Russian state media has labelled an American journalist as a 'sex object sent to distract Putin'. The President himself claimed the journalist was 'too beautiful' to understand his arguments. Palki Sharma tells you why women in public life are constantly subjected to sexist put-downs.

Gravitas: Russia labels journalist as 'sex object to distract Putin'

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's office on Monday congratulated journalist Maria Ressa for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it "a victory for a Filipina" for which it was happy to see.

Ressa, founder of Philippine news site Rappler, and Dmitry Muratov shared the 2021 prize&nbsp;after braving the wrath of the leaders of the Philippines and Russia to expose corruption and misrule.

Ressa has been fighting multiple legal challenges in courts related to Rappler's dogged investigative reporting of Duterte's government, its bloody war on drugs, and its use of social media to target opponents.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nobel-peace-prize-awarded-to-journalists-maria-ressa-and-dmitry-muratov-419104">Nobel Peace Prize awarded to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov</a>

"It is a victory for a Filipina and we are very happy for that," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told a regular news conference, responding to a question on what the award meant for the government.

"Of course it is true there are individuals who feel Maria Ressa still has to clear her name before the courts," he said, in the first comment on Friday's award from Duterte's camp.

The firebrand leader has described Rappler, launched in 2012, as a "fake news outlet" and a tool of the US&nbsp;Central Intelligence Agency, which Ressa has dismissed as nonsense.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-scientists-david-julius-ardem-patapoutian-win-nobel-prize-in-medicine-for-research-about-temperature-and-touch-418138">US scientists David Julius, Ardem Patapoutian win Nobel prize in medicine for research about temperature and touch</a>

The Prize was hailed by many in the Philippines, with critics saying it is a rebuke on Duterte, a frequent critic of Rappler.

It was the first Nobel Peace Prize for the Philippines and the first for journalists since the German Carl von Ossietzky won it in 1935. The Kremlin congratulated Muratov on Friday, describing the investigative journalist as talented and brave.

Asked on Monday what her message would be to Duterte, Ressa urged him not to pursue a divide and conquer approach. "I beg you, unite this nation. Don't tear us apart," she said in an interview with news channel ANC.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's office on Monday congratulated journalist Maria Ressa for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it "a victory for a Filipina" for which it was happy to see.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's office on Monday congratulated journalist Maria Ressa for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it "a victory for a Filipina" for which it was happy to see. Ressa, founder of Philippine news site Rappler, and Dmitry Muratov shared the 2021 prize after braving the wrath of the leaders of the Philippines and Russia to expose corruption and misrule. Ressa has been fighting multiple legal challenges in courts related to Rappler's dogged investigative reporting of Duterte's government, its bloody war on drugs, and its use of social media to target opponents. Also Read | Nobel Peace Prize awarded to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov "It is a victory for a Filipina and we are very happy for that," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told a regular news conference, responding to a question on what the award meant for the government. "Of course it is true there are individuals who feel Maria Ressa still has to clear her name before the courts," he said, in the first comment on Friday's award from Duterte's camp. The firebrand leader has described Rappler, launched in 2012, as a "fake news outlet" and a tool of the US Central Intelligence Agency, which Ressa has dismissed as nonsense. Also Read | US scientists David Julius, Ardem Patapoutian win Nobel prize in medicine for research about temperature and touch The Prize was hailed by many in the Philippines, with critics saying it is a rebuke on Duterte, a frequent critic of Rappler. It was the first Nobel Peace Prize for the Philippines and the first for journalists since the German Carl von Ossietzky won it in 1935. The Kremlin congratulated Muratov on Friday, describing the investigative journalist as talented and brave. Asked on Monday what her message would be to Duterte, Ressa urged him not to pursue a divide and conquer approach. "I beg you, unite this nation. Don't tear us apart," she said in an interview with news channel ANC.

Philippines president congratulates journalist Ressa on Nobel Prize

An American journalist imprisoned by Myanmar's junta since May has been hit with a second criminal charge, his lawyer told AFP on Tuesday.

Danny Fenster, managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, was detained at Yangon International Airport as he attempted to leave the country.

He is currently on trial for allegedly encouraging dissent against the military, which carries a maximum three-year jail sentence.

During the latest hearing at Insein prison in Yangon on Monday, he was hit with another charge of unlawful association, his lawyer Than Zaw Aung said.

Conviction under the colonial-era law also carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail.

It has previously been used to target journalists contacting Myanmar's myriad ethnic armed groups fighting the state for increased autonomy and control over natural resources.

Fenster's second trial is expected to start on October 15, Than Zaw Aung said.

His client was "in good health, but he lost weight a little bit", he added.

Fenster, 37, had been working for Frontier for around a year and was heading home to see his family when he was detained on May 24.

He is believed to have contracted Covid-19 during his detention, family members said during a conference call with American journalists in August.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in a February 1 coup and ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government.

The press has been squeezed as the junta tries to tighten control over the flow of information, throttling internet access and revoking the licences of local media outlets.

More than 100 journalists have been arrested since the putsch, according to Reporting ASEAN, a monitoring group. &nbsp;

It says 48 are still in detention.

An American journalist imprisoned by Myanmar's junta since May has been hit with a second criminal charge, his lawyer told AFP on Tuesday. Danny Fenster, managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, was detained at Yangon International Airport as he attempted to leave the country.

An American journalist imprisoned by Myanmar's junta since May has been hit with a second criminal charge, his lawyer told AFP on Tuesday. Danny Fenster, managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, was detained at Yangon International Airport as he attempted to leave the country. He is currently on trial for allegedly encouraging dissent against the military, which carries a maximum three-year jail sentence. During the latest hearing at Insein prison in Yangon on Monday, he was hit with another charge of unlawful association, his lawyer Than Zaw Aung said. Conviction under the colonial-era law also carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail. It has previously been used to target journalists contacting Myanmar's myriad ethnic armed groups fighting the state for increased autonomy and control over natural resources. Fenster's second trial is expected to start on October 15, Than Zaw Aung said. His client was "in good health, but he lost weight a little bit", he added. Fenster, 37, had been working for Frontier for around a year and was heading home to see his family when he was detained on May 24. He is believed to have contracted Covid-19 during his detention, family members said during a conference call with American journalists in August. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in a February 1 coup and ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government. The press has been squeezed as the junta tries to tighten control over the flow of information, throttling internet access and revoking the licences of local media outlets. More than 100 journalists have been arrested since the putsch, according to Reporting ASEAN, a monitoring group. It says 48 are still in detention.

US journalist held in Myanmar hit with second charge: lawyer

As the world gears up to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 152nd birth anniversary, Palki Sharma looks back at the journalist & diplomat in him. What would Gandhi say to our current world leaders?

Gravitas: What would Mahatma Gandhi say to current world leaders?

Sweden's prime minister on Thursday called on&nbsp;Eritrea&nbsp;to free a Swedish-Eritrean&nbsp;journalist&nbsp;held&nbsp;without charge for two decades, as an NGO petitioned Swedish authorities to investigate human rights abuses in the case.

Dawit Isaak was among a group of around two dozen senior cabinet ministers, members of parliament and independent journalists who were seized in a draconian purge in the east African country in September, 2001.

"Today marks&nbsp;20&nbsp;years&nbsp;since Dawit Isaak was arrested in&nbsp;Eritrea. That is an incredibly long time," Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said in a post to social media.

"My government and multiple previous governments have worked intensely with Dawit's case. Our work has so far not had the result we wanted, but we will never give up," Lofven added.

Meanwhile, press rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) renewed a call to Swedish prosecutors to investigate crimes against humanity in the case.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/evergrande-chairman-reassures-investors-shares-surge-415070">Also read |&nbsp;Evergrande chairman reassures investors, shares surge</a>

A Swedish law adopted in 2014 enabled the prosecution for such crimes even if committed elsewhere in the world.

A similar petition was filed with Swedish authorities in October last year, but prosecutors declined to open a case, arguing there were practical obstacles to the investigation even if there was reason to believe crimes had been committed.

"RSF requests that the Prosecution Authority take their international responsibility and open a preliminary investigation for crimes against humanity in Dawit Isaak's case," the group said in a statement on Thursday.

Isaak was arrested on September 23, 2001, shortly after the Eritrean newspaper he founded, Setit, published articles demanding political reforms.

He had fled to&nbsp;Sweden&nbsp;in 1987 during&nbsp;Eritrea's struggle against Ethiopia which eventually led to independence in 1993. He returned in 2001 to help shape the media landscape.

RSF ranks&nbsp;Eritrea&nbsp;as the world's most repressive country when it comes to press freedom, ahead of North Korea and Turkmenistan.

Sweden's prime minister on Thursday called on Eritrea to free a Swedish-Eritrean journalist held without charge for two decades, as an NGO petitioned Swedish authorities to investigate human rights abuses in the case.

Sweden's prime minister on Thursday called on Eritrea to free a Swedish-Eritrean journalist held without charge for two decades, as an NGO petitioned Swedish authorities to investigate human rights abuses in the case. Dawit Isaak was among a group of around two dozen senior cabinet ministers, members of parliament and independent journalists who were seized in a draconian purge in the east African country in September, 2001. "Today marks 20 years since Dawit Isaak was arrested in Eritrea. That is an incredibly long time," Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said in a post to social media. "My government and multiple previous governments have worked intensely with Dawit's case. Our work has so far not had the result we wanted, but we will never give up," Lofven added. Meanwhile, press rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) renewed a call to Swedish prosecutors to investigate crimes against humanity in the case. Also read | Evergrande chairman reassures investors, shares surge A Swedish law adopted in 2014 enabled the prosecution for such crimes even if committed elsewhere in the world. A similar petition was filed with Swedish authorities in October last year, but prosecutors declined to open a case, arguing there were practical obstacles to the investigation even if there was reason to believe crimes had been committed. "RSF requests that the Prosecution Authority take their international responsibility and open a preliminary investigation for crimes against humanity in Dawit Isaak's case," the group said in a statement on Thursday. Isaak was arrested on September 23, 2001, shortly after the Eritrean newspaper he founded, Setit, published articles demanding political reforms. He had fled to Sweden in 1987 during Eritrea's struggle against Ethiopia which eventually led to independence in 1993. He returned in 2001 to help shape the media landscape. RSF ranks Eritrea as the world's most repressive country when it comes to press freedom, ahead of North Korea and Turkmenistan.

