LONDON: European Union negotiators clinched a deal Friday on the world’s first comprehensive artificial intelligence rules, paving the way for legal oversight of technology used in popular generative AI services like ChatGPT that has promised to transform everyday life and spurred warnings of existential dangers to humanity.
Negotiators from the European Parliament and the bloc’s 27 member countries overcame big differences on controversial points including generative AI and police use of facial recognition surveillance to sign a tentative political agreement for the Artificial Intelligence Act.
“Deal!” tweeted European Commissioner Thierry Breton, just before midnight. “The EU becomes the very first continent to set clear rules for the use of AI.”
The result came after marathon closed-door talks this week, with the initial session lasting 22 hours before a second round kicked off Friday morning.
Officials were under the gun to secure a political victory for the flagship legislation but were expected to leave the door open to further talks to work out the fine print, likely to bring more backroom lobbying.
The EU took an early lead in the global race to draw up AI guardrails when it unveiled the first draft of its rulebook in 2021. The recent boom in generative AI, however, sent European officials scrambling to update a proposal poised to serve as a blueprint for the world.
The European Parliament will still need to vote on it early next year, but with the deal done that’s a formality, Brando Benifei, an Italian lawmaker co-leading the body’s negotiating efforts, told The Associated Press late Friday.
“It’s very very good,” he said by text message after being asked if it included everything he wanted. “Obviously we had to accept some compromises but overall very good.” The eventual law wouldn’t fully take effect until 2025 at the earliest, and threatens stiff financial penalties for violations of up to 35 million euros ($38 million) or 7 percent of a company’s global turnover.
Generative AI systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT have exploded into the world’s consciousness, dazzling users with the ability to produce human-like text, photos and songs but raising fears about the risks the rapidly developing technology poses to jobs, privacy and copyright protection and even human life itself.
Now, the US, UK, China and global coalitions like the Group of 7 major democracies have jumped in with their own proposals to regulate AI, though they’re still catching up to Europe.
Strong and comprehensive regulation from the EU “can set a powerful example for many governments considering regulation,” said Anu Bradford, a Columbia Law School professor who’s an expert on EU and digital regulation. Other countries “may not copy every provision but will likely emulate many aspects of it.”
AI companies who will have to obey the EU’s rules will also likely extend some of those obligations to markets outside the continent, she said. “After all, it is not efficient to re-train separate models for different markets,” she said.
Others are worried that the agreement was rushed through.
“Today’s political deal marks the beginning of important and necessary technical work on crucial details of the AI Act, which are still missing,” said Daniel Friedlaender, head of the European office of the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a tech industry lobby group.
The AI Act was originally designed to mitigate the dangers from specific AI functions based on their level of risk, from low to unacceptable. But lawmakers pushed to expand it to foundation models, the advanced systems that underpin general purpose AI services like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard chatbot.
Foundation models looked set to be one of the biggest sticking points for Europe. However, negotiators managed to reach a tentative compromise early in the talks, despite opposition led by France, which called instead for self-regulation to help homegrown European generative AI companies competing with big USrivals including OpenAI’s backer Microsoft.
Also known as large language models, these systems are trained on vast troves of written works and images scraped off the Internet. They give generative AI systems the ability to create something new, unlike traditional AI, which processes data and completes tasks using predetermined rules.
Under the deal, the most advanced foundation models that pose the biggest “systemic risks” will get extra scrutiny, including requirements to disclose more information such as how much computing power was used to train the systems.
Researchers have warned that these powerful foundation models, built by a handful of big tech companies, could be used to supercharge online disinformation and manipulation, cyberattacks or creation of bioweapons.
Rights groups also caution that the lack of transparency about data used to train the models poses risks to daily life because they act as basic structures for software developers building AI-powered services.
What became the thorniest topic was AI-powered facial recognition surveillance systems, and negotiators found a compromise after intensive bargaining.
European lawmakers wanted a full ban on public use of facial scanning and other “remote biometric identification” systems because of privacy concerns while governments of member countries wanted exemptions so law enforcement could use them to tackle serious crimes like child sexual exploitation or terrorist attacks.
Civil society groups were more skeptical.
