Tag: journalist

  • Nobel laureate Maria Ressa acquitted in Philippines tax evasion case

    Nobel laureate Maria Ressa acquitted in Philippines tax evasion case

    Maria Ressa, Nobel prize winner and co-founder of the online news platform Rappler, has been acquitted of a tax evasion charge in the Philippines on Monday.

    This is another feat in her legal fight against a number of charges that were filed under the government of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

    “You gotta have faith,” she said outside the court.

    Ressa and Rappler have been hindered by five government charges of tax evasion after the sale of Philippine depositary receipts in 2015 — a route for companies to raise money from foreign investors.

    In January, they were acquitted on the other four charges.

    However, Maria Ressa and Rappler have two more court cases to fight.

    Ressa and Rey Santos Jr, a former colleague, have appealed for a cyber-libel conviction that carries a nearly seven-year jail sentence.

    Similarly, Rappler is challenging a Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission order to close for allegedly violating a ban on foreign ownership in media. Under the country’s constitution, investment in the media is reserved for Philippine citizens or entities controlled by citizens.

    “It shows that the court system works and we hope to see the remaining charges dismissed,” she said.
    Ressa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 alongside Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov in recognition of their efforts to “safeguard freedom of expression“.

    Ressa is also an American national but has remained in the Philippines and is currently on bail pending the appeal against the cyber-libel conviction.

    Maria Ressa was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize along with Dmitry Muratov for “their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”

  • Online harassment of any journalist unacceptable: White House

    Online harassment of any journalist unacceptable: White House

    The White House strongly condemned the online harassment of a Muslim female reporter who asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the rights of religious minorities during his joint press conference with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

    National Security Officer of the White House, John F. Kirby, said this kind of behaviour against any journalist is unacceptable.

    Sabrina Siddique, associated with Wall Street Journal, asked the Indian Premier, “What steps are you and your government willing to take to improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities in your country and uphold free speech?”
    Modi answered, “In India’s democratic values, there is absolutely no discrimination, neither based on caste, creed, age, nor any kind of geographic location”.

    Sabrina Siddique later said that she is facing online harassment after asking the question. She also mentioned that she is a Muslim, which is why she has been targeted.

  • No Chinese journalist left in India after last one expelled

    No Chinese journalist left in India after last one expelled

    Freedom of expression in India is shrinking as the last remaining Chinese reporter has been expelled from New Delhi. The visa extension of the last Chinese reporter, who was associated with the Chinese official News agency Xinhua, was denied by Indian authorities last month.

    The expulsion marks the first instance in history that not a single Chinese journalist is present in India since 1980.

    Critics say that the action reflects that there is no space for journalists in Modi’s government.

    Indian authorities have been accused of taking such steps to hide cruelty against minorities like Muslims, Kashmiris and Dalits.

  • Sania Mirza claps back at journalist for sexist question

    Sania Mirza claps back at journalist for sexist question

    Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza have been in the news due to rumours about their troubled marriage. Speculations about their alleged divorce have been in the news for quite some time now. Neither Sania nor Shoaib have addressed them or released a statement clarifying their stance.

    Recently when Sania was talking to the media at an event, a journalist asked her how she manages her child as well as her career, she gave a befitting reply.

    “Jaise wo (Shoaib Malik) manage karte hain, waise main manage karti hun. Aap agar Shoaib Malik ko wo sawaal puchenge, to main bhi aapka jawaab de dungi [I manage the way Shoaib manages, i will answer you when you will ask the same question from Shoaib].”

    Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik tied the knot on 12th April, 2010, followed by a valima ceremony in Sialkot. The couple welcomed their son Izhaan in 2018.

  • UK Court rules that Murtaza Ali Shah was ‘defamed’ through a campaign by PTI leaders

    UK Court rules that Murtaza Ali Shah was ‘defamed’ through a campaign by PTI leaders

    A United Kingdom (UK) High Court Judge has ruled that the words used by three Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders against London-based journalist Murtaza Ali Shah are “defamatory” at common law and that he was defamed through a campaign.

    Murtaza had himself moved the court against PTI leaders Mohammad Imran, Shanaz Hussain (typically known as Shanaz Saddique) and Riaz Hussain after they launched a defamatory social media campaign against him in 2020. Shah’s reporting on Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court after the Assets Recovery Unit paid a spy agency to investigate Justice Isa’s children led to the defamatory campaign against the journalist.

    The former ruling party has distanced itself from the matter. A spokesman of PTI UK said the three were clearly told by PTI leadership that their campaign against the reporter is personal.

