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In conjunction with the visit of an Iraqi government delegation to Erbil ...
12/03/2018 - 12:42
In conjunction with the visit of an Iraqi government delegation to Arbil, said a member of the Finance Committee in the Parliament of Kurdistan, on Monday, the visit of the delegation of the federal government headed by the Governor of the Central Bank Ali Alalak is to finalize the pre-payment of salaries of employees of the Kurdistan Region and the opening of airports that have been agreed upon. An Iraqi government delegation led by Ali al-Alak and the deputy minister of planning Qassim Enayat and a representative of the Civil Aviation Authority arrived in Erbil Sunday evening. The visit comes after Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said in his last press conference last Tuesday that his government would cancel the decision banning international flights and will pay the salaries of employees in the region before the feast of Nooruz.
The Kurdish New Year and New Year's Day coincides with March 21. "We expect the salaries to be released in the next few days. As for the reopening of the regional airports to international flights, the agreements so far indicate that this will take place on the 20th of this month," Aztab Saber said in a press statement. "There will be a joint press conference between the prime minister and the Kurdistan Regional Government to present the results of this visit." Arbil and Baghdad exchanged delegations during the last period, which led to a breakthrough in the crisis between the government of Baghdad and the provincial government.
The crisis erupted between Arbil and Baghdad violently after the Kurdistan Region held a historic referendum on 25 September last for independence from Iraq and won the support of 92.73% of the votes of participants, but Baghdad responded to the right of self-determination Kurdish unjustified and took a series of collective punishment measures against Kurdistan in addition to For its military attack on Kurdish areas outside the administration of the Kurdistan Region or called B (disputed).
Baghdad has banned international flights to airports in Kurdistan and has asked to check the lists of its employees before paying their salaries as part of its punitive measures against the province.
The spokesman for the Kurdistan Regional Government, Sven Dzahi, said earlier on Sunday that an Iraqi government delegation is scheduled to arrive in Erbil to determine the mechanisms of payment of salaries and the opening of airports.
Baghdad extended the ban on international flights at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports, the last of which was on Feb. 26, with the decision ending by the end of May.
Iraqi government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said recently that the technical committees between Erbil and Baghdad have settled many files in relation to airports, especially customs and passports.
The committees are still discussing the security file of the international airports in the region, according to modern.
Grants 42 thousand loans to support small projects in Baghdad and the provinces
The Department of Employment and Loans at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, on Monday, the granting of 42 thousand loans in Baghdad and the provinces, distributed among the program to support small projects.
"The ministry has granted 42,000 loans in Baghdad and the provinces, distributed among the program of supporting small projects by (28,927) loans, the national strategy for alleviating poverty by (121734) loans, while the loans of industrial services," ministry spokesman Ammar Menem said in a statement. 397 loans and 1,274 loans for community rehabilitation.
He added that the total amount of loans disbursed amounted to (330,278,750,000) dinars, "noting that 'the repayment ratio has reached 81% until 28-2-2018'.
He added that the program to support small income-generating projects was approved by Law No. 10 of 2012 and published in the Official Gazette (Iraqi facts) in the number 4231 on 28-2-2012, and was started in 2013, to create new jobs for young people and undermine the proportion Unemployment and poverty alleviation, "noting that" the capital of the Fund is (267) billion dinars. "d
BCF, Kuwaiti Aid Organization Delivers Food Supplies to Hundreds Families in Duhok
ERBIL-Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) in cooperation with the Kuwaiti state aid organisations, on Sunday delivered food supplies to hundreds of families in Duhok governorate in Kurdistan Region.
BCF and the Kuwaiti organization teams jointly on Sunday delivered food supplies to 700 poor families in Duhok governorate, BCF reported.
The two organizations also provided humanitarian aid to 300 other households in the two cities of Sheikhan and Zakho.
Both organizations will continue to reachout to six thousand more people in need across the Kurdistan Region in the future.
Deputy: Parties that lost control are destabilizing the security and stability of Kirkuk
(Baghdad: al-Furat News) Deputy MP for the Turkmen component in Kirkuk, Hassan Turan that the parties that lost control of the province is trying to destabilize security and stability.
