Word on the Street Thursday 3/15/18:
Forex Rates:
http://forex.tradingcharts.
| Symbol | Bid | Ask | High | Low | Open | Change | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD/IQD | | | 1,167.2000 | 1,167.2000 | 1,167.2000 | | 21:00 |
| USD/VND | | | 22,731.5000 | 22,440.0000 | 22,440.0000 | | 03:25 |
| USD/CNY | | | 6.3224 | 6.3008 | 6.3159 | | 05:58 |
| USD/KWD | | | 0.2997 | 0.2987 | 0.2997 | | 05:57 |
| GBP/USD | | | 1.3986 | 1.3923 | 1.3975 | | 05:58 |
| USD/IRR | | | 12,048.0000 | 12,048.0000 | 12,048.0000 | | 17:51 |
| USD/IDR | | | 13,773.0000 | 13,733.0000 | 13,737.0000 | | 05:57 |
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DC NY Iraq Articles:dd
Deputies: Parliament refuses to receive the budget after the objection is infallible
Baghdad / Al-Ghad Press:
A member of the parliamentary legal committee Ibtisam al-Hilali on Thursday that the parliament refuses to receive the budget after the opposition of President Fuad Masum.
Al-Hilali said that "the president of the republic has no right to restore the budget of the House of Representatives because it is legally completed," noting that "the objection of the infallible budget is political and can challenge the Federal Court."
A member of the parliamentary legal committee Ibtisam al-Hilali on Thursday that the parliament refuses to receive the budget after the opposition of President Fuad Masum.
Al-Hilali said that "the president of the republic has no right to restore the budget of the House of Representatives because it is legally completed," noting that "the objection of the infallible budget is political and can challenge the Federal Court."
A member of the parliament of Kurdistan likely to release the salaries of staff of the region early next week
15/03/2018
Baghdad / Al-Ghad Press:
A member of the Committee on Resources and Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Regional Parliament Sherko Jawdat, on Thursday, the distribution of salaries of staff of the region, early next week.
"There is a great possibility that the salaries of Kurdistan region employees will be distributed on Sunday or next Monday," Jawdat told Al-Ghad Press.
He pointed out that "what hinders the distribution of salaries is the routine and administrative contexts followed."
"The salaries will be distributed to the employees of the region according to the traditional mechanism for the distribution of salaries throughout Iraq and there is no exception or change in the region in this regard."
The spokesman for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Saadi Bira, told "Al-Gharab Press", on Wednesday, that "the negotiations between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the salaries of staff of the region, has reached the end," noting that "it depends on the relationship between the parties Concerned with the receipt and transfer of salaries of staff of the Territory ".
"We have received information that the lists competent to check the lists of names of employees of Kurdistan will end its work and will be distributed salaries before the holidays of Noroz."
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday that checks of the salaries of provincial staff would continue and found a system different from the federal government's system of jobs.
A member of the Committee on Resources and Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Regional Parliament Sherko Jawdat, on Thursday, the distribution of salaries of staff of the region, early next week.
"There is a great possibility that the salaries of Kurdistan region employees will be distributed on Sunday or next Monday," Jawdat told Al-Ghad Press.
He pointed out that "what hinders the distribution of salaries is the routine and administrative contexts followed."
"The salaries will be distributed to the employees of the region according to the traditional mechanism for the distribution of salaries throughout Iraq and there is no exception or change in the region in this regard."
The spokesman for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Saadi Bira, told "Al-Gharab Press", on Wednesday, that "the negotiations between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the salaries of staff of the region, has reached the end," noting that "it depends on the relationship between the parties Concerned with the receipt and transfer of salaries of staff of the Territory ".
"We have received information that the lists competent to check the lists of names of employees of Kurdistan will end its work and will be distributed salaries before the holidays of Noroz."
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday that checks of the salaries of provincial staff would continue and found a system different from the federal government's system of jobs.
The reopening of the Housing Fund branch in Nineveh after a four-year hiatus
Baghdad: SNG:
The Minister of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works, Ann Nafie Osei, opened a branch of the Housing Fund in Ninewa province after the rehabilitation of its headquarters in the province to start its work by granting loans to citizens in the province after a four-year hiatus.
"The ministry, as part of its efforts to restore stability and services in the city of Mosul, is opening today the building of the housing fund branch in the province to start receiving requests for loans to citizens and resume the promotion of transactions of previous borrowers, In order to provide the best services to its citizens and to provide all that would ensure the return of displaced persons to their areas and the return of normal life and provide decent housing them, as well as the efforts of the Ministry to promote the reality of the infrastructure in the province.
The Minister of Construction called on "citizens wishing affected their homes in the province to review the Fund's branch and submit their loan applications and will be granted loans to build and repair houses that have been subjected to complete destruction or significant damage for the purpose of completing their procedures and providing them with assistance in accordance with the regulations and instructions. This is a general invitation to the honorable people of Mosul, Control of the terrorist lobby to take advantage of these loans in the reconstruction of their damaged homes and return to it. "
She explained that "the rehabilitation of the building of the fund to serve the people of the city of Mosul and the province, which is inhabited by nearly two million citizens after being subjected to acts of sabotage during the control of a terrorist on the city where the work of the branch stopped four years ago, and now he is back again with his new format to be ready to receive citizens and apply to Housing loans "
The Minister of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works, Ann Nafie Osei, opened a branch of the Housing Fund in Ninewa province after the rehabilitation of its headquarters in the province to start its work by granting loans to citizens in the province after a four-year hiatus.
"The ministry, as part of its efforts to restore stability and services in the city of Mosul, is opening today the building of the housing fund branch in the province to start receiving requests for loans to citizens and resume the promotion of transactions of previous borrowers, In order to provide the best services to its citizens and to provide all that would ensure the return of displaced persons to their areas and the return of normal life and provide decent housing them, as well as the efforts of the Ministry to promote the reality of the infrastructure in the province.
The Minister of Construction called on "citizens wishing affected their homes in the province to review the Fund's branch and submit their loan applications and will be granted loans to build and repair houses that have been subjected to complete destruction or significant damage for the purpose of completing their procedures and providing them with assistance in accordance with the regulations and instructions. This is a general invitation to the honorable people of Mosul, Control of the terrorist lobby to take advantage of these loans in the reconstruction of their damaged homes and return to it. "
She explained that "the rehabilitation of the building of the fund to serve the people of the city of Mosul and the province, which is inhabited by nearly two million citizens after being subjected to acts of sabotage during the control of a terrorist on the city where the work of the branch stopped four years ago, and now he is back again with his new format to be ready to receive citizens and apply to Housing loans "
Iraqi Airways wins $ 7 million in two months
755 flights at Baghdad International Airport during February
Mubasher: The Iraqi Airways General Company achieved profits of $ 6.83 million in January and February of this year.
The revenues of the ground services of Arab and foreign airlines have increased over the past two months, the company's general manager said in a statement.
Miran Farid pointed out that this increase was achieved through the interest in maximizing the company's financial revenues, taking into account the application of international regulations, standards and standards, including IATA regulations.
Farid explained that the number of flights of Iraqi Airways at Baghdad International Airport amounted to 755 trips during the month of February.
He added that the number of passengers on departures was 88.573 thousand passengers, while the number of passengers coming to Baghdad Airport 88.922 thousand passengers in February.
Iraqi Airways has generated revenues of $ 243.08 million in January from aircraft and other art work.
The Baghdad International Airport achieved revenues of 663.11 thousand dollars in January , and contributed to the transfer of more than 77 thousand passengers, and the reception of 81 thousand passengers in January.
IS Kills, Injures Five Iraqi Security Forces
ERBIL — The Islamic State (IS) militants attacked the Iraqi security forces on Wednesday in Salahaddin province, killing and wounding at least five, a security source told al-Sumairya News.
The attack was carried out in Tal al-Zahab region, south of Balad, as the result of which two security personnel were killed and three others injured.
Additional security forces were deployed to the scene soon after the attack. The area was cordoned off and an investigation has begun, according to the source.
The discovery of a tea plantation for Iraq in Vietnam is unknown to the administration and imports
Release date: 2018/3/15 8:16 • 695 times read
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq has a tea plantation in Vietnam and "no one knows how to manage it and where its imports go," a deputy said.
"There are violations and violations in the work of the General Company for Food Trade of the Ministry of Commerce regarding the tea farm owned by the Iraqi government in Vietnam," Alia Nassif said in a statement received by the agency {Euphrates News}.
"The Iraqi government owns a tea plantation in Vietnam [Foodati] and this farm no one knows how to manage and where to go imports, and there is information to contract with an Iraqi to buy tea produced on the farm contrary to the instructions and controls," the Commission "to open an investigation And the declaration of its results. "
She added that "there are other irregularities within the file of the investment of land and property of the General Company for the trade of food, given to these properties to investors contrary to the instructions and controls with the approval of General Manager Qassim Hamoud."
"There are many irregularities and violations in the company's work, which we will reveal with enhanced documentation during the coming days," Nassif said
"The Iraqi government owns a tea plantation in Vietnam [Foodati] and this farm no one knows how to manage and where to go imports, and there is information to contract with an Iraqi to buy tea produced on the farm contrary to the instructions and controls," the Commission "to open an investigation And the declaration of its results. "
She added that "there are other irregularities within the file of the investment of land and property of the General Company for the trade of food, given to these properties to investors contrary to the instructions and controls with the approval of General Manager Qassim Hamoud."
