LONDON: The royal wedding not only dominated the UK press this weekend, but also captured the imagination of the Arab media.
“There was interest — people were interested — they wanted to see what was going on. It was a nice romantic story and a break from the misery in the Middle East,” Rima Maktabi, Al Arabiya’s London bureau chief, told Arab News.
The wedding ceremony between Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle — which took place in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle — was broadcast live on Al Arabiya on Saturday. Maktabi also sent a reporter down to the castle to report live from the event.
Al Arabiya’s coverage attracted a surprisingly high number of viewers, she said, despite Ramadan having begun last week — a season when typically daytime viewer figures for Arab news channels drop.
Social media was also buzzing about the nuptials, Maktabi noted. “There was a lot of interaction online,” she said, noting how people were fascinated about the impact the American actress — now Duchess of Sussex — could make on the UK’s royal family.
“People relate to Meghan because she has all the ingredients for being different from the royal family. We see the royal family breaking taboos … and doing things they would never do years back. The Arab World can relate to that and they liked the story,” she said.
Sky News Arabia also had rolling coverage of the wedding, with presenter Chantal Abikhalil tweeting and reporting from outside the castle.
The Gulf-based print and online media also published extensive coverage of the marriage.
Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper played on the theme that it was a royal wedding with a modern twist, saying, “the wedding ceremony was held in a stunning ceremony that combines old English and African American culture, giving a great deal of modernity to the British monarchy that dates back a thousand years.”
The Saudi-based newspaper attributed Princess Diana as being the reason for the change in the royal family’s path.
“Her sudden death and the grief of Britain forced the Queen to break the rigid tradition of not expressing feelings. The Queen became closer to the people and was able to renew her family’s relationship with Britain, thus gaining more importance. Through Harry’s marriage to an African-born divorcee, the Queen gave her family a new boost for the future and once again earned the respect and love of the British people.
“Indeed, the spirit of Diana was present at the ceremony, from the flowers that decorated the church, which were Diana’s favorite, to her friends and members of her family that were also present. Most important of all, her close-knit personality was evident in her children and in many of the wedding’s ceremonies,” the newspaper wrote.
BBC Arabic lead with headline: “Royal Wedding: Who Will Change Megan Markle or the Royal Family?“
This wedding included several unprecedented experiences, including the bride, who is of “dual race,” and “some may see it as revolutionary for the royal family.”
“There is talk of modernization, or rescue, of the monarchy.
“So we have to wait to see whether Megan Markle will change the royal family, or will the royal family change her?” said BBC Arabic.
Abu Dhabi’s The National pondered whether the marriage — and the nature of the ceremony — indicated a turning point for the British royal family and the UK as a whole, which “sometimes struggled to appear inclusive.”
The wedding service included a passionate sermon by Bishop Michael Curry, leader of the Episcopal Church, and singing from a gospel choir.
The paper’s editorial on May 20 noted that “the welcome extended to (Meghan Markle) and her mother are perhaps indicative of a softer, kinder side to the royal family, forced to re-evaluate its appearance to the public in the wake of Princess Diana’s death. Prince Harry is a symptom of that lesson learnt and it showed in the way he has gently guided his
family into a new era.”
The paper also included a piece about how an Egyptian archbishop — Anba Angaelos — was involved in the ceremony. This was a further reflection of a wedding full of diversity, it said.
Angaeolos become the first Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London last year.
Gulf News published a highlights-of-the-day article, complete with video footage of the newly married couple as well as
celebrity guests — such as US talk-show host Oprah Winfrey — and hordes of Royal family fans draped in Union Jack flags, camped out
in Windsor.
The Dubai-based paper also suggested that Markle could symbolize an era of change in the UK, especially regarding race relations and the creation of a more inclusive society.
“If anything, the new Duchess of Sussex truly is a commoner, and one who adds a modern and exciting dimension to the institutions of state. Perhaps too she offers a portent that Britain now has changed its outlook on racial equality and its staid traditional values,” its editorial on May 20 said.
Arab media hails taboo-breaking British royal marriage
Arab media hails taboo-breaking British royal marriage
US NGO believes missing journalist Austin Tice ‘alive’ in Syria
- Zakka showed an image he said indicated the locations where Tice had been held from November 2017 to February 2024.
DAMASCUS: US group Hostage Aid Worldwide said Tuesday that it believes journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in Syria in 2012, is still alive, though it did not offer concrete information on his whereabouts.
“We have data that Austin is alive till January 2024, but the president of the US said in August that he is alive, and we are sure that he is alive today,” Hostage Aid Worldwide’s Nizar Zakka said.
“We are trying to be as transparent as possible and to share as much information as possible.”
