Wednesday 1/29/20 Wots
Forex Rates:
| Symbol | Bid | Ask | High | Low | Open | Change | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD/IQD | | | 1191.3000 | 1190.9000 | 1191.3000 | | 02:54 |
| USD/VND | | | 23152.4700 | 23149.5000 | 23149.5000 | | 01:30 |
| USD/CNY | | | 6.9358 | 6.9354 | 6.9354 | | 03:20 |
| USD/KWD | | | 0.3036 | 0.3035 | 0.3036 | | 03:12 |
| GBP/USD | | | 1.3028 | 1.3004 | 1.3027 | | 03:20 |
| USD/IRR | | | 42097.5000 | 42097.5000 | 42097.5000 | | 00:00 |
| USD/IDR | | | 13642.0000 | 13603.0000 | 13610.0000 | | 03:20 |
DC NY Iraq Articles:dd
Wisdom: The next prime minister should have a balance between Iran and America
29-01-2020 Baghdad / newsletter:
Member of the Parliamentary Bloc, Khaled Al-Jashmi, called on the security services on Tuesday to reveal the infiltrators and keep the demonstrations peaceful, indicating that the next prime minister should be a balance between Iran and America.
Al-Jashmi said in a televised statement, followed by "Al-Akhbaria", that "the presence of the intruders does not mean accusing all of the demonstrators, and that the intruders will not affect the commitment of the peaceful demonstrators to their safety."
He continued, "I began to suspect that some of the violations that occurred in the demonstrations were sponsored by the government." Noting that "one of the Shiite parties rejected the candidacy of Mustafa Al-Kazemi."
"The next prime minister should be a balance between Iran and America, and the next prime minister's stage will be a stage of reforms," Al-Jashmi said.
Source: It was agreed to assign Ali Shukry as prime minister, and the announcement will be made officially within hours
29-01-2020
Baghdad / newsletter:
Informed Iraqi political sources revealed, on Tuesday, that there is a final agreement to assign the former leader of the Sadrist movement, Ali Shukri, to the Prime Minister, noting that the next few hours may witness the assignment of Shukri.
The sources said to "Al-Ikhbaria" that "the political blocs agreed to assign Ali Shukri, the former Minister of Planning who is close to the Sadrist movement, to head the next government."
He added, "The assignment of my thanks may happen this evening or tomorrow morning formally by the presidency of the Republic."
Informed Iraqi political sources revealed, on Tuesday, that there is a final agreement to assign the former leader of the Sadrist movement, Ali Shukri, to the Prime Minister, noting that the next few hours may witness the assignment of Shukri.
The sources said to "Al-Ikhbaria" that "the political blocs agreed to assign Ali Shukri, the former Minister of Planning who is close to the Sadrist movement, to head the next government."
He added, "The assignment of my thanks may happen this evening or tomorrow morning formally by the presidency of the Republic."
They hoisted the United Nations flag over the building of the Turkish restaurant in Baghdad
Iraqi demonstrators identify three demands before a "major escalation"
Publication date: 01/29/2020
Baghdad: «The Gulf»
Yesterday, Tuesday, Iraqi demonstrators in Baghdad and the central and southern governorates continued their demonstrations and sit-ins, defying the attacks they are exposed to by unknown parties or even by government agencies, while the Baghdad Operations Command called the peaceful demonstrators to work hard to uncover the groups targeting the security forces and cooperation With it to protect the demonstrators and secure the demonstration area, at a time when the protesters in Tahrir Square in the center of the capital raised the United Nations logo on the Turkish restaurant, which has been the symbol of the popular movement for four months, and identified three major demands before they carried out a major escalation. By raising a blue banner bearing the United Nations emblem, the demonstrators tried to draw the attention of the international organization to their demands, which are raised above the building of the Turkish restaurant, which is now called "Mount Uhud" overlooking Tahrir Square. In Wasit, a security source said, "Clashes took place between protesters and security forces in the vicinity of the Kut District District," indicating that "the security forces are using tear gas."
Basra governorate witnessed a large demonstration in the city center called the "Three demands march", where university and institute students in Basra went in large numbers to the demonstrations square to confirm the demands of the demonstrators, which stipulated that the next prime minister be independent of the influence of the ruling parties, and demanded approval of a law Elections, as well as fixing the date for early elections.
In Najaf, and a statement issued by the Najaf sit-in square stated, “After the protesters in the sit-in squares tolerated what they endured and endured despite the difficult and compelling circumstances and practiced against them all kinds of violence, killing and kidnapping, the ruling authority deliberately procrastinated and did not respond to the legitimate demands of the protesters to choose a prime minister who is not Controversial and decisive new election law and ratification and setting a date for early elections not to exceed (six months) ».
The statement added, "Therefore, the sitters announce that they will give the ruling authority a deadline to implement these demands, starting from Tuesday and ending next Saturday. Otherwise, escalatory steps will be taken within the peaceful framework."
Iraqi demonstrators identify three demands before a "major escalation"
Publication date: 01/29/2020
Baghdad: «The Gulf»
Yesterday, Tuesday, Iraqi demonstrators in Baghdad and the central and southern governorates continued their demonstrations and sit-ins, defying the attacks they are exposed to by unknown parties or even by government agencies, while the Baghdad Operations Command called the peaceful demonstrators to work hard to uncover the groups targeting the security forces and cooperation With it to protect the demonstrators and secure the demonstration area, at a time when the protesters in Tahrir Square in the center of the capital raised the United Nations logo on the Turkish restaurant, which has been the symbol of the popular movement for four months, and identified three major demands before they carried out a major escalation. By raising a blue banner bearing the United Nations emblem, the demonstrators tried to draw the attention of the international organization to their demands, which are raised above the building of the Turkish restaurant, which is now called "Mount Uhud" overlooking Tahrir Square. In Wasit, a security source said, "Clashes took place between protesters and security forces in the vicinity of the Kut District District," indicating that "the security forces are using tear gas."
Basra governorate witnessed a large demonstration in the city center called the "Three demands march", where university and institute students in Basra went in large numbers to the demonstrations square to confirm the demands of the demonstrators, which stipulated that the next prime minister be independent of the influence of the ruling parties, and demanded approval of a law Elections, as well as fixing the date for early elections.
In Najaf, and a statement issued by the Najaf sit-in square stated, “After the protesters in the sit-in squares tolerated what they endured and endured despite the difficult and compelling circumstances and practiced against them all kinds of violence, killing and kidnapping, the ruling authority deliberately procrastinated and did not respond to the legitimate demands of the protesters to choose a prime minister who is not Controversial and decisive new election law and ratification and setting a date for early elections not to exceed (six months) ».
The statement added, "Therefore, the sitters announce that they will give the ruling authority a deadline to implement these demands, starting from Tuesday and ending next Saturday. Otherwise, escalatory steps will be taken within the peaceful framework."
Iraqi Position Network
Falling Iraqi oil exports ... and anxiety about tensions
Monitoring showed for the "New Arab", the decline in Iraqi oil exports, on an annual basis in December of last year 2019, by 3.2 percent, to 106.2 million barrels, compared to 109.6 million barrels during the same month of 2018.
According to data issued by the Ministry of Oil, on Tuesday, based on the final statistic of the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company (SOMO), oil export revenues last month amounted to about $ 6.69 billion.
The data indicated that the total quantities exported from fields located in central and southern Iraq amounted to about 103 million barrels, with revenues of $ 6.49 billion, while the quantities exported from Kirkuk oil (northern Iraq) through the Turkish port of Ceyhan reached about 2.8 million barrels, with revenues of 180.4 Million dollars.
The quantities exported through the Al-Samoud refinery in Baiji, north of Baghdad, to Jordan were recorded at about 347.7 thousand barrels, with revenues of $ 17.7 million, pointing out that the average price per barrel amounted to about $ 63.
Oil exports reached the highest level in December 2018, reaching 109.6 million barrels, with revenues exceeding $ 6.4 billion, with an average price per barrel of $ 59.3.
Fears are increasing that Iraqi oil exports could be harmed, as security tensions escalated from time to time in the recent period, especially after the assassination of Commander Qassem Soleimani in the United States in Baghdad on January 3, followed by about five days an Iranian missile response to the rules. Military hosts American soldiers.
The widespread popular protests against the deterioration of living conditions and the spread of corruption and sectarianism also cast a negative shadow on the oil sector, which witnessed during the past days temporary closings attempts by cutting off roads and blocking oil installations.
Despite the vast resources of Iraq, successive Iraqi governments since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, nearly 17 years ago, have not succeeded in curbing the extent of corruption and providing basic services, foremost of which is electricity for citizens.
Euro Ambassadors Condemn State Violence in Iraq
29th January 2020
in Security
The Ambassadors of Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States condemn the excessive and lethal use of force by Iraqi security forces and armed groups since 24 January against peaceful protestors, including in Baghdad, Nasiriya and Basra.
Despite assurances by the government, security forces and armed groups continue to use live fire in these locations, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries of civilians, while some protestors face intimidation and abduction.
The Ambassadors call on the government to respect freedoms of assembly and the right to protest peacefully, as enshrined in Iraq’s constitution, and on all protestors to maintain the peaceful nature of the movement.
The Ambassadors call on the government to guarantee credible investigations and accountability for the over 500 deaths and thousands of injuries of protesters since 1 October.
(Source: British Embassy)
American writer: Washington chose Iraq between anti-Iran or its destruction
January 29, 2020 | 12:32 PM - Views: 25 Views
Iraqi Position Network
On Wednesday, the American historical writer and researcher Eric Zoeis confirmed that the United States chose Iraq between joining it against Iran or destroying it, while pointing out that the Sunni region project is primarily American and not Sunni.
And Eurasia website quoted Zouais in his article, “American officials have made clear that if the United States must withdraw its forces from Iraq as demanded by the parliament and the Iraqi Prime Minister, the United States will divide the country into separate Sunni, Shi’ite and Kurdish countries and economic sanctions will be imposed on the part that governs it. Shiites and the destruction of their areas.