"The identity of Kirkuk is multicultural and historically Turkmen," Turan told Interfax. "From a constitutional point of view, there is no reference in the constitution to a certain identity in the province." He pointed out that "Kirkuk has been engulfed in the so-called disputed areas and it has signed a conflict between two countries," noting that "the security situation in Kirkuk targeted by two parties [the headquarters of the Turkmen Front and the anti-terrorism apparatus only]." He added that "the parties that lost control before the 16 of last October are destabilizing the security of Kirkuk." "The arrest of a network that attacked the Turkmen headquarters and the counterterrorism agency and confessed to dangerous confessions and will reveal great secrets," he said, pointing out that "I can not disclose now to its secret, and will be an official statement accuses the side behind the confusion of the security situation in the province." "The presence of the Peshmerga forces outside the Blue Line is contrary to the Constitution," he sai
For the first time in the history of Iraq ... Sadr allied with the Communists
(Updated 20:46 11.03.2018)
The leader of the Sadrist movement in Iraq, Muqtada al-Sadr, surprised by an alliance with a communist party to contest the Iraqi legislative elections in May in a precedent, the first of its kind in the history of the Iraqi elections.
This alliance is the first in Iraq, it is the revolution of the Iraqis for reforms with civilians or a moderate Islamic trend,"saidIbrahim al-Jabri, a leader of the Sadrist movement who oversees the organization of the demonstrations.
The 34-year-old al-Jabri, red-haired and wearing his beard, was enthusiastic as he stood amid hundreds of protesters opposed to government policy who gather every Friday in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad.
"We are not impressed by this alliance because we have been fighting together for more than two years against sectarianism in all provinces," Jabri said.
The protest movement began in July 2015 at the initiative of civil society activists who were joined bythe Sadrist movementto demand reforms, fight corruption and improve services.
Raed Fahmi, secretary of the Communist Party of Iraq told AFP that "these demands do not wear a sectarian character and for a national civil project aimed at achieving social justice.""The important thing is that people from an Islamic and secular movement are allowed to work together," he said.
"Cooperation was born between people who initially did not have any common ideology and then developed into a political alliance," said Fahmi, speaking from his headquarters where he raised the flag of the Communist Party of China and the Iraqi flag, which says "God is great."
The coalition, which is called "Sarun Toward Reform", is divided into six blocs, including the Iraqi Communist Party and the Istiqama Party, which includes technocrats backed by Moqtada al-Sadr, who has suspended the 33-member Liberal Bloc in parliament and asked its members not to run for next elections. On 12 May.
Turkish Army Steps up Military Operation in Kurdish Hakkari Province
ERBIL— Turkish army stepped up on Sunday its military operations in the southeastern Kurdish province of Hakkari, allegedly targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions.
Local media reports said the Turkish troops were mobilised into the region by helicopters, following which they started a large-scale operation in the area.
A day earlier, Turkish fighter jets had reportedly conducted multiple airstrikes on the region.
Turkey and PKK have resumed military clashes since 2015 after a two-year ceasefire collapsed between them.
Kauaihn Iraq Articles:dd
The United Nations confirms its commitment to help the Iraqi government to hold elections on time
Baghdad / Al-Ghad Press: The UN representative in Iraq, Jan Kubic, confirmed Monday the United Nations commitment to help the government and UNHCR to hold the next Iraqi elections on time. A statement issued by the Office of the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Mahdi Al-Alak, in a statement received by "Al-Gharab Press" a copy of it, "the relations received today, the United Nations representative in Iraq, Jan Kubic, at his official work," noting that " To discuss the outcome of the International Conference on Iraq Reconstruction, hosted by the State of Kuwait last month.
He added that "the Secretary-General and his guest discussed during the meeting preparations for the upcoming Iraqi elections on time, where Kubic stressed the commitment of the United Nations to help the government and UNHCR to do so." Al-Alak praised the success of the Kuwait conference, which achieved its objectives in providing investment opportunities in Iraq and opening the door to investment in front of all international companies, "adding that" the Iraqi government is working in high-level coordination to follow the results of the Kuwait conference. " For his part, Kubic expressed his "satisfaction with the outcome of the positive conference and the visions and strategies put forward at the Kuwait Conference for the reform of the country," stressing the "full support for the stage of implementation of all the obligations of the international community to support Iraq through the mechanisms to facilitate their implementation, "He said.
ERBIL— A delegation made up of Kurdish lawmakers are scheduled to head to the Europe and visit UK, France, and EU parliament.
MP Zana Abdulrahman told BasNews that the delegation will depart on Monday, and kickstart its first series of meetings at the UK parliament for discussions over a range of issues. It will be followed by meetings in France then.
According to Abdulrahman, the Erbil-Baghdad disputes, violations against the Iraqi constitution which are ongoing by the Iraqi government, the flight ban imposed on the Kurdistan Region, as well as the budget issues would be on their agenda while abroad.
“The main goal is to encourage the UK and France, which are the key partners in the anti-Islamic State Coalition, to play a role in resolving the disputes between the Kurdistan Region and Iraqi government,” the Kurdish MP added.d
Iraq has lost 81 percent of its Christians since 2003
The Iraqi Society for Human Rights issued a statistical report on the number of missing persons in Iraq from different sects, noting that Iraq has lost 81% of its Christians since 2003.
