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Asharq Al-Awsat Receives 3 Awards at Arab Media Forum in Dubai

Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid with the winners of the Arab Media Award. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid with the winners of the Arab Media Award. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Asharq Al-Awsat Receives 3 Awards at Arab Media Forum in Dubai

Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid with the winners of the Arab Media Award. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid with the winners of the Arab Media Award. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper proudly received two prestigious awards at the 2nd edition of the Arab Media Award (AMA) ceremony on Monday.

The ceremony, held on the opening day of the 21st edition of the Arab Media Forum (AMF), celebrates excellence in journalism across three key media sectors: Journalism, TV, and Digital Media.

Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid,attended the ceremony.

Asharq Al-Awsat's journalists Jamal Johar and Sawsan al-Abtah received the Investigative Reporting Award and Best Columnist Award respectively.

Kuwaiti thinker and renowned media figure Mohammed al-Rumaihi received the Media Personality of the Year award for his tremendous contributions to Arab media.

The Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) won various categories, including the Best Economic Program Award for "al-Sabah Ma Siba", airing on the Asharq news channel, and the Digital Media Award category for Best Economic Platform: Argaam.

For the Best Sports Program Award, the winner was "Fi Al Marma," broadcast on the al-Arabiya news channel.

Hespress won the Best News Platform award in digital media, and FilGoal received the Best Sports Platform.

Furthermore, Magdi Abu al-Fotouh of Ashorouq newspaper received the Economic Journalism Award, and Ahmed Diab from al-Ahram al-Arabi won the Political Journalism Award.

Children's Media Award was presented to Asmaa al-Shamsi of Majid Magazine.

"Bil Khat a-Areed", on Lebanon’s LBCI channel, received the Best Social Program Award, while "Thakirato al-Rimal", broadcast on Sky News Arabia, won the Best Documentary Award.

The Arab Media Forum kicked off in Dubai held under the patronage of Vice President and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Organized by the Dubai Press Club, the two-day event will bring together over 3,000 distinguished attendees, including influential media personalities, ministers, and heads of leading local, Arab, and international media organizations, as well as thought leaders, intellectuals, and writers.

In opening remarks, Managing Director of Dubai Media Council and Chairperson of the Dubai Press Club Mona al-Marri congratulated all the winners and stressed that the award's distinguished status was a testament to years of hard work and constant encouragement.

She stressed that the future of Arab media depends on institutions' ability to adapt to these changes and embrace modern media tools.

Marri also highlighted artificial intelligence's integral role in shaping the future of media.

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Saudi Arabia Marks First Birth of One of World’s Rarest Animals in over 100 Years

A new female is currently undergoing quarantine before joining the herd later this year from Jordan - SPA
A new female is currently undergoing quarantine before joining the herd later this year from Jordan - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Marks First Birth of One of World’s Rarest Animals in over 100 Years

A new female is currently undergoing quarantine before joining the herd later this year from Jordan - SPA
A new female is currently undergoing quarantine before joining the herd later this year from Jordan - SPA

Wildlife conservation efforts have successfully recorded the birth of the first onager (Equus hemionus) on Saudi soil in more than 100 years at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, marking the return of a species that had disappeared from the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula for over a century.

The reserve noted that the male onager was born in June 2025 as part of the Arabian rewilding program launched to reintroduce 23 native species to their former natural habitats. The birth has only now been announced after the onager successfully completed its first 12 months of life, as the first year is considered the most critical period for survival, with rates not exceeding 50%, SPA reported.

The reserve is also expecting the birth of two additional onagers this winter, a sign of the success of conservation efforts for the species, particularly in light of projections by the International Union for Conservation of Nature that its population could decline by 90% by 2050. Fewer than 600 individuals remain in the wild, following the organization’s 2025 upgrade of the species’ conservation status to Critically Endangered.

The reserve is focusing on enhancing the genetic diversity of its onager herd. A new female is currently undergoing quarantine before joining the herd later this year from Jordan, with the aim of establishing two separate breeding herds to boost long-term sustainability, genetic diversity, and adaptability.

The program reflects a pioneering vision for environmental conservation that goes beyond traditional approaches and is based on establishing national and regional partnerships needed to provide integrated solutions for wildlife conservation.