Sweden urges Eritrea to release journalist held for 20 years

Danny Fenster, an American journalist who was arrested in May as he prepared to leave Myanmar, was ordered Monday to remain in prison as police investigate a vague accusation that he disseminated information that could be harmful to the military.

The court hearing marked his 120th day in custody. Fenster is the only American known to be under arrest in Myanmar and has become an international symbol of the military junta’s crackdown on free expression.

No formal charge has been filed against the Detroit native. No evidence has been presented against him at any of his eight court appearances, which are conducted by video and last only a few minutes. He is not permitted to speak or ask questions and has rarely met with his attorney since his arrest May 24.

Fenster, managing editor of Frontier Myanmar magazine, is accused of disseminating information that might induce military officers to disregard or fail in their duties, a charge often brought against journalists in the Southeast Asian nation. He faces three years in prison.

The Biden administration, Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Frontier Myanmar and Fenster’s family have called for his release.

“The detention of Danny Fenster and other journalists constitutes an unacceptable attack on freedom of expression in Burma,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier this month, using the country’s former name. “We continue to press Burma’s military regime to release Danny immediately.”

Myanmar’s military, which had shared power with civilian governments for a decade, seized control in a Feb. 1 coup, triggering widespread street protests and a nationwide general strike. Troops and police have killed more than 1,100 people and imprisoned 6,600, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an advocacy group.

The junta has arrested more than 100 journalists since February, and 47 remain in custody, according to a media group that is tracking arrests. Four of those arrested have been foreign journalists: two from the United States, one from Japan and one from Poland.

All but Fenster have been deported, including Nathan Maung, an American citizen and co-founder of Kamayut Media, an online news site. While in custody, Maung and his co-founder, Hanthar Nyein, were severely beaten, burned and forced to kneel on ice with their hands cuffed behind them, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-urges-immediate-us-action-on-migration-causes-414538">Also read |&nbsp;Mexico urges immediate US action on migration causes</a>

Fenster and his wife, Juliana, had been married less than seven weeks when he was arrested at Yangon International Airport as he prepared to leave the country. She has remained in Myanmar to work for his release but has been given limited access to him.

Fenster is being held at the notorious Insein Prison. COVID-19 swept through the institution earlier this year, and Fenster appears to have caught it. He lost his sense of taste and smell and suffered chest congestion, among other symptoms, but was never tested. He has since largely recovered, his family said.

He has seldom been allowed to have visitors, and his communications with family and the United States embassy have been limited. His lawyer, Than Zaw Aung, said he last met his client in person July 15 and that Fenster has never received a COVID vaccine. During Monday’s video hearing, Fenster looked tired, the lawyer said.

Fenster’s elder brother, Bryan, spoke with him in a rare phone call last week and said that he remained positive.

“He is making the best of it, and he has a great attitude,” Bryan Fenster said, adding, “but he has no idea of what is going on in his case.”

Danny Fenster, 37, arrived in Myanmar in 2019 and worked for three of the top English-language news organizations there, most recently at Frontier. He oversaw the English versions of stories for the print magazine and online, his brother said.

The regime’s decision to arrest Fenster appears to have stemmed from his previous employment at Myanmar Now, another online news outlet, even though he left that job nearly a year before starting work at Frontier.

Myanmar Now and its editor-in-chief, Swe Win, have long been targets of the military because of the outlet’s tough investigative reporting. Swe Win left the country after he was wounded in a 2019 assassination attempt.

Swe Win said the regime may have pursued Fenster because he helped report on a Myanmar Now story last year that highlighted the military’s business partnership with Japanese companies in developing a $330 million luxury hotel and office complex on military-owned land near downtown Yangon.

“I believe that Danny’s name was on the arrest list because he worked on that story,” Swe Win said.

A complaint letter filed with the court shows that police mistakenly believed Fenster still worked for Myanmar Now at the time of his arrest, Frontier reported.

Swe Win praised Fenster’s dedication to journalism.

“Danny is interested in Myanmar news and has a strong passion for his professional work,” he said. “He is also humble and always gets along well with his co-workers. He is a good colleague.”

Bryan Fenster said the family hoped the regime would bring formal charges, which could pave the way for his deportation.

“We just want him to go back into court so they can go through their process,” Bryan Fenster said. “The sooner they can go through the process the sooner they can deport him.”

The US Embassy in Yangon is attempting to secure Danny Fenster’s release but has little leverage with the military regime. An embassy spokesman said the State Department is seeking regular contact with Fenster and last spoke with him a week ago.

Fenster earned a master’s degree in creative writing from Wayne State University and worked for news outlets in Detroit and Louisiana before moving to Myanmar. “We always joke in our family that he’s kind of like a tumbleweed,” his brother said. “He establishes roots in one place, and then he is off somewhere else.”

The Fenster brothers, grandsons of Holocaust survivors, volunteered in the mid-2000s to assist refugees in Chicago and were assigned to help a family from Myanmar. That may have helped inspire Fenster’s decision to live there, his brother said.

“Danny is a human being who, in his essence, is hard-wired to care and learn about other human beings,” he said. “In that same spirit of human kindness, we are hoping and expecting that he will be released and reunited with his family and loved ones at home.”

Danny Fenster, an American journalist who was arrested in May as he prepared to leave Myanmar, was ordered Monday to remain in prison as police investigate a vague accusation that he disseminated information that could be harmful to the military.

Danny Fenster, an American journalist who was arrested in May as he prepared to leave Myanmar, was ordered Monday to remain in prison as police investigate a vague accusation that he disseminated information that could be harmful to the military. The court hearing marked his 120th day in custody. Fenster is the only American known to be under arrest in Myanmar and has become an international symbol of the military junta’s crackdown on free expression. No formal charge has been filed against the Detroit native. No evidence has been presented against him at any of his eight court appearances, which are conducted by video and last only a few minutes. He is not permitted to speak or ask questions and has rarely met with his attorney since his arrest May 24. Fenster, managing editor of Frontier Myanmar magazine, is accused of disseminating information that might induce military officers to disregard or fail in their duties, a charge often brought against journalists in the Southeast Asian nation. He faces three years in prison. The Biden administration, Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Frontier Myanmar and Fenster’s family have called for his release. “The detention of Danny Fenster and other journalists constitutes an unacceptable attack on freedom of expression in Burma,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier this month, using the country’s former name. “We continue to press Burma’s military regime to release Danny immediately.” Myanmar’s military, which had shared power with civilian governments for a decade, seized control in a Feb. 1 coup, triggering widespread street protests and a nationwide general strike. Troops and police have killed more than 1,100 people and imprisoned 6,600, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an advocacy group. The junta has arrested more than 100 journalists since February, and 47 remain in custody, according to a media group that is tracking arrests. Four of those arrested have been foreign journalists: two from the United States, one from Japan and one from Poland. All but Fenster have been deported, including Nathan Maung, an American citizen and co-founder of Kamayut Media, an online news site. While in custody, Maung and his co-founder, Hanthar Nyein, were severely beaten, burned and forced to kneel on ice with their hands cuffed behind them, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Also read | Mexico urges immediate US action on migration causes Fenster and his wife, Juliana, had been married less than seven weeks when he was arrested at Yangon International Airport as he prepared to leave the country. She has remained in Myanmar to work for his release but has been given limited access to him. Fenster is being held at the notorious Insein Prison. COVID-19 swept through the institution earlier this year, and Fenster appears to have caught it. He lost his sense of taste and smell and suffered chest congestion, among other symptoms, but was never tested. He has since largely recovered, his family said. He has seldom been allowed to have visitors, and his communications with family and the United States embassy have been limited. His lawyer, Than Zaw Aung, said he last met his client in person July 15 and that Fenster has never received a COVID vaccine. During Monday’s video hearing, Fenster looked tired, the lawyer said. Fenster’s elder brother, Bryan, spoke with him in a rare phone call last week and said that he remained positive. “He is making the best of it, and he has a great attitude,” Bryan Fenster said, adding, “but he has no idea of what is going on in his case.” Danny Fenster, 37, arrived in Myanmar in 2019 and worked for three of the top English-language news organizations there, most recently at Frontier. He oversaw the English versions of stories for the print magazine and online, his brother said. The regime’s decision to arrest Fenster appears to have stemmed from his previous employment at Myanmar Now, another online news outlet, even though he left that job nearly a year before starting work at Frontier. Myanmar Now and its editor-in-chief, Swe Win, have long been targets of the military because of the outlet’s tough investigative reporting. Swe Win left the country after he was wounded in a 2019 assassination attempt. Swe Win said the regime may have pursued Fenster because he helped report on a Myanmar Now story last year that highlighted the military’s business partnership with Japanese companies in developing a $330 million luxury hotel and office complex on military-owned land near downtown Yangon. “I believe that Danny’s name was on the arrest list because he worked on that story,” Swe Win said. A complaint letter filed with the court shows that police mistakenly believed Fenster still worked for Myanmar Now at the time of his arrest, Frontier reported. Swe Win praised Fenster’s dedication to journalism. “Danny is interested in Myanmar news and has a strong passion for his professional work,” he said. “He is also humble and always gets along well with his co-workers. He is a good colleague.” Bryan Fenster said the family hoped the regime would bring formal charges, which could pave the way for his deportation. “We just want him to go back into court so they can go through their process,” Bryan Fenster said. “The sooner they can go through the process the sooner they can deport him.” The US Embassy in Yangon is attempting to secure Danny Fenster’s release but has little leverage with the military regime. An embassy spokesman said the State Department is seeking regular contact with Fenster and last spoke with him a week ago. Fenster earned a master’s degree in creative writing from Wayne State University and worked for news outlets in Detroit and Louisiana before moving to Myanmar. “We always joke in our family that he’s kind of like a tumbleweed,” his brother said. “He establishes roots in one place, and then he is off somewhere else.” The Fenster brothers, grandsons of Holocaust survivors, volunteered in the mid-2000s to assist refugees in Chicago and were assigned to help a family from Myanmar. That may have helped inspire Fenster’s decision to live there, his brother said. “Danny is a human being who, in his essence, is hard-wired to care and learn about other human beings,” he said. “In that same spirit of human kindness, we are hoping and expecting that he will be released and reunited with his family and loved ones at home.”

An American journalist sits in prison as Myanmar suppresses dissent

Like most people in Kabul, Afghan reporter Karim Mohammadi has now lost his job since the Taliban took over. The rapid reconquest of the capital by the Taliban after two decades of war has contributed to a lot of instability in the region and has not spared journalists like him.

