Ramadan and the salary crisis and floods. Nowruz holidays with a different flavor in Kurdistan - urgent
Baghdad Today - Kurdistan
Nowruz holidays in the Kurdistan region come with a different approach this year as a result of the size of the challenges faced by families in those areas, and despite the fact that Nowruz coincided this year with the blessed month of Ramadan and the crisis of delayed salaries of the region's employees
And what made matters worse was the wave of floods that occurred during the past two days, but local administrations in the governorates of the Kurdistan region decided to celebrate by lighting the Nowruz flame and going out in a number of streets, after the time of breaking the fast.
Nowruz is the Kurdish New Year, and the Kurds celebrate it in all the countries in which they are present by going out to the resorts and mountainous areas, but coinciding this year with the blessed month of Ramadan, as well as the financial crisis and the Wave of floods in the cities of the country, may make this occasion another reality.
The organizing committee of the celebrations in Sulaymaniyah announced the closure of the main Salem Street in central Sulaymaniyah and the start of Nowruz celebrations within activities interspersed with performances of Kurdish folklore, costumes, dabkat and Kurdish songs.
The Erbil Municipality, for its part, announced that preparations are underway for the Nowruz torch lighting ceremony on Erbil Citadel.
The municipality of Erbil said in a statement received by "Baghdad Today", that "its teams in the Directorate of Engineering of Erbil Gardens, this morning in a civilized manner and beautiful design standards for the ceremony of lighting the fire of Nowruz as a symbol of the National Day."
A number of citizens say that they will celebrate with their families despite the crises they are suffering from, as they have not been able to fully prepare for this occasion.
Behzad Salam, an employee in Sulaymaniyah, told Baghdad Today that he has not received his salary for 50 days, and although we are in Ramadan month, therefore in this crisis we will not be able to buy clothes for our children nor prepare optimally.
As for Nujeen Ahmed, he pointed out to "Baghdad Today", "Nowruz this year will not have a taste for several reasons, the first of which is the financial crisis, and secondly, we are used to going out to the streets and wearing Kurdish clothes that are sewn on these occasions, and on the 21st we go out with our families to the resorts and mountainous areas, " adding that "but this year we miss these things, because of the salary crisis and the coinciding of Nowruz with Ramadan "
But other families will go out to celebrate despite all the crises and circumstances that the Kurds are experiencing, but they will not miss this occasion, which is considered a national holiday for them.
Hevar Mustafa, a social researcher and academic at the University of Sulaymaniyah, stressed that Nowruz is one of the occasions that the Kurds cherish, and it is not an ordinary day, and therefore there is reverence for this occasion and national pride in it.
She pointed out in her speech to "Baghdad Today", that "the celebration this year will not be like previous years, but there are traditions, including lighting the candle of Nowruz, which expresses the liberation and revolutionary spirit of the Kurds in fighting tyranny and the injustice that they faced over different times.
As we officially move into the season of Spring, the Iraqi Finance Committee sprang into action too with some important news for us investors. Many of you reading this news from one of today’s articles may be shocked, disappointed or even left wondering how they could do this and how we can still exchange our dinar. So many questions. I will get into the explanation of what Iraq is actually doing to calm your nerves, but first let’s explain the news that was announced.
Sunday, the financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, expected today, Sunday, I quote from the article – “that Iraq will leave government cash dealing and switch to 100% electronic collection in mid-2024.”
Salih said, “Government collection began at the beginning of this year, and it now relies on electronic payments.” Through cards in their various forms, but preparing revenue institutions for electronic payment takes some time.”
He hinted that “by the middle of this year, the government collection rate will become 100 percent electronic, after important institutions such as the Ministry of Electricity and gas stations started it, in addition to the gradual adaptation of the rest of the institutions.”
Okay, now that you read the news lets dive into its meaning. You should not to let these idiot intel gurus get you confused. It is important to have CLARITY and TRUST in the reality of what is actually happening here and what they are telling us.