“Whatever the victories may have been in these final negotiations, the fact remains that huge flaws will remain in this final text,” said Daniel Leufer, a senior policy analyst at the digital rights group Access Now. Along with the law enforcement exemptions, he also cited a lack of protection for AI systems used in migration and border control, and “big gaps in the bans on the most dangerous AI systems”
EU reaches a deal on the world’s first comprehensive AI rules
https://arab.news/5qvgh
EU reaches a deal on the world’s first comprehensive AI rules
- Under the deal, the most advanced foundation models that pose the biggest “systemic risks” will get extra scrutiny
- Researchers have warned that these powerful foundation models could be used to supercharge online disinformation and manipulation, cyberattacks or creation of bioweapons
Houthi drone strike kills Yemeni-Dutch journalist, injures brother, says media watchdog
- Musab Al-Hattami killed, brother Suhaib wounded working on documentary project in Marib
LONDON: A Yemeni-Dutch journalist has been killed and his brother injured in a drone strike carried out by Iran-backed Houthi forces near the central Yemeni city of Marib, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Musab Al-Hattami, a journalist and filmmaker, was killed on Saturday while filming a documentary in his family’s hometown. His brother, photographer Suhaib Al-Hattami, sustained serious injuries in the same attack, the US-based media watchdog said on Monday while condemning the strike.
Sara Qudah, regional director of the CPJ, said: “The killing of Musab Al-Hattami is yet another stark reminder to the international community that the warring parties in Yemen are violating international law by killing civilians. Such indiscriminate violence exposes all journalists, who are brave enough to document the war in Yemen, to extreme risk.
“We call on the international community to investigate the attack and hold those responsible to account.”
أي وجع نستقبل هذا المساء ، مصعب الحطامي شهيد في جبهة مأرب ، أي قهر يزيدنا كرهاً للحوثي وزبانيته ، بعد عشر سنوات غربة عاد من هولندا لزيارة أسرته وقرر عمل أفلام قصيرة من الجبهة فكانت له الشهادة بطائرة مسيرة حوثية.
— بسيم الجناني Basem Ganani (@Basem_Ganani) April 26, 2025
مصعب شقيق الروح لا أزور هولندا إلا ويكون في إستقبالي ، وعدني بزيارة… pic.twitter.com/eWcbW1LD75
The Al-Hattami brothers had recently returned to Yemen from the Netherlands to report on the ongoing civil war and were working on a documentary project about their parents’ hometown when the strike occurred.
According to Dutch media outlet RTL, Houthi forces targeted the area with grenades and drones while the brothers were filming. Musab Al-Hattami and three government soldiers were killed, while Suhaib was seriously wounded.
Musab Al-Hattami, who had moved to the Netherlands after studying film in Jordan, held Dutch citizenship. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed his death and said he was buried in Marib on Monday.
He is the 20th journalist to be killed in Yemen since 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition launched military operations against Houthi rebels who had seized the capital, Sanaa.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula announced in December 2024 it had executed 11 individuals, including Yemeni journalist Mohamed Al-Maqri, who had been abducted in 2015 and accused of spying. At least 18 journalists were killed in Yemen between 2015 and 2020.
15 media workers killed in Gaza 2025: Palestinian Journalists Syndicate
- Syndicate’s latest report documents rise in Israeli arrests, threats, harassment of journalists
LONDON: At least 15 media workers have been killed in Gaza since the start of 2025, according to a new report released by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
The report, published over the weekend by the syndicate’s freedoms committee, which monitors Israeli violations against journalists, highlighted the continued direct targeting of media workers.
Seven journalists were killed in January and eight in March, the report stated.
In addition, family members of 17 journalists were killed, while 12 reporters’ homes were destroyed by rocket and shell attacks, with 11 injured in the assaults.
The report noted that violence against media crews extended beyond fatal attacks. It documented the arrest of 15 journalists, either at their homes or while on assignment. Some were released within hours or days, while others remain in detention.
The syndicate also recorded 49 death threats issued against journalists, many of whom were warned to evacuate the areas they were covering.
Legal harassment intensified as well, with the report citing over 10 cases in which journalists — mostly from the West Bank-based Al-Quds newspaper — were summoned for interrogation and banned from reporting near Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem’s Old City.
