Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years jail in national security trial

February 9, 2026 9:44 AM

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years jail in national security trial

Hong Kong’s most prominent media tycoon, Jimmy Lai, was sentenced on Monday to a total of 20 years in jail on national security charges comprising two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials. The sentence ends a legal saga spanning almost five years and marks Hong Kong’s most high-profile national security hearing. Lai, the founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, was first arrested in August 2020 and convicted last year...

Sarbananda Sonowal stresses press freedom, welfare delivery in people-centric governance model

January 4, 2026 3:50 PM

Sarbananda Sonowal stresses press freedom, welfare delivery in people-centric governance model

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday underlined the vital role of the media as the fourth pillar of democracy, describing journalists as vigilant sentinels of society and the true voice of the people. Addressing the 17th Central Mid-Term Conference of the Assam Press Correspondents’ Union (APCU) in Tinsukia, he said a free, responsible and ethical press is essential for safeguarding democratic values in a rapidly changing information landscape. Emphas...

Vietnam set to make it harder for media to protect sources, to expand state secrets

December 10, 2025 11:38 AM

Vietnam set to make it harder for media to protect sources, to expand state secrets

Vietnam's parliament adopted reforms to the media and state secrets laws on Wednesday which press freedom advocates say will make it harder for journalists to protect the identities of their sources and increase legal risks for reporting. "We are appalled by the further restriction to the legal framework governing press freedom in Vietnam," Aleksandra Bielakowska, from Reporters Without Borders, said on Wednesday. The changes will make Vietnam "an almost impossible place for journalists to rep...