He added that "the United States has been promoting in recent weeks a plan to create a Sunni autonomous region in western Iraq, where officials say that the efforts of the United States come in response to attempts by Iraqi Shiite parties to expel US forces from their country."
He continued, "The project is American, not Sunni, and the presence of the American forces was the guarantor of the Sunnis and the Kurds, so if the United States is to leave Iraq, the establishment of a Sunni region in western Iraq is its plan to curb Iran and its weapons in the Middle East," according to the article.
He continued that "the Gulf countries allied with the United States, led by Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, support and finance this project, as stated by leaders and officials of the Sunnis and Shiites."
The writer quoted a prominent Sunni lawmaker familiar with the talks as saying, "Financing is in place, international pressure is in place, and the necessary military force is in place to create such a region." To green oases and rebuilding the destroyed areas in Mosul and Salah al-Din Who cares about oil? “.
He explained that "this is a war on the part of the United States, Saudi Arabia, other Arab oil kingdoms and Israel against Iran, and it will also become a war between the United States and Russia unless Russia complies with America's demands to stay outside, not to defend Iran."
Kauaihn Iraq Articles:d
Iraqi Position Network
A well-informed source revealed, on Wednesday, that the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, had given the political blocs until Friday evening about the prime minister's candidate.
29/1/2020
The source said in an interview with Alsumaria News, "The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, gave the political blocs until Friday evening to present a non-controversial candidate for prime minister."
"Otherwise, Saleh will assign an independent figure who will accept the street," he added.
Yesterday, a source close to the President of the Republic denied agreeing to a candidate for prime minister.
Al-Hakim's stream reveals: Continued external interference hinders the nomination of the new prime minister
January 29, 2020 | 12:10 PM - Views: 38 Views
Iraqi Position Network
On Wednesday, al-Hikmah MP, al-Badiri, warned that continued external interference hinders the nomination of a new prime minister, calling on political forces not to comply with any external pressure.
Al-Badiri said in a press statement that "the continued external interference hinders the nomination of a new candidate for prime minister," stressing the need for "political forces not to comply with any external pressures."
Al-Badiri stressed the necessity of "wise people entering political leaders and sitting at a table of dialogue to accelerate the selection of an independent personality away from any external interference," warning that "the country is moving towards the unknown and there are countries that seek that."
PM Barzani Meets with Investors to Discuss Fostering Economy
29/01/2020
ERBIL — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani chaired a meeting with cabinet officials and investors from around Kurdistan, discussing the efforts to help Kurdistan’s economic growth.
PM Barzani highlighted his cabinet’s ambitious reform agenda and reaffirmed commitment to supporting the economic growth of the Kurdistan Region through joint efforts between public and private sectors.
“The reforms, aimed at transforming the Kurdistan Region into a destination of choice for investors, will help eliminate the red tape, in turn generating further opportunities in the region’s growing economy,” according to the readout of the meeting.
Prime Minister Barzani stressed KRG’s mission to facilitate opportunities in all sectors for both local and foreign investors, with an emphasis on protecting the public and investors' interests.
With the Kurdistan Region primed to become an important regional trade centre, Prime Minister Barzani added that the KRG will work closely with the private sector to create further opportunities for young people to contribute towards the Kurdistan Region's economic prosperity.
Iraqi TV Station Suspended for Protest Coverage
BasNews 29/01/2020
Iraqi authorities have ordered a one-month suspension for al-Dijla TV station for covering the anti-government protests in the past few months, media and police sources were cited as saying.
Al-Dijlah has at least 80 employees working at the Baghdad bureau and 50 others at the station's headquarters located in Amman.
"Interior ministry forces fully shut down Al-Dijla's office in Baghdad last night and respectfully asked the staff to leave," a source from the broadcaster told AFP.
Meanwhile, an official from the ministry of interior confirmed the report that the security forces had stormed the office in the neighborhood of Jadiriyah, east of Baghdad, on Monday.
One of the employees spoke on condition of anonymity to AFP and pointed out that the authorities in Jordan had ordered to halt the operations in the station's main office.
"The Iraqi government requested from Jordan that it halts the station's broadcasting for a month based on an Iraqi complaint," he said.
Deputy for Al-Nahj: The government disappointed and then has the answer regarding the killing of the protesters
1/29/2020 12:18 AM Reading: 585 Times, Sections: Iraq News
Deputy for Al-Nahj: The government disappointed and then has the answer regarding the killing of the protesters
{Baghdad: Al Furat News} The deputy of the National Approach, Hussein al-'Uqabi, said, “The current government has disappointed the Iraqis and only they have the answer to kill the demonstrators.”
Al-Uqabi said to the program (very soon) broadcast on the satellite channel Al-Furat, tonight, "What happened to the demonstrators over the past four months is a disaster by all standards, especially the governorates of Baghdad and Dhi Qar. Violations. "
Al-Aqabi described the caretaker government as "miserable and disappointing to everyone because it did not listen to the advice of the supreme religious authority and the demands of the demonstrators."
He added, "Whoever asks about the killers of the demonstrators will find the answer in the government responsible for intelligence and national security," noting that "it is playing with rudeness on the blood of innocent people to cling to power, and it is the one who allowed the killing and burning to mix the cards."
Al-Uqabi blamed the consequences of the crisis for the authority he described as "chaotic and corrupt", stating that "when power is absent, everything is expected to happen."
The MP, from the National Approach Bloc, concluded his speech by saying, "Expediting the formation of a national government, preparing a successful government program, and preparing for early elections, the only way to get rid of this crisis."
Wafa al-Fatlawi
Deputy for Al-Nahj: The government disappointed and then has the answer regarding the killing of the protesters
{Baghdad: Al Furat News} The deputy of the National Approach, Hussein al-'Uqabi, said, “The current government has disappointed the Iraqis and only they have the answer to kill the demonstrators.”
Al-Uqabi said to the program (very soon) broadcast on the satellite channel Al-Furat, tonight, "What happened to the demonstrators over the past four months is a disaster by all standards, especially the governorates of Baghdad and Dhi Qar. Violations. "
Al-Aqabi described the caretaker government as "miserable and disappointing to everyone because it did not listen to the advice of the supreme religious authority and the demands of the demonstrators."
He added, "Whoever asks about the killers of the demonstrators will find the answer in the government responsible for intelligence and national security," noting that "it is playing with rudeness on the blood of innocent people to cling to power, and it is the one who allowed the killing and burning to mix the cards."
Al-Uqabi blamed the consequences of the crisis for the authority he described as "chaotic and corrupt", stating that "when power is absent, everything is expected to happen."
The MP, from the National Approach Bloc, concluded his speech by saying, "Expediting the formation of a national government, preparing a successful government program, and preparing for early elections, the only way to get rid of this crisis."
Wafa al-Fatlawi
The Sadrists' Agenda: In Their Own Words
In 2018, I began a series of interviews with the Sadrists during my visit to Iraq and elsewhere. I intended to get to know their goals better, and to sense their future stance towards both the United States and Iran. In this regard, this article compiles interview materials in a brief treatment of the goals of the Sadrist movement, and highlights areas where there is expected disharmony with the 81-member international coalition present in Iraq, but also highlights issues for which synergy may be surprising, including This is not obvious, regarding the issue of the foreign military presence in Iraq. However, these interviews also contain a strong warning that Muqtada is by no means a reliable or generally positive actor.
In talks with one of the senior Sadrists, a number of issues that represent alleged targets of the current have emerged in the Iraqi political scene today, and they are reported as mentioned in the following quotes:
1. “Abolishing the quota system,” in which political parties impose political appointments or “special” ministers and other high officials based on their parliamentary share.
2. "Putting weapons under state control," referring to the consolidation or normalization of the PMF as a more obedient and organized security force.
3. "Create a balance with neighboring countries."
4. "Fighting corruption, holding everyone accountable, including former officials."
5. "Remove any foreign forces in Iraq, taking into account the rights of the government and parliament."
1. “Abolishing the quota system,” in which political parties impose political appointments or “special” ministers and other high officials based on their parliamentary share.
2. "Putting weapons under state control," referring to the consolidation or normalization of the PMF as a more obedient and organized security force.
3. "Create a balance with neighboring countries."
4. "Fighting corruption, holding everyone accountable, including former officials."
5. "Remove any foreign forces in Iraq, taking into account the rights of the government and parliament."
As for the 81-member International Alliance, these alleged goals are all in line with the overall goal of ensuring the permanent defeat of the "Islamic State" by rebuilding a sovereign, stable, and democratic Iraq. But how realistic is the Sadrists ’commitment to these nominal goals, and how true is the image that senior leaders give or the lack of coherence of their aspirations?
It became clear from the first fifteen months of the current government that the Sadrist movement is not practicing what it preaches on the issue of political quotas (for ministerial appointments and appointments of senior officials based on the factional parliamentary quota) or fighting corruption. This does not necessarily indicate duplication on the part of Muqtada, but rather emphasizes the challenge he may face to changing the culture of patronage networks within his movement, if he tries it seriously.
As for the " popular crowd " and the issue of weapons and the state, the Sadrists, both internally and externally, were largely consistent. In this regard, a senior Sadrist said: "We totally reject weapons outside the control of the state," adding that Iraq must "arrest anyone who seeks to impose his authority on the streets, or is fighting the government. We want the fighters to surrender their weapons to the government, and that They return to their homes, to enter the military if necessary, or to have priority in terms of other job opportunities.
In fact, these statements echo the last statement of Moqtada al-Sadr on January 24, in which he envisages dissolving the “Popular Mobilization Forces” and merging them with the Ministry of Defense, or stricter regulations, with a “severe punishment” imposed on those who They operate outside the control of the Prime Minister.
With a new prime minister supported by both the Sadrists and Sistani - and with potential spoilers such as Qasim Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis removed from the scene - the Sadrists may have served as a powerful driver for subjecting the structure of the "PMF" to real controls. What remains now is to see whether the "Saraya al-Salam" militia of Moqtada al-Sadr will place itself under the same controls, or will it operate under a separate chain of command.
