Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
With a smile and a disarming frankness, Christina Assi welcomes us into her family house in Rabieh, a few kilometres north of Beirut.
As a photographer, she guides us with ease through lighting, setting up and even her best angles.
“I try hard not to give my opinion too much when journalists come for interviews,” she says with a smile.
Her friends had told us of her sense of humour. “She will make you laugh,” they said.
It is clear her wit has remained intact despite the tragedy that turned her life upside down on October 13, 2023, when an Israeli tank targeted the Agence France-Presse photojournalist and colleagues from other news agencies as they covered cross-border shelling in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli strikes killed her best friend, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, and severely injured Assi, along with five other journalists. The 28-year-old later had to have her right leg amputated.
Photography has long been Assi’s passion. She began working as a photo editor for AFP in Cyprus in 2018, soon after graduating in journalism from Notre Dame University in Lebanon.
War journalism has always fascinated her. Growing up in chaotic 1990s Lebanon, in the aftermath of a civil war, made her familiar with constant instability – and fuelled her drive to cover conflicts.
Her family moved to Doha in 2005, but when they returned the following year for a holiday in southern Lebanon – where her father is from – Assi experienced war first-hand as her family fled under shelling through the Syrian border.
This is why, when the border fighting broke out on October 8 between the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Israel following Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel, she felt compelled to document it. Two days later, she was deployed to Lebanon from Cyprus.
“I was obsessed with covering war zones. It has always been my dream. Even now, I still feel: why am I not there covering [it]?” she says.
She hopes to do so again after her final major operation this month – she has already had 23 – paves the way for her to start using a prosthetic limb.
“Once I stand up and I can walk again, I'm going back to covering and taking pictures, that's the main goal,” she says.
Struggles
Ms Assi has continued taking photos and videos of her post-injury journey, hoping to make a documentary to show her journey and honour the memory of Mr Abdallah.
Beneath her strength lies a deep struggle. She openly talks about being “sick” of feeling stuck on the wheelchair.
Ms Assi left the hospital in March after being bedridden for months. Since then, she has been following a rehabilitation programme in a country with very few resources and infrastructure for people with such injuries.
“I had to figure out everything by myself,” she says.
But the recovery is not only physical. When asked how she is coping mentally with her traumatic experience, Ms Assi simply says she isn't. “I don't feel anything any more,” she replies.
Yet, she has been extremely active in recent months, giving interviews, advocating for the protection of journalists, and even carrying the Olympic flame in Paris to honour journalists wounded and killed in the field. But it is not for her, she says. It is for Mr Abadallah and for all journalists who have been “failed” by international law.
The findings of investigations led by news organisations and human rights groups are clear: Israel was responsible for the attack, which Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have labelled a “war crime”.
Ms Assi recalls the day being calm until the afternoon when they heard reports of shelling in Alma Chaab near the border with Israel. Ms Assi, her AFP colleague Dylan Collins and Mr Abdallah – whom she had met years earlier during an internship at Reuters – went to the scene. There they encountered an Al Jazeera crew, all clearly marked as press.
The last thing she did before the attack was take a selfie with the sunset to send to her mother. Mr Abdallah, who was right next to her, took the brunt of the impact. He was killed instantly.
She was thrown to the ground. What she remembers is an intense pain and Mr Collins rushing to apply a tourniquet before they were struck a second time.
“Then, everything disappeared,” she said. The second strike hit the Al Jazeera car next to her. “I thought I was going to burn as well.” As her colleague dragged her away from the car, she says her first thought was of her camera. She was taken to an ambulance and lost consciousness soon after.
“I’m not sure how we survived,” she says.
Fight for justice
What happened that day has been thoroughly documented. But justice is yet to come.
“[The Lebanese government] said it would investigate, but so far we haven't heard anything,” Ms Assi says.
It has moved even further away from accountability, reversing a move to allow the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes on its soil.
The move could have given the ICC jurisdiction to hold the relevant officials criminally responsible for Mr Abdallah’s death.
“What we've found out lately is that all the laws that were put in place to protect journalists are just words,” Ms Assi says. “Who was behind the crime: that's what we need to know. There is a criminal out there still free, living his life.”
Israel said after the strike that it was “very sorry” for Mr Abdallah’s death. “The area is an active combat zone, where active fire takes place and being in this area is dangerous,” it said.
“They are blaming us for doing our job,” Ms Assi says.
She says she will keep fighting for the attack to be recognised as a war crime.
“It wasn’t a mistake.”
But the road to justice in a country on the brink of all-out war is fraught with difficulty, as civilian casualties mount to more than 100, and despite several calls for investigations into apparent war crimes committed by Israel in Lebanon since October.
Ms Assi said she does not have “diplomatic” words to describe the situation in Lebanon.
“Man, it’s messed up,” she says.
At the time of the interview, Lebanon was bracing for “severe” Israeli retaliation after a deadly attack on the occupied Golan that killed 12 children. Israel blamed the attack on Hezbollah, which denied responsibility.
“I'm traumatised as hell by what happened, and now I have to sit here and just check Twitter to see if we're going to be bombed or not. It's just weird for me,” says Ms Assi.
The next day, Israel attacked the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr and five civilians and wounding dozens. Hezbollah promised a retaliation that would make Israel “weep”.
Score
Third Test, Day 2
New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)
Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Elia%20Suleiman%2C%20Manal%20Khader%2C%20Amer%20Daher%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Elia%20Suleiman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
1.
|
United States
|
2.
|
China
|
3.
|
UAE
|
4.
|
Japan
|
5
|
Norway
|
6.
|
Canada
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
8.
|
Australia
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWest%20Asia%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Bahrain%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%201%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%202%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%20III%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDubai%20Sevens%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.0%20twin-turbo%20inline%20six-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E600Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh400%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ICC T20 Team of 2021
Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi
Wednesday's results
Finland 3-0 Armenia
Faroes Islands 1-0 Malta
Sweden 1-1 Spain
Gibraltar 2-3 Georgia
Romania 1-1 Norway
Greece 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Liechtenstein 0-5 Italy
Switzerland 2-0 Rep of Ireland
Israel 3-1 Latvia
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
'Nightmare Alley'
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Rating: 3/5
THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
UJDA CHAMAN
Produced: Panorama Studios International
Directed: Abhishek Pathak
Cast: Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Grusha Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla
Rating: 3.5 /5 stars
Zodi%20%26%20Tehu%3A%20Princes%20Of%20The%20Desert
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEric%20Barbier%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYoussef%20Hajdi%2C%20Nadia%20Benzakour%2C%20Yasser%20Drief%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure'
Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Randomhouse
The bio:
Favourite holiday destination: I really enjoyed Sri Lanka and Vietnam but my dream destination is the Maldives.
Favourite food: My mum’s Chinese cooking.
Favourite film: Robocop, followed by The Terminator.
Hobbies: Off-roading, scuba diving, playing squash and going to the gym.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now