Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi were among the first reporters to cover Jina Mahsa Amini's death in September 2022. They were both charged with colluding with the US government among other things last year. Two Iranian journalists who were serving long prison sentences for their coverage of the death of Jina Mahsa Amini have been released on bail pending their appeal, Iranian media reported Sunday. The two journalists, Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, were among the first to report on Amini's death in police custody following her incarceration for supposedly wearing her headscarf improperly.  The young Kurdish woman's death prompted widespread protests throughout the country — typically involving young women demonstrably uncovering their hair in public — and subsequently a crackdown from authorities in Tehran. The two journalists were greeted by relatives and supporters upon their release from custody on Sunday. However, they have since been charged with not wearing the mandatory hijab in photos taken after their release that were widely shared on social media. "After footage of the defendants without hijab was released online, a new case has been filed against them," the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan news portal said on Monday. Bail for the pair combined equates to around a century's salary for average earner in Iran The two journalists were charged last year by a court in Iran for collaborating with the US government among other things. They were sentenced to up to seven years in prison, the judiciary news ageny Mizan had reported. Hamedi wrote for the daily newspaper Shargh and Mohammadi covered social issues and gender equality for the newspaper Ham-Mihan. They were jointly awarded UNESCO's world press freedom prize in May of 2023. The bail was set at roughly $200,000 (around €180,000) and their release is pending their appeal hearing. They were forbidden from leaving the country before trial. $200,000 equates to about 50 years' salary for a person earning Iran's estimated GDP per capita of around $4,000 per annum. Some 100 journalists were also arrested amid the demonstrations that spread across the country following Amini's death, as Iran sought to repress information on them at home and abroad. Thousands still detained over protests against Amini's death Amini's death on September 16, 2022, after being detained by the country's morality police for allegedly not wearing the hijab headscarf properly, sparked widespread outrage in the country. Mass wave of protests swept the country, posing one of the most serious challenges to Iran's theocratic establishment since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Iranian forces heavily cracked down on protesters, detaining thousands of people, from university professors to bereaved family members of those killed during the very demonstrations. Iran has not offered any casualty figures but acknowledged thousands of detentions. Human rights groups in Iran say at least 529 peole were killed in Iran and more than 19,000 detained during the crackdown on the 2022 and 2023 protests.

China has formally complained to Nepal that its recent ban on the Chinese-owned, Singapore-based TikTok app was for ‘geopolitical reasons’ and it would not look at it kindly, said an opinion piece posted on kathmandupost.com Dec 25. The piece also notes that China had become more hawkish in its diplomacy with Nepal in recent times amid perception that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal wants to keep a safe distance from it in his newfound realisation that to prolong his stay in power, it is New Delhi he must humour, not Beijing. While the prime minister struggled to explain that the TikTok ban had nothing to do with geopolitics, it is worth noting that official Chinese protests these days are not limited to decisions of the Nepal government and its agencies, the piece has noted. If a Nepali news outlet publishes something that even remotely smacks of support for Taiwan or Tibet, the Chinese quickly take it up with Kathmandu, columnist Biswas Baral has noted. So Rastriya Samachar Samiti and The Rising Nepal have stopped printing anything the Chinese may find problematic. The northern neighbour now wants the (often easily cowed) Nepali state to impose similar censorship on private media, Baral has said. What is more, Nepal is finding it difficult to deal with an increasingly assertive China which employs what amounts of wolf diplomacy more than Confucian charm on it. He has cited the instance when the Chinese Ambassador Chen Song openly declared that Nepal was unfortunate to have neighbours like India. “When the foreign ministry summons Chen for an explanation, he shrugs: He was just stating a plain truth. Talk to senior government officials and diplomats, and they seem to be at a loss for how to deal with such Chinese insouciance,” Baral has noted. Also, citing an interaction he had with a leader of the more pro-China CPN-UML after his recent visit to China, Baral has said that the Nepali communist party leader was miffed that the Chinese gave him short shrift whenever he tried to raise matters of Nepal’s interest, even as they enthusiastically spoke of Kathmandu’s need to support this or that initiative of their own. Baral suggests that for any kind of engagement with China, it is worth noting what former Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale, a fluent Mandarin speaker himself, had written: “A key to getting the Chinese negotiators to take serious notice of your concerns is to keep them from choreographing the negotiation. Challenge all points of their interest and raise all issues of your own even if they are not on the agenda. If this frustrates or irritates them, that helps limit their control of the negotiation.” This is because, in any negotiation, “they “the Chinese) like to set the agenda, put the other side on the defensive from the outset. As the low-ranking Chinese interlocutors don’t have the power to take vital decisions, they rarely budge from the line handed from above.”

The Associated Press and the New York Times were both awarded for their coverage of the war in Ukraine. The awards are the US' most prestigious journalism prizes. Columbia University announced on Monday its Pulitzer Prizes, recognizing the best of journalism and the arts in 2023.  The Associated Press (AP) news agency won two Pulitzer Prizes, in public service and breaking news photography, for coverage of Moscow's war in Ukraine. The agency's startling images of Russia's siege of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, were honored.  The prize for international reporting went to the New York Times, for its coverage of Russian killings in the Ukrainian town of Bucha. "AP journalists have done courageous and important work in Ukraine throughout the war, shining a spotlight in particular on the human toll of the conflict," AP Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Julie Pace said. "From dispelling Russian misinformation to contributing to the creation of a humanitarian corridor, their work has been an incredible public service and we're so pleased that it has been honored by the Pulitzer board," she added. An array of winners Caroline Kitchener of The Washington Post was awarded the national reporting Pulitzer for her work on the fallout of the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year by the Supreme Court which has led to numerous abortion bans across the US. The prize for commentary was given to Kyle Whitmire of AL.com from Birmingham, Alabama.  Whitmire won the award "For measured and persuasive columns that document how Alabama's Confederate heritage still colors the present with racism and exclusion, told through tours of its first capital, its mansions and monuments–and through the history that has been omitted," according to the Pulitzer website. Among the non-journalism prizes, the books "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver and "Trust" by Hernan Diaz won the awards for fiction writing. All winners are given $15,000 (€13,600) apart from the winner of the public service prize, who receives a gold medal. The annual Pulitzers are considered the most prestigious honors in US journalism. The prizes were first presented in 1917.

India is upgrading its radar coverage along the border with China from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh as the Indian Air Force is moving ahead with over Rs 10,000 crore plans to further enhance the capability to monitor activities across the Line of Actual Control. The force is in the process of installing new radars to keep an eye on Chinese Air Force activities in the Ladakh sector, defence sources told ANI. Proposals worth over Rs 10,000 crore are at an advanced stage in the Defense Ministry for the acquisition of high-powered radars and around 20 low-level transportable Ashwini radars under Make in India in defense, the sources said. Sources said the radar coverage on the western front in Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat sector is relatively easy but from Jammu and Kashmir on the western front up to Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast is very difficult due to the mountainous region and improving radar coverage has become important in view of suspicious activities by the adversary on the eastern front. The Chinese Air Force had started probing Indian responses to its violations in the Demchok sector in Ladakh by sending its fighter planes beyond the 10-km CBM line. The Indian Air Force responded in a strong manner by scrambling its fighter jets to the Demchok sector from nearby air bases. However, the issue was resolved after talks at the division commander-level attended by Indian Air Force representatives and their counterparts from the Chinese Air Force. Source: ANI

India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeded a total of 206.21 (2,06,21,79,411) crore, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. As per the provisional reports, till 7 am on Sunday, India crossed the said mark through 2,73,73,255 sessions. COVID vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on March 16, 2022. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for the age group 18-59 years also started from 10th April 2022 onwards. So far, more than 3.94 Cr (3,94,89,966) adolescents have been administered with the first dose and 2,23,36,175 with the second dose of the COVID vaccine. In the age group 15-18 years, 6,13,52,619 doses have been administered as the first dose and 51,469,424 doses as the second dose. According to the Ministry, of the total doses administered so far to the health care workers (HLWs), 1,04,12,498 have received the first dose, 10,093,737 have received the second vaccine dose and 64,44,506 have been administered the precaution dose. Also, 1,84,31,791 frontline workers were administered the first dose, 1,76,77,342 with the second dose and 1,25,18,864 with the precaution doses. A total of 55,97,76,129 vaccine doses were administered as the first dose, 50,98,83,638 vaccine doses were given as the second dose and 3,20,47,109 as precaution doses in the age group 18-44 years. Similarly, for the age group of 45-59 years, 20,37,32,885 received the first dose, 19,55,23,956 received the second dose and 2,04,63,205 have been administered the precaution doses whereas, 12,74,71,016 vaccine doses were administered as the first dose, 12,21,92,952 as second and 3,45,16,309 as precaution doses to the people over 60 years. Meanwhile, India on Sunday recorded a slight dip in the number of COVID-19 cases as the country recorded as many as 18,738 new COVID-19 cases. On Saturday, India recorded 19,406 COVID-19 cases. With the fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, India's total tally of cases increased to 4,41,45,732. Of these total cases, 1,34,933 are active cases which account for 0.31 per cent of the total cases. Source: ANI