The Sadrist movement's view of foreign military presence
Some of the most interesting conversations I had about Muqtada today and his movement were on the issue of foreign military forces in Iraq. The surprising factor was the low level of excitement in the Sadrist speech about US forces since the United States returned to Iraq in 2014 as an invited partner, not as a gas. In one of the interviews, one of the Sadrists stated: "There is no hostility toward American forces, and most Iraqis greatly appreciate their assistance."
Nevertheless, there is a firm conviction throughout the entire Sadrist movement, from speakers with a strong Western bent to Muqtada itself and to military cadres, that the presence of foreign military forces - be they American or any other - should not turn into a presumed reality of life Iraqi.
An interesting factor is that the Sadrists tend to use the term "foreign forces" to describe the alliance, unless they are explicitly asked about US forces, which underlines the differences between the current US presence and the US-led presence before 2011.
When specifically asked about the Americans, one of the interesting points of view was that the US military presence undermined Iraq’s ability to curb the Iranian paramilitary presence in Iraq. One of the interviewees stated: "Our feeling is that the presence of American forces causes a lot of problems in Iraq. Iran feels threatened and supports its groups to resist the occupier, religious people oppose its presence, and young people are in turmoil. We want to remove these The excuse. "
In those conversations, I asked the Sadrist movement what they meant exactly by the word "occupation" or "occupiers", the most common phrases used to describe any foreign forces in Iraq. In particular, I asked (quite frankly) whether they really viewed Canadian trainers, for example, as "occupying forces." When the issue was called for in depth, matters became more complicated, and it was possible to see the ease of reaching compromises on international cooperation with Iraq.
First, if we go beyond the general rhetorical language, the Sadrist movement wants any foreign presence to be subject to severe regulatory controls, and that these forces are explicitly invited to undertake a specific mission with specific criteria. And I was told: "No forces, or any soldiers on the ground, will be allowed unless the Iraqi government or the Iraqi parliament requests that." In this context, a leader of the Sadrist movement believes that "it is necessary for the law to regulate" the presence of foreign forces, but this may be done through several methods. "The issues of war and peace that are highly sensitive should be referred to Parliament for periodic review, and at least to the Parliament's Security Committee, even if the Prime Minister makes decisions on them." This indicates a high degree of flexibility, as well as a low level of knowledge that the coalition forces are already highly organized.
Second, the trainers and advisors (if compared to the combat forces) were not out of the equation. In this context, "There may not be any sensitivity to the coaches, although there is some sensitivity to the American coaches ... The Iraqi people greatly welcome Canadian, Australian and European coaches. They are our friends, and they train our forces ... it all depends on their numbers, location and tasks. All these matters must be clarified. " Again, this opens up ample room for discussion, especially since the Alliance will be happy to turn into a non-combat role, training only.
Interfered with coalition plans to adapt the mission
What most Iraqis do not appreciate, is that the military contributors to the 81-member alliance also want to better organize and position both the "Joint Task Force - Solid Torque Operation" force and force. No coalition partner - including the US government - wants to commit its combat forces to a costly, risky, and open presence in Iraq.
The United States and the broader coalition have resented the sudden efforts to expel all foreign forces with an unfinished parliamentary session and threats of violence against members of parliament . The United States has indicated that a complete cessation of Iraqi-American security cooperation in all its forms would cause a wider reduction in US non-military contributions that contribute to the economic well-being of Iraq.
However, in the context of a constructive discussion between the security partners, the prospects for rationalization of the "Joint Task Force - Solid Torque Operation" mission, the NATO Training Mission and the European Union Security Cooperation Mission are broad prospects. Hence, describing the process of restructuring the foreign military mission as a victory for Muqtada would be a smart move.
One of the reasons why the Sadrists secretly stipulated the need for full parliamentary approval of the international mission is that it makes sense for the Defense and Security Committee, in partnership with Iraqi generals, to assess the military support that is still required. If this committee reaches this conclusion, it is very likely to conclude that further institutional capacity-building and training work remains to achieve sustainable improvements in the security forces.
The coalition will have to clarify some points in any dialogue. First, Iraq must actively commit to protecting foreign forces. Indeed, the statements of Muqtada al-Sadr on January 24 against attacks targeting foreign forces are a reassuring start to such a dialogue.
Second, the coalition may surprise Iraq by expressing its willingness to hand over several combat operations to Iraq. For example, Iraqi military forces continue to rely on coalition airstrikes and artillery strikes to safely destroy ISIS's secret weapons caches or to provide emergency support to vulnerable Iraqi forces. For coalition partners, it appears that Iraq does not make much effort to improve its counterinsurgency capabilities because it knows it can count on the open "Joint Task Force - Solid Torque Operation" firepower. As one American official told me: "We will not mow their grass, we will not kill Sunnis for them forever."
Consequently, there is likely to be a lot of interest on the part of the coalition in order for either Iraq to make a real improvement in its military capabilities or to stop wasting our time and resources. The new coalition training plan must also include Iraq’s commitment to take all combat missions over a specified period of time, certainly no more than a year or eighteen months. Currently, the “Islamic State” does not pose a threat large enough to keep coalition forces in Iraq to no. End, if Iraq does not do more to help itself.
Muqtada and the American government
As Muqtada al-Sadr moves to the center stage - as the maker of leaders and the most powerful militia leader in Iraq - it is worthwhile to ask how the United States should look at this man. The answer is that the United States should view Muqtada with the same caution and apathy that he is showing us, because he is not a friend of America, he is probably never, and he could easily have a very dangerous impact on the future of Iraq.
In a conversation with a senior Sadrist, I asked what would it take, presumably, for Moqtada to meet US officials openly or to authorize his deputies to do so. At first glance, the negative sentiments towards the United States were profound, and the answer was that the United States would first need to publicly apologize for supporting Saddam in the Iran-Iraq war, for failing to assist the Iraqis during the bloody repressive uprising of 1991, and for the United States' support for the undemocratic governments seen To it as suppressing the Shiites (i.e. the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain), and in general to the American foreign policy in the region, especially with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. It is an aborted idea from the start, but the chest movement may be more flexible than it appears at the beginning, as is the case with other issues.
On domestic policy, the United States must also closely monitor Muqtada and not coordinate and reduce the risk he may pose - although he may easily turn out to be a very appropriate democrat. It represents the abandonment by Mottaki of protecting the demonstrators, and opening the door to deadly attacks against them and the burning of their camps, a reminder that there are no permanent alliances in Iraqi politics. After months of uneasy coexistence, some protest leaders criticized Muqtada, and his response was to punish them without hesitation or mercy.
It is also important to clarify what Moqtada’s vision of leadership entails, as Moqtada Al-Sadr’s officials affirm his desire to build a “civil state”. In the same vein, one official told me that he “does not intend to establish a religious state. Religious goals can be achieved through a civil state. He is in harmony with Sistani.” That may be true, but Muqtada also believes he plays an important role as a “guide” He focuses on "social justice" (as one Sadrist consultant put it), as he "wants to define principles and be honorable", without directly ruling. Although Muqtada is unlikely to be a ruler along the lines of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he is also unlikely to be a "quiet" cleric like Sistani. It is more likely that it will be a compromise, that is, parallel to Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, and this is not a reassuring comparison.
Iraq protesters are organizing their ranks
Publish Date: Tuesday - 2020-01-29 - 12:00
Fearing an escalation following an attack on the American embassy
The anti-government demonstrators yesterday re-installed their tents that were burned across Iraq, in an attempt to continue the momentum of their protests amid fears of escalation following a missile attack on the American embassy in Baghdad.
The attack, which resulted in the injury of at least one person, was a serious shift in the series of attacks that have affected US interests in recent months.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the United States accuses armed factions loyal to Iran in Iraq, raising fears that the country may become a forum for settling scores between Tehran and Washington.
Anti-government activists fear that a similar conflict will end their protest movement, which is the largest popular protest in Iraq in decades.
The demonstrators have been calling for deep political reforms since October 1. They again invaded the streets and squares of Baghdad and several cities in the south of the country from which they were driven out on Saturday.
The protesters are calling for early elections under a new electoral law, for an independent prime minister and for accountability of corrupt officials and those who have ordered the use of violence against the protesters.
A protester was shot dead in the city of Nasiriyah in southern Iraq, as unidentified gunmen stormed the central square of the anti-government protests and burned the tents of the protesters.
Unidentified gunmen in four-wheel drive vehicles stormed and burned the tents of the protesters in Al-Haboubi Square in the center of Nasiriyah last night, and these gunmen opened fire on the protesters and burned their tents that turned into rubble.
A medical source in Nasiriyah confirmed that a protester had been killed and four others were wounded by live bullets as a result of the attack.
A few hours later, protesters responded by closing two major bridges in the city, 350 km south of Baghdad.
The city of Najaf witnessed a similar attack, during which unidentified gunmen burned the tents of protesters in the protest square in the city center.
The demonstrators, who started a week ago to block the streets, bridges and main roads linking the cities, some of them with burning tires, are trying to increase the pressure on the government to carry out long-awaited reforms, but this was met with a response to the use of force by the People's Defense Forces.
The violence during the past week resulted in the killing of 21 demonstrators and wounding hundreds of wounds.
More than 480 people have been killed in the protests since its inception in early October, according to an AFP tally based on medical and security sources.
Since Friday, after the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced his abandonment of support for protests in which the younger generation is the active element, security forces began a campaign to break up protests in several squares in Baghdad and other cities of the country.
A large number of protesters, including al-Sadr's supporters, dismantled their tents and withdrew from the sites of the protests, which raised activists' fears of losing the political cover and thus being subjected to a crackdown.
Sadr, who controls the Alliance, the largest political bloc in parliament, for a period of protests supported his first launch in early October, and called on the government to resign.
