For those who can't get on OM, and who don't have access to the forum. I will post here the articles I like for the day and some of my thoughts. Check back later
Iraqi sources indicated that President Barham Saleh will appoint a candidate for the position of prime minister today, according to what was published by "Sky News Arabia".
And the Iraqi parliament approved last December the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, after the escalation of confrontations between the demonstrators and the security forces, and the fall of a number of deaths by the security forces, which considered Abdul-Mahdi "an important step to dismantle the crisis and calm the conditions in Iraq."
In the past few voices, the ruling political class in Iraq has called for the withdrawal of American forces.
This happened, as we know, against the background of America's assassination of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis in Baghdad.The political class in Iraq considered this a violation of the sovereignty of Iraq, and on this basis it calls for the withdrawal of American forces, as if this withdrawal is the only one that will achieve the sovereignty of Iraq on the ground.
In principle, we agree with the statement that what America did is actually a violation of the sovereignty of Iraq, as it carried out the operation without consulting the Iraqi authorities or coordinating with them.
But the fact is that in the case of Iraq, the issue of sovereignty is far more complicated and far more than this ... more complicated and far beyond merely limiting it to this American violation.
First of all, everyone knows that the entire political class in Iraq is indebted to its presence in America and the American forces.
All members of this class, whether they are in the government, or in Parliament, or in political parties, or in sectarian militias .. All of them originally entered Iraq on the tanks of America when they invaded and occupied Iraq.And we remember that all of these people celebrated the wedding and nights of Al-Mallah in celebration of the American invasion and occupation.
All of them would not have governed and held the necks of Iraqis and Iraq had it not been for the American occupation and the criminal sectarian quotas system that he intentionally established in Iraq.
Not all of these people would have ruled to this day and hid Iran and its actual occupation of Iraq had it not been for America that gave way to Iran's domination of Iraq's capabilities.
We want to say that it is far from the tumultuous voice of these people today and their allegations regarding the slogan of sovereignty and the demand for the withdrawal of American forces, from the extreme glory and absurdity of minds to direct criticism to America in particular and portray themselves as if they were defending the independence and sovereignty of Iraq.
Where was the sovereignty of Iraq when Iran invaded Iraq and imposed its authority and hegemony and confiscated its capabilities and all and any decision of this political class?
Where was the sovereignty of Iraq when the Iranian regime destroyed the country's economy and made all its capabilities and wealth recruited to serve Iran?
Where was the sovereignty of Iraq when the terrorist Shiite militias called the popular crowd arose and became Iran's tool for humiliating the Iraqi people and imposing the Iranian will on them with violence, coercion and terrorism?
Sistani supports the demonstrations in Iraq and refuses to receive politicians to inspect his health
Confirmed information was leaked from the Green Zone stating that there was diplomatic mobility to obtain guarantees from the American embassy not to target the leaders of the armed factions. Assurances to the militia leaders not to target them in exchange for stopping any provocative movement against American interests and institutions in Iraq.
Iraqi lawmakers cautioned against a US move towards the Security Council to pass a resolution that would allow American forces to remain in Iraq under an international cover to protect democracy, and to save the lives of thousands of activists who are subjected to targeted assassinations.
On the other hand, the Shiite authority, Ali Sistani, perpetuated the protests when he received a delegation of protesters on the occasion of a broken leg.
Al-Sistani's office quoted the authority as saying to the demonstrators: "You have continued your demonstrations to put pressure on corruption and tyranny, which is recognition by the highest Shiite authority of the right to demonstrations and the corruption of the political class."
Al-Sistani refused to receive any politician, party leader or deputy to inspect his health, and did not ask the government for any support during his transfer to the hospital, and he was satisfied with the use of a government ambulance followed by 3 personal cars that were taken by his close associates.
The Husseiniya threshold published part of Sistani's speech in support of the protest, coinciding with the expiry of the deadline set by the coordination in Baghdad and the provinces, which includes an escalation in the peaceful demonstration if the political class does not respond to the demands of the protesters.Al-Ataba quoted Al-Sistani as saying: "The citizens did not go out to the demonstrations demanding reform in this unprecedented form only because they did not find another way to get rid of corruption."
The posting of the threshold sparked a wide interaction on social media, which increased the momentum of the demonstrations and boosted the hopes of activists to start a new page of governance in Iraq.
Mystery of the Baghdad and Beijing agreement .. the Iraqi parliament resort to the Chinese ambassador and activists comment
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi at the signing ceremony of the agreements
There are conflicting opinions and information regarding an Iraqi-Chinese agreement, to the extent that the Iraqi parliament itself resorted to inviting the Chinese ambassador in Baghdad to explain the agreement signed between the two countries, which drew criticism from activists on social networks on the legality and implications of the procedure.
Although the responsibility for clarifying the agreement, which has become closer to the puzzle, lies with the caretaker government that it had concluded about four months ago, the House of Representatives announced Sunday that it was "about to host the Chinese ambassador in Baghdad and representatives of the Iraqi government to clarify the terms of the economic agreement."
"The council is in the process of hosting the Chinese ambassador in Baghdad as well as representatives of the Iraqi government to clarify the provisions of the memorandum of the Iraqi-Chinese economic agreement and its implications for the Iraqi reality," said First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hassan Al-Kaabi in a press statement. Outgoing Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi during his visit to China in September 2019 On the link "Fleeing Forward" ... ambiguity over the Iraq-China agreement and the accusation pointing towards Iran
Experts believe that the action taken by the House of Representatives represents a violation of the powers of the government, which signed an important agreement on urgency without taking the opinion of Parliament on the agreement, whose details are not known to many senior officials.
Activists considered the issue a reflection of parliament and government flop.
Activists argue that the agreement is a front for selling Iranian oil to China.
The Parliamentary Oil and Energy Committee has requested a copy of the agreement of understanding concluded between Iraq and China.
The head of the committee, Hebet al-Halbousi, said in a press statement last week that there is information about Iraq signing more than eight agreements and memoranda of understanding with China worth more than 500 billion dollars for the next ten years.
He added that "the agreement includes China lending the Iraqi government hundreds of billions of dollars on the condition of guaranteeing and mortgaging Iraqi oil for the next 50 years to pay off the loan with the benefits that accrue from it."
Iraqi activists criticized the parliament’s hosting of the Chinese ambassador for commenting on the agreement, saying that it was a “calamity”, noting that Parliament has a government they can ask. Al-Mashhadani: The first in parliament is to invite government representatives The Iraqi Parliament. Archive The Iraqi Parliament. Archive
The Iraqi expert in economic affairs, Abdul Rahman Al-Mashhadani, said that "the action taken by the parliament may be considered acceptable in later stages, but it is not appropriate at present, as the first was to invite government representatives to explain the details of the agreement to the relevant committees in the parliament to present their recommendations to the deputies."
