Shafaq News

Oil prices fell slightly ​on Friday as markets weighed the possibility of a truce between the US and Iran against ‌the bombing of Saudi Arabia by Houthi rebels after a week of price spikes.

Brent was down 87 cents, or 0.82%, at $105.73 a barrel at 0212 GMT, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was down $1.56, or 1.65%, at $93.05 a barrel.

The sluggish opening was a contrast to a ​week of volatility when oil prices rose to a one-week high on Thursday. Both contracts rose as ​much as 5%. Brent settled up 3.4% and WTI was 2.7% higher.

Brent notched its highest ⁠close since September 15. It was the first rise in days for WTI, which was down 13% over the ​prior six sessions and is down 6.42% for the week, compared with Brent’s 2.09% rise.

The spread between Brent and WTI ​is the widest it has been since May at $12.68 when it was over $13.

Fears of a US ban on diesel exports that could flood the domestic market are largely responsible for the price bifurcation, given that the two benchmarks usually rise and fall in tandem, despite ​the US contract usually selling for a discount.

"The unusually wide WTI-Brent spread also reflects the different regional risk profiles ​at play," said Tim Waterer, chief analyst at KCM Trade.

US and Iranian negotiators in New York are exploring a phased path ‌out of ⁠war that would involve Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Washington lifting its economic blockade of Iran, sources close to the talks said this week.

Since the war began at the end of February, around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments have been curtailed, pushing up prices by 50% in March alone while driving liquefied ​natural gas buyers to look further ​afield for new, stable supplies ⁠of the super-chilled fuel.

On Thursday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said it was up to the US to choose when the Iran war will end.

"It's America that must choose whether it ​wants to end this or not," Pezeshkian said, responding to a question in an ​interview aired ⁠on Thursday on Fox News.

Saudi Arabia intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, thwarting attacks on the southern province of Taif and the Yanbu area on the Red Sea, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said.

Ongoing attacks “serve as a clear reminder ⁠that critical ​oil assets remain firmly in the firing line,” Waterer said.

Saudi Arabia ​is building up crude pumping volumes through its East-West Pipeline that runs to its Red Sea export hub of Yanbu, although crude tanker loadings ​have yet to resume, according to industry sources, satellite imagery and shipping data.

(REUTERS)

Only the headline is edited by Shafaq News.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi referee Zaid Thamer will take charge of matches at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, with compatriots Amir Dawood and Haider Abdul Hussein as his assistants, after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced its officiating panel for the tournament on Thursday.

The Iraqi trio joins the largest refereeing pool in the competition's history: 76 officials, including 24 referees, 41 assistant referees, and 11 video assistant referees (VAR). The AFC picked them after a three-year assessment covering FIFA and AFC competitions as well as domestic, regional, and international tournaments.

The panel also breaks new ground. For the first time, it includes officials from UEFA, European football's governing body: one referee, two assistants, and one VAR official, under an exchange program between the two confederations. Asia's referees will make the reverse journey at Euro 2028, where two AFC officials are set to appear, also a first.

The 19th edition kicks off on January 7 and runs until February 5, 2027, with 24 teams competing across eight stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah, and al-Khobar.

Shafaq News- New York/ Kuwait

Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah praised Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s efforts to bring weapons under state control during a UN address on Thursday.

Al-Sabah called for regional understandings based on good-neighborly relations and said freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz must be guaranteed without restrictions or conditions.

Read more: Iraq factions resist disarmament as coalition exit nears

He accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the war and said Iranian attacks had targeted civilian sites in Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Earlier today, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani read a joint statement at the UN on behalf of around 80 countries calling for the urgent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and condemning Iran’s actions in the waterway.

Read more: Iran war spreads to Iraq and Red Sea as regional risks mount

Shafaq News- London

The UEFA Nations League opened on Thursday with Germany denied a winning start under Jurgen Klopp, Norway edging Denmark in a five-goal thriller, and defending champion Portugal beating Wales.

Germany drew 1-1 with the Netherlands in Amsterdam after Cody Gakpo struck in stoppage time to cancel out Felix Nmecha’s first-half opener. Nmecha put Germany ahead in the 32nd minute, but Gakpo volleyed home in the 92nd to earn Xavi Hernandez a point in his first match as Netherlands coach.

Norway opened Group A4 with a 3-2 home victory over Denmark, with Erling Haaland scoring twice as Stale Solbakken’s team made a winning start to the campaign.

Portugal began its Nations League title defense with a 1-0 win over Wales in Lisbon. Joao Felix scored the only goal in the 22nd minute, while Cristiano Ronaldo later had an effort ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Greece produced the other standout League A result, coming from behind to beat Serbia 2-1 in Belgrade. Andrija Zivkovic put Serbia ahead in the fourth minute, but Christos Tzolis equalized in the 74th before Anastasios Douvikas scored the winner five minutes into stoppage time.

The opening Nations League matchday continues on Friday with Italy hosting Belgium and France visiting Turkiye in League A.

