ISTANBUL: A well-known Turkish journalist was released from prison Friday despite being convicted of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, her lawyer said.
Sedef Kabas was sentenced to two years and four months at the first hearing in Istanbul but was released after spending nearly seven weeks in prison. She is expected to appeal her conviction.
The case highlighted the use of a law under which tens of thousands of people have been prosecuted since Erdogan became president in 2014 following more than a decade as prime minister. The offense carries a maximum four-year prison term.
The journalist, who has hosted a series of high-profile TV shows over a career spanning three decades, was arrested after she cited a proverb on television and social media referring to an ox.
Turkey has come under international pressure to change the insult law. In October, the European Court of Human Rights said a man’s freedom of expression was violated when he was detained in 2017 under the insult law.
Turkish journalist convicted but freed over Erdogan insult
https://arab.news/y6q6u
Turkish journalist convicted but freed over Erdogan insult
- Sedef Kabas was sentenced to two years and four months at the first hearing in Istanbul but was released after spending nearly seven weeks in prison
Lebanon’s civil war anniversary poll: Half of respondents fear conflict could return
- 63.3% favor abolishing sectarian political system for secular state model
- 42.5% report direct personal or family harm from recent conflict
BEIRUT: As Lebanon marks 50 years since the outbreak of its civil war on April 13, a new poll has revealed half of the Lebanese people questioned are worried the conflict could return amid a fragile ceasefire.
The survey, conducted jointly by Annahar newspaper and International Information, sampled 1,200 Lebanese citizens across all regions between March 25 and April 2.
It showed that 51.7 percent expressed varying degrees of concern about the war’s return, while 63.3 percent believed establishing a secular civil state by abolishing the sectarian political system represented the best path forward for the country.
A total of 42.5 percent of respondents reported direct harm to themselves or family members, including deaths or injuries (23.7 percent), property damage (19.9 percent), and forced displacement (19.5 percent).
In assessing Lebanese attitudes toward Iran’s role in Lebanon, 78.6 percent of respondents evaluated this role as negative, and 75.3 percent identified Israel as Lebanon’s primary adversary.
The survey came as Israel resumed attacks on Lebanon, claiming it is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.
In a statement, Annahar’s management described the poll as an essential tool to understand present realities by examining present and past questions, noting the significant timing on the half-century mark of a conflict whose full lessons remain unlearned.
Public opinion remains deeply divided on how to characterize the war that erupted on April 13, 1975, with 40.7 percent describing it as a Lebanese civil war while 38.5 percent view it as a war for others “fought on our soil.”
A smaller segment (8.8 percent) consider it primarily a war related to Palestinian settlement issues.
Information about the war continued to be transmitted largely through personal channels, with 81.9 percent citing family and friends as their primary source of knowledge, followed by media (44.8 percent), personal experience (28.3 percent), and academic sources (13.4 percent), according to the poll.
Saudi brands and agencies win seven Grand Prix trophies at Dubai Lynx Awards 2025
Dubai Lynx, a prominent creative festival and awards program organized by Cannes Lions, announced its annual winners at an awards ceremony on Wednesday in Dubai.
WPP-owned VML was crowned Network of the Year followed by BBDO Worldwide and McCann Worldgroup.
Omnicom-owned Hearts & Science was awarded Media Network of the Year followed by other Omnicom agencies OMD and PHD in second and third.
Other special awards included MENA Agency of the Year, which went to creative firm Impact BBDO Dubai followed by FP7 McCann Dubai and BigTime Creative Shop Riyadh.
The latter was also named Independent Agency of the Year. Serviceplan Middle East in Dubai and Abdullah & Shokri in Cairo ranked second and third respectively.
Saudi Arabian brands and agencies bagged a total of seven Grand Prix trophies in several categories. Some of the winning campaigns included “Birthmark Stories” for HungerStation by VML; “5 vs 5” for Riyadh Season by BigTime Creative Shop; and “The Second Release” for Billboard magazine by SRMG Labs.
“This year, we’ve seen a compelling shift towards content that not only engages and entertains but also effectively drives business results,” Marian Brannelly, Lions’ global director of awards, told Arab News.
New sub-categories such as Use of Humor received 3 percent of all entries while the creator-focused categories within the Social & Influencer category received 14 percent of all entries.
Brannelly said that “humor played a big role” this year, “tackling even sensitive topics and giving campaigns a fresh and relatable feel.”
She added: “It’s also commendable to see work that not only evokes emotions but also clearly communicates the brand’s message and product value through compelling storytelling.
“Balancing purpose with commercial impact is crucial, and this year’s winners have showcased how to do it.”
