Shafaq News recognized as TRUSTED SOURCE by xAI's Grok
Shafaq News/ Grok, the generative AI chatbot developed by xAI—an artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk—has officially recognized Shafaq News as a trusted source for news verification, especially regarding developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
According to user interactions with Grok, the chatbot consistently refers to Shafaq News when asked to fact-check stories related to the region. In its responses, Grok cites Shafaq News as an example of 'credibility,' placing it among a select group of media outlets relied upon for accurate and timely information.
This designation not only underscores Shafaq News' reputation for accuracy and editorial independence but also reflects its growing influence in the digital information ecosystem—particularly as AI tools increasingly shape how news is consumed and validated.
As AI platforms like Grok gain global traction, being identified as a reliable source by such technologies further enhances Shafaq's visibility and reach, positioning it as a go-to reference for regional and international updates in both Arabic and English. It also strengthens the agency's journalistic standing in an era where misinformation and unverified content often dominate online discourse.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
9 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Christian Alliance in Iraq protests government's salary freeze
Shafaq News/ The Christian Alliance of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region filed a formal complaint against the federal government and the Ministry of Finance, protesting the suspension of salary payments for 1.2 million Kurdish civil servants. The alliance submitted the complaint to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, describing the decision to halt funding as a 'flagrant violation of basic human rights and constitutional guarantees' that threatens the livelihoods of thousands. 'This is not about numbers and accounts—it's about human lives and dignity,' said Ano Jawhar Abdoka, the alliance's Secretary-General. 'When people's livelihoods are used as political leverage, we enter a dangerous ethical decline that no responsible state should tolerate.' The complaint cites multiple articles of the Iraqi constitution, including Article 30 (guaranteeing a decent standard of living), Article 31 (ensuring health care), and Article 14 (equality and non-discrimination). It also argues that the decision violates Iraq's 2023 federal budget law and international human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. The alliance urged the High Commission to open an investigation into the decision's humanitarian consequences and issue recommendations to halt the suspension. It called for the submission of a report to the United Nations and other international bodies, and for immediate legal measures to ensure the protection of employees' salaries. The Christian community in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region numbers around 250,000 people, down from 1.5 million before 2003, according to estimates by church leaders and international organizations. They are spread across Nineveh, Erbil, Duhok, and other areas, and many have faced repeated displacement due to conflict and instability. The salary freeze comes amid a broader financial dispute between Baghdad and Erbil, fueled by disagreements over oil revenue sharing and constitutional interpretations. Tensions have escalated further after the KRG signed two massive energy deals with American companies worth over $110B, prompting Baghdad to accuse Erbil of 'exceeding its constitutional powers.'
Shafaq News
9 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Riyadh warns Tehran: Accept US deal or face Israeli military action
Shafaq News/ Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister urged Tehran to accept US President Donald Trump's offer to resume nuclear negotiations, warning that failure to do so could provoke an Israeli military response, sources told Reuters. Prince Khalid bin Salman delivered the message during a closed-door meeting on April 17 in Tehran with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, marking the most senior Saudi delegation to Iran in more than two decades. According to sources, Prince Khalid emphasized that Trump is seeking a fast-track agreement, cautioning that a breakdown in diplomacy could trigger Israeli military action, further destabilizing a region already strained by conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. In response, Iranian officials expressed willingness to negotiate to ease sanctions, but voiced concern over Washington's unpredictable approach—citing past shifts from accepting limited enrichment to demanding full dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program. A source revealed Pezeshkian's stance: while Iran seeks a resolution, it would not sacrifice its enrichment rights to meet US deadlines. Meanwhile, Gulf officials said the Saudi envoy urged Iran to reconsider its regional strategy, particularly in light of Israeli operations that have weakened its allies—Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Syria's al-Assad regime. 'The Saudis want stability,' said Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center. 'They're using diplomacy to protect their economic ambitions.' Nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran have stalled despite five rounds of indirect negotiations. According to sources cited by Reuters, Tehran may consider halting enrichment in exchange for access to frozen assets and recognition of its civilian nuclear rights, but Iranian authorities publicly denied such a proposal.
