Russian invasion to Ukraine has once more revealed the versatile nature of the modern warfare and contemporary conflicts. Alongside with land, air and sea, cyberspace remains the area of fierce clashes between Russia and Ukraine. Internet, especially social networks are widely used for various types of information and psychological operations. Same time, the ongoing revolution in communication technologies makes almost impossible to hide the information. Accordingly, one of the main specific characteristics of the war is the fact that society is more informed about ongoing situation, than ever. This process cannot be discussed in a single dimension as far as it has its advantages and downsides.

On the hand it is extremely difficult to hide the atrocities and war crimes that has been conducted on Ukrainian soil, it is much easier to gather evidence and get information directly from the victims, or eyewitnesses. On the other hand, the war has become into a reality show type entertainment for millions of spectators all over the world. As one of the Ukrainian politicians has already mentioned, the western society is looking at the war as if it was some show, however everything what is happening is happening for real, and everything what people see is about the indescribable human tragedy, as far as the war at first place affects those people, who are not concerned or linked to the politics, conflict and just desire to have normal, peaceful lives where their rights are protected and their lives, dignity and personality are not at risk of destruction and humiliation.

At this extend the question rises, what role a facial recognition technology, like PimEyes can play? As far as the more advanced the facial recognition gets, easier to find a person who has ever been connected to the internet. One of the main characteristics of the war in Ukraine is that fighters from both sides upload material to various internet sources where their faces and locations are visible. Same time, from both side enormous amount of photo and video material are generated where faces of war hostages are displayed, where they publicly admit war crimes, or ask for mercy. Faces if refugees, internally displaced persons, or civilian hostages permanently are displayed by various media sources, users, or even fighters themselves. In such cases, efficient facial recognition solutions might be really handful to search or identify those people who represent subject of particular interest.

At the beginning of Russian invasion to Ukraine, PimEyes received multiple requests from Russian based users about permission to use the facial recognition technology to search for their family members or Ukrainian soldiers who have been posting videos in different online sources. After analysis of the requests and traffic from Russian Federation, PimEyes team saw the risk that their product might be used for illegal purposes or might be used by special services of Russia to identify Ukrainian individuals who are actively involved in information operations, or just create content to encourage Ukrainian society to resist Russian occupation.

To avoid using PimEyes services for such distorted purposes PimEyes team made up decision to bar Russian Federation from its services till the end of aggression. Every user who is based in Russia at this moment is unavailable to perform searches or use any other services offered by the company. Same time, PimEyes made a statement that they are ready to provide any possible assistance to investigation process of the war crimes, cooperate with international humanitarian organizations that work to find the missing people, identify war criminals, or military hostages who need to be returned to their country.

After an incredible season of record-breaking achievements, historic promotions and a nail-biting title race that went right to the wire, PFA members have cast their votes for the 49th annual PFA Awards, choosing their PFA Players’ Player of the Year (POTY), PFA Young Player of the Year and divisional Teams of the Year. 

After an incredible season of record-breaking achievements, historic promotions and a nail-biting title race that went right to the wire, PFA members have cast their votes for the 49th annual PFA Awards, choosing their PFA Players’ Player of the Year (POTY), PFA Young Player of the Year and divisional Teams of the Year. 

Current men’s POTY winner, Kevin De Bruyne is back in the running, alongside previous winners Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as previous nominees Sadio Mané and Harry Kane. Ronaldo and de Bruyne, the iconic Manchester duo from the other sides of the city, will be both looking to bag a historic third POTY trophy, but they face stiff competition from Liverpool’s FA Cup winning trio and England captain, Kane. 

It’s no surprise that the three teams at the top of the Women’s Super League (WSL) dominate nominations for women’s POTY, with Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp both nominated for the second time. Sam's fellow Blue, Pernille Harder, earns her first POTY nomination. While Lauren’s club and England teammate Alex Greenwood makes the nominee list for the second time. Arsenal captain Kim Little receives her third nomination after winning the inaugural women’s POTY trophy in 2013, while WSL all-time record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema also secures her third nomination after winning the award in 2019. 