He added in an interview with the "Al-Hurra" website that Parliament does not know the details of the agreement more than what was mentioned in the media, but it is striking that there are parties that reject and others that support the agreement, and each of them has become "betraying" the other and describes him as a non-national.
Al-Mashhadani indicated that the agreement was signed by the caretaker Prime Minister four months ago, but apparently it had overlooked an important aspect related to the Iraqi interior, as it stipulated that the implementation of the Iraq Reconstruction Council, which was not yet formed, should be supervised, while the government recently rushed to push forward the implementation of the agreement anonymously. Landmarks and demand from the governorates An investment map for the most prominent projects and implementation priorities.
He stressed that the government should be clear and transparent with the people, parliament, and political forces by showing the details of the agreement to "Iraq knows what it has and what it has," noting that the first blame in this matter is the government that is still dealing without transparency, in addition to that the agreement had been It happened a while ago, and it was better for deputies at the time to exercise their oversight role and clarify this matter. Hinin: The agreement will increase the value of trade exchange with China
Al-Safadi discusses with the favorable conditions of the region
Baghdad and Amman stress regional immunization to Iraq
Publish date: 01/20/2020
Baghdad: «The Gulf»
Yesterday, , Iraqi President Barham Salih discussed with the visiting Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi the current situation in the region.
A statement by the Iraqi Presidency stated that Al-Safadi conveyed to Saleh a message from King Abdullah II, and his affirmation of supporting Iraq’s security and stability as a pillar of the region’s security.
Saleh stressed, "The necessity of consolidating the foundations of peace and stability in the region and avoiding them from the futility of wars and conflicts that drain human and material energies, and delinquency into the language of serious and frank dialogue to deal with crises." He added that "Iraq will not be a launching pad for aggression against any of the neighboring countries, or it will be a battleground for settling scores."
The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Muhammad Ali al-Hakim, stressed in his meeting with al-Safadi that Iraq would not be a battlefield, calling for the need to keep the country away from the axis policy and support efforts to combat terrorist organizations.
While Safadi stressed that "preserving the security and sovereignty of Iraq is a regional necessity, and Jordan's position is clear from the start, which is to ensure that Iraq is not an arena for conflicts."
Thousands of Iraqis demonstrate in Baghdad and 9 provinces
Iraqi demonstrators at the Al-Sink Bridge in Baghdad.Reuters
Date:
Thousands of Iraqi demonstrators, the majority of whom are university students, schools, and civil society activists, flocked yesterday to the demonstration yards and sit-in centers in Baghdad and nine other provinces, to confirm their demands for a change in the political process and the appointment of an independent prime minister who is not subject to the blocs and ruling parties.
The demonstrators are seeking this week to expand their protest demonstrations and control new roads and squares against the backdrop of delaying the nomination of a candidate to form the new government, and reports that the Iraqi armed factions intend to come out with millions of demonstrations led by the leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr, aiming to demand the exit of American forces from Iraq.Calm has returned to Baghdad's Al-Senak Square after a wave of violence between protesters and security forces killed two people and more than 35 wounded, but witnesses told the German News Agency (dpa) that the protesters in Tahrir Square intend to control the Muhammad al-Qasim bridge for rapid traffic, which is currently closed. For maintenance purposes, to expand the protest area.According to witnesses, demonstrators called for the city of Najaf to expand the demonstration area starting today, by closing roads, bridges, government buildings, universities, schools and bridges.
The demonstrators in Babel governorate issued a statement against the backdrop of the political blocs' nomination of a candidate to form the new government, calling for measures to be taken starting at dawn today, including the closure of its bridges, revolution, rare and intersection of roads and streets, and inviting community groups to go out in demonstrations to support the demonstrators in the protest and sit-in square.
The demonstrators of Dhi Qar Governorate distributed a map to cut off the roads and internal and external bridges linking Dhi Qar and the neighboring governorates in separate areas, allowing only the passage of emergency cases and the movement of security forces, and intensifying their presence in the central demonstration square in Al Haboubi.
And security sources in Karbala announced the arrest of five people who tried to set fire to buildings and public properties, noting the deployment of forces to strengthen security and prevent acts of violence and sabotage.
In addition, Iraqi President Barham Saleh said that Iraq would not be a launching pad for attacking any of the neighboring countries or would be a battleground for settling scores, stressing Iraq’s keenness to be the main pillar for bringing together brothers and friends in order to achieve common interests and enhance peace and security in the region. And the world.
Saleh stressed the necessity of consolidating the foundations of peace and stability in the region and avoiding them from the futility of wars and conflicts that drain human and material energies, and hinging on the language of serious and frank dialogue to deal with crises.
Kauaihn Iraq Articles:dd
Days separate Iraq from the designation of the Prime Minister
Days separate Iraq from the designation of the Prime Minister
Mass protests in Iraq from last October to topple the pro-Iranian regime (Reuters)
Baghdad - db a, a b
Iraqi parliamentary sources said that the understandings between the political blocs led to an agreement, described in principle, to resolve the position of the next prime minister and choose a consensual figure acceptable to the Iraqi street, suggesting that the name be announced within the next few days.
The Iraqi newspaper "Al-Sabah" on Sunday quoted the deputy from the Alliance of Raiders of Riyad Al-Masoudi as saying that the Shiite political forces have reached a complete conviction of the necessity of choosing a personality that suits the nature of the stage and is not according to the wishes of the political parties, and therefore moved from the stage of political stagnation to an actual and serious movement to choose a person who leads the transitional stage Without problems.
Al-Masoudi suggested that the next few days would witness a solution to the crisis of choosing the next prime minister, according to specifications that the people accept and reference.
He added that the transitional stage that will be determined will be by political agreement, since the constitution has not been mentioned.
On the ground, protests escalated Sunday in Baghdad and the cities of southern Iraq, as protesters cut through roads and bridges to press the government and parliament for political reforms, including naming a new prime minister and holding early elections to change the class that controls the country's capabilities.
And Iraq has seen since the first of October, protests involving thousands of demonstrators who are calling for the dismissal of the political system loyal to Tehran.
In Baghdad, hundreds of people gathered in the aviation square and the symbolic liberation square in the heart of Baghdad. They burned tires and cut off major roads.
Security forces used tear gas canisters to limit the expansion of demonstrations. Protesters responded with stones, injuring ten people, including a number of security personnel, one of whom was an officer, according to security and medical sources.
In Nasiriyah, hundreds of protesters flocked to the Habboubi Square. Protesters cut key roads and bridges in the city, where government and educational institutions continued to be closed.
