MarkZ Daily Links

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Thursday's desk had Iraq front and center — a budget that isn't a budget, a borrowing law moving to the presidency, and Washington's "outputs" being lined up for development projects. Add dollar stablecoins slipping the leash on capital controls and the Red Sea heating back up, and you've got a morning worth pouring a second cup for. Here's everything on the desk.

Iraq & the Dinar

• Iraq prepares to translate Washington's outputs into development projects — Al-Sabah
• PepsiCo signs agreements with Iraqi partners — Iraq Business News
• Parliamentary Finance: no budget for 2026 — the borrowing law heads to the presidency — Alsumaria
• More than 150 officials on Iraq's exemption and retirement list in July — Shafaq News

Money & Markets

• BIS research finds dollar stablecoins move beyond the reach of capital controls — CoinMarketCap

Around the World

• Trump suggests he could restart Yemen bombing campaign over Red Sea blockade — Antiwar.com
• Officials sought to downplay China's link to 2020 election — The Epoch Times

Off the Desk

• Elon vows AI-made 'Odyssey' after blasting Nolan's take on Homer — American Greatness

Links are shared for discussion. Not financial advice — always do your own research.