Shafaq News- Najaf

Najaf International Airport suspended all flights to and from Iran from 2:00 a.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026, until further notice, following official instructions.

In a circular, the airport administration asked airlines and relevant operators not to proceed with arrangements for the suspended flights, saying it would notify them of any further instructions on when services could resume. The circular did not give a reason for the decision or identify the authority that issued the instructions.

On September 22, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said Baghdad International Airport would stop receiving flights operated by Iranian airlines and that talks were underway to redirect them to Najaf. Najaf airport’s Wednesday schedule showed that 18 of its 20 flights were bound for Iranian cities.

The United Arab Emirates also suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country until further notice, the General Civil Aviation Authority said.

Earlier this month, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on 36 entities linked to Iran’s aviation sector, including 27 airlines.

Read more: US sanctions reshape Iraq-Iran travel, airline operations

Shafaq News- Hormuz

Around 60 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, carrying about 22 million barrels of oil out of the waterway —the highest daily volume since early July, a US official told Reuters.

The official said around 40 of the vessels coordinated with the US military for protection during their transit.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a central issue in efforts to end the nearly seven-month US-Iran war. Before the conflict began on February 28, about 125 large commercial vessels typically crossed the strait each day. The waterway carried roughly 20% of the world’s daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas supply.

US and Iranian negotiators in New York are also exploring a phased agreement under which Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and Washington would lift its economic blockade on Iran, sources close to the talks told Reuters.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani read a joint statement at the UN on behalf of around 80 countries calling for the urgent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and condemning Iran’s actions in the waterway.

The statement warned that disruption to navigation threatened international security, trade and energy supplies.

Read more: Iran war spreads to Iraq and Red Sea as regional risks mount

Shafaq News- Sanaa

Yemen’s Houthis (Ansarallah) on Thursday claimed to have targeted the Saudi capital Riyadh and Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu with missiles and drones, with military spokesperson Yahya Saree saying the group carried out two operations against a “sensitive target” in Riyadh and Aramco in Yanbu.

Saree said the attacks involved ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones, claiming both operations had achieved their objectives. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the claimed strikes or report casualties or damage.

بيانٌ صادرٌ عن القواتِ المسلحةِ اليمنية بسمِ اللهِ الرحمنِ الرحيمِقالَ تعالى: {ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَۖ وَمَنۡ عَاقَبَ بِمِثۡلِ مَا عُوقِبَ بِهِۦ ثُمَّ بُغِیَ عَلَیۡهِ لَیَنصُرَنَّهُ ٱللَّهُۚ} صدقَ اللهُ العظيمُيواصلُ العدوُّ السعوديُّ المجرمُ عدوانَه الإجراميَّ على شعبِنا من خلالِ… pic.twitter.com/EAbYALbhTn

— العميد/ يحيى سريع (@Yah_Saree) September 24, 2026

Earlier on Thursday, Saree said the Houthis had carried out another operation targeting Saudi military positions and troop concentrations in the southwestern Jizan region.

The Saudi-led coalition said earlier in the day that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis, thwarting attempted strikes on Taif and Yanbu.

Shafaq News- Washington

The US Senate on Thursday rejected a resolution seeking to limit President Donald Trump’s war powers in the nearly seven-month conflict with Iran, Reuters reported.

Earlier on Thursday, Reuters reported that US and Iranian negotiators in New York were exploring a phased path out of the war that would involve Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Washington lifting its economic blockade on Iran.

In his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump said he faced a choice between reaching a deal with Iran or “annihilating” it, while predicting that a diplomatic agreement could be reached after the US midterm elections in November.

Shafaq News- Jeddah

The United Arab Emirates and Qatar opened their Gulf Cup 27 campaigns with victories on Thursday, taking early control of Group B after wins over Yemen and defending champion Bahrain.

The UAE beat Yemen 4-0 at King Abdullah Sports City, with Nicolas Gimenez scoring twice. Yemen defender Nader Sahal also scored an own goal, while Luan Pereira added the third before halftime. Gimenez completed the scoring six minutes into the second half.

Qatar then defeated Bahrain 2-0 at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium to join the UAE on three points after the opening round.

The results leave the UAE and Qatar level on points at the top of Group B, with the UAE holding the stronger goal difference after its four-goal win.

The UAE next faces Bahrain on September 27, while Qatar meets Yemen the same day. The top two teams in the group advance to the semifinals.

Shafaq News- Saladin

Iraqi security forces clashed with ISIS militants near the Hamrin Mountains in Saladin province on Thursday, a security source told Shafaq News.

Troops confronted a group of militants after detecting suspicious movements near the mountain range, pursued them through rugged terrain and launched search operations for other militants believed to be hiding in the area, the source said.

No casualty or damage figures were immediately available. The source said further details would emerge after the security operation ends.

On September 12, an airstrike targeted three ISIS positions in the Hamrin Mountains in Diyala province, a security source told Shafaq News. Authorities also closed Lake Hamrin to fishing after militants were spotted using boats in the area and allegedly attempted to abduct three fishermen, who escaped.