So, by reading today’s article on the surface it seems that Iraq would be doing away with all paper currency as they said “switch to 100% Electronic collection by mid-2024”. But I assure you this is NOT the case. The key words are “Electronic Collection”. This means that their plan right now is to have the market place 100% reverted to the capability of point of sale (POS) and the ability to take debit cards for any payments to the Government of Iraq. This is where much of the corruption stems from in the parallel market. So to curb the parallel market (black market) corruption, this is yet another tool to bring the parallel market for the dollar even with the CBI official rate. Just so you know, it does NOT say they are doing way with cash altogether, as the Dr. Shabibi plan that I know and have been following very diligently does not indicate this either. I trust in his plan. At some point you have to put your stake in the ground somewhere in this investment and TRUST. Yes, simply TRUST what you already confirmed and know at the FACTS and TRUTH.
The financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih goes on to say and I quote – “but preparing revenue institutions for electronic payment takes some time.” Which confirms what I just said in that this is the electronic POS project that Iraq has long been struggling to implement. I can recall this as far back even before I got into this investment that this effort was a priority. I have been studying the dinar since 2006. So go figure.
Muhammad Salihjust told us that this project will be 100% completed by mid year 2024. We all therefore should be jumping up and down with crazy JOY as this will be a huge milestone in the banking reform process. Let’s hope they can do it. Converting government transactions to electronic payments both from the GOI and to the GOI amounts to billions of dollars. You think this can help in fighting corruption?
The electronic banking project is also pivotal in getting the Project to Delete the Zerosstarted, which we all know is the next step. We all know it has been postponed so many times over the decades already. If you notice the CBI seems to jump the gun sometimes and makes announcement prematurely, then does not carry out with what they said they would do at the time they said they would. There are delays and issues hinder the speedy progress of these events. Heck, altogether it will be almost 17 years to finally see some notable progress in this area.
I have been telling you about how important electronic payments is for so long. I hope you now get it. But Iraq has been struggling to get the electronic payment process completed and now they are telling us it will be completed by mid-year 2024. WOW! WOW! WOW! 😊
So, tell me why should you be disappointed then? I am jumping with JOY! 😊 😊 😊 This is a huge accomplishment and milestone, but if they can pull it off by mid0year. Remember the premature announcements as Iraq definitely does not work at the pace of Speedy Gonzales.
Then to follow up with this news, out comes another article to satisfy the citizens questions that, cash will still be in circulation. But it will be a much smaller monetary mass of physical notes. It will be newer notes of different denominations.
As Mnt Goat blog followers, all know it too as the 3 zeros notes will be collected, thus brings us to the Project to Delete the Zeros once again. Remember the CBI just can’t ignore this large amount of a monetary mass of physical currency now in circulation. You must therefore first implement the electronic systems, then when ready, convert it to electronic digits then you have to collect it. Get it? To collect it you must entice the citizens somehow to turn in their horded stashes to the banks. But how do you do this ….?
The next part of the plan is to conduct the Project to Delete the Zeros. Get it? It seems to me now they might be planning to do this next step either before or around mid-year 2024. I am sure when we get closer my CBI contact will let me know.
Folks it all ties together so nicely if you only will read the articles and remember what you read in my previous Newsletters. My Newsletters are not meant to be read in a vacuum by itself. Get it? They are all connected in one long stream of news to inform us of the developments in this ongoing Iraqi dinar saga.
I quote from another article – “Economic affairs specialists criticized the lack of infrastructure for electronic payment services in many departments and institutions, and confirmed that most citizens still prefer cash transactions over electronic transactions.
Economist Manaf Al-Sayegh told Al-Sabah also told us and I quote – “ Electronic payment is a globally recognized technology that can be used without the need to carry paper money or coins, as the world today no longer needs paper payment or the use of coins, so we find it approved through the use mechanism. A credit card that enables its holder to pay anywhere.”
Don’t understand yet? Then let me explain even more.
After decades of war, displacement, and sanctions (1991-2003, Iraq remained cut off from the global financial system.
Iraqis were cut off from the digitized payment systems that most businesses around the world take for granted. Less than a fifth of the population have a bank account and global payment service providers are not available in the county. Even electricity to run the machines for POS was not available 24/7. Citizens did not trust the crooked banks. Can you blame them? Large stashed of notes were hidden at home instead of using the banks. Can you blame them?
Wars, displacement, and sanctions have left Iraq’s economy underdeveloped and almost solely dependent on oil exports. But things have changed in Iraq and come this mid-year 2024 we are about to see the results of many years or reforms in an explosion of progress in many areas of development in Iraq. You see, all these reforms we all have been reading about in the many articles are all good but unless Iraq actually sees any impact they are meaningless. Oh…but we are about to see the impact and it is going to be HUGE $$$ 😊.
