FAKE NEWS WATCH: Doctor gets to heart of matter amid false reports

News reports claiming that Jordan is undergoing the harshest winter in a century have been denied. (Supplied)
Updated 20 November 2018
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FAKE NEWS WATCH: Doctor gets to heart of matter amid false reports

CAIRO: A weekly roundup of bogus reports and phony facts in the mainstream and social media...

1. Egyptian-British surgeon Magdi Yacoub puts the record straight
Egyptian-British cardiothoracic surgeon, Sir Magdi Yacoub, has denied reports claiming that he had been dubbed “the world’s legend of medicine” at a Chicago conference.
In statements to Egyptian news website Masrawy, Yacoub denied social media reports that the American Heart Association has given him the title.
“I don’t know where they get such things from,” he said.
Yacoub was giving a speech in front of 12,000 cardio surgeons at the conference.

2. Cold truth about Jordan’s ‘harshest winter in 100 years.’
News reports claiming that Jordan is undergoing the harshest winter in a century have been denied by a private weather company based in Amman. The reports were widely circulated on social media, with the claim attributed to British Meteorology.
But ArabiaWeather, which provides weather services in the Arab world, said on its website that the reports are merely rumors that get spread every year. The claims were “baseless,” it said. ArabiaWeather is based in Amman, Jordan, and has offices in Dubai.


DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media

Updated 06 February 2026
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DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media

KUWAIT CITY: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the international Saudi newspaper Arab News have signed a Letter of Engagement aimed at strengthening knowledge and expertise exchange on the impact of artificial intelligence in the media sector, as well as leveraging expert insights to develop best practices to combat online misinformation amid accelerating technological advancements.

DCO said this step aligned with its efforts to strengthen collaboration with international media institutions to support responsible dialogue around digital transformation and contribute to building a more reliable, inclusive, and sustainable digital media environment.

Commenting on the agreement, Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, said: “At a moment when AI is reshaping how truth is produced, distributed, and trusted, partnership with credible media institutions is essential.”

She added that “working with Arab News allows us to bridge technology and journalism in a way that protects integrity, strengthens public trust, and elevates responsible innovation. This collaboration is about equipping media ecosystems with the tools, insight, and ethical grounding needed to navigate AI’s impact, while ensuring digital transformation serves people and their prosperity.”

Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, emphasized that the partnership enhances media institutions’ ability to keep pace with technological shifts, noting that engagement with representatives of DCO Member States enables deeper understanding of emerging technologies and regulatory developments in the digital space.

He added: “DCO’s commitment to initiatives addressing online content integrity reflects a clear dedication to supporting a responsible digital environment that serves societies and strengthens trust in the digital ecosystem.”

The Letter of agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Fifth DCO General Assembly held in Kuwait City under the theme “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI”, alongside the second edition of the International Digital Cooperation Forum, held from 4–5 February, which brought together ministers, policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society representatives from more than 60 countries to strengthen international cooperation toward a human-centric, inclusive, and sustainable digital economy.