At the same time, similar protests escalated in other cities, including Najaf, Diwaniyah, Kut and Amara. Most of them have witnessed the closure of government and educational institutions and demonstrators cutting key roads and bridges.
The political blocs are still unable to agree to find an alternative figure for the prime minister, despite the expiration of the constitutional deadlines.
Violence in demonstrations across the country has resulted in the deaths of some 460 people, the majority of whom are protesters, and more than 25,000 injured.
In a related context, eyewitnesses reported that unknown persons kidnapped a civilian activist near the main demonstration square and he was taken to an unknown destination in Karbala Governorate.
And the witnesses said that unknown armed men kidnapped the civil activist Hazem Hammoudi near the Education Square, the central place for the demonstration, and he was taken to an unknown destination.
Ali al-Bayati, a member of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Iraq, had clarified that the number of missing persons since the start of the demonstrations reached 58 so far, while the cases of assassinations of activists, demonstrators and media workers reached 37 cases.
The American Consul in Erbil discusses with Masoud Barzani and Kosar Rasoul the enhancement of relations with the United States
The head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, discussed with the American consul in Erbil, Stephen Vision, the political situation and the latest changes in Iraq and the region.
A statement of the Kurdistan Democratic Party stated that Barzani received today, Saturday, the American Consul in Erbil, and during the meeting, he also discussed "the relations between the Kurdistan Region and the United States of America."
To that, the President of the Supreme Political Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Kusart Rasul Ali discussed with the American Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, Stephen Vision, the relations between the region and Baghdad.
The website of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan stated that, "Today, the messenger received a US official who congratulated him on the success of the fourth conference of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan."
The meeting discussed the relations between the region and the United States, and it was agreed to develop relations and mutual cooperation between the two sides.
For his part, Kosert Messenger expressed his "thanks to the United States and the coalition countries for their continued support to the Kurds."
Saleh Pompeo: The need to respect Iraqi sovereignty and our national decision
Iraqi President Barham Saleh, during a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, stressed the need to respect Iraqi sovereignty and an independent national decision.
A statement issued by the media office of the Iraqi President and conveyed by the Iraqi News Agency came to the awareness that President Saleh discussed during a phone call received from the US Secretary of State the latest security and political developments at the regional and international levels, where the need to protect Iraqi sovereignty and respect the independent national decision was emphasized.
The statement added that during the call, reference was also made to the necessity of self-restraint and dependence on calm and constructive dialogue in resolving crises and avoiding escalation in a way that strengthens the foundations of peace and stability in the region and the world as well as cooperation and joint coordination to confront the terrorist organization ISIS and the lack of opportunity for terrorists to reorganize their remnants and threaten international peace and security .
The Iraqi Council of Representatives voted on the fifth of this month by an absolute majority on a decision obliging the Iraqi government to end the foreign presence in the country after the American crimes against high-level Iraqi and friendly military headquarters and leaderships
The burning of the office of the Hezbollah Brigades in Najaf in Sadrin Square
20-01-2020 01:09 AM Baghdad / newsletter: A security source reported, on Sunday, that unidentified elements had burned the office of the Hezbollah Brigades in Najaf. The source told "Al-Ikhbaria" that "unknown persons burned the headquarters of Hezbollah in Najaf in Sadrin Square just before.".
Baghdad: Demonstrations calling for change continue
The demonstrators are demanding a change of the entire political class and the return of Iraq to the Iraqis (Reuters) Baghdad - dba
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi affirmed on Saturday his country's steadfast stance to support Iraq’s security and stability and avoid any escalation.
Safadi said, in a press conference in Baghdad, after a round of talks with his Iraqi counterpart Muhammad Ali al-Hakim: "I came carrying a message from King Abdullah II to calm and keep the region from the severity of tensions."
He added, "We addressed all the issues in the region, reducing escalation and not detonating the area."
Pointing out that things are now moving towards calm.
Al-Safadi stated that bilateral relations were covered and the historical Iraqi victory over ISIS was preserved. We are working to coordinate efforts with Iraq to reduce escalation in the region and work to respect the security and sovereignty of Iraq.
He stressed that the region will be lost if Iraq becomes in the circle of conflict, calling for dialogue and the removal of regional tension from the region.
For his part, Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad Ali al-Hakim said: "Our meeting with the Jordanian foreign minister was fruitful, and the minister briefed us on the internal and regional situation and the tools to reduce tension and calm, and that Iraq will not be a battleground between the parties."
He added, we have explicitly stated that the position of Iraq today is unenviable and that the conflict was primarily a tension between America and Iran, and we do not want to be an imminent arena for the conflict, and problems can be resolved through the negotiating table.
Al-Hakim continued: "We value the role of King Abdullah II of Iraq, and we held a round of intensive discussions that covered various regional issues, common interests and the importance of historical relations between the two countries."
He said: "Terrorism has not ended and ISIS is still present in the areas east of the Euphrates."
On the field front, thousands of Iraqi demonstrators flocked to the demonstration yards and sit-in centers in Baghdad and nine other governorates on Saturday to confirm their demands for a change in the political process and to name an independent prime minister who is not subject to the blocs and the ruling parties.
Calm has returned to Baghdad's Al-Senak Square after a wave of violence between protesters and security forces, killing two and more than 35 wounded.
The demonstrators are seeking this week to expand the scope of their protest demonstrations and control new roads and squares against the backdrop of delaying the nomination of a candidate to form the new government.
According to eyewitnesses, demonstrators called for the city of Najaf to expand the demonstration area starting from Sunday, by closing roads, bridges, government buildings, universities, schools and bridges.
The demonstrators also issued a statement in the province of Babel, against the backdrop of the political blocs' nomination of a candidate to form the new government, in which they demanded that measures be taken starting from Sunday dawn that includes closing bridges, bits, revolution, rare and intersection of roads and streets, and calling on community groups to go out in demonstrations to support the demonstrators in the protest and sit-in square.
The demonstrators of Dhi Qar Governorate distributed a map to cut the roads and internal and external bridges linking Dhi Qar and the neighboring governorates in separate areas, allowing only the passage of emergency cases and the movement of security forces, and intensifying the presence in the central demonstration square in Al Haboubi.
Security sources in Karbala announced the arrest of five people who tried to set fire to buildings and public properties, noting the deployment of forces to reinforce security and prevent violence and sabotage.