"There are many irregularities and violations in the company's work, which we will reveal with enhanced documentation during the coming days," Nassif said
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Kauaihn Iraq Articles:ddddd
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BIS Warns Central Banks on Digital Currency Issuance
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Japan is the first country to legitimately regulate cryptocurrency, as it passed legislation last year requiring digital currency exchanges be registered and subject themselves to inspection
While the central banks of some countries are hoping to be a part of the virtual currency revolution, the Bank for International Settlements is concerned about the repercussions of going digital.
A cashless society is definitely the way of the future, a future that some governments and banks are trying to be a part of. Central bank digital currencies may be an abomination of decentralized cryptocurrencies, but it is happening, news outlets reported.
“A central bank digital currency could allow for ‘digital runs’ towards the central bank with unprecedented speed and scale,” the Basel-based BIS said in a report put together by its committees for payments and markets.
Benoit Coeure, chair of the BIS Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures says: "Central bank digital currencies could help make settling trades of securities and foreign exchange more efficient in the future. But more work and experimentation would be needed to explore these benefits, Finextra reported.
"General purpose central bank digital currencies could revolutionize the way money is provided and the role of central banks in the financial system, but these are uncharted waters, with potential risks. This report is a starting point for further discussion and research and will help countries make choices given their own circumstances."
Could Hurt Financial Stability
Central banks the world over are seriously studying whether digital currencies backed by global central banks can be used as a legal tender alongside fiat notes and coins.
Sweden’s Riksbank is hoping to offer its e-Krona and the Bank of England has a cryptocurrency unit to help it along its virtual currency journey.
Research from the Bank of Canada suggests a central bank digital currency has the potential to become a cheaper and easier to use alternative to cash and cards. However, the study notes that a shift from bank deposits to CBDC could also have an impact on bank funding and credit provision, which could hurt financial stability.
The Bank of England's Mark Carney says the BIS perspective is an important contribution to the G20 discussion on digital currencies, given central banks' mandate to safeguard financial stability for the public.
The head of Germany’s Bundesbank, Jens Weidmann has also been vocal on the implications of CBDCs. On a positive note, he had previously said: “Allowing the public to hold claims on the central bank might make their liquid assets safer, because a central bank cannot become insolvent.”
However, he added that in times of economic uncertainty, citizens would most likely convert their fiat into the country’s official digital currency, which is great for the public but not for the banks. This easy conversion could make bank runs occur more frequently, which could then negatively impact the bank’s solvency.
Negative Impacts
However, the BIS cautioned that making electronic central bank money widely available could create a significant threat to the financial system. The reason: if the public had direct access to the currency, they would flock to the central bank in times of panic, creating a “digital run” from private banks to the state.
A report written by Klaus Lober, who is a senior advisor at the European Central Bank and Aerdt Houben, who is the director of the financial stability division at De Nederlandsche Bank, details the negative impact it could have on the economy.
According to this report, these virtual currencies could become direct competition for traditional fiat, which could lead to an increase in interest rates. The report states:
"The introduction of a central bank digital currency would raise fundamental issues that go far beyond payment systems and monetary policy transmission and implementation. A general purpose CBDC could give rise to higher instability of commercial bank deposit funding.
"Even if designed primarily with payment purposes in mind, in periods of stress a flight towards the central bank may occur on a fast and large scale, challenging commercial banks and the central bank to manage such situations. Introducing a central bank digital currency could result in a wider presence of central banks in financial systems."
The report went on to say that as a result, there could be a “greater role for central banks in allocating economic resources, which could entail overall economic losses should such entities be less efficient than the private sector in allocating resources.”
The report added that it might not only be the economic sector that could face repercussions: It could move central banks into uncharted territory and could also lead to greater political interference.
This is not the first time that the BIS has spread FUD about critiqued cryptocurrencies. Its General Manager, Agustin Carstens, previously stated that they are a “threat to financial stability” and that Bitcoin, in particular, is “a combination of a bubble, a Ponzi scheme and an environmental disaster.”
Jacqueline Loh, who is the chair of the BIS markets committee, added: Any step towards a possible launch of a CBDC should be subject to careful and thorough consideration.
Crypto to Headline G20 Discussions
Finance ministers and central bankers from 20 of the world’s largest economies will meet in Buenos Aires next week, and cryptocurrency will most certainly be a hot topic.
Unsurprisingly, France and Germany are set to put forth joint proposals calling for strict regulation of the cryptocurrency market. The proposals are said to focus on preventing money laundering and the financing of terrorism, in addition to consumer protection. Rules will also be proposed, which prevent banks from holding cryptocurrency.
The move by the two major European countries is expected, given that finance ministers from both have already expressed extreme concern over the use of cryptocurrencies worldwide.
Japan is the first country to legitimately regulate cryptocurrency, as it passed legislation last year requiring digital currency exchanges be registered and subject themselves to inspection.
Japan, France, and Germany may find themselves in the minority, however, as the majority of G20 nations have expressed minimal interest in imposing regulations on cryptocurrencies. Rather, many countries would rather not risk stifling innovation by imposing harsh restrictions on the budding market.
A cashless society is definitely the way of the future, a future that some governments and banks are trying to be a part of. Central bank digital currencies may be an abomination of decentralized cryptocurrencies, but it is happening, news outlets reported.
“A central bank digital currency could allow for ‘digital runs’ towards the central bank with unprecedented speed and scale,” the Basel-based BIS said in a report put together by its committees for payments and markets.
Benoit Coeure, chair of the BIS Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures says: "Central bank digital currencies could help make settling trades of securities and foreign exchange more efficient in the future. But more work and experimentation would be needed to explore these benefits, Finextra reported.
"General purpose central bank digital currencies could revolutionize the way money is provided and the role of central banks in the financial system, but these are uncharted waters, with potential risks. This report is a starting point for further discussion and research and will help countries make choices given their own circumstances."
Could Hurt Financial Stability
Central banks the world over are seriously studying whether digital currencies backed by global central banks can be used as a legal tender alongside fiat notes and coins.
Sweden’s Riksbank is hoping to offer its e-Krona and the Bank of England has a cryptocurrency unit to help it along its virtual currency journey.
Research from the Bank of Canada suggests a central bank digital currency has the potential to become a cheaper and easier to use alternative to cash and cards. However, the study notes that a shift from bank deposits to CBDC could also have an impact on bank funding and credit provision, which could hurt financial stability.
The Bank of England's Mark Carney says the BIS perspective is an important contribution to the G20 discussion on digital currencies, given central banks' mandate to safeguard financial stability for the public.
The head of Germany’s Bundesbank, Jens Weidmann has also been vocal on the implications of CBDCs. On a positive note, he had previously said: “Allowing the public to hold claims on the central bank might make their liquid assets safer, because a central bank cannot become insolvent.”
However, he added that in times of economic uncertainty, citizens would most likely convert their fiat into the country’s official digital currency, which is great for the public but not for the banks. This easy conversion could make bank runs occur more frequently, which could then negatively impact the bank’s solvency.
Negative Impacts
However, the BIS cautioned that making electronic central bank money widely available could create a significant threat to the financial system. The reason: if the public had direct access to the currency, they would flock to the central bank in times of panic, creating a “digital run” from private banks to the state.
A report written by Klaus Lober, who is a senior advisor at the European Central Bank and Aerdt Houben, who is the director of the financial stability division at De Nederlandsche Bank, details the negative impact it could have on the economy.
According to this report, these virtual currencies could become direct competition for traditional fiat, which could lead to an increase in interest rates. The report states:
"The introduction of a central bank digital currency would raise fundamental issues that go far beyond payment systems and monetary policy transmission and implementation. A general purpose CBDC could give rise to higher instability of commercial bank deposit funding.
"Even if designed primarily with payment purposes in mind, in periods of stress a flight towards the central bank may occur on a fast and large scale, challenging commercial banks and the central bank to manage such situations. Introducing a central bank digital currency could result in a wider presence of central banks in financial systems."
The report went on to say that as a result, there could be a “greater role for central banks in allocating economic resources, which could entail overall economic losses should such entities be less efficient than the private sector in allocating resources.”
The report added that it might not only be the economic sector that could face repercussions: It could move central banks into uncharted territory and could also lead to greater political interference.
This is not the first time that the BIS has spread FUD about critiqued cryptocurrencies. Its General Manager, Agustin Carstens, previously stated that they are a “threat to financial stability” and that Bitcoin, in particular, is “a combination of a bubble, a Ponzi scheme and an environmental disaster.”
Jacqueline Loh, who is the chair of the BIS markets committee, added: Any step towards a possible launch of a CBDC should be subject to careful and thorough consideration.
Crypto to Headline G20 Discussions
Finance ministers and central bankers from 20 of the world’s largest economies will meet in Buenos Aires next week, and cryptocurrency will most certainly be a hot topic.
Unsurprisingly, France and Germany are set to put forth joint proposals calling for strict regulation of the cryptocurrency market. The proposals are said to focus on preventing money laundering and the financing of terrorism, in addition to consumer protection. Rules will also be proposed, which prevent banks from holding cryptocurrency.
The move by the two major European countries is expected, given that finance ministers from both have already expressed extreme concern over the use of cryptocurrencies worldwide.
Japan is the first country to legitimately regulate cryptocurrency, as it passed legislation last year requiring digital currency exchanges be registered and subject themselves to inspection.
Japan, France, and Germany may find themselves in the minority, however, as the majority of G20 nations have expressed minimal interest in imposing regulations on cryptocurrencies. Rather, many countries would rather not risk stifling innovation by imposing harsh restrictions on the budding market.