Like most people in Kabul, Afghan reporter Karim Mohammadi has now lost his job since the Taliban took over. The rapid reconquest of the capital by the Taliban after two decades of war has contributed to a lot of instability in the region and has not spared journalists like him. "I am not safe, I am scared for my future," he told WION in a phone interview from Afghanistan. The reporter, who has also worked as a translator, says it is "very scary" for people working with international organisations, police, and people affiliated with media. "Last week, they detained about 24 journalists and beat them up. The situation here is very bad." When asked if he wants to leave the country, he said, "I cannot, even if I want to." Karim highlighted the problems faced by people to get their visas issued. "They (Taliban) are not providing any facilities. They have asked us to wait." Taliban has announced "forgiveness" for all the people who were working with the government, but people do not believe them. "I, myself, do not believe them." Tough on women The situation is tough for women, especially students and professionals, he said. There are a lot of restrictions for female students. The Taliban has not yet started the government institutions and has installed various private ones with separate classes for male and female students. As far as working women are concerned, only female teachers and doctors are allowed to go to work, he revealed. Describing the Taliban as "Pure Islamic", he said that there has also been a major cultural impact. "Women have been strictly asked to wear hijab. In Kabul, the situation is a little better. However, in smaller provinces, they are very strict". Zero connectivity Communication networks - phone and internet - remain patchy in the country Karim said, "Last week in Kabul, and few other provinces, there was zero connectivity. Due to women's protests in the region, the Taliban took away all the telecommunication and internet services." Shortages and scare Speaking about the shortage of food and the hardships that the citizens of Afghanistan have been facing since the Taliban took over, Karim said that the food prices have spiked. Initially, everything was closed, and now that it is reopening, people do not have the money to purchase things of basic needs as most of them are jobless. On being asked if things will ever return to normal, or if people will get their jobs back any time soon, he said, "Nothing is sure. Even though the Taliban is now allowing people to get back to work, people are scared". He added, "I have many friends who told me that they are scared to get back to work". Karim pleaded the international community to interfere in the current situation and help the citizens, especially the women, whose achievements have gone in vain and lives have been doomed.

Life under Taliban: An Afghan journalist opens up  

A&nbsp;journalist&nbsp;for&nbsp;DR&nbsp;Congo's national broadcaster had his throat slit in North Kivu in the country's east where massacres and clashes involving armed groups have prevailed for years.

Heritier Magayane, 26, who was married and had two children, had been working for Radio Television nationale congolaise in Rutshuru territory since 2018, his colleague Roger Sebyeradu told AFP.

He received a phone call from someone who arranged a place to meet him and that's where he was killed overnight Saturday, his throat slit, said Luc Albert Bakole Nyengeke, Rutshuru's military administrator.

The region is plagued by various armed groups but the area where he was killed was controlled by the Congolese army, he said, adding a probe was underway on Sunday.

His colleague Sebyeradu said he thought his murder could be linked to his work. "After killing him they even took his phone," he said.

Magayane fronted programmes for young people, advising them to "make room for peace" in a deeply unstable region, he added.

North Kivu and neighbouring Ituri have been in a state of siege for three months, the strongest measure under the constitution, as the government tries to end endemic insecurity in the east.

Civilian power in both provinces was turned over to a military governor and a deputy governor drawn from the police, while the duties of provincial governments were transferred to the military authorities.

A journalist for DR Congo's national broadcaster had his throat slit in North Kivu in the country's east where massacres and clashes involving armed groups have prevailed for years.

A journalist for DR Congo's national broadcaster had his throat slit in North Kivu in the country's east where massacres and clashes involving armed groups have prevailed for years. Heritier Magayane, 26, who was married and had two children, had been working for Radio Television nationale congolaise in Rutshuru territory since 2018, his colleague Roger Sebyeradu told AFP. He received a phone call from someone who arranged a place to meet him and that's where he was killed overnight Saturday, his throat slit, said Luc Albert Bakole Nyengeke, Rutshuru's military administrator. The region is plagued by various armed groups but the area where he was killed was controlled by the Congolese army, he said, adding a probe was underway on Sunday. His colleague Sebyeradu said he thought his murder could be linked to his work. "After killing him they even took his phone," he said. Magayane fronted programmes for young people, advising them to "make room for peace" in a deeply unstable region, he added. North Kivu and neighbouring Ituri have been in a state of siege for three months, the strongest measure under the constitution, as the government tries to end endemic insecurity in the east. Civilian power in both provinces was turned over to a military governor and a deputy governor drawn from the police, while the duties of provincial governments were transferred to the military authorities.

Journalist murdered in eastern DR Congo

A former editor of the now-defunct Apple Daily pro-democracy newspaper, Lam Man-Chung was arrested on Wednesday by Hong Kong national security officers, weeks after the paper was forced to dissolve when authorities froze its assets.&nbsp;

Since authorities launched a broad probe into the 26-year-old publication founded by jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-Ying last month, Lam is the ninth top corporate official to be arrested.

It was forced to close after the arrests and the freezing of millions of dollars in assets.

In a statement, police said they had arrested a 51-year-old former newspaper editor for "collusion with foreign forces", a national security crime.

After its top leadership was jailed and its assets were frozen under the security law, Apple Daily, an outspoken supporter of democracy, published its final edition last month.

Lam was the editor in charge of the final edition, which marked the end of the paper's 26-year history. &nbsp;

Apple Daily's reporting and editorials, according to authorities, endorsed calls for international penalties against China, a political stance that is now illegal under the new security law.

Jimmy Lai, the tabloid's owner, is wrongfully imprisoned on charges of collusion, along with two other executives who have been granted bail.&nbsp;

Following months of anti-government protests in 2019, Beijing last year imposed a sweeping national security law in the semi-autonomous city that critics say restricts the freedoms promised to the former British colony that is not found on mainland China. More than 100 pro-democracy supporters have been arrested, and many others fled abroad.

(With inputs from agencies)

A former editor of the now-defunct Apple Daily pro-democracy newspaper, Lam Man-Chung was arrested on Wednesday by Hong Kong national security officers, weeks after the paper was forced to dissolve when authorities froze its assets.

A former editor of the now-defunct Apple Daily pro-democracy newspaper, Lam Man-Chung was arrested on Wednesday by Hong Kong national security officers, weeks after the paper was forced to dissolve when authorities froze its assets. Since authorities launched a broad probe into the 26-year-old publication founded by jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-Ying last month, Lam is the ninth top corporate official to be arrested. It was forced to close after the arrests and the freezing of millions of dollars in assets. In a statement, police said they had arrested a 51-year-old former newspaper editor for "collusion with foreign forces", a national security crime. After its top leadership was jailed and its assets were frozen under the security law, Apple Daily, an outspoken supporter of democracy, published its final edition last month. Lam was the editor in charge of the final edition, which marked the end of the paper's 26-year history. Apple Daily's reporting and editorials, according to authorities, endorsed calls for international penalties against China, a political stance that is now illegal under the new security law. Jimmy Lai, the tabloid's owner, is wrongfully imprisoned on charges of collusion, along with two other executives who have been granted bail. Following months of anti-government protests in 2019, Beijing last year imposed a sweeping national security law in the semi-autonomous city that critics say restricts the freedoms promised to the former British colony that is not found on mainland China. More than 100 pro-democracy supporters have been arrested, and many others fled abroad. (With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong police arrest another Apple Daily editor under China national security law 

The sentencing of a Moroccan journalist to five years in prison for indecent assault sparked condemnation Saturday, with media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) deploring a trial "tainted by irregularities".

A Casablanca court on Friday sentenced&nbsp;Soulaimane&nbsp;Raissouni&nbsp;-- on hunger strike for more than 90 days -- &nbsp;after convicting him of indecent assault against another man.

He maintains his innocence and is the latest in a string of journalists critical of Morocco's government to have been jailed for alleged sex crimes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moroccan-journalist-gets-5-year-jail-term-for-indecent-assault-397265">Moroccan journalist gets 5-year jail term for 'indecent assault'</a>

Raissouni, editor-in-chief of now-defunct Akhbar Al Yaoum, was not present in court to hear the verdict, despite being summoned by the judge.&nbsp;

The last time he came to court, on June 10, he appeared skeletally thin and he requested an ambulance and wheelchair to enable him to attend the later stages of court proceedings.

His supporters insist the case is politically motivated and part of an extraordinary official defamation campaign against critical journalists and activists. Morocco says its judiciary is independent.

RSF said Saturday the sentence "follows a trial that was tainted by obvious irregularities" and called for&nbsp;Raissouni&nbsp;to be freed, pending an appeal.

"After such a long hunger strike his health is at stake. He deserves a fair trial," the media watchdog said.

Raissouni, 49, began a hunger strike in April demanding to be provisionally released.

He has been in detention since May 2020 after an LGBT activist accused him of sexual assault.

Moroccan courts have rejected all his release requests, despite a pressure campaign both locally and overseas.

A committee supporting&nbsp;Raissouni, comprising human rights activists from several Moroccan organisations, on Saturday dismissed the verdict as "unjust... severe and incomprehensible".

"There is a political will to instrumentalise justice in order to legitimise injustice," it said in a statement.

It also criticised the court for "failing to... hear any witnesses, present any evidence... or call the defendant to testify" and for "rejecting all the requests of the defence team".

'Justice triumphed'&nbsp;

Miloud Kandil, one of&nbsp;Raissouni's lawyers, termed the verdict "judicial butchery".

"How can you condemn an accused in his absence?" he told reporters after leaving the courtroom.

The plaintiff, however, said "justice has triumphed," in a Facebook post. &nbsp;"The dirty manoeuvres to politicise the case have been in vain."

Raissouni, who has a history of run-ins with the authorities, said in late June he has lost more than 35 kilogrammes (77 pounds), much of it since he began his hunger strike over the "great injustice" of his detention.

His trial began in February but has been delayed several times, including over health concerns.

Earlier this week, the judge ordered&nbsp;Raissouni&nbsp;to appear in court to hear Friday's verdict, but the journalist "refused", according to a statement read in court.

His defence team had boycotted the trial since Tuesday to protest at the judge's refusal to allow&nbsp;Raissouni&nbsp;to be hospitalised.

Raissouni's wife Kholoud Mokhtari said last month that he was "very tired" and "close to death".

His supporters and activists have accused the Moroccan government of trying to silence journalists, mostly by using sex-related charges.