At a press conference in Damascus, Zakka showed an image he said indicated the locations where Tice had been held from November 2017 to February 2024.
Hostage Aid Worldwide says it is working with Tice’s family and the US authorities.
Tice, 43, was working for Agence France-Presse, McClatchy News, The Washington Post, CBS and other media outlets in Syria.
He went missing near Damascus in August 2012.
The authorities under ousted president Bashar Assad never said they had him in custody.
Tice’s mother Debra said earlier this month that she had information that her son was alive, while Syria’s new leadership said it was searching for him.
Hostage Aid Worldwide also said it believed senior cleric Yohanna Ibrahim, a Syrian-American dual citizen, had been held by Assad’s government.
The group did not elaborate on whether it believed Ibrahim was still alive.
“He is a US citizen,” Zakka said, adding that Ibrahim “was seen in 2018 in Branch 291” of the security forces.
The senior Aleppo cleric of the Syriac Orthodox Church was kidnapped in April 2013.
Assad’s government had claimed that Ibrahim was kidnapped by jihadists.
MIT Technology Review Arabia unveils 2024 ‘Innovators Under 35 MENA’ award winners
- Saudi Arabia saw significant recognition this year, with five of its innovators earning awards
- Innovators’ work range from groundbreaking genetic research to eco-friendly technologies and advanced health diagnostics
LONDON: MIT Technology Review Arabia has announced the 20 winners of its 2024 Innovators Under 35 MENA award, honoring young visionaries whose work spans fields such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, energy and medicine.
This year’s honorees hail from across the region and beyond, including Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar, Bangladesh and Russia, and whose ideas have introduced innovations addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Their achievements range from groundbreaking genetic research to eco-friendly technologies and advanced health diagnostics.
Among this year’s winners is Saudi Arabia’s Asrar Damdam, whose UV-based device extends the shelf life of fresh food in only 30 seconds without chemicals, tackling global food waste.
Egypt’s Bassem Al-Shaib was recognized for his work with CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology, offering new possibilities for genetic therapies and climate change mitigation.
Qatar’s Dhabia Al-Mohannadi has developed a process to convert oil wastewater into hydrogen, contributing to decarbonization efforts.
Saudi Arabia saw significant recognition this year, with five of its innovators earning awards.
These include Mohammed Alamer, whose sustainable graphene production methods are gaining attention, and Lamyaa Almemadi, whose research at MIT focuses on monitoring mRNA degradation in vaccines.
Taghreed Sindi was recognized for developing AI tools to improve children’s hospital care, while Maha AlJuhani introduced methods for designing catalysts that recycle nitrogen, supporting sustainability in industry.
The honorees were selected by a panel of 19 judges, including academics and entrepreneurs from leading institutions worldwide.
The award, which was launched in the MENA in 2018, is the regional version of a global awards scheme launched by MIT Technology Review in 1999.
Part of Arabic digital content provider Majarra, Innovators Under 35 awards have previously honored figures such as Google co-founder Larry Page, and Mark Zuckerberg, founder, chairman and CEO of Meta, formerly known as Facebook.
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. to sell Foxtel to Britain’s DAZN for $2.1 billion
- News Corp. will gain a board seat and hold a 6 percent stake in DAZN
- DAZN is a broadcasting partner for Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s LaLiga, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1
SYDNEY: News Corp. has agreed to sell its Australian cable TV unit Foxtel to British-owned sports network DAZN for $2 billion (A$3.4 billion) including debt, cutting the Murdoch-controlled media empire’s exposure to a business up-ended by streaming platforms.
News Corp. will gain a board seat and hold a 6 percent stake in DAZN, a London-headquartered global streaming platform available in North America, Europe, and Asia and backed by Ukranian-born billionaire Len Blavatnik.
DAZN is a broadcasting partner for Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s LaLiga, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1. It competes against traditional TV and satellite channels and provides access to a range of sports content, including American football, boxing and baseball over its streaming platform.
“Australians watch more sport than any other country in the world, which makes this deal an incredibly exciting opportunity for DAZN to enter a key market, marking another step in our long-term strategy to become the global home of sport,” said DAZN co-founder and CEO Shay Segev.
Foxtel, launched by News Corp. in 1995, has weighed on the media giant’s profits for years as the number of people who pay monthly subscriptions for its broadcast content switched to cheaper streaming options like Netflix.
It has tried to diversify by adding its own streaming services like Kayo, which livestreams local sports Australian Football League (AFL) and the National Rugby League (NRL), to win back sports broadcasting market share. It also shows ESPN.