The all-English field for men’s Young Player Of The Year (YPOTY) is great news for Gareth Southgate’s future Euro and World Cup ambitions. Manchester City’s Phil Foden is up for the award again after taking home his first YPOTY award last season. Arsenal superstar Bukayo Saka is the second returning nominee with his third YPOTY nod in a row after a spectacular season with the Gunners. Bukayo’s Arsenal teammate Emile Smith Rowe joins Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, Chelsea’s Reece James and Crystal Palace’s super-loanee Conor Gallagher in receiving a first PFA YPOTY nomination.

The nominee list for women’s YPOTY is wide open this year, with players from six different WSL clubs vying for the top spot. Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp secures her second double nomination and will be looking for a record-breaking fourth YPOTY win. Chelsea’s Lauren James’ third YPOTY nomination opens up the possibility of our first brother and sister win and Manchester United’s Ella Toone picks up her second consecutive YPOTY nomination after another season of flawless form. Arsenal's Frida Maanum gets her first PFA YPOTY Award nomination just one year after joining the WSL, with Brighton and Hove Albion’s Maya Le Tissier also securing her first nomination and Tottenham’s Jessica Naz making history as the club’s first women’s YPOTY nominee!

With an exciting list of nominees, the 2022 PFA Awards are shaping up to be one of the most memorable evenings in football yet! Tune into our PFA social channels on the 9th of June, when all winners will be revealed! Congratulations to all nominees!

WOMEN’S PFA YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 

Lauren Hemp - Manchester City

Lauren James - Chelsea

Frida Maanum - Arsenal

Jessica Naz - Tottenham Hotspur

Ella Toone - Manchester United

Maya Le Tissier - Brighton and Hove Albion

MEN’S PFA YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 

Phil Foden - Manchester City 

Conor Gallagher - Crystal Palace

Reece James - Chelsea

Jacob Ramsey - Aston Villa

Bukayo Saka - Arsenal

Emile Smith Rowe - Arsenal 

WOMEN’S PFA PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Alex Greenwood - Manchester City

Pernille Harder - Chelsea

Lauren Hemp - Manchester City

Sam Kerr - Chelsea

Kim Little - Arsenal

Vivianne Miedema - Arsenal

MEN’S PFA PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool

Harry Kane - Tottenham Hotspur

Sadio Mané - Liverpool

Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United

Mohamed Salah - Liverpool

Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City 

Brand New Galaxy (BNG), the global marketing and technology platform, has announced today that they have secured the media remit of Mashreq Bank in the MEA region.

This win comes into play as they partnered with sister agency Assembly MENA, part of Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), who recently welcomed BNG into their fold. 

The partnership of BNG MEA and Assembly MENA along with their data-driven approach to performance marketing, were a winning bet for Mashreq Bank; who were looking for a tech and data focused agency with a deep understanding of the MEA banking sector. As Mashreq’s media agency, BNG/Assembly will be responsible for integrated media, branding and performance marketing with a special focus on driving customer acquisition across Mashreq’s products and services in the region. 

Zubair Siddiqui, COO, BNG MEA, said: “Mashreq has always been a leader in its category when it comes to tech driven banking solutions, and we are excited to be partnering in their journey to scale up data driven growth.”

Rania Nerhal, Chief Client Experience & Conduct Officer and Acting Chief Marketing Officer, Mashreq Bank, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with BNG/Assembly, who share our vision and forward-thinking customer centric marketing solutions focused on data, digitization, and the adoption of the latest technologies. By working together, we are confident that BNG/Assembly will help elevate the Mashreq brand across the region.”

“Mashreq are at a very exciting stage of their growth and we’re looking forward to enhancing their brand and driving performance in their marketing. Brand New Galaxy and Assembly have come together to offer a leading suite of services and solutions combining traditional and digital media that we’re confident will propel Mashreq’s business to the next level”, added Kinloch Magowan, Regional Director, Assembly MENA.