Raissouni's niece, Hajar&nbsp;Raissouni, was a reporter at the same newspaper and was sentenced in 2019 to one year in prison for sex outside marriage and an "illegal abortion" before she was pardoned by King Mohammed VI.

Another journalist, Omar Radi, has been held in solitary confinement on charges of sexual assault and undermining state security, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).&nbsp;

CPJ data show four journalists have been imprisoned in Morocco as of December 2020, three on sex crimes.

The sentencing of a Moroccan journalist to five years in prison for indecent assault sparked condemnation Saturday, with media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) deploring a trial "tainted by irregularities".

The sentencing of a Moroccan journalist to five years in prison for indecent assault sparked condemnation Saturday, with media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) deploring a trial "tainted by irregularities". A Casablanca court on Friday sentenced Soulaimane Raissouni -- on hunger strike for more than 90 days -- after convicting him of indecent assault against another man. He maintains his innocence and is the latest in a string of journalists critical of Morocco's government to have been jailed for alleged sex crimes. Also read | Moroccan journalist gets 5-year jail term for 'indecent assault' Raissouni, editor-in-chief of now-defunct Akhbar Al Yaoum, was not present in court to hear the verdict, despite being summoned by the judge. The last time he came to court, on June 10, he appeared skeletally thin and he requested an ambulance and wheelchair to enable him to attend the later stages of court proceedings. His supporters insist the case is politically motivated and part of an extraordinary official defamation campaign against critical journalists and activists. Morocco says its judiciary is independent. RSF said Saturday the sentence "follows a trial that was tainted by obvious irregularities" and called for Raissouni to be freed, pending an appeal. "After such a long hunger strike his health is at stake. He deserves a fair trial," the media watchdog said. Raissouni, 49, began a hunger strike in April demanding to be provisionally released. He has been in detention since May 2020 after an LGBT activist accused him of sexual assault. Moroccan courts have rejected all his release requests, despite a pressure campaign both locally and overseas. A committee supporting Raissouni, comprising human rights activists from several Moroccan organisations, on Saturday dismissed the verdict as "unjust... severe and incomprehensible". "There is a political will to instrumentalise justice in order to legitimise injustice," it said in a statement. It also criticised the court for "failing to... hear any witnesses, present any evidence... or call the defendant to testify" and for "rejecting all the requests of the defence team". 'Justice triumphed' Miloud Kandil, one of Raissouni's lawyers, termed the verdict "judicial butchery". "How can you condemn an accused in his absence?" he told reporters after leaving the courtroom. The plaintiff, however, said "justice has triumphed," in a Facebook post. "The dirty manoeuvres to politicise the case have been in vain." Raissouni, who has a history of run-ins with the authorities, said in late June he has lost more than 35 kilogrammes (77 pounds), much of it since he began his hunger strike over the "great injustice" of his detention. His trial began in February but has been delayed several times, including over health concerns. Earlier this week, the judge ordered Raissouni to appear in court to hear Friday's verdict, but the journalist "refused", according to a statement read in court. His defence team had boycotted the trial since Tuesday to protest at the judge's refusal to allow Raissouni to be hospitalised. Raissouni's wife Kholoud Mokhtari said last month that he was "very tired" and "close to death". His supporters and activists have accused the Moroccan government of trying to silence journalists, mostly by using sex-related charges. Raissouni's niece, Hajar Raissouni, was a reporter at the same newspaper and was sentenced in 2019 to one year in prison for sex outside marriage and an "illegal abortion" before she was pardoned by King Mohammed VI. Another journalist, Omar Radi, has been held in solitary confinement on charges of sexual assault and undermining state security, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). CPJ data show four journalists have been imprisoned in Morocco as of December 2020, three on sex crimes.

Media watchdog blasts Morocco journalist's 5-year prison term on sex charge

Detained Moroccan journalist Soulaimane Raissouni was sentenced on Friday to five years in jail for indecent assault against another man.

Raissouni, editor-in-chief of now-defunct newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum, denies the charge and has been on a hunger strike for 93 days. He was not present in court for the sentencing.

His supporters say the case is politically motivated and part of an official defamation campaign against critical journalists and activists.&nbsp;Morocco&nbsp;says its judiciary is independent.

The 49-year-old has been in detention since May 2020 after an LGBT activist accused him of sexual assault.

Raissouni began a hunger strike in April demanding to be provisionally released.

But Moroccan courts have rejected all his release requests, despite a pressure campaign both locally and overseas.

Earlier this week, the judge ordered Raissouni to appear in court to hear Friday's verdict.

The journalist had said he would only come if he was transported there in an ambulance and provided a wheelchair.

Miloud Kandil, his lawyer, termed the verdict "judicial butchery".

"How can you condemn an accused in his absence?" he said.

Raissouni, who has a history of run-ins with the authorities, says he has lost more than 35 kilograms (77 pounds), much of it since he began his hunger strike over the "great injustice" of his detention.

His trial began in February but has been delayed several times, including over health concerns.

The last time Raissouni came to court, on June 10, he appeared skeletally thin.&nbsp;

Human rights groups and press watchdogs have called for his release, while activists have accused the Moroccan government of trying to silence journalists, mostly by using sex-related charges.

Raissouni's niece, Hajar Raissouni, was a reporter at the same newspaper and was sentenced in 2019 to one year in prison for sex outside of marriage and an "illegal abortion" before she was pardoned by King Mohammed VI.

Another journalist, Omar Radi, has been held in solitary confinement on charges of sexual assault and undermining state security, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).&nbsp;

CPJ data show four journalists have been imprisoned in&nbsp;Morocco&nbsp;as of December 2020, three on sex crimes.

Detained Moroccan journalist Soulaimane Raissouni was sentenced on Friday to five years in jail for indecent assault against another man. Raissouni, editor-in-chief of now-defunct newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum, denies the charge and has been on a hunger strike for 93 days.

Detained Moroccan journalist Soulaimane Raissouni was sentenced on Friday to five years in jail for indecent assault against another man. Raissouni, editor-in-chief of now-defunct newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum, denies the charge and has been on a hunger strike for 93 days. He was not present in court for the sentencing. His supporters say the case is politically motivated and part of an official defamation campaign against critical journalists and activists. Morocco says its judiciary is independent. The 49-year-old has been in detention since May 2020 after an LGBT activist accused him of sexual assault. Raissouni began a hunger strike in April demanding to be provisionally released. But Moroccan courts have rejected all his release requests, despite a pressure campaign both locally and overseas. Earlier this week, the judge ordered Raissouni to appear in court to hear Friday's verdict. The journalist had said he would only come if he was transported there in an ambulance and provided a wheelchair. Miloud Kandil, his lawyer, termed the verdict "judicial butchery". "How can you condemn an accused in his absence?" he said. Raissouni, who has a history of run-ins with the authorities, says he has lost more than 35 kilograms (77 pounds), much of it since he began his hunger strike over the "great injustice" of his detention. His trial began in February but has been delayed several times, including over health concerns. The last time Raissouni came to court, on June 10, he appeared skeletally thin. Human rights groups and press watchdogs have called for his release, while activists have accused the Moroccan government of trying to silence journalists, mostly by using sex-related charges. Raissouni's niece, Hajar Raissouni, was a reporter at the same newspaper and was sentenced in 2019 to one year in prison for sex outside of marriage and an "illegal abortion" before she was pardoned by King Mohammed VI. Another journalist, Omar Radi, has been held in solitary confinement on charges of sexual assault and undermining state security, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). CPJ data show four journalists have been imprisoned in Morocco as of December 2020, three on sex crimes.

Moroccan journalist gets 5-year jail term for 'indecent assault'

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has called for a countrywide protest on Monday against the adoption of the controversial Punjab Assembly Privilege Bill 2021, which envisages the award of punishment to journalists over the publication of reports about the proceedings of the assembly and its committees.

The call was given by PFUJ president Shahzada Zulfiqar and secretary-general Nasir Zaidi through a statement in which they asked all unions of journalists (UJs) to organise rallies and hoist black flags at press clubs to protest against the "brutal" piece of law, reported Dawn.

The union argued that the bill would undermine the freedom of the press by awarding three-month imprisonment or a fine of Rs 10,000, or both, for publishing any report on the proceedings or a report of a committee before it was reported to the assembly.

The PFUJ has condemned what it called the insulting treatment received by journalists in Quetta by the police and the "fascist tactics" employed by the Balochistan provincial government to prevent the media from covering a press conference of opposition leaders in the city, Dawn reported.

Zulfiqar and Zaidi said that "sledgehammer tactics" against the journalists would not be tolerated at any cost and called upon the Balochistan government to take steps against the "undemocratic action".

Various Pakistani groups and unions have announced a rally outside the Governor's House in the Punjab province on Friday to protest the controversial bill, which they call 'anti-democratic.' 
 
The bill has the support of all the government and opposition parties - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Freedom of the press has long been a problem in Pakistan, but the situation has deteriorated markedly under Imran Khan, who has dismissed allegations of attacks on the Pakistani press as a "joke".

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has ranked Pakistan the fifth most dangerous place for the practice of journalism, with 138 media persons there having lost their lives in the line of duty between 1990 and 2020.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has called for a countrywide protest on Monday against the adoption of the controversial Punjab Assembly Privilege Bill 2021, which envisages the award of punishment to journalists over the publication of reports about the proceedings of the assembly and its committees.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has called for a countrywide protest on Monday against the adoption of the controversial Punjab Assembly Privilege Bill 2021, which envisages the award of punishment to journalists over the publication of reports about the proceedings of the assembly and its committees. The call was given by PFUJ president Shahzada Zulfiqar and secretary-general Nasir Zaidi through a statement in which they asked all unions of journalists (UJs) to organise rallies and hoist black flags at press clubs to protest against the "brutal" piece of law, reported Dawn. The union argued that the bill would undermine the freedom of the press by awarding three-month imprisonment or a fine of Rs 10,000, or both, for publishing any report on the proceedings or a report of a committee before it was reported to the assembly. The PFUJ has condemned what it called the insulting treatment received by journalists in Quetta by the police and the "fascist tactics" employed by the Balochistan provincial government to prevent the media from covering a press conference of opposition leaders in the city, Dawn reported. Zulfiqar and Zaidi said that "sledgehammer tactics" against the journalists would not be tolerated at any cost and called upon the Balochistan government to take steps against the "undemocratic action". Various Pakistani groups and unions have announced a rally outside the Governor's House in the Punjab province on Friday to protest the controversial bill, which they call 'anti-democratic.' The bill has the support of all the government and opposition parties - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Freedom of the press has long been a problem in Pakistan, but the situation has deteriorated markedly under Imran Khan, who has dismissed allegations of attacks on the Pakistani press as a "joke". The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has ranked Pakistan the fifth most dangerous place for the practice of journalism, with 138 media persons there having lost their lives in the line of duty between 1990 and 2020.

