The Prophecy is much more than seeing into the future. For the Prophecy sees without the element of time. For the Prophecy sees what is, what was, and what always shall be. 11:11 LLC
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A series of mild earthquakes have shaken homes and residents in central South Carolina.
The U.S. Geological Survey says three quakes Monday in Kershaw County near Elgin registered magnitudes of 3.3, 2.5 and 2.1.
The first earth-shaker rattled window panes and disrupted wildlife but apparently did not cause injuries or major damage. As the earthquake rumbled, with a sound similar to a heavy construction vehicle, it shook homes, caused glass doors and windows to clatter in their frames and prompted dogs to bark.
People reported feeling tremors throughout the Columbia area and as far away as Lexington, about 40 miles southwest of the epicenter.
Al-Sadr call for stronger dinar shakes country’s currency market
February 21, 2022 – 9:05 AM News Code : 1231729 Source : Al Waght NewsLink:
Following a request by Sadrist Movement’s leader Muqtada al-Sadr concerning the national currency price, in the past two days, the Iraqi currency market witnessed changes in dollar price. However, beyond al-Sadr’s tweet and the trivial changes in the currency market,…
AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Following a request by Sadrist Movement’s leader Muqtada al-Sadr concerning the national currency price, in the past two days, the Iraqi currency market witnessed changes in dollar price. However, beyond al-Sadr’s tweet and the trivial changes in the currency market, in the nation’s politics there is a debate regarding the possible decisions and measures of the future government concerning the dollar-dinar exchange rate and a potential government confrontation of al-Sadr’s approach.
Al-Sadr’s six-point demands and impacts on the FX market
On February 17, al-Sadr issued a statement containing six demands on foreign exchange market control. Here are they:
1. Strongly stopping the currency smuggling
2. Looking into the matter of some banks such as Middle East, Al-Qaded, and Al-Ansari.
3. Summoning the central bank governor to the parliament
4. Summoning the finance minister
5. Organizing the currency market centrally by enacting some laws that increase the value of dinar exchange rate
6. Dealing firmly with banks belonging to some parties
Following the six-point statement, the Iraqi parliament announced its decision to hold a meeting with Finance Minister Ali Alawi and Central Bank Governor Mustafa Ghalib Makhif. As soon as the recall decision was announced, the selling price of the dollar in the domestic market decreased slightly, with the price of 100 US dollar moved back from 148,000 dinar to 147, 500 dinar. The dollar price slump against the dinar continued on Saturday and according to Iraqi news sources, the rate of every 100 US dollar is expected to decrease from 147,500 dinar to 146,600 dinar. This trend gave rise to different analyses among the Iraqi political analysts.
Dollar rate increase and decrease riddle
The manipulation of the dollar price against the dinar was first conducted in December 2020, during the approval of the 2021 budget. At the time, the government of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi facing a stifling crisis as a result of the low oil prices in the global markets, adopted an austerity policy and put the devaluation of the dinar against the dollar on the agenda.
Under this policy, the PM, to cover the budget deficit, increased the dollar rate to 14,500 to 15,000 dinars, up from the several-year rate of 11,900 to 12,500. Although the move met massive criticism, the government insisted on its implementation. However, the recent oil price surge, unprecedented in 7 years, raised the need for lower dollar price against national currency, with al-Sadr being the top advocate.
The main proponents of the dollar devaluation plan argue that the decision to devalue the Iraqi dinar was made when the price of a barrel of oil in international markets was between $40 and $50, which has risen to more than $ 90 now. So, it is now necessary to revise the austerity plan.
Government unhappy with al-Sadr demand
In recent months, the calls for return to dollar rate of 12,000 dinar was opposed by the government. The central bank, warning about any downturn in the dollar exchange rate, said that the move would cause the currency rate to slide out of control and inflict financial damages on the citizens. The central bank argues that the move would cause distrust in the economic system and render uncompetitive the investment projects and national production, something bringing forth more unemployment and halt of projects.
Reacting to his summoning following al-Sadr’s tweet, the finance minister said that “administration of the country with tweets is impossible,” adding that his recall was “illegal” and he cannot stay silent to it.
“The government is not responding to any political party, but only to the Iraqi people through the elected parliament,” he went on.
He called the recall an interference in the activities of the government by political parties, saying that his summoning order by the deputy parliament speaker was not part of his powers.
