Reuters’ Mohammed Salem’s photo from Gaza wins World Press Photo of the Year award 2024
Reuters photographer Mohammed Salem has been awarded the prestigious 2024 World Press Photo of the Year for his powerful image capturing the devastation of conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The winning photograph depicts a Palestinian woman, Inas Abu Maamar, cradling the lifeless body of her five-year-old niece, Saly, in the morgue of Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. The scene, captured on Oct. 17, 2023, amidst the Israeli bombing of the enclave, portrays the profound grief and anguish experienced by civilians caught in the midst of conflict.
Rickey Rogers, Reuters Global Editor for Pictures and Video, announced Salem's achievement at a ceremony in Amsterdam, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the human impact of war, especially on children. Salem, a seasoned photojournalist who has been with Reuters since 2003, responded to the news with humility, acknowledging the somber nature of the photograph while expressing gratitude for its recognition and the opportunity to raise awareness about the realities of war.
The World Press Photo Foundation, based in Amsterdam, underscored the dangers faced by journalists covering conflicts, particularly during the Israel-Hamas war. The organization noted that 99 journalists and media employees had lost their lives in the line of duty during the conflict, highlighting the risks inherent in documenting humanitarian crises.
Joumana El Zein Khoury, the executive director of the World Press Photo Foundation, emphasized the trauma experienced by journalists in conflict zones and emphasized the importance of shedding light on the humanitarian impact of war through visual storytelling.
Salem's award-winning photograph, described by the jury as "composed with care and respect," provides a poignant glimpse into the unimaginable loss experienced by Palestinian families amidst the violence in Gaza. The image captures the chaos and desperation of civilians seeking information about their loved ones, with Abu Maamar's refusal to let go of her niece's body serving as a poignant symbol of the broader human tragedy unfolding in the region.
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Minister Sivankutty welcomes PM Modi to 'developed Nemom', BJP hits back
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow here for April 9 Assembly elections, Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty and BJP state leadership on Saturday locked horns on social media over development issues.
Sivankutty, LDF candidate from Nemom, in a Facebook post welcomed Modi for the roadshow in the constituency later in the day and highlighted a series of development projects.
The BJP state unit took a swipe at the minister through another Facebook post sarcastically questioning his claims.
In the FB post, Sivankutty said he was happy that the Prime Minister would conduct a roadshow from Killipalam junction towards Pappanamcode, as it would provide an opportunity to witness the development initiatives carried out in Nemom.
The senior CPI(M) leader is also the sitting MLA in Nemom, one of the constituencies where BJP pins its hopes the most in the upcoming Assembly polls.
The minister invited PM Modi to witness what he described as a "developed Nemom".
He listed several projects along the proposed route of the PM's scheduled roadshow, including a newly established ITI at Chala built at a cost of Rs 18 crore and the state office of SSK, which he said was constructed by the Kerala government after alleged denial of central assistance.
The minister further pointed to infrastructure such as the Deputy Director of Education's office complex, and a new building for Chala school constructed at a cost of Rs 4.8 crore.
He also highlighted road development and beautification works from Karamana junction to Pravachambalam, undertaken at a cost of Rs 5 crore, along with new street lighting installations.
Sivankutty said additional projects included multi-storey school buildings at various institutions, road upgradation works, and a career development centre built at a cost of Rs 6 crore.
While welcoming the Prime Minister, Sivankutty also urged him to explain the delay in disbursing Rs 1,500 crore allegedly due to Kerala under the SSK scheme, stating that the funds are meant for supporting children from economically weaker and marginalised sections.
He further claimed that salaries of around 7,000 teaching and non-teaching staff under the scheme are currently being paid by the state government.
In its social media post, the BJP's state leadership responded sarcastically to Sivankutty's claims of development by listing a series of prominent landmarks in and around Thiruvananthapuram, suggesting that the PM could see them by simply turning in different directions.
"Turn a little to the right and you can see the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Go straight from there and you will see the Vizhinjam seaport. Turn left and you can see the Thumba rocket launch centre. From there, if you go straight, you will reach Thiruvananthapuram railway station. Turn right and you will see the Padmanabhaswamy temple," it said.
"Go straight and you will reach Kovalam international beach. And if you look up from there, you can see the sky," the post said in Malayalam.