    It is pertinent to mention here that one of the PTI leaders—Shanaz Hussain— was found guilty of forging her husband’s signature in 2012.

    In March 2023, at a preliminary trial on the meaning of the defamatory words used by these leaders, a judge said that “these are serious allegations to make against a professional journalist”.

  • Russia detains Wall Street Journal reporter on suspicion of spying for Washington

    Russia detains Wall Street Journal reporter on suspicion of spying for Washington

    On Thursday, the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia announced that it had detained Evan Gershkovich, a US national who works as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, on suspicion of espionage on behalf of the United States.

    The FSB has initiated a criminal investigation against Gershkovich, alleging that he gathered information classified as state secrets about a military factory. The FSB did not disclose the name or location of the factory but stated that Gershkovich was apprehended in Yekaterinburg, a city in the Urals, while attempting to obtain secret information. No evidence was provided to support the charges.

    The FSB asserted in a statement that Gershkovich was acting on behalf of the American side and had been collecting sensitive information on one of Russia’s military-industrial complexes. The detention of Gershkovich marks the most serious public move against a foreign journalist since Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine.

    Russia has implemented tighter censorship laws since its military operation in Ukraine began in February 2022. The Wall Street Journal and the US Embassy in Moscow did not respond immediately to requests for comment from Reuters. A US diplomatic source stated that the embassy had not been notified of the incident and was seeking information from Russian authorities about the case.

    Foreign journalists covering Russia expressed their support for Gershkovich online, contending that he was a professional journalist and not a spy. Andrei Soldatov, an author and an expert in Russia’s security agencies, who is currently outside the country, stated on social media that Gershkovich was an excellent and courageous journalist and not a spy. He further noted that the detention of Gershkovich represented a frontal attack on all foreign correspondents still working in Russia and that the FSB was off the leash.

    According to Russia’s Kommersant newspaper, Gershkovich will be transported to Moscow and detained in the Lefortovo prison, an FSB pre-trial detention facility. Gershkovich, who has covered Russia since 2017, previously worked at The Moscow Times and France’s Agence-France Presse news agency.

    In recent months, he had primarily reported on Russian politics and the Ukraine conflict. On Thursday, his mobile phone was unreachable, and according to the Telegram messenger service, he was last online on Wednesday at 1:28 pm Moscow time.

  • Political arrests show our politicians have learnt nothing

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) social media head Azhar Mashwani went missing outside his house on Thursday when he was taking a cab to Zaman Park. His brother has lodged an FIR of his kidnapping. PTI has alleged that Azhar has been illegally abducted by the authorities. It is indeed quite alarming that three days have passed since he went missing from Lahore and yet there is no news about his whereabouts. Imran Khan has condemned the police in Punjab and Islamabad for “breaking all laws with impunity as they target PTI”. The recent targeting of PTI leaders and workers, including Fawad Chaudhry, Hassaan Niazi, and now Mashwani shows that our political parties have not learnt anything and will do the same when they come in power which they condemned when they were at the receiving end of the same treatment during the regime of their political opponents.

    Two wrongs don’t make a right is something we often hear, but we don’t see this being professed in Pakistan. Witnessing the wrongs in the politics of Pakistan, it is safe to say that no one learns from past mistakes. For years, we have seen politics in our country. The people in power change, and their faces change, but their means and tactics to settle scores remain the same, and this vicious cycle continues. In the last few months, we have seen how the PTI leaders and workers have been arrested on frivolous charges just like workers and leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) or others when the PTI was in power. For years now, we have seen some very powerful sectors influencing decision-making both in politics and otherwise. The political arena is overshadowed by these mighty decision-makers and their idea of politics. Every time a politician is arrested to silence him or her, it just shows a flagrant disregard for the law of the land.

    An arrest should only be made if, and only a crime has been committed or one is found guilty of any wrongdoing. Arrests on frivolous charges are not the answer to silence opinion. Democratic countries allow dissent. We have seen journalists and activists being arrested or picked up because of their views and opinions. The PDM government, which was a victim of such brutal policies in the past, has now made it abundantly clear that it will go to the same lengths to arrest Khan and his supporters. However, this vicious cycle must end. It is the responsibility of the political class to decide if they want to continue with settling scores and political victimisation or they want to put a stop to it. All politicians, be they in the government or the Opposition, need to unite on this point. Otherwise, such arrests and disappearances will continue. This culture must stop and change because political arrests will get us nowhere. A country facing multiple crises – from economic to political – needs stability. Not more chaos.