"Once again, the forces of evil and crime have returned to their well-known terrorist means by targeting the sons of the original Iraqi factions, which resulted from poor security procedures," the association said in a statement. Crimes of kidnapping and murder in less than a month in a flagrant challenge to the state, and to instill fear again in their ranks to end their presence in the country. "
According to the statement, "Since 2003 until now, Iraq has lost 81% of the Christian people, the component Mandae Sabean 94%, and the component Yezidi 18%."
This is a dangerous indication of emptying Iraq of its original identities that have been in Iraq ever since."
During an online press conference broadcast via the video streaming service Aparat, the telecoms minister addressed questions about establishing technoparks, regulating cryptocurrencies, unblocking YouTube and Twitter, and introducing a new copyright law
Azari-Jahromi said the unblocking of Twitter and YouTube depends on receiving a unanimous green light from the government, the Majlis and the judiciary whose representatives are studying the possibility at the National Center for Cyberspace
From plans to launch cryptocurrencies to the establishment of technoparks and increasing support for startups, Iran’s communication and information technology minister answered questions during an online press conference broadcast via the video streaming service Aparat.
During the conference, Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi also said, “An ICT Tech Park is being established in Mashhad and will be inaugurated in May to nurture the startup environment in the northeastern shrine city.”
The establishment of technology parks has topped President Hassan Rouhani’s agenda since he took office in 2013 and several technoparks have been set up in different provinces.
Azari-Jahromi noted that the startup environment must be nurtured in Iran and authorities should pave the way for the growth of such firms, adding that the ministry has prioritized the establishment of startup accelerators in all provinces.
The minister is of the opinion that in order to boost the growth of startups, the environment must be regulated, stressing that guidelines and incentives will be introduced.
ERBIL— Turkish military claimed on Sunday its warplanes had destroyed 18 positions in the Kurdistan Region which were allegedly used by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The airstrike which took place on Saturday and Sunday had targeted the PKK positions in Hakurk, Zap, Metina, Gara, and Avasin-Basyan regions, according to Anadolu Agency quoting a statement by the Turkish General Staff.
The statement also claimed that the PKK fighters were planning attacks from these positions against the Turkish army.
Earlier the day, media sources said that the Turkish army had launched a ground operation in the southeastern Kurdish province of Hakkari against the PKK fighters.
The ground operation came a day after heavy airstrikes on the region.
IS Militants Kill, Injure 15 Civilians on Kirkuk-Baghdad Road
ERBIL— At least 15 civilians were killed and injured on Sunday after the Islamic State (IS) insurgents set up a checkpoint on the road between Kirkuk and Baghdad.
A source told Baghdad Today that the attack had taken place between Maftool and Sarha villages.
IS sleeper cells have recently stepped up the attacks on civilians and Iraqi forces in Kirkuk province. Since the Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militias have overtaken Kirkuk, the region is facing increasing security challenges with the threat of IS re-emerging.
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Kauaihn Economic Times:
ECONOMIC TIMES / CHATTER
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Get Cash Back For Things You're Already Buying With Dosh lifehacker
At some point in my transition from being a free-spirited 20 something to an old lady, I because obsessed with cash back opportunities. I’m definitely not as into it as some people, but if there’s a punch card or point system I can use for a retailer that ends in me getting a discount or something free in the end, you can better believe I’m participating.Read the full story
Capital One's virtual credit cards could help you avoid fraud Engadget
Capital One is no stranger to trying new things -- especially when it comes to technology. Its Eno texting chatbot, for example, is a quick and conversational way for its customers to check their balances and perform simple tasks, like checking on recent transactions. Now, the bank is bringing Eno to web browsers with an intriguing new feature: virtual credit-card numbers. ...Read the full story
Here's Why You Should Never, Ever Lend Anyone Your Credit Card Bustle
So, your bestie, your bae, or a sibling is short on grocery money this month and asks to borrow your credit card to grab some essentials. While it's human nature to want to help, that good deed could come back to bite you. In fact, you should never l…Read the full story
Keeping on top of store card debt - Five minute guide Express
THERE could be trouble in store for the millions of Britons who run up large debts on retailers’ credit cards while shopping on the high street or online. What starts as a bit of retail therapy could prove ruinous to your financial health, with store cards charging APRs of up to 39.9 per cent, more than twice the average typical credit card APR of 18.9 per cent. A planned regulatory crackdown on persistent credit card debtors could make a bad situation worse.Read the full story
China’s banking watchdogs set sights on rising household debt problem South China Morning Post
Sharp increase in borrowing to fund consumer spending, property purchases and investments ‘very risky’, regulator saysRead the full story
Deutsche Bank bosses to forego bonuses after third annual loss
Deutsche Bank has come under fire for awarding big incentive payouts even though it lost money last year.
