Trump restricts AP access over Gulf of Mexico issue
Associated Press said it would continue to use the gulf’s established name disregarding the Trump administration’s effort to rebrand it as Gulf of America
Updated 20 February 2025
Reuters
LONDON: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will block the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One until the news agency stops referring to the Gulf of Mexico.
Trump signed an executive order in January directing the Interior Department to change the name of the body of water to the Gulf of America. The AP, citing editorial standards, said it would continue to use the gulf’s established name.
The White House has kept the AP out of several press pool gatherings during the past week, calling the news agency’s decision divisive and misinformation.
“We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America,” Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Tuesday in his first public comments on the issue.
The agency has retained access to the White House complex itself.
The Gulf of Mexico, branded as Gulf of America, is pictured through a magnifying glass on the Google Maps app on a computer in Bogota on February 11, 2025. (AFP)
The AP says in its stylebook that the Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. As a global news agency, the AP says it will refer to the gulf by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen.
“This is about the government telling the public and press what words to use and retaliating if they do not follow government orders,” said AP spokesperson Lauren Easton.
The White House Correspondents’ Association, which represents journalists covering the president, has protested the Trump administration’s actions against the AP.
Most news organizations, including Reuters, continue to call the body of water the Gulf of Mexico, although, where relevant, Reuters style is to include the context about Trump’s executive order.
“Reuters stands with the Associated Press and other media organizations in objecting to coverage restrictions imposed by the White House on the AP, because of the AP’s independent editorial decisions,” Reuters said in a statement on Saturday.
AP sues Trump aides for restricting access over Gulf of Mexico name
Lawsuit claims the White House’s decision retaliated against the AP over coverage decisions, which are protected under the Constitution
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung called the lawsuit “a blatant PR stunt masquerading as a first amendment case”
Updated 22 February 2025
Reuters
WASHINGTON: The Associated Press on Friday sued senior aides to President Donald Trump over a decision by the White House to restrict the news outlet’s access to the president and other officials for continuing to refer to the Gulf of Mexico in its coverage.
The lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Washington D.C., alleges that the White House’s decision to bar AP reporters from the Oval Office and Air Force One violates the US Constitution, including First Amendment protections for free speech, by trying to control the language that it uses to report the news.
“The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government,” the complaint states.
Responding to questions about the lawsuit posed by conservative commentator Mercedes Schlapp, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking during an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, said: “We feel we are in the right in this position. We are going to ensure that truth and accuracy is present at that White House every single day.”
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, in a statement, called the lawsuit “a blatant PR stunt masquerading as a first amendment case.”
To avoid getting caught in the crossfire, Google now uses both Gulf of Mexicio and Gulf of America on its online map.
Trump signed an executive order last month directing the Interior Department to change the name of the body of water long known as the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
The AP, citing editorial standards, said it would continue to use the gulf’s established name, while acknowledging Trump’s move to change it.
The AP says in its stylebook that the Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years and that it must use identifiers that are easily recognizable for global audiences.
The White House in response barred AP reporters from the Oval Office, where Trump has held several press events since returning to the presidency, and the presidential plane, Air Force One.
Trump’s ban prevents the AP’s journalists from seeing and hearing him and other top White House officials as they take newsworthy actions or respond in real time to news events.
The move has been criticized by several press freedom groups and the White House Correspondents’ Association. Reuters released a statement in support of the AP.
The lawsuit claims the White House’s decision retaliated against the AP over coverage decisions, which are protected under the Constitution. It also alleges the AP did not have an opportunity to challenge the White House’s decision to bar its access.
The lawsuit names Leavitt, chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich as defendants.
Wiles and Budowich did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The AP is seeking a temporary restraining order declaring the restrictions unlawful and immediately restoring its access to all areas available to the White House press pool. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Additional reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Scott Malone and Rosalba O’Brien)
British writer quits union following arrest of Palestinian booksellers
Matthew Teller: Society of Authors statement on arrests in East Jerusalem an ‘insult’ and ‘bertrayal’
Author Mahmoud Muna, nephew Ahmed Muna were detained in Israeli police raid on Feb. 9
Updated 21 February 2025
Arab News
LONDON: A British writer has resigned from the Society of Authors after it released a statement following a raid by Israeli police on Palestinian-owned bookstores in East Jerusalem.
Matthew Teller said the statement, which failed to mention the names of the booksellers, Israel or Palestine, was a “betrayal” that added “insult to injury” for the individuals detained.
Two branches of the Educational Bookshop were raided on Feb. 9. Police arrested Mahmoud Muna, who co-authored the book “Daybreak in Gaza” with Teller, and his nephew Ahmed Muna.