India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded the 195.35 crore mark (1,95,35,70,360) till 7 am on Tuesday, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. According to the ministry, the government further informed that so far, over 3.52 crore (3,52,45,234) adolescents in the age group 12-14 have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine after the drive began on March 16. The registration of COVID-19 booster doses for the age group 18-59 years also began on 10th April 2022, and over 34,69,795 precaution doses have been administered, said the ministry. The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID-19 vaccination started on January 16, 2021. As per the ministry, India's active case count currently stands at 50,458 which constitutes 0.12 per cent of the total positive cases, and the recovery rate stands at 98.67 per cent. 4,035 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients (since the beginning of the pandemic) is now at 4,26,61,370, according to government data. 6,594 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. The weekly positivity rate in the country currently stands at 2.32 per cent and the daily positivity rate is reported to be 2.05 per cent, as informed by the government, stated the ministry. The last 24 hours saw a total of 3,21,873 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 85.54 crores (85,54,30,752) cumulative tests, it added. Source: ANI

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on Sunday informed that the cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage of the country has exceeded 187.67 Crore (1,87,67,20,318) through 2,30,29,745 sessions, as per the provisional reports till 7 am. As many as 1,04,04,725 (1st Dose), 1,00,12,053 (2nd Dose), and 46,94,892 (Precaution Dose) have been administered to the Health Care Workers (HCWs) whereas 1,84,14,942 (1st Dose), 1,75,32,038 (2nd Dose), and 73,40,412 (Precaution Dose) have been jabbed to the Front Line Workers (FLWs) in the country. COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March 2022. So far, 2,65,75,579 1st dose and 29,32,476 2nd dose of Covid-19 vaccine have been given to these adolescents. Youngsters belonging to the age group 15-18 years have been given 5,81,40,660 (1st Dose) and 4,13,45,317 (2nd Dose) of the vaccine against coronavirus. Besides 84549 Precaution Doses of vaccine, 55,54,82,878 (1st Dose) and 47,54,34,938 (2nd dose) have been administered to the people of the age group 18-44 years. People belonging to the age group 45-59 years have been given the 20,28,83,319 and 18,73,63,960 jabs of 1st dose and 2nd dose of Coronavirus vaccine, respectively. According to the ministry, this group of citizens is also jabbed with 3,03,170 jabs of Precaution Dose against the Coronavirus. As per the data, the people with the age more than 60 years have been jabbed with 12,68,38,741 (1st Dose), 11,67,19,403 (2nd Dose), and 1,42,16,266 (Precaution Dose). India's Active Caseload currently stands at 15,873 and the active cases now constitute 0.04 per cent of the country's total positive cases. "India's recovery rate stands at 98.75 per cent. 1,755 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients (since the beginning of the pandemic) is now at 4,25,19,479," it read. According to the ministry, India has so far conducted over 83.47Cr (83,47,17,702) cumulative tests and 2,593 new cases of Covid-19 were reported after conducting 4,36,532 tests in the last 24 hours. The weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 0.54 per cent and the Daily Positivity rate is also reported to be 0.59 per cent.     Source: ANI  

