Iraq's government on Tuesday approved increased funding for the state-sanctioned paramilitary group known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).
In a brief statement after the weekly Cabinet meeting, the government said the increase “is to guarantee paying the salaries and allowances” of PMF members for the current year. It did not give more details.
The government formed the PMF to organise thousands of volunteers who answered the call by the Shiite cleric Ali Al Sistani to take up arms against ISIS as the terrorist group was advancing on Baghdad after sweeping through northern and western Iraq in 2014, following the collapse of US-trained security forces.
Several powerful Iran-backed Shiite militias joined the PMF shortly after, some of which were already fighting alongside President Bashar Al Assad's forces in Syria’s civil war. Since declaring ISIS defeated in late 2017, the PMF and mainly Tehran-aligned militias have emerged as a powerful force in Iraq and grown more defiant towards the government and opposition groups.
The PMF has grown in strength and assumed more responsibilities. Last year's budget showed the PMF's membership had grown to 238,000, up by 116,000 from 2021, and that it was allocated a budget of at least 3.56 trillion Iraqi dinars ($2.7 billion).
Shortly after taking office in October 2022, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani approved the establishment of a trading company to be run by PMF. In March, the China Machinery Engineering Corporation signed a deal with the PMF-run Al Muhandis Company to explore several projects in Iraq.
The allocation of more funds to the PMF comes as Iraqi cities witness almost daily protests by graduates to demand the creation of jobs for them in the public sector. These protests are often met with a heavy-handed response by security forces.
As the Cabinet was meeting on Tuesday, hundreds of medical graduates took to the streets outside the heavily fortified Green Zone, where the government buildings and foreign diplomatic missions are located.
Skirmishes erupted between the protesters and security forces. Videos circulated on social media showed security forces using batons and hot water to disperse the crowd. Some of the protesters were seen on the ground bleeding, while others were arrested.
Mr Al Sudani ordered an investigation and gave the Health Minister one week to prepare a report on the employment of the medical graduates.
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs: 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS
Price: base / as tested: From Dh632,225
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 540hp @ 8,250rpm
Torque: 540Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L / 100km
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The five pillars of Islam
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded