NEW DELHI: India’s government has ordered social media platforms to take down content that refers to the “Indian variant” of the coronavirus.
The B.1.617 variant was first detected in India last year and has been blamed for much of a devastating Covid-19 wave that has battered South Asian nations in recent weeks.
It has spread to Britain and at least 43 other countries, where “Indian variant” has become a widely used term.
The government order, sent Friday by the electronics and information technology ministry, highlighted government sensitivity to accusations that it has mishandled the new surge.
In it, the ministry told social media companies to “remove all the content” that refers to the “Indian variant.”
“It has come to our knowledge that a false statement is being circulated online which implies that an ‘Indian variant’ of coronavirus is spreading across the countries. This is completely FALSE,” read the letter, obtained by AFP.
The ministry cited previous calls to curb “false news and misinformation” about the pandemic on social media as a basis for the order.
It argued that the World Health Organization did not link any country to the B.1.617 variant.
The WHO declared the strain a “global concern” last week as it spread around the world.
Several countries have banned or put severe restrictions on passengers from India since the variant emerged.
Many health experts and governments have used country names to describe new coronavirus variants that have emerged in Britain, Brazil and South Africa.
Indian government officials have regularly used the term “UK variant” since the mutant British strain started spreading in India.
The right-wing government has been criticized for its efforts to contain the new pandemic wave. India has faced severe shortages of oxygen, vaccines, hospital beds and life-saving drugs.
The government last month ordered Twitter and Facebook to remove dozens of posts critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the crisis.
India on Saturday reported another 257,000 cases and 4,194 deaths in 24 hours, taking its total to 26.2 million infections and 295,525 deaths.
Almost half of the deaths have been recorded since late March when the new surge started battering the nation of 1.3 billion people.
The capital, New Delhi, meanwhile stopped vaccine shots for people aged under 45 because it has run out of jabs.
India tells social media firms to take down ‘Indian variant’ posts
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India tells social media firms to take down ‘Indian variant’ posts
- The B.1.617 variant was first detected in India last year and has been blamed for much of a devastating Covid-19 wave that has battered South Asian nations in recent weeks
- The ministry told social media companies to “remove all the content” that refers to the “Indian variant”
Google judge mulls softer remedies in US search antitrust case
- Judge floats contingent end to Apple payments
- Says AI products likely to compete with search
WASHINGTON: A federal judge in Washington suggested on Friday he is considering making Alphabet’s Google take less aggressive measures to restore competition in online search than the 10-year regime proposed by antitrust enforcers.
US District Judge Amit Mehta heard closing arguments on Friday at a trial on proposals to address Google’s illegal monopoly in online search and related advertising.
“Ten years may seem like a short period, but in this space, a lot can change in weeks,” he said, citing recent developments such as ChatGPT maker OpenAI buying a device startup.
The DOJ and a coalition of states want Google to share search data and cease multibillion-dollar payments to Apple and other smartphone makers to be the default search engine on new devices.
At the hearing, the judge floated the possibility of limited data sharing and ending the payments only if other measures do not increase competition. He also grappled with the rise of artificial intelligence products that could replace traditional search engines.
An alternate default search engine in Apple’s Safari browser is unlikely to come from existing rival search engines like DuckDuckGo or Bing, the judge said.
“If anything it’s going to be one of these AI companies that can do more than just search. And why? Because maybe people don’t want 10 blue links anymore,” he said, referring to earlier iterations of Google’s search engine.
The case has already rattled Google’s share price by exposing Apple’s plans to offer AI-based search options.
The trial began in April and Judge Mehta has said he aims to rule by August.
AI “rivals”?
Antitrust enforcers are concerned about how Google’s search monopoly gives it an advantage in AI products like Gemini and vice versa.
Nick Turley, OpenAI’s product head for ChatGPT, testified that the ChatGPT creator is years away from its goal of being able to use its own search technology to answer 80 percent of queries and that having access to Google search data would help it focus on improving ChatGPT. Turley also said OpenAI would be interested in buying Chrome if Google is forced to sell it.
But Mehta questioned whether companies like OpenAI or Perplexity should be considered Google competitors who would be given access to any data Google is required to share, given that the case focused on search engine competitors.
“It seems to me you now want to kind of bring this other technology into the definition of general search engine markets that I am not sure quite fits,” the judge said to DOJ attorney Adam Severt.
Severt replied that while the first part of the case focused on the past, the remedies must be forward-looking.
John Schmidtlein, an attorney for Google, said at the hearing that while generative AI is influencing how search looks, Google has addressed any concerns about competition in AI by no longer entering exclusive agreements with wireless carriers and smartphone makers including Samsung Electronics , leaving them free to load rival search and AI apps on new devices.
