• Australian media hits back as Facebook scraps news deals

    Meta said on Friday it would scrap the Facebook News tab in Australia and would not renew deals with news publishers worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The social media giant said its decision to pull the plug on the news deal was based on people not going to Facebook...
  • Reliance, Disney announce giant India media merger

    The statement said Disney will hold 36.8 percent, Reliance will hold a 16.3 percent stake, and Viacom18 another 46.8 percent. "This is a landmark agreement that heralds a new era in the Indian entertainment industry," Ambani said. His wife, Nita Ambani, will serve as its chairperson.
  • Israeli negotiators to arrive in Qatar for hostage talks

    According to local media reports, the country's war cabinet endorsed the decision to dispatch negotiators to Qatar to continue talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war against Hamas and the return of hostages being held in Gaza. Pressure has mounted on Israeli PM to strike a deal to...
  • Dubai economy would grow 5 percent this year: Al Ghurair

    Dubai, UAE-- The economy of Dubai would grow around five percent this year, according to Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chambers. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the annual media briefing organised by Dubai Chambers, Al Ghurair said that the recent increase in interest rates...
  • Saudi envoy to US deplores Western media criticism of women rights in kingdom

    Washington D.C., US--– Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, Reema Bandar Al-Saud, has expressed disappointment with recent media criticism of the kingdom's hosting of the Women's Tennis Association Finals and broader issues concerning women's rights in Saudi Arabia. In response to an opinion piece published by The Washington Post, she...
  • US, UK launch new strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen

    A Houthi military official told the rebels's Al-Masirah TV that fighters will continue to target Israeli ships heading to "the ports of occupied Palestine, no matter how the American-British aggression tries to prevent us from doing so." US media quoted US officials as saying another round of strikes had been...
  • Google agrees to settle $5bn data privacy breach lawsuit

    Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked the data of users who thought they were browsing privately. In a court filing, the judge confirmed that lawyers for Google reached a preliminary agreement to settle the class action...
  • Warner Brothers Discovery explores merger

    Warner Brothers Discovery brands include CNN and HBO.
  • UAE issues federal decree on regulating electronic, digital media

    ABU DHABI, UAE - The UAE Government has issued a federal decree which aims to regulate and organize media in the UAE. The decree also aims to promote the UAE as a global media hub and establish an enabling environment to catalyze the growth and prosperity of the sector. The...
  • GCC media outlets think outside the box to stay afloat

    Reeling from a calamitous drop in advertisement revenues and public trust, news media organizations are reworking strategies to create "niche" content.
  • GCC media outlets think outside the box to stay afloat

    Reeling from a calamitous drop in advertisement revenues and public trust, news media organizations are reworking strategies to create "niche" content.
  • Google to pay Canadian media $73m annually after a deal with Ottawa

    Ottawa, Canada -- The Canadian government and Google have reached a deal to support the country's media, heading off an imminent threat by the digital giant to block news on its platform, sources said on Wednesday. That threat was made in response to Ottawa's Online News Act, which was due...
  • Israel police claim Hamas was not aware of a music festival on October 7

    DUBAI - An investigation carried out by Israeli police has concluded that Hamas, involved in the October 7 attack, had no prior knowledge of the Nova music festival held near the border of Gaza, the Israeli media said. According to a report by Haaretz on Saturday, Hamas had no prior...
  • Wall Street, Hollywood billionaires plan $50m anti-Hamas campaign

    Real-estate tycoon Barry Sternlicht has initiated this campaign and sought $1million donations from various affluent business figures, including David Geffen and Michael Dell. This initiative comes at a time when recent polls from the University of Maryland and Ipsos indicate a shift in American public opinion.
  • Thousands rally in support of Gaza across Egypt, says media

    CAIRO, EGYPT – Tens of thousands of protesters rallied across Egypt in support of war-torn Gaza on Friday, with large crowds flooding into Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square, an AFP correspondent and Egyptian media said. The correspondent said several thousand packed into Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the 2011 uprising that toppled...
  • Saudi Arabia’s first social network Jaco attracts 1m users in 2 months

    RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA:   The supervisor of the Kingdom's first social network Jaco - Saudi entrepreneur Fahd Al-Shidi announced that the team is working to reach five million users soon. He added that Jaco's attraction of over one million users in the coming two months from other networks, including well-known names,...
  • Shams signs MoU with South Korean firm to develop media content