ROYAL COMMISSION PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON INAPPROPRIATE CONSUMER LENDING 1. RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGES CASE STUDIES * NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK'S INTRODUCER PROGRAM AND FRAUDULENT LOAN APPLICATIONSRead the full story
TREASURIES/BONDS/STOCKS
Investors withdraw Rs773 crore from gold ETFs in FY18 so far Livemint
New Delhi: Investors pulled out Rs94 crore from gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in February, taking the total outflows to Rs773 crore in the first 11 months of 2017-18 mainly due to poor returns and volatility in prices.Read the full story
Digging Into the "History" of the New Fool 100 Index and ETF The Motley Fool
One listener wondered how can we can show years of performance for an index that’s only a few months old.Read the full story
Tariff tantrum hits U.S. stock funds in latest week Reuters
U.S. fund investors pulled $9.8 billion from stocks during the latest week, Lipper data showed on Thursday, halting the investments' budding momentum after February's selloff.Read the full story
As Nasdaq hits record highs, a veteran tech investor warns a correction ‘could happen at any time’
One of the dot-com boom's biggest investors sees trouble ahead for tech stocks due to valuations.
Opinion: Medicare drug benefit is weakened by congressional budget deal Fox News
Congress has undermined the Medicare drug benefit that millions of older Americans depend on - one of the few federal health-care programs that's working well.Read the full story
World Health Organization Warns Next Epidemic Disease Could Be Unknown—or Man-Made The Epoch Times
Police officers wear protective suits and breathing apparatus in London Road cemetery as they continue investigations into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal who was found critically ill on a bench in Salisbury on March 10, 2018, in Salisbury, England. The World Health Organization has added a new disease to the list of pathogens, which could hit humans with a devastating effect. This one is called “Disease X.” Every year the World Health Organization (WHO) publishes a list of potential epidemicRead the full story
Beware 'Disease X': the mystery killer keeping scientists awake at night The Telegraph
Over two days in early February, the World Health Organisation (WHO) convened an expert committee at its Geneva headquarters to consider the unthinkable.Read the full story
CRYPTO'S / DIGITAL CURRENCY
The City should nurture its bitcoins - MoneyWeek MoneyWeek
Banning cryptocurrencies is too easy, says Matthew Lynn. The Bank of England should set itself the challenge of allowing them to grow safely.Read the full story
SEC to Bitcoin Investors: You Should Demand Regulation The Motley Fool
Bitcoin price CRASH: Cryptocurrency DOWN 22.5 per centin one weekamid regulation fears Express
BITCOIN trading is down 22.5 per cent this week and traded 6.1 per cent lower against the US dollar as of 9pm Eastern Time on March 10 amid fears of regulation, it has been reported. Over the last week, Bitcoin has traded down 22.5 per cent against the US dollar. Bitcoin Cash traded 5.6 per cent lower against the dollar and now trades at $1,000.13 or 0.11525900 BTC. One Bitcoin can be bought for $8,772.58 on popular exchanges including Korbit, Gemini, Zaif and Bibox.Read the full story
The Winklevoss brothers are looking to add additional cryptocurrencies to the Gemini Exchange, while also praising the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent statements. Expanding Gemini The Winklevoss twins’ cryptocurrency exchange Gemini Exchange is looking to expand with the addition of Litecoin (LTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH). Currently, Gemini Exchange only offers Bitcoin and Ethereum trades. Tyler Winklevoss claimed that the most obvious additions to Gemini’s roster of offerings “Read the full story
Forex - Dollar Struggles as Timid Wage Growth Dents Hopes of 4 Rate Hikes Investing.com
Forex Mar 09, 2018 17:46 GMTInvesting.com– The dollar fell against a basket of major currencies as data showing the U.S. economy created more than 300,000 jobs in February were offset somewhat by weaker-than-expected wage growth, denting expectations for a faster pace of inflation and rate hikes. The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, fell 0.13% to 90.12. The U.S. economy created 313,000, well above the 239,000Read the full story
USA/CANADA
Economic Calendar - Top 5 Things to Watch This Week Investing.com
Trump Reportedly Wants Ivanka & Jared Kushner Out Of The White House Bustle
It sounds as if things aren't very harmonious in the halls of the White House. To the contrary, President Donald Trump reportedly wants Ivanka and Jared Kushner out of the administration, as part of a rumored upcoming staff overhaul. That's what Whit…Read the full story
President Donald Trump Suggests Death Penalty For Drug Dealers HuffPost
President Donald Trump suggested drug dealers in the United States should face harsher punishments, such as the death penalty or life in prison, during a campaign rally for congressional candidate Rick Saccone in Pennsylvania on Saturday. ...Read the full story
U.S. President Donald Trump has called Canada “brutal” when it comes to trade and said that the U.S. has a trade deficit with Canada. Figures show Canada has a small trade surplus with the U.S. on goods, but the U.S. comes out on top when services are factored in.Read the full story
EMERGING MARKETS
World Ocean Summit 2018 concluded in Mexico Aljazeera
Friday was the final day of the World Ocean Summit held on Mexico's Riviera Maya. It's a chance for business, government and environmental leaders to talk about the problems facing the world's seas and to come up with solutions to protect the planet's vast ocean resources. Al Jazeera's John Holman reports from Rivera Maya, Mexico.Read the full story
Why Colombia's elections are a test of investors' willingness to 'look beyond' a fragile peace
Colombia will hold a parliamentary election that analysts view as the latest test of an increasingly fragile peace agreement — as well as the country's ability to appeal to global investors.
