one of Mekdad's friends, who founded a music club with him, recalling the organization's rule in the city. We tried to convince him that he might be killed easily but he continued to play. "
It is believed that the blogger in charge of the news agency "Ain Mosul" helped organize the ceremony and arrange the return of Muqdad to Mosul.
The website said the aim of the concert was to "send a message to the world that Mosul is ready to receive books and music again, although half of the city is still under bombardment."
"The dream has been realized. The subject seems as simple as it began as a dream but it is now a reality. " Finished
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