Read more: Iraq’s western desert from ISIS hideouts to new security challenges

* The Hamrin Mountains are a rugged range extending across Diyala, Saladin, and Kirkuk provinces in northeastern Iraq.

Shafaq News- New York

The United Kingdom announced a package of more than £88 million in humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said at the UN General Assembly in New York.

The funding will support healthcare, clean water, sanitation and hygiene services, waste management and protection programs for people affected by the conflict. UK-backed facilities are expected to provide medical consultations for up to 900,000 people and rehabilitation and prosthetic treatment for 1,000 children with blast injuries. The package will also fund emergency water deliveries for 150,000 people, mental health and psychosocial support for 21,000 people and waste management services for up to 900,000.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, addressing the 81st UN General Assembly by video after the United States denied him a visa for the second consecutive year, said Palestinians were facing one of the most serious periods in their history. Gaza was enduring what he called an “unprecedented genocidal war,” while Palestinians in the West Bank faced repeated settler attacks and Israeli policies that he said were undermining the two-state solution.

Read more: Western countries target Israeli settlement trade amid Gaza attacks

The Palestinian leadership had welcomed US President Donald Trump’s plan, UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and a roadmap for implementing the final phase of the Gaza agreement, but none had yet been implemented on the ground, Abbas said.

He also called on Washington to work with the Palestinians and the international community to advance a two-state solution, saying 160 countries had recognized the State of Palestine.

Read more: 142 nations back UN resolution calling for Palestinian statehood

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq and the United States on Thursday signed an agreement transferring the US Embassy’s Diplomatic Support Site at Baghdad International Airport to the Iraqi government, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said.

The agreement was signed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Relations Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Uloom on behalf of Iraq and acting US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Stephen Fagin on behalf of the United States.

The ministry said the handover was part of Baghdad’s efforts to complete measures related to ending the Global Coalition’s mission and the foreign military presence in Iraq under the agreed timeline ending on September 30, 2026.

Bahr Al-Uloom said the step would help move Iraqi-US relations into a new phase of cooperation and partnership, particularly in economic development, energy and other areas of mutual interest.

Fagin expressed Washington’s support for Iraq’s efforts to develop bilateral relations based on existing agreements and understandings between the two countries, while respecting their sovereignty and expanding cooperation in the coming period.

Read more: Exclusive: US forces to stay in Iraq after Coalition exit

Shafaq News- Al-Muthanna

Al-Muthanna Criminal Court sentenced a drug trafficker to life imprisonment on Thursday, according to Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council.

The defendant was found in possession of methamphetamine and hashish with the intent to traffic and sell the drugs to users, the council said.

Earlier this week, Interior Ministry spokesperson Miqdad Miri said courts issued 2,157 rulings in drug-related cases during the government’s first 100 days, including 59 death sentences and 254 life terms.

Read more: Iraq's war against narco-innovation

Shafaq News- Erbil

The Rwanga Foundation and the French Institute are moving to expand cooperation on education, culture and research, including exchange programs and new study opportunities for young people in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the Erbil-based foundation said Thursday.

The discussions took place during a visit by a French Institute delegation that included leading experts in Kurdish and Middle Eastern history, researchers and archaeologists, as well as the institute's cultural programs manager. The talks covered educational exchange programs and new study opportunities for young people in the Kurdistan Region, as well as joint cultural events aimed at showcasing the heritage of both sides.

They also discussed opportunities for scientific research into the history, archaeology and culture of Kurdistan.

The Rwanga Foundation is a non-governmental organization founded in 2013 and based in Erbil, working to widen access to education and deliver community services across Iraq. It says it has reached more than three million people through its education, youth, environment and vulnerable-groups programs.

Shafaq News- New York

Oil prices jumped ​about 4% to a one-week high on Thursday after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis fired missiles at Saudi Arabia and diplomatic talks between the ‌US and Iran showed little sign of progress.

Brent futures rose $4.10, or 4.0%, to $107.18 a barrel at 11:09 a.m. EDT (1509 GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $3.66, or 4.0%, to $95.82.

After climbing about 8% over the past two days, Brent futures were on track to close at their highest since September 15. WTI was on track to rise for the first time in ​seven days after falling about 13% over the prior six days.

Saudi Arabia intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis on Thursday, thwarting attacks ​on the southern province of Taif and Yanbu area on the Red Sea, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said.

Iranian flights ⁠to Gulf neighbors, including travel hub Dubai, appeared to have been canceled on Thursday after a US deadline passed for global firms to halt work with ​Iran's airlines, a major step in a campaign US President Donald Trump calls "economic D-Day."

With the US-Israeli war against Iran largely stalemated for months on the battlefield, Washington ​has announced a shift in tactics to extend the reach of its financial sanctions by targeting companies from third countries that do business with Iranian firms, a practice known as "secondary sanctions".

Iran threatened on Wednesday to retaliate against any neighboring countries that comply with the US ban on its flights, by making their airports "unusable".

Iran and the United States remain far apart on ​how to end their war but diplomacy must continue, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday, after Iran's president told the UN General Assembly that ​Tehran would never surrender to US pressure.