Around 250 books were taken in the raid, but most were subsequently returned to the stores. Murad Muna, Mahmoud’s brother, said Israeli police were using Google Translate to identify “anything they didn’t like the look of,” including any book “with a Palestinian flag on it.”
A police statement said Mahmoud and Ahmed were initially charged with “inciting and supporting terrorism,” and “detectives encountered numerous books containing inciteful material with nationalist Palestinian themes, including a children’s colouring book titled ‘From the River to the Sea.’”
The pair were eventually released and placed under house arrest, with their charges downgraded to “disturbing public order,” their lawyer said.
Protesters gathered outside a court hearing for the pair on Feb. 10, which was also attended by diplomats from the UK and several other European countries.
The SoA’s statement said: “We are concerned by recent press reports on the police raid of an educational bookshop in a country which is governed by a parliamentary democracy.”
Teller said he hoped the SoA “would have taken this opportunity to illuminate the evils of state censorship and defend those who seek to practise freedom. Instead, it obscured understanding of the issues with platitudes and irrelevant assertions. It was an abject failure.
“I wholeheartedly support writers who are able to remain engaged with the SoA, and I recognise the value in urgent ongoing efforts to force change, but I, regretfully, can no longer tolerate such equivocation from a trade union that purports to represent me.”
An SoA spokesperson said it is “saddened when any of our members decide to leave us,” but “we considered that recent press reports provided an opportunity to the SoA to remind our members of its position on book bans.”
More than £30,000 ($37,925) were raised for the booksellers by a GoFundMe campaign organized by Saqi Books in London to help pay for damages, replace lost books and loss of income until Mahmoud and Ahmed are permitted by Israeli authorities to return to work.
Saqi Books is also launching #BooksellingIsNotACrime Day on Saturday in partnership with Pluto Press, with participating booksellers and organizations encouraged to donate to the fundraiser and raise the profile of Palestinian writers.
Saudi Journalists Association celebrates rebranding at media evening
Ceremony attended by more than 100 journalists
Updated 21 February 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi Journalists Association celebrated a new rebranding at an event on Thursday.
The event took place at a dinner held at Najd Village in Riyadh, honoring the guests of the Saudi Media Forum.
The ceremony was attended by more than 100 journalists, along with several leaders of Arab and international media organizations.
Adhwan Al-Ahmari, the SJA chairman, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to attendees for accepting the invitation and participating in the occasion. He emphasized that the SJA serves as a fundamental pillar in strengthening the national media identity and is committed to developing the journalism profession in the Kingdom by protecting journalists’ rights and providing the necessary support for their professional journey.
Al-Ahmari pointed out that the SJA’s rebranding and updated logo reflected the rapid developments in the media sector. The new logo was designed to embody the ambitious trajectory adopted by the current board of directors, drawing from the experiences of previous colleagues while keeping pace with the requirements of the era through modern innovations.
He added that the new logo, which was designed by Saudi media professional Sultan Al-Saif, represented the values of belonging and national identity. The design incorporates palm fronds to form an umbrella that symbolizes the SJA’s central role in embracing and protecting journalists while promoting values of unity and professional support.
Al-Ahmari said that, alongside its local activities, the SJA seeks to enhance cooperation with Arab and international media institutions to exchange expertise and elevate the profession.
He highlighted the board’s dedication to empowering journalists and developing their skills to keep up with global media transformations, reflecting the Kingdom’s prestigious standing on the international stage. He also expressed his gratitude to members of the General Assembly of the Federation of Asia Pacific Journalists for electing him as that body’s president during a meeting held earlier that day in Riyadh.
The event featured speeches from several prominent media figures, and Khalid Al-Malik, the former chairman of the SJA’s board, expressed his gratitude for the invitation extended to him and his fellow former board members. He praised the SJA’s new identity and wished the current board continued success.
Jomana Al-Rashid, the CEO of the Saudi Research and Media Group, also expressed her ongoing support for the SJA’s efforts and SRMG’s readiness to provide backing and assistance.
Moaid Allami, the head of the Federation of Arab Journalists, commended the SJA’s role in supporting the FAJ and advancing Arab media collaboration. He also praised the Kingdom’s efforts across various fields and lauded Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his leadership in promoting regional and international stability.
Several leaders from the International Federation of Journalists and Arab media organizations also spoke, highlighting the positive spirit prevailing between the SJA’s current and former boards. They considered this a model to be emulated in ensuring the continuity of institutional work in media organizations.
The evening concluded with several cultural performances, including the traditional Saudi Ardah dance and an impressive falconry display presented by the Saudi Falcons Club.
