Irish Politician and Fmr. European Parliament Member Clare Daly at Houthi Quds Day Rally in Sanaa: Thank You, Yemen, for Your Leadership; We Will Try and Emulate Your Actions in Our Countries
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Iraqi News
an hour ago
- Iraqi News
Public sector salaries a massive fiscal burden as 10.5 million Iraqis depend on state
Baghdad ( – More than 10.5 million Iraqi citizens, representing approximately a quarter of the nation's total population, receive a monthly salary from the state, according to a new report from the Parliamentary Finance Committee. This dependency on state payrolls places a massive fiscal burden on the government, raising concerns about long-term economic sustainability. Moein Al-Kazemi, a member of the committee, stated that the Ministry of Finance secures 8 trillion Iraqi Dinars monthly to cover the salaries of government employees, retirees, and social protection network beneficiaries. The report provided a detailed breakdown of the total beneficiaries: Over 4.2 million are government employees. More than 3 million are retirees. Over 3 million are beneficiaries of the social protection network. This ratio of state-dependent citizens is among the highest in the world, far exceeding that of many other countries. For comparison, a significantly smaller percentage of the population is employed in the public sector in countries like the United States (around 13-15%) and the United Kingdom (around 22-23%), while in many developing countries, the percentage is often below 10%. The sheer size of Iraq's public payroll is an outsized burden on the national budget, diverting critical funds from much-needed capital investments in infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Al-Kazemi confirmed that these payments are fully secured until the end of the current year, backed by the country's monthly oil revenues, which exceed $6 billion. However, this reliance on a single, volatile source of income to sustain such a massive public payroll leaves the Iraqi economy highly vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices and external shocks.
Iraqi News
an hour ago
- Iraqi News
Chevron returns to Iraq with new oil agreement backed by Baghdad
Baghdad ( – Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani attended the signing of a principles agreement between the Ministry of Oil and U.S. energy company Chevron. The agreement covers the Nasiriyah Project, which includes four exploration blocks for the Nasiriyah project, development of the Balad oil field in central Iraq, and other potential fields and projects. In Baghdad, Al-Sudani met with Chevron Vice President Frank Mount and his delegation, welcoming the company's return to Iraq. Al-Sudani emphasized the government's new approach to working with major international oil firms, particularly American companies, citing Chevron's role in technology transfer, job creation, and environmental standards. The agreement reflects Iraq's aim to reinforce its strategic partnership with the United States while advancing investment in oil production, refining, and gas utilization.
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Syria seizes Grad rockets bound for Lebanon
Shafaq News – Damascus Syrian Security Forces intercepted a truck carrying "Grad" rockets bound for Lebanon, local media reported on Tuesday. According to the Syrian channel Al-Ikhbariya, security agencies carried out a "well-planned ambush" near the Lebanese border, seizing the truck. The Lebanese authorities have not commented on the incident. قيادة الأمن الداخلي بمحافظة حمص تضبط شاحنة محملة بصواريخ غراد كانت متجهة إلى لبنان في كمين محكم قرب الحدود اللبنانية وتصادر المضبوطات وتنظم الضبط اللازم أصولاً #الإخبارية_السورية — الإخبارية السورية (@AlekhbariahSY) August 19, 2025 The interception comes amid rising tensions along the Syrian-Lebanese border, which has grown increasingly volatile following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Authorities on both sides have stepped up efforts in recent months to prevent the flow of weapons, particularly in Al-Qusayr, a known corridor for arms smuggling often linked to Hezbollah. In June, the Internal Security Directorate in Al-Qusayr, in the Homs countryside, intercepted a truck carrying weapons destined for Lebanon. The Syrian army also blocked another attempt to transport shells and rockets near the Bsibis-Hermel area, confiscating the shipment.