Let me add, does the U.S. still have paper notes and coins? The U.S. is one of the world’s leaders in the use of electric banking transactions. The CBI just told us last July they will not be going entirely electronic when they claimed that the project to delete the zeros still exist. Here is the past article below from that time period. So, was the CBI governor Ali Alaq lying to us?
MarkZ Disclaimer: Please consider everything on this call as my opinion. People who take notes do not catch everything and its best to watch the video so that you get everything in context. Be sure to consult a professional for any financial decisions
Member: Good evening Mark and everyone.
Member: So what happened today Mark???
MZ: Information is still dry from bond contacts.
Member: How can these bond holders be under NDA and not been paid? What are they being kept quiet for?
Member: Rumor is they lose their money if they break the NDA’s….so no wonder no one is talking…..loose lips will sink ships and in this case sink your exchange funds.
MZ: Still progress in Iraq….From articles…...they are fixing the exchange rate or getting the street rate the same as the official rate. De-dollarization is going well….Its nice and reassuring but not earthshattering.
MZ: Wish I had more on the RV front.
Member: Mark what is your gut saying about the street rate on the VND when all this goes?
MZ: My gut still thinks it will be in the $2-$2.50 range. But nobody knows until we get there.
Member: When I first bought dong I was excited to get a .50 cent range.
MZ: Nader dropped a video…We knew this was coming but Iraq joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and development. (EBRD) . This is more confirmation that they are dotting their I’s and crossing their t’s.
Member: Tony and Ray said that the RV is expected to hit at midnight tonight.
Member: Frank just had bank story call in. Showed photo of cards on desks and counter saying new service foreign currency exchange!
Member: I wonder if Iraq will have to RV before they go into the BRICS???
Member: I hope and pray BRICS are forcing the reset……The US needs a big push to let things go.
Member: What exactly are we waiting on for the thing to kick off?
Member: Could be bad guys still delaying things…or Iraq not release rate yet….or any number of reasons…..I guess we pick one …sigh
Member: We have one chance to get the RV right, we must be patient. There are great reasons for the delays, we must keep trusting the plan.
Member: Good evening MarkZ. How accurate is the dinar recaps information?
Member: Recaps, Dinar Guru and Chronicles just post what others are saying from many sites…..They do not write the stuff. Just places we can get a lot of info in one place without looking at 10-15 different sites…..I sure don’t have time to hunt through all those different websites everyday…..
Member: I am starting to think we will never reach the carrot. Hard not to.
Member: Maybe that’s why I am craving carrots lately…lol
Member: Getting Ready!! We are going to wake up any morning and the switch will be hit!
Member: Have a wonderful evening everyone!!!
THE CONTENT IN THIS PODCAST IS FOR GENERAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY&NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY PROFESSIONAL, FINANCIAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSIDER EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IN MARKZ’S OPINION ONLY
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92nd in the world. Iraq ranks seventh in the Arab world in the happiness index
Baghdad Today - Follow-up
Finland continued to top the list of the World Happiness Index for the seventh consecutive year, while Iraq ranked 92nd globally and seventh in the Arab world, according to the report issued under the auspices of the United Nations.
This year's report covers 143 countries, which are categorized by several factors, including GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, and the opinions of the population.
The researchers rely on surveys that ask respondents to answer a progressive scale of 1 to 10 on how much social support they feel in the event of a problem, their freedom to make decisions related to their own lives, their sense of how widespread corruption is in their communities, and how generous they are.
For the first time, this year's report included different classifications according to age groups, for example, Lithuania was the happiest country in the world for the age group under 30, while Denmark was at the top of the list in terms of those over 60.
Overall, Finland came first, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
Afghanistan was at the bottom of the list, preceded by Lebanon, Lesotho and Sierra Leone.
At the Arab level, Kuwait ranked 13th globally, followed by the UAE in 22nd place, Saudi Arabia 28th, Bahrain 62nd, Libya 66th, Algeria 85th, Iraq 92nd and Palestinian Territories 103rd.
Morocco 107th, Mauritania 111th, Tunisia 115th, Jordan 125th, Egypt 127th, Comoros 132nd, Yemen 133rd and Lebanon 142nd, respectively.
First launched in 2012, the World Happiness Report is an annual survey conducted by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
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