Wednesday, May 1, 2024
90 percent of it comes from across the border. Parliament unveils a new strategy to limit currency smuggling, 1 MAY
90 percent of it comes from across the border. Parliament unveils a new strategy to limit currency smuggling
Member of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, Representative Yasser Iskandar, confirmed today, Wednesday (May 1, 2024), that 90% of the counterfeit currency comes from across the border.
Iskandar said in an interview with "Baghdad Today", "Counterfeiting foreign currencies is one of the challenges that emerged remarkably in the Iraqi scene after 2003, led by mafias and multinational networks, some of which are for fraud and making money, and others carry an agenda of harming the economic reality."
Iskandar added, “The counterfeiting of currencies was not limited to foreign currencies, including the dollar, but rather extended to the dinar through the highest monetary denominations and in professional ways, which demonstrates the capabilities of the counterfeiting mafias,” pointing out that “90% of the counterfeit currencies come directly from across the border and are the most dangerous because of The development of the counterfeiting machine.
He pointed out that "the Interior Ministry's formations succeeded in reducing the counterfeiting of currencies by dismantling some networks, arresting their members, adopting a new strategy in monitoring and follow-up, and forming specialized teams to undertake the file of prosecuting those involved. He stressed that educating the community and clarifying the features of counterfeit currencies reduced the percentage of those who fall into their trap in... Markets and others, but they remain a source of limitation, especially with the attempts of these networks to continue counterfeiting crimes.”
Iraqis are experiencing widespread anxiety due to information about the spread of large quantities of counterfeit currency denominations of 25,000 Iraqi dinars, while social media has circulated video clips of people who have spotted large quantities of these newly printed counterfeit bills.
On Sunday (April 28, 2024), the National Security Service announced the dismantling of a money counterfeiting gang in Babil Governorate and the arrest of three others in Basra and Anbar Governorates.
A statement by the agency received by “Baghdad Today” stated, “The National Security Service in Babil Governorate was able, after field efforts and obtaining judicial approvals, to overthrow a two-person gang of counterfeiting US dollar denomination money and promoting it in a number of commercial stores.”
He added, "Our detachments collected complete information about these two individuals to suspect them and track them down until they were caught red-handed. They were seized with an amount of (20,700) counterfeit dollars that they intended to distribute in commercial activities."
He continued, "In Anbar and Basra governorates, our detachments were able to arrest three people for trading in counterfeit currency after luring them into an ambush, where about (8,000) counterfeit dollars were seized in their possession."
He pointed out that "the defendants and the seized items were referred to the competent judicial authorities to take the necessary measures in accordance with the law." link
Coffee with MarkZ and Andy Schectman. 05/01/2024
"ABOUT THE ZIM BOND NOTES" BY ARIEL, 1 MAY
ARIEL
Do you know what this means?
Zimbabwe’s ZiG is the World’s Newest Currency to Resolve a Money Crisis, 1 MAY
Zimbabwe’s ZiG is the World’s Newest Currency to Resolve a Money Crisis
Zimbabwe’s ZiG is the world’s newest currency and its latest attempt to resolve a money crisis
by: FARAI MUTSAKA, Associated Press, Africa
Posted: Apr 30, 2024
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Out with the Zimbabwe dollar, in with the ZiG.
Zimbabwe on Tuesday started circulating a new currency to replace one that has been battered by depreciation and often outright rejection by the people. The ZiG was introduced electronically in early April, but people are now able to use banknotes and coins.
It’s the southern African country’s latest attempt to halt a long-running currency crisis underlining its persistent economic troubles. The government had previously floated various ideas to replace the Zimbabwe dollar, including introducing gold coins to stem inflation and even trying out a digital currency.
Since it was launched electronically on April 5, the ZiG — short for Zimbabwe Gold and backed by the country’s gold reserves — appears to be heading down the same path of mistrust, with some government departments refusing to accept it.
The ZiG is the sixth currency Zimbabwe has used since the spectacular 2009 collapse of the Zimbabwe dollar amid hyperinflation of 5 billion percent, one of the world’s worst currency crashes to date. That set off a chaotic series of events: first the U.S. dollar was allowed as legal tender, then banned, then unbanned.
A new “bond note” became legal tender, the Zimbabwe dollar was reintroduced before the gold coins and digital currency were tried.
However, nothing brought any currency stability and the U.S. dollar remains the most trusted for ordinary Zimbabweans.
As the shiny new ZiG banknotes hit the streets, the mistrust was evident.
Kudzanayi Mande, a vegetable trader at the crowded Mbare market in the capital of Harare, said she would rather forgo a sale than accept the ZiG. She was confused, the 56-year-old said.
“Already there is an official exchange rate and a depreciated black market rate, so I will wait a bit to see what its real value is,” she said. “The U.S. dollar is still a safer bet.”
The government has allowed some businesses, such as gas stations, to refuse to accept the ZiG in favor of U.S. dollars. Some departments, like the office that issues and renews passports, accept only U.S. dollars.
At the same time, other businesses are being ordered to only use the ZiG, and face punishment if they don’t.
“The government prints the money so it should be the first to accept the currency and everyone else will follow,” said Gift Mugano, an economics professor at South Africa’s Durban University of Technology.