But he called for a separate demonstration to demand the departure of 5,200 American soldiers from Iraq. On Friday, thousands poured into Baghdad to participate in the demonstration rejecting the American presence, which Sadr did not attend but praised the turnout for. Hours later, he said, he would not interfere with the required mobility, "neither in the negative nor in the affirmative."
But the scene changed on Sunday, with thousands of demonstrators leaving, the majority of whom are school and university students to express their adherence to the demand protest.
Meanwhile, one person was injured as a result of an attack that targeted the American embassy in Baghdad on Sunday night, according to an American diplomatic source and an Iraqi security source.
It was not possible to ascertain whether the injured was a US citizen or an Iraqi working for the mission.
CBI, ISX, Dinar Guru:
CBI Update:
The CBI for Wednesday 1/29/20 did update on the indicative rates Sell Rate 1190
The currency auction total sales amount $ 248,616,373.
There are no news and announcements.
Click on link above for latest update.
Value Traded:
Shares Traded:
ISX ended in Green, Red
Dinar Guru:
1-29-2020 Intel Guru Footforward Article quote: "Najaf Governorate sit-in announced that the President of the Republic and the Iraqi parliament have been given a specific deadline to implement a number of demands." This would include a new PM :)
1-28-2020 Newshound Guru MilitiaMan They haven't shown us the rate yet from the 2019 FMLA. The rate precedes the 2020 budget,just as the NSNs will need a rate and just as there is no need imo for the new PM. There will still be future elections to contend with and an on going concern, which are mostly unrelated directly daily goings of the CBI. They sorted their game plan already. Now we wait and see if the CBI reports accordingly 01/01/2020 - 01/31/2020 without a program rate attached to it... [post 2 of 2]
1-28-2020 Newshound Guru MilitiaMan We imo don't care about the 2020 budget, we/I care about the 2019 Financial Management Law Amendment that was passed and voted through under a residing and legal Prime Minister, just as was the 2020 Budget Law was two days prior to the PM ever resigning. All legal and legit. The 2020 budget has the ability to adjust over months at 1/12th the budget, while they get the new rate sorted out. That is why imo the law was done accordingly and hidden to a large degree. [post 1 of 2....stay tuned]
1-28-2020 Intel Guru MarkZ Reno sources have been dead quiet and I have not been able to get in touch with 2 of my contacts in Iraq. So no news from my guys in Iraq. My Zurich folks expected something to break loose about noon their time…its past that now but they are still expectant...They are pretty confident they are about to see something because they had been given a schedule for the week which involves them being very busy. I am very positive and expectant for this week.
1-28-2020 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat ...Why is Iran making all this trouble via their militias? They are doing it because they know their days are numbered and it is their last desperate attempt to remain in politics and have influence in Iraq. Basically, they want to control Iraq. They want to make Iraq a puppet state of Tehran. ...These Iranian militias have to be dealt with or we will never see peace in Iraq and never get the stability we need for an RV...The dream of a prosperous and abundant Iraq will never happen.
1-28-2020 Newshound Guru Kaperoni An interesting opinion piece came out a few weeks ago discussing what would happen if the US left Iraq. What caught my attention was the reference to floating the currency. Why would this be a topic unless this was the plan?
1-28-2020 Newshound/Intel Guru tman23 YOUSSFAD ALI TARIK HAKEM .... is name being floated in the inner circles as PM ... a business scholar with deep western ties ... an excellent anti Iranian choice which means Sadr is not in favor.
1-28-2020 Newshound Guru MilitiaMan We imo don't care about the 2020 budget, we/I care about the 2019 Financial Management Law Amendment that was passed and voted through under a residing and legal Prime Minister, just as was the 2020 Budget Law was two days prior to the PM ever resigning. All legal and legit. The 2020 budget has the ability to adjust over months at 1/12th the budget, while they get the new rate sorted out. That is why imo the law was done accordingly and hidden to a large degree. [post 1 of 2....stay tuned]
1-28-2020 Intel Guru MarkZ Reno sources have been dead quiet and I have not been able to get in touch with 2 of my contacts in Iraq. So no news from my guys in Iraq. My Zurich folks expected something to break loose about noon their time…its past that now but they are still expectant...They are pretty confident they are about to see something because they had been given a schedule for the week which involves them being very busy. I am very positive and expectant for this week.
1-28-2020 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat ...Why is Iran making all this trouble via their militias? They are doing it because they know their days are numbered and it is their last desperate attempt to remain in politics and have influence in Iraq. Basically, they want to control Iraq. They want to make Iraq a puppet state of Tehran. ...These Iranian militias have to be dealt with or we will never see peace in Iraq and never get the stability we need for an RV...The dream of a prosperous and abundant Iraq will never happen.
1-28-2020 Newshound Guru Kaperoni An interesting opinion piece came out a few weeks ago discussing what would happen if the US left Iraq. What caught my attention was the reference to floating the currency. Why would this be a topic unless this was the plan?
1-28-2020 Newshound/Intel Guru tman23 YOUSSFAD ALI TARIK HAKEM .... is name being floated in the inner circles as PM ... a business scholar with deep western ties ... an excellent anti Iranian choice which means Sadr is not in favor.
Catnip:
***************
ARTICLE 1-A (from PM Mahdi's website; posted only on Arabic side, not on English side)
The Council of Ministers holds its regular session, headed by Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi
The Council of Ministers held its regular session today, Tuesday, January 28, 2020, headed by the Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi.
At the beginning of the session, the Prime Minister talked about the latest political and security developments in the country, the international position on the decision to withdraw foreign forces, and the measures taken by the government to follow up the conditions of the Iraqis in China, evacuate them and prevent Corona virus.
The Cabinet discussed issues prepared for its agenda and issued a number of decisions.
In the field of housing, the Council of Ministers decided to approve the ownership of the numbered plot of land by the Ministry of Finance
(12 / M16 at the cost of Al-Fadilya) in accordance with Resolution No. 581 of 1981 for the purpose of distributing it to its occupants from 1963 until 2003 in the fundamentalist way.
A recommendation was approved by the Ministerial Council for Social Services regarding approval of the referral of the Samarra sewage project, the second stage. Supplying, implementing, configuring and maintaining the treatment plant with lifting stations, sewage networks and heavy rain water with the transmission lines for Al-Mabrouk General Contracting and Badr Al-Haq for General Contracting with an amount of (310530406000) dinars only three hundred Ten billion five hundred thirty million four hundred and six thousand dinars, with a duration of implementation of (1095) days, as long as the matter is related to the financial competence of the Council of Ministers.
In the agricultural field, the Council decided to approve the amendment of the Council of Ministers Resolution (265 of 2019) regarding the payment of farmers' dues from barley to become as follows:
1- The Mesopotamian Seed Company, one of the formations of the Ministry of Agriculture, borrowed from the Iraqi Bank of Trade and other banks an amount of (300,000,000) dinars, only three hundred billion dinars, for the purpose of paying farmers' dues for barley for the year 2019.
2- The Ministry of Finance has included the amount of loans with the resulting benefits in the draft federal budget law for fiscal year 2020,
3- The Ministry of Finance provides guarantees to pay off the loan amount with the benefits resulting from it to the Iraqi Bank for Trade, and that this decision is implemented from the date of its issuance.
The Cabinet agreed to address the transfer of the people referred to in the Ministry of Education's letter number number 14/1/7768 on 11/25/2019 to supervisors by taking advantage of the vacant grades that were referred to retirement and within the financial allocations of the Education Directorate in each governorate to count deletion or download Their melasma.
And it was agreed to issue instructions and badges for employees of the Border Ports Authority and its records based on the provisions of Article (80 / Item Three) of the Constitution and Article (13) of Border Ports Authority Law No. (30) of 2016.
The Council agreed to end the work of the Provincial Reconstruction and Services Committee, which was formed according to Cabinet Resolution (271 of 2018), given the formation of a team to follow up on the implementation of the directives issued regarding the demands of the demonstrators.
Media office of the Prime Minister
January 28, 2020
***************
ARTICLE 1-B (from PM Mahdi's website; posted only on Arabic side, not on English side)
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi receives a phone call from the US Secretary of State
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi received a phone call from the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo,
Emphasis was placed on friendship between the two countries and on condemning the attacks that targeted the American embassy in Baghdad, strengthening the procedures of the Iraqi forces responsible for protecting them, following up on investigations and procedures to prevent attacks on diplomatic missions and bringing their perpetrators to justice.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of calm in the region, respect for all of Iraq's sovereignty and decisions, non-interference in its internal affairs, and making constructive and serious efforts to achieve this.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State stressed his country's readiness to hold serious discussions on the presence of foreign forces in Iraq and cooperation to achieve Iraqi sovereignty.
Media office of the Prime Minister
January 27, 2020
*************
ARTICLE 2 (from Government of Iraq twitter account)
Iraqi government announces preventative measures in response to Coronavirus
28 Jan 2020 - 1:37 pm
Iraq’s Ministry of Health announced several preventive measures in response to Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province in the People’s Republic of China.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that it has activated its plan for potential epidemics, stressing that all measures are precautionary and are being introduced in coordination with the World Health Organisation and other relevant bodies.
The new procedures include:
- Implementing tighter measures at Iraq’s border crossings, including airports
- Evacuating Iraqi nationals in the Chinese city of Wuhan to Baghdad on board a chartered Iraqi Airways aircraft, accompanied by a medical team
- Screening evacuated Iraqi nationals on arrival in Baghdad, followed by follow-up and and monitoring measures
Earlier, the Ministry of Health confirmed that no case of the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has been recorded to Iraq.
The Prime Minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, on Sunday chaired a meeting with the Ministers of Health, Foreign Affairs, Interior and Transport, as well as representatives of other relevant authorities, to review Iraq’s Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) preparedness.
The meeting agreed to establish a ministerial committee to be chaired by the Minister of Health to coordinate the government response and monitor developments.
*************
ARTICLE 3
Barham Salih chosen as Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
1/28/2020 11:49
[Sulaymaniyah-where]
A member of the General Leadership Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan revealed the names of the new Secretary-General and his deputies.
