China biggest jailer of journalists, as press dangers persist: watchdog

14 Sept 06:00 Key points summarised by AI

At least 250 journalists are currently jailed worldwide, as authoritarian regimes intensify crackdowns on independent media.
China has surpassed Turkey to become the world's biggest jailer of journalists, holding 48, due to President Xi Jinping's increased efforts to control the media.
Turkey, despite a decrease in its jailed journalist count to 47, has effectively suppressed independent reporting by shutting down over 100 news outlets and lodging terror-related charges.
The Middle East shows a rise in imprisoned journalists, with Saudi Arabia and Egypt each holding 26, often without disclosed charges and amid reports of abuse.
Globally, charges of 'false news' or 'anti-state' activities are increasingly used against journalists, with 30 facing such accusations, particularly in Egypt, Russia, and Singapore.

Cabinet approves ฿10.5bn central fund for flood relief

Yesterday 14:04 Key points summarised by AI

The Cabinet allocated 10.5 billion baht from the fiscal 2027 central emergency fund to provide financial relief for flood victims.
This funding will cover remaining compensation payments and relief operations for severely affected households, as fiscal 2026 funds have been exhausted.