GCC nations are global leaders in post-COVID digitalization efforts, says IMF expert
- Deputy head of organization’s Middle East and Central Asia department says ‘we see rapid progress in this region in general, which is not the case for other parts of the world’
- Deputy head of organization’s Middle East and Central Asia department says ‘we see rapid progress in this region in general, which is not the case for other parts of the world’
RIYADH: There is a positive correlation between digitalization and enhanced macroeconomic favorability in Gulf Cooperation Council economies, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund’s Middle East and Central Asia department.
During a roundtable discussion in Riyadh on Thursday, Zeine Zeidan, the department’s deputy director, spoke about the rapid digital development that has taken place within the GCC region in recent years and the significant support this provides for both the public and private sectors.
“The region is going through a very interesting economic transformation,” he said.
The IMF has explored the ways in which digitalization is now a key pillar in the national visions of GCC countries, he continued, and has become a crucial factor in efforts to grow gross domestic product, streamline government operations, improve living standards and accelerate nationwide connectivity.
Zeidan highlighted in particular the accelerated process of digitalization in the region since the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said is reflected by developments in areas such as telehealth, digital banking, e-commerce and virtual courts.
“Between 2020 and now, we see rapid progress in this region in general, which is not the case for other parts of the world,” he said. “And on average, this is a region that is even well ahead of the aggregate by a considerable amount.”
That said, the IMF made recommendations for the further enhancement of digitalization efforts in the region’s public and private sectors. In the former, for instance, there needs to be a greater push for digital engagement with citizens and the digitalization of core government systems. Moreover, data-privacy laws and cybersecurity guidelines must be reviewed and updated to reduce risks and encourage trust. Regulations that can complement an evolving digital industry must also be put in place uniformly across the region.
In the financial sector, the benefits of digital payments and e-commerce should be promoted, in addition to industry-led developments in financial technology that can drive competition. To scale up markets, cross-border cooperation and payments are also recommended.
As for the corporate sector and labor market, the IMF recommended that small and medium-size financial enterprises should learn to adopt new technologies and constantly update their skills. It also advised targeted investments in digital infrastructure, industry and innovation.
In addition, a major emphasis in the corporate and labor market should be placed on education and training to enhance digital skills, especially considering the potential shifts expected in the job market as a result of advances in artificial intelligence.
“The history of technology over the past few decades has shown that there has always been that job creation,” Zeidan said. “So, you lose jobs somewhere, you create a lot of jobs somewhere else.”
Asked by Arab News whether there were concerns about loss of educational and career diversity, or that creativity and critical-thinking skills might be pushed to the back burner by the focus on digital education, he said that AI does not replace human thinking.
The idea, he explained, is to use AI “to foster creativity,” not “replace your thinking.” The biggest challenge, he predicted, will be to build digital skills within the education system while preserving that human creativity and thinking.
Saudi Arabia’s GovTech Maturity Index rating grew from a little over 0.7 to just below 1.0 between 2020 and 2022, ranking it the highest among GCC countries, followed by the UAE and Qatar. The index, which measures the maturity of nations in terms of digital government transformation, has a regional average of 0.85.
Although the GCC region ranks among the best globally in terms of digital connectivity, some individual countries might benefit from improvements to advanced information and communications technology skills, Zeidan said. Many individuals have basic skills but advanced knowledge is still lacking, he added. However the advanced infrastructure in the region gives GCC countries the scope to improve digital skills and industry integration.
Despite the positives, the region does have some catching up to do in certain aspects.
“The contribution of the digital economy to the GDP in general … is still much slower in Saudi Arabia, which is the most advanced in the region, compared to the United States,” Zeidan said.
Digital access efforts, on the other hand, are performing well, with the GCC region closing the gap on advanced economies globally, as evidenced by the IMF’s newly developed Enhanced Digital Access Index, which measures various aspects of a country’s digital infrastructure and inclusivity.
Saudi Arabia jumped 2.9 percent in terms of contributions from the digital economy between 2017 to 2020. During this time, SR73 billion ($19.5 billion) of GDP was provided by the digital economy through leveraging of digital infrastructure, according to the index.
Zeidan also recommended additional efforts in the fields of digital innovation and regulation to further enhance the preparedness of GCC countries for advances in AI.
Sharjah Media City launches Podcast Room to support content creators
- The project aims to provide a professional environment equipped with cutting-edge technology to help emerging talents produce high-quality content
SHARJAH, UAE: Sharjah Media City, also known as Shams, has announced the launch of the Podcast Room as part of its efforts to support content creators, innovators, and the digital media industry in the region, it was announced on Wednesday.
The project aims to provide a professional environment equipped with cutting-edge technology to help emerging talents and professionals produce high-quality content, according to a statement.