Lianne Braganza, Cigna's CMO, MEA appointed jury chair

WARC, the global authority on marketing effectiveness, has today launched the WARC Awards for MENA Strategy 2022, a search for the region’s smartest strategic marketing ideas that have driven business growth.

Launched in 2017, this case study competition is free to enter and is open to agencies, brand owners and specialists in any marketing discipline from across MENA.

This year’s Awards will be chaired by Lianne Braganza, Chief Marketing Officer, MEA, Cigna. Lianne is responsible for reinforcing Cigna’s customer-centric approach and market development through the conceptualisation and execution of strategic marketing, targeted segmentation, digital initiatives, and health and wellness initiatives across the MEA region. 

Commenting on her upcoming chairing role, Lianne Braganza said: "The WARC Awards for MENA Strategy are a powerful means to give brands in the MENA region an opportunity to demonstrate how they're making a difference as they respond to the unique challenges they are facing." 

Chiara Manco, Commissioning Editor, Case Studies, WARC, says: “As brands look to adapt to the changing needs and behaviours of consumers, we are delighted to welcome our esteemed Jury Chair, Cigna’s Lianne Braganza, who will lead the judging process to shine a light on the best strategic thinking the region has to offer.” 

The jury will award a Grand Prix, Gold, Silver and Bronze accolades. With a straightforward process, entries can be submitted until 21 September 2022.

Landor & Fitch’s regional projects have scooped wins across various categories

Landor & Fitch, a global brand transformation company, has won 19 awards for its leading projects at this year’s Transform MEA Awards.

The Transform Awards celebrate exemplary work in brand development and acknowledge the growing importance of brand for businesses across the Middle East and Africa region.

Saudi National Bank celebrated seven awards, winning Gold for Best Corporate Rebrand Following a Merger or Acquisition, and Best Visual Identity from the Financial Services Sector. The project also won Silver for Best Brand Consolidation and Best Strategic or Creative Development of a New Brand, Bronze for Best Brand Architecture Solution and Best Use of Audio Branding, and was also highly commended for Best Use of Copy Style or Tone of Voice.

The Rig also scooped seven awards, including Gold for Best Visual Identity from the Lifestyle and Wellness Sector and Best Visual Identity from the Sports and Leisure Sector as well as Bronze for Best Use of a Visual Property and Best Place or Nation Brand. The Rig was highly commended for Best Brand Experience, Best Creative Strategy and Best Naming Strategy.

Saudi German Health won Gold for Best Use of Audio Branding, Best Use of Copy Style or Tone of Voice, and was awarded Bronze for Best Visual Identity from the Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Sector.

Rami Zahran, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Saudi German Health, said: “This has been an absolutely amazing experience. I’m so proud of work with Landor & Fitch which has led to our wins in such unique categories.”

Weem won Silver for Best Visual Identity from the Transport and Logistics Sector, and was highly commended for Best Strategic or Creative Development of a New Brand.

Mariagrazia De Angelis, Group Managing Director MEA at Landor & Fitch, said: “We’re honoured to be so widely recognised for our flagship projects in the region again this year. Every one of the projects has been awarded across a variety of categories, which is true testament to the outstanding quality of work we have delivered. Now more than ever, brand plays a leading role in business and we pair strategic vigour with extraordinary creative to drive brand-led growth for our clients. We celebrate our Transform MEA award success with our wonderful clients who trust us with their brands, and our incredible teams who continue to set new benchmarks year after year.”

Benjamin Fujita-Summers, Executive Director – Brand Experience, Landor & Fitch, said: “This is an exciting time to be transforming brands as the region experiences such rapid change. For our project on The Rig we created a brand that was inspired by its oil exploration roots yet reflects its sustainable tourism ambitions. I’m delighted that the project has gained worldwide recognition and won seven awards.”

Harry and Meghan see their favourability hit new lows ahead of the jubilee

As the nation begins to celebrate 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II on the throne, new YouGov royal favourability data shows the Queen remains the most popular royal.

Overall, eight in ten people (81%) hold a positive opinion of the Queen, versus 12% who see her negatively – giving the monarch a net score of +69.