In the occupied West Bank, approximately 117 journalists faced physical assaults, repression, or reporting bans, particularly in Jenin and Jerusalem. The committee also documented 16 cases of work equipment being confiscated or destroyed.
The violence against journalists comes amid a renewed Israeli military campaign in Gaza following the collapse of a ceasefire deal with Hamas. Israeli forces have intensified their offensive, cutting off vital supplies to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, leaving the enclave on the brink of famine.
Israel’s actions are now the subject of hearings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, where Tel Aviv faces accusations of violating international law by restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The humanitarian toll has been devastating.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 61,700 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive on Oct. 7, 2023. More than 14,000 others are missing and presumed dead, with civilians making up the vast majority of casualties.
Washington-based press watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists, has also raised alarm over the scale of media worker deaths, reporting that at least 176 journalists — almost all Palestinian — have been killed since Israel launched its assault on the Occupied Territories.
Al Majalla sets new benchmark for regional visual journalism with 13 wins at design awards
- Arab News’ sister publication received 13 international honors at the Society of News Design’s 46th Best of News Design Creative Competition, including a prestigious Bronze Medal
RIYADH: Al Majalla has earned 13 international honors at the Society of News Design’s (SND) 46th Best of News Design Creative Competition, including a prestigious Bronze Medal.
The awards, judged by a global panel of 42 visual journalists, recognize the most outstanding journalism and design work published worldwide in 2024. Nearly 5,000 entries were submitted to the 46th annual creative competition, with Al Majalla’s work honored alongside leading international titles such as The New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, and National Geographic.
Among the honors, Al Majalla received a Bronze Medal — a distinction awarded to visual storytelling that goes “beyond excellence,” demonstrating an elevated level of aesthetic execution, creativity, or degree of difficulty. The recognition was granted for a body of work focused on the special topic of conflict in the Middle East.
“This achievement reflects our commitment to credible, in-depth journalism, and to presenting it in a way that resonates with global audiences,” said Al Majalla Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Hamidi. “This is just one step in our broader transformation journey — one that aims to center thoughtful reporting, bold editorial choices, and design-led storytelling at the core of our work.”
In addition to the Bronze Medal, Al Majalla received 12 Awards of Excellence across categories including page design, illustration, animation, and special topics such as elections and drug-related issues in the Arab world. These awards are reserved for work that pushes the boundaries of traditional media through daring, innovative storytelling.
“This is a recognition of the collaborative energy and bold thinking our team has brought to the table,” said Creative Director Sara Loane. “We’re reimagining how Arab journalism can look and feel — modern, intentional, and visually impactful.”
This is a standout moment that reflects not only creative excellence but also the momentum behind Al Majalla’s editorial evolution. It underscores Al Majalla’s place in SRMG’s wider digital evolution, where innovation and substance go hand in hand to redefine how journalism engages and endures.
Tortoise Media to relaunch Observer this weekend
- World’s oldest Sunday paper to become company’s flagship brand
- Observer will not be ‘another daily newspaper just on the seventh day of the week,’ says Tortoise founder James Harding
LONDON: Tortoise Media is set to publish its first edition of The Observer this weekend, following the formal completion of its acquisition of the 234-year-old Sunday newspaper from Guardian Media Group.
A dedicated Observer website will launch on Friday, with the first in-house print edition under Tortoise’s ownership hitting newsstands on Sunday. The relaunch also marks a return to print for Tortoise founder James Harding, who has formerly been editor of The Times, director of BBC News, and a journalist at the Financial Times.
“The world’s oldest Sunday paper is also going to be the newest. You’ll see the paper will change, but change gradually,” Harding told the Financial Times.
The Observer will become Tortoise Media’s flagship brand, while the Tortoise name will be retained as a sub-brand for long-form investigations and other digital content.
The historic Sunday paper, renowned for its investigative reporting, international coverage, and analysis, has long played a prominent role in covering major global events, including the Middle East. It took a bold editorial stance during the Suez Crisis, when then-editor David Astor criticized the British-French-Israeli invasion of Egypt. It also distinguished itself with coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Iraq War — including early exposure of faulty intelligence on weapons of mass destruction — and British complicity in torture during the War on Terror.