“Otherwise it is behaving like someone who feeds on takeaways but wants others to eat the food they cook,” Mugano said. “It becomes suspicious.”
Many in Zimbabwe still remember when a 100 trillion Zimbabwe dollar banknote was printed in 2009 at the height of the hyperinflation to keep up with spiraling prices.
At one point, a loaf of bread cost more than 500 million Zimbabwe dollars. Prices would change from when customers walked into a grocery store to when they lined up to pay at the cash register. Restaurants stopped displaying prices on menus as they would go up over the course of a dinner. People lugged around bags stuffed with banknotes. Savings and pensions became worthless.
Through the ordeals, the greenback remained precious — and highly valued on the black market.
Across Zimbabwe, the U.S. dollar is still widely used, from paying rent and school fees to buying groceries. Many take their local currency earnings to the black market to exchange for dollars since banks don’t give out U.S. dollars. Some people stash their U.S. dollars at home.
The government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken a hard-line approach — dozens of black market currency dealers were arrested and have been in pretrial detention for weeks, accused of trying to undermine the new currency. After the ZiG was introduced electronically, bank accounts of some businesses were frozen, accused by the government of rejecting the new currency.
Authorities say they have faith in the ZiG because it’s backed by the country’s gold reserves. Mnangagwa said in a speech on Monday it was a matter of “our national identity and dignity” to trust the ZiG.
Though some hopeful Zimbabweans headed for the banks Tuesday to get their hands on the new currency, many remained skeptical after two decades of turmoil.
An online news outlet published a political cartoon showing a policeman struggling to hold up a collapsing house with the word ZiG on it.
The caption: “World’s first police backed currency.”
Source: Wane
"TIER 1 US BANKS" BY JUDY, 1 MAY
JUDY NOTES
Tier 1 US Banks
Capital One
Goldman Sachs
Wells Fargo
Citibank
PNC bank
Truist Bank
T D bank
Bank of New York Mellon
Morgan Stanley
State Street
First Citizens BancShares
Charles Schwab Corporation
Fifth Third Bank
Citizens Financial
Huntington Bancshares
American Express
HSBC Holdings
Bank of America
JPMorgan Chase
U ‘s Bank
Citizens Bank
U.S. Bancorp
WaFd Bank
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Global Financial Crisis:
- Tues. 30 April: $140 million has been liquidated from the Crypto Currency Market in the past four hours.
- US banks filed to close 10 branches in just one week. US banks notified their regulator of 10 planned branch closures in just a single week this month. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/banks/article-13363665/bank-branch-closures-news-bank-america-pnc-citizens.html
- Tether White Paper is openly telling us they could bankrupt and disappear with everyone’s funds, ipsis litters: ’WE COULD ABSCOND WITH THE RESERVE ASSETS.’ USDT is printed out of thin air simply because the owners of Tether say so. If it was backed by anything, they would. https://x.com/edward_farina/status/1785022722507972802
- Federal Reserve Bankruptcy insolvency 19 times over: According to its own financial statements, just released last month, the Fed’s total unrealized losses are almost $1 TRILLION — $948.4 BILLION to be more precise. And the vast majority of those unrealized losses come from US Treasuries. So just like Silicon Valley Bank, Signature, First Republic, and now Republic First, the Federal Reserve has rendered itself completely insolvent. In fact, total Federal Reserve capital is just $51 billion… versus $948 billion in losses. This means the Fed is insolvent 19 times over. https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/feds-game-make-believe-comes-end
- India and Brazil are also reducing their US Treasury holdings. The dollar’s dominance is waning.
- Tues. 30 April Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell: The Federal Reserve plays a pivotal role in managing the U.S. monetary policy, including the control of money printing and interest rates. Since 1971, the U.S. dollar has operated under a fiat monetary system, meaning it is not backed by gold or any other physical commodity. Instead, its value is based on the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government. The Federal Reserve’s decisions on interest rates can impact borrowing costs, inflation, and the national debt. Lowering interest rates can make borrowing cheaper, potentially increasing the national debt. This has raised concerns about the sustainability of the U.S. debt, with some viewing it as a potential bubble or Ponzi scheme.
- Tues. 30 April Stock Market Caution Advised, Gold, Silver, Crypto Smackdown: https://beforeitsnews.com/financial-markets/2024/04/stock-market-caution-advised-gold-silver-crypto-smackdown-important-updates-greg-mannarino-5408419.html
The Real News for Tues. 30 April 2024:
- Tues. 30 April US Treasury Bonds were no longer the Global Reserve Asset for the oil trade. Japan was only the first domino to fall. Other G7 Central Banks will be forced to liquidate. The US Dollar will unravel very fast. This is called a US Treasury Bond default. …Mike Cristo8 RV Highlights on Telegram Tues. 30 April 2024
PM Al-Sudani orders operation of Karbala Oil Refinery by 2025, 24 NOV
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Bank appointment for Currency EXCHANGE Instructions/Checklist Bank Name_________________________________________ Bank 800#____________...
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Walkingstick All these meetings that the CBI had with all these agencies that were helping them with their monetary reform are done. Al...