Thieves in Brazil Make Off With $5 Million Cash From Cargo Jet The Epoch Times
A Lufthansa airplane at Rome Fiumicino airport on Jan. 15, 2018. A gang of thieves in a pickup with fake security company logos looted $5 million in cash from a Lufthansa cargo flight bound from Brazil to Switzerland on March 4. NDTV reported that the thieves mimicked the trucks used by Brinks airport security at Viracopos International Airport, Brazil’s biggest freight terminal, to unload the cash that was bound for Zurich from São Paulo. The five thieves armed with rifles took six minutes toRead the full story
Exodus from Puerto Rico grows as island struggles to rebound from Hurricane Maria Minneapolis Star Tribune
Follow the StarTribune for the news, photos and videos from the Twin Cities and beyond.Read the full story
Scientists studying how damaged forest in Puerto Rico recovers after hurricane Minneapolis Star Tribune
Follow the StarTribune for the news, photos and videos from the Twin Cities and beyond.Read the full story
Trump to Make First Visit as President to Latin America
The New York Times
The itinerary will include Peru, where President Trump will attend a summit meeting with leaders who have criticized his policies on immigration, and Colombia.Read the full story
By: Mahmoud Gamal Abu Dhabi – Mubasher: The UAE’s economy and its local bourses were not likely to be impacted by US President Donald Trump’s widely-argued plan to impose customs duties on steel imports by 25% and aluminum by 10%, economists told …Read the full story
King Salman promises to build world’s largest stadium for Iraq Royal Central
We are all well aware of the gifts that are sometimes showered on a country’s international players after they have been successful, but a recent victory by Iraq XI over Saudi Arabia 4 – 1 in a friendly match has led to a remarkable bonus for football in Iraq. The Iraq side was very much the underdogs having failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Russia, something the Saudi team have achieved, a fact not lost on King Salman who promised to buy Iraq a stadium if they ran out the winnersRead the full story
Tuz Khurmatu is Iraq's city of walls. Is it a sign of the country's future? Los Angeles Times
The walls are constructed of cinder blocks, steel and concrete. Some have gates for pedestrian traffic.Read the full story
Turkish warplanes destroy 18 Kurdish militant targets in Iraq: Anadolu Reuters
Turkish warplanes destroyed at least 18 targets belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq over the weekend, the state-run Anadolu news agency said on Sunday.Read the full story
Saudi BMG to launch SAR 416bn fund with Long Harbour – CEO Mubasher
Riyadh – Mubasher: BMG Financial Group (BMG) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK-based Long Harbour to manage a real estate portfolio which will start with SAR 415.63 million (GBP 300 million), BMG CEO Basil Al Ghalayini said. …Read the full story
Netanyahu to meet Israel coalition heads for crisis talks The New Arab
Netanyahu to meet Israel coalition heads for crisis talksRead the full story
UK, Saudi sign deals worth over $2bn during crown prince visit - Gulf Business Gulf Business
The two countries have set themselves a $90bn trade and investment target for the coming years The post UK, Saudi sign deals worth over $2bn during crown prince visit appeared first on Gulf Business.Read the full story
AFRICA
China floodsAfrica with needed dollars, stoking US concern Insurance News
DJIBOUTI (AP) — The new electrified rail line snakes through the African desert, charting a course from a port along the Djibouti coast to Addis Ababa , the capital of land-locked Ethiopia . The Chinese built the railway, and part of the port, and the new military base next door. Onthe other end of the line, Chinese dollars financed Addis Ababa's new light rail, and the new ring road system, and the silver African Union headquarters that towers over the city. Across the Atlantic Ocean , AmericaRead the full story
China’s growing African footprint could lock the US out from its lone Africa base Quartz
On the days before and after US secretary of State Rex Tillerson embarked on his first official trip to Africa, one issue has risen as…Read the full story
ASIA
China clears way for Xi Jinping to rule for life CNN
China's largely ceremonial parliament on Sunday overwhelmingly endorsed a controversial change to the country's constitution, paving the way for President Xi Jinping to stay in power indefinitely.Read the full story
What Xi Jinping's power play means for China's economy CNN Money