Entities and individuals who had contributed to the success of the event were honored, including Woosh, Najd Village, Sultan Al-Saif, and Add Enterprise, which handled the event’s technical aspects, including audiovisual preparations.
BBC pulls Gaza documentary after revealing child narrator’s Hamas link
British broadcaster announced on Friday that it had removed the documentary from BBC iPlayer
Updated 21 February 2025
Arab News
LONDON: The BBC has withdrawn its Gaza documentary “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone” from its platforms after it emerged that the child narrator was the son of a Hamas minister.
The British broadcaster announced on Friday that it had removed the documentary from BBC iPlayer while conducting “further due diligence.”
The film, which first aired on BBC Two on Monday, features 13-year-old Abdullah Al-Yazouri, the son of Ayman Alyazouri, Hamas’s deputy minister of agriculture.
The BBC said in a statement that while the documentary featured “important stories we think should be told, those of the experiences of children in Gaza, there have been continuing questions raised about the program and in the light of these, we are conducting further due diligence with the production company.
“The program will not be available on iPlayer while this is taking place,” it added.
The decision follows accusations that other children in the documentary were pictured alongside Hamas figures. The controversy prompted high-profile figures, including actress Tracy-Ann Oberman and former BBC governor Ruth Deech, to call for its removal.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also said that she would be “discussing” the documentary with the BBC, which issued a statement on Thursday apologizing for omitting the narrator’s family ties to Hamas.
The broadcaster said that it had followed all standard compliance procedures but had not been informed of the connection by the independent producers.
Although the documentary includes Palestinians criticizing Hamas and has been praised for its close-up observational style, mounting pressure led BBC executives to take firmer action.
The decision to pull the film was met with criticism from the International Center of Justice for Palestinians, which accused the broadcaster of caving to political pressure.
“For some, almost any Palestinian perspective appears to be deemed unacceptable,” the group said in a statement.
“In this case, objections have been raised because Abdullah’s father holds a government role in Gaza’s Hamas-run administration. However, this does not negate the child’s lived experience or invalidate his testimony.”
Regional conflicts dent Middle East performance in 2025 Soft Power Index
Despite gains in perception-based categories, Saudi Arabia dropped two spots to 20th after years of steady growth
The Gaza war’s ripple effects and a regional ‘shift in sentiment’ caused a slowdown in performance for Middle Eastern nations, Brand Finance MENA director told Arab News
Updated 21 February 2025
GABRIELE MALVISI
LONDON: Regional conflicts have negatively impacted the performance of Middle Eastern countries in this year’s Soft Power Index, according to findings by brand and marketing consultancy Brand Finance.
The 2025 results, unveiled at the annual conference in London on Thursday, revealed significant declines for nations embroiled in conflicts — including Israel, Lebanon, Sudan, Ukraine, and Russia — dragging down much of the broader region’s performance.
Despite the UAE maintaining its 10th-place ranking with a modest 0.7-point increase, other Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Israel, saw stagnation or setbacks after years of steady gains.
“After years of soft power gains, Gulf nations somewhat lose momentum in 2025, with the exception of the UAE,” said Andrew Campbell, managing director at Brand Finance Middle East. “While they remain admired for their influence and business-friendly policies, respondents from the wider Middle East, Africa, and Asia view the region less favorably than before.”
The index, which Brand Finance calls the “most comprehensive study on perceptions of nation brands,” surveyed 170,000 respondents across more than 100 markets.
Saudi Arabia, which had been one of the fastest climbers in recent years, slipped two places to 20th after rising eight spots since 2020. While the Kingdom stalled in key metrics such as familiarity, influence, and reputation, it continued to make strides in perception-based categories. Among these, Saudi Arabia showed a 0.7-point increase (out of 10) in education and science — an area highlighted by the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center’s recognition as one of the world’s top academic medical centers in a separate Brand Finance report earlier this year.
Soft power, a term coined by American political scientist Joseph Nye in the 1990s, refers to a nation’s ability to achieve influence through persuasion rather than coercion or financial incentives. It has been central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, with significant investments across various industries propelling its growth in the rankings in recent years. This aligns with the Kingdom’s broader aspirations to diversify its economy, attract foreign investment and talent, and solidify its position on the global stage.
While many Gulf nations experienced setbacks, the UAE remained largely resilient. Retaining 10th place overall, the country scored highly in perceptions of influence (eighth), international relations (ninth), and business and trade (10th). The UAE also climbed to second place globally for being “easy to do business in and with” and ranked in the top 10 for “future growth potential” and “strong and stable economy.” This was driven by fiscal strength, a positive investment climate, and continued economic diversification.