Separately, Saudi Arabia is building up crude pumping volumes through its East-West Pipeline that runs to its Red Sea export hub of Yanbu, although ‌crude tanker ⁠loadings have yet to resume, according to industry sources, satellite imagery and shipping data.

DIESEL PRICES

With diesel prices hitting record highs in recent weeks, high-level contacts between the European Union and the United States are ongoing amid a reported US plan to ban diesel exports that the EU believes would potentially have a negative impact on both sides.

Politico reported that the US was preparing a 90-day ban on diesel exports amid a spike in prices ahead of the November midterm elections, though ​US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has disputed ​that.

Analysts and market watchers have warned a ⁠US diesel export ban would do little to ease high energy prices and could worsen global supplies and further disrupt economies. US diesel futures were trading up over 5% in late morning trade on Thursday.

BRENT PREMIUM OVER WTI

The premium ​of Brent crude over WTI rose to its highest since May for a second day in a row on ​Thursday.

A higher Brent premium ⁠over WTI means it is more economic for energy firms to send vessels to the US to pick up crude for export. But analysts noted the cost of chartering tankers has soared in recent months, resulting in a decline in US crude exports from record highs seen earlier this year.

Weekly US crude exports were just 3.3 ⁠million barrels ​per day during the week ended September 18, according to data from the US Energy ​Information Administration, down from a weekly record high of 6.4 million bpd in April when the cost to charter a ship was much lower.

(REUTERS)

Only the headline is edited by Shafaq News.

Shafaq News- Abu Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates on Thursday suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country until further notice, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said.

The authority said the decision, effective immediately, was taken in light of US restrictions targeting Iranian airlines’ access to airports abroad.

The GCAA said it would continue to update relevant authorities and the public on any developments until normal air traffic between the two countries resumes, urging travelers to rely only on official sources for information.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s ISNA news agency reported that all flights operated by Iranian airlines to the UAE had been cancelled from midnight. Iranian carriers also faced cancellations and restrictions in several other countries as the US measures took effect.

The suspension follows a September 23 deadline set by Washington for foreign aviation-service providers to halt dealings with Iranian airlines or risk US secondary sanctions.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said companies providing Iranian carriers with fuel, landing services or ticket sales could be cut off from the US dollar system.

The US Treasury had separately sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines on September 8 as part of a broader campaign targeting Iran’s aviation sector.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

The Iran-aligned Kataib Hezbollah* on Thursday called on Iraqis to break “the US siege on Iran,” a day after US sanctions on Iran's civil aviation sector took effect.

The faction urged Iraqis to "break this siege by every possible means" in support of Iran, by buying Iranian products, encouraging trade with Iran and refusing to take part in any activity that deepens Iranians' hardship, according to a statement.

The group also asked Shiite religious authorities, known as marja’ia, to issue a ruling on whether it is religiously permissible “to help the enemy, in any form, besiege and starve the Iranian people.”

It accused unnamed Iraqi politicians of “cowardice and hypocrisy for staying silent,” adding that companies that complied with “the unjust US and Israeli decisions had traded their dignity for limited gains and helped tighten the pressure on a neighboring country.”

Kataib Hezbollah said Washington had turned to economic pressure after failing to break Iran militarily. It drew a line from the fate of Native Americans to the UN sanctions imposed on Iraq in the 1990s after it invaded Kuwait, and to measures it said now target Palestinians, Yemenis and Iranians through asset freezes, sanctions, airspace restrictions and border closures.

The United States sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines on Sept. 8, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later warning that the carriers would effectively be shut out of international operations from Wednesday as companies providing them with fuel, landing services or ticket sales risk US penalties.

According to sources, Baghdad International Airport has since suspended all flights to and from Iran, while Najaf International Airport continues to handle them. Turkiye and China also continue to operate flights to Iran.

Aziz al-Tamimi, managing director of Aviation for All, told Shafaq News that Iranian carriers operate about 50 flights a day to Iraq, with the restrictions affecting Iraqi tourists, students, medical patients, businesspeople and Iraqis living in Iran.

Tehran warned regional countries against joining US efforts to restrict Iranian aviation, saying that preventing the country’s aircraft from operating would leave their own airports unable to run flights.

*Kataib Hezbollah is designated a terrorist organization by the United States. Its political wing, the Hoqooq Movement, holds six of the 329 seats in Iraq's parliament after the November 2025 election and belongs to the Coordination Framework, the alliance of Shiite parties that dominates parliament.

Shafaq News

Iraq’s digital media landscape is exposing a widening gap between intellectual property rights guaranteed by law and the ability to enforce them online.

Journalists, intellectuals, content creators and emerging media institutions increasingly complain of articles, investigations, photographs and videos being copied and republished without permission or attribution.

The problem extends beyond disputes over credit. It affects the economics of content production, journalistic ethics and investment in digital media, as copying and distribution tools evolve faster than institutions can document violations and enforce their rights.

