The saga about the Iraqi dinar RV only gets better and better as the months roll on. Folks, we are almost done with this long journey. More and more pieces of the puzzle are put in place over these past weeks. We can now see the picture and see it clearly. It has become not a matter of “if” this event will occur but “when”. Iraq has given us further nuggets of information to speculate but with pretty good evidence that our speculative conclusions maybe spot on.
Nader From The Mid East
The facts are true. The changes are true. But the numbers are not true. Iraq cannot afford a rate like this anymore. They can't...Whatever you hear about [1400] and stuff like that don't believe it. Revaluation is coming for sure. Yes it is coming...it's not going to stop. They're going to keep pushing pushing and pushing and pushing...
Sandy Ingram
The reason countries have foreign reserves is to make sure that a country has backup funds if its national currency rapidly devalues or becomes entirely worthless. It's common practice for central banks of different countries around the world to hold large amounts of reserves of foreign exchange. Most of these reserves are held in US dollars since it is the most traded currency in the world...The amount of monies a country holds in its reserves has a lot to do with the county's currency rate...Iraq has the largest foreign currency reserves in its' history...
BRICS Group Convenes to Discuss Ongoing Israeli Attacks on Gaza
The BRICS group, a mighty alliance of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, held an exceptional online meeting to deliberate over the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. The meeting, called upon by South Africa, saw leaders from across the globe come together, expressing diverse viewpoints on the conflict. The session was marked by a call for action by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who slammed the international community and Western states for their alleged inaction in halting Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Global Response to the Israel-Gaza Conflict
During the meeting, Raisi urged the BRICS nations to leverage their political and economic clout to exert pressure on Israel. He accused the U.S. of obstructing a ceasefire and called for both the U.S. and Israel to be tried for war crimes and killing children. Meanwhile, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa echoed Raisi’s sentiments, accusing Israel of acts tantamount to genocide in Gaza, while China’s Xi Jinping exhibited more sympathy for Palestinians.
Turkish Citizens Evacuated and Hostages’ Return
In the midst of the chaos, a group of 100 Turkish and Northern Cyprus citizens were successfully evacuated from Gaza to Egypt and are expected to return to Istanbul via a Turkish Airlines flight. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke optimistically about negotiations concerning a prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Palestine, hinting at the possible return of some hostages.
Escalating Conflict and Death Toll
As the conflict rages on, the death toll continues to rise, with the government in Gaza reporting that Israeli attacks have claimed up to 14,000 lives. Israel’s Security Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz expressed that the return of hostages could tip the balance in Israel’s favor. Further implications of the conflict have been felt in Iraq, where attacks on U.S.-led coalition forces have increased following Israel’s onslaught.
International Outrage and Future Peace Negotiations
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned an Israeli attack that killed employees of Al Mayadeen TV and civilians in South Lebanon. Similarly, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict with BRICS leaders, signaling a joint statement. In a move to foster global unity, Argentina, Iran, and other countries are set to be invited to future BRICS meetings.
As the conflict escalates, the international community awaits the details of a ceasefire agreement between Israeli officials and Hamas, with negotiations still ongoing. Amid the violence, the human cost continues to rise, with the death toll of international journalists in the conflict reaching 50.
Takadum and Al-Siyada alliance authorizes alliance leaders to nominate new parliament speaker
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Takadum and Al-Siyada alliance granted authority to coalition leaders to choose a replacement for the vacant Speaker of the House of Representatives position.
The alliance, representing the Sunni majority, convened to discuss the current political landscape and national developments.
During the meeting, it was decided that Muhammad al-Halbousi and Khamis al-Khanjar would be collectively authorized to nominate candidates for the crucial position of the Speaker of the House. According to the coalition's statement, the selection process will adhere to electoral eligibility criteria and seek national acceptance.
Khaleda Khalil, spokeswoman for Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani's headquarters, issued a statement emphasizing the need for consensus and acceptance among the majority of Sunni parties to elect a new Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament.
In a statement, Khalil stated, "Leader Barzani acknowledges that the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament is the right of the Sunni component, and any candidate elected to head the Iraqi Parliament must enjoy the consensus and acceptance of the majority of Sunni parties within Parliament."
The announcement comes ahead of Wednesday's scheduled election in the House of Representatives to appoint a new speaker following the Federal Supreme Court's decision to terminate the membership of Muhammad Al-Halbousi, who called the decision "strange" and suggested it violated the constitution and undermined national stability.