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Malaysia Enforces Ban on Social Media Accounts for Children Younger Than 16

Teenagers pose for a photo while holding smartphones in front of a TikTok logo in this illustration created on September 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Teenagers pose for a photo while holding smartphones in front of a TikTok logo in this illustration created on September 11, 2025. (Reuters)
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Malaysia Enforces Ban on Social Media Accounts for Children Younger Than 16

Teenagers pose for a photo while holding smartphones in front of a TikTok logo in this illustration created on September 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Teenagers pose for a photo while holding smartphones in front of a TikTok logo in this illustration created on September 11, 2025. (Reuters)

Malaysia on Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children younger than 16 from having social media accounts, joining a global effort to tighten online safety protections for young users.

The rules require social media platforms with at least 8 million users including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, to implement age-verification systems and block users under 16 from creating accounts.

Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission said Monday that age verification for existing users will be rolled out progressively over the next six months.

Users identified as under 16 will have a month to download or transfer their data, including photos and videos, before any restrictions, suspensions, or other actions are applied, it said in a statement.

Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 10 million ringgit ($2.5 million). But parents whose children manage to bypass the law will not be penalized.

The government said the measures are aimed at protecting children from harmful content, cyberbullying and platform features designed to encourage excessive use.

Other countries including Australia, Brazil and Indonesia have introduced or announced age-based restrictions or requirements for children’s access to social media. Countries including Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea are also studying or developing similar approaches.

The regulator said the rules are not intended to prevent children from accessing digital technology.

“These measures help strengthen the protection of children in the online environment, while providing added reassurance to parents in navigating increasingly complex digital risks," it has said.

Platforms are required to improve user safety, discourage excessive use and take action against underage accounts and harmful content.

Technology companies have yet to detail how they will comply with Malaysia’s new requirements.

Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, had cautioned in April that Malaysia's blanket under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.

She said Meta has launched “teen accounts” for those under 18 that limits contact, screen time and exposure to inappropriate content.

Malaysia's curbs come as governments face growing pressure to address concerns about social media’s impact on children’s mental health and online safety.

In March, a US jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay millions of dollars in damages in a case alleging that platform design features contributed to harm suffered by a young user.

Varieties

French Museum Reports Theft of Arty Banana

Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan's conceptual work 'Comedian' has sold for millions. TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/File
Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan's conceptual work 'Comedian' has sold for millions. TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/File
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French Museum Reports Theft of Arty Banana

Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan's conceptual work 'Comedian' has sold for millions. TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/File
Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan's conceptual work 'Comedian' has sold for millions. TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/File

A museum in eastern France on Sunday reported to police the theft of a banana that forms a core part of a multimillion-dollar artwork by Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan.

The missing fruit -- which was taped to a wall to form the provocative work by Cattelan called "Comedian" -- was noticed by a guard on Saturday to have gone missing.

The Pompidou-Metz museum, which is a branch of the famous Pompidou Center in Paris, said in a statement it had lodged a criminal complaint for theft against persons unknown.

It also said it had replaced the banana.

It is not the first time damage has been dealt to the conceptual artwork, whose perishable banana centerpiece is replaced every three days to keep it contemporary.

In July last year, a visitor to the museum ate the fruit. But guards quickly intervened and stuck up a replacement banana.

Cattelan said at the time he was disappointed the hungry visitor had consumed only the banana and not the tape as well. The museum did not take legal action in that instance.

This time, though, it decided to make its criminal complaint because the perpetrator was unidentified, and therefore "there is no possibility of dialogue".

It also said that "this is the second time this has happened" and it felt it was an issue of respect for the artwork.

Cattelan's edible creation, which aims to question the notion of art and its value, has sparked controversy ever since it made its debut at the 2019 Art Basel show in Miami Beach with an asking price of $120,000.

A performance artist, David Datuna, ate "Comedian" at that 2019 show, saying he felt "hungry".

But the work's value has only risen.

Chinese-born crypto founder Justin Sun in 2024 forked out $5.2 million for one iteration of the work, then days later ate it in front of cameras in Hong Kong.

As well as "Comedian", Cattelan is also known for producing an 18-carat, fully functioning gold toilet called "America" that was offered to Donald Trump during his first term in the White House.

A British court in March found two men guilty of stealing it during an exhibition in 2020 in the United Kingdom, from an 18th-century stately home that was the birthplace of wartime prime minister Winston Churchill.

It was split up into parts and none of the gold was ever recovered.