Media researcher Haider Shallal says the practice has moved beyond unprofessional conduct, warning that copy-and-paste threatens the core of journalism. “Journalists’ efforts are stolen without attribution or added value, while the copier gets the reach and engagement,” he told Shafaq News.

The deeper concern, he explained, lies in weak professional and legal accountability, which “encourages the continuation of the phenomenon and creates unfair competition between those who invest in producing content and those who simply appropriate it.” He called for stronger legal protection, professional oversight and a culture that respects intellectual property and journalistic sources.

Read more: Iraq's press freedom index falls amid record violations

The Law in the Digital Age

Iraq's copyright legislation dates to 1971 but has since been amended, notably through Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 83 of 2004.

Copyright Law No. 3 of 1971 protects original literary, artistic, and scientific works, including written works, computer programs, photographic and cinematic works, radio and television productions, sound recordings, compilations, and other forms of creative output.

The 2004 amendment extended copyright protections to digital reproduction and storage, as well as making works available to the public through wired or wireless means.

Online platforms have also become an important part of copyright enforcement. Social media platforms and YouTube employ mechanisms that include automated content-matching systems, copyright takedown notices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and other tools that allow rights holders to manage copyrights and submit disputes.

Zainab Rabie, head of Al-Nakheel Center for Press Rights and Freedoms, regards the theft of journalistic and cultural material as one of the most prominent problems of the modern era.

The issue is not confined to Iraq, she stressed, but appears “more uncontrolled” there because of weak laws and legislation, limited legal deterrence, and the exploitation of the space for freedom available online.

Rabie urged journalists, intellectuals, artists, and specialists to join efforts to develop legislation capable of keeping pace with the times and protecting journalistic, intellectual and cultural achievements. The path toward such reforms, she cautioned, remains “long and complicated.”

Read more: Iraq lacks laws to protect children from harmful social media content

A “Copy and Paste Republic”

In the digital environment, copyright infringement is no longer limited to reprinting a book or reproducing an article in another newspaper. A journalistic piece can be copied in full, broken into paragraphs, repackaged as a video or post, and distributed across dozens of pages within a short period.

Previous media reports have documented the case of an Iraqi journalist who accidentally discovered entire sections of her articles incorporated into another person’s work without attribution. After tracking the individual’s accounts, she found other material apparently assembled from the work of different journalists.

Journalists and intellectuals describe a problem that extends beyond articles to poetry, prose, books, academic research, and visual works, as well as investigative material requiring weeks or months of work.

The issue therefore reaches beyond copyright into professional ethics. The traditional journalistic principle rests on verifying information, attributing it to its sources, and recognizing the individual effort behind it. Digital platforms, however, reward speed and engagement, creating incentives to reproduce trending material quickly rather than invest in original reporting.

Shallal argues that the copy-and-paste culture harms “the core of journalism” by placing original producers in competition with those who merely appropriate their work. In his view, the absence of effective accountability also undermines fair competition, “as the cost of producing content becomes a burden on the original institution, while the copier gets a ready-made product.”

Read more: Unregulated digital revenues pose financial risks in Iraq

The Battle over Proof

Legal action also depends on whether an alleged violation falls within existing law. Courts cannot create offenses or penalties without a legal basis.

That does not leave Iraqi courts without tools to address copyright violations. Existing law gives authors rights over the reproduction, adaptation, distribution and public communication of their work and provides penalties for certain infringements.

The broader difficulty in the digital environment lies in legal classification, evidence, and enforcement. Material published on a social media platform does not necessarily disappear when an account holder deletes it. It may remain in screenshots, archives, electronic copies, servers, or other accounts, making proof of the original publication date and the identity of the original creator a central element in disputes.

Raad al-Mashhadani, spokesman for the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, considers the copying and republication of journalistic content without permission or reference to the source “a violation of the rights of journalists and media institutions” and incompatible with professional and ethical standards.

The syndicate, he explained, treats the matter seriously but insists that individual cases be handled through professional and legal channels, with “judgments or accusations not being made until the facts are verified.”

Al-Mashhadani added that the syndicate’s disciplinary and monitoring committees track violations involving content theft or republication in ways that infringe on the rights of its owner. The committees document such cases and submit them to the syndicate’s council for appropriate action under its internal regulations and the applicable legal framework.

“Protecting rights in the digital environment also begins with the journalists themselves, by documenting published material and preserving evidence related to the original content and its publication date, which helps prove rights when violations occur.”

Legislation without Enforcement

Iraq has been a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) since 1976. The organization’s data shows that Iraq has national offices responsible for intellectual property, including the National Center for Copyright and Related Rights, alongside bodies dealing with patents and trademarks.

The legal framework extends beyond copyright to include Patent and Industrial Design Law No. 65 of 1970 and the law governing trademarks and commercial indications, whose amended version WIPO lists through 2010.

Yet the existence of multiple laws, with varying dates and scopes, does not by itself resolve the enforcement challenges created by the platform-driven digital environment.

