World Bank Funding: The World Bank approved a $900m project to upgrade Iraq’s road infrastructure, aiming to strengthen transport corridors, cut travel times, improve safety, and boost trade and access to services across regions including Baghdad, Kurdistan, and border routes with Jordan, Syria, and Türkiye. Energy & Power Shortages: With Iraq’s grid still unreliable and summer blackouts looming, families are increasingly looking at rooftop solar as a practical hedge against generator costs and outages. Kurdistan-Türkiye Talks: Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met Turkey’s ambassador to Iraq to discuss security, internal political disputes in the region, and ways to deepen economic and trade cooperation, including the need for better Erbil-Baghdad dialogue. Iraq Currency Reality: A new report highlights why Iraqis and others under currency pressure increasingly turn to the US dollar when local money loses purchasing power and confidence. Regional Security Pressure: As Iran-U.S. tensions persist, an Iranian official says a potential deal depends on releasing $24bn in frozen Iranian assets, underscoring how finance and sanctions remain central to regional business risk. Maritime Risk: Multiple reports point to heightened shipping and port security concerns around Iraq amid projectile incidents and wider Gulf instability.