WASHINGTON: Top US diplomat Antony Blinken on Thursday welcomed an Israeli investigation into a strike that killed a journalist and wounded six others on Oct. 13 in southern Lebanon.
“It is important and appropriate that it be fully and thoroughly investigated. My understanding is that Israel has initiated such an investigation and it will be important to see that investigation come to a conclusion and to see the results,” he said when asked about the case at a news conference alongside his British counterpart David Cameron.
An investigation by Agence France-Presse published Thursday into the strike, which killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and wounded six others, including two from AFP, points to a tank shell only used by the Israeli army in the high-tension border region.
AFP photographer Christina Assi, 28, had a leg amputated and is still in hospital.
Jointly conducted with Airwars, an NGO that investigates attacks on civilians in conflict situations, the investigation found that the attack involved a 120-mm tank shell only used by the Israeli army in this region.
It found that the strikes likely came from the southeast near the Israeli village of Jordeikh where Israeli tanks were operating.
“I have extraordinary admiration for the men and women in your profession who, every day around the world, in the most dangerous places in the world, are trying to bring the facts, the stories to other people,” Blinken said.
Cameron also underscored the important role of journalists, particularly those working in conflict zones.
“It’s absolutely essential that you have independent, impartial, professional journalists covering these conflicts,” he said.
“And it’s an incredibly difficult job, incredibly brave job and my condolences from me and everyone in the UK for that loss of life.”
Amnesty International said on Thursday that Israeli strikes that killed Abdallah were likely to have been a direct attack on civilians and must be investigated as a war crime.
Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a separate report, said the two Israeli strikes were “an apparently deliberate attack on civilians and thus a war crime”, saying those responsible must be held to account.
A Reuters investigation published on Thursday found an Israeli tank crew killed Abdallah and wounded the six other journalists by firing two shells in quick succession from Israel while the group were filming cross-border shelling from a distance.
An Israeli government spokesperson denied Israeli forces targeted non-combatants.
“We do not target civilians,” spokesperson Eylon Levy said in a televised briefing, when asked about reports from Reuters, AFP, Amnesty International and HRW. “We’ve been doing everything possible to get civilians out of harm’s way.”
The Israel prime minister’s office did not respond to questions from Reuters on Thursday seeking comment on the reports by HRW and Amnesty International.
The group of seven reporters from AFP, Al Jazeera and Reuters were all wearing blue flak jackets and helmets, most with “PRESS” written on them in white letters.
They were on a hilltop in an open area with no tree cover nor other buildings to obscure the reporters from nearby Israeli military outposts. Drones had been buzzing overhead and an Israeli helicopter patrolling.
Directly targeting civilians is forbidden under the laws of armed conflict, such as the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which all U.N. member states have ratified.
Amnesty said its investigation uncovered “chilling evidence pointing to an attack on a group of international journalists who were carrying out their work by reporting on hostilities”.
HRW said that evidence indicated the Israeli army “knew or should have known that the group of people they were firing on were civilians”.
Commenting on the findings of the Reuters investigation, a spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said: “The protection of journalists must be guaranteed at all times. Incidents in which journalists are injured or killed must be fully investigated. This also applies in this case.”
Neither Israel nor Lebanon is a signatory to the International Criminal Court, whose 124 member states accept its jurisdiction in the prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Reuters presented the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with its findings that the tank rounds were fired from within Israel and posed additional detailed questions, including whether Israeli troops knew they were firing upon journalists.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, the IDF’s international spokesman, said in response: “We don’t target journalists.” He did not provide further comment.
Lebanon said it would refer the Reuters and AFP reports to the U.N. Security Council to be added to a complaint it has submitted saying Israel has killed civilians during ongoing hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
The Israeli prime minister’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Lebanon’s statement.
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, in the government statement issued in response to the reports’ publication, said: “Israeli criminality has no limits”.
Blinken welcomes Israel probe on reporters killed, wounded in Lebanon
https://arab.news/4asdz
Blinken welcomes Israel probe on reporters killed, wounded in Lebanon
- Jointly conducted with Airwars, an NGO that investigates attacks on civilians in conflict situations, the investigation found that the attack involved a 120-mm tank shell only used by the Israeli army in this region
Italy’s far-right League faces complaint over ‘racist, Islamophobic’ AI-generated images
- Opposition parties have filed a complaint with the communications watchdog, accusing the party of using AI-generated images as part of a strategy to ‘incite hate’
- ‘If denouncing crimes committed by foreigners means ‘xenophobia’, perhaps the problem is not the word but those who use it to censor debate’ — League spokesperson
LONDON: Italy’s far-right League party has been referred to the country’s communications watchdog after opposition parties filed a complaint over “racist, Islamophobic and xenophobic” images generated by artificial intelligence and shared on social media by deputy prime minister and party leader Matteo Salvini.
