A former mayor from northern Mexico’s Chihuahua state was arrested Thursday for “complicity” in the 2017 murder of journalist Miroslava Breach, authorities said.© HERIKA MARTINEZ Miroslava Breach, a veteran crime and politics reporter, was shot dead in 2017 A Chihuahua court “has succeeded in establishing the probable responsibility” of Hugo Amed Shultz, former mayor of Chinipas, for having “sought and provided information to an organized crime group which ordered and carried out the murder,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement without providing further details. Mexico is regularly rated by journalism watchdog Reporters Without Borders as one of the most dangerous … Continue reading Former mayor arrested for ‘complicity’ in Mexican journalist’s murder

China has said the arrest of a journalist working for the newswire Bloomberg is an “internal affair”, warning others not to interfere, Chinese citizen Haze Fan was detained last week, accused of endangering national security by authorities. It is the latest in a string of arrests or expulsions of journalists in China. The European Union (EU) responded by urging China to release all journalists held in connection with their reporting. In a statement released on Saturday, the EU said it expected Chinese authorities to grant Ms Fan “medical assistance if needed, prompt access to a lawyer of her choice, and … Continue reading China warns of interference over Bloomberg journalist arrest

A female journalist has been shot dead in eastern Afghanistan, the latest victim of a spate of assassinations across the country. Malala Maiwand was on her way to work in Jalalabad on Thursday when gunmen opened fire on her vehicle, her driver, Mohammad Tahir, was also killed. No group has officially said it carried out the attack. The killings come after NATO and the EU issued a statement condemning recent targeted killings in Afghanistan. Maiwand, a journalist at Enikass TV and Radio, was travelling to work when her vehicle was attacked by unidentified gunmen. The provincial governor’s spokesman, Attaollah Khogiyani, … Continue reading Journalist Malala Maiwand shot dead in Afghanistan along with her driver

The high court in Mumbai has refused to grant bail to top Indian TV news anchor Arnab Goswami, who is under arrest in an abetment to suicide case, the 47-year-old founder of Republic TV was detained last week and remanded to custody for 14 days. He is being investigated for his alleged role in the death of an architect who designed his studio, Mr Goswami and Republic TV network deny allegations he owed money to Anvay Naik, who took his life in 2018. The case is being closely followed as Mr Goswami is a polarizing figure whose contentious broadcasts have … Continue reading Update: Bail denied to Republic TV founder arrested in suicide case

Indian television news anchor Arnab Goswami sits inside a police vehicle after he was produced in a court following his arrest in Mumbai, India. One of India’s most well-known and controversial news anchors has been arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide of an architect, local police said, in a case that reflects the country’s increasingly fraught and politicized media environment. Arnab Goswami, the face and founder of right-wing broadcaster Republic TV, was arrested at his home in Mumbai in the western Indian state of Maharashtra Wednesday for his alleged role in the death of Anvay Naik, who died by suicide … Continue reading Controversial Indian news anchor arrested for allegedly abetting architect’s suicide

A Mexican journalist has been shot dead in crime-ridden Ciudad Juarez near the US border, Chihuahua state governor Javier Corral said on Friday. Arturo Alba Medina is the sixth journalist to have been murdered this year in Mexico, one of the world’s most dangerous countries for reporters. Corral condemned the “cowardly murder” and said he had told prosecutors to ensure the killers are punished. “Justice will be done,” he wrote on Twitter. The 49-year-old journalist and television news show host was assassinated a few minutes after the end of his programme on Thursday night, according to media watchdog Reporters Without … Continue reading Another journalist murdered in Mexico, sixth this year

Police in Thailand are seeking an investigation of four independent media outlets and a protest group for their coverage of recent protests on suspicion of breaking emergency measures restricting information, according to a document that was published by local media on Monday. It appears that there was content that affected state security, peace and order, or the good morals of the people, the document, dated October 16, quoted police as saying. Police said they would ask Thailand’s broadcast regulator and digital ministry to investigate the outlets, which include Voice TV, The Reporters and Prachathai and suspend broadcasting or remove computer information, … Continue reading Police in Thailand to investigate media over protests coverage

A Russian journalist died on Friday after setting herself on fire in front of the local branch of the interior ministry in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, a day after her apartment was searched by police, her news outlet said. Prior to her self-immolation, Irina Slavina wrote on her Facebook page: “I ask you to blame the Russian Federation for my death”. She worked as editor-in-chief at Koza Press, a small local news outlet that advertised itself as having “no censorship, no orders ‘from above’”. A day before her death, she wrote on Facebook that police officers and investigators had … Continue reading Russian journalist dies after setting herself on fire

Amnesty International says it has been forced to halt its India operations due to “reprisals” from the government. The watchdog has also accused the government of indulging in a “witch-hunt of human rights organizations”. Amnesty says its bank accounts have been frozen and it’s been forced to lay off staff in the country, and suspend all its campaign and research work. The government is yet to respond to the allegations. We are facing a rather unprecedented situation in India. Amnesty International India has been facing an onslaught of attacks, bullying and harassment by the government in a very systematic manner,” … Continue reading Amnesty International to halt India operations

An Algerian court has sentenced journalist Khaled Drareni to two years in prison on appeal, reducing his original sentence, in a trial that rights group have denounced as violating press freedom. Drareni, editor of the Casbah Tribune news site and Algeria correspondent of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the French TV channel TV5 Monde, played a prominent role in covering the country’s pro-democracy movement last year. He was convicted of “inciting an unarmed gathering” and “endangering national unity” linked to coverage of the protest movement. His sentence was not suspended, meaning he must stay in prison to serve it. In an initial … Continue reading Algerian journalist jailed on appeal over 2019 protests coverage

A journalist was found decapitated Wednesday in a violence-plagued area of eastern Mexico, police said, the latest in a string of killings in one of the world’s most dangerous countries for reporters. Julio Valdivia of the newspaper El Mundo de Veracruz is the fifth journalist slain in Mexico this year, according to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Hugo Gutierrez, security minister and head of the police in eastern Veracruz state, condemned the “cowardly murder” of the 41-year-old reporter. “In coordination with the state attorney general’s office we will exhaust all resources to find those responsible,” he said in a … Continue reading Journalist found decapitated in eastern Mexico