He said that the President of the Republic "Barham Salih will take over the position of Secretary General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and Pavel Talabani and Lahore Janki will be his two deputies."
The Chairman of the Committee to amend the internal regulations of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan announced that the discussion had been resolved regarding the nomination of the first person in the party as a president or a general secretary, and it was agreed to choose the address of the Secretary-General.
Although the second meeting of the General Leadership Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was scheduled for the beginning of this week, but the meeting was postponed to tomorrow, Wednesday, and the interim president of the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Mustafa Gawarsh, announced that the participation of Barham Saleh and Lahore Genki in the Davos Economic Forum was incomplete The amendment of the bylaws of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led to the postponement of the second meeting of the Council from 25 to 29 January, and said: "It is 100% certain that the assembly will meet on Wednesday."
The fourth conference of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan did not address in detail the internal system of the federation, which is composed of 76 articles, but was approved by a majority of votes and its amendment was referred to the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and in the first meeting of the Council was formed a committee of twenty members to amend the internal system.
The chairman of the committee to amend the internal system of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Farid Assard, said: "We added a lot of material to the internal system, as we deleted many other articles, and we merged some of the articles, so we do not know how many articles of the internal system will be until after the completion of the amendment."
Assard explained that they had completed amending 80% of the internal system and its articles by January 24th, and what will remain will be completed today, Tuesday, in preparation for the second meeting of the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.
And Asseerd explained that some articles of the internal system bear a lot of discussion, among them are articles related to the new organizational structure of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, although the internal system abolishes the political bureau from the organizational structure of the party, says Asserd: “Perhaps the PUK maintains the political office as it is or Turn it into an executive board. "
According to the internal regulations of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Executive Council (the Political Bureau) will consist of the Secretary General of the National Union and the officials of the centers (organization and regions, studies and strategic research, offices, finance and economics, elections, statistics and questionnaires, media, relations, government and parliament affairs and provincial and municipal councils).
The term (President / Secretary-General) is mentioned in the internal system to describe the first person who will be at the head of the organizational hierarchy of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and the Chairman of the Committee for Amending the Internal Regulations of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan says: “When writing the internal system, I wrote the description of a president / secretary-general, in order to choose the conference or Our committee is one of the two addresses, so we chose the address of the Secretary-General and (the Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) was confirmed, and we will present that to the Leadership Council meeting. If it is approved, the Secretary-General will be adopted, and if he rejects it, we may return to using the President’s address, and we have identified two Deputy Secretary-Generals. ”
Members and supporters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan are looking forward, as well as the Kurdish parties looking to know who will be the first person in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and names of Barham Salih, Bafel Talabani and Lahore Janki are being circulated, and the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, has answered a question in this regard posed by him (Al-Monitor) By saying: "I think it will be Barham."
Aaris Abdullah, a member of the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, said: “Pavel Talabani, Barham Salih, is given the name of Lahore, but none of them officially requested the position for himself.”
In addition to the Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, a secretary-general, his deputy and a rapporteur for the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan will be chosen, and a member of the Council announced that his name not be announced, “Barham Salih will be the Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and Pavel Talabani and Lahore Genki will be two deputies To him, Imad Ahmed and Rifaat Abdullah have been nominated for the posts of Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General of the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, but it is not known which will be the Secretary General and which of them is the deputy.
The Chairman of the Committee to amend the internal regulations of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan announced that the discussion had been resolved regarding the nomination of the first person in the party as a president or a general secretary, and it was agreed to choose the address of the Secretary-General.
Although the second meeting of the General Leadership Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was scheduled for the beginning of this week, but the meeting was postponed to tomorrow, Wednesday, and the interim president of the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Mustafa Gawarsh, announced that the participation of Barham Saleh and Lahore Genki in the Davos Economic Forum was incomplete The amendment of the bylaws of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led to the postponement of the second meeting of the Council from 25 to 29 January, and said: "It is 100% certain that the assembly will meet on Wednesday."
The fourth conference of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan did not address in detail the internal system of the federation, which is composed of 76 articles, but was approved by a majority of votes and its amendment was referred to the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and in the first meeting of the Council was formed a committee of twenty members to amend the internal system.
The chairman of the committee to amend the internal system of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Farid Assard, said: "We added a lot of material to the internal system, as we deleted many other articles, and we merged some of the articles, so we do not know how many articles of the internal system will be until after the completion of the amendment."
Assard explained that they had completed amending 80% of the internal system and its articles by January 24th, and what will remain will be completed today, Tuesday, in preparation for the second meeting of the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.
And Asseerd explained that some articles of the internal system bear a lot of discussion, among them are articles related to the new organizational structure of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, although the internal system abolishes the political bureau from the organizational structure of the party, says Asserd: “Perhaps the PUK maintains the political office as it is or Turn it into an executive board. "
According to the internal regulations of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Executive Council (the Political Bureau) will consist of the Secretary General of the National Union and the officials of the centers (organization and regions, studies and strategic research, offices, finance and economics, elections, statistics and questionnaires, media, relations, government and parliament affairs and provincial and municipal councils).
The term (President / Secretary-General) is mentioned in the internal system to describe the first person who will be at the head of the organizational hierarchy of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and the Chairman of the Committee for Amending the Internal Regulations of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan says: “When writing the internal system, I wrote the description of a president / secretary-general, in order to choose the conference or Our committee is one of the two addresses, so we chose the address of the Secretary-General and (the Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) was confirmed, and we will present that to the Leadership Council meeting. If it is approved, the Secretary-General will be adopted, and if he rejects it, we may return to using the President’s address, and we have identified two Deputy Secretary-Generals. ”
Members and supporters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan are looking forward, as well as the Kurdish parties looking to know who will be the first person in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and names of Barham Salih, Bafel Talabani and Lahore Janki are being circulated, and the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, has answered a question in this regard posed by him (Al-Monitor) By saying: "I think it will be Barham."
Aaris Abdullah, a member of the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, said: “Pavel Talabani, Barham Salih, is given the name of Lahore, but none of them officially requested the position for himself.”
In addition to the Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, a secretary-general, his deputy and a rapporteur for the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan will be chosen, and a member of the Council announced that his name not be announced, “Barham Salih will be the Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and Pavel Talabani and Lahore Genki will be two deputies To him, Imad Ahmed and Rifaat Abdullah have been nominated for the posts of Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General of the General Command Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, but it is not known which will be the Secretary General and which of them is the deputy.
*************
ARTICLE 4
Support reveals the presence of political forces to choose a military figure to head the next government
1/28/2020 12:48 • 19 times read
[Baghdad-where]
The representative of the Parliamentary Bloc of Parliament, Hassan Fadd, confirmed that there is a trend among the political forces to choose a military figure to head the next government.
Faddem said in a statement quoted by the official agency, today, Tuesday, that the ongoing dialogues between the political blocs will produce the choice of a military figure to take over as prime minister rather than political figures.
Fadam stressed that "the political blocs agreed on some broad lines during their previous sessions regarding assuming the presidency of the government," noting "the nomination of two security figures for this position more than the nomination of political figures."
He cautioned that "the House of Representatives continues to fulfill all demands for reform, such as seeking early elections, appointing a prime minister, and ratifying the election law."
The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, refused to assign the candidate to the parliamentary "Al-Bena" parliamentary bloc to head the government, while indicating his readiness to submit his resignation to Parliament.
The building bloc had presented Asaad Al-Eidani, the governor of Basra, as a candidate for the position of prime minister, to succeed resigned Adel Abdul-Mahdi.
*************
ARTICLE 5
28-01-2020 09:02 PM
Source: It was agreed to assign Ali Shukri to the prime minister, and the announcement will be made officially within hours
Baghdad / newsletter:
Informed Iraqi political sources revealed, on Tuesday, that there is a final agreement to assign the former leader of the Sadrist movement, Ali Shukri, to the Prime Minister, noting that the next few hours may witness the assignment of Shukri.
The sources said to "Al-Ikhbaria" that "the political blocs agreed to assign Ali Shukri, the former Minister of Planning who is close to the Sadrist movement, to head the next government."
He added, "The assignment of my thanks may happen this evening or tomorrow morning formally by the presidency of the Republic."
GLOBAL/NEWS/INFO
This Day in History
January 29 - Historical Events - On This Day
Powerful Caribbean earthquake shakes buildings in Jamaica, Cuba — even downtown Miami
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck 86 miles northwest of Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon, sending seismic energy that could be felt throughout the Caribbean and as far as coastal Florida.
Read in Miami Herald: https://apple.news/
5 things you need to know now
https://theweek.com/5things/
10 things you need to know today: January 29, 2020
Trump unveils his Middle East peace plan, Trump's defense team concludes its opening argument...
Read in The Week: https://apple.news/
Trump unveils his Middle East peace plan, Trump's defense team concludes its opening argument...
Read in The Week: https://apple.news/
COMMODITIES/ENERGY
Global Health Scare Will Fuel Gold Demand
Safety-related interest among investors in gold continues to build. Gold's relative strength versus several major assets is also on the rise. As fear returns to the market, gold will garner even more interest.
Read in Seeking Alpha: https://apple.news/
Gold edges lower as traders assess China virus outbreak
Gold futures edge lower Tuesday, giving back some recent gains as investor worries over the spread of China’s coronavirus abated somewhat, but analysts said gold and other havens remain likely to see support on adverse developments regarding the outbreak.
Read in MarketWatch: https://apple.
Gold Prices Fall as Traders Await FOMC
Commodities Jan 29, 2020 06:54 GMT By Alex Ho Investing.com – Gold prices fell on Thursday in Asia ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting outcome. Gold Futures lost 0.2% to 1,566.75 by 1:45 AM ET (05:45 GMT). Investors are now waiting for the U.S. central bank's monetary policy statement due later in the day. Analysts and investors widely expect the Fed to stand pat on interest rates Rising concerns about the potential economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak across China and other
Read in Investing.com: https://apple.