Iran: Ready to trade Iraqi oil
Release Date: 2018/3/15 9:25 • 335 times read
(International: Euphrates News) Iranian Oil Minister, Bijan Zangana, declared his country's willingness to trade Iraqi oil.
"The logistical and logistical activities and the provision of trucks to exchange oil for northern Iraq (Kirkuk) through Iran are currently underway and once they declare their readiness, we are ready," Zankana was quoted as saying during a press release on Wednesday on the sidelines of the agreement signed with Russia. As well. "
On how to transfer the two details related to the agreement with Russia, he said, there is no problem with the transfer of funds related to the agreement where the external party undertakes the transport itself.
He explained that alongside Russian companies, we are in talks with other companies to develop oil fields in the country.
On the draft cut for the production of oil-exporting countries (OPEC), the Iranian minister of oil, said that Russia did not agree to reduce oil for the whole year and OPEC can change its view, but I ruled out that this change.
Iraq had announced on the ninth of last December to sign an agreement with Iran to export oil from the fields of Kirkuk at the rate of 30 to 60 thousand barrels per day using trucks temporarily until the implementation of an oil pipeline linking the two countries in the northern region of Iraq.
The pipeline could replace the existing export route from Kirkuk through Turkey and the Mediterranean.
Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi said that under the agreement, "about 30 thousand barrels per day of crude will be transported by truck to the Iranian refinery Kermanshah at the start of export."
The agreement included Iraq and Iran to swap up to 60 thousand barrels per day of crude produced from Kirkuk with Iranian oil for delivery through the ports of southern Iraq "the same amount and the same specifications."
The sale of Kirkuk crude has been suspended since the security forces imposed the federal authority on the province and its oil fields on 16 of last October.
The field of Kirkuk is one of the important oil fields in Iraq. It is estimated that the field reserves amount to about 10 billion barrels of oil of good quality, and the maximum capacity of production field is one million barrels per day, but the average production during the past few years fell significantly until it dropped to about 150 A barrel a day only.
Iraq's current production capacity is about 4.8 million barrels per day, while actual production is about 4.4 million barrels per day in line with OPEC's agreement to cut production to support prices.
On how to transfer the two details related to the agreement with Russia, he said, there is no problem with the transfer of funds related to the agreement where the external party undertakes the transport itself.
He explained that alongside Russian companies, we are in talks with other companies to develop oil fields in the country.
On the draft cut for the production of oil-exporting countries (OPEC), the Iranian minister of oil, said that Russia did not agree to reduce oil for the whole year and OPEC can change its view, but I ruled out that this change.
Iraq had announced on the ninth of last December to sign an agreement with Iran to export oil from the fields of Kirkuk at the rate of 30 to 60 thousand barrels per day using trucks temporarily until the implementation of an oil pipeline linking the two countries in the northern region of Iraq.
The pipeline could replace the existing export route from Kirkuk through Turkey and the Mediterranean.
Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi said that under the agreement, "about 30 thousand barrels per day of crude will be transported by truck to the Iranian refinery Kermanshah at the start of export."
The agreement included Iraq and Iran to swap up to 60 thousand barrels per day of crude produced from Kirkuk with Iranian oil for delivery through the ports of southern Iraq "the same amount and the same specifications."
The sale of Kirkuk crude has been suspended since the security forces imposed the federal authority on the province and its oil fields on 16 of last October.
The field of Kirkuk is one of the important oil fields in Iraq. It is estimated that the field reserves amount to about 10 billion barrels of oil of good quality, and the maximum capacity of production field is one million barrels per day, but the average production during the past few years fell significantly until it dropped to about 150 A barrel a day only.
Iraq's current production capacity is about 4.8 million barrels per day, while actual production is about 4.4 million barrels per day in line with OPEC's agreement to cut production to support prices.
US General Signals Support for Nuclear Agreement
https://financialtribune.com/
Thursday, March 15, 2018
A top US general on Tuesday signaled support for the Iran nuclear deal, saying the agreement, which President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw from, has played an important role in addressing Iran's nuclear program.
"The JCPOA addresses one of the principle threats that we deal with from Iran, so if the JCPOA goes away, then we will have to have another way to deal with their nuclear weapons program," said US Army General Joseph Votel, Reuters reported.
JCPOA, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is the formal name of the accord reached between Iran and major powers in July 2015 in Vienna.
Tehran says its nuclear program has no military dimension and is totally for peaceful purposes.
Trump has threatened to withdraw the United States from the accord between Tehran and six world powers unless congress and European allies help "fix" it with a follow-up pact. Trump does not like the deal's limited duration, among other things.
Votel is head of the US military's Central Command, which is responsible for the Middle East and Central Asia, including Iran. He was speaking to a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the same day that Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after a series of public rifts over policy, including Iran.
Tillerson had joined Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in pressing a skeptical Trump to stick with the agreement with Iran.
"There would be some concern [in the region], I think, about how we intended to address that particular threat if it was not being addressed through the JCPOA... Right now, I think it is in our interest" to stay in the deal, Votel said.
Shared Position
When a lawmaker asked whether he agreed with Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford's position on the deal, Votel said, "Yes, I share their position."
Mattis said late last year that the United States should consider staying in the Iran nuclear deal unless it was proven Tehran was not complying or that the agreement was not in the US national interest.
A collapse of the Iran nuclear deal would be a "great loss", the United Nations atomic watchdog's chief warned Trump recently, giving a wide-ranging defense of the accord.
Iran has stayed within the deal's restrictions since Trump took office but has fired diplomatic warning shots at Washington in recent weeks. It said on Monday that it could rapidly enrich uranium to a higher degree of purity if the deal collapsed.d
Thursday, March 15, 2018
A top US general on Tuesday signaled support for the Iran nuclear deal, saying the agreement, which President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw from, has played an important role in addressing Iran's nuclear program.
"The JCPOA addresses one of the principle threats that we deal with from Iran, so if the JCPOA goes away, then we will have to have another way to deal with their nuclear weapons program," said US Army General Joseph Votel, Reuters reported.
JCPOA, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is the formal name of the accord reached between Iran and major powers in July 2015 in Vienna.
Tehran says its nuclear program has no military dimension and is totally for peaceful purposes.
Trump has threatened to withdraw the United States from the accord between Tehran and six world powers unless congress and European allies help "fix" it with a follow-up pact. Trump does not like the deal's limited duration, among other things.
Votel is head of the US military's Central Command, which is responsible for the Middle East and Central Asia, including Iran. He was speaking to a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the same day that Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after a series of public rifts over policy, including Iran.
Tillerson had joined Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in pressing a skeptical Trump to stick with the agreement with Iran.
"There would be some concern [in the region], I think, about how we intended to address that particular threat if it was not being addressed through the JCPOA... Right now, I think it is in our interest" to stay in the deal, Votel said.
Shared Position
When a lawmaker asked whether he agreed with Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford's position on the deal, Votel said, "Yes, I share their position."
Mattis said late last year that the United States should consider staying in the Iran nuclear deal unless it was proven Tehran was not complying or that the agreement was not in the US national interest.
A collapse of the Iran nuclear deal would be a "great loss", the United Nations atomic watchdog's chief warned Trump recently, giving a wide-ranging defense of the accord.
Iran has stayed within the deal's restrictions since Trump took office but has fired diplomatic warning shots at Washington in recent weeks. It said on Monday that it could rapidly enrich uranium to a higher degree of purity if the deal collapsed.d
Al-Muraikhi meets with Iraqi Foreign Delegation
15/3/2018 DOHA • Foreign Minister, Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi met yesterday with a high-level delegation from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
During the meeting, they discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries, means of boosting them, enhancing cooperation prospects, and issues of common concern.
The meeting was attended by a number of officials at the Foreign Ministry.
Turkish Jets Bomb Kurdistan Mountains
ERBIL — Turkish warplanes carried out multiple airstrikes on border areas of Kurdistan Region, allegedly targeting the positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Head of Sidakan administration, Ihsan Chalabi, told BasNews that the airstrikes had targeted Khwakurk, Spindar, Gali Rash, Kawarta, and Chiyaban regions.
“The scale of the damages is not known yet,” he told BasNews.
According to the official, the Turkish fighter jets were continuing hovering over the region for hours later.