Elizabeth II holds a positive net favourability across all age groups, including the youngest adults (who are the least likely to want the UK to remain a monarchy). Some 60% of people aged 18 to 24 have a positive view of the Queen, while 18% hold a negative opinion, for a net score of +42. It is among those 65+ who hold the Queen in the highest regard, however (+92). The Queen also has a significantly higher favourability score among women (+70) than men (+57).

Over the last ten years of YouGov tracking, the Queen has maintained a strongly positive view among the public. She has consistently been the most popular member of the family since early 2021. However, before then she was narrowly beaten to the title to her grandson Prince William on several occasions.

While now pipped to the post by his grandmother, Prince William is still the second most positively viewed Windsor at +59, with 75% holding a positive opinion of him and 16% with a negative view. Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, follows closely behind her husband. Seven in ten people (70%) say they have a positive impression of her, compared to 15% who have a negative one, giving her a net score of +55.

Prince Charles and his wife Camila, the Duchess of Cornwall, hold net scores of +19 and +9 respectively. A small majority of people hold a positive view of the future king (54%), while 35% have a poor opinion. For Camilla, 47% see her positively and 38% negatively.

It is a different story for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, however. In this latest round of figures, Harry and Meghan's popularity has hit new lows.

Harry now holds a net score of -26 among the British public, compared to -25 from the previous survey on 16-17 March. Now, just one in three (32%) see Harry in a positive light compared to over half (58%) who think of him negatively.

Likewise, Meghan Markle is also at her lowest ever favourability score, at -42. Only 23% of the public hold a positive opinion of the Duchess of Sussex, while approaching two in three (63%) have a negative view.

The Sussexes remain positively seen among the young, but by a narrow margin. Four in ten of those aged 18 to 24 (42%) see Harry positively, and 33% see him negatively - a net score of +9. This young age group are more closely split over Meghan with a net score of +2, as 38% view her positively and 36% negatively.

Harry and Meghan are both seen poorly by older generations. Their popularity diminishes progressively with each older age group, reaching a low of -65 and -79 respectively among those Britons aged 65 and over.

Despite Harry and Meghan’s low scores, Prince Andrew remains the most disliked royal overall with a net score of -80. A mere 5% of the public see him positively, while 85% view him negatively.

Nerds, do you copy? The long-awaited return of Stranger Things 4, Volume 1skyrocketed to 001 with a record breaking 286.79M hours viewed, making it the biggest premiere weekend ever for an English language TV show on Netflix.

As Mike once said, “If anyone asks where I am, I've left the country” and Stranger Things 4 has done just that. Fans traveled to Hawkins and the season took the #1 spot in 83 countries - another record for a premiere weekend! Previous seasons are also running up that hill back into the Top 10 (Kate Bush's 37-year old song soars in streams on Spotify), with Season 1 (38.05M hours viewed), Season 2 (22.21M hours viewed) and Season 3 (24.29M hours viewed) proving that the Upside Down is the place to be. 

From Indiana to the sunny beaches of California, The Lincoln Lawyer came in second with 64.82M hours viewed. The series was in the Top 10 in 75 countries. The second half of Ozark Season 4 continued to stay the course, pulling in an additional 21.91M hours viewed. The drama also moved up the Most Popular list into the eighth spot with 491.07M hours viewed. With 11.34M hours viewed in its tenth week, fans still can’t get enough of Bridgerton Season 2.  

Wrong Side of the Tracks took the top spot on the non-English TV list with 61.62M hours viewed. The Spanish thriller made the Top 10 in 71 countries. Who Killed Sara? Season 3 was #2 with 31.84M hours viewed. Seasons 1 and 2 of the Mexican thriller pulled in 14.6M hours viewed and 11.77M hours viewed, respectively. Fan-favorites including Spanish drama Welcome to Eden (14.34M hours viewed), Colombian thriller The Marked Heart (12.88M hours viewed), Korean dramas Our Blues (12.72M hours viewed) and Tomorrow (11.12M hours viewed)  and Korean comedy Business Proposal (9.99M hours viewed) continued to entertain viewers. 

