ICC seeks arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas leader Sinwar, 20 MAY

The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court has said today he is seeking 

arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav 

Gallant - as well as three Hamas leaders.

In an interview on Monday, Karim Khan said the warrants are for war crimes and crimes 

against humanity over the terror group's deadly October 7 attack and Israel's subsequent 

war in the Gaza Strip.

He said warrants were being sought for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab 

Ibrahim al-Masri (aka Mohammed Deif), the leader of the Al Qassem Brigades - 

Hamas' military wing, and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' political leader.

Khan told CNN that the charges against the trio include 'extermination, murder, taking of 

hostages, rape and sexual assault in detention.'

'The world was shocked on the 7th of October when people were ripped from their 

bedrooms, from their homes, from the different kibbutzim in Israel,' Khan told CNN host 

Christiane Amanpour, adding that 'people have suffered enormously.' 

In a separate statement, he said that he saw for himself 'the devastating scenes of these 

attacks and the profound impact of the unconscionable crimes charged in the applications

filed today. 

'Speaking with survivors, I heard how the love within a family, the deepest bonds between 

a parent and a child, were contorted to inflict unfathomable pain through calculated 

cruelty and extreme callousness. These acts demand accountability.' 

He also said the ICC was applying for warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for their part in 

the assault on the Gaza strip that continues today.

'We have applied for warrants – of course the judges must determine whether or not to 

issue them, but we have applied today,' he told Amanpour.

He said the charges against Netanyahu and Gallant include 'crimes of causing 

extermination, causing starvation as a method of war including the denial of humanitarian 

relief supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.'

Speaking of the Israeli actions, Khan said in a statement that 'the effects of the use of 

starvation as a method of warfare, together with other attacks and collective punishment 

against the civilian population of Gaza are acute, visible and widely known. 

'They include malnutrition, dehydration, profound suffering and an increasing number of 

deaths among the Palestinian population, including babies, other children, and women,' he 

added.

The United Nations and other aid agencies have repeatedly accused Israel of hindering aid

deliveries throughout the war. Israel denies this, saying there are no restrictions on aid 

entering Gaza and accusing the UN of failing to distribute aid. 

The UN says aid workers have repeatedly come under Israeli fire, and also says ongoing 

fighting and a security vacuum have impeded deliveries. 

Israel launched its war in response to an October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas that 

killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. 

The Israeli offensive has killed around 35,000 Palestinians, at least half of them women 

and children, according to the latest estimates by Gaza health officials.

The Israeli offensive has also triggered a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, displacing roughly 

80 percent of the population and leaving hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of 

starvation, according to UN officials. 

The prosecutor must request the warrants from a pre-trial panel of three judges, who take 

on average two months to consider the evidence and determine if the proceedings can 

move forward.

Israel is not a member of the court, and even if the arrest warrants are issued, Netanyahu 

and Gallant do not face any immediate risk of prosecution.

But Khan's announcement deepens Israel's isolation as it presses ahead with its war, and 

the threat of arrest could make it difficult for the Israeli leaders to travel abroad.

Both Sinwar and Deif are believed to be hiding in Gaza as Israel tries to hunt them down. 

But Haniyeh, the supreme leader of the Islamic militant group, is based in Qatar and 

frequently travels across the region.

There was no immediate comment from either side when approached by the Associated 

Press, the news agency reported.

----

Awake-in-3D: How Gold Could RV to $27,374 against the Fiat Dollar, 20 MAY

 Awake-in-3D: How Gold Could RV to $27,374 against the Fiat Dollar

How Gold Could RV To $27,374 Against The Fiat Dollar

On May 19, 2024
By Awake-In-3D

Understanding the Revaluation of Gold in the Face of Fiat Currency Debt Implosion and Gold-Backing the US Dollar

In This Article:

• Gold’s Path to $27,000
• The Underlying Analysis: Why Gold Could Surge
• Historical Precedents and Lessons
• The Supply and Demand Dynamics
• Doing the Math

The intrinsic value of gold is set to revalue significantly against the fiat currency system, particularly the US Dollar.

As global economic uncertainties rise, gold’s stability offers the only safe haven.

Here’s why one globally recognized financial expert believes that gold would exceed $27,000 per ounce in the near future.

Gold’s Path to $27,000

A rather straight forward and simple analysis now indicates that gold might surpass $27,000.

This forecast isn’t speculative but grounded in historical data and economic models .

While no forecast guarantees certainty, the tools and methodologies applied here have proven accurate across various contexts.

The Underlying Analysis: Why Gold Could Surge

The analysis starts with a crucial question: What’s the implied non-deflationary price of gold under a new gold standard?

Central bankers currently control fiat currencies and have little interest in a gold standard. However, should confidence in fiat currencies collapse due to factors like excessive money creation, Bitcoin competition, or a new financial crisis, a return to gold will become necessary.

Under such a scenario, determining the proper price for gold becomes essential to maintain economic equilibrium.

