Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Saturday Afternoon 5-23-26
Al-Zaidi And Masrour Barzani Discuss Border Crossings, The Implementation Of The ASYCUDA System, And Oil Companies Operating In The Region.
Money and Business Economy News – Baghdad Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi expressed his desire on Saturday to resolve the outstanding disputes and issues between Erbil and Baghdad.
During his meeting with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Baghdad, Al-Zaidi said, "We are all partners in this country, and our goal is to solve problems, reach an agreement, and serve all citizens and communities without discrimination."
For his part, he stressed the importance of addressing the contentious issues between the two sides in a radical manner and based on the constitution, while respecting the federal entity of the region.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Media Office stated that the two sides discussed technical issues related to border crossings, the implementation of the ASYCUDA system, and oil companies operating in the region. Emphasis was placed on the availability of high-level coordination and cooperation between the federal government and the regional government to manage technical issues and overcome obstacles to address them in accordance with the law and the constitution.
This morning, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region arrived in Baghdad at the head of a high-level government delegation on a visit aimed at discussing the latest developments and updates on the Iraqi and regional scenes, in addition to discussing the resolution of contentious issues and outstanding files between the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Government in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and in a manner that guarantees the rights of all components of the country.
https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=69433
DeepSec ignites an AI price war: historic discounts of up to 75%
Arabic and international Chinese AI startup DeepSec announced on Saturday that it has made the 75% price reduction on its flagship V4-Pro AI model permanent, stabilizing prices at just a quarter of their original level.
The company did not disclose in its official statement whether this permanent price cut was due to an increase in the supply of Huawei's Ascend 950 chips, which DeepSec relies on to enhance the performance of its model and expand its operations.
As part of this decision, the company has reduced the cost of the V4-Pro's API to between 0.025 and 6 yuan per million tokens (approximately $0.0035 to $0.83) depending on the nature and type of use, down from the previous range of 0.1 to 24 yuan. https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=69456
Al-Zaydi: Salaries Must Be Paid On Time, And We Are Preparing The Iraq 2035 Plan.
Money and Business Economy News – Baghdad Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi directed the Ministry of Finance on Saturday to release employee salaries and social protection payments on time.
A statement from his office, received by "Al-Eqtisad News," stated that "Al-Zidi visited the Ministry of Finance as part of his follow-up on the work of ministries and their executive, service and economic programs."
Al-Zaydi chaired a meeting of the ministry's senior staff and listened to reports concerning the ministry's work in all its departments, where he stressed that Iraq is going through a sensitive financial and economic situation imposed by regional and international developments and their repercussions on the global economy.
Al-Zaydi explained that "these changes have affected Iraq's export capacity and oil revenues, indicating that 90% of the budget depends on oil revenues, and work must be done to expand the non-oil economy and adopt alternatives that support diversification, pointing out the need to be frank with citizens about the financial challenges, without exaggeration or embellishment."
He continued: "We want the Ministry of Finance to draw up the financial policy for Iraq, and we are preparing the Iraq 2035 plan. The ministry must have a clear vision and the budget must be a roadmap for the future."
He pointed out that "the budget must maximize its resources, and it is not possible to continue to rely on oil alone," explaining that "Iraq is a meeting point for the world and we must invest in its geographical location to enhance its revenues."
He added that “employees’ salaries must be released on time, so that there is no message of concern to the people, as well as the salaries of the social protection network,” directing “the preparation of a payment of the dues of farmers, and the dues of contractors and investors, and their rights must not be delayed to ensure the continuation of work.”
He explained that "there is a concept that the state manages the economy, but we want the economy to manage the state, and if the change in concepts is achieved, we will not have to change the people," noting that "the state is not just a budget and allocations, but rather seeks to achieve a high GDP."
He explained that "there are governing and operational expenses that do not reflect positively on development, so we seek to change traditional financial concepts, and we do not want to replicate yesterday's experiences. The role of the state is regulation and monitoring, and we support the private sector, as it is the one that will advance development."