Kauaihn Economic Times:
ECONOMIC TIMES / CHATTER
FOR TWITTER ACCT
Just send a text message from your cell phone to:
40404 (may have to add 40404 as a contact first) Then send a message that says: Follow @FactsnOpinion1 and you will join their twitter feed and instantly get the doc. You do NOT have to join twitter to get tweets
World leaders in Davos confront critical historic moment A U.S. isolationist temptation, bitter European disunity, and growing nationalism and populism within democracies amid rising authoritarianism, are among the issues confronting world leaders gathering in Davos, writes Fred Kempe. Read in CNBC:https://apple.news/AyEVz3DQLQ2-X1U2XighlcA
COMMODITIES/ENERGY
Gold: Look For More Supply To Hit Metals Markets Next Week We have no position in gold on the day trade unless we close below $1,556 or test $1,562 and close below it. The weekly gold signal is short or has a bearish price momentum with a target of $1,530, but the signal would be negated on a close above $1,572. We are looking for a close below $18.04 to go short the silver market for day traders.
The Outlook For Gold In 2020 Remains Bullish Gold ranked as one of the best investments in 2019, outperforming both bonds and emerging market stocks. The report pointed out that 90% of developed market sovereign debt is trading at negative real interest rates. Globally, central banks have pivoted toward easing.
A New Year, A New Look For OilNew data is finally out, courtesy of the EIA, regarding what the future looks like for oil. On the whole, it looks like some glut might persist, but it's small and consistent. Any likely changes to this forecast will probably be bullish, with bearish changes improbable.
Natural-gas futures log lowest finish since 2016; oil prices post a second weekly declineNatural-gas futures fell Friday as ample U.S. supplies and forecasts for milder-than-normal weather in much of the nation pushed prices to their lowest finish since May 2016. Oil futures, meanwhile, ended slightly higher Friday, but marked a weekly decline for a second week. February natural gas lost 7.4 cents, or 3.6%, to settle at $2.003 per million British thermal units, with prices down about 9% for the week, according to FactSet data. February West Texas Intermediate oil added 2 cents, or
Investing in 2020: Should Investors Ride the Wave With Bank of America?An expanding economy, stable interest rates, and the looming U.S. election are key factors when considering this and other banking stocks for the long term.
Scrapping the paper trail via blockchain technologyBlockchain’s decentralised technology has industry-disrupting capabilities, but how far will it venture in the trade finance arena?
Deutsche Bank to cut investment bank bonuses by ~30% - BloombergDeutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) is slashing the bonus pool at its investment bank by almost a third, capping off a year of turmoil for Germany's largest lender, which has undergone a sweeping restructuring. The figure is an average at the division that includes fixed-income trading, but there will be some adjustments for individual performance and units, Bloomberg reports, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Overall, variable pay at Deutsche Bank will decline about 20%, they said. CEO Christian
This Week In Credit Card News: Cards Give Banks Record Profits In 2019; Issuers Benefit From China Trade DealWhat took place this week in the credit card and payment industries
One $4 trillion corner of the market isn’t afraid of the R-wordRecession. Just the mention of it sends shivers down the spine of even the most stalwart on Wall Street. But not among sellers of exchange-traded funds.
S&P 500 Weekly Update: The Calls For A Pullback Increase As The 'Energizer' Rally ContinuesEarnings season is here and the Financial sector starts off with positive results. The new leg in the Secular Bull market began last October, calling for the end of the rally has been a costly mistake. Recent economic data continues to signal the possibility of higher GDP growth than what is being forecast. New market highs are stress free and rewarding if you made the right decision at the right time.
Weekly High Frequency Indicators: Volatile Short-Term Forecast Rebounds High frequency indicators can give us a nearly up-to-the-moment view of the economy. The metrics are divided into long leading, short leading, and coincident indicators. The recently strongly positive long-term forecast remains intact. The recently volatile short-term forecast rebounds from neutral to positive. Thus the forecast remains slowdown only vs. recession.
Does This Bull Market Still Have Some Life? Does the current bull market still have room to run? The current long and steady bull market is nowhere near the best decade of returns. Why investors should be optimistic about the market.
What The Yield Curve Is Actually Telling InvestorsThe yield curve is one of the best leading economic indicators and is misunderstood by most investors and economists. An inverted yield curve usually predicts a recession and equity market crash two years out. Generally, it steepens before the crash as we're seeing today. Evidence suggests the yield curve is precisely the bond market's expectations for U.S. corporate real earnings growth. Both the "long-term" 30-10 yield curve and the "short-term" 10-2 curve suggest we're headed for a recession
Bitcoin SV Drops 40% as Lawyer Admits Craig Wright Has No Private KeysControversial altcoin Bitcoin SV (BSV) has crashed 17% overnight after its main proponent failed to prove he has access to $9 billion in Bitcoin (BTC). Data from Coin360 and Cointelegraph Markets confirmed a difficult 24 hours for BSV holders, who saw huge gains over the past week as Craig Wright’s court case delivered fresh revelations. Wright evidence “did not include” BTC keys After Wright had promised to prove he was the controller of funds linked to Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, BSV —
Swiss-Regulated Digital Asset Bank Plans $95M Capital RaiseSeba, a young Swiss-based digital asset bank holding regulatory licensing, looks to attempt a secondary capital raise to garner over $95 million in additional funds. During the raise, Seba aims to secure 100 million Swiss francs, equivalent to $96.5 million, “from new investors, including financial institutions, family offices and individuals,” Financial News London wrote in a Jan. 17 brief. Recent launch Crypto friendly startup SEBA Bank AG announced its launch on Nov. 12, 2019 after
It’s Never Been Harder to Mine Bitcoin as Hash Rate Hits New HighsThe mean hash rate of the Bitcoin (BTC) network has hit new all-time highs to mark the cryptocurrency’s latest technical achievement, fresh data suggests. Compiled by monitoring resource Glassnode, a new analysis of Bitcoin’s historical hash rate shows that on Jan. 7, the mean value reached 119 quintillion hashes per second — its best ever at the time. Bitcoin hash rate (1-day moving average) versus price. Source: Glassnode Consensus on BTC hash rate record Hash rate refers to the amount of
New Analysis Finds That Mondays Are the Best Days to Buy BitcoinThis week saw Bitcoin price (BTC) hitting the $9,000 barrier amid the launch of CME Bitcoin options and Plaid’s acquisition by Visa, reaching a record price for the last two months. Bitcoin’s 27% price gain since the beginning of the year along with the future bullish scenarios laid down by investors may attract new crypto holders. But since BTC/USD is traded24/7, new investors may be wondering: is there a difference between investing on a particular day of the week? Figure 1. Crypto market
Tether Claims to Be Okay With Merger of Class-Action Lawsuits Against ItCurrently facing multiple lawsuits, cryptocurrency stablecoin issuer Tether (USDT) received a request from prosecutors asking for consolidation, combining three lawsuits into one, which Tether has not denied. “We did not oppose the plaintiffs’ requests to combine these frivolous claims, originally filed, respectively, in October in New York, in November in Washington and in January in New York,” reads a Tether statement shared with Cointelegraph via email on Jan. 17, 2020. Multiple lawsuits
Uncovering the Motives Behind North Korea’s Crypto ConferenceOn Jan. 15, the United Nations warned that attending North Korea’s cryptocurrency conference in February will likely constitute a sanctions violation. According to Reuters, this notice was issued in a confidential report that will be submitted to the U.N. Security Council later this month. The warning comes after a series of events sparked suspicion around North Korea’s growing interest in blockchain and cryptocurrency. In August, a panel monitoring the enforcement of U.N. sanctions reported
Forex - Dollar Rides Bullish Housing Data HigherForex Jan 17, 2020 19:15 GMT By Yasin EbrahimInvesing.com– The dollar advanced Friday as bullish housing data offset weaker labor data, adding to growing expectations that the U.S. economy will continue to expand. The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, rose by 0.30% to 97.61. The Commerce Department said housing starts rose 16.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.61 million units in December, well above economists'
Dollar Could Be Staging Bullish Reversal as Trade Tensions Eased | Action ForexThe completion of US-China trade deal phase one was well received by investors. There was an additional bonus of scrapping the label of China as currency manipulator by the US Treasury. The is no time frame for the phase two negotiations yet. But the US is already working with EU and Japan to push WTO […] The post Dollar Could Be Staging Bullish Reversal as Trade Tensions Eased appeared first on Action Forex.