Historical Precedents and Lessons

Historical events provide valuable lessons. The UK’s return to the gold standard at an unrealistic price in 1925 led to an early entry into the Great Depression.

Conversely, the US devalued the dollar against gold in 1933, spurring commodity price rises and aiding economic recovery.

The key policy goal is to find the “just right” price to balance gold and dollars, something the US is well-positioned to achieve with its substantial gold reserves.

The Supply and Demand Dynamics

The supply side of gold shows a significant decline in new mining output.

Despite rising gold prices, US mine production has decreased by 28% over seven years.

This trend suggests that while output could potentially expand, current conditions support higher prices.

On the demand side, central banks, ETFs, hedge funds, and individual purchases drive demand. Notably, central bank gold demand has surged by 1,000% from 2010 to 2022, with no signs of slowing down in 2024.

This scenario of flat supply and rising demand supports the forecast of higher gold prices.

The Bottom Line

The revaluation of gold against the US Dollar is not just a possibility but a plausible outcome based on rigorous analysis.

As economic conditions fluctuate and confidence in fiat currencies potentially wanes, gold stands to gain significantly.

The recent discussion that BRICS is creating a new currency based on 40% gold-backing, the math for the same gold-backing of the US Dollar.

Doing the math for gold reaching $27,374 per ounce

1. Current M1 Money Supply: The U.S. M1 money supply today is $17.9 trillion.
2. Gold Backing Ratio: Assume a 40% gold backing for the money supply (historical precedent from 1913–1946).
3. Gold Required for 40% Coverage: Calculate 40% of $17.9 trillion, which equals $7.16 trillion.
4. Total U.S. Gold Reserves: The U.S. Treasury holds 261.5 million troy ounces of gold.
5. Implied Gold Price Calculation: Divide the required gold value by the total gold reserves: $7.16 trillion divided by 261.5 million troy ounces equals approximately $27,374 per troy ounce.

Thus, based on these calculations, the implied non-deflationary equilibrium price of gold under a new gold standard could exceed $27,000 per ounce.

Supporting article: https://dailyreckoning.com/27000-gold/

© GCR Real-Time News

Iraqi Dinar update for 05/19/24 - To float or not to float could mean hi...BY PIMPY

Iran's President Raisi killed in helicopter crash, 20 MAY

Body of President Raisi to be moved to city of Mashhad on Tuesday

From CNN’s Adam Pourahmadi

The body of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the other victims of Sunday's helicopter crash will be transferred on Tuesday from Tabriz to the northeastern city of Mashhad, where Raisi was born, according to Fars news. 

A large public ceremony is scheduled to take place at a prayer hall in Tabriz at 4 p.m. local time on Monday, Fars news reported. 

At 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday, a large procession will accompany the bodies of Raisi and the other victims from Tabriz Martyr's Square to the city's airport. From there, the bodies will be moved to Mashhad, according to Fars. 

Raisi was born in Mashhad in 1960. He ran the powerful charity known as Astan-e Quds-e Razavi, which manages the huge Imam Reza shrine, a major Islamic holy site in the city.min ago

Iran's president has died. Here's what we know about what comes next

From CNN Staff 

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at Saadabad Cultural & Historical Complex in Tehran, Iran, on April 29, 2023. Sakineh Salimi/Borna News/Aksonline ATPImages/Getty Images

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi was confirmed dead by state media on Monday morning, after a helicopter he was traveling in alongside Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and seven others crashed in foggy conditions in the country's remote northwest on Sunday. 

Here's what to know now: 

Acting president: In the wake of Raisi's death, Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has been appointed as acting president.

Acting foreign minister:  Ali Bagheri Kani, who has led Iranian delegations through indirect negotiations with the United States over nuclear issues and prisoner exchanges, has been appointed acting foreign minister after the death of Amir-Abdollahian, state news agency IRNA reported.

New elections: The Iranian constitution mandates that the three heads of the branches of government, including the vice president, speaker of the parliament, and head of the judiciary, must arrange for an election and elect a new leader within 50 days of assuming the role of acting President. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a message to state news agencies that Mokhber was responsible for organizing elections for a new president within that time. 

Public mourning: Ayatollah Khamenei has announced five days of public mourning after the crash, and expressed his condolences. All cultural and arts activities have been canceled in Iran for the next seven days. 

Global reaction: The loss of Raisi — a conservative hardliner and protege of Ayatollah Khamenei — is expected to sow further uncertainty in a country already buckling under significant economic and political strain, with tensions with nearby Israel at a dangerous high. His death has already triggered international reaction with  Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India and the UAE leader expressing their condolences for his death. Lebanon has declared three days of mourning. 

Militias respond: Iran-backed militant groups Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah have sent condolences to Tehran over the death of Raisi. 

3 hr 19 min ago

Iran cancels all cultural and arts activities for seven days

From Negar Mahmoodi

All cultural and arts activities in Iran will be suspended for seven days following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, the Ministry of Culture announced on Monday.

Raisi died in a helicopter crash at age 63. 