Launching The Gold And Oil Corner: Focusing On These 2 Key Commodities
With more than 1,860 articles published on Seeking Alpha and nearly 15,000 followers since 2014, I finally decided to launch my own Marketplace service. It's called "The Gold and Oil Corner." The primary focus will be on these two commodities and how they interconnect, to take advantage of this knowledge for profit. You'll get a 20% discount as a special welcome if you subscribe during the first month following the launch date. The regular price will be $45 a month or $375 for a full year.
Read in Seeking Alpha: https://apple.news/
Oil steadies after hitting 3-month low on coronavirus fears
Oil futures edge higher, stabilizing a day after ending at a more-than-three month low.
Read in MarketWatch: https://apple.
Oil Prices Gain on Falling Crude Inventories
Commodities Jan 29, 2020 06:32 GMT By Alex Ho Investing.com - Oil prices gained on Thursday in Asia after the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported that stockpiles of U.S. crude fell sharply last week. U.S. Crude Oil WTI Futures gained 1.1% to $54.08 by 1:18 AM ET (05:18 GMT), International Brent Oil Futures rose 1.1% to $59.44. In its weekly report, the API said that oil inventories posted a drop of 4.3 million for the week ended Jan. 24, compared with build of 1.6 million reported last
Read in Investing.com: https://apple.
Platinum Slices Through Our $1,000/oz Target
New Chinese air quality regulations require 30% more palladium in catalytic converters, substantially increasing demand for this rare metal. Platinum sliced through our first upside objective of $1,000 per ounce largely due to the price action of its manic cousin. We continue to like platinum - especially on setbacks. Key levels to watch are $1,048 (the resistance level the market just tested) and 2016 highs of $1,199 per ounce.
Read in Seeking Alpha: https://apple.news/
BANKS/BANKING/CREDIT
The Fed Will Be Forced To Lower Rates Again
Renewed global fears are driving investors back into U.S. Treasury bonds. Falling Treasury yields will force the Fed to make a critical rate decision. Equity investors need not fear, for the Fed will maintain a loose policy.
Read in Seeking Alpha: https://apple.news/
Renewed global fears are driving investors back into U.S. Treasury bonds. Falling Treasury yields will force the Fed to make a critical rate decision. Equity investors need not fear, for the Fed will maintain a loose policy.
Read in Seeking Alpha: https://apple.news/
Here's how long investors and economists think the Fed will be on hold
The Fed kicks off its two-day meeting on Tuesday, and many on Wall Street say the central bank's recent rate cuts are helping support the bull market. CNBC's Steve Liesman joins "Squawk Box" to break down the results of the latest CNBC Fed Survey.
Read in CNBC: https://apple.news/
European banks don't have many levers to alter the revenue picture, analyst says
Elisabeth Rudman, managing director and head of the European financial institutions group at DBRS, discusses European banks.
Read in CNBC: https://apple.news/
European banks must consolidate, chair of ECB's supervisory board says
ECB Supervisory Board Chair Andrea Enria said he wanted to dispel concerns his institution is hindering European bank mergers.
Read in CNBC: https://apple.news/
Could Now Be The Right Time For The Virtual Family Office? How Banks Can Support
With the need to preserve and invest wealth, high net worth individuals are increasingly considering various virtual- & hybrid offerings that can support their operations.
Read in Forbes: https://apple.news/
With the need to preserve and invest wealth, high net worth individuals are increasingly considering various virtual- & hybrid offerings that can support their operations.
Read in Forbes: https://apple.news/
The Best Business Travel Credit Cards For 2020
From CHASE Ink Preferred to American Express Business Platinum, these cards will get you from London to Tokyo, New York to Singapore: with benefits and bonuses.
Read in Forbes: https://apple.news/Ad_
From CHASE Ink Preferred to American Express Business Platinum, these cards will get you from London to Tokyo, New York to Singapore: with benefits and bonuses.
Read in Forbes: https://apple.news/Ad_
6 things to weigh before canceling a discontinued credit card
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information on credit card offers, benefits and terms. It was originally published on Jan. 14, 2018. Credit card issuers (along with their hotel and airline partners) launch new cards, rebrand and revamp existing cards and even discontinue card products all the time. There are several reasons...
Read in The Points Guy: https://apple.news/AMSv_
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information on credit card offers, benefits and terms. It was originally published on Jan. 14, 2018. Credit card issuers (along with their hotel and airline partners) launch new cards, rebrand and revamp existing cards and even discontinue card products all the time. There are several reasons...
Read in The Points Guy: https://apple.news/AMSv_
Banks looking to sell toxic product that fueled financial crisis
Banks are rushing to sell investors synthetic collateralized debt obligations for the first time since the financial crisis, International Financing Review reported Friday. The assets are related to those that fueled the financial industry's collapse and the Great Recession. Money managers seeking high yields are eyeing the sale of collateralized synthetic obligations, which use pools of credit default swaps tied to corporate debt, instead of toxic sub-prime mortgages. The financial turmoil
Read in Business Insider: https://apple.news/
TREASURIES / STOCKS / BONDS
Common investing mistakes could mean losing thousands of dollars
From fees and when to invest to the best way to invest in a target-date fund, people make a lot of mistakes when it comes to investing. Expensive mistakes.
Read in CNBC: https://apple.news/Aj3z_
Virus financial impact: Investors are trying to determine what is transitory and what is permanent
Patrick Palfrey of Credit Suisse and Patrick Chovanec of Silvercrest Asset Management discuss how the coronavirus outbreak may act as a catalyst for investor to take another look at what are the upside and downside risks for the economy.
Read in CNBC: https://apple.news/
Stock drops of earnings reporters nearly 50 points off the Dow's price
Shares of the three Dow Jones Industrial Average components that reported fourth-quarter earnings early Tuesday are falling in premarket trading, and shaving a combined 49 points off the Dow's price. Dow futures rose 135 points. 3M Co.'s stock dropped 2.6% ahead of the open after the company missed profit expectations, with the implied price decline acting as a 30-point drag on the Dow. United Technologies Corp.'s stock lost 1.6% despite topping profit and sales expectations. The stock's price
Read in MarketWatch: https://apple.
Treasury yields inch higher as stocks aim to recover from steep drop
U.S. Treasury yields rise slightly on Tuesday as investors take a breather from the coronavirus worries, which helped spark the biggest single-day drop in major equity indexes in several months.
Read in MarketWatch: https://apple.
The market sell-off could reach 10%, but most analysts expect much less
The easy policies of the Federal Reserve and other central banks are already providing a backstop that could lessen the impact of the coronavirus on financial markets.
Read in CNBC: https://apple.news/
UPDATE 1-Blink and you miss it: The U.S. yield curve inverts again
A closely watched bond market phenomenon has again flashed yellow, but investors are loathe to give it much weight.
Read in Reuters: https://apple.news/
CNBC International Market Open Briefing
CNBC market reporters bring you the latest on the stock markets throughout the day as well as fast, accurate, and actionable business news.
Read in CNBC: https://apple.news/
Investing.com -- It's peak earnings season time, with updates due from a cast of thousands including Tesla, Facebook, McDonald's, Boeing and General Electric. They will all struggle to take attention away from Apple, which is set to open at a new record high after posting blowout earnings for its fiscal first quarter late on Tuesday. The coronavirus death toll has now hit 132, but markets are refusing to panic more than they already have done. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell will say later whether he expects any impact on the U.S. economy from the outbreak, but the Fed's policy meeting, which winds up today, isn't expected to result in any change to interest rates. Here's what you need to know in financial markets on Wednesday, 29th
CRYPTO / DIGITAL CURRENCIES
Oil Giant Saudi Aramco Buys Into Blockchain Trading Platform Vakt
Saudi Arabia’s state oil company, Saudi Aramco, has bought into the blockchain-based oil trading company Vakt, Reuters reports on Jan. 28. Saudi Aramco’s Energy Ventures branch has bought $5 million in new shares, according to Vakt’s press release. The investment will be used to develop the platform, with a focus on expansion into the Asian market. In addition to investment, the oil conglomerate’s trading subsidiary Aramco Trading is set to use the Vakt platform. The platform is currently live
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Singapore Act to License Cryptocurrency Firms Comes Into Effect
Legislation regulating the operations of cryptocurrency firms in Singapore comes into effect today, Jan. 28. The new Payment Services Act will regulate cryptocurrency payments and trading enterprises under some aspects of the regulatory regime that currently governs traditional payment services and require them to hold a license. Crypto payment services must also comply with the Financial Advisers Act, Insurance Act, Securities and Futures Act and the Trust Companies Act. The new rules place
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BTC Price Back at $9,000 But No, Coronavirus Isn't 'Good for Bitcoin'
Bitcoin (BTC) may be gaining thanks to “economic fear” over coronavirus — but only up to a point, analysts are concluding as the disease spreads. The cryptocurrency hovered at around $9,000 on Tuesday, capping 4% gains for the week in which coronavirus sent China into partial lockdown. Coronavirus uncertainty creeps into markets Fears are now surfacing about the impact on Chinese economic growth, while global signals also suggest investors are more cautious about the short term. For
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Bitcoin Price Breaks Through Key Resistance as Traders Target $9.2K
Bitcoin daily price chart. Source: Coin360 Bitcoin (BTC) bulls appear to have found a second wind which allowed them to push the price above $9,000 to daily high at $9,150. As discussed in an earlier analysis, bulls had been fighting to hold the price above $8,800 throughout the day and multiple attempts at knocking out the $9K mark were held back by $8,963 and $8,985. BTC USD 6-hour chart. Source: TradingView Traders will now look for Bitcoin to sustain above $9,118.85 in order to flip the $
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Is Bitcoin Getting Ready for a February Price Rally, Again? - Bitcoinist.com
Over its short ten-year life span, bitcoin prices have traditionally seen better months than others. February has been one for the bulls so will history rhyme again in 2020? Bitcoin Price Momentum Building Bitcoin price has continued to build on the weekend momentum by gaining again today. According to Tradingview.com the last 12 hours or so have seen a $500 pump from $8,650 to $9,150. BTC price 1-hour chart – Tradingview.com The 6 percent plus gain has built on momentum at the weekend which
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Is improving digital access the silver bullet for Africa?