Campbell noted that while the region has made steady gains in recent years, the latest index reflects a “shift in sentiment in the wider Middle East and in Asia towards Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” leading to a leveling off in their performance.
Former US Secretary of State John Kerry with the Chairman of Brand Finance David Haigh. (Brand Finance/File)
Speaking to Arab News, he said that although the survey measures perception rather than the direct causes behind it, “part of it is to do with the conflict in Gaza” and the “strong sentiments” the Palestinian cause evokes throughout the region.
“I think that sentiment is somewhat driven by that deep Arab feeling of, ‘We have to protect and be aligned with the Palestinians,’” he explained. “So, there’s probably some kind of internal conflict of feeling going on. And then we’ve also got the Iran situation relative to Syria and the Houthis. That whole dynamic in the Middle East has always been complicated, but it’s now complicated and explosive.”
Campbell linked this shift in perception to the Abraham Accords signed by the UAE during Donald Trump’s first presidency.
The survey was conducted between September and November, meaning major developments — such as the ceasefire in Lebanon, the end of the Assad regime in Syria, and the Gaza truce — have yet to be fully absorbed into the index.
The rapidly evolving situation in the region and other active conflict areas was a key focus at Thursday’s summit. Speakers, including former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Lech Walesa, former US Secretary of State John Kerry, and former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, underscored the resurgence of hard power — military and economic coercion — as a defining factor in how nations are perceived on the global stage.
Michael Clarke, distinguished fellow and former director-general of the defense and security think tank Royal United Services Institute, told Arab News that contrary to popular belief, “soft and hard power are not a seesaw where one goes up and the other goes down. They tend to go up or down together.” He stressed that while “we are seeing much greater emphasis on hard power politics,” nations should not overlook the role of soft power.
He argued that, as the world moves into an era of “new imperialism, soft power will go with that,” noting that hard power is most effective when complemented by soft power. Countries with strong military capabilities, he added, often “spend most of their time not fighting” because their influence stems from imitation and strategic deterrence — key elements of real soft power.
Highlighting Israel’s performance over the past two years, Clarke pointed to its military failures in Gaza as an example of how the misuse of hard power can erode soft power. He noted that Israel’s actions, perceived as lacking moral legitimacy, are seen as “intolerable to most other professional militaries” that integrate hard power into their broader strategic influence.
Looking ahead, Clarke said the long-term geopolitical impact of Israel’s recent actions remains uncertain, particularly as Trump’s second term begins. Amid the shifting power dynamics in the region, he suggested that Syria’s post-Assad transition could significantly influence its soft power standing in the coming year. This “remaking of the Middle East,” he added, may also present an opportunity for Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to enhance their soft power appeal as the region’s geopolitical landscape continues to evolve.
The US-Russia negotiations over Ukraine, held in Riyadh this week, were a key topic of discussion at the summit. As highlighted in this year’s Soft Power Index, both countries followed a similar trajectory to other nations involved in conflict, experiencing stagnation or, in Ukraine’s case, a decline after two years of gains.
Professor Michael Clarke addressing the summit. (AN/File)
Speakers underscored that, in what Clarke described as a new “paradigm of international relations,” the UN’s role — already under strain due to its perceived failure to uphold its mandate — will be critical in fostering international cooperation on global challenges beyond the capacity of individual nations. The index reveals a growing divide, with stronger nations advancing rapidly while weaker ones fall further behind.
“With the exception of when the Security Council mandates the use of sanctions or force, most of what the UN does is powered by soft power. It is the power of convening,” Maher Nasser, commissioner-general of the UN at Expo 2025 and director of the Department of Global Communications, told Arab News. “It is the power of working towards consensus when not possible by majority votes. But the traces and the impact of the work that takes place in the UN (are) way beyond the issues of peace and security that people (tend to) focus on.”
Amid ongoing conflicts and shifting global dynamics, Nasser emphasized that the UN remains “the most representative platform on the planet,” stressing that lasting peace can only be achieved through “creating conditions for trust and using soft power to achieve objectives,” a principle at the heart of the UN’s mission.
This year’s index saw the US retain its top position, while China overtook the UK for second place. Among Arab nations, Egypt ranked 38th, Kuwait 40th, and Oman 49th. Morocco, Bahrain, and Jordan followed at 50th, 51st, and 58th, respectively, while Algeria placed 78th, Tunisia 79th, Lebanon 91st, and Yemen 122nd — climbing 27 places due to improvements in governance, international relations, and education and science. Syria (127th) and Libya (133rd) rounded out the rankings.