A big change to China's constitution could have major consequences for the world's second largest economy.Read the full story
Why China is betting on Shanghai trade expo for global goodwill
South China Morning Post
Exhibition area for November event already overbooked by 20 per centRead the full story
China-US trade war would produce no winners, only catastrophe, Beijing says South China Morning Post
But if things do get nasty, China is more than ready to face the challenge, Commerce Minster Zhong Shan saysRead the full story
China says trade war will bring disaster 7News
China's Commerce Minister Zhong Shan says a trade war would only bring disaster to China, the United States and the rest of the world. Zhong, speaking on the sidelines of China's annual session of parliament, said China does not want a trade war and will not initiate one. After pressure from allies, the United States has opened the way for more exemptions from tariffs of 25 per cent on steel imports and 10 per cent on aluminium that US President Donald Trump put in place last week.Read the full story
Trump’s Unpredictability on Trade and North Korea Opens a Door for China The New York Times
For allies who have long looked to the United States to provide security and stability, President Trump’s actions injected fresh uncertainty into strategic calculations in Asia.Read the full story
Forget steel and aluminum. The real trade war is yet to come. FORTUNE
Good evening from Hong Kong, where I’ve landed after an exhilarating week in Singapore for Brainstorm Design and two fascinating days in China’s southwestern Yunnan province. The Wall Street Journal reports that, on Friday, China “lashed out” at the United States after President Trump called for global tariffs on steel and aluminum. That’s sort of true. China’s Commerce Ministry declared itself “strongly opposed” to Trump’s proposed sanctions while trade associations representing China’s steelRead the full story
Fukushima's long road to recovery BBC News US
Seven years after a nuclear meltdown rocked the world's third largest economy, we speak to those still dealing with the devastation.Read the full story
EUROPE
Chancellor Philip Hammond refuses to says whether Brexit is 'worth it' The Independent
The Chancellor refused to say that Brexit is “worth it” as he insisted the Government has yet to model the economic effects of its hoped-for exit deal.Read the full story
UK's Hammond says might be able to relax budget squeeze in autumn Reuters
British finance minister Philip Hammond said on Sunday that he might be able to relax his grip on public spending at the end of this year but he stuck to his plan to cut the country's high public debt levels.Read the full story
Trump threatens Europe with more tariffs The Hill
President Trump on Saturday threatened to tax European cars if the European Union retaliates against his steep tariffs on aluminum and steel.Read the full story
Two in three Brits agree EU is trying to BULLY UK in Brexit talks amid ‘no deal plans’ Express
TWO in three Britons believe the European Union is trying to “bully” the UK in the Brexit negotiations, a shocking new survey has revealed amid reports of the UK making advanced preparations for a “no deal” scenario. According to the ORB International poll of more than 2,000 people, 31 per cent of those surveyed agreed with the statement “the EU is trying to bully the UK in the Brexit negotiations”, while 36 per cent said they strongly agreed.Read the full story
Brexit BOOST expected as experts predict tax cuts Express
A BREXIT bonanza will open the door to big cuts in personal and business taxes, according to analysis of the UK economy by experts who have consistently bucked inaccurate forecasts prepared by gloomy Whitehall officials. Ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement on Tuesday, in which he is expected to admit for the first time that Brexit is not the disaster long predicted by his officials, leading figures from Economists for Free Trade insist Mrs May will soon be able to ditch austerity andRead the full story
3-11-2018 Newshound Guru Kaperoni Article: "Alnasiri: Implementation of the Central Bank's strategy contributed to the improvement of the dinar's exchange rate against the dollar" They had a few months with the UST and IMF to figure out a plan to reduce the spread. It seems likely they are ontrack to compliance.We all know the investment won't come if they do not get the market economy going. Time is running out. I believe once it starts, it won't take more than a year to rise to a value we are comfortable with. Seems all we are waiting on now is sustainable compliance with the 2% spread. We just watch and wait and see.