The Podcast Room offers an integrated platform for recording and editing audio and video content, including podcasts, interviews, and media discussions, giving creators new opportunities to expand their reach and connect with a wider audience. The project aligns with Shams’ vision of supporting the creative economy and empowering local and Arab talents.
Rashid Abdullah Al-Obad, director of Shams, said: “The launch of the Podcast Room at Shams reflects our vision to strengthen the content creation ecosystem in the region by providing an integrated platform that enables creators to develop their work with the highest standards of quality and professional excellence. We remain committed to supporting media talents by offering cutting-edge technologies and advanced infrastructure.”
The Podcast Room comprises a designed space equipped with state-of-the-art audio recording technology, professional soundproofing, an advanced microphone system, and advanced shooting equipment to ensure superior content production.
It also offers live broadcasting services, multi-episode recording, and high-quality audio and video editing tools, providing content creators with the flexibility to develop their media projects seamlessly.
The Podcast Room offers a variety of design options, with each setup thoughtfully crafted to meet the needs of diverse programs and highlight the unique creative identity of every piece of content.
The room can be booked through the website: https://www.shams.ae/the-podcast-room.
AP wins reinstatement to White House events after judge rules government can’t bar its journalists
- Trump has moved aggressively against the media on several fronts since taking office again
- The outlet said it would continue to use Gulf of Mexico, as the body of water has been known for hundreds of years, while also noting Trump’s decision to rename it the Gulf of America
WASHINGTON: A federal judge ordered the White House on Tuesday to restore The Associated Press’ full access to cover presidential events, ruling on a case that touched at the heart of the First Amendment and affirming that the government cannot punish the news organization for the content of its speech.
US. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, an appointee of President Donald Trump, ruled that the government can’t retaliate against the AP’s decision not to follow Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico. The decision handed the AP a major victory at a time the White House has been challenging the press on several levels.
“Under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists — be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewher — it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints,” McFadden wrote. “The Constitution requires no less.”
It was unclear whether the White House would move immediately to put McFadden’s ruling into effect. McFadden held off on implementing his order for a week, giving the government time to respond or appeal.
The AP has been blocked since Feb. 11 from being among the small group of journalists to cover Trump in the Oval Office or aboard Air Force One, with sporadic ability to cover him at events in East Room.
The organization had asked McFadden to rule that Trump had violated AP’s constitutional right to free speech by taking the action because he disagreed with the words that its journalists use. He had earlier declined AP’s request to reverse the changes through an injunction.
Trump came out and said why he made the move
While there was little dispute in a March 27 court hearing about why Trump struck back at the AP – the president said as much – the administration said it was up to its own discretion, and not White House correspondents or longstanding tradition, to determine who gets to question the president and when.
Since the dispute with AP began, the White House has taken steps to control who gets to cover the president at smaller events and even where journalists sit during press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s briefings, saying both need to better reflect changes in how people get information.
The AP’s decisions on what terminology to use are followed by journalists and other writers around the world through its influential stylebook. The outlet said it would continue to use Gulf of Mexico, as the body of water has been known for hundreds of years, while also noting Trump’s decision to rename it the Gulf of America. Different outlets have used different approaches, some skirting it by calling it the “Gulf.”
“For anyone who thinks The Associated Press’ lawsuit against President Trump’s White House is about the name of a body of water, think bigger,” Julie Pace, the AP’s executive editor, wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. “It’s really about whether the government can control what you say.”
Trump has dismissed the AP, which was established in 1846, as a group of “radical left lunatics” and said that “we’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree it’s the Gulf of America.”
Testimony revealed AP’s coverage has been impeded
For a news organization that relies on speed as a major selling point, the AP brought its chief White House correspondent and photographer to testify before McFadden about how its absence from covering certain events has delayed its transmission of words and images. Its lawyer, Charles Tobin, said AP has already lost a $150,000 advertising contract from a client concerned about the ban.
The government’s lawyer, Brian Hudak, showed how AP has been able to use livestreams or photos from other agencies to get news out, and pointed out that AP regularly attends Leavitt’s daily briefings.
As a service whose product is delivered to thousands of newspapers, websites and broadcasters across the nation and world, the AP has been part of small text and photo “pools” that have covered presidents of both parties for decades. The administration has sought to give more prominence to new – and in many cases, Trump-friendly – outlets.
In its action filed on Feb. 21, the AP sued Leavitt, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich.
Trump has moved aggressively against the media on several fronts since taking office again. The Federal Communications Commission has open lawsuits against ABC, CBS and NBC News. The administration has sought to cut off funding for government-run news services like Voice of America and is threatening public funding for public broadcasters PBS and NPR for allegedly being too liberal in news coverage.
