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Myanmar court sends Reuters journalists to jail for 7 years

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Myanmar court sends Reuters journalists to jail for 7 years

Myanmar’s court has sentenced two Reuters journalists to seven years in jail after finding them guilty of violating official secrets act. They were involved in investigating into the killings of a number of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine province.

The two journalists: Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were detained in December 2017 who were working to investigate the violence against the minority community.

UN described the large scale of violence as a form of “ethnic cleansing,” with military operations forcing more than 7 lakh Rohingya Muslims to flee the country to Bangladesh.

Read More: Myanmar books 2 Reuters journos for reporting on violence against Rohingya Muslims

In July, the journalists were charged with breaching the colonial-era official secret act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. The two men pleaded not guilty.

Myanmar court sends Reuters journalists to jail for 7 years

Following sentencing at the Yangon court Kyaw maintained the pair’s innocence, but added that they were not surprised by the verdict. “We didn’t do anything wrong. We’re not exactly shocked by the verdict.”

The lawyer of the journalists Zaw Maung  reacted saying, “This is disappointing (and a blow) to democracy, rule of law and press freedom.”

Read More: Myanmar army chief downplays exodus, says Rohingya Muslims not native

The allegations were denied by the detained journalists. They testified in court that two police officers had given them papers relating to their investigation during a meeting in a Yangon restaurant which was followed by their arrests by plainclothes officers.

This was confirmed by a police officer, Moe Yan Naing, who testified  that he had witnessed a plot by senior police to frame the two journalists by planting secret documents on them.

The detention of the two journalists has led to criticism of Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has also faced a loss in worldwide support for her handling of the Rohingya issue.

Meanwhile, Kunt Ostby, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country has condemned the ruling.  He said, “The United Nations has consistently called for the release of the Reuters journalists and urged the authorities to respect their right to pursue freedom of expression and information. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo should be allowed to return to their families and continue their work as journalists.”

Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler , while reacting to the Mayanmar court’s order said that the conviction was “a sad day” for the organization, the two men and “the press everywhere,” adding that the verdict “must be corrected by the Myanmar government as a matter of urgency.”

The prosecution of Rohingya Muslims occurred in late 2016 when Myanmar’s armed forces and police started a major crackdown against them in response to the alleged attacks on Burmese border posts in October 2016 by unidentified insurgents.

The Burmese military have been accused of ethnic cleansing and genocide by various United Nations agencies, International Criminal Court officials, human rights groups, journalists, and governments including the United States. The UN has found evidence of wide-scale human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, gang rapes, arson and infanticides, which the Burmese government dismisses as “exaggerations”.

The two journalists associated with Reuters were covering the unfolding developments in Rakhine province which was obviously not liked by the government. The police planted certain papers during a meeting with the duo in a restaurant. The journalists were immediately arrested by the other plain clothes officers.

Reuters news agency, having its headquarters in London, was established in 1851 by Paul Reuter, who worked at a book publishing firm in Berlin and was involved in distributing radical pamphlets at the beginning of Revolutions in 1848, which was known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, People’s spring or he Springtime of the Peoples.

The Myanmar Times reported on Saturday about dozens of protesters hitting the Yangon streets who were demanding the release of journalists ahead of Monday’s verdict on charges.

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India rejects Pakistan’s claims over Karachi attack, asks Islamabad to look inward

India has strongly rejected Pakistan’s allegations over the Karachi attack, asking Islamabad to focus on addressing terrorism within its own borders.

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India on Sunday strongly rejected Pakistan’s allegations linking New Delhi to the recent militant attack in Karachi, describing the accusations as “baseless” and urging Islamabad to focus on tackling terrorism operating from within its own borders.

Responding to the claims, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Pakistan should “look inward” rather than blame other countries for its internal security challenges. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India categorically rejects the allegations and termed them an attempt to divert attention from Pakistan’s domestic issues.

The remarks came after Pakistan alleged Indian involvement in the attack on a Pakistan Rangers headquarters in Karachi. Pakistani authorities claimed that militants targeted the security installation, leading to casualties among security personnel. However, India dismissed the accusations and reiterated its longstanding position that Pakistan must take credible action against terrorism and dismantle terror infrastructure operating from its soil.

Karachi attack and Pakistan’s allegations

According to Pakistani authorities, militants launched an assault on the Rangers’ provincial headquarters in Karachi, triggering an exchange of gunfire. At least three Rangers personnel were killed, while security forces said several attackers were neutralised during the operation. A militant group linked to the Pakistani Taliban reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

Despite these developments, Pakistan alleged external involvement in the attack, accusations that India has firmly denied. New Delhi maintained that Islamabad should concentrate on eliminating terrorist networks rather than making unsupported allegations against other countries.

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Pakistan hit by 5.5-magnitude earthquake, no casualties or damage reported

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted Pakistan on Friday, with authorities reporting no immediate casualties or significant damage.

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earthquake-tremors

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Pakistan on Friday, sending tremors across several parts of the country. However, authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant property damage.

According to seismic monitoring agencies, the earthquake was recorded at a considerable depth, which may have reduced the impact on the surface. Residents in several cities reported feeling the tremors, prompting many to move outdoors as a precaution.

Emergency and disaster management authorities began assessing the situation soon after the quake. Initial assessments indicated that no major damage to infrastructure or loss of life had been reported. Officials continue to monitor the situation for possible aftershocks.

Pakistan lies in a seismically active region due to the interaction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making earthquakes a frequent occurrence in several parts of the country.

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Twin earthquakes strike Venezuela within 39 seconds, triggering panic in Caracas

Venezuela witnessed two powerful earthquakes within 39 seconds, triggering panic in Caracas, damaging infrastructure and leading authorities to declare a state of emergency.

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Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within just 39 seconds, causing widespread panic, damaging buildings and disrupting key infrastructure in and around the capital, Caracas.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured magnitude 7.2 and struck on Wednesday evening near the coastal town of Moron. Just 39 seconds later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor hit roughly 45 kilometres away, creating what seismologists described as a “doublet” earthquake sequence.

The back-to-back quakes sent residents rushing into the streets as buildings shook violently across Caracas. Several structures suffered severe damage, with reports of building collapses in parts of the capital. Rescue workers were deployed to search through rubble while emergency teams assessed the extent of the destruction.

Visuals shared on social media showed scenes of chaos at Simon Bolivar International Airport, where parts of the terminal roof reportedly collapsed, filling sections of the facility with dust and smoke. Passengers were seen evacuating the airport as power flickered during the tremors. Authorities later announced the closure of the airport because of significant damage.

More than 20 aftershocks were recorded following the twin earthquakes, raising concerns about additional structural damage. The USGS warned that the disaster could result in significant casualties and economic losses, while landslides were also reported in affected areas.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency following the earthquakes and urged citizens to remain cautious as emergency response efforts continued. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado also expressed solidarity with those affected by the disaster.

The earthquakes are being described as among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century. Authorities continue to assess the full scale of the damage and search for possible victims trapped beneath collapsed structures.

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