The country’s foreign minister and seven others were also killed after the crash in a remote, mountainous area of Iran’s northwest.

https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/raisi-iran-president-helicopter-crash-05-20-24/index.html

"RV UPDATE" BY MARKZ, 20 MAY

 MARKZ

Fri. 17 May 2024 MarkZ: “On May 22nd, (This is from the IRS but other government agencies are also doing thi) they will be conducting emergency alert tests nationwide to all their employees on text messaging, email and laptop notifications. So they are prepared for May 22nd.

MZ From a member: “Now in one of the top banks here in the country – they are very clued in on currencies. When they found out the amount of the currency they had they said “We need to sit down with you- but we can’t sit down with you until the  22nd. Our key people for wealth management are in training for foreign currencies and exchanges – but we want to sit down with as soon as they back from training.”

MZ: Now this doesn’t mean the RV will happen on the 22nd. But the bank can’t talk to them now even though they want to talk to them….until May 22nd. So- the top wealth management at a big bank with a big wealth management arm-and they get back from foreign currency exchange training on the 22nd –This is a great “tell.”

Iraqi Dinar | ATM Glitch EXPOSES Dinar's TRUE Value-Hold Your Dinar | Ir...

The International Monetary Fund recommends that Iraq control public wages and gradually abolish compulsory employment, 20 MAY

 The International Monetary Fund recommends that Iraq control public wages and gradually abolish compulsory employment

Thursday, the Chief Leading body of the Worldwide Financial Asset (IMF) closed Article IV counsels with Iraq and contemplated and supported the representative assessment, while suggesting the control of public wages and the progressive abrogation of necessary business.

A World Bank report was distributed, which peruses as follows: ” Inside soundness has improved since the new government got to work in October 2022, which worked with the endorsement of Iraq’s initial three-year financial plan, which required a significant monetary extension beginning in 2023, and this has Major areas of strength for upheld in Iraq’s non-oil economy after a compression in 2023. 2022, while Iraq was to a great extent unaffected by the continuous struggle in the district and homegrown expansion tumbled to 4% toward the finish of 2023, reflecting lower worldwide food costs, and a reassessment money as of February 2023, and exchange finance has gotten back to business as usual. In any case, irregular characteristics have been exacerbated by critical monetary extension and lower oil costs.”

The report added, “It is normal that the proceeded with monetary development will improve development in 2024, to the detriment of additional disintegration in monetary and outside records and Iraq’s weakness to oil cost variances. Without strategy change, the dangers of medium-term sovereign obligation pressures are high and dangers could emerge.” ” The principal drawback gambles remember a critical downfall for oil costs or the spread of contention in Gaza and Israel.”

The leader chiefs concurred, as indicated by the report, “with the push of the staff evaluation, and invited areas of strength for the recuperation, low expansion, and further developed homegrown circumstances that prompted the execution of the very first three-year financial plan. They noticed that the dangers were shifted towards the drawback, given   territorial questions and high reliance.” on the unstable oil costs, and that a significant monetary extension could prompt monetary and outer uneven characters.”

The Chiefs focused “the requirement for sound macroeconomic strategies and underlying changes to get public funds and obligation, manageability, advance financial enhancement, and accomplish economical and comprehensive confidential area drove development.”

The Chiefs focused on that “a slow yet huge financial change is expected to settle obligation in the medium term and reconstruct monetary security edges.” They urged the specialists to zero in on controlling public compensation rolls, transitioning away from necessary work strategies, and preparing non-oil incomes, with Better focusing of social help.

That’s what they concurred “prompt execution of Customs and Income Organization changes, full execution of the Single Depository Record, severe management and restricting the utilization of extra-monetary assets and government ensures are vital for help financial union. Decreasing money related supporting and improving the benefits framework are likewise significant.”

The Chiefs applauded the National Bank’s endeavors to fix financial approach and fortify the liquidity the executives system. Further developing coordination among financial and money related activities would assist with retaining abundance liquidity and upgrade financial strategy transmission. The Chiefs concurred that speeding up the rebuilding system of huge state-claimed banks is likewise fundamental. They energized “To keep modernizing the confidential financial area, including by working with the foundation of journalist banking connections, decreasing administrative vulnerabilities, and upgrading the proficiency and intensity of private banks.”

The Chiefs focused on the requirement for underlying changes to release private area improvement. They energized equivalent open doors among public and confidential positions, upgrading ladies’ support in the workforce, and transforming schooling and work regulations. The Chiefs concurred that further developing administration and battling debasement are likewise fundamental, and energized Further fortifying the counter illegal tax avoidance and psychological oppressor supporting structure, reinforcing public obtainment and business frameworks, and tending to lacks in the power area. Chiefs invited restored endeavors towards increase to the World Exchange Association and urged the specialists to work on the inclusion and idealness of measurements.

That’s what chiefs concurred “close commitment with the Asset, including through continuous specialized help, would be gainful, and invited the specialists’ solicitation to lay out a strategy coordination instrument.”

The following Article IV meetings with Iraq are supposed to be held in the standard year cycle.