    Sharjah, UAE--Sharjah Media City (Shams) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), the largest television and radio broadcasting company in South Korea. The partnership aims to strengthen cooperation between Shams and MBC Korea through enhanced media content business development, benefiting from the expertise and exchange...
  • Did not hear any noise from global organizations on journalist Dugina’s death, says Russia

    MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Russia still has not heard any reaction from international organizations regarding the assassination of journalist Darya Dugina as well as other ‘atrocities’ committed against media representatives, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday. "A year after the tragic death of Darya Dugina we have not heard...
  • Iran Foreign Minister stresses unity on first Saudi visit since ties restored

    Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also took the opportunity to reiterate the Islamic republic's support for the Palestinian cause at a time when Riyadh is in discussions with the United States about potentially normalizing ties with Israel.
  • Syria cancels BBC’s accreditation over ‘misleading reports’

    In a rare move against an international media organization, the Syrian government has cancelled the BBC's accreditation over what it termed "misleading reports." According to the country's information ministry, the cancellation was brought about by the "broadcaster's failure to adhere to professional standards and its insistence on providing biased and...
  • Algeria court increases prison term for media leader

    An Algerian court of appeal increased to seven years the prison term issued to a prominent media boss, but suspended two years, a watchdog and his lawyer said. Ihsane El Kadi, 63, whose release had been sought by the European Union and international media, is one of the last independent...
  • Are ‘unethical’ PR tactics harming GCC journalism?

    TRENDS investigation uncovers Media-Public Relations Nexus as PR companies in the region are found crossing ethical boundaries to secure favorable coverage.
  • Press freedom under attack everywhere: UN, media

    The rise of disinformation and hate speech threatens truth, while journalists continue to face harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment, highlight UN officials and media outlets.
  • Fire in Dubai apartment building kills 16, injures 9

    Dubai, United Arab Emirates--A fire in a residential building in Dubai killed 16 people and injured nine others in the wealthy Gulf emirate, local media reported. The fire broke out at midday Saturday on the fourth floor of the building in the Al-Ras neighbourhood in the old part of the city....
  • Toshiba accepts $15bn buyout bid

    The acceptance follows years of turmoil for the company.
  • Tunisia swears in new parliament with truncated powers

    Tunisia inaugurated a new parliament largely stripped of its powers, after a vote that saw a paltry turnout amid boycotts following President Kais Saied's July 2021 power grab. The new assembly held its first session at the legislature's traditional home in Bardo, a suburb of the capital Tunis.
  • Wall Street Journal’s report UAE considering leaving OPEC not true: sources

    Dubai, UAE--A media report that the United Arab Emirates is considering leaving OPEC is "far from the truth," two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told media. Earlier on Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the UAE is having an internal debate about leaving the Organization of the...
  • Jordan and Arab League discuss ways to boost communication ties

    Amman, Jordan-- Jordan and the Arab League have discussed ways to deepen coordination on communications. Minister of Government Communication Faisal Shboul and Head of the Media and the Communication Sector of the Arab League, Ahmed Khattabi, Saturday held talks in Amman on enhancing coordination on communications. During the meeting, Shboul...
  • Violence erupts in Morocco in operation to clear out migrants

    Violence broke out in an illegal camp in Casablanca when police sought to remove migrants, injuring an officer and leaving many police vehicles damaged. Images on social media showed migrants throwing stones. According to local media, police questioned six migrants from sub-Saharan Africa suspected of involvement in the violence towards...
  • Qatari banks to shore up liquidity position, profits in 2023: report

    Doha, Qatar-- As a windfall of the FIFA World Cup, banks in Qatar are expected to build profits and shore up their capital base and liquidity position in 2023, according to media report citing analysts. Qatari lenders had immense tournament-linked lending opportunities that began years ago, and it will help...
  • ASBU president calls for upgrading of digital content industry

    Tunis, Tunisia--The President of Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) and CEO of Saudi Broadcasting Authority Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harthi has called on media institutions in the Arab countries to develop and keep pace with changes by upgrading the local digital content industry to global standards. Speaking on the sidelines of...
  • Dubai Chamber of Commerce launches printing and publishing unit

    Dubai, UAE--Dubai Chamber of Commerce has launched the printing and publishing business group to boost the sector’s competitiveness and support its members in navigating a rapidly evolving media landscape. Commenting on the setting up of this business group, Maha Al Gargawi, Executive Director of Business Advocacy at Dubai Chambers, said:...
  • Tunisia electoral board threatens media rights: rights groups

