The Parliamentary Oil, Gas and Natural Resources Committee discussed on Tuesday several industrial files, including the production of oxidized asphalt, with several government committees.
The reporter of the Iraqi News Agency (INA) said: "The Oil, Gas and Natural Resources Committee hosted the Industrialists Support Team of the Advisors in the Prime Minister's Office, in addition to the Director General of the Technical Department in the Ministry of Oil and the Director General of Industrial Development in the Ministry of Industry."
He added that "the hosting came to discuss the issue of the plant for the production of oxidized asphalt and other matters."
Article: "Iraq's gold reserves significantly increased" [Iraq's] gold reserves grew by 57% in 3rd quarter of 2024.
The value of Iraq gold reserves rose from 10.7 trillion Iraqi dinars, which is $8.1 billion USD, in 2023 to 16.8 trillion dinar or $10.6 billion USD in [2024].
According to the World Gold Council, Iraq now holds 152.6 tons of gold raking as the 29 largest gold holding country globally and 3rd in the Arab world after Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Rashid, confirmed on Tuesday that the security stability that Iraq is experiencing eases the entry of Belgian companies, calling on Brussels to raise the level of its representation in Baghdad to an embassy.
President Rashid received - at the Davos Conference Center - King Louis Philippe Leopold Marie, King of Belgium, on the sidelines of the Davos Forum activities in Switzerland, in the presence of Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein, according to a statement by the Presidency of the Republic - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.
During the meeting, they reviewed the areas of economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries and "the mechanisms for supporting them," as the President extended an official invitation to King Philippe to visit Iraq within the framework of strengthening relations between the two countries to include the main economic sectors and the transformation in the field of energy.
"The security stability that Iraq has enjoyed recently, which constitutes an opportunity to expand the horizons of constructive economic cooperation and facilitates the entry of Belgian companies into the Iraqi market and achieves sustainable development," included the statement.
Rashid called in King Philippe "to raise the level of diplomatic representation in Iraq by opening a Belgian embassy in Baghdad, considering it an important step towards deepening ties between the two peoples and countries, which will allow for increased cooperation in many areas."
"Coordination and consultation between the two countries is important on various issues on the regional and international arenas, in a way that serves common interests and contributes to enhancing global security and peace," he highlighted.
The statement concluded, "The President and the King discussed the issues and topics raised at the Davos Forum, and the need to reach a common vision on climate and environmental changes and come up with decisions that contribute to finding solutions to current economic, technological and environmental issues."
Q & A - How will people who live in other Countries outside of USA receive notice? 800 numbers don't work there?
(This answer is only for those talking the traditional route to receive notification. If you're in LWS and awaiting private contact, you can disregard this if you want to as it would not apply to you, per se.)
💢A: For RV speculators outside of the USA, please disregard the "800#" bc it will NOT APPLY to any country that doesn't use 800#s. Plain and simple - there will be no reason whatsoever for you, in Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa, etc to call a USA #. THIS IS A GLOBAL EVENT. So, you'll receive the appropriate number for you to call in your home country where you are.
To be very clear, Redemption Centers abound here in the USA. However, we're told that actual Redemption centers will be very few and far between in other countries. You will be able to complete your Redemption appointment at major banks, who are working in cohesion with your country's Treasury Department (which has your country's gold / asset reserves).
This is the number you will be given. A number to an authorized banking institution that is SAFE (partnership with the Alliance) for you to complete your exchange. You'll give your postal code (or zip code) - (any/every country) and you will be given the contact information to point you in the right (and safest) direction.
You might receive a direct email which will give you (in YOUR COUNTRY) the right 'call center' to contact. Due to the language barriers, no....
I absolutely do not expect every single RV participant to be directed to a USA Call Center (appointed by Alliance/ UST) when they live in other countries. It would be close to impossible for them to staff ppl who are multilingual - in which every single country is represented. But it makes sense if you are contacted directly, via email, with a contact in your country whom you can reach out to.
If the SafeLink website is indeed a factor in this, it makes sense that you will provide proof of your identity by answering key questions - proving you ARE YOU, then given a number of an appropriate bank who can handle your exchange/redemption. The VPN on your computer/device can also be used to identify what phone number in what country to provide for you, personally.
It's equally important to note that in the USA only a Redemption Center will be able to accommodate Zim Bond Notes Redemption AND regular exotic currency exchanges. IF someone ONLY has currency and zero Zim, they may freely go to any bank which participates in foreign currency exchange to complete their transaction.
This is not the case in other countries! Because there will be very few actual "Redemption Centers" - you WILL BE ABLE TO EXCHANGE & REDEEM BOTH FOREIGN CURRENCY AND ZIM at major, participating bank locations. Again, you must sit back and wait to see how you'll be notified. Email with the SafeLink website will be a perfect solution for you. But the bottom line is, you'll be given an appropriate number to call in your location, where you can be steered in the right direction.
It's not all about the USA! And the advice you are getting (from the gurus) should not be thru the vein of "all about the USA" either. It makes no sense that a RV speculator - or a humanitarian in Timbuktu would have to call a call center staffer in middle America to learn how to make a Redemption appointment.
The Alliance is smarter than that!! They know who you/we humanitarians are! You will not be left out. Please hang tight and wait. We'll all offer direction as we can. I hope this helps.
INA - BAGHDAD The representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Muhammed Al-Hassan, confirmed that Baghdad is the most deserving of being the capital of Arab tourism.
The Baghdad Secretariat announced on Tuesday, that the Mayor of Baghdad, Ammar Musa Kadhim, accompanied the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN and Head of the UNAMI Mission in Iraq on a tour to see the reconstruction witnessed by the city of Baghdad, stated the Baghdad Secretariat in a statement - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.
Mayor Kadhim accompanied Al-Hassan on his tour to see the stages of reconstruction, development and construction witnessed by the city of Baghdad during the past two years.
Kadhim said that "the tour of the representative of the Secretary-General of the UN was in Abu Nawas Corniche and to see the lives of citizens, the streets of the city, and the construction and reconstruction campaigns witnessed by the capital, Baghdad."
"Baghdad in 2025 is different from previous years after the opening of new entertainment venues in addition to the manifestations of development and reconstruction in its scene, as the Prime Minister called 2024 the year of achievements," he said, calling 2025 the year of continuing achievements, saying: "We continue from one achievement to another for what this city deserves in terms of distinguished efforts and services."
The statement noted that "Al-Hassan expressed his admiration for the changes taking place in the city of Baghdad and his happiness with what he saw of development, construction and preparations to host Arab and international events, praising the generosity and kindness of the people of Iraq."
In turn, Al-Hassan stressed that "there is no city more deserving than Baghdad to be the capital of Arab tourism, as it is the city of culture and is linked to it," calling for "Baghdad to be the capital of culture and tourism for other years, not just for one year."