News, Rumors and Opinions Thursday 7-30-2026
KTFA
Clare: Trump: The attack on the militias in Iraq was coordinated with Baghdad.
7/29/2026
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the attack on the "militias" in Iraq was carried out in coordination with the Iraqi government, hours after the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces were targeted by "US-Saudi" aircraft, resulting in deaths and injuries. LINK
Clare: Iraq announces the launch of the "Starlink" service.
– Baghdad
The head of the executive body of the Media and Communications Commission, Baligh Abu Kalal, announced on Wednesday the actual launch of the “Starlink” satellite internet service in Iraq.
Abu Kalal said in a post published on the "X" platform: "With God's blessing, the Starlink service has now been officially launched in Iraq."
The announcement comes after months of regulatory and technical procedures related to introducing satellite internet service to the
Iraqi market, allowing users to benefit from the service in accordance with the regulations approved by the competent authorities. LINK
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Clare: The disappearance of small change from Iraqi markets: Who controls the flow of money?
July 29, 2026
Complaints are increasing in Iraqi markets from citizens and shop owners about the difficulty of obtaining small denominations of currency, especially the 250 and 500 dinar notes, in a phenomenon that disrupts daily sales operations and raises questions about the efficiency of distributing the local currency between the Central Bank, banks and markets.
Shop owners and customers told Al-Mustaqila that returning the remaining amounts to customers has become more difficult, prompting some stores to round up prices or replace the remaining amount with a small item, which represents an additional cost to the consumer when repeated in a large number of transactions.
There are no official indications that the two denominations will be withdrawn from circulation, as they remain legal tender. However, their continued legal tender status does not explain their limited availability in the market, particularly in sectors such as transportation, convenience stores, and services that rely on small amounts of cash.
The shortage may be related to weak demand from banks for small denominations, or their unbalanced distribution among branches and governorates, or some commercial activities keeping them to cover their needs, as well as quantities leaving circulation due to damage and overuse.
The currency moves from the central bank to banks, then to companies, traders and citizens, which means that the problem may occur in one of the distribution links and not necessarily in the size of the currency issue itself.
The central bank had previously instructed banks to promote the circulation of small denominations and open windows for replacing damaged banknotes, but the continued complaints indicate that the implementation of these measures has not ended the problem in the markets.
There is no publicly available periodic data showing the quantities of each category being pumped out, the number of banknotes withdrawn due to damage, or the share of each governorate and bank, which makes it difficult to determine the actual reasons for the shortage and the extent of the responsibility placed on each party.
There is no publicly available evidence that an entity is deliberately collecting the small denominations or that there is an organized market for selling them for commissions, but their continued scarcity may open the door to informal practices for providing them.
Despite the expansion of electronic payments, large sectors in Iraq still rely on cash, making the availability of small denominations a necessity for stabilizing sales and protecting consumer rights.
The crisis puts the central bank and banks to a test of transparency and efficiency in managing cash, as it requires publishing detailed data on the denominations in circulation and ensuring that banks and markets are supplied with the required quantities.
The question remains: if the 250 and 500 dinar denominations are still within the money supply, why don't they reach citizens and markets regularly? LINK
Courtesy of Dinar Guru: https://www.dinarguru.com/
Boot-On-The-Ground Guru Omar The redenomiation is a framework event. It is not a payoff event. It cleans up the monetary system, improves credibility and it lays the runway for a sustained revaluation.
Thom Article: "Iraqi PM Ali Al-Zaidi publicly ordered Transport Minister Wahab al-Hasani to sign the Development Road agreement during a live ceremony with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, after an unexpected delay interrupted the signing." Development Road Project signed! ...I like al-Zaidi. He is making moves faster than any Iraqi politician I have seen.
Stephen The HCL law has been at a standstill since 2007...They've negotiated back and forth but it's really gone nowhere. Why is this law needed? Imagine you and your brothers inherit a business worth billions of dollars but nobody agrees on how to split the profits. That's been Iraq's problem...The HCL is designed to answer questions like who owns the oil, who can sign the oil contracts, how are the oil revenues divided, how much goes to Baghdad...each province. Without clear rules disputes discourage investment...The HCL isn't about changing the exchange rate directly. It's about making sure Iraq's biggest source of wealth...is managed in a stable, transparent way. If Iraq wants a stronger economy and...currency, getting its oil revenue system right is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle.
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Wednesday Evening News with MarkZ. 07/29/2026
MarkZ Disclaimer: Please consider everything on this call as my opinion. Be sure to consult a professional for any financial decisions
MZ: Where have lower denominations gone? Starlink in Iraq
THE CONTENT IN THIS PODCAST IS FOR GENERAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY&NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY PROFESSIONAL, FINANCIAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSIDER EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IN MARKZ’S OPINION ONLY