The new Observer website will focus on “making sense of the headlines” rather than competing with rolling news outlets like the BBC or The Guardian, Tortoise’s digital editor Basia Cummings said in a recent interview.
“But news, culture and style are the main pillars of our newsroom,” Cummings added, noting that the publication would maintain its “investigative, internationalist” editorial identity, alongside staples such as the Observer New Review, Observer Magazine, and Observer Food Monthly.
The digital offering will include a daily email newsletter and, later this year, a slate of new podcasts. Events and festivals — part of Tortoise’s existing engagement model — are also planned.
The new website is an “initial version.” A full relaunch, including a mobile app and paywall, is expected in the coming months. Until then, content will be free to access as part of a first-party data strategy.
The relaunch comes as Tortoise looks to strengthen its position in the British and international media landscape. According to the Financial Times, British insurance tycoon Sir Clive Cowdery — founder of the Resolution Foundation and publisher of Prospect magazine — has agreed to join the Tortoise board and invest in the venture.
Although Tortoise has incurred financial losses of around £3 million, the company has pledged to invest £25 million into The Observer. Concerns about the financial stability of the loss-making startup have been raised by journalists at both titles, but new funds are expected from backers including South African businessman and Labour Party donor Gary Lubner, and Standard Investments, part of the US-based Standard Industries group.
As part of the deal, the Guardian Media Group’s owner, The Scott Trust, has taken a 9 percent stake in Tortoise, following a £5 million commitment.
“I don’t think that it makes sense for The Observer to be another daily newspaper, just on the seventh day of the week,” Harding said. “We’re not in the business of being a breaking news service; we want to understand what’s driving the news.”
Israeli Foreign Ministry backtracks on message of condolence over Pope Francis’ death
- Ministry ordered removal of post hours after it was published, citing ‘error’
- Move appears to be tied to outspoken criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, West Bank
LONDON: Israel’s Foreign Ministry has backtracked on a message of condolence shared on social media following the death of Pope Francis, deleting the post just hours after it was published.
The message, which appeared on the official X accounts of several Israeli embassies around the world, read: “Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing.” It was accompanied by an image of the pontiff at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the holiest site for Jewish people.
The Foreign Ministry later ordered the post to be taken down and instructed ambassadors not to sign books of condolence at Vatican missions worldwide, according to Israeli media reports.
The reversal reportedly sparked frustration among diplomats, especially in predominantly Catholic countries, and prompted internal criticism of the ministry’s leadership.
Raphael Schutz, Israel’s former ambassador to the Vatican, said: “I think the decision is a mistake. We shouldn’t keep score like this after someone’s death.”
Schutz and other diplomats argued that retracting condolences risked damaging Israel’s image among the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
While the Foreign Ministry said the original post was published “in error,” the decision to remove it appears tied to Pope Francis’ recent criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
The pope, who died on Monday aged 88 after suffering a stroke and heart failure, had emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
I send my deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel - the Holy Land - on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Francis. A man of deep faith and boundless compassion, he dedicated his life to uplifting the…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) April 21, 2025
In his final Easter message he had repeated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and described the humanitarian situation there as “dramatic and deplorable.”
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said that the late pope “was very close to the community of Gaza, the parish of Gaza.”
Pope Francis said of Israel’s actions in Gaza in November 2023: “This is not war; this is terrorism.” His remark drew sharp criticism from Israeli officials and media, including an editorial in The Jerusalem Post accusing him of offering “unconditional support for Hamas.”
Aside from a message of condolence from President Isaac Herzog, who expressed the hope that the pope’s memory would “inspire acts of kindness and hope for humanity,” Israeli leaders have remained largely silent. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar did not issue any public statement or social media posts.
The decision not to engage was met with criticism from Israeli commentators and members of the public, who argued that it did not reflect the views of most Israelis.
Political and religious leaders from across the world have expressed their condolences. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent official messages mourning the death of the head of the Vatican City State.
Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for 12 years, will be laid to rest in Rome on Saturday. Leaders from across the world, including the Arab region, are expected to attend. It remains unclear whether Israel will send an official delegation.