Pakistan journalists' union announces countrywide protest against law curbing press freedom in Punjab

Hong Kong police arrested a former senior journalist with the Apple Daily newspaper at the international airport on Sunday night on a suspected national security charge as he tried to leave the city, according to media reports. 
 
Fung Wai-kong would be the seventh staffer at the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper to be arrested on national security grounds in recent weeks. He was an editor and columnist at the now-closed paper, Hong Kong media reported. 
 
Police said in a statement that a 57-year-old man had been arrested at the airport for 'conspiring to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security'. They added that he had been detained and investigations were continuing. 
 
A former Apple Daily journalist, Jack Hazelwood, said on Twitter that Fung was attempting to board a flight to London and called on British authorities to take action. 
 
Apple Daily, a popular tabloid, was forced to fold following a raid by several hundred police on its headquarters on June 17 and the freezing of key assets and bank accounts. It printed its last edition last Thursday. 
 
Authorities say dozens of the paper's articles may have violated a China-imposed national security law, the first instance of authorities taking aim at media reports under the legislation. 
 
Critics of the law, introduced last June, say it has been used to stifle dissent and erode fundamental freedoms in the former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997. 
 
Some of the critics also say the closure of Apple Daily, which mixes pro-democracy views with celebrity gossip and investigations of those in power, marks the end of an era for media freedom in the city. 
 
Officials in Hong Kong and China have repeatedly said media freedoms are respected but not absolute, and cannot endanger national security. 
 
The shutdown of Apple is the latest setback for media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the newspaper's owner and a staunch Beijing critic, whose assets have been frozen under the legislation and who is serving prison sentences for taking part in illegal assemblies. 
 
Lai is also awaiting trial after being charged with collusion with foreign forces, which carries up to life in jail. 
 
The Hong Kong Journalists'&nbsp;Association, reacting to reports of the airport arrest, condemned the police for targeting journalists again, and asked them to explain the incident. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong police arrested a former senior journalist with the Apple Daily newspaper at the international airport on Sunday night on a suspected national security charge as he tried to leave the city, according to media reports.

Hong Kong police arrested a former senior journalist with the Apple Daily newspaper at the international airport on Sunday night on a suspected national security charge as he tried to leave the city, according to media reports. Fung Wai-kong would be the seventh staffer at the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper to be arrested on national security grounds in recent weeks. He was an editor and columnist at the now-closed paper, Hong Kong media reported. Police said in a statement that a 57-year-old man had been arrested at the airport for 'conspiring to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security'. They added that he had been detained and investigations were continuing. A former Apple Daily journalist, Jack Hazelwood, said on Twitter that Fung was attempting to board a flight to London and called on British authorities to take action. Apple Daily, a popular tabloid, was forced to fold following a raid by several hundred police on its headquarters on June 17 and the freezing of key assets and bank accounts. It printed its last edition last Thursday. Authorities say dozens of the paper's articles may have violated a China-imposed national security law, the first instance of authorities taking aim at media reports under the legislation. Critics of the law, introduced last June, say it has been used to stifle dissent and erode fundamental freedoms in the former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Some of the critics also say the closure of Apple Daily, which mixes pro-democracy views with celebrity gossip and investigations of those in power, marks the end of an era for media freedom in the city. Officials in Hong Kong and China have repeatedly said media freedoms are respected but not absolute, and cannot endanger national security. The shutdown of Apple is the latest setback for media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the newspaper's owner and a staunch Beijing critic, whose assets have been frozen under the legislation and who is serving prison sentences for taking part in illegal assemblies. Lai is also awaiting trial after being charged with collusion with foreign forces, which carries up to life in jail. The Hong Kong Journalists' Association, reacting to reports of the airport arrest, condemned the police for targeting journalists again, and asked them to explain the incident. (With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong police arrest former Apple Daily journalist at airport: Media

A press videographer who was traveling with President Ashraf Ghani's&nbsp;delegation&nbsp;tested&nbsp;positive&nbsp;for&nbsp;COVID-19, claims the Congress's Office of Attending Physician on Friday. Ghani is in Washington this week for a round of meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden and congressional leaders, as the last US&nbsp;troops prepare to leave&nbsp;Afghanistan.

The videographer was not inside the meeting with congressional leaders, but had attended a photo op by Ghani and the House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a source familiar with the situation said.

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"It was our understanding that everybody in the&nbsp;delegation&nbsp;was vaccinated," the source said. The US military has completed more than half of its withdrawal from&nbsp;Afghanistan and is set to finish within weeks.

Fighting between US&nbsp;troops and the Taliban have escalated since April when Biden announced the withdrawal. The Pentagon estimates the Taliban now controls 81 of&nbsp;Afghanistan's 419&nbsp;district centres.

Lawmakers have expressed concern about how women will be treated if the Taliban seizes control after the US&nbsp;troop withdrawal. "We look forward to having a conversation about how we strengthen our relationship through humanitarian assistance," US&nbsp;House of Representatives" Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in remarks before the meeting.

Between 600 and 700 troops are likely to remain in the country to provide security for diplomats, officials say.

A press videographer who was traveling with President Ashraf Ghani's delegation tested positive for COVID-19, claims the Congress's Office of Attending Physician on Friday.

A press videographer who was traveling with President Ashraf Ghani's delegation tested positive for COVID-19, claims the Congress's Office of Attending Physician on Friday. Ghani is in Washington this week for a round of meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden and congressional leaders, as the last US troops prepare to leave Afghanistan. The videographer was not inside the meeting with congressional leaders, but had attended a photo op by Ghani and the House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a source familiar with the situation said. Also Read | Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death "It was our understanding that everybody in the delegation was vaccinated," the source said. The US military has completed more than half of its withdrawal from Afghanistan and is set to finish within weeks. Fighting between US troops and the Taliban have escalated since April when Biden announced the withdrawal. The Pentagon estimates the Taliban now controls 81 of Afghanistan's 419 district centres. Lawmakers have expressed concern about how women will be treated if the Taliban seizes control after the US troop withdrawal. "We look forward to having a conversation about how we strengthen our relationship through humanitarian assistance," US House of Representatives" Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in remarks before the meeting. Between 600 and 700 troops are likely to remain in the country to provide security for diplomats, officials say.

Afghan journalist in presidential delegation tests positive for COVID-19

US&nbsp;citizen Nathan Maung has been released from detention in Myanmar and is due to fly out of the country on Tuesday, his lawyer Tin Zar Oo told Reuters. 
 
A court dismissed the case against the editor at Kamayut Media after the plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit, Tin Zar Oo said on Monday. 
 
The United States had expressed concern over the detention of Nathan Maung and another US&nbsp;citizen, Daniel Fenster, by the military authorities in the Southeast Asian country.

US citizen Nathan Maung has been released from detention in Myanmar and is due to fly out of the country on Tuesday, his lawyer Tin Zar Oo told Reuters. A court dismissed the case against the editor at Kamayut Media after the plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit, Tin Zar Oo said on Monday.

US citizen Nathan Maung has been released from detention in Myanmar and is due to fly out of the country on Tuesday, his lawyer Tin Zar Oo told Reuters. A court dismissed the case against the editor at Kamayut Media after the plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit, Tin Zar Oo said on Monday. The United States had expressed concern over the detention of Nathan Maung and another US citizen, Daniel Fenster, by the military authorities in the Southeast Asian country.

US journalist Nathan Maung released from detention in Myanmar: Lawyer

The US government said on Saturday it would stop secretly obtaining reporters' phone and email records during investigations into political leaks, ending a practice that was often criticised as undermining press freedom.

The New York Times this week reported that under Donald Trump's administration and continuing under President Joe Biden, the Justice Department fought a covert legal battle to access email logs of four of its reporters in a hunt for leak sources.

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The Department of Justice said in a statement that "in a change to its longstanding practice,&nbsp;(it) will not seek compulsory legal process in leak investigations to obtain source information from members of the news media."

It added that it had "completed a review to determine all instances in which the Department had pending compulsory requests from reporters in leak investigations.

"All reporters involved have now been notified."

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White House press secretary Jen Psaki said "the issuing of subpoenas for the records of reporters in leak investigations is not consistent with the president's policy direction."

Among other media outlets, CNN&nbsp;reported last month that the Trump administration had secretly sought and obtained phone and email records of one of its correspondents.

The US government said on Saturday it would stop secretly obtaining reporters' phone and email records during investigations into political leaks, ending a practice that was often criticised as undermining press freedom.

The US government said on Saturday it would stop secretly obtaining reporters' phone and email records during investigations into political leaks, ending a practice that was often criticised as undermining press freedom. The New York Times this week reported that under Donald Trump's administration and continuing under President Joe Biden, the Justice Department fought a covert legal battle to access email logs of four of its reporters in a hunt for leak sources. Also Read | Major US tech firms press Congress for internet surveillance reforms The Department of Justice said in a statement that "in a change to its longstanding practice, (it) will not seek compulsory legal process in leak investigations to obtain source information from members of the news media." It added that it had "completed a review to determine all instances in which the Department had pending compulsory requests from reporters in leak investigations. "All reporters involved have now been notified." Also Read | Miles Taylor, a former Homeland security official, reveals he was ‘anonymous’ White House press secretary Jen Psaki said "the issuing of subpoenas for the records of reporters in leak investigations is not consistent with the president's policy direction." Among other media outlets, CNN reported last month that the Trump administration had secretly sought and obtained phone and email records of one of its correspondents.