  • Pakistani journalist goes viral explaining why we shouldn’t feel sorry for Germany’s World Cup exit

    Pakistani journalist goes viral explaining why we shouldn’t feel sorry for Germany’s World Cup exit

    Germany kicked out of the World Cup in the group stages for the second successive tournament, they’re missing a standout goalscorer and they’re very much a side in transition.

    However, according to Pakistani journalist Ahmer Naqvi, we absolutely should not be feeling sorry for them.

    After analysing Germany’s recent elimination from the competition in great detail, Naqvi gained widespread attention.

    The German team is the “angel of death” of football, according to Naqvi, as they have crushed more nation’s World Cup hopes than any other team.

    He begins by outlining all the great footballing nations that were eliminated from the World Cup after falling to Germany by saying, “I’ll take us back in history a bit, right.”

    He starts off with the great Hungary side of 1954 alongside Ferenc Puskas. They were defeated by West Germany despite being “one of the finest sides of all time.”

    The journalist then discussed Johan Cruyff’s legendary 1974 Netherlands team, which is renowned for introducing the idea of complete football. They were eliminated once more by West Germany.

    He continued by talking about France’s “golden square” team from 1982, which was defeated by Germany in the semi-final and was famed for playing with four in midfield. Germany and Austria also made sure Algeria was eliminated from the same event, ending the first-ever opportunity for an African team to go to the next round.

    He also mentioned West Germany’s victories over Diego Maradona’s Argentina in 1990, the demise of South Korea in 2002, the defeat of England’s “golden generation” in 2010, and their resounding 7-1 victory over Brazil in 2014.

    “Don’t have any sympathy for this team… If football was a video game, [Germany] would be the final boss… I will bring out the world’s smallest violin,” he adds.

    The clip went down a storm with social media users, with one commenting: “I couldn’t give a monkeys about football but this is absolute solid gold entertainment and storytelling.”

    Here are a few more reactions:

  • Faisal Vawda and Murad Saeed summoned by commission looking into Arshad Sharif’s murder

    Faisal Vawda and Murad Saeed summoned by commission looking into Arshad Sharif’s murder

    A fact-finding committee set up by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the murder of senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif has Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed and ex-member of the party, Faisal Vawda.

    The two politicians have been directed to appear before the committee next week on November 21.

    The FIA has said that since both politicians have claimed to have known about the threats that Sharif was facing, it is important that they provide all the details they know to the authorities. The agency sent notices to the two leaders to appear before FIA ​​headquarters with evidence.

    Faisal Vawda has claimed he knew who was behind Sharif’s murder. During a press conference, he also claimed that he was in contact with Sharif and stated that he will share evidence with the Military Intelligence (MI) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

    Subsequently, his party membership was revoked. PTI said that he would not be allowed to hold any party office or represent the party in the media as he had “grossly violated discipline by giving statements against party policies and guidelines”.

    Saeed has also said that he knew who was threatening the slain journalist in Pakistan, forcing him to flee the country.

  • Politicians express condolences after reporter’s death, IK stops march for a day

    Sadaf Naeem, a reporter with Channel Five, died in an unfortunate accident near Sadhoke while reporting on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march.

    She reportedly fell from the container after which she was crushed by the vehicle and passed away on the spot.

    Shortly after the incident, Khan announced that the long march has been postponed for the day and extended condolences to the bereaved family.

    “I say this with utmost regret that due to an accident we are postponing the march today. We pray for the patience and strength of the woman’s family to deal with the tragedy,” he told his supporters.

    The PTI chief also took to Twitter to extend his condolences. “I have no words to express my sorrow. My prayers and condolences go to the family at this tragic time. We have cancelled our march for today”, he said.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif also expressed regret over the death, saying that he was “deeply saddened” by the incident.

    Extending his condolences to the reporter’s family, PM Shehbaz praised Naeem as a “dynamic and hardworking reporter”.

    The President of Pakistan’s official Twitter handle said that President Dr Arif Alvi expressed regret over the death of Naeem and extend his sympathies to the deceased family.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif prayed for the departed soul.

    “I am deeply saddened to hear about the loss of the precious life of a TV reporter Sadaf in the line of duty. My prayers are for the bereaved family. May she rest in eternal peace,” she said in a tweet.

    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, who was also present along with his party chairman during the long march, recalled the last interview between Sadaf and Imran which was recorded yesterday.

    He said: “I have rarely seen a more courageous and hardworking reporter than Sadaf, a brave girl, after an interview with Imran Khan yesterday, when Sadaf was introduced as the bravest and hardworking reporter in Lahore, her eyes lit up. Who knew that this meeting would be the last one, God bless you.”

    Fawad also requested the public to take caution while walking along Imran’s container, adding that the lives of all people contributing to the march were “precious and respected”.