Schmidtlein argued it would be inappropriate to give successful AI companies like OpenAI technology that Google has spent 20 years perfecting.
“Coming to Google and asking Google for a handout when they are the market leader seems completely disproportionate to what this case is about,” he said.
Israel kills another journalist in Gaza as global criticism intensifies
- Moataz Mohammed Rajab was killed by an airstrike on a civilian vehicle
- Latest casualty comes amid mounting international calls for sanctions on Israel
LONDON: Israeli forces killed Moataz Mohammed Rajab, a Palestinian photojournalist and video editor for Al-Quds Al-Youm TV, in an airstrike on Gaza City late Wednesday, amid mounting international condemnation of Israel’s conduct in the war.
According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Rajab was killed while covering Israeli attacks near Al-Nafaq Street, when an airstrike hit a civilian vehicle. He died instantly along with other civilians.
The Government Media Office in Gaza condemned what it called the “systematic targeting and assassination” of Palestinian journalists, accusing Israel of a deliberate campaign against the press.
“This is not random,” the office said in a statement. “Israel is deliberately assassinating Palestinian journalists.”
It urged the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union and global press freedom organizations to move beyond statements and take tangible action.
Rajab’s death comes amid mounting pressure on Israel to deescalate its assault on Gaza and ease a months-long blockade that has plunged the enclave’s 2.3 million residents into a severe humanitarian crisis.
Calls for restraint have grown increasingly urgent in recent days. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Israeli actions had taken “tragic and unacceptable forms,” and urged an immediate end to the bombings and resumption of humanitarian aid. He added that the forced displacement of Palestinians “is not and never will be an acceptable option.”
In one of the strongest public criticisms yet from a close ally, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this week questioned the justification for continued Israeli airstrikes, calling them “no longer comprehensible” and suggesting they go beyond the stated aim of defeating Hamas. Observers say the remarks reflect a growing shift in German public opinion.
As the war passes the 600-day mark, international calls for a ceasefire are gaining traction.
At least 44 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday. The latest attacks came a day after desperate civilians looted a World Food Programme warehouse in central Gaza, highlighting the deepening humanitarian crisis.
Since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, more than 54,000 people have been killed in Gaza, the vast majority of them civilians, including thousands of children.
The toll on journalists has also been staggering. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 181 media workers have been confirmed killed: 173 Palestinian, six Lebanese and two Israeli.
The organization said that at least 17 journalists and two media workers were deliberately targeted by Israeli forces in what CPJ classifies as murder.
In a report issued Wednesday, CPJ said Israel’s blockade and hunger crisis are severely hampering the ability of the press to cover the war, with Gaza’s media sector now described as “dismantled” and “exhausted.”
TikTok and SRMG join forces to back local talent, drive MENA media innovation
- Partnership will accelerate creator economy and drive commercial growth by integrating TikTok’s platform with SRMG’s media ecosystem, events, and training initiatives, companies said
RIYADH: Leading media group SRMG has announced a strategic partnership with TikTok to empower the next generation of content creators in Saudi Arabia and across the MENA region, while also driving commercial growth through a series of innovative initiatives.
The partnership will leverage TikTok’s expertise in amplifying content reach, unlocking monetization opportunities, and fostering deeper connections with the region’s digitally native audience. It also aims to expand TikTok’s footprint through integration into SRMG’s flagship events and diverse media platforms, particularly in the fields of entertainment, sports, and lifestyle.
A key initiative under the partnership was the launch of #TikTokAcademy, a local program tailored for Saudi Arabia and developed in conjunction with SRMG Academy. This initiative invites aspiring digital storytellers to submit original content across lifestyle, fashion, film and entertainment, news, and sports. Selected creators will gain exclusive training across SRMG’s media brands, gaining firsthand experience alongside editors, journalists, and producers.
As part of the partnership, SRMG’s cultural and entertainment events such as the Billboard Arabia Music Awards and Hia Hub, will provide a prominent platform to spotlight TikTok creators and raise their profile. SRMG will also activate its extensive media network, including, Hia Magazine, Sayidaty, Arriyadiyah, and Billboard Arabia to amplify content and showcase creators through editorial and digital platforms.
This aligns with broader industry momentum, as the media sector added SAR 14.5 billion ($3.86 billion) to the GDP in 2023, with ambitions to more than triple that by 2030 and generate 67,000 jobs by 2024. The entertainment sector is booming as well, bringing in over SAR 1 billion in revenue and engaging more than 75 million people in the past five years. Social media is a major driving force behind this surge, with Saudi Arabia ranked among the top countries for usage, fuelling a new era of content creation, digital storytelling, and influencer-led innovation.