Among the countries in the study, digital access levels vary from 34 per cent (Uganda) to 55 per cent (Nigeria) in Africa, and between 73 per cent (Bangladesh) and 99 per cent (Thailand) in Asia, representing a significant opportunity for the private sector to help achieve and maintain universal access. Investing in the improvement of digital access in Africa, could be the silver bullet to achieving the SDGs, a recent report has said. While many investors, corporations and financial institutions
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Major Swiss Banking Firm Julius Baer Launches Services for Cryptocurrencies
Major Swiss private banking and wealth management group Julius Baer has launched a digital assets trading and custodial service via a partnership with regulated crypto-specialist Seba. Julius Baer announced its new digital assets offering on Jan. 21, the result of its 2018 minority equity stake acquisition and later partnership with crypto startup Seba Bank AG in February 2019. Seba, which was founded in April 2018 by former UBS bankers, was granted a securities dealer and banking license by the
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Bitcoin (BTC) Finally Breaks $9,000 and is one of 2019's Best Performing Assets
The price of Bitcoin (BTC) has finally cracked the $9,000 level that it’s been threatening to break above for the past few weeks. Despite a bullish start to the year, the asset faltered before achieving a much-anticipated rally. After a minor test two weeks ago that saw it rejected back to £8,300, the coin has regained its composure, climbed past resistance and now looks to be holding its place in the $9,000 to $9,100 range. Analysts and commentators in both the news and on crypto forums seem
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CURRENCIES
Stronger U.S. Dollar Needed
The value of the US dollar has increased this week as risk averse monies have moved into US markets, but, hopefully, the dollar will be able to maintain these levels. The value of the dollar was at near-term highs just before the Federal Reserve got diverted to handle the disturbances taking place in the repo market. The Federal Reserve should be nearing the end of this diversion and will be able to keep the value of the dollar near current levels or higher going forward.
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Forex - Dollar in Demand Ahead of Federal Reserve Decision
Forex Jan 29, 2020 08:18 GMT By Peter Nurse Investing.com - The U.S. dollar remained largely the currency of choice in early trading in Europe Wednesday, boosted by signs of a strengthening economy ahead of the latest meeting of the Federal Reserve. At 03:15 ET (0815 GMT), the US Dollar Index Futures, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, had pushed up 0.1% to 97.90, trading around levels last seen in early December. And more gains are possible given the apparent
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Forex - Dollar in Demand; EUR/USD Under Pressure
Forex Jan 28, 2020 07:57 GMT By Peter Nurse Investing.com - The U.S. dollar remains strong Tuesday, apart from against the Japanese yen, as heightened concerns about the spread of the deadly coronavirus in China has prompted demand for safer currencies. At 08:00 ET (0800 GMT), the USD/JPY traded 0.2% higher at 109.08, having fallen as low at 108.83 overnight. The US Dollar Index Futures, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, pushed up 0.1% to 97.81, approaching the
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GBP/JPY: Potential For Upside Risk
The GBP/JPY pair is trading firmly above 140.00, and shows little interest in falling. While the bond market has effectively already priced in a cut in the short-term rate, the Bank of England could very likely not cut its +0.75% short-term rate. This could produce a significant adjustment in the bond market, the extent and speed of such adjustment depending on the central bank's meeting minutes. This could support significant upside volatility for GBP/JPY. While we must balance this with the
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Australian dollar falls - Inside Retail
Aussie dollar slides against the greenback. The post Australian dollar falls appeared first on Inside Retail.
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Zimbabwe-China currency swap
Zimbabwe signed a currency swap deal with China, hope to stabilise its economy and improve trade. Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his five-country Africa tour last week where he said that the country was following in the steps of Japan, Nigeria and South Africa. “What this means is that there are those who will be investing in Zimbabwe from China. Those who require their proceeds to be remitted back to China can now do so,” he said. A
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Asia Stocks Drop on Virus Fears; Yuan Steadies: Markets Wrap
Asian stocks and Chinese futures slumped again on Tuesday, though contracts on U.S. equity benchmarks edged up, as investors tried to gauge the magnitude of economic damage from the coronavirus.
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Forex - Japanese Yen Little Changed Despite Heightened Virus Worries
Forex Jan 29, 2020 05:33 GMT By Alex Ho Investing.com - The Japanese yen was little changed against the U.S. dollar on Thursday in Asia despite heightened concerns surrounding the deadly coronavirus originating in China. The USD/JPY pair last traded at 109.14 by 12:30 AM ET (04:30 GMT), up 0.02%. The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in China continued to soar and has overtaken the official number of infections in the country during the SARS epidemic. On Wednesday, the Hong Kong
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HEALTH / SCIENCE
Medical expert explains what you need to know about China coronavirus
Dr Mark Parrish, regional medical director for Northern Europe at International SOS, explains the significance of the China coronavirus.
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Factbox: The new coronavirus - What is it and how does it behave?
Here are some key features of new coronavirus that was identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December and is causing an outbreak of disease in China and beyond.
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Wuhan coronavirus lockdown traps 1K Americans
A Wisconsin man is doing everything he can to get his wife and two children out of Wuhan, China, as the coronavirus death toll climbs to 106. The family is three of about 1,000 Americans stuck in the quarantined city. Ramy Inocencio reports on their chances of escape as many hold out hope for boarding the U.S. Embassy’s upcoming flight on Wednesday.
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Surgical masks selling out across US amid fears over coronavirus
Surgical-style masks at U.S. pharmacies have reportedly begun selling out in multiple U.S. cities amid fears of the new form of coronavirus.
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Walking is the best thing you can do for yourself. Except when it kills you
In North York, a woman in her 30s was struck and killed by a tractor trailer driver in a hit-and-run at Alness Street and Supertest Road, near Dufferin Avenue and Steeles Avenue West.
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This one thing may be raising your risk of getting Alzheimer’s
And it could raise your risk of MS, Parkinson’s and other dementia too.
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USA / CANADA
As US rescues some from virus in China, others left behind
The U.S. government is chartering a flight to transport several hundred diplomats, family members, and other Americans out of Wuhan, the central Chinese city at the heart of a new virus outbreak
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Screening for coronavirus to be expanded at 20 US airports: report
The U.S. government is planning to boost staff at almost two dozen airports to screen nearly all passengers traveling from China, as the coronavirus continues to spread, according to the Washington Post.
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U.S. expands airport screening for coronavirus; officials add risk of extensive infections is low
Health officials said the risk of extensive infections by the coronavirus in the U.S. is low and said the U.S. is expanding airport screenings of passengers for the virus.
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What you need to know before clicking 'I agree' on that terms of service agreement or privacy policy
Practice privacy policy hygiene for Data Privacy Day: Here's what to do before blindly handing out your sensitive information.
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What travelers need to know as TSA, airports brace for Super Bowl LIV travelers
Long before the final matchup was set for Super Bowl LIV, airports and security officials were making game plans for dealing with an influx of flyers.
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Orders for US durable goods advance 2.4% in December
Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods rose 2.4% in December, led by defense surge
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EMERGING MARKETS
U.S. Dollar Underpins EM Assets
We see the U.S. dollar stabilizing or weakening in 2020 after a long run-up, supporting our preference for emerging market assets. We see global growth stabilizing and gradually edging up over the next six to 12 months, thanks in part to easy financial conditions. Markets are split on whether the Bank of England will cut rates this week – for the first time in four years, after mixed data in recent weeks.
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Fixed Income: Emerging Markets
Buy Alert: Strategic Income Portfolio
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China proxies bear the brunt of investor concerns on virus
Stock and currency markets in Thailand, South Korea and Australia are bearing the brunt of investors' scramble to hedge the mounting risks from a new viral outbreak in China during a long holiday on the mainland.
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GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks crumble as deadly coronavirus spreads, safe havens in demand
* Virus contagion regional, rather than global shock - JPMorgan
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BIS studied the motivations behind issuing central bank digital currencies
CASH IS KING, but maybe not for long. It’s why central banks around the world are discussing and deliberating about issuing their own digital currencies. According to the latest sequel to last year’s Bank for International Settlements (BIS) study on central bank digital currency — it seems that a fifth of the world’s population will see something launched soon. “This [edition of the] survey gives a global overview of work underway, showing that emerging market economies (EMEs) report stronger
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Fed's Printing Press Favors Emerging Markets
While the price and availability of money matters for all risky assets, emerging markets are particularly sensitive, even more so since the financial crisis. Ironically, stress in U.S. money markets was the catalyst that provided a boost for emerging market stocks. The pivot by the world's central banks, not just lowering rates but reverting back to asset purchases, has proved a game changer for this asset class.
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MIDDLE EAST
Israel's Netanyahu indicted in corruption cases, hours before Mideast peace plan announced
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was formally indicted on corruption charges Tuesday, just hours before he was set to meet President Donald Trump for the unveiling of the US administration's long-anticipated Middle East plan.
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Israeli prime minister, while in D.C., indicted on corruption charges at home
The Israeli prime minister, heading toward a March election, had asked for protection from indictments on bribery, fraud and breach of trust
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Has Balance of Power Shifted in Iraq?
The first reactions to the US assassination of General Qassem Soleimani in an aerial attack on the Iraqi soil included fury and irritation in Tehran and the concerns about the outbreak of a new Middle East war in Washington.
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'Doesn't affect us': Iraq's Tahrir Square on Sadr pulling support
Baghdad, Iraq - Anti-government protesters in Iraq have struck a defiant tone at their main sit-in encampment in capital, Baghdad, as ongoing clashes with security forces continue for a third day. The central Tahrir Square was a bustle of activity on Monday. Protesters took advantage of the warm sun to air out blankets and mattresses soaked from days of rain. More: Iraq's Sadrists withdraw support for protest movement Tensions high in Baghdad as police fire tear gas, live bullets 'We want them
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Saudi Arabia wants US troops to stay in Iraq, top official says
Saudi Arabia doesn't want US troops to leave Iraq and fears that a withdrawal could make the Middle East less safe, the country's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told CNN on Monday.