Consequences of dollar devaluation
Now the return to the previous exchange rate is up for debate and analysis of the Iraqi economists. Salam Semaysem, an Iraqi economist and researcher, insists that any decision to increase the dinar price against the US dollar can bring about some interests but necessarily would not force back the inflation rates to past levels.
“The dinar devaluation followed an agreement with international institutions and took 5 years to implement and is not easily reversible,” he asserted.
Dr. Abdulrahman al-Mashadani, a professor of international economic relations, held that the government is to see into the currency rate a year after the decision making and as a result of the oil prices jump.
Seeing into the currency rates is highly difficult presently because it would mean we linked the dinar exchange rate to oil price and this is inappropriate economically,” he continued, adding: “The decision to devalue the dinar was not successful from the beginning, as it devalued the local currency by about 30 percent, leading to a recession that led to a significant increase in food prices, etc.”
Jamal Sidu, a former member of the previous parliament’s Financial Committee and a member of new parliament, said currently there is no decision to increase or decrease the dinar price. There is just some talk about fighting corruption in currency sales and market prices control. Responding to a question about possible dinar value increase, Sidu said it is “highly unlikely”, adding that it was good to devalue the local currency at that time but increasing its value now would heavily impact the citizens.
PM: New, weaker deal would allow Iran to build stadiums of centrifuges in 2.5 years
Bennett says Israel will maintain its citizens’ security, and is getting ready for ‘day after’ the agreement; says Iran will use financial gain from deal to fund regional terror
By TOI STAFF20 February 2022, 12:46 pmUpdated at 1:20 pm
Various centrifuge machines line a hall at the Natanz Uranium Enrichment Facility, on April 17, 2021. (screenshot, Islamic Republic Iran Broadcasting – IRIB, via AP)
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday that Israel was making preparations for the day after the agreement emerging from the Vienna nuclear talks, which he said appears to be “shorter and weaker” than the previous deal and would allow Tehran to build “stadiums of advanced centrifuges” when it lapses.
Bennett said that the original 2015 deal covered a period of ten years and would have expired in 2025, and that the potential new deal would only be in effect for two and a half years.
“Two things have happened since the original signing — the Iranians have made great strides in building their enrichment capabilities, and time has passed,” Bennett said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
The premier said that under the new agreement, Iran would be permitted to build “stadiums of advanced centrifuges without restrictions” after the deal lapses in two and a half years if it is signed without an extension of the expiration date.
“We are organizing and preparing for the day after, in all ways, so that we can maintain the security of the citizens of Israel on our own,” Bennett said.
Israel has long vowed that it will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett chairs the weekly cabinet meeting at the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem on February 20, 2022. (Tsafrir Abayov / POOL / AFP)
Bennett said that in exchange for signing the agreement, Tehran will receive billions of dollars with the removal of sanctions, and will use the money to fund terror in the region.
“This terrorism endangers us, endangers other countries in the region, and as we have seen recently, will also endanger American forces in the region,” Bennett said.
Tehran backs a number of groups in the region, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group, Gaza terror factions and Yemen’s Houthis, as well as proxies in Iraq and Syria. Recent weeks have seen an uptick in drone and cruise missile attacks by those groups.
While publicly lobbying against a return to the multilateral accord, Israel is preparing itself for world powers and Iran to reach an agreement within days to revive the deal aimed at curbing the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, Israeli television reported Friday.
A police officer patrols outside the Hotel Palais Coburg in Vienna, where talks are being held on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, December 27, 2021. (Alex Halada/AFP)
Israel opposed the original agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arguing that it actually paved the path to an Iranian nuclear arsenal.
The Netanyahu government then backed former US president Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the deal in 2018 and initiate a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, which led Tehran to publicly ramp up nuclear work in violation of the JCPOA.
US President Joe Biden is now seeking to revive the accord, on the condition that Iran will return to compliance.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz met with US Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday and told her any future nuclear deal with Iran must include consistent enforcement by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Travel Ban Imposed on Iraq Finance Minister amid Dispute with Sadr
Sunday, 20 February, 2022 – 06:00
An aerial view of Baghdad, Iraq, Aug. 11, 2021. (Reuters)
Baghdad – Fadhel al-Nashmi
Criticism by Iraqi Finance Minister Ali Abdul-Amir Allawi against Sadrist movement leader cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Deputy parliament Speaker Hakim al-Zamili has sparked wide debate in the country.