Hadi al-Marai, head of the Iraqi Observatory for Press Freedoms, argues that political dominance over public institutions has also weakened protections for the press and intellectual property. At the same time, he rejects placing sole responsibility on the judiciary, arguing that “it is not fair to say that the judiciary turns a blind eye to all those intellectual violations and infringements of rights.”

In an interview with Shafaq News, Al-Marai places much of the responsibility on the political system, particularly the legislature, which he believes must establish enforceable rights through binding legislation and strict application of the law.

He further links the broader disorder to what he describes as political groups seeking to extend their influence and control the landscape, arguing that this contributed to a situation in which intellectual property concepts became obscured amid the expansion of social media and modern technologies.

The Cost of Content

The issue extends to a journalist’s right to have their name attached to their work. Journalistic content has become an economic asset that requires financing.

An investigative report may involve a research and production team, filming, editing, travel, documents, and substantial time, while another platform can obtain the finished product simply by copying it.

Under this model, the original producer carries the cost and risk of production, while the copier can generate reach, engagement and revenue from material for which they paid nothing.

That dynamic weakens the incentive to produce expensive work, particularly for smaller institutions that lack the resources available to larger organizations. The Iraqi Journalists Syndicate maintains that protecting content should not become a pretext for restricting the circulation of information.

Al-Mashhadi stresses that “press freedom does not mean wasting the rights of the journalist or media institution,” while protection of those rights “should not come at the expense of freedom of information.” He advocates a balance between the right to access information and respect for the rights of content owners, alongside stronger standards of journalistic integrity and proper attribution of information and sources.

Read more: Iraq’s media watchdog under fire for taxing content creators

Contracts and Creators’ Rights

Another dimension of the intellectual property debate concerns the contractual relationship between content creators and media institutions.

In a market where independent creators often have limited bargaining power, contracts can determine who owns a work, who may reuse, modify, or distribute it, and whether financial compensation covers only current use or also future rights.

Specialists therefore call for contracts to clearly identify the rights holder, licensing period, scope of use, financial compensation, and rights of reuse, rather than leaving these matters ambiguous.

This does not mean that every agreement between an institution and a creator constitutes a “contract of adhesion.” However, an imbalance in bargaining power can leave individual creators with limited choices, particularly when they depend on larger institutions for financing, distribution, or protection.

The debate remains divided over whether Iraq needs a new law or better enforcement of existing legislation.

One side argues that the current framework, despite its age, can address some forms of infringement and that the primary shortcomings involve documentation, enforcement, and technical expertise. Others call for a broader modernization of the system to address digital works, electronic evidence, and cross-border violations.

Digital rights advocates, meanwhile, stress that intellectual property or cybercrime legislation must not become a tool for criminalizing opinion or investigative journalism. They call for a clear distinction between protecting a work against unauthorized copying and offenses involving political content, while advocating effective compensation and explicit exceptions for criticism, education, and journalistic coverage.

They also call for clearer regulation of digital evidence, including publication data, original files and platform records, and for the use of digital fingerprints and blockchain technology in documentation without treating as conclusive evidence on its own.

Arab Experiences

Experiences in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt suggest that copyright protection requires more than penalties, combining digital-use rules, complaint mechanisms, technical expertise and safeguards for freedom of expression.

While those systems cannot simply be replicated in Iraq, they offer possible models for handling digital evidence, complaints and dispute resolution.

Amid legislative delays, civil and union activism continues to push for digital laws that distinguish intellectual property protection from political offenses and avoid vague language that could restrict opinion.

The approach seeks to protect creators from theft without turning copyright law into a mechanism for preventing legitimate quotation, criticism, satire or journalistic coverage.

Al-Mashhadani concludes that the syndicate “supports any legislative or regulatory direction that contributes to strengthening the protection of journalistic content and holding violators accountable under the law,” emphasizing that the rapid development of digital publishing requires a review of relevant procedures and legislation.

Written and edited by Shafaq News staff.

Shafaq News- Basra

The Iraq Oil, Gas and Energy Exhibition opened in Basra on Thursday, drawing around 300 companies from 18 countries, Basra Oil Company said.

Participating firms are showcasing the latest equipment, technologies, services and solutions for the three sectors, the company said. The exhibition also drew visitors interested in the oil, gas and energy sector as well as students studying petroleum-related disciplines, giving them access to current industry technologies and equipment and helping connect academic study with practical applications.

The three-day event includes conferences, events and specialized meetings aimed at exchanging expertise and exploring cooperation opportunities across the energy sector.

Shafaq News- Sanaa

Yemen’s Houthis (Ansarallah) said on Thursday that they had launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi military positions in Jizan, hours after the Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting six missiles bound for Taif and Yanbu.

Military spokesperson Yahya Saree characterized the operation as “preemptive,” listing command and control centers, operations rooms, weapons depots, and other sites in Al-Tuwal among its objectives, including the Sixth Emergency Division. Launch platforms at Al-Daghareer camp and several positions elsewhere in Jizan were also struck, according to Saree.