3-11-2018 Intel Guru Dr. Clarke The Middle East culture is very “tight knit”, and is BUILT on Patterns, Cycles, Superstitions, History, Religion, Omens, DATES...and DECOYS. We Believe, and have for some time ...that this DATE holds special significance, with regard to Iraq OFFICIALLY & PUBLICLY raising the RATE VALUE of their Dinar. WE’RE LOOKING at “EVERY DAY”, over the next 2 WEEKS, as a VERY HIGH Probability of this RATE VALUE increase, HAPPENING - OFFICIALLY & PUBLICLY...Leading up to MARCH 24th, 2018...given what we just learned Late Last night. ...that “ONE Big Funding Issue”, has still not been resolved. It HAS TO BE, in order for everything else to MOVE, like you want it to. We’re WAITING. [post 3 of 3]
3-11-2018Intel Guru Dr. ClarkeWhen did Kuwait Substantially Increase the Value of their Currency back to the $3.00+ range? MARCH 24th...a Sunday. There was NO BUDGET needing to be Passed...NO LAWS needing to be Passed...NO AUCTIONS needing to stop or suspend...NO GAZETTE required. In fact, the country was in SHAMBLES, with NOTHING ORGANIZED, water & electricity down,with BANKS being closed, except for a couple dozen, opened JUST FOR THIS EVENT of exchanging DURING the NEXT 6 WEEKS, as the RATE VALUE suddenly, with no advance warning, except to say that they publicly announced it would be a YEAR before anything changed...OFFICIALLY & PUBLICLY, SUBSTANTIALLY RAISED IN VALUE. [post 2 of 3....stay tuned]
3-11-2018 Intel Guru Dr. Clarke According to what we just learned Late Last Evening - That “ONE major Funding issue” we talked about in our Last Post - Is still open.What is it? The RATE VALUE OF THE DINAR, HAS NOT OFFICIALLY & PUBLICLY, SUBSTANTIALLY RAISED IN VALUE. ...Until Iraq makes their Dinar Rate OFFICIALLY PUBLIC, PUBLIC, PUBLIC...NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS! Additionally, NO OTHER CURRENCIES will move substantially, eventually, either, UNTIL THIS HAPPENS. IT IS SUPER CLOSE...to those Digits Moving Up. [post 1 of 3....stay tuned]
3-11-2018 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat But remember I am still being told to look forward to the re-education program in the news media.It will explicitly say the “project to delete the zeros”.This has not yet happened to the extent I am told it must go.Yes , there is much televised news of new category notes coming out shortly.Some channels are telling us in the “coming days” while others are saying in the “coming weeks”.They are even explaining the new notes. [post 2 of 2]
3-11-2018 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat...we see the IMF apposing the budget allocations to Kurdistan. Will they hold up the RV due to this or will they mind their own business? Maybe its time to mind their own business in internal affairs. Think about this –the only real strong hold the IMF now has over Iraq are the SDR loan program and the completion of currency reform.So what do they still need Iraq to complete prior to the currency reform?Legally the only issue they really can force Iraq to complete is the MCP and we know this is nearing the end of the 90 day application of correction period. This is why I believe we may very"I like the WSJ’s optimism… we all know how accurate they were on the last election they “predicted”.I’m hoping on this one, they are more accurate.
d
Elmer:
Not in today
Artmeister:
Not in today
Catnip:
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ARTICLE 1 (from PM Abadi's website; posted only on Arabic side, not on English side)
Prime Minister Dr. Haidar Al-Abadi receives the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Baghdad Mr. Hassan Ahmed Al-Shehhi
March 11, 2018
Prime Minister Dr. Haider Al-Abadi received in his office Sunday the UAE Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Hassan Ahmed Al-Shehhi.
The UAE ambassador conveyed the greetings of the UAE and the people of the United Arab Emirates to liberate the entire Iraqi territories and praise the security stability achieved in Iraq, pointing out that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and his belief in the relations between the two brotherly countries and the role of Iraq in the fight against terrorism.
The UAE ambassador said a special representative from the United Arab Emirates would come for this purpose.
Dr. Haidar al-Abadi stressed Iraq's keenness to strengthen relations with the UAE and all countries on the basis of mutual interests and service of the two peoples, pointing out that Iraq is currently at the forefront of countries that fight terrorism after winning the gangs and military support and Iraqis will win the reconstruction and reconstruction of their country.
Head Office
Ministers
11 - March - 2018
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ARTICLE 2
Tweets posted on PM Abadi's twitter account:
@IraqiPMO
Mar 10
Time magazine quotes Prime Minister Dr. Haidar Al-Abadi on his cover and describes him as the man who saved the country from the edge of the abyss. He is a real leader, not a weave of fairy tales and a rhetorical eloquent.
@IraqiPMO
Mar 10
Dr. Abbadi: Just as we have achieved the great victory over Dahesh, which was described by the world as a miracle, we will win in economic development, construction, reconstruction, provision of services, investment and job creation, and it will be soon but requires that we unite and leave differences.