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5 things you need to know Wednesday
USA TODAY
Gold Prices Hover Near 1-Week Highs in Cautious Trade
Investing.com
Gold prices supported by fresh U.S. political turmoil Read the full story
Commodities Mar 13, 2018 18:20 GMT Investing.com – Gold prices rose amid an uptick in safe-haven demand on concerns about turmoil in the Trump administration after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was fired on Tuesday. Gold futures for April delivery on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose by $6.40, or 0.49%, to $1,327.20 a troy ounce. President Donald Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, after a falling out on how best to tackle the Iran nuclear deal. Trump hired Read the full story
Barclays strikes banking deal with major cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase
CNBC
HDFC Bank Bars People Trading Bitcoin And Other Cryptocurrencies With Its Cards
Inc42
US Treasury yields slip ahead of data; politics in focus
CNBC
U.S. government debt prices were higher on Wednesday. Read the full story
Investors will focus on the retail sector on Wednesday as markets look to bounce back after a weak close Tuesday that followed a chaotic dat Read the full story
Cracks have been surfacing in the junk bond market. Read the full story
It is March 2009. The American economy is rapidly collapsing. The previous month, payroll jobs had dropped by a staggering 650,000. The grim outlook stokes gallows humor. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke receives a call from a top Fed official. "Do you want some good news?" the official asks. "Please," Bernanke responds. "Call somebody else."... Read the full story
Doctors hunt for hidden cancers with glowing dyes
ABC News
Researchers are testing fluorescent dyes that make cancer cells glow to make them easier for surgeons to find, giving patients a better shot at survival Read the full story
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly known as ALS, is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease. It affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that make the muscles of both the upper and lower body work. Read the full story
If you're anything like us, you've probably been eyeing the fancy mail-in genetic tests that are all over the interwebs these days, wondering what they could possibly reveal about the secrets of your DNA. Although many offer entertaining insights—curious if you’re genetically predisposed to sport a unibrow or sneeze when you look at the sun?—the real potential of such testing is to reveal your likelihood for developing serious health conditions. For example, DNA tests from Color ($250,amazon.com Read the full story
When it comes to tamping down your usual worries and anxieties about life, you might not want to zero in on all the weird ways to die. As long as you take care of yourself and get regular checkups, you're doin' what you gotta do. And yet, it doesn't … Read the full story
I don't consider myself to be an overly anxious person—but when I travel, I turn into somebody I don’t even recognize. Read the full story
You might be paying more in co-pays than your medication actually costs. In a new study published Tuesday in the medical journal JAMA, researchers found that out of the 9.5 million claims for prescription medication in 2013, insurance companies charged more than the base price for the drug in 2.2 million cases. Patients were overcharged for generic drugs 28 percent of the time, the study found, and for brand name drugs 6 percent of the time — for a grand total of $135 million in overpayments. Read the full story
Bitcoin price SHOCK: Cryptocurrency values could PLUMMET after MAJOR G20 regulation talks
Express
FINANCE ministers and central bankers are set to hold major talks on the future of cryptocurrencies at a meeting of the G20 next week and could cause prices to plummet. Representatives of France and Germany have requested talks on policy and monetary implications of cryptocurrencies be part of the agenda for the international meeting. The officials put forward their request in a letter to the finance minister of Argentina, who currently hold the G20 presidency, last month. Read the full story
Non-stop business knowledge Get more on The Bloomberg App The symbols of Bitcoin and Ethereum cryptocurrencies sit displayed on a screen. It’s a matter of when, not if, the Bitcoin bubble will pop, according to Allianz Global Investors. The cryptocurrency is worthless, even if blockchain technology could bring significant benefits to investors, said the investment arm of Europe’s biggest insurer, which manages almost 500 billion euro. “In our view, its intrinsic value must be zero,” Stefan Read the full story
The Google logo is seen at the "Station F" start up campus in Paris, France, February 15, 2018. Google is banning ads for cryptocurrencies and binary options from June. The search giant is also cracking down on adverts for other financial products such as CFDs, spread bets, and foreign exchange products. Facebook has also banned cryptocurrency adverts. Google's crackdown comes amid sustained pressure on the tech giant over its advertising and content policing. LONDON - Google plans to ban all Read the full story
THE BITCOIN bubble is not over yet according to Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, who said the claims the cryptocurrency bubble has “popped” are “shortsighted”. Chief executive officer at Consensys and Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin said it is "hard to tell" whether bitcoin has lost its appeal but rejected claims that the bitcoin bubble has "burst". Read the full story
The cryptocurrency craze has spread to small businesses that allow customers to pay in bitcoin. Read the full story
Jim Cramer makes the case for buying shares of payment processor Square when its stock sells off. Read the full story
Coinbase recently announced they are launching an index fund. ... Read the full story
The Winklevoss twins have taken on their next project in the cryptocurrency world: regulation. The brothers, who run the Gemini exchange for trading Bitcoin and Ether, have submitted a proposal to create the Virtual Commodity Association, a self-regulatory organization meant to police digital-currency markets and custodians. The non-profit group would aim to develop industry standards, promote transparency and work with regulators including the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Read the full story
Mumbai: The rupee on Wednesday weakened due to heavy demand for the US currency from importers amid foreign fund outflows. Read the full story
Exclusive: G20 financial leaders to speak against unfair trade practices - draft communique
Reuters
U.S. CPI increases 2.2% Y/Y in February, in line with forecasts Read the full story
The Conversation US
U.S. President Donald Trump has exempted Canada, for now, from hefty tariffs on steel. An increase in defence spending would likely stand Canada in greater stead with the president. Read the full story
William R. Rhodes Global Advisors President and CEO Bill Rhodes weighs in on U.S. and China relations. He speaks on "Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia." Read the full story
MEXICO: Industrial Output Rises 0.9% In January From A Year Earlier
RTTNews
Industrial output in Mexico rose 0.9% in January from a year before, gaining strength from the previous month when the output decreased 0.66%, according to the country's statistics office (Inegi). Read the full story
Amazon.com Inc launched its first-ever debit card on Tuesday in Mexico, part of a push to encourage shoppers without bank accounts to buy online. Read the full story
Mark Mobius, emerging markets maven, plans to launch Mobius Capital Management this summer and remains bullish on China. Read the full story
Honor, the smartphone sub-brand of Huawei Technologies, aims to double its overseas shipments this year, driven by growing demand in Southeast Asia’s emerging countries and India Read the full story
Shadowy Terrorist Group Emerges in Iraq
Washington Free Beacon
Zimbabwe: UN Wants to Know How It Can Support Elections
AllAfrica
Zimbabwe: Minerals Board Was Forced to Donate to Ruling Party - Report
AllAfrica
Chinese investment in the U.S. could grind to a halt
CBS News
Trump administration’s emerging trade policy may bar the door to acquisitions by Chinese companies in the U.S. Read the full story
March futures contracts on the Hang Seng Index fell 0.6 per cent to 31,400. China to release Jan-to-Feb economic data on industrial output, fixed-asset investment and retail sales at 10am Read the full story
Architect had brainwave on a building site; the result is the OPod, a 100 square foot, US$15,000 home formed from two lengths of concrete drainpipe and envisioned as temporary accommodation for a family. The Post is first to give it a try Read the full story
Right in the midst of heightening trade tensions between the US and China, China's sovereign wealth fund has sold its entire 9% stake in US investment firm Blackstone. That firm is helmed by Trump's friend and informal adviser, Steve Schwarzman. The fact that this is the way China chose to hit the Trump administration - very personally - says terrible things about what US policy has become. China has dropped one of President Trump's closest friends at a rather delicate moment. In a recent Read the full story
Brexit negotiations accelerating, German official says
Reuters
Germany's Brexit coordinator said on Twitter that negotiations on Britain's looming exit from the European Union were gaining speed and major progress is being made on its withdrawal agreement. Read the full story
Non-stop business knowledge Get more on The Bloomberg App OPINION | FINANCE Efforts by regulators threaten the market's growth. MARCH 14, 2018 7:00 AM EDT The exchange-traded fund juggernaut that's transformed the U.S. investing landscape is just starting to accelerate into Europe. But there's a risk that misguided efforts by European Union regulators to deal with the aftershocks of Brexit will stunt the market's potential. After growing by more than 40 percent last year, Europe's ETF industry Read the full story
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GLOBAL/NEWS/INFO
5 things you need to know Wednesday
USA TODAY
The biggest news to start your morning Read the full story
Despite Equifax breach, Congress may boost credit bureaus
CBS News
This is the world's happiest country
CNN
The United Nations' has released its annual World Happiness Report. What country bumped Norway from the No. 1 spot? Read the full story
CBS News
A new bill would provide free credit freezes for consumers, but it also includes victories for the industry Read the full story
CNN
The United Nations' has released its annual World Happiness Report. What country bumped Norway from the No. 1 spot? Read the full story
OIL/COMMODITIES/ENERGY
Gold Prices Hover Near 1-Week Highs in Cautious Trade
Investing.com
Gold prices supported by fresh U.S. political turmoil Read the full story
Gold Prices Rise as Turmoil in Washington Triggers Safe-Haven Demand
Investing.comCommodities Mar 13, 2018 18:20 GMT Investing.com – Gold prices rose amid an uptick in safe-haven demand on concerns about turmoil in the Trump administration after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was fired on Tuesday. Gold futures for April delivery on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose by $6.40, or 0.49%, to $1,327.20 a troy ounce. President Donald Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, after a falling out on how best to tackle the Iran nuclear deal. Trump hired Read the full story
Crude Oil Prices Move Higher, Eyes on U.S. Supply Data
Investing.com
© Reuters. Crude oil gains ground but upside limited before supply data Read the full story