AUD/USD: Downside Volatility Likely As Next RBA Meeting ApproachesAUD/USD recently spiked into the year-end of 2019. However, this move upward has been short-lived. In spite of recent bushfires, and generally tepid GDP growth from Australia over recent reported quarters, the bond market remains mostly sanguine. In this author's view, while near-term volatility (on both sides) can be expected in the FX market, the bond market is likely to soften (and/or even adjust sharply downward). If the Reserve Bank of Australia cut rates in itsFebruary 4meeting, a sharp
Emerging Markets Crisis Monitor - Seven Factors Traders Should Watch- All currencies are not the same; emerging market FX trades differently than developed market FX.
Questionable quality has made traditional Chinese medicine hard to swallow overseas. Are the proposed national standards just what the doctor ordered?Banlangen, also known as isatis root, a plant used to treat respiratory disorders, and Dahuang, a rhubarb root used to relieve constipation, are among the first batch of 160 Chinese medicine ingredients to be subject for the first time to nationwide…
Can Trump Lower The Price of Insulin And Epipens Without Congress?January 17, 2020 In this week's Democratic presidential debate, Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said they could, and would, take executive action to reduce prices for much-needed drugs like insulin and Epipens as president—with or without help from Congress. They could try, but such action invites a complicated run-in with U.S. patent law and "exclusivity" periods granted to companies who create new drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
CDC screening airport passengers for mysterious new virusThe rare pneumonia-like virus has caused at least two deaths, and has spread from China to other countries in Asia.
“Is It Hot In Here?” Human Body Temperature Decreased Over Last 200 YearsIt has long been believed that 98.6 degrees fahrenheit is the normal human body temperature, but recent evidence coming out of the Stanford University School of Medicine (SUSM) challenges that assumption.
The battle between science and skepticismAt a time when almost everything is politicized, vaccination has planted itself squarely on the national stage, where a push and pull between science and skepticism is playing out in statehouses across the country.
Keto diet isn’t the answer for weight loss, experts say. Here’s what isThe keto diet, which is similar to low-carb Paleo and Atkins diets, tries to force the body into a state of ketosis. Doctors say there are health concerns.
The U.S. economy still isn’t firing on all cylinders. Here’s what needs to changeAmerican consumers have been carrying the economy on their back, but they sure could use more help from business.
Trade deals leave Washington producers relieved but with questionsWhile the trade agreements President Donald Trump signed earlier this with China, Mexico and Canada may not be everything Washington farmers hoped for, most analysts believe the deals will at least provide a level of certainty moving forward. China has agreed to purchase at least $40 billion in U.S. agricultural products for 2020 and 2021. But many question how those promises will be fulfilled, said Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington Tree Fruit Association. “The agreement with China is
Real Estate Leads Stocks To Records On 'Euphoric' WeekUS equity markets continued to roll this week with fresh records across the major indexes, powered by "Goldilocks" economic data and resolutions on the U.S.-China trade deal and the USMCA. With gains of more than 2.5%, it was the best week for REITs in nearly a year. Homebuilders surged 4.5%, leading the S&P 500 to gains of 1.9%. The US housing market picked up in 2020 where it left off in 2019 with signs of continued reacceleration. Housing starts surged to 13-year highs while homebuyer traffic
Better Days Ahead For The U.S. Manufacturing SectorUnpacking the phase one China-U.S. trade agreement. Positive signs emerge for U.S. manufacturing sector. Q4 earnings season outlook.
Weekly Economic Release Summary: Truck Employment Lags Economic GrowthThe American Trucking Association says the trucking industry is short 50,000 drivers. And the BLS employment's establishment survey says the amount of heavy rig truck drivers has increased by only 20% since 1990 while the mileage driven has doubled. The BLS employment numbers appear to be significantly understating big rig truck drivers.
Weekly Economic Vital Signs - Zero Wage GrowthThis is a weekly series focused on analyzing the previous week’s economic data releases. The objective is to concentrate on leading indicators of economic activity to determine whether the economy is strengthening or weakening, and the rate of inflation is increasing or decreasing. This week we examine the Consumer Price Index, the Producer Price Index, retail sales, housing starts, and industrial production.
California to sue U.S. over fracking decisionCalifornia has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's plans to open more than 1M acres in the state's Central Valley to fracking. The lawsuit alleges the federal Bureau of Land Management's final environmental impact statement, approved last month, fails to consider the danger posed to people who might live near the oil and gas wells and underestimates the number of fracking wells that could become active on the federal land. "They shortchanged the people, they shortchanged the law,
The Weekly Bottom Line: Canada - Trade Deals Abroad, Decent Data At Home | Action ForexU.S. Highlights Data releases over the week reinforce the main themes in the U.S. economy: solid consumption, housing market recovery, faltering business investment and soft inflation. The phase one trade deal was formally signed, committing China to increase its imports of U.S. goods and services to $200 billion more than the 2017 level. Reaching this […] The post The Weekly Bottom Line: Canada – Trade Deals Abroad, Decent Data At Home appeared first on Action Forex.