    In a joint statement on Tuesday, 28 organisations said ISIE had "targeted freedom of expression to the point where it was carrying out censorship against media organisations, in a blatant violation of the law". The organisations -- including the SNJT journalists' union, the Tunisian Association for Rights and Freedoms and...
  • Jerusalem named Permanent Arab Media Capital at info ministers meet

    Tripoli, Libya- -The Council of Arab Information Ministers chose the city of Jerusalem as the permanent capital of Arab media, in an affirmation of the centrality of the Palestinian cause, and in appreciation of the emotional status and the special historical and legal character of this holy city, media reports...
  • Stories from MENA that defined democracy in 2022

    The MENA region remains largely uneven, and the democracy and human rights situation looks bleak with little prospect of improvement in 2023, say experts at International IDEA.
  • Iran sacks bank manager for serving an unveiled woman

    Hardening its stance on the dress code, Iran has fired a bank manager who served an unveiled woman, according to local media even as demonstrations triggered by the mandatory head covering rule shake the country. Women in Iran are required to cover their heads, necks, and hair.
  • GCC rejects malicious media campaign targeting bloc

    Beside approving various programmes and joint projects, the region's information ministers discuss strategic plan for joint media cooperation between the GCC countries.
  • Racism or Arab Bias? Western media’s heartburn over FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

    Even as serious rights violations -- including corruption, human trafficking, racism and discrimination -- persist across Europe and US, Western world opts to focus on Qatar.
  • Saudi Broadcasting Authority signs agreements with global media firms

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--- The Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) and three international companies with expertise in the technological and media sectors have signed several agreements at the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX), which was hosted in Riyadh alongside the 22nd Arab Radio and TV Festival. Mohammed Fahd Al-Harthi, CEO of SBA,...
  • Meta to sack thousands of employees: Wall Street Journal

    Meta is planning to sack thousands of employees this week, becoming the latest tech firm to scale back its workforce. According to the Wall Street Journal the layoffs could impact "many thousands" of Meta employees. The company has about 87,000 employees worldwide working across its different platforms.
  • ‘Five including four police officers killed in Iran’

    Four Iranian police officers and one "terrorist" have been killed in separate incidents in the strife-torn country, state media and the Revolutionary Guards said.
  • Saudi, Turkish media leaders discuss cooperation

    The meeting discussed news exchange, news agencies, radio, Television, media regulation and international media relations.
  • CMA approves 18 listings on Tadawul

    Tadawul is also developing a market marker for the bourse.
  • Saudi minister calls for road map to enhance OIC “media action”

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia— Saudi Media Minister Majid Al-Qasabi has called for developing a trust-based road map with clear mechanisms to advance joint Islamic action. The minister was speaking at the 12th session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul on Saturday. He...
  • Kuwait puts off first parliament session until mid-October

    Kuwait City, Kuwait— Kuwait has decided to postpone the convening of the first parliament session after elections to Oct. 18, according to media reports. The news agency KUNA said in a statement: “The National Assembly’s first regular session of the 17th legislative term is adjourned until Oct. 18, head of...
  • UK in talks with Qatar and Norway to import energy

    Amid crippling energy shortages, the British government is negotiating with Qatar and Norway to secure new long-term gas contract, according to media reports. The reports said that Prime Minister Liz Truss is in favor of the deal, which would secure long-term energy sources and cut down the cost of the...
  • Iran says it briefly seized two US drone vessels in Red Sea

    Three days after it seized a US military drone vessel in the Gulf, the Iranian navy took control of two American drone vessels in the Red Sea before releasing them. Iranian state media aired footage on Friday purporting to show the two US vessels being released by Iranian forces on...
  • Jordan PM refers to shared views in meeting with Kuwaiti minister

    Prime Minister of Jordan Dr. Bisher Khasawneh met Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture Abdul Rahman Al-Mutairi, who is in the Kingdom to head his country's delegation in the 21st Amman International Book Fair.
  • Julian Assange: Black eye of free press

    Whether it is the killing or state-sponsored arraignment of journalists or the closure of defiant media organizations, press freedom is under huge stress around the world.
  • Dubai Media Inc affiliated to Dubai Media Council

    In his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, has issued Law No. (6) of 2022 affiliating Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) to Dubai Media Council and endorsing its objectives, tasks and organizational structure.
  • UAE accounts for 25 percent of MENA digital media subscriptions: Report

    UAE’s publishing sector has grown by 150 percent during the current decade and it will reach $650 million in 2030, according to a report by Pricewaterhouse Cooper, which estimates that global media and entertainment services sector will reach $2.4 trillion next year. The report said the UAE accounts for 25...