US says it will no longer seize reporters' records in leak probes

Airlines re-routed flights to avoid Belarus's airspace on Tuesday and Belarusian planes faced a possible ban from Europe, as international outrage mounted over Minsk forcing down a jetliner and arresting a dissident journalist on board.&nbsp;

Western nations accused Belarus of hijacking and piracy over the interception of the Ryanair plane as it crossed the country on a flight from Greece to Lithuania, and diplomats said France, Ireland and Estonia would raise the incident at a private meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday.&nbsp;

"The behaviour of the Belarus regime is outrageous, illegal, and completely unacceptable ... we also condemn this kind of dangerous interference in civil aviation," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters.&nbsp;

A video released overnight showed 26-year-old Roman Protasevich, who was pulled from the passenger plane after Belarus scrambled a warplane to escort it to Minsk on Sunday, confessing to having organised anti-government demonstrations.&nbsp;

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the video was 'concerning'. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko must pay a 'bitter price' for detaining Protasevich.&nbsp;

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said the footage showed Protasevich had been tortured.&nbsp;

"He said that he was treated lawfully, but he's clearly beaten and under pressure. There is no doubt that he was tortured. He was taken hostage," she told a news conference in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.&nbsp;

Belarus did not immediately comment on the torture allegation but has consistently denied abusing detainees.&nbsp;

Rights groups have documented hundreds of cases of what they describe as abuse and forced confessions during a crackdown on pro-democracy opponents of Lukashenko since last year.&nbsp;

Lukashenko, whose opponents accuse him of rigging an August 2020 election, has so far shrugged off Western sanctions, which mostly consist of barring various officials from travelling or doing business in the United States and EU.&nbsp;

The Belarusian leader enjoys financial and security support from Russia.&nbsp;

The White House said President Joe Biden would discuss the incident with Russian President Vladimir Putin at their summit next month, but added the United States did not believe Moscow had played any role in it.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Belarusian authorities on Tuesday released a transcript of a conversation between the plane and an air traffic controller in which the pilot repeatedly questioned information about the threat before agreeing to land at Minsk.&nbsp;

The transcript, which could not be verified independently, differs from excerpts previously released by Belarus state TV, which had suggested the pilot had asked to land in Minsk, rather than that the controller had advised him to do so.&nbsp;

In response to Minsk's actions, the European air traffic control agency, Eurocontrol, recommended that EU and British carriers that fly over Belarus should re-route via the Baltic states.&nbsp;

Britain also said it was banning Belarusian airlines from entering its airspace.&nbsp;

European Union leaders at a summit on Monday had called for airlines based in the 27-member bloc to halt flights over Belarusian airspace, which is along a major corridor connecting Europe and Asia and earns hard currency from overflight rights.&nbsp;

Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, Air France, LOT and Singapore Airlines were among carriers that announced they would stop flying over Belarus.&nbsp;

Belgium's Charles Michel, who chairs EU summits, tweeted 'Europe in action', with a picture of a flight tracker map of the continent showing no planes flying over Belarus.&nbsp;

EU leaders also directed officials to draw up unspecified new sanctions against Belarus, and to work out a way to ban Belarusian airlines from the bloc's skies.&nbsp;

Belarus's neighbour, Ukraine, announced a ban on flights to or from Belarus, and on its own airlines using Belarusian airspace.&nbsp;

"If we let this go, tomorrow Alexander Lukashenko will go further and do something even more arrogant, more cruel," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Airlines re-routed flights to avoid Belarus's airspace on Tuesday and Belarusian planes faced a possible ban from Europe, as international outrage mounted over Minsk forcing down a jetliner and arresting a dissident journalist on board.

Airlines re-routed flights to avoid Belarus's airspace on Tuesday and Belarusian planes faced a possible ban from Europe, as international outrage mounted over Minsk forcing down a jetliner and arresting a dissident journalist on board. Western nations accused Belarus of hijacking and piracy over the interception of the Ryanair plane as it crossed the country on a flight from Greece to Lithuania, and diplomats said France, Ireland and Estonia would raise the incident at a private meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday. "The behaviour of the Belarus regime is outrageous, illegal, and completely unacceptable ... we also condemn this kind of dangerous interference in civil aviation," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters. A video released overnight showed 26-year-old Roman Protasevich, who was pulled from the passenger plane after Belarus scrambled a warplane to escort it to Minsk on Sunday, confessing to having organised anti-government demonstrations. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the video was 'concerning'. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko must pay a 'bitter price' for detaining Protasevich. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said the footage showed Protasevich had been tortured. "He said that he was treated lawfully, but he's clearly beaten and under pressure. There is no doubt that he was tortured. He was taken hostage," she told a news conference in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Belarus did not immediately comment on the torture allegation but has consistently denied abusing detainees. Rights groups have documented hundreds of cases of what they describe as abuse and forced confessions during a crackdown on pro-democracy opponents of Lukashenko since last year. Lukashenko, whose opponents accuse him of rigging an August 2020 election, has so far shrugged off Western sanctions, which mostly consist of barring various officials from travelling or doing business in the United States and EU. The Belarusian leader enjoys financial and security support from Russia. The White House said President Joe Biden would discuss the incident with Russian President Vladimir Putin at their summit next month, but added the United States did not believe Moscow had played any role in it. Meanwhile, Belarusian authorities on Tuesday released a transcript of a conversation between the plane and an air traffic controller in which the pilot repeatedly questioned information about the threat before agreeing to land at Minsk. The transcript, which could not be verified independently, differs from excerpts previously released by Belarus state TV, which had suggested the pilot had asked to land in Minsk, rather than that the controller had advised him to do so. In response to Minsk's actions, the European air traffic control agency, Eurocontrol, recommended that EU and British carriers that fly over Belarus should re-route via the Baltic states. Britain also said it was banning Belarusian airlines from entering its airspace. European Union leaders at a summit on Monday had called for airlines based in the 27-member bloc to halt flights over Belarusian airspace, which is along a major corridor connecting Europe and Asia and earns hard currency from overflight rights. Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, Air France, LOT and Singapore Airlines were among carriers that announced they would stop flying over Belarus. Belgium's Charles Michel, who chairs EU summits, tweeted 'Europe in action', with a picture of a flight tracker map of the continent showing no planes flying over Belarus. EU leaders also directed officials to draw up unspecified new sanctions against Belarus, and to work out a way to ban Belarusian airlines from the bloc's skies. Belarus's neighbour, Ukraine, announced a ban on flights to or from Belarus, and on its own airlines using Belarusian airspace. "If we let this go, tomorrow Alexander Lukashenko will go further and do something even more arrogant, more cruel," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Airlines re-route to avoid Belarus, opposition says journalist beaten 

A Pakistani journalist has been brutally assaulted by three masked men at his home in Islamabad. Journalist Asad Ali Toor claimed that three men wearing masks broke into his house, tied him up and assaulted him, and were from the Pakistani spy agency.

Pakistan journalist Asad Ali Toor attacked by masked men at home in Islamabad

Western powers prepared to pile sanctions on Belarus and cut off its aviation links on Monday, furious after it scrambled a warplane to intercept a Ryanair aircraft and arrest a dissident journalist, an act one official denounced as 'state piracy'.&nbsp;

In a video posted online, the detained blogger&nbsp;Roman Protasevich, 26, said he was in good health, being held in a pretrial detention facility in Minsk, and acknowledged having played a role in organising mass disturbances in the capital last year.&nbsp;

In the video on the Telegram messaging app, he wore a dark sweatshirt and clasped his hands tightly in front of him. The comments were immediately dismissed by his allies, including his father, as having been made under duress.&nbsp;

A Polish deputy foreign minister, Pawel Jablonski, told private broadcaster TVN24 that his government had heard from Protasevich's mother about his being in poor health, but provided no details.&nbsp;

Belarus' interior ministry said Protasevich was being held in jail and had not complained of ill health.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden on Monday condemned Belarus for its actions and said he had asked his advisers to give him options to hold those responsible to account.&nbsp;

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, in a call on Monday with exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said the United States had "strong support for the demands of the Belarusian people for democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms," the White House said.&nbsp;

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels called for Belarusian airlines to be banned from the 27-nation bloc's airspace and urged EU-based carriers to avoid flying over the former Soviet republic, according to a joint statement.&nbsp;

They also agreed to widen the list of Belarusian individuals they already sanction and called on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to urgently investigate Belarus forcing a Ryanair plane to land in Minsk on a Greece-Lithuania flight on Sunday.&nbsp;

"The reaction should be swift and be severe," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo told journalists ahead of the EU summit.&nbsp;

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, using language that was echoed by a number of other EU countries, said: "This was effectively aviation piracy, state sponsored."&nbsp;

The EU and other Western countries also called for the release of Protasevich, who was detained when the plane landed.&nbsp;

His social media feed from exile has been one of the last remaining independent outlets for news about Belarus since a mass crackdown on dissent last year. Sofia Sapega, a 23-year-old student travelling with him, was also detained.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Western powers prepared to pile sanctions on Belarus and cut off its aviation links on Monday, furious after it scrambled a warplane to intercept a Ryanair aircraft and arrest a dissident journalist, an act one official denounced as 'state piracy'.

Western powers prepared to pile sanctions on Belarus and cut off its aviation links on Monday, furious after it scrambled a warplane to intercept a Ryanair aircraft and arrest a dissident journalist, an act one official denounced as 'state piracy'. In a video posted online, the detained blogger Roman Protasevich, 26, said he was in good health, being held in a pretrial detention facility in Minsk, and acknowledged having played a role in organising mass disturbances in the capital last year. In the video on the Telegram messaging app, he wore a dark sweatshirt and clasped his hands tightly in front of him. The comments were immediately dismissed by his allies, including his father, as having been made under duress. A Polish deputy foreign minister, Pawel Jablonski, told private broadcaster TVN24 that his government had heard from Protasevich's mother about his being in poor health, but provided no details. Belarus' interior ministry said Protasevich was being held in jail and had not complained of ill health. US President Joe Biden on Monday condemned Belarus for its actions and said he had asked his advisers to give him options to hold those responsible to account. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, in a call on Monday with exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said the United States had "strong support for the demands of the Belarusian people for democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms," the White House said. European Union leaders meeting in Brussels called for Belarusian airlines to be banned from the 27-nation bloc's airspace and urged EU-based carriers to avoid flying over the former Soviet republic, according to a joint statement. They also agreed to widen the list of Belarusian individuals they already sanction and called on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to urgently investigate Belarus forcing a Ryanair plane to land in Minsk on a Greece-Lithuania flight on Sunday. "The reaction should be swift and be severe," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo told journalists ahead of the EU summit. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, using language that was echoed by a number of other EU countries, said: "This was effectively aviation piracy, state sponsored." The EU and other Western countries also called for the release of Protasevich, who was detained when the plane landed. His social media feed from exile has been one of the last remaining independent outlets for news about Belarus since a mass crackdown on dissent last year. Sofia Sapega, a 23-year-old student travelling with him, was also detained. (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus faces new sanctions from West over forced landing of plane, arrest of journalist 

A French journalist, who disappeared last month in Mali's northern city of Gao appeared in a video on Wednesday appealing to authorities to work for his release. He also said that he had been kidnapped in early April by a jihadist group with links to Al-Qaeda.