Canadian Trade Worries Easing, But Domestic Headwinds Remain | Action ForexThe revised version of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), or CUSMA in Canada, is now heading to President Trump’s desk. The deal was signed trilaterally by the three parties involved on December 10 2019, and subsequently approved by the Senateon Thursday afternoonwith a bipartisan majority. US steel/aluminum tariffs in place at this time […] The post Canadian Trade Worries Easing, But Domestic Headwinds Remain appeared first on Action Forex.
These non-US markets are worth a look: Strategists With the S&P 500 getting more expensive as it crosses record high after high, investors can look outside the U.S. for better deals, according to at least two strategists.
Emerging Markets Crisis Monitor - Seven Factors Traders Should Watch - All currencies are not the same; emerging market FX trades differently than developed market FX.
Guatemala breaks off diplomatic relations with Venezuela Guatemala's new president says his government is breaking off diplomatic relations with Venezuela
Venezuelan theater becomes Plan B in lawmakers' turf battle The Venezuelan opposition led by Juan Guaidó in the coming days will likely make its third attempt to get inside its legislative building in downtown Caracas
Trump signs Puerto Rico disaster declaration President Trump officially signed a declaration of disaster for Puerto Rico earthquake damage nine days after Governor Vazquez submitted her request. It also comes one day after the Trump administration released $8.2 billion in heavily restricted aid to the island. Filmmaker and writer Andrew Padilla joined CBSN to discuss the impact and how to responsibly help the island.
Bronx concert held to benefit Puerto Rico earthquake victims Puerto Rican musicians, including Grammy-Award WinningEddie Palmieriputting on a benefit concert at Lehman College for earthquake-ravaged Puerto Rico. The island is still reeling from the disaster and needs every bit of help they can get.
Mexican autoparts firms eye fast lane after U.S. backs trade deal Mexican auto parts manufacturers with clients across North America expect a record year after U.S. approval of a trade deal mandating higher regional inputs, but the new rules pose a bigger challenge to carmakers.
The MP revealed that the State of Law coalition, High Nassif, on Saturday, expressed the government's intention to send a draft financial budget law to parliament during the coming hours, indicating that the government approved the draft before submitting its resignation.
Nassif said in a statement to the "information" that "the budget law stipulates that the government cannot send the budget or any law in the event it turns into a caretaker, but the budget law was approved two days before the resignation was submitted."
She added, "The law will be sent based on that book to Parliament in the coming hours, provided that it will be dealt with according to public interests and make some amendments."
Nassif explained that "this year's budget is characterized by its non-reliance on foreign loans and its reliance on the Chinese agreement in the field of construction, in addition to the government seeking to conclude similar agreements with large countries to end the file of foreign loans and not pay huge benefits with foreign loan
As Iran and Iraq simmer, giants of Shiite world vie for influenceThe separation of religion and state is splitting the Shiite world, pitting the supreme leader of Iran, a theocracy, against Iraq’s grand ayatollah.
Canada will withdraw forces if Iraq formalizes request for foreign troops to leave: SajjanIf the Iraqi Parliament formally asks foreign troops to leave the country, Canada will withdraw its forces, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said today.
Iraq's security forces kill at least two protesters in BaghdadAt least two protesters have been killed and dozens injured in central Baghdad when Iraq's security forces launched tear gas canisters to disperse demonstrators trying to breach the capital's Sinak bridge, according to activists and officials. Riot police on Friday hurled sound bombs and fired tear gas after protesters attempted to breach cement barriers previously erected by security forces, three activists and a security official told The Associated Press news agency. More: 'Keep your war away
Iran’s supreme leader talks strikes, slams U.S. in rare speechIran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called his country’s missile attack on U.S. troops in Iraq was “a blow to America’s image,” during a rare public speech. His speech follows days of protests over the Ukranian plane Iran says it accidentally shot down.
Iran Says Surprised by London Meeting on Tragic Plane Crash Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has expressed surprise at a London meeting attended by representatives of countries whose nationals lost their lives in the recent tragic plane crash in Iran.
Iranian, Canadian FMs Discuss Cooperation on Plane Crash The Iranian foreign minister has, in a meeting with his Canadian counterpart, once again expressed regret over the recent Ukrainian plane crash near Tehran.
Iran will send downed plane's black boxes to Ukraine for analysis Iran will send to Ukraine the black boxes of a Ukrainian airliner that its military accidentally shot down this month, killing all 176 people on board, Iranian media reports.
Locusts threaten food security in Horn of AfricaA locust invasion originating in the Arabian Peninsula continues to spread across East Africa in one of the worst outbreaks in 25 years.
Africa: Prioritizing Action on Air Pollution Will Benefit Health, the Climate and the Economy(Photo: Pixabay) Everyone around the world shares the same right to a healthy environment. Indeed, during the United Nations General Assembly and the Climate Action Summit, leaders from governments and civil society, most notably youth leaders, reminded the world that the founding UN principle of justice applies to climate as much as any other issue facing humanity. Yet as physicians who specialize in treating people with lung disease, we were disappointed to see that principle was not honored
Tanzania: Natural Gas Plan Draft FinalisedEFFORTS to ensure all citizens benefit from the country's gas discovery is taking shape as preparations of a draft on Domestic Natural Gas Promotion Plan has been finalised. The anticipated 250 million US dollar project which is equivalent to over 500bn/-will kick off as a pilot project in five regions-Arusha, Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Morogoro and Dodoma. Deputy Minister of Energy Ms Subira Mgalu disclosed at an event to introduce the plan which was held in Dar es Salaam on Friday jointly organised
Nigeria: Public Debt Stock Inches to N26.2tn, Inflation Jumps to 11.98 PercentTotal public debt, comprising the federal government's, those of the 36 states and that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stood at N26.215 trillion as at September 2019, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has stated. Also yesterday, it emerged that the Consumer Price Index, (CPI), which measures inflation, increased to 11.98 per cent (year-on-year) in December 2019, compared to 11.85 per cent in the preceeding month. The latest public debt figures released yesterday indicated a 2 per cent
East Africa: Row As Uganda Protests Milk Seizures By KenyaKampala has sent a protest note to Nairobi demanding the immediate release of consignments of milk seized by Kenyan officials on alleged quality concerns, sparking a fresh diplomatic row between the two neighbouring countries. Uganda, which is Kenya's biggest trading neighbour in the region, issued the note on Wednesday expressing deep concern about "illegal seizures of Ugandan-made milk products under the Lato brand." The Ugandan ministry of Foreign Affairs said the seizures by Kenyan
Zimbabwe: Why the Economy Is Broken - What the Private Sector Can Do Government has weakened itself by creating monopolies and appointing Zanu-PF officials in key positions in government departments and parastatals. The decision to do so was more political than professional. However, government does not own every business entity in the country. A larger percentage of the economy is in the hands of the private sector, which can play a critical role in improving the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe. The private sector can be divided into agriculture,
Taking responsibility for climate change is welcomeOnly a month after a United Nations climate conference failed to agree on the way forward to further reducing carbon emissions, drought, heatwaves, wildfires and floods have added to evidence in support of climate change science. Thankfully state and…
Watch your carbon footprint: Hong Kong’s getting hotter, as climate change makes its presence feltHong Kong saw its warmest year on record in 2019, which is also likely to be the second or third warmest globally, according to the Hong Kong Observatory and the World Meteorological Organisation. The decade ended with record heatwaves across the northern…
Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan hints at scaling back one-off relief measures in upcoming budget amid concerns over increase in recurrent expenditureHong Kong’s financial secretary on Saturday hinted at scaling back some one-off sweeteners in his upcoming budget, amid concerns that the newly announced HK$10 billion (US$1.29 billion) relief package would significantly increase the city’s recurrent…
China’s trade with Africa grows 2.2 per cent in 2019 to US$208 billionChina’s trade with Africa grew at a slower rate last year, as a downturn in the Asian giant’s economy led to a sharp fall in imports of industrial raw materials. Two-way trade grew by just 2.2 per cent in 2019 to US$208.7 billion, compared with a 20 per…
Scepticism rises in Philippines about Chinese projects and Duterte’s support of them InVirgil’sAeneid, the Trojan priest Laocoon warns: “Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks, even bringing gifts.” Amid the blossoming Philippine-China relations, many Filipinos, long accustomed to seeing Beijing as a hostile power, have turned into modern…
Does The China Trade Deal Move The World Away From Free Trade?While the new deal with China lowers some trade barriers, it leaves many tariffs in place. And it dictates that China buy more from the U.S., but that has other trading partners worried.