The complaint was submitted to Agcom, Italy’s communications regulatory authority, on Thursday by the center-left Democratic Party, along with the Greens and Left Alliance. It alleges the images published by the League contained “almost all categories of hate speech,” according to The Guardian, which first reported the story.
“In the images published by Salvini’s party and generated by AI there are almost all categories of hate speech, from racism and xenophobia to Islamophobia. They are using AI to target specific categories of people — immigrants, Arabs — who are portrayed as potential criminals, thieves and rapists,” said Antonio Nicita, a PD senator.
Nicita also criticized the decision to blur the faces of the supposed victims, calling it “deceptive” and accusing the League of intentionally misleading users into believing the images were real.
Emilio Borrelli, an MP with the Greens and Left Alliance, said the images were “part of their strategy to create fear among citizens” and “incite hate.”
Over the past month, dozens of apparently AI-generated images have been posted across the League’s social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and X. Many depict men of colour, often armed with knives, attacking women or police officers.
A spokesperson for Salvini’s party confirmed some of the pictures were digitally generated but insisted: “The point is not the image. The point is the fact,” adding the posts were “based on true reports from Italian newspapers.”
However, AI forensic experts have stated all the images in question bore clear signs of being artificially generated. They also noted that while platforms are required to label AI-generated content, in most cases automatic detection tools failed to do so.
In one of the posts cited in the complaint, a mother and father in Islamic dress appear to be shouting angrily at a young girl — a portrayal the complainants say fuels racial and Islamophobic stereotypes. The newspaper cited in the post, Il Giorno, makes no reference to the family’s religion and does not include any photographs. The only detail given was that the child had attended Arabic language classes.
As The Guardian reported, the use of AI-generated imagery by far-right parties across Europe has surged in recent months. The targets are often refugees from conflict zones such as Syria, Sudan and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as people from other minority backgrounds. These depictions frequently invoke the debunked “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, which falsely claims that immigration is part of a plot to erode European identity and culture.
Salvini, who has capitalized on rising refugee arrivals in Europe to maintain a prominent role in Italian politics and advocate for stricter immigration policies, has frequently made headlines for inflammatory remarks, including calling immigrants — often men — “dogs and pigs.” In late 2024, he was acquitted of charges of kidnapping and dereliction of duty after judges ruled that the evidence presented by prosecutors was insufficient to convict him. The case stemmed from a 2019 incident in which Salvini, then interior minister, refused to allow a Spanish migrant rescue ship to dock in an Italian port, leaving those on board stranded at sea for 19 days.
Asked whether the League was aware the images could incite hate, a party spokesperson said: “We are sorry, but our solidarity goes to the victims, not the perpetrators. If denouncing crimes committed by foreigners means ‘xenophobia’, perhaps the problem is not the word but those who use it to censor debate. We will continue to denounce, with strong words and images, what others prefer to ignore.’’
If Agcom finds the League’s content in violation of regulations, it could act under the EU’s Digital Services Act, which allows it to order the removal of posts, shut down accounts or impose fines on social media platforms for failing to moderate harmful content.
SRMG Media Solutions, Penske Media partner to expand global footprint for MENA brands
- Advertisers in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East and North Africa can now leverage programmatic campaigns through diverse formats such as video, standard banners, and audience layering, companies said
- Campaigns tap into an audience of over 412 million monthly users and 150 million social media followers across 40+ global brands
RYIADH: SRMG Media Solutions (SMS) has announced a strategic partnership with Penske Media Corporation (PMC) to expand MENA advertisers' global presence through PMC's prestigious portfolio of internationally recognized brands.
Advertisers in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East and North Africa can now leverage programmatic campaigns through diverse formats such as video, standard banners, and audience layering. Key sectors include tourism, government departments, investment sectors, and mega projects. Additionally, advertisers can collaborate with PMC's notable publishers for innovative content creation and bespoke campaigns, subject to editorial approval.
This partnership enhances access to crucial global markets, including Asia and Western economies such as Europe and the USA. Advertisers can now integrate their campaigns on high-profile 40+ iconic brands including Variety, Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, WWD, Robb Report, ARTnews and Deadline, and more, enabling connections with over 412 million monthly active users and 150 million social media followers. By tapping into 6 billion video views, this partnership offers unmatched potential for impactful global advertising initiatives.