He added: “It is our duty to look after the poor, but we must not continue to operate with a socialist mindset in the economy,” directing that a report be prepared on the customs situation in terms of revenues during the last six months, especially for materials with high customs duties.
He continued: "We noticed that high-customs materials are being replaced with cheaper materials through devious means, and automation will put an end to this manipulation. We have 5,000 doctors contracted with the Ministry of Health, and we have directed that their situations be resolved."
He concluded his speech by saying: "We have circulated a directive not to place pictures of the Prime Minister and ministers in all departments and institutions. We want people to see our work, not our pictures."
https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=69435
From $300 To $2.3 Million: Shocking Prices For 2026 World Cup Tickets
Money and Business Economy News - Follow-up Football, the game that was born in the streets, schools and alleys, and which has always been considered the most popular sport in the world, seems today to be at a historic turning point that may change its nature forever.
The 2026 World Cup, which is supposed to be a global celebration of popular passion, has become a source of widespread controversy due to an unprecedented jump in ticket prices and a clear shift towards a business model closer to luxury markets than to mass sports.
From Reasonable Tickets To Shocking Prices
For the first time in the tournament's history, FIFA is adopting a "dynamic pricing" system, a model common in aviation and hotels, where prices change instantly according to demand.
Shocking result
Cheapest ticket in the group stage: around $300
Official final tickets: Exceeded $11,000 and could reach $30,000
In the resale market: Some tickets reached $2.3 million for a single seat
Figures like these are no longer just a price increase, but a radical shift in the philosophy of accessing the world's biggest football event.
Even US President Donald Trump, who contributed to the bid to host the tournament, commented on the prices, telling the New York Post: "Even I wouldn't pay that price."
FIFA Enters The Era Of Profit Maximization
What is happening is not just about increased demand, but a strategic shift in the tournament management model.
FIFA also launched an official platform for reselling tickets, through which it receives commissions from both the seller and the buyer, in a move that reinforced the commercial nature of the tournament.
According to market comparisons, the average ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup are about 6 times higher than the average of the last five editions of the World Cup.
This shift reflects a clear trend: the World Cup is no longer just a sporting event, but a huge entertainment industry based on maximizing revenues.
When Attendance Becomes A Privilege, Not A Right
But the real debate is not just about the numbers, but about what these numbers mean for football itself.
Historically, the stands were not just seats, but a space for the voice of the masses: chants, emotions, pressure on the players, and the spirit that creates the identity of the game.
Today, with prices rising in this way, a fundamental question arises: Will this popular presence remain possible?
Studies in the sociology of sport indicate that wealthier crowds are often less boisterous and enthusiastic inside stadiums, meaning that changing the social composition of the stands may directly affect the "spirit of the game" itself.
Football Between Market And Identity
The transformation we are witnessing today is not separate from the general trend in global sports, where major tournaments are increasingly reliant on huge broadcasting rights, global sponsorships, flexible pricing models, and resale platforms.
But the 2026 World Cup could be the moment when this transformation is most clearly manifested.
While some see these steps as reflecting a "natural economic modernization" of a huge global tournament, others see them as the beginning of football losing its original identity as a popular sport.
The Question That Arises
Are we witnessing a historic edition of the World Cup in terms of revenues, technology, and organization? Or are we witnessing the beginning of a gradual transformation that will make the tournament an elite event, accessible only to those with financial means?
Ultimately, the real question may not be just about ticket prices, but about the future of the game itself: Will football remain the people's game, or will it turn into a luxury show watched only from golden seats?
https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=69432
Reuters: A Memorandum Of Understanding To End The War Between Tehran And Washington Is Being Finalized.
Arabic and international Reuters reported on Saturday that a memorandum of understanding to end the war between Tehran and Washington is being finalized.
Reuters quoted a Pakistani security official as saying, "A memorandum of understanding to end the war between Tehran and Washington is being finalized." https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=69458