Daily Links — Monday, August 24, 2026

Monday's desk is heavy on Iraq's 2027 budget and the currency debate: reports differ on the assumed oil price ($50–$60 vs. $70), the finance committee and Central Bank are hashing out the deficit and exchange-rate control, and one commentator argues deleting the zeros is meaningless unless the dinar is pegged to the dollar. Al-Zaidi again frames a coming declaration of full Iraqi sovereignty. On the wider board, Canada's Real-Time Rail payment system becomes law today, and the Iran/Hormuz story keeps building — the rial at record lows as Bessent readies his 'economic D-Day,' Hormuz traffic surging as shippers favor Washington's lane, plus European politics with Le Pen surging and Russia mobilization rumors. Here's everything on the desk.

Iraq & the Dinar

• Iraq sets a $50–$60 oil price for the 2027 budget — Channel 8
• The 2027 budget: assumed oil price of $70 — Alsumaria
• Parliamentary Finance and the Central Bank discuss solutions to the crisis, financing the deficit, and controlling the exchange rate — Nina News
• Al-Ashiqir: deleting the zeros is a worthless step unless the Iraqi dinar is pegged to the dollar — Iraq Al-Hadath (X)
• The Iraqi economy under the international compliance standard: from a rentier economy to a trust economy — Economy News
• Fayhan discusses promoting monetary stability with the Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt — Economy News
• Al-Zaidi: Iraqis will declare the completion of their sovereignty over all Iraqi territory — Alsumaria

Money & Markets

• Canada's Real-Time Rail payment system becomes law August 24 — a practical guide to your bank account, e-transfers, and fraud risk — Refdesk.ca
• 'We don't need Canada': the loonie limps lower as Trump unleashes more tariffs — ZeroHedge

Around the World

• Rial hits a record low as Bessent readies an 'economic D-Day' assault to isolate Iran — ZeroHedge
• 'Iran is losing its grip on Hormuz': strait traffic explodes nearly 400% — ZeroHedge
• A tale of two straits: global shippers prefer Washington's version over Tehran's — The Epoch Times
• Le Pen poised to win French elections? New poll shows a commanding first-round lead — ZeroHedge
• Rumor of an imminent new Russian mobilization sends more young men fleeing across borders — ZeroHedge
• Zelensky says wartime elections would 'destroy' Ukraine — ZeroHedge

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