U.K. Low Inflation Means Rate Cut - I Don't Think SoThere is speculation that low growth and a low CPI inflation rate will lead the Bank of England to cut the interest rate. I tend to think not. This is the result of transient issues, and I doubt the BoE will act on such. This is all about the Brexit minima, and I expect a wait of at least a month or two to see whether that is truly over.
The Bank Of England Looks Headed For Interest Rate Cuts—Just Blame BrexitThe Bank of England appears increasingly likely to cut interest rates fairly soon as the British economy weakens further in the face of the grinding uncertainty of its tortuously long breakup with the European Union.
British territory Gibraltar 'could stay in Schengen Area after Brexit'world news British territory Gibraltar 'could stay in Schengen Area after Brexit' Gibraltar's chief minister, Fabian Picardo, says the territory should remain accessible to the rest of the EUafter January 31.British territory Gibraltar could remain in the European Union’s Schengen Area of free movement after Brexit, it’s been claimed. Fabian Picardo, chief minister of the microstate, said the territory should remain accessible to the rest of the EU. Gibraltar, a tiny 6.2 km2 outcrop on the
Brexit: 'No alignment' with EU on regulation, Javid tells businessSajid Javid warns businesses UK and EU regulations will differ after Brexit, saying firms must "adjust".
The British Government Says E.U. Citizens Will 'Be Able to Stay' After Brexit, But Some Anxiety RemainsEuropean Union citizens living in Britain will not automatically be deported even if they fail to prove they’re legally allowed to reside in the U.K. after Brexit, the British government has said. But many are still anxious the new rules could leave them with an insecure immigration status after Brexit happenson Jan. 31.Citizens of E.U. countries automatically have the right to live and work in any other member state — but after Brexit, Britain will no longer be an E.U. member and new rules
The CBI for Monday 1/20/20 did update on the indicative rates Sell Rate 1190
The currency auction is263,023,795.
There is one news and announcements.
1.The bank decided to allow companies to carry out the activity of selling lines of charge cards
To / all exchange firms and brokerage firms buying and selling all foreign currencies (. January 20, 2020
To all exchange firms and brokerage firms buying and selling all foreign currencies (imam)
Number: 9/5/37 Date: 20/20/2020
According to the requirements of the public interest, it was decided to allow companies wishing to engage in the activity of selling cards for the shipping lines of companies (Asiacell, Zain, Korek), provided that an independent record was opened for him, according to which the verified revenue will appear in your companies ’final accounts.
1-19-2020 Newshound Guru MilitiaMan "Religious reference to Trump: The Iraqi government is transferring hard currencies to Iran ... We ask you to protect our money" Maybe this is why [Guru] Frank26 mentioned...the "time is now!"Did DJT get the letter above and give an "insistence" to make sure their money is safe and sound!? Re - Instating their currency will be a safety measure, as it protects the wealth of the nation, right?We shall see and I suspect that time now is ripe for them to be prepared to report what they may have done or will have done in due course. The articles suggest they are ready to give the 2020 budget draft to the parliament. Well imo not to break the good news to ya'll on that, but,the 2019 Financial Management Law Amendment will need to precede that...imo. That is where what it all revolves around and that is about the mechanism that is in or is the 2019 FML amendment! Just as the protection of their money does... They have been protecting the information in the 2019 FML for a very long time. imo.
1-19-2020 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt GoatArticle: "CURRENT 2020 BUDGET IS READY IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE. THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED BY THE CABINET BEFORE THE RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNMENT" So here it is again in yet another article.The 2020 budget was ready when Mahdi resigned.So why didn’t he pass it on to parliament prior to resigning? We know why and its because he wanted to create this budget crisis and hold up progress.
1-19-2020 Intel Guru Frank26 Because the banks are communicating with the Central Bank and the central bank is talking, 'Hey it's time. Give us all those 3 zeros you've collected...we're going to replace it with currency you are not to give to the citizens...You know those small category notes that we've already delivered to you? That's what you're gonna deliver to the citizens.' And the key thing is when and at what rate...I don't know the date and I don't know the rate but I do know that it's happening because the Central Bank of Iraq is saying this is what we're doing [and all the signs are pointing that way.] Tremendous signs....I'm excited about the future with this currency
1-19-2020 Newshound Guru MilitiaMan Article: "Al-Fateh reveals an intention to elect the Prime Minister directly from the people" This is why imo there is no hold up with the PM in regards to monetary reforms. The caretaker government is in place and can facilitate the 2019 FML Amendment that was completed long before and even prior to the resignation of Mahdi! The elites and educated know this and will massage things in order to get a non dialectic Prime Minister. The Monetary Reforms will need to be met regardless now with the liquidity issues they’ll be facing shortly if not already now. Imo.
1-19-2020 Intel Guru Frank26...I feel IMO that the government of Iraq and the CBI are two different things. Separate male-female and yet ironically enough you need the two to create something beautiful. Life. The CBI is working on raising the value of the Iraqi dinar and the GOI is also working on cleaning itself out. Well it turns out that just 3 days ago Trump went into the CBI and they arrested people left and right. They're cleaning the swamp so that the country of Iraq can stand by itself and have their own currency and be proud of it. And that's what's going on right now...