SMS, a next-generation data-driven media solutions company, delivers advanced analytics-based advertising strategies. Utilizing first-party data, leading-edge AdTech, and AI-driven audience segmentation, SMS crafts personalized campaigns that drive growth and profitability. As the exclusive media partner for SRMG’s esteemed portfolio, SMS oversees brands such as Asharq Al-Awsat, Asharq News, and Akhbaar24, delivering engaging content across diverse platforms with a global footprint of over 170 million users.
Penske Media Corporation (PMC), a leader in media, digital, and publishing sectors, is renowned for its influential brands like Variety and Rolling Stone. Recognized for its premium content in entertainment, fashion, luxury, and pop culture, PMC extends its influence via digital media, print, and top-tier events such as SxSW and the Golden Globe Awards.
Ziad Moussa, Managing Director of SMS, stated, “We are thrilled to partner with PMC, which enhances our capacity to offer cutting-edge advertising solutions for our clients. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our goal of providing unprecedented access to the world’s top platforms.”
A representative from Penske Media Corporation added, “Working with SMS amplifies our capacity to deliver powerful advertising opportunities globally with high-quality content and innovative solutions.”
With its unmatched reach and a commitment to redefining excellence, SMS is poised to transform the media and advertising landscape in the MENA region and beyond. To become part of our journey and learn how SMS can revolutionize your advertising strategy, visit SRMG Media Solutions or contact partner@srmgms.com.
Amputee Palestinian boy image wins World Press Photo award
- The photographer is from Gaza and was herself evacuated in December 2023
- The jury praised the photo’s “strong composition and attention to light” and its thought-provoking subject-matter
Amsterdam: A haunting portrait of a nine-year-old Palestinian boy who lost both arms during an Israeli attack on Gaza City won the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year Award Thursday.
The picture, by Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times, depicts Mahmoud Ajjour, evacuated to Doha after an explosion severed one arm and mutilated the other last year.
“One of the most difficult things Mahmoud’s mother explained to me was how when Mahmoud first came to the realization that his arms were amputated, the first sentence he said to her was, ‘How will I be able to hug you’?” said Elouf.
The photographer is also from Gaza and was herself evacuated in December 2023. She now portrays badly wounded Palestinians based in Doha.
“This is a quiet photo that speaks loudly. It tells the story of one boy, but also of a wider war that will have an impact for generations,” said Joumana El Zein Khoury, World Press Photo Executive Director.
The jury praised the photo’s “strong composition and attention to light” and its thought-provoking subject-matter, especially questions raised over Mahmoud’s future.
The boy is now learning to play games on his phone, write, and open doors with his feet, the jury said.
“Mahmoud’s dream is simple: he wants to get prosthetics and live his life as any other child,” said the World Press Photo organizers in a statement.
The jury also selected two photos for the runner-up prize.
The first, entitled “Droughts in the Amazon” by Musuk Nolte for Panos Pictures and the Bertha Foundation, shows a man on a dried-up river bed in the Amazon carrying supplies to a village once accessible by boat.
The second, “Night Crossing” by John Moore shooting for Getty Images, depicts Chinese migrants huddling near a fire during a cold rainshower after crossing the US-Mexico border.
The jury sifted through 59,320 photographs from 3,778 photo journalists to select 42 prize-winning shots from around the world.
Photographers for Agence France-Presse were selected four times for a regional prize, more than any other organization.
Nairobi-based Luis Tato won in the “Stories” category for the Africa region for a selection of photos depicting Kenya’s youth uprising.
Jerome Brouillet won in the “Singles” category Asia-Pacific and Oceania for his iconic picture of surfer Gabriel Medina seemingly floating above the waves.
Clarens Siffroy won in the “Stories” category North and Central America for his coverage of the gang crisis in Haiti.
Finally, Anselmo Cunha won in the “Singles” category for South America for his photo of a Boeing 727-200 stranded at Salgado Filho International Airport in Brazil.
OpenAI is working on X-like social media network, the Verge reports
- The project remains in its early stages, with its release as a standalone application or integration into ChatGPT yet to be determined, report says
- Potential move could escalate tensions between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and X’s owner Elon Musk
LONDON: OpenAI is working on its own X-like social media network, the Verge reported on Tuesday, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
There is an internal prototype focused on ChatGPT’s image generation that has a social feed, the report said.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been privately asking outsiders for feedback about the project, which is still in early stages, according to the Verge. It is unclear whether the company plans to release the social network as a separate application or integrate it into ChatGPT, the report said.
The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The potential move could escalate tensions between Altman and billionaire Elon Musk — the owner of X and an OpenAI co-founder who left the startup in 2018 before it emerged as a front-runner in the generative artificial intelligence race.