In a video shared by his media office, al-Halboosi said, "We are surprised by the issuance of such decisions. We are surprised by their lack of respect for the constitution."
He said that in his five years as Speaker, he had operated with integrity and "never discriminated" between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
The ministers of culture, planning, and industry resigned to protest what they said was the "targeting" of al-Halboosi.
Lawmakers had gathered for a regular parliamentary session, and al-Halboosi was in the chamber when the decision was issued but then exited.
Al-Halboosi, a former governor of Anbar governorate, was elected Speaker in 2018. He was 37 then and the youngest Speaker of Parliament in Iraq's history. He was re-elected in 2022 for a second term.
He has been the highest Sunni official in Iraq. Under the country's sectarian power-sharing system, the parliament speaker is always Sunni, the prime minister Shiite, and the president Kurdish.
Now 42, the former engineer from western Iraq who worked as a US contractor after the United States invaded in 2003 cultivated good relations with Shiite Muslims and Kurds, who helped his rise to power.
The court decided against the backdrop of a dispute between al-Halboosi and al-Dulaimi, Sunni. Al-Dulaimi had filed a lawsuit against al-Halbousi claiming that the Speaker had forged his signature on a resignation letter, an allegation the Speaker denied.
Article: "An upcoming meeting between the Iraqi Central Bank and the US Treasury next week”
Quote "...new meeting between Iraq and the United States of America regarding the dollar...On (last September 19) in New York, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani informed the US Treasury Under Secretary of the expansion of his government’s work in reducing money laundering operations, while the latter indicated that the confidence of global financial institutions had been restored."
Article: "Iraqi Banks Association: The dollar will fall to the rate of 1,400 dinars... and the date is expected" Quote: " The advisor to the Iraqi Banks Association, Samir Al-Nusairi, expected dollar prices to fall to 1,400 dinars during the first quarter of next year."
Article Written by: Baqir Jabr Al-Zubaidi - former Minister of Finance "The ongoing dollar crisis"
Quote: "The dollar crisis is a policy crisis of the continued American threat of sanctions, accompanied by the continued bleeding of the currency by private banks that are protected by some influential people, and this conflict is paid for by the citizen...
Solutions exist, and during our tenure at the Ministry of Finance (2006-2010), we succeeded in increasing the value of the dinar from (1,500 dinars to the dollar to 1,170 dinars to the dollar). We were planning to reach (1,000 dinars to the dollar) and then raise the zeros so that the dinar was equal to the dollar."
Iraq Prepares Plans to Process Imported Gas at Al Faw
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani chaired a meeting on Monday to discuss building a gas processing platform in Al-Faw Port for imported gas.
The Prime Minister’s Media Office has released a statement stating that the project is an important strategic initiative for Iraq to diversify the country’s gas sources for power generation. The project is planned to be located within the port area.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the formation of a specialized committee tasked with preparing a comprehensive vision within two weeks to advance the platform project.
He expressed the government’s determination to diversify energy sources and achieve self-sufficiency in gas through strategic solutions and optimal investment. The government’s initiative seeks to achieve self-sufficiency in gas within the coming years.
To expand the scope of banks supported by the Central Bank…the Chambers of Commerce announces an initiative, 22 nov
On Tuesday, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce announced the expansion of banks supported by the Central Bank. Fifteen banks now deal in Chinese yuan and UAE dirham.
Abdul Razzaq Al-Zuhairi, the President of the Federation, praised the Federation of Chambers of Commerce for its initiative to expand the scope of banks supported by the Central Bank. As a result, these banks can now operate as correspondent banks with international banks, which is a positive development.
Al-Zuhairi stated that five banks were initially supported, but now the number has increased to 10. Additionally, there are about 13 banks that deal in the Chinese yuan and two banks that deal in the UAE dirham. He called on banks to modernize and seek out partnerships with major international banks.
The Central Bank of Iraq has finalized arrangements to strengthen five Iraqi banks with the UAE dirham.
A reliable source at the bank has disclosed that the Central Bank has reached an agreement with Turkish banks to create accounts for Iraqi banks, with the purpose of facilitating external transfers in the euro currency. The same source also mentioned that the accounts of 13 Chinese banks have been reinforced.
Two banks have strengthened their accounts in Indian rupees with the Development Bank of Singapore, and others will soon follow.