French journalist abducted in Mali appears in video asking for help

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday announced that all accredited and yellow card journalists in the state will be included in the list of frontline warriors in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. 
 
All power corporation employees in the state have also been brought under the ambit of frontline workers. 
 
These employees, along with the journalists, will now be eligible for all the benefits that the frontline workers are entitled to, including priority vaccination, the Chief Minister said at a high-level Covid review meeting. 
 
Journalists have been taking grave risks in covering the pandemic from the ground and helping to spread awareness about the virus for the past more than a year, the Chief Minister said. 
 
They need to be protected, he said, adding that though many states had raised the demand for their inclusion in the frontline workers category, the government of India has not responded so far. 
 
The Punjab government, therefore, has decided to provide frontline protection to the journalists and also power corporation employees, who too are endangering their lives while maintaining critical power services in hospitals and other vital institutions. 
&nbsp;

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday announced that all accredited and yellow card journalists in the state will be included in the list of frontline warriors in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday announced that all accredited and yellow card journalists in the state will be included in the list of frontline warriors in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. All power corporation employees in the state have also been brought under the ambit of frontline workers. These employees, along with the journalists, will now be eligible for all the benefits that the frontline workers are entitled to, including priority vaccination, the Chief Minister said at a high-level Covid review meeting. Journalists have been taking grave risks in covering the pandemic from the ground and helping to spread awareness about the virus for the past more than a year, the Chief Minister said. They need to be protected, he said, adding that though many states had raised the demand for their inclusion in the frontline workers category, the government of India has not responded so far. The Punjab government, therefore, has decided to provide frontline protection to the journalists and also power corporation employees, who too are endangering their lives while maintaining critical power services in hospitals and other vital institutions.

Journalists declared frontline warriors in Punjab

A journalist was shot and killed during a robbery bid in the Bank Colony area of Quetta on Saturday evening, said police officials.

Police said the journalist, Abdul Wahid Raisani, was going home from his office yesterday evening when robbers tried to snatch his motorcycle near Qambrani Road.

During the ensuing struggle, the robbers fired shots, one of which struck Raisani`s chest, they added according to Dawn. The Balochistan Union of Journalists strongly condemned the incident and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for Raisani`s death.

Earlier this week, senior journalist and former chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (Pemra), Absar Alam, was shot in Islamabad. In a video shared by journalist Asad Toor, Alam could be heard saying he was shot at while walking outside his home.

Dawn further reported that earlier this month, a local journalist, Waseem Alam, was shot dead by unidentified persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa`s Karak. At least 10 journalists were murdered and several others threatened, kidnapped, tortured and arrested in Pakistan on trumped-up charges while discharging their professional responsibilities in 2020 alone, according to the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors` (CPNE) Media Freedom Report 2020, according to Dawn.

No action has so far been taken against those responsible for torturing and killing journalists and it seems that such persons enjoy impunity.

"It is a matter of grave concern that the legal system of the country has become useless in protecting and providing justice to journalists," said the report.Pakistan continues to remain one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, and more and more scribes are being arrested for criticising the country`s Army under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA).

PECA, which is seen as the draconian tool to silence free speech, criminalises any speech considered to be "blasphemous" and even those who criticise state institutions.

Recently, a new section was added in PECA stating that those who intentionally ridicule, bring into disrepute or defame the Armed Forces of Pakistan will be sentenced up to two years and be fined over USD 3,018.

Pakistan has been ranked 145th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders`s (RSF) 2020 World Press Freedom Index, three places lower than in 2019.&nbsp;

A journalist was shot and killed during a robbery bid in the Bank Colony area of Quetta on Saturday evening, said police officials. Police said the journalist, Abdul Wahid Raisani, was going home from his office yesterday evening when robbers tried to snatch his motorcycle near Qambrani Road.

A journalist was shot and killed during a robbery bid in the Bank Colony area of Quetta on Saturday evening, said police officials. Police said the journalist, Abdul Wahid Raisani, was going home from his office yesterday evening when robbers tried to snatch his motorcycle near Qambrani Road. During the ensuing struggle, the robbers fired shots, one of which struck Raisani`s chest, they added according to Dawn. The Balochistan Union of Journalists strongly condemned the incident and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for Raisani`s death. Earlier this week, senior journalist and former chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (Pemra), Absar Alam, was shot in Islamabad. In a video shared by journalist Asad Toor, Alam could be heard saying he was shot at while walking outside his home. Dawn further reported that earlier this month, a local journalist, Waseem Alam, was shot dead by unidentified persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa`s Karak. At least 10 journalists were murdered and several others threatened, kidnapped, tortured and arrested in Pakistan on trumped-up charges while discharging their professional responsibilities in 2020 alone, according to the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors` (CPNE) Media Freedom Report 2020, according to Dawn. No action has so far been taken against those responsible for torturing and killing journalists and it seems that such persons enjoy impunity. "It is a matter of grave concern that the legal system of the country has become useless in protecting and providing justice to journalists," said the report.Pakistan continues to remain one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, and more and more scribes are being arrested for criticising the country`s Army under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA). PECA, which is seen as the draconian tool to silence free speech, criminalises any speech considered to be "blasphemous" and even those who criticise state institutions. Recently, a new section was added in PECA stating that those who intentionally ridicule, bring into disrepute or defame the Armed Forces of Pakistan will be sentenced up to two years and be fined over USD 3,018. Pakistan has been ranked 145th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders`s (RSF) 2020 World Press Freedom Index, three places lower than in 2019.

Pakistan journalist shot dead during robbery bid

The united kingdom expelled three Chinese spies who are working as a journalist over the past year. The expelled spies are determined as intelligence officers for the Beijing ministry of state security.

Britain expels Chinese spies posing as Journalists

Hong Kong's court remanded tycoon Jimmy Lai, the most high profile Hong-Konger will be in custody until another bail hearing on 1st of February. Jimmy Lai is the vocal critic of Beijing. Taiwan activists voice objection against Lai's remand.

Vocal critic of Beijing, Jimmy Lai remands by Hong Kong court again

From Blocking information regarding coronavirus and jailing bloggers to imposing restrictions on foreign journalist, China took the lead in media repression this year. Here's the report.

China lead in the media repression this year by imposing restrictions on foreign journalist

&nbsp;

A group of gunmen attacked a journalist in Afghanistan's eastern city&nbsp;Ghazni on Monday, making him the third targeted journalist in the last two months.

Rahmatullah Nekzad was travelling towards a nearby mosque when he was chased and shot by a group of gunmen who used a&nbsp;silenced pistol,&nbsp;Ghazni province police spokesman Ahmad Khan Seerat told AFP.

Nekzad was a freelance reporter in his 40s who was known for his coverage on the prevailing threats posed by various terrorist groups in the violence-ridden country.

"AJSC strongly condemns the serial killing of Afghan journalists," the&nbsp;Afghan Journalists Safety Committee paid their tribute to the murdered journalist on Twitter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
(1/2) Another <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/journalist?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#journalist</a> killed today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RahmatullahNekzad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RahmatullahNekzad</a> worked for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AP</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aljazeera?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Aljazeera</a> was shot dead in front of his house this evening. AJSC strongly condemns the serial killing of Afghan journalists <a href="https://twitter.com/UNAMAnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNAMAnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EUinAfghanistan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EUinAfghanistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SwedeninAF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SwedeninAF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyKabul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USEmbassyKabul</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/forfreemedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@forfreemedia</a> <a href="https://t.co/YBRi8Ryi9Y">pic.twitter.com/YBRi8Ryi9Y</a>
— AJSC (Afghan Journalists Safety Committee) (@ajsc_afg) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajsc_afg/status/1341013947063947268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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While no group has claimed responsibility for the murder, the Taliban has denied any participation in this attack.

His murder comes a few days after&nbsp;female news anchor and activist Malalai Maiwand was shot dead, along with her driver, in&nbsp;Jalalabad by Islamic State group.&nbsp;Radio Liberty reporter Aliyas Dayee, too, was murdered by a car bomb in&nbsp;the&nbsp;southern Lashkar Gah city.

Urging the government to intervene and ensure security of the journalists, AJSC said, "AJSC calls on the Afghan govt to take serious measures towards #protection of #journalists and urges Afghanistan's international partners including the #UN to assist with identifying the perpetrators and ensuring justice."

A group of gunmen attacked a journalist in Afghanistan's eastern city Ghazni on Monday, making him the third targeted journalist in the last two months. Rahmatullah Nekzad was travelling towards a nearby mosque when he was chased and shot by a group of gunmen who used a silenced pistol, Ghazni province police spokesman Ahmad Khan Seerat told AFP.

A group of gunmen attacked a journalist in Afghanistan's eastern city Ghazni on Monday, making him the third targeted journalist in the last two months. Rahmatullah Nekzad was travelling towards a nearby mosque when he was chased and shot by a group of gunmen who used a silenced pistol, Ghazni province police spokesman Ahmad Khan Seerat told AFP. Nekzad was a freelance reporter in his 40s who was known for his coverage on the prevailing threats posed by various terrorist groups in the violence-ridden country. "AJSC strongly condemns the serial killing of Afghan journalists," the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee paid their tribute to the murdered journalist on Twitter. (1/2) Another #Afghan #journalist killed today. #RahmatullahNekzad worked for #AP & #Aljazeera was shot dead in front of his house this evening. AJSC strongly condemns the serial killing of Afghan journalists @UNAMAnews @EUinAfghanistan @SwedeninAF @USEmbassyKabul @forfreemedia pic.twitter.com/YBRi8Ryi9Y — AJSC (Afghan Journalists Safety Committee) (@ajsc_afg) December 21, 2020 × While no group has claimed responsibility for the murder, the Taliban has denied any participation in this attack. His murder comes a few days after female news anchor and activist Malalai Maiwand was shot dead, along with her driver, in Jalalabad by Islamic State group. Radio Liberty reporter Aliyas Dayee, too, was murdered by a car bomb in the southern Lashkar Gah city. Urging the government to intervene and ensure security of the journalists, AJSC said, "AJSC calls on the Afghan govt to take serious measures towards #protection of #journalists and urges Afghanistan's international partners including the #UN to assist with identifying the perpetrators and ensuring justice."

