Judge Rules against Prince Harry in Early Stage of Libel Case against Daily Mail Publisher

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the sitting volleyball finals at the 2023 Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event for injured soldiers, in Duesseldorf, Germany September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the sitting volleyball finals at the 2023 Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event for injured soldiers, in Duesseldorf, Germany September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo/File Photo
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Judge Rules against Prince Harry in Early Stage of Libel Case against Daily Mail Publisher

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the sitting volleyball finals at the 2023 Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event for injured soldiers, in Duesseldorf, Germany September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the sitting volleyball finals at the 2023 Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event for injured soldiers, in Duesseldorf, Germany September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo/File Photo

Prince Harry lost a preliminary round Friday in his libel case against the publisher of the Daily Mail tabloid over an article that said he tried to hide his efforts to retain publicly funded protection in the UK after giving up his status as a working member of the royal family.
A London judge said the Duke of Sussex failed to knock out Associated Newspaper Ltd.’s defense that its article reflected an honest opinion. A hearing is scheduled Tuesday to discuss the consequences of the ruling.
Justice Matthew Nicklin said in that ruling that “it is not fanciful that the Defendant will be successful, at trial.” He scheduled a hearing Tuesday in the High Court to discuss the consequences of the ruling.
The ruling comes just a day after another judge concluded three days of arguments — mostly behind closed doors — over whether the government unfairly stripped Harry of his security detail after he and his family moved to the US in 2020.
Harry, 39, the younger son of King Charles III, is challenging the government's decision to provide security to him on a case-by-case basis when he visits Britain. Harry has said hostility toward him and his wife on social media and relentless news media hounding threatens their safety.
The Mail on Sunday and Mail Online published an article in February 2022 about the issue headlined: “How Prince Harry tried to keep his legal fight with the government over police bodyguards a secret ... then — just minutes after the story broke — his PR machine tried to put a positive spin on the dispute.”
Harry claims the article was “fundamentally inaccurate” and the newspaper libeled him when it suggested he lied in his initial public statements about his case challenging the government.
Associated Newspapers argued the article expressed an “honest opinion" and did not seriously harm Harry's reputation.
Nicklin previously ruled the article was defamatory but had not considered whether the story was accurate or in the public interest.
The government, meanwhile, has defended its decision to withdraw full protection for Harry because he stepped down from his role as a senior working member of the family. It said he was treated fairly and provided with security occasionally when he visits.
Another judge earlier this year shot down Harry's request to privately reimburse London’s police force to guard him when he comes to town. A government lawyer had argued officers shouldn’t be used as “private bodyguards for the wealthy.”
The dispute with the Mail is one of four lawsuits Harry has pending against publishers of British tabloids in his ongoing battle with the press.
His three other cases allege that journalists at the Mail, the Daily Mirror and the Sun used unlawful means, such as deception, phone hacking or hiring private investigators, to try to dig up dirt about him.



Manga Arabia Partners with Korea’s Kidari Studio to Produce and Publish Webtoon and Manhwa-Style Comics

Dr. Essam Bukhary, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia and the CEO of Kidari Studio, during the signing of the partnership (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Dr. Essam Bukhary, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia and the CEO of Kidari Studio, during the signing of the partnership (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Manga Arabia Partners with Korea’s Kidari Studio to Produce and Publish Webtoon and Manhwa-Style Comics

Dr. Essam Bukhary, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia and the CEO of Kidari Studio, during the signing of the partnership (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Dr. Essam Bukhary, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia and the CEO of Kidari Studio, during the signing of the partnership (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Manga Arabia has partnered with South Korea’s Kidari Studio to produce and publish webtoon and manhwa-style comics. This collaboration aims to enhance cooperation in key areas such as scriptwriting, character design, and high-quality joint projects. Both companies will benefit from an employee exchange program to share expertise and further develop comic projects.
As part of the agreement, Manga Arabia will license and translate three of Kidari’s prominent works into Arabic, expanding the reach of these comics in the region.
Dr. Essam Bukhary, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia, highlighted the significance of this partnership in strengthening international collaboration in the comic industry. He emphasized that the exchange of creativity and expertise with global partners aligns with the company’s goal of producing content that meets global standards.
A Growing Market
Bukhary pointed out the global popularity of webtoons, projecting the market to reach $70 billion by 2030. He explained that this partnership would enable Manga Arabia to expand its presence in international markets, while offering culturally rich experiences that reflect creativity and foster cultural exchange between the Arab and Korean worlds.
Industry Impact
This partnership marks Manga Arabia’s first collaboration with a Korean comic production company, a significant step in solidifying its role as a key player in the Arab comic industry.
Manga Arabia has achieved numerous milestones in recent years, including the launch of youth and children’s manga magazines in both digital and print formats. The company’s applications have garnered nearly 9 million users across 195 countries, with over 220 distribution points in the Arab world and more than 250,000 monthly printed copies.
To further its international presence, Manga Arabia launched Manga International and established its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, a strategic move aimed at expanding its influence globally.
Kidari Studio’s Reach
Founded in 1987, Kidari Studio operates 14 webtoon platforms in nine languages across Asia, North America, South America, and Europe. In 2023, Kidari launched its first webtoon platform in the Arab world, with plans to rebrand it as DelitoonME. That year, Kidari earned over $94 million from webtoon subscriptions, with more than 55 million users worldwide.
As part of the Saudi Research and Media Group, Manga Arabia is dedicated to promoting Saudi and Arab culture through creative content. The company has successfully produced over 68 issues and supported more than 170 young creatives across the Arab world, positioning itself as a leader in the comic industry both locally and internationally.