MarkZ Daily Links
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Thursday, October 22, 2026
Coffee's on. The 2027 budget is set to reach parliament next week, with a vote to extend the legislative term, and al-Jalabi says the Shiite majority can pass the oil and gas law. Iraq is also counting on billions from the mobile phone market, and lawmakers want corrupt money tracked down and smuggled funds brought home. Out on the wider board, the State Department ordered US embassy staff and their families out of Saudi Arabia, more oil is leaving the Gulf than before the war but the freight bill is brutal, NATO is stepping up in the Black Sea, and Europe's chaos spreads from French riots to Italian trucker blockades. At home, the Ilhan Omar story keeps growing, and a Chicago counseling center owner is indicted in a $19 million health care fraud. Here's the drop.
Iraq & the Dinar
- The 2027 budget arrives in parliament next week, with a vote to extend the legislative term — Economy News (Arabic)
- Al-Jalabi: the Shiite majority is capable of passing the oil and gas law — Al-Maalomah (Arabic)
- Iraq expects billions of dollars in revenue from the mobile phone market — Shafaq News (Arabic)
- Lawmakers call for tracking corrupt money and recovering funds smuggled abroad — Al-Maalomah (Arabic)
Oil, Energy & the Wider Board
- State Department orders US embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia with their family members — John Solomon on X
- “More oil is leaving the Gulf than before the war” — and here comes the shocking freight bill — ZeroHedge
- NATO to increase its Black Sea presence after drone attacks on shipping — The Epoch Times
Around the World
- First French riots, now Italian trucker blockades: what's driving Europe's rapid descent into chaos? — ZeroHedge
Home Front
- DOJ filing on the Ilhan Omar search warrant identifies her as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi” — Eric Daugherty on X
- Ilhan Omar, asked if she married her brother, answers “not to my knowledge” — Nick Sortor on X
- Owner of a suburban Chicago counseling center and five others indicted in an alleged $19 million health care fraud scheme — US Attorney's Office (N.D. Illinois) on X
Links are shared for discussion. Not financial advice — always do your own research.