بيانٌ صادرٌ عن القواتِ المسلحةِ اليمنيةِبسمِ اللهِ الرحمنِ الرحيمِقالَ تعالى: {فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ} صدقَ اللهُ العظيمفي إطارِ العدوانِ الذي يشنُّه العدوُّ السعوديُّ على بلدِنا ومع تصاعدِ العدوانِ الصاروخيِّ على… pic.twitter.com/GKuYSMlgzl

— العميد/ يحيى سريع (@Yah_Saree) September 24, 2026

“The strikes were precise and direct,” Saree said, claiming that hundreds of Saudi, Yemeni, and Sudanese personnel were killed or wounded and several weapons depots destroyed. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the claimed casualties or damage.

Saree attributed the escalation to a buildup of Saudi troops along the border and said that more than 200 projectiles had been fired from Jizan toward Saada and Hajjah. He vowed that Houthi forces would continue attacking military deployments until operations against Yemen cease and restrictions on the country are lifted.

The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed Houthi ballistic missiles on Thursday, with spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki warning of a firm response.

Houthi-affiliated media, meanwhile, reported four Saudi air raids on Qatabir and Maran districts in Saada, including one affecting a telecommunications network. Al-Masirah television attributed the destruction of a water station and a civilian vehicle in Taiz’s Maqbana district to another attack and reported that a girl lost a hand after a missile landed near her home in Saada’s Razih district.

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

A hotline run by Al-Sulaymaniyah’s Directorate for Combating Violence against Women and Families received around 1,600 calls in the first half of 2026, including 950 from women, an official said on Thursday.

Raz Frya, the directorate’s media officer, told Shafaq News that most callers were seeking advice, while others reported various forms of violence, including online, physical and psychological abuse.

The 119 hotline was launched in 2018 by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Directorate General for Combating Violence against Women and Families, which operates under the Interior Ministry. It provides a free, round-the-clock service for complaints, counselling and assistance to people facing violence or family-related problems across the Kurdistan Region.

Violence against women remains a persistent social issue in the Region, amid challenges over enforcement of legal protections as well as social pressures and patriarchal attitudes within some families and communities.

Read more: Kurdistan Region: +13K domestic violence cases in 2024

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s parliament approved recommendations on Thursday from a committee tasked with investigating pollution in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, identifying those responsible and reviewing measures to limit its impact.

Following the vote, lawmaker Youssef Al-Kalabi said at a press conference in parliament that ministers would raise the worsening pollution of the two rivers at the next cabinet meeting.

Al-Kalabi said pollutants and waste dumped into waterways amount to about 10 million cubic meters across Iraq, including six million cubic meters entering the Diyala River and reaching Baghdad, calling for a water emergency to be declared for the Tigris and Euphrates.

The Water Resources Minister, Muthanna Al-Tamimi, said southern provinces were among the areas hardest hit by river pollution and that the government had a responsibility to compensate people affected by the environmental damage.

The Minister of Environment, Sarwa Abdulwahid Qadir, called for the maximum legal penalties against those responsible for polluting the Tigris and Euphrates as well as the air. “The public sector is responsible for air pollution, but the problem is that it does not respond to the Environment Ministry.”

She warned that Iraq was heading toward an environmental disaster unless pollution was addressed. “The Ministry had sent official notices to the Industry and Minerals Ministry and other relevant bodies over sulfur emissions, waste burning and brick factories,” Qadir said, warning that the ministry could turn to the courts if authorities failed to respond.

Death in the current: Pollution decimates Iraq’s river ecosystems

Earlier this month, Iraq ranked 166th globally and second-lowest among Arab countries in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index, with a score of 26.6 points.

The Iraq Green Observatory has identified about 500 permanent pollution sources affecting the Tigris River, including untreated sewage, industrial waste and medical waste. Along the Euphrates in Al-Anbar, environmental authorities have inspected factories, vehicle service stations and sewage outlets, taking legal action against violators while pursuing wastewater treatment projects. A 2026 World Bank report estimated that more than 70% of sewage in Iraqi urban areas is discharged untreated into rivers and waterways.

Read more: The cost of filth: Iraq among the world’s most polluted nations

Shafaq News- Baghdad

The Iraqi National Security Service (INSS) said on Thursday that it had executed 1,568 judicial arrest warrants across Baghdad and other provinces under its nationwide “Shadow of Justice” operation, launched on Aug. 23.

The arrests included 553 suspects wanted over extortion and threats, 195 over fraud, 194 on drug-related charges, 54 on terrorism charges, and 54 accused of promoting the banned Baath Party.

The INSS said the end of the operation would not halt efforts to track down other wanted suspects, with arrest warrants continuing to be enforced.

A security source told Shafaq News a day before the launch that Iraqi forces were preparing the campaign against suspects wanted on terrorism, drug, and other charges. Authorities promoted “Shadow of Justice” through videos and street banners and encouraged residents to provide information through a designated hotline.

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Al-Sulaymaniyah

An Iraqi parliamentary committee on Thursday proposed bringing fuel supplies to the Kurdistan Region under the same federal distribution and pricing system used elsewhere in Iraq, as shortages continue to drive long queues at filling stations across the country.

