Latest news with #BBCNewsArabic
Campaign ME
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Campaign ME
BBC News Arabic bucks trend with 13 per cent audience rise to 39.5 million per week
The audience for BBC News Arabic has risen by 13 per cent over the past year, according to data from the BBC's Global Audience Measurement 2024-2025 published this week. BBC News Arabic is now the BBC World Service's largest language service, which aims to provide journalism to a global audience of 39.5 million people a week in the Arabic-speaking world across TV, radio and digital. In a year of international conflicts, crises and elections, audiences have chosen to turn to BBC News Arabic. The BBC's largest language service has seen growth across its broadcast offering, BBC News Arabic TV, digital programming and emergency lifeline radio services. Bucking the wider industry trend of declining audience interest in broadcast news, BBC News Arabic TV has seen its weekly viewership rise by 3 million people compared with 2023-2024. Tarik Kafala, BBC News Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said, 'This has been an extraordinary year for news, and our growth in audience this year is a testament to the dedication of the BBC News Arabic team, and the strength of our offering to audiences. In a world of decreasing media freedom and increasing polarisation, the tenacious work of BBC News Arabic journalists, reporting without fear or favour, is more essential than ever.' In line with its commitment to providing vital services to audiences in crisis, this year BBC Arabic launched an emergency lifeline service in Syria, keeping listeners up to date with vital information following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. This service follows the successful launch of the Arabic lifeline service in Gaza in 2023, which broadcasts crucial news bulletins twice a day. An audience of 1.2 million listeners are now tuning in weekly to the BBC Arabic Gaza and Syrian lifeline services across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. Kafala added, 'Audiences have chosen BBC Arabic for news which is independent, impartial and accurate. We can see the tangible impacts of our journalism on our Arabic-speaking audience, and through the wider World Service, and the many other audiences BBC News serves. We remain committed to helping our audiences understand what is happening in the world through our in-depth reporting, and serving those most in need with our emergency lifeline services in Syria and Gaza.' In line with its commitment to providing vital services to audiences in crisis, BBC Arabic has also provided a vital service to younger audiences through the launch of Dars Arabic. An Arabic-language edition of the BBC World Service educational programme, Dars – which was described by the United Nations as a 'learning lifeline' for children in Afghanistan. At least 30 million children are out of school in the Middle East and North Africa, many have been displaced by conflict and crises in Sudan, Yemen and Gaza, which have severely affected access to education. Broadcasting across BBC Arabic TV and across BBC Arabic's digital channels, Dars Arabic aims to connect these children facing immense barriers to an education with learning – utilising the content and expertise of BBC Education to offer children aged 11-16 lessons in Maths, English, Science and Geography at varying skillsets.
AFP
2 days ago
- AFP
Video of a rally driver misrepresented as the 'sleeping prince' of Saudi Arabia
"Saudi Arabian prince woke up after 20 years of coma," reads an Indonesian-language TikTok post shared on June 20, 2025. Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid bin Talal has been in coma since a car accident in 2005, BBC News Arabic reported (archived link). The TikTok video shows a man in a hospital bed surrounded by men in Saudi national dress. Image Screenshot of the false post, taken July 15, 2025, with a red X added by AFP Similar videos have also been shared on TikTok and Facebook, racking up more than 3.7 million views. But the video does not show the "sleeping prince." Keyword searches on Facebook and TikTok led to an April 16 video captioned "Yazeed al-Rajhi", shared by an account that often shares clips of prominent Saudi figures (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison between false post (left) and the TikTok video (right) The caption reads "Yazeed Al Rajhi" in Arabic, here). Yazeed suffered a spine injury after an accident during a race in Jordan on April 12 (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of the video of Yazeed al-Rajhi in hospital (L) and the racer's profile image (R) Another TikTok post shared on April 16 shows the longer version of the clip, with overlaid text that reads, "His Excellency Ahmed bin Suleiman Al-Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development" in Arabic (archived here and here). An AFP journalist covering the Middle East confirmed the videos show Yazeed in his hospital bed meeting the minister. The official Facebook account of Yazeed's racing team and CNN Arabic also published photos of him receiving other visitors in hospital wearing the same shirt (archived here and here). As of July 15, there are no official reports that the Saudi prince has awakened from his coma.
The National
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
BBC issues statement after correspondent ‘strip searched' by IDF
On Thursday, the BBC revealed that their Arabic correspondent Feras Kilani and two staff members, alongside freelance journalists, were held for seven hours while filming in southern Syria in early May. The broadcaster said Kilani and staff had described being "tied up, blindfolded, strip searched, interrogated and threatened" by Israeli soldiers. The journalists also had their electronics confiscated and "material was deleted". READ MORE: Neal Ascherson: Gazans paying the price for Israel's military failure The broadcaster said it had registered a complaint with the IDF but had not received a response. The statement reads: "On Friday 9 May whilst filming in Southern Syria, BBC News Arabic correspondent Feras Kilani, along with two other BBC staff members and four freelance colleagues, were detained for seven hours and held at gunpoint by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). "The team have described how they were tied up, blindfolded, strip searched, interrogated and threatened. "Their electronic devices were also taken from them and material was deleted." "The BBC strongly objects to the treatment of our staff and freelancers in this way. Despite making clear to the soldiers on multiple occasions they were working for the BBC, the behaviour they were subjected to is wholly unacceptable. "We have registered a complaint with the Israeli military but are yet to receive a response." The IDF has been contacted for comment.