The feud has intensified in recent months. In February, a consortium of investors led by Musk made an unsolicited $97.4 billion bid for the control of OpenAI, only to be rejected by Altman with a swift “no thank you.”
Musk had sued the ChatGPT maker and Altman last year, alleging they had abandoned OpenAI’s original goal of developing AI for the benefit of humanity — not corporate gain.
OpenAI counter-sued Musk earlier this month, accusing him of a pattern of harassment and attempting to derail its shift to a for-profit model. The two parties are set to begin a jury trial in spring next year.
An OpenAI social network could also put the company in direct competition with Facebook-owner Meta, which is reportedly working on a standalone Meta AI service. In February, Altman responded on X over media reports on Meta’s plans, saying “ok fine maybe we’ll do a social app.”
Both Meta and X have access to a massive amount of data — public content posted by users on their social media platforms — that they train their AI models on.
New report shows why brands need to invest in women’s football in Saudi Arabia
- Among fans of women’s sport in the Kingdom, 61% follow football
- 56% of female fans would think more positively about brands that sponsor the women’s game
RIYADH: New research from football media company Footballco has revealed a growing interest in opportunities for women’s football in Saudi Arabia.
The report, released recently, also provides a profile of fandom in the region and how supporters want to consume both editorial and branded content.
Footballco’s study shows that among fans of women’s sport in Saudi Arabia, 61 percent follow football, compared to 47 percent globally.
This strong interest is relatively new, with 27 percent having followed women’s football for three to five years, 40 percent for up to two years, and one third stating that they have watched more games in the past 12 months.
The growth also highlights how, despite female fans being allowed into stadiums since 2018, some still felt excluded by the sport.
Seventy-two percent said that women’s football attracts fans who previously felt excluded from the sport, while 68 percent agree that inclusion can help tackle issues in broader society.
While females have played football in Saudi Arabia for decades, the Saudi Women’s Premier League only launched in 2022, making the surge in interest even more remarkable.
This is mirrored by the relatively high proportion of fans considering themselves Super Fans (21 percent). Only the US has a bigger proportion of Super Fans, and it is larger than in both Brazil and leading European markets.
Andy Jackson, Footballco’s senior vice president for the Middle East, said that globally an “increasing interest in women’s football follows an increasing interest in female empowerment.”
This was being replicated in Saudi Arabia with also a surge in interest in football more broadly, “creating a perfect storm that’s driving growth in both men’s and women’s football.”
The research shows that fans in the Kingdom see female players as great role models, more so than in other markets.
Saudi Arabia fans believe female footballers are the second-most inspirational group of women, beaten only by entrepreneurs. Globally, female footballers appear fourth behind entrepreneurs, actors and singers.
This should encourage brands to align themselves not only with women’s football as a sport but also with the women on the pitch. This point is emphasized by 56 percent of female fans saying they would think more positively about a brand that sponsors the women’s game.
For brands already involved in women’s football or those curious about opportunities, these numbers highlight that while socially conscious activations can be popular, they also need to align with broader lifestyle and cultural themes.
Sixty-one percent of women’s football fans say that they like it when content is a mixture of lifestyle and culture, rather than focusing on only the game.
By far, the most popular medium for this content is video, with 89 percent of fans naming it as their preferred format, which includes long- and short-form, live streams and documentaries.
Yasmin El-Bizri, Middle East and North Africa strategy director for Footballco, said: “Too often women’s football content and creative can be too focused on the struggle.
“While that’s important, it’s not everything and the output still needs to entertain and engage — this especially true in Saudi, where 54 percent of fans see women’s football as fun and entertaining.”
The research goes on to show that brands cannot rely on copying what they do for the men’s game. Sixty-six percent of fans say that the women’s game should be celebrated as different and that should be reflected by the media and the brands.
The research suggests brands should look at ways to increase participation for women and girls in all areas of football. Of those surveyed, 49 percent thought growth would be best achieved through more opportunities to play, while 30 percent wanted to see women in more off-pitch roles, in both men’s and women’s football.
“What’s clear is that Saudi women’s football isn’t an opportunity for brands in the future, it’s now,” Jackson added.
“As we’ve seen in more established markets, the brands that see the greatest benefits are those that are involved early on and get recognized for their contribution to supporting the game.”
Footballco’s research is based on data collected from more than 8,000 women’s sports fans across the world, including more than 1,000 from Saudi Arabia.
Footballco is home to a global football media brand, GOAL, and the biggest Arabic-language sports website, Kooora.
Footballco also operates two dedicated Arabic women’s football brands, INDIVISA, which covers the game and culture from the grassroots, and the Gen-Z YouTube show Yalla Girl.