The ad hoc committee, formed to review the 50,000 barrels of crude oil supplied daily to the Region, recommended that the federal Oil Products Distribution Company supply Kurdistan’s provinces with petroleum products. Each province’s allocation would be calculated under the same formula used elsewhere in Iraq, with distribution coordinated with the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Natural Resources.

If supplies become insufficient, the committee said available quantities should be divided equally among all Iraqi provinces. Under that scenario, the Region’s separate 50,000-barrel daily crude allocation would be cancelled and the oil exported through the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO).

The Ministry of Natural Resources would also be required to sell petroleum products in the Region at prices set by the federal Oil Ministry.

If Baghdad approves the KRG’s request to raise the crude allocation above 50,000 barrels per day, the committee recommended that population size and crisis conditions be taken into account. The final volume would be determined by a technical committee representing refinery companies and the Oil Products Distribution Company.

The recommendations also call for locally produced crude supplied to the Region to be sold at the same price applied to refineries elsewhere in Iraq, while fuel oil, or black oil, would be supplied under the same mechanism used in other provinces.

Consumer prices in the Kurdistan Region would likewise be aligned with those applied elsewhere in Iraq. Refining costs between federal Oil Ministry refineries and Kurdistan Region refineries would be reconciled at the end of each year, with the federal ministry settling the resulting costs.

Wider fuel pressure

The proposals come amid a broader fuel crisis affecting Baghdad, several Iraqi provinces and the Kurdistan Region.

On Wednesday, parliament’s Oil and Gas Committee member Rabee Al-Mousawi said resolving the shortage required higher domestic production of petroleum products, tighter controls on smuggling, refinery upgrades and lower fuel consumption.

Al-Mousawi told Shafaq News that Iraq’s daily oil exports had risen to between two million and three million barrels during the period and were continuing to increase.

He said the government and Oil Ministry should work together to expand domestic fuel production and curb smuggling, particularly toward northern provinces.

He also called for hydrotreating and isomerization units to be added to refineries to increase petroleum-product output and improve efficiency.

Al-Mousawi said the response should also focus on demand, including greater investment in public transport, particularly trains and buses, and encouraging imports of hybrid vehicles from reputable manufacturers.

His comments came as Iraq’s oil exports faced disruption from regional security developments and restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is used by most crude exports from the country’s southern fields.

Parliament held a session on Monday attended by the oil minister and senior ministry officials to discuss fuel shortages and rising petroleum-product prices. Lawmakers voted on recommendations aimed at addressing the crisis and reconsidering recent price increases.

Hours in line for gasoline

In Al-Sulaymaniyah, the shortage has translated into hours-long waits for subsidized gasoline.

Female drivers told Shafaq News correspondent on Thursday that they wanted more filling stations allocated to women and called on the KRG to improve supplies.

Daik station, which serves female drivers, sells government-subsidized gasoline at 750 dinars ($0.57) per liter. It receives one tanker per day, with each driver allowed 40 liters. Distribution begins at 6:00 a.m. and continues until the daily supply runs out.

Nesreen Ali said it was her first time using the station but that the gasoline shortage had made lengthy waits increasingly unavoidable.

She said she had left home early in the morning and was still waiting for her turn, calling for more stations to serve the growing number of female drivers.

“Citizens should be able to receive services without this suffering, but the reality is different,” Ali said, adding that low-income residents were most likely to endure the queues because they depended on government-priced fuel.

Mariam Mohammed, another driver, said obtaining gasoline had become an additional burden for women balancing work and household responsibilities.

She said the KRG should provide better services and take measures to reduce waiting times.

Baghdad-Erbil supply gap

The KRG set the price of regular government-subsidized gasoline at 750 dinars per liter in July 2026, while regular commercial gasoline was priced at 850 dinars ($0.65).

The federal government currently supplies the Kurdistan Region with 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day for domestic use.

Kurdistan officials say that falls well short of actual demand, which they estimate at about 126,700 barrels per day.

Earlier, the KRG requested that the allocation be increased to 140,000 barrels per day, arguing that additional crude would allow local refineries to raise production and provide gasoline at lower prices.

Shafaq News- Ilam

Authorities in Iran’s western Ilam province have completed administrative steps needed to pursue international recognition for 16 elements of intangible cultural heritage, while 82 elements are already listed on Iran’s national heritage register, according to Mehr News Agency.

Raed Naseri-Far, deputy head of cultural heritage in Ilam, said the province’s intangible heritage includes beliefs, music and vocal traditions, local games, handicrafts, folk arts and mourning ceremonies.

Naseri-Far highlighted a project titled “A Melody from Antiquity to the Third Millennium,” which he said is linked to the Hurrian civilization, which flourished in parts of the Zagros Mountains. He said researchers had spent 30 years studying Hurrian melodies and found that many ancient vocal traditions are concentrated in Ilam, particularly in the province’s western areas.

Naseri-Far added that archaeologists had uncovered a flute and other musical instruments at several prehistoric sites in Ilam.