1-19-2020 Newshound Guru MilitiaMan Article: "Deputy: The budget law will arrive in the coming hours in parliament" There is a difference between the 2020 Budget Law and the 2019 FML Amendment. Imo This is for and is to be used for after the exposure of the 2019 FML Amendment which will be the mechanism for international trade.In other words, our expectations will be met prior to ever opening the doors internationally. Here again it is said days before Mahdi resigned that the 2020 Budget law was signed before Mahdi resigned.. The powers that be behind the scenes know full well how the system works and have been prepared and on top of things even with all the antics thrown at them by the corrupt...
Elmer:
Not in today
Artmeister:
Not in today
Catnip:
*************
ARTICLE 1 (from PM Mahdi's website)
At the time this report was submitted, there are no new articles posted on PM Mahdi's website. Upon checking the site immediately prior to submitting my report, the site was now "down" and showed the message: "This site can't be reached."
*************
ARTICLE 2 (from Government of Iraq twitter account)
PM @AdilAbdAlMahdi receives in Baghdad Jordan’s Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Expatriates @AymanHsafadi who conveyed a message from HM @KingAbdullahII underscoring support for Iraq, and the importance of
continuing de-escalation efforts in the
region.
*************
ARTICLE 3
Al-Kaabi: Parliament is to host the Chinese ambassador and representatives of the government
1/19/1920 19:41
[Baghdad-where]
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hassan Al-Kaabi, affirmed that proceeding with the exceptions would expose the retirement law to deformation and not take advantage of the job opportunities it will provide, while noting that Parliament is in the process of hosting the Chinese ambassador in Baghdad as well as representatives of the Iraqi government.
Al-Kaabi stressed during the deliberative session, according to a statement of the media department received [Wayne], today, Sunday, that the House of Representatives held a series of meetings to discuss the law and confirm that proceeding with the exceptions will expose the law to distortion and not benefit from the job opportunities it will provide, pointing out that the relevant ministries that demand the exception have not Advice is provided to the Minister during the discussion of the retirement law in the Council of Ministers on the extent of their harm from referring those covered by the law to retirement.
Al-Kaabi pointed out that the parliament does not bear the government's mistakes and dealt with the classes covered with respect and appreciation, calling on the cabinet to submit an amendment to the retirement law that does not exclude any segment of the extension until the parliament can vote on it.
He explained that the House of Representatives performs heavy tasks that are originally the responsibility of the Council of Ministers, and that some consider the House of Representatives that it is not represented by the fact that the House issued a resolution demanding the exit of foreign forces.
Al-Kaabi indicated that the council is in the process of hosting the Chinese ambassador in Baghdad as well as representatives of the Iraqi government to clarify the provisions of the memorandum of the Iraqi-Chinese economic agreement and its implications for the Iraqi reality.
*************
ARTICLE 4
Parliamentary Finance: The current caretaker government does not have the authority to pass the budget, and the country will operate according to the 12/1 mechanism
1/19/2020 13:21
[Baghdad-where]
It revealed a legal formula authorizing the current government to send the budget for the current year 2020.
At a time when the Parliamentary Finance Committee confirmed that the current caretaker government does not have the authority to do so, and that the state will work according to the 1/12 mechanism in the current budget until a fully-empowered government is formed.
The decision of the Finance Committee, Ahmed Al-Saffar, confirmed in a press statement, that "the draft budget is still in the hands of the government, and it was not sent to the House of Representatives, because the government does not have the authority to send it," noting that "before the end of the legislative holiday, the Chairman of the Finance Committee sent a letter to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers And the Budget Authority of the Ministry of Finance, in which it notifies that the Council is going to the legislative holiday. "
He explained, "All parliamentary movements regarding the passage of the budget are illegal," noting that "the Financial Management Law indicates that the laws must be sent from an authentic government and not the government of everyday matters that do not have the authority to send laws."
He added, “According to the Financial Management Law, the state will work with a budget 1/12 of the budget law for the previous year 2019, and it means that work will be carried out according to everything that was spent in 2019 month after month, and the operating spending includes only salaries, wages and daily obligations, except for the budget Investment. "
Al-Saffar pointed out that "working with this form of the Financial Management Law will stop the work of projects. Therefore, the House of Representatives made an amendment to a legal article in the Financial Management Law to allow the transfer, launch and continuation of the amounts allocated to projects in the 2019 budget, and the aim of which is to continue projects and not to freeze public funds, and to Unemployment and poverty do not increase, so the House of Representatives voted to amend the aforementioned article and allow the continuation of the projects allocated in the 2019 budget only. "
The decision of the Finance Committee suggested that "through the communication of the committee with the budget committee in the Ministry of Finance, we have seen a draft budget in 2020 that included a deficit of 48 trillion dinars, while the deficit in the 2019 budget had reached 27 trillion dinars."
He pointed out that "the size of the deficit in the budget of 2020 is exaggerated, and the reasons for it were the package of reforms launched by the government to respond to the demands of the demonstrators and return the separated and open new job grades, in addition to the strengthening of the budget."
They pointed out that "the size of the salaries that were paid in the budget of 2019 reached 38 trillion, while in the budget in 2020, it reached 52 trillion dinars, with a difference of only 14 trillion in salaries," indicating that this is not from the "This is the reason" The Council of Ministers goes to the House of Representatives, because the government does not want to bear the huge budget deficit, and therefore it hesitated to send it.
Al-Saffar pointed out that "the Iraqi-Chinese agreement was sent despite our entry in 2020 and it does not reach the level of the agreement, which must be with the approval of the Council of Representatives, for that agreement is closer to a memorandum of understanding that is supposed to be included in the 2020 budget, but if it is a memorandum of understanding or agreement Within the 2019 budget, it does not need the approval of the House of Representatives, but if it entered the 2020 budget, then it certainly needs the approval of Parliament by approving the draft budget and making it a binding law.
*************
ARTICLE 5
Al-Diwaniyah, break down, tomorrow
1/19/1920 19:08
[Ad-Diwaniyah-Where]
Diwaniya Governor Zuhair Al-Shaalan announced on Sunday that the official working hours will be suspended on Monday.
Al-Shaalan said in a statement that [Wayne] received a copy of it, that "it was decided to suspend the official working hours on Monday in Al-Diwaniyah Governorate."
Unidentified gunmen had opened, today, Saturday, their gunfire, towards protesters inside the oil derivatives department in Al-Diwaniyah governorate.
No comments:
Post a Comment