It marked the first time a minister openly criticizes Sadr, who enjoys a very loyal support base in the millions in Baghdad and other Iraqi regions. He also holds the parliamentary majority, with 73 lawmakers.
The criticism prompted a retort from Zamili, who slammed Allawi on Saturday for his failure in running his ministry. Zamili is also a member of the Sadrist movement.
The dispute between the Sadrists and Allawi goes back to popular demands to restore the dinar’s exchange rate to match the global oil prices. In 2020, the central bank, with the Finance Ministry’s backing, lowered the exchange rate by 23 percent against the dollar.
In a tweet on Friday, Sadr called on the parliament to summon Allawi and the central bank governor for a debriefing over the exchange rate and other financial issues.
Allawi responded with a strongly-worded message to Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, refusing to appear before parliament and criticizing the way he was summoned by Zamili.
In his message, Allawi confirmed that he received a summons by the deputy parliament speaker, criticizing how it was made shortly after Sadr made his tweet.
“This entire process is unacceptable and no one should remain silent over it, for the sake of the dignity of the government, mine as a minister and mine personally and for my family,” he remarked.
“The government does not stand accountable before any political party. It is responsible before the Iraqi people through the elected parliament,” he continued.
“If we, as a government, do not reject this heinous meddling in the affairs of government by political parties, then we might as well relinquish the independence of the government,” he went on to say.
Allawi stressed his “categorical rejection” of the summons by the deputy parliament speaker, because such an order is beyond his jurisdiction.
“I also categorically refuse to see the government being run through tweets by political leaders, regardless of their popularity and standing,” he declared.
The minister defended his support of lowering the dinar exchange rate, noting that it had enjoyed the support of the international community, government, central bank and political parties at the time.
Moreover, he stressed that he was ready to defend his stance and economic and financial policies “before the lawmakers as a whole, not before a certain parliamentary group.”
Central bank Governor Mustafa Ghaleb and his deputy did show up for the summons on Saturday.
A statement from Zamili’s office said a travel ban will be imposed on Allawi for refusing to appear before parliament.
He confirmed that the parliament will convene at the end of the week at the request of 50 MPs to discuss the financial policy, exchange rate and other relevant issues.
He also slammed Allawi for his “failed management of companies outside of Iraq,” adding that he “has offered nothing to this country.” He said he was partially to blame for Iraq’s debt “rising to 27 trillion dinars in one year alone.”
ReutersFebruary 19, 20224:36 AM MSTLast Updated a day ago
MOSCOW, Feb 19 (Reuters) – Russia hit sea and land-based targets with ballistic and cruise missiles on Saturday as part of strategic nuclear exercises overseen by President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart, the Kremlin said.
The annual exercises featured launches of Kinzhal and Tsirkon hypersonic missiles and a number of other weapons, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Reporting by Tom Balmforth; Writing by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Alison Williams
Representational photo: People look at LY-80 surface-to-air missile weapon system displayed at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China, in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China on 29 September 2021. REUTERS
With the advent of fifth-generation (5G) internet technology and China’s dominant role in that area of technological development, the United States and China have already begun a new race to develop sixth-generation (6G) internet technology. Of course, the world is only just now starting to roll out the 5G technology that China has pioneered for years and there are many issues to be worked out as the civilian economy increasingly adapts 5G. Yet, this has not stopped Beijing from yet again leapfrogging their American rivals in the nascent 6G research field. And unlike the Americans, China’s first breakthrough in 6G has direct military implications. Last summer, Beijing shocked the world when it successfully tested a hypersonic glide vehicle. Travelling at more than 3,800 miles per hour, a hypersonic glide vehicle can travel in any direction and overcome most known air defence systems. Armed either with conventional or nuclear weapons, and able to avoid both detection and defence, a hypersonic glide vehicle can wreak havoc on any country in the world. But there are technical limitations to this destructive new technology. For example, whenever a hypersonic vehicle travels at five times the speed of sound (or faster), a communications blackout occurs for at least ten minutes as a plasma bubble forms around the hull of the hypersonic vehicle travelling at those hypersonic speeds. Standard communications signals cannot pass through this “black barrier”, meaning that for ten minutes, the hypersonic vehicle is approaching its potential target without any control whatsoever. Not only does the plasma shield prevent communications from penetrating it but that “black barrier” can also mask the radar signatures of any incoming hypersonic vehicle from traditional air defence systems. So, if a method