Commodities Mar 13, 2018 19:07 GMT Investing.com – Crude oil prices settled sharply lower on Tuesday as investors feared a ramp up in U.S. shale output would undermine OPEC’s efforts to cut global supplies. On the New York Mercantile Exchange crude futures for April delivery fell 1.1% to settle at $60.71 a barrel, while on London’s Intercontinental Exchange, Brent lost 0.43% to trade at $64.67 a barrel. U.S. crude production from major shale formations is expected to rise by 131,000 bpd in April Read the full story
© Reuters. Crude oil gains ground but upside limited before supply data Read the full story
Crude Oil Prices Settle Lower as Sentiment Turns Bearish
Investing.comCommodities Mar 13, 2018 19:07 GMT Investing.com – Crude oil prices settled sharply lower on Tuesday as investors feared a ramp up in U.S. shale output would undermine OPEC’s efforts to cut global supplies. On the New York Mercantile Exchange crude futures for April delivery fell 1.1% to settle at $60.71 a barrel, while on London’s Intercontinental Exchange, Brent lost 0.43% to trade at $64.67 a barrel. U.S. crude production from major shale formations is expected to rise by 131,000 bpd in April Read the full story
BANKS/BANKING/CREDIT
Barclays strikes banking deal with major cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase
CNBC
The deal marks the first major partnership between a U.K. bank and cryptocurrency exchange. Read the full story
HDFC Bank Bars People Trading Bitcoin And Other Cryptocurrencies With Its Cards
Inc42
After SBI Bank issued a warning against using SBI credit cards for trading cryptocurrencies, one of the leading private banks of India, HDFC Bank has stated that its credit, debit and prepaid cards will not be permitted for the purchase/trade of Bitcoins, cryptocurrencies, and virtual currencies. Worldwide, a number of banks including Lloyds, Capital One, Bank Of America, Citibank and JP Morgan have already barred their customers from purchasing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies with their Read the full story
Big banks shake up Washington lobbying shops
Reuters
Reuters
Two of Wall Street's largest Washington-based trade groups said on Tuesday that they were merging, as big banks rethink their lobbying strategies under the business-friendly administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Read the full story
Deutsche Bank upgrades Barclays but Citi isn’t convinced
Proactive Investors
Goldman is moving a top banker to Madrid as it looks to staff up outside of London and New York
Business Insider
Goldman Sachs is moving a top banker from London to Madrid. The move is part of an effort to have more bankers in regional cities, as opposed to having them all based in London or New York. LONDON/MADRID (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs is moving one of its senior London-based dealmakers to Madrid as part of a plan to strengthen its European network ahead of Brexit, sources familiar with the matter said. Jorge Alcover, a 43-year old managing director from Catalonia, is in the process of relocating to Read the full story
Though scandals have rocked all three of these industries, the transparency and immutability of blockchain could fix everything. Read the full story
The Clearing House (TCH) and the Financial Services Roundtable (FSR), which both count the likes of Citigroup, Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase among their members, will combine. Big banks, long-reviled in Washington, have been beefing up and refocusing their external and internal lobbying operations in a bid to capitalize upon President Trump's pledge to relax financial rules introduced following the 2007-2009 financial crisis. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two of Wall Street's largest Read the full story
Before Goldman Sachs Group Inc operating chief David Solomon takes the next step in his career, the 56-year-old banker will have to prove that a strategy he has championed to increase annual revenue by $5 billion can actually work. Read the full story
Proactive Investors
A pair of blue-chip analysts today had contrasting views on Barclays PLC (LON:BARC), with Deutsche Bank upgrading its target price, but, Citigroup repeated a sell recommendation. Deutsche lifted the target price to 250p, from 234p, and repeated a ‘buy’ rating. READ: Barclays swings to 2017 loss but shares gain on plans to restore dividend David Lock, Deutsche analyst, in a note, said the bank sent a strong statement of confidence with its dividend and promises of buy-backs. “Now the bank’s Read the full story
Trump makes investment banking fees uncertain again
7News
7News
By Liana B. Baker and Carl O'Donnell (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's dramatic intervention in Singapore-based Broadcom Ltd's $117 billion hostile bid for U.S. semiconductor peer Qualcomm Inc is the latest reminder to investment bankers not to take lucrative fees on transformative mergers for granted under his administration. Seven investment banks that were backing Broadcom's bid for Qualcomm, the largest acquisition ever attempted in the technology sector, stand to lose out on fees as a Read the full story
Business Insider
Goldman Sachs is moving a top banker from London to Madrid. The move is part of an effort to have more bankers in regional cities, as opposed to having them all based in London or New York. LONDON/MADRID (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs is moving one of its senior London-based dealmakers to Madrid as part of a plan to strengthen its European network ahead of Brexit, sources familiar with the matter said. Jorge Alcover, a 43-year old managing director from Catalonia, is in the process of relocating to Read the full story
Blockchain Could Restore Consumer Trust in These 3 Industries
The Motley FoolThough scandals have rocked all three of these industries, the transparency and immutability of blockchain could fix everything. Read the full story
'Everyone's really concentrating their power': Wall Street banks are shaking up their lobbying shops
Business InsiderThe Clearing House (TCH) and the Financial Services Roundtable (FSR), which both count the likes of Citigroup, Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase among their members, will combine. Big banks, long-reviled in Washington, have been beefing up and refocusing their external and internal lobbying operations in a bid to capitalize upon President Trump's pledge to relax financial rules introduced following the 2007-2009 financial crisis. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two of Wall Street's largest Read the full story
Goldman's Solomon sets out to prove bank's revenue engine can roar again
ReutersBefore Goldman Sachs Group Inc operating chief David Solomon takes the next step in his career, the 56-year-old banker will have to prove that a strategy he has championed to increase annual revenue by $5 billion can actually work. Read the full story
TREASURIES/BONDS/STOCKS
US Treasury yields slip ahead of data; politics in focus
CNBC
U.S. government debt prices were higher on Wednesday. Read the full story
Retail sales — What you need to know in markets on Wednesday
Yahoo FinanceInvestors will focus on the retail sector on Wednesday as markets look to bounce back after a weak close Tuesday that followed a chaotic dat Read the full story
U.S. junk bonds exhibit stress, investors want stronger terms
ReutersCracks have been surfacing in the junk bond market. Read the full story
How Powerful Is The Fed?
Investor's Business DailyIt is March 2009. The American economy is rapidly collapsing. The previous month, payroll jobs had dropped by a staggering 650,000. The grim outlook stokes gallows humor. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke receives a call from a top Fed official. "Do you want some good news?" the official asks. "Please," Bernanke responds. "Call somebody else."... Read the full story
INSURANCE/HEALTH
Doctors hunt for hidden cancers with glowing dyes
ABC News
Researchers are testing fluorescent dyes that make cancer cells glow to make them easier for surgeons to find, giving patients a better shot at survival Read the full story
What is ALS, the condition Stephen Hawking lived with for over 5 decades?
CNNAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly known as ALS, is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease. It affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that make the muscles of both the upper and lower body work. Read the full story
5 Serious Health Conditions That Can Be Passed Down Through Your Genes
Women's HealthIf you're anything like us, you've probably been eyeing the fancy mail-in genetic tests that are all over the interwebs these days, wondering what they could possibly reveal about the secrets of your DNA. Although many offer entertaining insights—curious if you’re genetically predisposed to sport a unibrow or sneeze when you look at the sun?—the real potential of such testing is to reveal your likelihood for developing serious health conditions. For example, DNA tests from Color ($250,amazon.com Read the full story
7 Shocking Ways You Didn't Know People Could Die
BustleWhen it comes to tamping down your usual worries and anxieties about life, you might not want to zero in on all the weird ways to die. As long as you take care of yourself and get regular checkups, you're doin' what you gotta do. And yet, it doesn't … Read the full story
I've Never Felt More Anxious Than When I’m on a Plane—and I've Tried Every Fix
Health.comI don't consider myself to be an overly anxious person—but when I travel, I turn into somebody I don’t even recognize. Read the full story
Insurance companies charge patients more in co-pays than medicines actually cost, study finds
The WeekYou might be paying more in co-pays than your medication actually costs. In a new study published Tuesday in the medical journal JAMA, researchers found that out of the 9.5 million claims for prescription medication in 2013, insurance companies charged more than the base price for the drug in 2.2 million cases. Patients were overcharged for generic drugs 28 percent of the time, the study found, and for brand name drugs 6 percent of the time — for a grand total of $135 million in overpayments. Read the full story
CRYPTO'S / DIGITAL CURRENCY
Bitcoin price SHOCK: Cryptocurrency values could PLUMMET after MAJOR G20 regulation talks
Express
FINANCE ministers and central bankers are set to hold major talks on the future of cryptocurrencies at a meeting of the G20 next week and could cause prices to plummet. Representatives of France and Germany have requested talks on policy and monetary implications of cryptocurrencies be part of the agenda for the international meeting. The officials put forward their request in a letter to the finance minister of Argentina, who currently hold the G20 presidency, last month. Read the full story
Bitcoin Is Worthless, Bubble May Pop Soon, Allianz Global Says
BloombergNon-stop business knowledge Get more on The Bloomberg App The symbols of Bitcoin and Ethereum cryptocurrencies sit displayed on a screen. It’s a matter of when, not if, the Bitcoin bubble will pop, according to Allianz Global Investors. The cryptocurrency is worthless, even if blockchain technology could bring significant benefits to investors, said the investment arm of Europe’s biggest insurer, which manages almost 500 billion euro. “In our view, its intrinsic value must be zero,” Stefan Read the full story
Google is banning all bitcoin, ICO, and cryptocurrency ads from June
Business InsiderThe Google logo is seen at the "Station F" start up campus in Paris, France, February 15, 2018. Google is banning ads for cryptocurrencies and binary options from June. The search giant is also cracking down on adverts for other financial products such as CFDs, spread bets, and foreign exchange products. Facebook has also banned cryptocurrency adverts. Google's crackdown comes amid sustained pressure on the tech giant over its advertising and content policing. LONDON - Google plans to ban all Read the full story