India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage crossed 185 crore vaccination coverage milestone on Tuesday after the inoculation of 13 lakh vaccination dosses in the last 24 hours, as per the provisional reports till 7 pm informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. A total of 99,04,28,218 doses of first dose and 83,60,22,063 second doses have been administered so far. In the age group of 12-14 years, 1,97,65,419 first doses of the vaccine have been administered to adolescents. In the age group of 15-18 years, 5,74,35,679 first doses of the vaccine have been administered while 3,88,57,154 second doses of the vaccine have been administered to the youth. The age group of 18-44 years have been jabbed with 55,48,50,994 first dose of the vaccine and 46,80,79,123 second dose of the vaccine.   In the age group, 45-59 years the count of the first dose administered stands at 20,27,89,775 and the same for the second dose stands at 18,58,22,905 doses. While the elderly over 60 years have been administered with 12,67,68,887 first doses of the vaccine and 11,57,44,216 second doses of the vaccine, as many as 1,23,23,104 precaution doses have been administered. Following a continuous downward trend, India's active caseload declined to 12,054 active cases today, constituting 0.03 per cent of the country's total positive cases. Consequently, India's recovery rate was recorded at 98.76 per cent. In the last 24 hours, 795 new cases were reported with 1,280 recovered patients, cumulatively 4,24,96,369 recovered patients since the beginning of the pandemic. A total of 4,66,332 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, cumulatively around 79.15 crore tests conducted so far, in the country. There has been a decline in the weekly and daily positivity rates too. The weekly positivity rate in the country currently stands at 0.22 per cent whereas the daily positivity rate is reported to be 0.17 per cent.   Source: ANI

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally open the country's biggest Payra 1320 MW Thermal Power Plant at Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali as well as declare 100 percent electrification across the country as the first South Asian nation tomorrow (Monday). "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will come at Kalapara tomorrow, open this power plant and declare cent percent electrification across the country as every house has been illuminated with the electricity," State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told reporters on the power plant premises this afternoon. It was a big challenge for "all of us" to implement such an ultra-modern largest project in the country for the first time in the last 50 years, he said, adding that this is an Ultra Supercritical Technology power plant. "We used the Ultra Supercritical Technology in building the coal-fired power plant as the third country in South Asia and 11th across the world," he said, adding that Bangladesh-China Power Company Limited (BCPCL) built the power plant. The first 660 MW unit of the power plant went into commercial operation in May 2020, utilising the 400 kv Payra-Gopalganj Power Transmission while the second one started production in December last year. Barishal Divisional Commissioner Md Amin Ul Ahsan said centering Payra 1320MW Thermal Power Plant near the Payra Seaport, the economic activities of the people in this area have already been accelerated. Noting that the activities of setting up an economic zone in the area, he said site has already been selected and the process of land acquisition is underway, since the government has a huge plan centering the southern part of the country. Apart from the 1320MW thermal power plant, the commissioner said, the construction work of another power plant is underway while the government has also a plan to build a 1320MW power plant and a solar system power plant in Patuakhali. "This region would be turned into a power hub by the next five to ten years," he added. Talking to reporters on the power plant premises, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Northwest Power Generation Company and BCPCL Managing Director (MD) AM Khurshedul Alam said the coal-fired 1320 MW power plant has been built using the ultra-supercritical technology aiming at protecting the environment. Noting that the environment is polluted by sulfur, nitrogen and suspended materials, he said his company is controlling the three elements while they are bearing additional 5 percent to 7 percent cost to this end.  This coal-fueled power plant, generally known as baseload power plant that operates continuously round the clock, has been built as the coal is till now a cheapest fuel, he said, adding, "Before starting the construction work, the honorable Prime Minister herself chose this site". Once the country's largest power plant goes in operation in full swing, the BCPCL official said, it will be possible to keep electricity prices at a tolerable level. Source: BSS AH

More than 147 crore COVID-19 vaccination doses have been administered so far in India under the Nationwide vaccination drive, informed the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday. Meanwhile, India reported 37,379 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the daily positivity rate in the country to 3.24 per cent, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday. With this, the country's COVID-19 case tally has risen to 3,48,08,886. According to Health Ministry, the country has so far reported 1,892 cases of Omicron of which 766 have been recovered. The Ministry informed that India's active caseload presently is at 1,71,830, accounts for 1 per cent of the country's total cases, and is currently at 0.49 per cent. The weekly positivity rate is at 2.05 per cent, while the daily positivity rate is at 3.24 per cent. With the recovery of 11,007 patients in the last 24 hours, the cumulative tally of COVID recovered patients, since the beginning of the pandemic, now stands at 3,43,06,414. The current recovery rate is at 98.13 per cent. The country also reported 124 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,82,017. Source: ANI