could be found for an attacking country to have continuous contact with its hypersonic vehicles while on their attack vector, these weapons could prove to be the nightmare weapons that many Pentagon defence experts fear they may become. Chinese scientists at Tianjin University now claim to have overcome the communications deficit. Their solution uses a laser trained at the hypersonic vehicle to penetrate that plasma shield with powerful electromagnetic waves. As it happens, 6G internet requires electromagnetic waves to function. Essentially, the Tianjin researchers believe they can have complete communications and control of China’s hypersonic glide vehicles courtesy of China’s early investment in 6G internet technology. Meanwhile, the Americans are fighting with their domestic airline industries about implementing 5G internet and the Chinese are already progressing onward to 6G internet. Now, the 6G development is still in its infancy. However, the fact that China has working experiments in 6G and in the hypersonic fields—and that China is now fusing the technologies together in a potentially lethal package directed at America’s ailing military—means that Beijing is likely ahead of the United States in the race for next generation technologies. This, as 60% of the world’s patents for 6G-related technologies are held by Chinese individuals and/or companies. For too long the Americans have assumed that their technological advancement would prove decisive in deterring any challenge to their global primacy. Thirty years ago, when America’s power was at its apex, this was a fair assumption. Yet, in the intervening years, the Americans have squandered their Cold War victory on ruinous and inconclusive wars in the Middle East. As that occurred, Washington abandoned its support for high-tech research and development, leaving it to a private sector that was incapable of prioritizing strategically important innovations over more cost-effective, less strategically vital ones. This explains why China in a single decade has outpaced their American rivals in critical high-tech industries, such as 6G internet and hypersonic weapons—even though the Americans have invested in R&D for both these technologies for far longer than China has. America has dithered while China has engaged in a long march to what it believes will be global dominance. Beijing has married the desire to spearhead the next industrial revolution to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) need to rule the world. The primary goal for Beijing is to first be able to keep the Americans from projecting power into what they view as their sphere of influence, the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, China’s new hypersonic weapons capability along with the advances in 6G could prove decisive in holding American military power back. If Washington knows that China has a functioning arsenal of hypersonic glide vehicles that can threaten any location on Earth, against which there is little defence, American leaders might be more restrained in their application of power beyond their shores out of fear of being made to endure such a brutal attack. Of course, China’s leaders know that Washington would retaliate in a significant way if Beijing ever did launch a hypersonic attack on the United States. Although, fortune favours the bold and the technology in question not only increases the risk of attack on the United States but the fact that the Americans lack their own working hypersonic weapon or that they have a defence against these systems gives Beijing clear advantages. It also gives China’s leadership the all-important escalation dominance. And from these technological advances that Beijing has masterminded, more will come—as the Americans are left behind. Allowing for such game-changing technology to be left in the exclusive possession of the People’s Republic of China is hugely destabilising in the context of Sino-American relations. Already tensions between the two juggernauts are at all-time highs. Beijing has consistently proven its commitment to asymmetrical forms of warfare as a means of undermining America’s overwhelming conventional military dominance. The presence of active hypersonic glide vehicles with a reliable command-and-control system in China’s growing arsenal is a clear-and-present danger to the United States. We hear often about a “Sputnik Moment”. Well, here it is. And if Washington does not respond; if America does not take high-tech research and development more seriously than it has, we risk being defeated soon by China and their next generation weapons technology.
Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr in Najaf, Iraq on 18 November 2021 [Karar Essa/Anadolu Agency]February 19, 2022 at 9:58 am
Iraqi Shia politician Muqtada Al-Sadr, head of the Sadrist Movement, announced on Friday that he would never surrender tothe “crushing monsters” who do not want him to form a majority government, The New Khalij reported.
He added: “Stop your scaring campaigns. We will not send the country to the past. We want to let it be run from outside the borders,” referring to the other Shia groups loyal to Iran.
Al-Sadr did not mention the names of the sides threatening him over his plan to form a majority government, but he confirmed that the threats were reccurent.
![Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr in Najaf, Iraq on 18 November 2021 [Karar Essa/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/20211118_2_50939527_70790615.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
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