Fans found their match with A Perfect Pairing. The romantic comedy topped the English Films list with 32.63M hours viewed and appeared in the Top 10 in 93 countries. Viewers relived the good old days as Senior Year came in at #2 with 24.56M hours viewed, appearing in the Top 10 in 90 countries. Our Father remained on the list with 5.15M hours viewed. 

On the non-English Films side, Indian saga RRR Hindi  topped the list with 18.36M hours viewed. Dutch romantic comedy F*ck Love Too had 15.6M hours viewed. While viewers also fell in love with feel-good Danish drama Toscana, which had 14M hours viewed. Laughter was the best medicine with French and Spanish comedies The Takedown (6.09M hours viewed) and ThePerfect Family (4.84M hours viewed), respectively.New entrants on the list included Turkish drama Godspeed (4.64M hours viewed) and Korean kids comedy Larva Pendant (3.09M hours viewed). 

The All England Lawn Tennis Club has decided to change Wimbledon’s honour roll for the Championships next month, removing titles before the names of its female champions in line with the tournament’s presentation of its male winners The Times newspaper reported.

In an age of increasing equality, the All England Club is also updating the tradition of giving married women who won titles the initials and surname of their husbands.

Chris Evert's entry on the honours boards for her 1976 singles title win was Miss C M Evert. After her marriage to John Lloyd her 1981 title was recorded as Mrs J M Lloyd, but the new board will now have C Evert Lloyd for that entry.

The grasscourt major, which has been stripped of ranking points by the ATP and WTA over its decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, gets underway on June 27.

Everyone’s favorite school is back! 

Following the international success of Al Rawabi School for Girls, which premiered on August 12, 2021, Netflix is excited to announce that the series has been renewed for Season 2. 

A first-of-its-kind in the Arab World, Al Rawabi School for Girls explores the challenges that young women face as they navigate high school, capturing the highs and lows of adolescence in a relatable and authentic way. Released in 190 countries and available in over 32 languages, Season 1 of Al Rawabi School for Girls resonated with young adults worldwide, mirroring their lives on screen. 

Tima Shomali and Shirin Kamal will return as Creators and Executive Producers in collaboration with writer and executive producer Islam Alshomali. Tima Shomali will direct the show.

The Al Rawabi School for Girls Administration issued a letter to the student body, ahead of the new school year:

This year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, BBC World News, BBC World Service and BBC.com will be offering their global audience comprehensive coverage of the build up to Jubilee weekend, the official celebrations in London and how communities across the UK and the Commonwealth are marking the Platinum Jubilee over four days – with all the pomp, pageantry, and parties.

Former BBC World News America anchor Katty Kay will return to front the coverage on BBC World News. Katty said, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the world to come together and celebrate seven remarkable decades of Queen Elizabeth II's service to the UK and Commonwealth and I’m excited that I'll be at the heart of the action, bringing on-the-ground coverage to our audiences across the world.”

The coverage includes:

BBC WORLD NEWS

Thursday 2nd June

Platinum Jubilee: Trooping the Colour

We will be live outside Buckingham Palace where we will look ahead to the weekend’s events. The first of the festivities will be Trooping the Colour (The Queen’s Birthday Parade), consisting of 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians who will be joined by Royal Family members on horseback and in carriages. The Royal Family will also gather on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. TX times: 10:00-13:15 BST

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: BBC News Special

An hour long special by presenter Katty Kay. Not only will we be looking back at the day and forward to the rest of the weekend, but we will also include interviews with royal watchers, people partaking in the events, and members of the public – plus, we will share feature material about the Queen’s reign. TX times: 20:00-21:00 BST

Platinum Beacons: Lighting up the Jubilee

The United Kingdom has a long-standing tradition of lighting beacons to celebrate Royal Weddings, Coronations and Jubilees. The channel will be broadcasting the lighting of the Platinum Jubilee Beacons where thousands of candles will be lit by charities and community groups across the UK. A total of 54 Commonwealth beacons will be lit (one in each Commonwealth capital city), and the principal beacon will also be lit – an illumination of a “tree of trees” sculpture at Buckingham Palace. TX times: 21:00-22:00 BST

