BBC correspondent’s reporting interrupted by airstrike in Gaza

BBC correspondent Rushdi Abualouf’s live report from Gaza interrupted by airstrike on Monday. (Screengrab/BBC)
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Updated 07 November 2023
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BBC correspondent’s reporting interrupted by airstrike in Gaza

DUBAI: BBC correspondent Rushdi Abualouf’s live report from Gaza on Radio 4’s “World at One” program was interrupted by an airstrike on Monday.

Abualouf was describing the situation on the ground when the sounds of an airplane were heard.

He did not take cover but said that there was an explosion and he could see a lot of smoke about 100 meters from a hospital.

The target of the airstrike was unclear, but it was in an area where, in addition to the hospital, there was a market and several schools where people were taking shelter, Abualouf added.

The correspondent said that in the event of an airstrike an area would not come to a standstill as “people get used to it.”

He added that there were thousands of airstrikes — several hundred every day — prior to Israeli troops starting their ground operation.

Abualouf had said hours earlier: “We are struggling to get credible information,” following a night of internet blackout and intense airstrikes.

He added: “(It is) maybe the biggest (series of airstrikes) since the start of this war.


Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC

Updated 24 December 2025
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Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC

  • Bundle available exclusively visa Shahid for $25 a month

RIYADH: In a landmark regional collaboration, Shahid, Disney+, and OSN+ have announced an exclusive streaming bundle that brings together world-class hits from the three platforms under a single subscription in a first-of-its-kind offer for audiences in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The all-in-one entertainment package, available only through Shahid in the GCC for about $25 a month, grants subscribers full access to three leading platforms covering Hollywood blockbusters, Disney+’s expansive range of beloved films, animations and series, OSN+’s library of HBO originals and international hits, and Shahid’s Arabic premium content.

The bundle is designed to simplify subscription management with a unified payment model, allowing viewers to access all three apps at the price of two and offering a streamlined user experience. 

Natasha Matos-Hemingway, chief commercial and marketing officer at Shahid, said the partnership reflects a broader effort to expand digital entertainment offerings in the Middle East, catering to a growing audience seeking diversity, convenience and high-quality programming.

“We are proud to collaborate with OSN+ and Disney+ to offer an unmatched streaming experience to our subscribers,” she said. “With one subscription, one payment, and full access to premium content from all three platforms, we’re delivering unbeatable convenience, value and entertainment.”

With a growing demand for high-quality on-demand content, the bundle is expected to attract a wide range of users seeking comprehensive entertainment without juggling multiple subscriptions.

The move also signals increasing cooperation between global media giants and regional platforms, in a bid to meet the entertainment preferences of Arab audiences while expanding market reach.

Karl Holmes, SVP and general manager at Disney+ EMEA, said the collaboration will bring award-winning series like FX’s “Shogun” and favorites such as “Lilo & Stitch” into a unique bundle with Shahid’s regional hits including “Al Dariya.”

The agreement “reflects a shared ambition between Disney+ and Shahid to shape the future of entertainment in the Middle East,” said Holmes. “The Middle East is young, dynamic and fast-growing, and we’re delighted to give consumers a new and easy way to access extraordinary content at exceptional value.”

Choucri Khairallah, chief business officer at OSN+, said the partnership takes OSN+’s entertainment experience “to the next level.”

He added: “Today’s audiences expect more than great content; they seek seamless access, variety and exceptional value. This all-in-one bundle delivers exactly that.”