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ARTICLE 3
Vice: The President of the Republic is biased towards the members of his party and his ratification of the budget is formality
2018/3/12 10:03
[Ayna-Baghdad]
A deputy for the National Alliance accused President Fuad Masum, who belongs to the Kurdish nation, of "bias" of the Kurds in delaying the adoption of the Financial Budget Law of 2018, which was ratified by parliament on March 3.
Mansour al-Baiji said in a statement received by the agency of all Iraq [where] a copy of it, "The President of the Republic side to the people of his skin and did not ratify the general budget of the country for this year and this is unacceptable and must be obliged to ratify it even if the ratification of formality and Legal ".
He explained that "the Iraqi constitution is very clear, in the ratification of the President of the Republic on the budget law within 15 days and if not ratified after the passage of this period, the law is ratified in the sense that the Constitution does not care whether the President of the Republic or not ratified to consider that the ratification of the honorable protocol Have legal implications. "
He pointed out that "the government is the party that can appeal the budget paragraphs after it was voted in the House of Representatives and we hope that does not happen until the budget goes and the concerned parties can work through the provision of funds because most of the ministries almost suspended and can not work because of delayed approval of the budget for the current year "He said.
Al-Baiji explained that "the budget for 2018 for the first time since the fall of the former regime passed by the density of the population of all the provinces of the country without exception, so we hope that the work is done quickly and not delay more, especially as the interests of the people have been disrupted so the competent authorities to work quickly and without any Delay in service to the public good ".
The President of the Republic, Fuad Masum announced yesterday, "The Presidency of the Republic received the Federal Budget Law for 2018 after its approval in Parliament, and legal experts in the presidency are studying the possibility of ratification of the budget if it does not contain technical errors or constitutional imbalance," pointing out that " This measure in order to be reassured after ratification. "
"The presidency will discuss only the errors and gaps in the budget, if any, and not the subject of the proportion of Kurdistan region in the budget," adding that "if we find a constitutional imbalance, we will contact the House of Representatives in order to reconsider it, and if they are free from mistakes And the constitutional imbalance, the presidency of the Republic will continue to budget naturally. "
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ARTICLE 4
Al-Jubouri: Targeting Christians in Iraq is an attempt to stir up divisions
2018/3/12 8:24
[Ayna-Baghdad]
"The targeting of Christians is a direct targeting of national unity and a serious threat that must be addressed in all ways and means," Speaker of the House of Representatives Saleem al-Jubouri said.
"What Iraq has exposed to all its components, especially the Christian brothers, is part of the attempts to stir up the division between the sons of society, which aims to empty the country of its original energies and components," Jubouri said in a statement.
He added that "the recent crime of one of the Christian families is no less dangerous and a threat of previous attempts, even if motivated by theft or any other motives," calling on the security services throughout Iraq to assume their responsibilities in the protection of all citizens.
"The Christians have shown their deep love for their country and their Iraqi brethren through patience and steadfastness, despite the enormity of the losses and the greatest challenges," he said, expressing deep condolences and condolences to the family and all Christian brothers.
On Thursday night, unidentified gunmen stormed the home of a doctor in Mashtal district, east of Baghdad, killing him and his family, who were his Christian mother, with knives. Churches in Iraq have declared mourning for the victims.
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ARTICLE 5
The region announces the creation of new lists of employees' salaries
Erbil - Iraq Press - March 11: The Kurdistan Regional Government announced the preparation of new lists of salaries of employees.
"The provincial government will continue to pay the salaries of employees according to the data of the imports of oil from Kurdistan," Sven Dzai, spokesman for the provincial government, told reporters.
He pointed out that "the Ministry of Finance of Kurdistan has prepared a new list of salaries of staff of the ministries of the region."
And after the crisis raised by the adoption of the budget in the Iraqi parliament, and the objection of the Kurds to reduce the budget of the Kurdistan region will prevent the ability to pay all the salaries of regional staff, promised Prime Minister Haider Abadi solve the problems of salaries of employees of the Kurdistan region and airports before the holidays, "Noroz." Finished
(Nowruz holiday = March 21)
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ARTICLE 6
The participation of 14 countries in the Iraq International Chess Championship
2018/3/11 15:23
[Ayna-Baghdad]
The Iraqi Chess Federation announced the approval of 14 countries to participate in the 6th Iraqi International Tournament, which will be held in Baghdad on Tuesday and until 20 of this month.
"The federation has received approvals from 14 countries so far: Bahrain, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Turkey, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Ukraine."
He pointed out that "the Union completed the administrative procedures in order to facilitate access of the players of these countries to the Iraqi capital Baghdad."
He pointed out that the Union received initial approvals from some countries, and could "increase the number of participants.
"He sent a special invitation to the president of the International Federation of Kirsan Alinginov to come to Baghdad and participate in the opening ceremony of the tournament, which will contribute greatly to lift the international embargo imposed on Iraq."
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