BBC World News America: Special Edition

Katty Kay will present a special on-location edition of BBC World News America. TX times: 22:00-22:25 BST

Friday 3rd June

Platinum Jubilee: A Service of Thanksgiving

A service of Thanksgiving will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. We will be broadcasting outside of Saint Paul’s in the morning, moving back to Buckingham Palace in the afternoon. (Please note the channel will not be broadcasting live footage of the service due to rights restrictions). TX times: 10:00-12:30 BST

BBC World News America: Special Edition

Katty Kay will present a special on-location edition of BBC World News America. TX times: 22:00-22:25 BST

Saturday 4th June

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: BBC News Special

An hour long special presented by Katty Kay, looking back at all of the day’s highlights. TX times: 17:00-18:00 BST

Sunday 5th June

The Big Jubilee Lunch

The focus of the final day of celebrations is on The Big Jubilee Lunch. Over ten million people in the UK are expected to join the celebrations, with events including world record attempts for the longest street party. The occasion will be marked internationally too, with over 600 lunches planned throughout the Commonwealth and beyond – from South Africa to Canada. As part of the events, BBC World News will be coming to you live from street parties around the UK. This special coverage will be presented by Annita McVeigh and Martine Croxall. TX times:

TBC

The Platinum Pageant

BBC World News will be broadcasting from the street as The Platinum Pageant brings together artistic performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers and volunteers who will unite to tell the story of The Queen’s 70 year reign in an awe-inspiring festival of creativity. The Pageant will draw on talent from every part of the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.

BBC WORLD SERVICE

BBC World Service will broadcast A Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s Reign (3rd June) live from St Paul's Cathedral in London as part of the celebrations across the extended UK Bank Holiday weekend to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen. Commentator Eleanor Oldroyd describes the scene as senior members of the Royal Family and representatives from across the UK and Commonwealth gather in the Cathedral to celebrate and give thanks for The Queen becoming the longest-reigning British Monarch after 70 years of service.

BBC World Service will also be marking the Jubilee with two 1-hour documentaries. The Royal Diplomat (28th May) sees the BBC’s Emma Barnett speak to friends and insiders who have worked with the Queen on global issues and seen her in operation, including David Cameron and former Commonwealth Secretary General Chief Emeka Anyaoku. The second documentary, The Day I Met the Queen (4th June) is a special programme in which Winifred Robinson hears stories from people who have met the Queen at various moments during her long life, and recall their encounters.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will appear on The Cultural Frontline (4th June) on the BBC World Service about The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, which is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools. In an interview with Tina Daheley, the Duchess speaks about the Platinum Jubilee and says that she hopes this year writers will pick up on Jubilee content because it’s so important to celebrate this Jubilee, as it is “an amazing amount of years for The Queen to have been on the throne.”

BBC.COM

There will be a rich variety of Jubilee pieces in a special section on the news front page of BBC.com over four days from 1-4 June, along with a range of in-depth analysis pieces from the BBC’s world-class correspondents.

These will include a visual journey through the Queen’s time on the throne, a deep appraisal of her reign and an appreciation of her loyal companions, the corgis. There will also be a number of featured pieces on BBC Culture including:

Why the Queen is the last royal icon: A written feature about how Her Majesty The Queen is represented in art, and why she is probably the last royal who will ever be able to be so well-recognised yet so inscrutable.

The imaginary lives of the Queen: A feature exploring the idea of how fiction (plus some film and TV) depicts various interpretations of the Queen, since her actual self is largely hidden and unknown. The piece will look at how these depictions reflect our own feelings about the monarch and the monarchy.

The Queen’s iconic style moments (2 June): A piece structured around eight outfits from the past eight decades with one photo per decade which is particularly iconic, from the 1950s onwards. The piece will look at the outfit and analyse what it signifies, what the Queen is aiming to achieve with it, what it says about her, and what it says about royalty and society in that moment of time.