Bitcoin price: Ethereum founder says it's 'shortsighted' to claim crypto bubble has POPPED
ExpressTHE BITCOIN bubble is not over yet according to Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, who said the claims the cryptocurrency bubble has “popped” are “shortsighted”. Chief executive officer at Consensys and Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin said it is "hard to tell" whether bitcoin has lost its appeal but rejected claims that the bitcoin bubble has "burst". Read the full story
Bitcoin wins over small business looking to cut credit card fees
Fox BusinessThe cryptocurrency craze has spread to small businesses that allow customers to pay in bitcoin. Read the full story
Cramer: Square's bitcoin-related sell-offs are buying opportunities
CNBCJim Cramer makes the case for buying shares of payment processor Square when its stock sells off. Read the full story
A gentle critique of the new Coinbase index fund
TechCrunchCoinbase recently announced they are launching an index fund. ... Read the full story
Winklevoss Twins Have a Plan to Police Cryptocurrency Trading
FORTUNEThe Winklevoss twins have taken on their next project in the cryptocurrency world: regulation. The brothers, who run the Gemini exchange for trading Bitcoin and Ether, have submitted a proposal to create the Virtual Commodity Association, a self-regulatory organization meant to police digital-currency markets and custodians. The non-profit group would aim to develop industry standards, promote transparency and work with regulators including the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Read the full story
CURRENCIES
Forex - Dollar Holds onto Modest Gains, Fresh U.S. Data on Tap
Investing.com
© Reuters. Dollar remains moderately higher vs. other majors Read the full story
Investing.com
© Reuters. Dollar remains moderately higher vs. other majors Read the full story
Forex - Dollar Pushes Higher but Soft Inflation, Tillerson Firing Weigh
Investing.com
Forex - Euro Broadly Lower in Cautious Trade
Investing.com
© Reuters. Dollar edges up but soft inflation, Tillerson firing weigh Read the full story
Investing.com
© Reuters. Euro broadly lower in cautious trade Read the full story
Loonie falls half a cent after Poloz speech
CBC News
The dollar comes under renewed selling pressure, falling half a cent after Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz's speech suggests the pace of interest rates hikes may become more gradual as the economy expands without triggering inflation. Read the full story
Pound to euro exchange rate: Sterling IMPROVES following 2018 growth forecast
Express
THE POUND has improved against the euro following the Office for Budget Responsibility's growth forecast for 2018, but the exchange rate is still making slow progression. The pound is currently trading against the euro at £1.127, a slight improvement from yesterday's figures of £1.126. Read the full story
Express
THE POUND has improved against the euro following the Office for Budget Responsibility's growth forecast for 2018, but the exchange rate is still making slow progression. The pound is currently trading against the euro at £1.127, a slight improvement from yesterday's figures of £1.126. Read the full story
Rupee weakens against US dollar
LivemintMumbai: The rupee on Wednesday weakened due to heavy demand for the US currency from importers amid foreign fund outflows. Read the full story
USA/CANADA
Exclusive: G20 financial leaders to speak against unfair trade practices - draft communique
Reuters
The world's financial leaders will pledge to fight unfair trade practices and stress the role of global trade rules when they meet on March 20, as the United States raises the threat of a global trade war by imposing import tariffs on steel and aluminum. Read the full story
U.S. Steel's Trump-Tariff Gains Melt Away As Stock Sinks On Downgrade
Investor's Business Daily
U.S. Steel shed some of its tariff-related gains after an analyst downgraded the stock over its latest guidance. Read the full story
U.S. Steel shed some of its tariff-related gains after an analyst downgraded the stock over its latest guidance. Read the full story
U.S. Annual Inflation Rises 2.2% in February
Investing.comU.S. CPI increases 2.2% Y/Y in February, in line with forecasts Read the full story
Why Canada shouldn't always count on special treatment from the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump has exempted Canada, for now, from hefty tariffs on steel. An increase in defence spending would likely stand Canada in greater stead with the president. Read the full story
Rhodes Sees Most Difficult U.S., China Relations Since Tiananmen Square
BloombergWilliam R. Rhodes Global Advisors President and CEO Bill Rhodes weighs in on U.S. and China relations. He speaks on "Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia." Read the full story
EMERGING MARKETS
MEXICO: Industrial Output Rises 0.9% In January From A Year Earlier
RTTNews
Industrial output in Mexico rose 0.9% in January from a year before, gaining strength from the previous month when the output decreased 0.66%, according to the country's statistics office (Inegi). Read the full story
Amazon launches first debit card in Mexico e-commerce push
ReutersAmazon.com Inc launched its first-ever debit card on Tuesday in Mexico, part of a push to encourage shoppers without bank accounts to buy online. Read the full story
Emerging markets maven Mark Mobius to launch a new firm with sights on China
CNBCMark Mobius, emerging markets maven, plans to launch Mobius Capital Management this summer and remains bullish on China. Read the full story
Huawei counts on badge of Honor to lead race with Samsung, Apple for global smartphone crown
South China Morning PostHonor, the smartphone sub-brand of Huawei Technologies, aims to double its overseas shipments this year, driven by growing demand in Southeast Asia’s emerging countries and India Read the full story
MIDDLE EAST
Shadowy Terrorist Group Emerges in Iraq
Washington Free Beacon
A new group in Iraq called White Flag is coming under close scrutiny by U.S. intelligence agencies amid concerns the terrorist organization could become a regional successor to the Islamic State. Read the full story
Iraq: No border demarcation with Kurdish region
Aljazeera
Aljazeera
The Iraqi military has denied reports about demarcating borders between the central government in Baghdad and northern Iraq's Kurdish region. Local media said Monday Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) had agreed to demarcate a border between the two sides, in an effort to solve the issue of the deployment of Kurdish Peshmerga forces in northern Iraq. In a statement, military spokesman Brigadier-General Yehia Rasul described the reports as "groundless". "There is no truth in Read the full story
Gulf Arabs relish Tillerson firing; Iran weighs nuclear deal
ABC News
ABC News
The Gulf Arabs want a more hawkish US stance toward Tehran and Qatar. Read the full story
AFRICA
Zimbabwe: UN Wants to Know How It Can Support Elections
AllAfrica
A senior United Nations Development Program (UNDP) officer will visit Zimbabwe this week where he will meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his two aides, vice presidents Kembo Mohadi and Constantino Chiwenga, and find out how the agency can assist Zimbabwe during the elections. UNDP administrator Achim Steiner will visit Zimbabwe from 15th to 18th March and this will be the first visit by a UN official since the end of Robert Mugabe's 37 year rule through a coup in November 2017. Steiner, who Read the full story
AllAfrica
Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) officials told the Public Accounts Committee that they were constantly forced to donate towards Zanu PF events during president Robert Mugabe's era. The officials were answering to questions on abuse of public funds noted in the 2016 Auditor General's reports. The committee needed an explanation on the source of the funds and the specific beneficiaries of the unforeseen expenditures. Law maker Godfrey Sithole asked the managers to explain why the Read the full story
Zimbabwe: Teachers Fume Over Mnangagwa's 'Barren' 100 Days
AllAfrica
AllAfrica
The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Ptuz) have vowed to confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government for allegedly turning a blind eye to teachers' plight during its much-vaunted first 100 days in office. In a strongly worded statement co-signed by Ptuz President Takavafira Zhou and secretary general Raymond Majongwe, the independent teachers group accused the new President of attempts to please all except workers. "As much as many things have happened in schools under ED's Read the full story
Zimbabwe: Energy Boss Worked Chivayo Before Presiding Over Tender
AllAfrica
AllAfrica
Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) board chairperson Stanley Chizhanje came under fire in Parliament Monday over the scandal-hit $200m solar power project awarded to controversial tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo. Chizhanje admitted before MPs that he carried out consultation work for Chivhayo's Intratek company on the Gwanda solar project and that he failed to declare his interest when appointed to lead the ZPC board. Legislators also heard that Chizhanje prepared the tender documents Chivayo presented Read the full story
Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa Appeals for Sanctions Removal
AllAfrica
AllAfrica
President Mnangagwa has appealed to countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe to remove them as his administration had opened a new page economically and politically. In a statement published by the New York Times, which he also posted on his Facebook page, President Mnangagwa said those insisting on the illegal embargo were living in the past. "Zimbabwe is changing -- politically, economically and societally -- and we ask those who have punished us in the past to reconsider their sanctions Read the full story
Zimbabwean Cryptocurrency Exchange Platform Compromised by Hackers
Techweez
Doctors across Zimbabwe go on strike over pay, drug shortages
Reuters
Doctors at public hospitals across Zimbabwe have gone on strike and will not return to work until the government meets their demands for better pay and working conditions, a spokesman for a doctors' unions said on Tuesday. Read the full story
Techweez
Golix, a Zimbabwean cryptocurrency exchange platform that is said to be processing about $1 million per month, has disclosed a breach into their systems that took place on the 12th of March 2018, via an email to their customers. According to the email, a limited number of Golix accounts fell victim to unsolicited third party access – The […] Read On Web → Zimbabwean Cryptocurrency Exchange Platform Compromised by Hackers Read the full story
Reuters
Doctors at public hospitals across Zimbabwe have gone on strike and will not return to work until the government meets their demands for better pay and working conditions, a spokesman for a doctors' unions said on Tuesday. Read the full story
ASIA
Chinese investment in the U.S. could grind to a halt
CBS News
Trump administration’s emerging trade policy may bar the door to acquisitions by Chinese companies in the U.S. Read the full story
Asian Equities Retreat Amid Fears of U.S. Protectionism; China Data in Focus
Investing.com
© Reuters. Asian equities retreated in afternoon trade Read the full story
Hong Kong’s stock index futures fall on political uncertainty in Trump administration
South China Morning PostMarch futures contracts on the Hang Seng Index fell 0.6 per cent to 31,400. China to release Jan-to-Feb economic data on industrial output, fixed-asset investment and retail sales at 10am Read the full story
My night in a tube home, low-cost housing concept for Hong Kong – cosy, but noisy and, in midwinter, chilly
