It seems the protest have worked as the finance ministry has approved distributing financial incentive payments to health workers. A letter signed by Finance Minister Rebaz Mohammad orders payment of 4.1 billion Iraqi dinars ($3.46 million) in incentives and nightshift overtime. The incentive payment amounts to 100,000 Iraqi dinars (about $84) monthly and is intended to cover the transport expenses of health workers. Salaries are expected to be paid sometime this month.

Meanwhile, the Iranian rial fell to a record low on Monday, breaking through the 50,000-to-the-dollar mark for the first time as analysts blamed uncertainty from Washington. The rial has lost around a quarter of its value in the past six months. Iran’s government took drastic measures last month to stem the decline in the free market rate, arresting foreign exchange dealers, freezing speculators’ accounts and raising interest rates.

Lastly, a Pakistani news channel has hired the country’s first transgender TV newsreader. Marvia Malik, a journalism graduate who has also worked as a model anchored her first show on private broadcaster Kohenoor on Friday, after three months of training. Transgender people face discrimination in Pakistan and many struggle to find employment. Malik said she hoped her work would help improve the lives of Pakistan’s transgender community.