Gunmen murder journalist in Afghanistan's Ghazni

Iran has executed dissident journalist Ruhollah Zam. According to reports Zam was hanged on Saturday morning, he has been convicted of fomenting violence in 2017 anti- government protest. Iran top court had upheld death penalty for Zam.

Iran Journalist Ruhollah Zam Executed

Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld a death sentence against a dissident journalist who was captured in 2019 after years in exile in France, the judiciary said on Tuesday.

Ruhollah Zam, whose Amadnews social media feed had more than one million followers, was convicted of fomenting violence during anti-government protests in 2017.&nbsp;The decision was condemned by France and human rights groups.

Zam fled Iran and was given asylum in France.

Zam’s Amadnews feed was suspended by messaging service Telegram in 2018 for allegedly inciting violence but had reappeared under another name.

In October 2019, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had trapped Zam in a “complex operation using intelligence deception”.

Nour News, a news agency close to the Revolutionary Guards, said on Tuesday: “After travelling to Iraq in September 2019, he (Zam) was arrested by agents...of the Revolutionary Guards intelligence service and brought to Iran.”

“The death sentence against the journalist Mr. Rouhollah Zam is a serious attack on freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Iran. France strongly condemns it and calls on Iran to respect its international human rights obligations,” the ministry said in a statement.

Amnesty International said in a tweet: “Iran’s Supreme Court upholding the death sentence of #RouhollahZam, a journalist and dissident, is a shocking escalation in Iran’s use of the death penalty as a weapon of repression.”

Iranian officials have accused arch-foe the United States as well as Tehran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia and government opponents living in exile of fomenting the unrest, which began in late 2017 as regional protests over economic hardship and spread nationwide.

Officials said 21 people were killed during the unrest and thousands were arrested. The unrest was among the worst Iran has seen in decades, and was followed by even deadlier protests last year against fuel price rises.

(with inputs)

Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld a death sentence against a dissident journalist who was captured in 2019 after years in exile in France, the judiciary said on Tuesday.

Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld a death sentence against a dissident journalist who was captured in 2019 after years in exile in France, the judiciary said on Tuesday. Ruhollah Zam, whose Amadnews social media feed had more than one million followers, was convicted of fomenting violence during anti-government protests in 2017. The decision was condemned by France and human rights groups. Zam fled Iran and was given asylum in France. Zam’s Amadnews feed was suspended by messaging service Telegram in 2018 for allegedly inciting violence but had reappeared under another name. In October 2019, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had trapped Zam in a “complex operation using intelligence deception”. Nour News, a news agency close to the Revolutionary Guards, said on Tuesday: “After travelling to Iraq in September 2019, he (Zam) was arrested by agents...of the Revolutionary Guards intelligence service and brought to Iran.” “The death sentence against the journalist Mr. Rouhollah Zam is a serious attack on freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Iran. France strongly condemns it and calls on Iran to respect its international human rights obligations,” the ministry said in a statement. Amnesty International said in a tweet: “Iran’s Supreme Court upholding the death sentence of #RouhollahZam, a journalist and dissident, is a shocking escalation in Iran’s use of the death penalty as a weapon of repression.” Iranian officials have accused arch-foe the United States as well as Tehran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia and government opponents living in exile of fomenting the unrest, which began in late 2017 as regional protests over economic hardship and spread nationwide. Officials said 21 people were killed during the unrest and thousands were arrested. The unrest was among the worst Iran has seen in decades, and was followed by even deadlier protests last year against fuel price rises. (with inputs)

Iran upholds death sentence against France-based journalist it caught last year

A journalist was killed by gunmen in central Mexico&nbsp;on Monday, authorities said -- the seventh such murder this year in one of the world's most dangerous countries for reporters.

Israel Vazquez Rangel, who worked for the online newspaper El Salmantino in violence-plagued Guanajuato state, was shot while out reporting and later died in hospital, prosecutors said in a statement.

His newspaper said the 31-year-old was covering the discovery of human remains in the city of Salamanca when he was attacked by two men.

"We vigorously condemn the cowardly and atrocious attack against our dear colleague Israel Vazquez while he was carrying out his honorable journalistic work," the daily said in a statement.

Media rights groups the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounced the murder.

"It's a deplorable situation because violence continues in Mexico, especially against journalists," RSF's Mexico representative Balbina Flores told AFP.

The group regularly ranks Mexico alongside war-torn Syria and Afghanistan as the world's most dangerous countries for news media.&nbsp;

More than 100 reporters have been murdered since 2000 in Mexico, where investigating political corruption or powerful drug cartels can have deadly repercussions.

Only a fraction of those crimes have resulted in convictions.

In September, journalist Julio Valdivia was found decapitated in the eastern state of Veracruz, a flashpoint in turf wars between rival drug cartels.

The following month, journalist and television news show host Arturo Alba Medina was shot dead in&nbsp;Ciudad Juarez near the US border.

A journalist was killed by gunmen in central Mexico on Monday, authorities said -- the seventh such murder this year in one of the world's most dangerous countries for reporters.

A journalist was killed by gunmen in central Mexico on Monday, authorities said -- the seventh such murder this year in one of the world's most dangerous countries for reporters. Israel Vazquez Rangel, who worked for the online newspaper El Salmantino in violence-plagued Guanajuato state, was shot while out reporting and later died in hospital, prosecutors said in a statement. His newspaper said the 31-year-old was covering the discovery of human remains in the city of Salamanca when he was attacked by two men. "We vigorously condemn the cowardly and atrocious attack against our dear colleague Israel Vazquez while he was carrying out his honorable journalistic work," the daily said in a statement. Media rights groups the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounced the murder. "It's a deplorable situation because violence continues in Mexico, especially against journalists," RSF's Mexico representative Balbina Flores told AFP. The group regularly ranks Mexico alongside war-torn Syria and Afghanistan as the world's most dangerous countries for news media. More than 100 reporters have been murdered since 2000 in Mexico, where investigating political corruption or powerful drug cartels can have deadly repercussions. Only a fraction of those crimes have resulted in convictions. In September, journalist Julio Valdivia was found decapitated in the eastern state of Veracruz, a flashpoint in turf wars between rival drug cartels. The following month, journalist and television news show host Arturo Alba Medina was shot dead in Ciudad Juarez near the US border.

Journalist murdered in Mexico, seventh this year

A Pakistani reporter who went missing in Karachi returned home on Saturday, his family and government officials said.

Pak journalist returns home a day after going missing in Karachi

Pakistan, the country ranked among the most dangerous for journalists in past, has seen another scribe go missing. Pakistan's Geo News said that its senior reporter, Ali Imran Syed went missing on Friday (October 23). The reporter, who left his house to go to a bakery did not return even after many hours. His family told Geo News that Imran Ali Syed left his phone in his house before heading out. His car was parked outside his house at the time of the disappearance.

The police have been informed of Ali&nbsp;Imran Syed's disappearance.

Other media reports suggest that the disappearance of Syed has come just days after he obtained video footage of Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law being arrested from a hotel in Karachi.

Captain Safdar, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law, was arrested and released earlier this week. Nawaz Sharif, who is in UK for medical treatment, condemned this and told reporters that there was a 'state above state' in Pakistan. The reference was taken to be aimed at Pakistan Army.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-still-not-implementing-financial-sanction-on-un-listed-terrorists-fatf-">Pak still not implementing financial sanction on UN-listed terrorists: FATF</a>

Journalists in Pakistan have always been under threat. The mysterious disappearances or even killing of journalists has had many pointing fingers at Pakistani establishment. This has been especially true when journalist criticising the establishment have disappeared mysteriously.

In May this year, editor of an ethnic Baloch news website was found dead in Sweden. Sajid Hussain, the journalist, was forced to flee Pakistan in 2012 after he got death threats. Soon after he was found dead, BBC reported that a press freedom charity had pointed fingers at Pakistani intelligence for Hussain's death.

Again in July, a prominent Pakistani journalist who raised voice against Pakistani establishment went missing. Matuiullah Jan, who went missing from Islamabad, had previously been attacked in 2017.

In an interview to an American NGO, Committee to Protect Journalists, in February, Jan said that his broadcast career turned south after a military spokesman publicly displayed his name and photo on a list of journalists who were accused of distributing anti-state propaganda.

Pakistan, the country ranked among the most dangerous for journalists in past, has seen another scribe go missing. Pakistan's Geo News said that its senior reporter, Ali Imran Syed went missing on Friday (October 23).

Pakistan, the country ranked among the most dangerous for journalists in past, has seen another scribe go missing. Pakistan's Geo News said that its senior reporter, Ali Imran Syed went missing on Friday (October 23). The reporter, who left his house to go to a bakery did not return even after many hours. His family told Geo News that Imran Ali Syed left his phone in his house before heading out. His car was parked outside his house at the time of the disappearance. The police have been informed of Ali Imran Syed's disappearance. Other media reports suggest that the disappearance of Syed has come just days after he obtained video footage of Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law being arrested from a hotel in Karachi. Captain Safdar, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law, was arrested and released earlier this week. Nawaz Sharif, who is in UK for medical treatment, condemned this and told reporters that there was a 'state above state' in Pakistan. The reference was taken to be aimed at Pakistan Army. Also Read | Pak still not implementing financial sanction on UN-listed terrorists: FATF Journalists in Pakistan have always been under threat. The mysterious disappearances or even killing of journalists has had many pointing fingers at Pakistani establishment. This has been especially true when journalist criticising the establishment have disappeared mysteriously. In May this year, editor of an ethnic Baloch news website was found dead in Sweden. Sajid Hussain, the journalist, was forced to flee Pakistan in 2012 after he got death threats. Soon after he was found dead, BBC reported that a press freedom charity had pointed fingers at Pakistani intelligence for Hussain's death. Again in July, a prominent Pakistani journalist who raised voice against Pakistani establishment went missing. Matuiullah Jan, who went missing from Islamabad, had previously been attacked in 2017. In an interview to an American NGO, Committee to Protect Journalists, in February, Jan said that his broadcast career turned south after a military spokesman publicly displayed his name and photo on a list of journalists who were accused of distributing anti-state propaganda.

Another journalist goes missing in Pakistan

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