MADRID: Police in Spain arrested a man for alleged sexual assault of a journalist after he touched her rear while she was live on air, with the man’s actions prompting outrage from government ministers.
The incident comes as Spain is embroiled in a debate over sexism sparked by the scandal involving a kiss on the lips by the president of Spain’s football federation, Luis Rubiales, on World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso.
Anger over the kiss has snowballed into a “Me Too” moment building for years in a nation increasingly intolerant of macho attitudes and sexual misconduct.
On Tuesday, Isa Balado was reporting on a robbery in Madrid for channel Cuatro when a man approached her from behind and touched her bottom before asking her which television channel she worked for.
Balado explained she was in the middle of a live broadcast and attempted to continue with her report but host Nacho Abad insisted that she put the man in front of the camera. She confronted him, telling him that she had been trying to do her job.
As he walked away, he attempted to touch her head as she ducked out of the way. The man continued to linger in the street and approached her once more, saying he had heard her accusations and that she should “tell the truth.”
Balado asked for the broadcast to be cut because she did not want to give the man any more attention.
Police said in a message on X, formerly Twitter, that a man had been arrested for sexually assaulting a reporter live on air.
Mediaset Espana, which owns Cuatro, said it “categorically repudiates any form of harassment or aggression. We fully support Isa Balado, reporter for ‘En boca de todos’, after the absolutely intolerable situation she has suffered today.”
Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said the incident should not go unpunished.
“It is machismo that makes journalists suffer sexual assaults like this, and the aggressors are unrepentant in front of the camera,” she wrote on X.
Equality Minister Irene Montero sent her support to Balado.
“Non-consensual touching is sexual violence and we say enough to impunity,” she said.
Spanish police arrest man for touching reporter’s bottom while live on air
https://arab.news/844x5
Spanish police arrest man for touching reporter’s bottom while live on air
- Journalist was harassed while reporting on a robbery in Madrid
- Incident follows sexism scandal involving the president of Spain’s football federation
Spotify and Dubai Culture sign MoU to support local talent development
DUBAI: Spotify and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month aimed at supporting the growth of local musical talent.
The partnership will include the sharing of insights, data and analytics, as well as practical support to help UAE-based artists sustain and progress their careers, the organizations said.
As part of the MoU, Spotify and Dubai Culture will launch joint programs and develop a series of music-led projects focused on the emirate’s creative community.
Talent development is a core pillar of Dubai Culture’s work, said Her Excellency Hala Badri, director-general of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
She added: “In the music sector, this translates into sustained support that enables musicians to develop, produce, and continue their practice over time. The agreement with Spotify is part of our broader efforts to support artists and creatives at all career stages and to strengthen the professional foundations of the music sector in Dubai.”
For Spotify, the MoU is in line with existing initiatives such as the RADAR Arabia program and the Fresh Finds Arabia playlist, which highlight and support local emerging talent.
As a global hub connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, Dubai is playing an increasingly important role in the region’s music economy, said Gustav Gyllenhammar, senior vice president of markets and subscriptions at Spotify.
Through the collaboration with Dubai Culture, he added, Spotify is “helping build a stronger local music ecosystem, supporting discovery and helping music coming out of Dubai reach listeners around the world.”
