Iraq’s Parliament has passed a law authorizing new borrowing of nearly $18 billion – an emergency measure that will enable the government to pay public-sector salaries despite a dire financial crisis. “The loan law was passed by a majority vote,” said Ahmed Haji Rashid, a member of the federal Parliament with the Komal party. “If the Parliament hadn’t passed the law, it would be blamed for the consequences of no salaries being paid this month.”