Shafaq News
11 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan's salary crisis escalates ahead of Eid
Shafaq News/As Eid al-Adha approaches, more than a million public servants in Iraq's Kurdistan Region face yet another holiday without salaries—caught in the crosshairs of a deepening standoff between Baghdad and Erbil that underscores unresolved constitutional, political, and economic rifts. The Iraqi government recently suspended salary payments for May 2025, accusing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of failing to deliver oil and non-oil revenues as mandated by the federal budget law and a Federal Supreme Court ruling. The Ministry of Finance warned of legal action to hold the KRG accountable, laying blame squarely on Erbil for disrupting monthly payments and social welfare programs. The row has intensified following the KRG's announcement of two major energy deals with American firms worth over $110 billion to develop gas and oil infrastructure in the Region. Baghdad views these agreements as violations of its sovereign authority, while Erbil insists the contracts fall within its constitutional right to enhance local revenues and diversify the Region's economic base. Responding to the federal decision, the KRG's Ministry of Finance and Economy said Baghdad owes Erbil over 4.22 trillion dinars (about $3B) and has yet to release the remaining 9.11 trillion dinars (around $6.5B) of Kurdistan's 2025 allocation. Kurdish officials argue that Baghdad's revenue calculations ignore the KRG's operational expenses and the local funds used to cover salary gaps. They also point to the federal government's failure to compensate victims of the Anfal genocide, which they say adds to long-standing grievances. 'The federal government is trying to create unconstitutional roadblocks,' the KRG stated, citing a February 2025 ruling by the Federal Supreme Court directing Baghdad to disburse salaries directly to Kurdish employees regardless of political disagreements. Erbil has framed the latest salary freeze as a political tactic that targets ordinary citizens and threatens regional stability. Since 2014, salary payments to the Kurdistan Region have shifted from fixed budget allocations to ad hoc 'emergency advances' subject to Baghdad's oversight. Each budget cycle has become a flashpoint for constitutional disputes, driven by the absence of a federal oil and gas law since 2007 and competing interpretations of revenue-sharing rules. For many Kurdish families, the result is a familiar cycle of uncertainty and hardship. Despite multiple court rulings, federal disbursements remain entangled in political maneuvering. Jamal Kocher, a Kurdish member of Iraq's financial committee, criticized Baghdad's decision as 'poorly timed and unjust,' warning that it effectively punishes over 1.2 million employees who are uninvolved in high-level political disputes. Kocher stressed that 'a series of steps must be taken to resolve this issue,' urging Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to 'respond to Iraqi citizens in a manner that promotes fairness. It is unacceptable for employees in Iraq to receive their salaries while those in the Kurdistan Region face cuts.' He also emphasized the need to engage the Federal Supreme Court to take further decisions on the matter. Political analyst Hamza Mustafa described the crisis as a symptom of deeper institutional dysfunction. 'The salary crisis is just the tip of the iceberg,' he said. 'The deeper issue is Iraq's failure to pass an oil and gas law for nearly two decades. As always, it's the citizens who pay the price.' The United States has called for calm, urging both Baghdad and Erbil to resolve the standoff through dialogue and constitutional mechanisms. A US State Department official told Shafaq News in an exclusive statement, 'A swift resolution will show that Iraq is prioritizing its citizens' welfare and create an environment attractive to investors.' He added that resolving the crisis could also signal readiness to reopen the suspended Iraq-Turkiye oil pipeline. This appeal follows recent high-level meetings in Washington, where KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials. The salary freeze comes at a delicate moment in Iraqi-Kurdish relations. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani faces competing pressures: demands from political blocs in Baghdad to assert federal control, and calls from international partners to ensure stability and fair treatment for the Kurds. Analysts believe al-Sudani is keen to avoid further escalation ahead of the holidays, with back-channel negotiations possibly underway to explore temporary fixes. However, without structural reforms—such as the long-stalled oil and gas legislation—many fear the cycle of crisis, court rulings, and emergency payments will continue to define Baghdad-Erbil relations. With public frustration mounting and Eid just days away, all eyes are now on whether Baghdad and Erbil can move beyond legal sparring to reach a sustainable fiscal settlement—or whether yet another round of crisis budgeting awaits the Kurdistan Region.