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Iraq's Abdul Mahdi stresses the importance of de-escalation in the region
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi stressed, in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday, the importance of de-escalation in the region, according to a statement from his office.
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Envoys in Iraq condemn excessive violence, urge credible probe into deaths
Envoys of 16 countries in Iraq, including, France, Britain and the United States, on Monday condemned the use of excessive violence by Iraqi security forces and armed groups and called for a credible investigation into hundreds of deaths since October.
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Iran FM, UN Envoy Discuss Afghan Peace Process
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif and UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto have discussed the latest situation in Afghanistan at a meeting in Tehran.
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IS tries to stage comeback amid rising US-Iran tensions
The Islamic State extremist group's self-styled “caliphate” across parts of Iraq and Syria seemed largely defeated last year, with the loss of its territory, the killing of its founder and an unprecedented crackdown on its social media propaganda machine
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King Salman reassures Saudi Arabia's commitment to the Palestinian issue
Saudi Arabia's King Salman reassured the Kingdom's commitment to the Palestinian issue and Palestinian rights, in a phone call with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, the Saudi state news agency reported early on Wednesday.
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Palestinian President Abbas dismisses Trump’s Mideast peace plan as 'Slap of the Century'
“Jerusalem is not for sale,” insisted President Mahmoud Abbas, “We say one thousand times no, no, no to the Deal of the Century.”
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AFRICA
Zimbabwe: Freda Rebecca Approves U.S.$ Salaries
Bindura Nickel Corporation's (BNC),Freda Rebecca Gold Mine has approved the payment of salaries for its employees in United States dollars , becoming one of the few employers agreeing to settle salaries in a functional currency. In a statement signed by the company's manager , Eliakem Hove and seen by NewZimbabwe.com Business, the employees were assured that from this month, salaries shall be paid in US$. "Kindly be advised that negotiations for US$ salary approval have been concluded and we
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Zimbabwe: Zim Owes Bots U.S.$3m for Vaccines
Sifelani Tsiko Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor Zimbabwe owes Botswana close to US$3 million for vaccines it imported to control the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and other animal diseases. Acting director of the Division of Veterinary Field Services Dr Wilmot Chikurunhe last week said his department urgently needed resources to complement the vaccine supply to prevent the resurgence of livestock diseases that have affected animal production in the country. "Having made two
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Zimbabwe: Coronavirus - Zim, China Urge Delays in Travel
ZIMBABWE and Chinese authorities are encouraging travellers between the two countries to either delay or cancel unnecessary journeys to stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) which has killed 81 people in the Asian country from 2 886 confirmed cases of infection in the past month. Surveillance systems in Zimbabwe have also been activated with special focus being put on the main ports of entry and exit; Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Joshua Nkomo International Airport
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Cold-shouldered by China and the West, Zimbabwe warms up to UAE
Sanctioned by the West and spurned by China, Zimbabwe has turned to the United Arab Emirates in its latest bid to find a savior that can arrest the collapse of its economy. Zimbabwe's government has approached the U.A.E. in hopes of selling a stake in its national oil company, according to three company and government officials familiar with the plan. It also wants companies in the U.A.E. to buy more of its gold, they said. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said U.A.E. investors will build solar
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Zimbabwe approaches the UAE for potential investment
Zimbabwe wants to sell as much as a 25 per cent stake in its national oil company. Sanctioned by the West and spurned by China, Zimbabwe has turned to the United Arab Emirates in its latest bid to find a savior that can arrest the collapse of its economy. Zimbabwe’s government has approached the UAE in hopes of selling a stake in its national oil company, according to three company and government officials familiar with the plan. It also wants companies in the UAE to buy more of its gold, they
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Tanzania pulled into mining dispute with three miners
The disputes are noted to have arise out of certain acts and omissions of the United Republic of Tanzania in breach of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and international law. The Tanzanian government has found itself within mining dispute after three mining companies operating in the country, over various mining disputes. The three have engaged the government in among other disputes a breach of international laws and mining licenses. Winshear Gold Corporation Canadian miner, Winshear Gold
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ASIA
Hong Kong limits mainland China travel as coronavirus death toll continues to rise
Hong Kong is restricting travel from mainland China amid the spread of the deadly coronavirus that has left at least 106 people dead. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam in a news conference Tuesday said that train service between Hong Kong and mainland China will be suspended beginning Thursday, and flights from the mainland will also be reduced, The Associated Press reports. Tour bus and ferry trips will be suspended as well, The Wall Street Journal reports. Lam also announced China will "
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Will The Wuhan Coronavirus Infect China's Economy?
In addition to the tragic human cost of an epidemic, widespread disease can cause meaningful macroeconomic damage. According to Dr. Yu, the epidemic will likely peak about 90 days after the first case, or early March, and should wind down in April and May. Though quite necessary, infection-control practices - whether self-imposed precautions or government mandates - typically hurt consumption and retail sales.
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Coronavirus: Japan and Germany confirm patients who caught disease did not visit China
Two people from Japan and Germany who had contracted coronavirus had not visited the area in China where the deadly viral outbreak originated, authorities have confirmed.
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Coronavirus death toll spikes in China as U.S. plans to evacuate citizens from epicenter
The State Department said it was sending a chartered flight to Wuhan to evacuate U.S. government personnel stationed in the epicenter of the outbreak.
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The US once feared allies would drag it into a war with China. How ironic
President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to abrogate the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States once again throws the spotlight on the increasingly fraught ties between the two long-standing allies. The debacle also shows the growing…
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China’s role ‘critical’ if world is to meet climate change targets
China has invested more than any other country in renewable energy – committing US$758 billion between 2010 and the first half of 2019 – but failed the environment by burning more coal, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The…
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Surge in wealthy Chinese keen on living in the UK as US delays granting visas amid trade war
The United Kingdom’s popularity among rich Chinese individuals is on the rise. Visa applications by rich Chinese to live in the UK jumped by over a third last year, as the US delayed granting visas amid trade tensions between the world’s two largest…
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China is aiming to build a hospital in Wuhan inside a week to treat coronavirus patients. Here's how - ABC News
https://www.abc.net.au/news/China may implement more economic stimulus to mitigate impact from coronavirus: Fitch
China's overall growth could weaken if negative impact on its various sectors persists throughout 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, says Darren Tay from Fitch Solutions.
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EUROPE
Brexit Instability And Attitudes To Minorities Threaten UK Startups’ Ability To Attract Talent
The UK is falling down the talent competitiveness league table, according to a new report, and startups could struggle to find staff
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'Get Ready for Brexit' campaign spent £46m of taxpayers' cash without making a difference, watchdog finds
The much-ridiculed ‘Get Ready for Brexit’ campaign last autumn spent £46m of taxpayers’ cash without any evidence that people were better prepared, a watchdog has found.
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Boris Johnson news – live: PM risks wrath of Trump by approving Huawei 5G role, as plan for Australian-style immigration system rejected
Boris Johnson has risked the fury of Donald Trump by giving the go-ahead for Huawei to help build the UK’s 5G infrastructure – but only the “periphery of the network”, and capping the Chinese tech giant’s market share at 35 per cent.
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'Confused and angry': Brexit unsettles EU citizens in the UK
As Britain prepares to leave the European Union on Friday, many EU citizens in the country say they feel anxious, angry and abandoned
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EU to start talks with UK on post-Brexit relationship on 3 March
Negotiators face challenging 10-month deadline as leaked EU papers warn of ‘cliff edge’ Negotiations on the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU will start on 3 March, the Guardian has learned. Officials led by Michel Barnier and Boris Johnson’s Europe adviser, David Frost, will embark on the vital talks in the spring with a challenging 10-month deadline. Continue reading...
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Missing you already - how Brexit tilts EU political alliances
Britain's exit from the EU is reshaping the balance of power in Europe, removing one of the bloc's two big military powers and one of the top contributors to its budget. Britain has been an outspoken supporter of free trade, close ties with the United States and a tough...
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EDITOR'S NOTE
News from the coronavirus outbreak worsened on Tuesday, but the stock market got better, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising nearly 1%.
The rebound came even as the number of coronavirus cases rose to 106 people killed and about 4,700 infected, as health officials cautioned U.S. citizens against travel to China, and as the Trump administration expanded coronavirus screenings to 20 U.S. airports.
CNBC's Yun Li writes that previous epidemics, from SARS in 2003 to the Ebola scare six years ago, took the S&P 500 down 6% to 13% over varying time frames.
When the Federal Reserve ends its meeting tomorrow, we'll see what the central bank's chairman, Jerome Powell, has to say about coronavirus risks to the economy.
To be sure, the market effects of the coronavirus are unpredictable at this point, and they may be different from those of past outbreaks — some of which occurred amid other factors weighing on the market, including the tech bust that accompanied the SARS outbreak.
“The U.S. economy and market is much more domestically focused,” said Citi’s head of U.S. equity strategy, Tobias Levkovich. “We do not envision a major domestic slowdown as a result of the China news, but this does not mean that share prices cannot continue to falter in the nearer term.”
Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world.
TOP NEWS
| Dow rebounds from its worst day since October | |
| Market reactions to past virus scares show stocks may have more to lose | |
| CDC tells travelers to avoid China in expanded travel warning as coronavirus spreads | |
| Trump administration expands screening for coronavirus to 20 US airports | |
| US budget deficit to break $1 trillion in fiscal 2020, CBO says | |
| Trump's Middle East peace plan calls for two states, with Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem | |
| Huawei allowed limited access to UK's 5G networks as Britain defies US pressure | |
| Consumer confidence jumps as job-market outlook improves | |
| Trump impeachment defense wraps up after less than allotted 24 hours | |
| Coronavirus, repo market and the reserve rate: What to watch this week from the Fed |
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01/29/20
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