Facebook invests in new partnerships with Argentine press

Facebook has already invested $600 million worldwide since 2018 to support digital development in the news industry. (File/AFP)
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Updated 02 September 2021
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Facebook invests in new partnerships with Argentine press

  • Facebook will invest $1.5 million in Argentine media to train journalists and promote online development
  • The agreement is with 150 media outlets and will allow 3,000 journalists to be trained, while also helping Facebook develop commercial agreements

BUENOS AIRES: Social media giant Facebook will invest $1.5 million in Argentine media to train journalists and promote online development, a first in Latin America.
The agreement signed last week with almost 150 media outlets will allow 3,000 journalists to be trained, while also helping Facebook develop commercial agreements.
It’s part of the “Facebook Journalism Project” that involves collaboration with media all over the world.
The three-year Argentine investment aims “to support almost 150 media of every size and region in the country,” Julieta Shamma, Facebook’s head of strategic media partnerships in Latin America, told AFP.
The agreement involves commercial commitments with around 30 Argentine outlets including Clarin, La Nacion, Pagina12 and Infobae to attract more links to the Facebook platform.
“We’re collaborating with media to try different forms of helping people find news on Facebook and connect with them,” said Shamma.
Facebook will offer training in themes such as product development, format experimentation and using statistics, among others.
“We believe the digital transformation will create new opportunities for the news ecosystem, offering different possibilities to expand the audience through social and interactive formats, and to monetize content,” said Shamma.
Facebook has already invested $600 million worldwide since 2018 to support digital development in the news industry. The Silicon Valley-based company plans to invest another $1 billion in the next three years.


Western media refute Trump’s claims Iran possesses Tomahawk missiles

Updated 10 March 2026
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Western media refute Trump’s claims Iran possesses Tomahawk missiles

  • Speaking to journalists, Trump suggested Tehran used US-made cruise missile in school attack that killed over 170, calling the weapon ‘very generic’
  • CNN, Sky News and analysts said that ‘neither Israel nor Iran use Tomahawk missiles,’ urged accurate identification to ensure credibility in public discourse

LONDON: Western media outlets and defense analysts have pushed back against claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran possesses Tomahawk cruise missiles, after he raised the possibility while discussing a recent strike on an Iranian school that has drawn international scrutiny.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump suggested Iran may have used Tomahawks in the attack, calling the weapon “very generic” and implying that multiple countries, including Iran, could have access to the system.

However, journalists and weapons experts swiftly disputed that assertion. They noted that Tomahawk missiles are US-manufactured cruise missile systems that Washington supplies only to a small number of close allies, primarily the UK and Australia. There is no credible evidence that Iran has ever obtained the weapon.

CNN anchor Erin Burnett referenced an investigation by correspondent Isobel Yeong that concluded “neither Israel nor Iran use Tomahawk missiles, according to experts.” Sky News and other Western outlets also challenged Trump’s remarks.

Analysts pointed out that Iran has developed its own domestic cruise missile systems, such as the Soumar and Hoveyzeh, which are believed to be based partly on older Soviet-era designs.

While these systems resemble cruise missiles in concept, experts say they differ significantly from the Tomahawk in design, propulsion configuration and operational characteristics.

While Iran has made substantial advances in ballistic and domestically produced cruise missiles over the past two decades, defense analysts said there is no verified evidence that Tehran holds the American-made system.

The episode reflects a broader pattern in which statements about military technology are rapidly scrutinized by open-source investigators and defense experts.

Experts say the distinction is important: accurately identifying the type of missile used in a strike can provide clues about the likely actor responsible, the launch platform involved and the broader geopolitical consequences of a strike.

Analysts also say that accurate identification of military systems remains essential for avoiding misinformation and for maintaining credibility in public discourse surrounding regional security.

Despite the growing body of evidence, the precise circumstances of the school attack nonetheless remain unclear, with investigators hampered by a lack of weapons fragments and limited access to the site.

Norway-based rights group Hengaw said the school was holding its morning session at the time of the reported attack and had at least 168 children and 14 teachers.

Trump said the US was continuing to investigate the incident. “Whatever the report shows, I’m willing to live with that report,” he said.