However, its earnings have suffered with the cost of sports broadcasting rights soaring just as subscriber revenue has shrunk. To help offset the costs, Foxtel often shares rights with free-to-air broadcasters.
“Foxtel’s traditional premium pricing model has long been a point of contention, particularly in an era dominated by more affordable streaming alternatives,” said Paul Budde, an independent telco analyst.
“DAZN’s entry into the Australian market, potentially offering competitive or lower rates, could dramatically shift consumer expectations and reshape the pricing landscape.”
The AFL’s current seven-year deal with Foxtel-Channel Seven, which runs until 2031, is worth A$4.5 billion, while Cricket Australia will get A$1.5 billion from the same partners over the same time period.
Tennis rights, including the Australian Open Grand Slam, have been locked up until 2029 by Nine Entertainment, which has its own streaming service, Stan.
Nine is also in exclusive talks with Rugby Australia for broadcast rights beyond next year as the country prepares to host the Rugby World Cup in 2027.
NEWS CORP FOCUSES ON PUBLISHING
The valuation on Foxtel represents seven times its 2024 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), News Corp. said in a statement.
As part of the deal, shareholder loans valued at A$578 million outstanding will be repaid in full and Foxtel’s current debt will be refinanced at closing.
News Corp. chief executive Robert Thomson said the deal would allow the company to focus on its core operations of Dow Jones, digital real estate and book publishing. News owns 61.4 percent of online real estate platform REA Group and is the parent company of publisher HarperCollins.
The deal is due to be finalized in the second half of 2025 and is subject to regulatory approval, News Corp. said. Given the overseas ownership of DAZN, the transaction will need to be cleared by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).
Blavatnik is a dual US and British citizen and the founder of Access Industries which has an investment portfolio worth more than $35 billion, according to its website.
FIRB did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Australian telecom Telstra has also sold its 35 percent stake in Foxtel to DAZN and will receive A$128 million in cash and a 3 percent stake in DAZN.
Journalists arrested in Turkiye over Syria drone deaths demo
- Turkiye has up to 18,000 troops in Syria, according to a Turkish official, and has said it could launch a military operation if the Kurdish forces in northern Syria do not lay down their arms
ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities arrested nine people, including seven journalists, for taking part in banned demonstration in support of two Turkish-Kurdish journalists killed by a Turkish drone in northern Syria, media and rights groups said Sunday.
Nazim Dastan, 32, and Cihan Bilgin, 29, who worked for Kurdish media, were killed Thursday near the Tishrin dam, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Aleppo, when their car exploded, the Dicle Firat Turkish journalists’ association said.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the journalists were killed by a Turkish drone, as did Kurdish media in Turkiye and Syria.
The MLSA Turkish media rights group said 59 people had been detained for taking part in a protest Saturday banned by police. It said 50 people subsequently released.
“Seven journalists detained yesterday as they tried to make a statement in favor of the dead journalists Nazim Dastan and Cihan Bilgin” have been formally arrested for “terrorist propaganda,” MLSA said on the X social media platform.
Since the fall of Bashar Assad on December 8, Turkiye has supported an offensive by armed groups against Kurdish forces that control a zone in northern Syria.
Turkiye has up to 18,000 troops in Syria, according to a Turkish official, and has said it could launch a military operation if the Kurdish forces in northern Syria do not lay down their arms.
Albania bans TikTok for a year after killing of teenager
- Prime Minister Edi Rama government’s decision comes after a 14-year-old schoolboy was stabbed to death in November by a fellow pupil
TIRANA: Albania on Saturday announced a one-year ban on TikTok, the popular short video app, following the killing of a teenager last month that raised fears over the influence of social media on children.
The ban, part of a broader plan to make schools safer, will come into effect early next year, Prime Minister Edi Rama said after meeting with parents’ groups and teachers from across the country.
“For one year, we’ll be completely shutting it down for everyone. There will be no TikTok in Albania,” Rama said.
Several European countries including France, Germany and Belgium have enforced restrictions on social media use for children. In one of the world’s toughest regulations targeting Big Tech, Australia approved in November a complete social media ban for children under 16.
Rama has blamed social media, and TikTok in particular, for fueling violence among youth in and outside school.
His government’s decision comes after a 14-year-old schoolboy was stabbed to death in November by a fellow pupil. Local media had reported that the incident followed arguments between the two boys on social media. Videos had also emerged on TikTok of minors supporting the killing.
“The problem today is not our children, the problem today is us, the problem today is our society, the problem today is TikTok and all the others that are taking our children hostage,” Rama said.
TikTok said it was seeking “urgent clarity” from the Albanian government.
“We found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed videos leading up to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok,” a company spokesperson said.