The Independent
14-03-2025
- The Independent
Plea for billionaire's son suspected of murdering woman in 2008 to return to UK
The son of a billionaire suspected of murdering a Norwegian student 17 years ago has been asked to return to the UK as police issued a new photograph of him. Martine Vik Magnussen, 23, was raped and murdered after a night out with friends to celebrate her end-of-term exams at the Maddox nightclub, Mayfair, central London, on March 14 2008. Farouk Abdulhak was identified as the main suspect but hours after her death he fled the country to Yemen via Egypt. The Metropolitan Police have appealed for Abdulhak to return to face charges and issued a more recent image of him. Ms Magnussen's father said in a statement published by the force on Friday: 'For 17 years, justice has been denied as Farouk Abdulhak remains a free man in Yemen.' Odd Petter Magnussen added: 'On March 8, International Women's Day, I was once again painfully reminded that my daughter, Martine Vik Magnussen was brutally raped and murdered in London in 2008. 'Violence against women and girls is a crisis that affects families worldwide and Martine's case is a stark reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. 'Martine's voice was silenced but we must not be silent for her.' Her body was found in the basement of a property on Great Portland Street, central London, on March 16 2008 and a post-mortem examination found she had died from compression to her neck. Abdulhak was friends with Ms Magnussen and had been at the nightclub on March 14. In 2023 he claimed the incident was a 'sex accident gone wrong'. In a text message to Nawal Al-Maghafi, BBC News Arabic special correspondent, Abdulhak said he 'could barely piece together what happened'. When the journalist asked him why, he replied: 'Cocaine.' Abdulhak told Ms Al-Maghafi 'trust me I'm legally (expletive)' and that this was due to 'leaving the country and the body was moved'. She asked him if he had thought about handing himself in, and he said lawyers had advised him not to as he would now 'serve the harshest sentence'. Abdulhak told her it was 'too late'. His father was the late billionaire Shaher Abdulhak, who was known as the king of sugar because the source of part of his fortune was the soft drinks industry. An anonymous family member told a Discovery+ documentary aired in 2022 that Abdulhak is leading an isolated life in Yemen. They said: 'Farouk's entire life is staying at home. There is no socialising. There is no going to public places. 'Nobody comes there. He doesn't really have any friends.' Ms Magnussen was studying at Regent's Business School and had just come top of her class when she died. A group of students were on the night out but Ms Magnussen vanished, and her body was found in the basement area of flats where Abdulhak lived. On Friday, Detective Inspector Jim Barry, leading the investigation from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'Despite Abdulhak's refusal to come to the UK, we are as committed today as we were in 2008 to get justice for Martine. 'We're releasing a more up-to-date image of Farouk Abdulhak and hope that someone can encourage him to do the right thing and hand himself in to UK police. 'My message is directly to Farouk Abdulhak. 'You have been running and hiding for 17 years. You participated in a BBC documentary, providing your explanation as to what happened. It is time to grow up and face your responsibilities to Martine and her family. 'Come to the UK now and explain all to a court and jury. Our pursuit of you will not stop.'
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Plea for billionaire's son suspected of murdering woman in 2008 to return to UK
The son of a billionaire suspected of murdering a Norwegian student 17 years ago has been asked to return to the UK as police issued a new photograph of him. Martine Vik Magnussen, 23, was raped and murdered after a night out with friends to celebrate her end-of-term exams at the Maddox nightclub, Mayfair, central London, on March 14 2008. Farouk Abdulhak was identified as the main suspect but hours after her death he fled the country to Yemen via Egypt. The Metropolitan Police have appealed for Abdulhak to return to face charges and issued a more recent image of him. Ms Magnussen's father said in a statement published by the force on Friday: 'For 17 years, justice has been denied as Farouk Abdulhak remains a free man in Yemen.' Odd Petter Magnussen added: 'On March 8, International Women's Day, I was once again painfully reminded that my daughter, Martine Vik Magnussen was brutally raped and murdered in London in 2008. 'Violence against women and girls is a crisis that affects families worldwide and Martine's case is a stark reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. 'Martine's voice was silenced but we must not be silent for her.' Her body was found in the basement of a property on Great Portland Street, central London, on March 16 2008 and a post-mortem examination found she had died from compression to her neck. Abdulhak was friends with Ms Magnussen and had been at the nightclub on March 14. In 2023 he claimed the incident was a 'sex accident gone wrong'. In a text message to Nawal Al-Maghafi, BBC News Arabic special correspondent, Abdulhak said he 'could barely piece together what happened'. When the journalist asked him why, he replied: 'Cocaine.' Abdulhak told Ms Al-Maghafi 'trust me I'm legally (expletive)' and that this was due to 'leaving the country and the body was moved'. She asked him if he had thought about handing himself in, and he said lawyers had advised him not to as he would now 'serve the harshest sentence'. Abdulhak told her it was 'too late'. His father was the late billionaire Shaher Abdulhak, who was known as the king of sugar because the source of part of his fortune was the soft drinks industry. An anonymous family member told a Discovery+ documentary aired in 2022 that Abdulhak is leading an isolated life in Yemen. They said: 'Farouk's entire life is staying at home. There is no socialising. There is no going to public places. 'Nobody comes there. He doesn't really have any friends.' Ms Magnussen was studying at Regent's Business School and had just come top of her class when she died. A group of students were on the night out but Ms Magnussen vanished, and her body was found in the basement area of flats where Abdulhak lived. On Friday, Detective Inspector Jim Barry, leading the investigation from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'Despite Abdulhak's refusal to come to the UK, we are as committed today as we were in 2008 to get justice for Martine. 'We're releasing a more up-to-date image of Farouk Abdulhak and hope that someone can encourage him to do the right thing and hand himself in to UK police. 'My message is directly to Farouk Abdulhak. 'You have been running and hiding for 17 years. You participated in a BBC documentary, providing your explanation as to what happened. It is time to grow up and face your responsibilities to Martine and her family. 'Come to the UK now and explain all to a court and jury. Our pursuit of you will not stop.'