Commenting on the partnership, Bassil Al Mouallimi Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer at SRMG, said: “We believe in the power of community and in the influential role the new generation plays in shaping the future of media in our region.” He noted that “the region’s creative economy is witnessing remarkable and rapid growth, particularly across the media, entertainment, and social platform sectors.” Al Mouallimi added: “Our strategic partnership with TikTok marks a significant step in solidifying our presence at the heart of this creative movement. We are working to connect talented creators with global platforms and foster an environment that empowers them to thrive and make a meaningful impact.” He emphasized that “this goes beyond simply producing trend-driven content — it’s about building sustainable career paths, amplifying authentic voices, and driving growth in the content economy.”
Kinda Ibrahim, TikTok’s General Manager of Content Operations in MEA, South and Central Asia said “At TikTok, we are committed to empowering a new generation of storytellers by giving them the tools, platform, and global stage to express themselves and shape culture. Saudi Arabia is home to an incredibly engaged and creative community. Through this partnership with SRMG, we are doubling down on our efforts to nurture local talent, fuel the region’s creative economy, and help creators thrive, not just in the Kingdom, but across the world.”
This strategic partnership builds on the momentum of earlier joint initiatives, including the launch of the Billboard Arabia TikTok Music Charts, a first-of-its-kind platform spotlighting the most streamed and culturally influential songs in the Arab world. It also follows the rollout of SRMG Academy’s first technology journalism course, powered by TikTok, designed to train the next wave of Saudi storytellers in navigating and reporting on the fast-evolving tech landscape.
Adviser to UAE president warns of regional gridlock without strategic shifts
DUBAI: Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, defended the country’s foreign policy and addressed the Arab world’s uncertain geopolitical landscape during a panel discussion at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai.
“How can you explain everything that is happening in the Arab world now?” asked Taher Baraka, presenter at Al Arabiya.
Gargash responded with a single word: “Uncertainty.”
Elaborating on this theme, he pointed to the fragile resurgence of nations such as Syria and Lebanon as central to the region’s current volatility.
“We have two Arab worlds,” he said. “There is the GCC, and then there are Arab countries that are suffering.”
Gargash emphasized the UAE’s proactive foreign policy, which he described as essential to fostering stability and peace for the Emirati people.
“We know we have to address the problems in our region,” he said. “Yes, there are challenges — but there is also significant potential.”
He also addressed criticism surrounding the UAE’s decision to normalize ties with Israel, a move that has sparked debate across the Arab world.
“Normalization is being used as a scare tactic,” he said. “But it is a sovereign decision, and for us, it was the right choice.”
Despite this stance, Gargash reaffirmed the UAE’s enduring support for the Palestinian cause.
“Our commitment to the Palestinian people and their right to a state remains unchanged. Their suffering brings us real pain,” he said.
Gargash argued that without normalization, the Arab world risks clinging to outdated strategies that perpetuate conflict and division.
Using the metaphor of a “bottleneck,” he described the political paralysis in Syria and Lebanon, where armed militias continue to undermine national sovereignty.
“We cannot have two armies in one country,” he said. “We need realistic priorities.”
Gargash highlighted the UAE’s role in supporting crisis-hit nations, pointing to the large Lebanese and Syrian diasporas in the Emirates.
“The UAE has been the breathing lungs for Lebanon and Syria during the height of their crises. Many of their citizens came here and thrived. If they can innovate here, they can innovate in Lebanon or Syria,” he said.
New currency in the works, says Syrian economy minister
- Syria is striving to become an open economy and attract foreign investment
DUBAI: Syrian Economy Minister Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar has said his country is working on developing a new currency but will not make any hasty decisions.
Speaking at the Arab Media Summit on Wednesday, Al-Shaar said the new Syrian government was “dealing with this calmly and patiently” and pointed to the economy’s flaws under Bashar Assad’s regime.
“The regime had different channels to pay salaries, one was through royalties that were imposed on traders and the other was through captagon production. When the regime fell, these stopped so there is a shortage in liquidity currently,” he explained.
Liquidity was the main challenge faced by Syria’s economy, he added, as the previous regime had retrieved most of the country’s liquid assets from overseas before it fell.
“We are working on retrieving our funds from abroad in cash; unfortunately the regime was able to retrieve most of it but something is better than nothing,” he said.
Earlier this year, the UAE invested $800 million to develop the Syrian port of Tartous after the US lifted sanctions.
Al-Shaar said Syria was striving to become an open economy and attract foreign investment but was being selective to avoid creating economic chaos.
“Brotherly countries of the Middle East are all looking forward to protecting Syria from chaos, the Syrian people are tired of (it) and cannot bear any more,” he added.