South China Morning PostArchitect had brainwave on a building site; the result is the OPod, a 100 square foot, US$15,000 home formed from two lengths of concrete drainpipe and envisioned as temporary accommodation for a family. The Post is first to give it a try Read the full story
China just made this trade war very personal
Business InsiderRight in the midst of heightening trade tensions between the US and China, China's sovereign wealth fund has sold its entire 9% stake in US investment firm Blackstone. That firm is helmed by Trump's friend and informal adviser, Steve Schwarzman. The fact that this is the way China chose to hit the Trump administration - very personally - says terrible things about what US policy has become. China has dropped one of President Trump's closest friends at a rather delicate moment. In a recent Read the full story
Asian shares slip on U.S. protectionism fears
Business Insider
FILE PHOTO - A man walks past an electronic stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo Thomson Reuters By Swati Pandey SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares eased on Wednesday amid fears of rising U.S. protectionism as President Donald Trump fired his Secretary of State, regarded as a moderate in his administration, and eyes hefty tariffs on Chinese imports. The combination left investors scurrying for safety as global equities took a knock, the dollar fell and bonds rose. MSCI's broadest Read the full story
Business Insider
FILE PHOTO - A man walks past an electronic stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo Thomson Reuters By Swati Pandey SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares eased on Wednesday amid fears of rising U.S. protectionism as President Donald Trump fired his Secretary of State, regarded as a moderate in his administration, and eyes hefty tariffs on Chinese imports. The combination left investors scurrying for safety as global equities took a knock, the dollar fell and bonds rose. MSCI's broadest Read the full story
EUROPE
Brexit negotiations accelerating, German official says
Reuters
Germany's Brexit coordinator said on Twitter that negotiations on Britain's looming exit from the European Union were gaining speed and major progress is being made on its withdrawal agreement. Read the full story
Opinion | Brexit Threatens to Stunt Europe's ETF Revolution
BloombergNon-stop business knowledge Get more on The Bloomberg App OPINION | FINANCE Efforts by regulators threaten the market's growth. MARCH 14, 2018 7:00 AM EDT The exchange-traded fund juggernaut that's transformed the U.S. investing landscape is just starting to accelerate into Europe. But there's a risk that misguided efforts by European Union regulators to deal with the aftershocks of Brexit will stunt the market's potential. After growing by more than 40 percent last year, Europe's ETF industry Read the full story
Broken Brexit promise? Theresa May AGREES free movement will last until 2021 in climbdown
Express
THERESA May has agreed to the EU transition deal but has backed down over the UK’s borders which will not close in 2019 but remain open until 2021, it has been reported. The Government said free movement would end in 2019 and there would be a time-limited exit period. But the Cabinet sub-committee in charge of negotiations have agreed to keep the UK’s borders open for EU citizens until 2021. In January, Brexit negotiator David Davis said there could be an “implementation phase” which would allow Read the full story
Britain and Russia brace for showdown as deadline expires for nerve attack explanation
Reuters
Britain braced for a showdown with Russia on Wednesday after a midnight deadline set by Prime Minister Theresa May expired without an explanation from Moscow about how a Soviet-era nerve toxin was used to strike down a former Russian double agent. Read the full story
The BDI industry body would prefer deep integration between the UK and the EU after Brexit, it says. Read the full story
Reuters
Britain braced for a showdown with Russia on Wednesday after a midnight deadline set by Prime Minister Theresa May expired without an explanation from Moscow about how a Soviet-era nerve toxin was used to strike down a former Russian double agent. Read the full story
UK should stay in a customs union, say German business groups
BBC News USThe BDI industry body would prefer deep integration between the UK and the EU after Brexit, it says. Read the full story
Blessed and Highly Favored:
CBI Update:
The CBI for Thursday 3/15/18 did update on the indicative rates Sell Rate 1184
The currency auction is 200,110,472
There is no news and announcements for Thursday 3/15/18
ISX Update:
Value Traded
2,086,867,970
Shares Traded
3,485,892,541
ISX ended in Red
3-15-2018 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat So recently many asked me when is the 90 days up for the MCP monitoring program by the IMF? The reinstatement submittal was done in late December. No firm date is known. Get it? The article did not give us a date. If we give a week from the last week in December for the IMF to review Iraq’s request this puts us to at least the end of the year 2017. Then if they do place a mandatory monitoring program in place for the MCP we can see 90 days probably begins around Jan 1st. So if we go out 90 days then where do we land? So knowing all this then when do you think we might see it happen? ...no one knows the date of the RV, we only speculate and try to figure it out using the best information we have on hand at the time. It’s not rocket science to see a possible window coming up very soon...
3-14-2018 Newshound Guru Apmcrx Article: “Abadi: Iraq will become an economic power in the world” IMO in My speculative opinion!!!... Every day Iraq is telling us they will be a great again (like america) but this "economic development" is something that no any country can make overnight...not even U.S...so in my opinion the reforms will work over the time maybe all the way to the next Iraqs fiscal year or maybe the next after that one...IMO.
3-14-2018 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat
...Remember...Iraq just declared an end to the war with ISIS in early December 2017. So the CBI has to continue the process of rolling this out with the IMF. This takes time and I have been showing you the road to the Reinstatement (Not a Revaluation). Iraq does not plan to do a revaluation as they first must get their currency “reinstated” back on the global exchanges. When they do this we suspect they will go with at least a $3.00+ USD rate to 1 dinar.3-14-2018 Newshound Guru Adam Montana Dinar is so on the verge of making a breakthrough. I don’t even know what to say right now! Yes, this could be another false flag… but it might be our time. Many of us are about to receive an incredible amount of wealth...
3-14-2018 Newshound Guru Don961 Article: "The Presidency of the Republic reveals the reason for the refusal of the infallible ratification of the budget" imo...the key phrases are: "the existence of about 31 points intersect with the legislation in force,"...re-audit form and content of Constitutional, legal and financial aspects ". "...scrutinize in detail to diagnose the most important constitutional and legal and financial violations of some of the articles or items or paragraphs that need to be addressed before ratification and to address any imbalance in the formulation Formalism". Masoum is fixing the redundancy and the illegalities of some of the added articles ... that Parliament overlooked or ignored.
3-14-2018 Intel Guru RayRen98 Access to international airports in Kurdistan region have been restored. Full international flights are expected by March 15. Iraqi TV is reporting that Erbil has reclaimed previously disputed areas. Parliament processed 11 laws today, now at recess until Thursday. Banks are supposedly waiting on Iraq to make its rate changes public before they spring into exchange action. Alaq was on TV indicating that all of the banks in Kurdistan will take their lead from the CBI. Parliament calls for an urgent meeting regarding the federal budget, in spite of the recess. Iraqi citizens are being told to expect to see the lower denoms released sometime next week.
3-14-2018 Intel Guru Bruce ...we know Iraqi Americans have Qi cards like they do in Iraq, and we know they are able to go on those cards at midnight tonight [Tuesday] and be able to have access to their funds and see quite possibly a new rate populated...see the value of the Iraqi dinar to the dollar. That is good and positive for them. ...I will tell you from what I am hearing everything is moving forward in that arena...I thought there was a possibility of it going yesterday afternoon, but I felt there be greater of it going this week Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. I have been told since by at least 5 or 6 sources that this is imminent...we are right here, right where we need to be. We see a lot of progress that is going through, and we know it is happening according to a plan. It may not be our plan, but it is happening according to a plan. We just have to sometimes resign ourselves to the fact this process is taking longer than we thought. I think we are pretty much ready. We are looking for a start. We do believe it...should be this week as far as I heard. d
Elmer:
Not in today
Artmeister:
Not in today
Catnip: d
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ARTICLE 1 (from PM Abadi's website
Prime Minister Dr. Haider Abadi: We are proud of our diversity after he wanted to eliminate this diversity
March 14, 2018
Prime Minister Dr. Haider Al-Abbadi stressed the importance of not wasting the great victory that has been achieved and that it should be preserved in our unity, stressing that we are proud of our diversity after he wanted to eliminate this diversity.
"We are happy to be in this province that got rid of the terrorism that wanted Iraq to end and the world expected that Iraq is over, but we have won and liberated our regions by our heroic fighters," he said during a speech to a large gathering of Nineveh tribes.
He added that everyone should study the reasons for the victory that was achieved, as well as why the collapse took place and what its causes are, noting that our unity is one of the main reasons for our victory.
Dr. Haider al-Abadi said that the Iraqis were able to confront this horror and won when they stopped the differences and fought together from all sects and religions.
He also pointed out that we have broken terrorism and can build a new structure and a strong country as we embark on a new victory in reconstruction, stability and job creation.
Prime Minister 's Media Office
March 14, 2018
>>>>> Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Dr. Haider Al-Abbadi held a meeting with the security and military leaders to lead the Nineveh operations
>>>>> Prime Minister Dr. Haider Abadi: The world is ahead of us because it has confidence in Iraq
>>>>> Prime Minister Dr. Haider Al-Abbadi holds a meeting with the directors of the administrative and service units in Nineveh province
>>>>> Prime Minister Dr. Haidar Al-Abadi inaugurates the ancient bridge in the city of Mosul
>>>>> Prime Minister Dr. Haider Abadi: The people of Nineveh stand today and unite to rebuild their province and thwart schemes to tear up their society
>>>>> Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Haider Al-Abbadi, attends the funeral of the martyr, the commander of the 57th Brigade, Brigadier General Sharif Ismail Al-Morshedi
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ARTICLE 2
Jubouri: Budget has become a law and the objectors can challenge the Federal Court
2018/3/14 18:32
[Ayna-Baghdad]
Speaker of the Parliament Salim al-Jubouri said that the draft budget law became a law after the vote by the Council and any remarks can be fixed on the origin of the law and challenged in the Federal Court.
Al-Jubouri said in a press statement received by the agency All Iraq [where] a copy of it today that "the formula of rejection in a way [veto] is not present in the Iraqi constitution and can not be adopted as a way to reject."
He explained that "the House of Representatives is not interested in introducing the draft budget law again or to make any vote on any paragraph, what was voted on must be taken into account through the continuation of the normal procedures of publishing."
Jabouri said "consideration should be given to the observations made but they have no effect on the origin of the law as a law that was voted on."
Al-Jubouri stressed that "the budget is still after the vote in the House of Representatives and take the natural contexts of publication and the time limits set by the Constitution," stressing that "the budget will not be presented again to the House of Representatives and there will be no paragraph in the review of the vote at all."
He pointed out that "the normal situation after the vote of the House of Representatives on the budget be in view of the nature of the observations that were submitted and then re-sent back to the presidency to take the time period for the purpose of publication."
The President of the Republic Fuad Masum, on Tuesday, the draft federal budget bill for the fiscal year 2018 and voted by the House of Representatives on 3/3/2018, to the Council to re-examine the form and content of the constitutional, legal and financial.
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ARTICLE 3
Adviser to the President of the Republic: The return of some laws from the presidency to parliament is normal and constitutional
BAGHDAD, March 14 (UPI) - Responding to President Fuad Masoum's response to the 2018 budget law to the Iraqi parliament with his refusal to sign it as it includes 31 legal and constitutional violations, the legal adviser to the president said on Wednesday that " The presidency to parliament is normal and within its constitutional powers. "
He said that "the restoration of some laws, including the budget law to parliament by the presidency of the Republic is normal and within the powers of the constitutional president, the existence of several violations of law, where it was re-amended in order to ratify it," noting that "the Presidency has already returned more Of the law in order to amend it and not the first time it gets this issue, among the observations that have been recorded on the law of the budget standardization of formulations and form and the use of illegal vocabulary such as fine and tax fee instead of the existence of errors in the vocabulary.
He concluded by saying that "the Audit Committee of the Presidency of the Republic is obliged to review all the laws before the ratification and published in the Official Gazette and confirm their observations and presented to the President of the Republic to take the appropriate decision and this is what happened with the law of the general budget and not related to the issue of party and nationalism, but a constitutional right exercised by the Presidency Republic ". AH
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ARTICLE 4
Deputy for power: Several important laws ready to vote
2018/3/15 10:20
[Ayna-Baghdad]
The MP of the coalition of Iraqi forces that several draft laws are ready to vote and waiting for consensus and quorum in the House of Representatives.
"The parliament is about to complete its legislative age and the people are waiting to pass several important laws to be a positive sign of the current council in the democratic and legislative process in the country," Khamis al-Mahlawi said in a statement.
"One of the most important of these laws is the unified pension law, nursing law, health professions, federal service, accountability, justice and its members."
He called Mahlawi "members of parliament to achieve a quorum and work to pass laws to serve the people of the country, which is expected from his representatives positive steps in this regard."
The House of Representatives is scheduled to hold its regular session on Thursday. The parliament has failed in recent weeks to hold several meetings because of the absence of deputies and the failure to achieve a quorum.
The Presidency of the House of Representatives increased the penalty for absentee MPs to lift the fine of absence from one session from 500 thousand dinars to one million dinars, but without achieving a result.
Observers attributed the inability of the parliament to hold its meetings in the recent period to the preoccupation of members of the electoral campaigns, although informal, although remained about a month for the current parliamentary session before the general elections on 12 May.
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ARTICLE 5
To launch inspections in the Hamrin mountain range in search of remnants to promote security in the region
Salah al-Din - Iraq Press - March 15: The Military Information Cell reported on Thursday that it was carrying out searches in the Hamrin mountain range in search of safe remnants in order to impose security in the region.
"The first regiment of the 88th Brigade, with the support of the Directorate of Science Police, carried out pre-emptive inspections in the Hamrin mountain range in search of spare parts. The operations are continuing in this chain to extend security."
It is noteworthy that the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Haider Abadi, announced in December 2017, the final victory over the urging and liberation of all Iraqi territory from his control, stressing that the joy of victory was completed by maintaining the unity of Iraq, which was on the brink of division. Ending
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ARTICLE 6
Learn about the benefits of cycling
LONDON (Reuters) - Cycling athletes up to the age of 89 have testosterone levels more than younger men and have lower levels of body fat than men in their 20s, according to a new British study from the University of Birmingham.
"The study of 125 cyclists with different ages has stronger immune systems than others, making them less susceptible to seasonal infections such as influenza, viruses and pneumonia," the British Daily Mail reported.
"The cyclists do not exercise but are healthy because cycling is an exercise," said Stephen Harridge, director of the Center for Physical and Human Sciences at King's College London. Already completed. (1)
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d
TNT Call 14-March-2018 by Adept 1 – Highlights only
RayRen: Good afternoon, TNT super-fantastic family! This is Wednesday, March 14, 2018, with yours truly RayRen98 here, along with…
Tuesday’s update:
· Access to international airports in Kurdistan region have been restored. Full international flights expected by March 15. · Iraqi TV is reporting that Erbil has reclaimed previously disputed areas. Parliament processed 11 laws today, now in recess until Thursday.
· Banks are supposedly waiting on Iraq to make its rate changes public before they spring into exchange action.
· Alaq was on TV indicating that all of the banks in Kurdistan will take their lead from the CBI.
· Parliament calls for an urgent meeting regarding the federal budget, in spite of the recess.
· The Zimbabwean government has entertained the idea of removing the Zim from the first basket due to confusion regarding the final details and disposition.
· Some members with Zim appointments for Tuesday have been rescheduled.
· Iraqi citizens are being told to expect to see the lower denoms released sometime next week
Tony: Goooood morning, TNT!
The banks were going to go, gearing up, but this morning they were not. In Iraq, Abadi came out and said the budget could not be challenged the way they were trying to do it. They could not send it back or make adjustments until it became law and the entire process might take it to the 21st.
The Kurdistan leader did not want to sign off on it. There were 31 adjustments they wanted to make to it. That is all to be done when it becomes law, which should be the 21st. An article came out that everybody is lovey-dovey and Iraq is all one.
The Budget and the lower denominations are to be out in the next seven days. Everything comes down to the 21st of this month, meaning March 21 [which is the Persian New Year]. Parliament is broadcasting that today the Iraqi President will sign off on the Budget. International service has resumed at the Kurdistan airport.
The banks are doing nothing – they are sitting and waiting on Iraq to change their rate. We still haven’t received a copy of the NDA, nor the 800 numbers. They are still talking about whether to give out the 800 numbers or publish them on a website that we would then send you to
SKRs are waiting to be paid out; they will hold their balance at one billion dollars, with 3% paid monthly on any balance over one billion for anyone who has it already. We have some information for veterans but are not authorized to release it.
The point of gift letter is so that a chain of ownership is known or recorded.
Contrary to the rumor we heard, it’s unlikely that Zim will be moved to the second basket as people exchanging other currencies in the first basket will simply purchase more Zim with their funds. I don’t see that happening; something will be worked out one way or the other.
Trusts: People don’t own trusts. If you have put your currencies into a trust, you will commit a crime if you want to take them back into your personal possession. On the other hand, you can create as many trust as you can keep up with.
The 80/20 split with a higher rate based on humanitarian projects is still an option. Don’t give anything away until this goes live and we KNOW what is actually going on.
[I was not on the call for any Q+A from the forum.]
Questions from live callers
865/404: So it’s any time in the next seven days…?
Tony: Yes.
281 caller: We have been getting all these deadlines, for several years now. One concern I have is that those wanting to stop the RV seem to be stronger than those who want it to go forward. If they can delay this until May, then Maliki can still run again…
Tony: I hear that a lot as part of the scenario – and then they have another excuse for another year. Why is Maliki still around after everything he did? Because his party is still in place and he was in a strong position until a month ago. Some in Iraq are saying that the US is already messing with an election that hasn’t happened yet, and that we are leaving Abadi in there until this is stabilized. Then we will deal with Maliki, and he will be gone to safety in Iran. Maliki wants to replace the US forces with Iran; that’s what he and his side would prefer. This morning, it was announced that the US is building the biggest military base ever in Mosul. We want to protect what we spent ten years liberating.
Caller: So it doesn’t look like Maliki will get back in?
Tony: I think this will happen before then anyway.
610 caller: if you are financially able to donate, please send your checks and money orders to Ray Renfrow, PO Box 1748, Elm City, NC 27822. You can find the address at www.tntsuperfantastic.com; click on the Donate button and send your check today.
Closing Statement
I think this is a good call for getting information about the process, including where we are getting the information from. Ray was hearing earlier that on our most popular call, we have 83, 000 on the call. We are being heard by a million people per week between those who are on the call or listening to the playback. However, people listen as we bring in the information, and somehow people end up thinking Tony can make the decision and they want to know why we don’t call the bank and demand that they do our exchanges. I can’t! If I could, I would have done it ten days ago. All I can do is to give you the information, and help you see thing so that you can get the best out of this opportunity when it does happen. I want you to understand what is available to you, so that you can receive this money AND hold onto it. I want you to create a legacy for your family, unlike all those athletes who have made lots of money and then lost it again. When this happens to you, you will be so excited and happy until all your relationships change. I have people who have known about currency for years, and they still aren’t ready for the day they go to the bank, not to mention all the days after that.
Something is scheduled to happen between the 13th and the 21st. I don’t know what moment it is supposed to happen, but those who should know want to get this over with. I don’t know how many times it’s going to change, but I do know that is the current plan.
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