YANGON: A US journalist detained for months by Myanmar’s junta has been charged with terrorism and sedition, his lawyer tsaid on Wednesday, and could face life in prison if convicted.
Danny Fenster, who was arrested as he tried to leave the country in May, was hit with “two charges under section 50(a) of the Counter Terrorism Law and 124(a) of the Penal Code,” his lawyer Than Zaw Aung said.
Conviction under the counter-terrorism law carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Fenster, 37, is already on trial for allegedly encouraging dissent against the military, unlawful association and breaching immigration law.
The new charges come days after former US diplomat and hostage negotiator Bill Richardson met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in the capital Naypyidaw, handing the increasingly isolated junta some rare publicity.
Fenster is believed to have contracted COVID-19 during his detention, family members said during a conference call with American journalists in August.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in a February 1 coup and ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government.
More than 1,200 people have been killed by security forces in a crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group.
The press has also been squeezed as the junta tries to tighten control over the flow of information, throttling Internet access and revoking the licenses of local media outlets.
Myanmar charges US journalist with terrorism, sedition: lawyer
https://arab.news/g2ctb
Myanmar charges US journalist with terrorism, sedition: lawyer
- Conviction under the counter-terrorism law carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment
- Danny Fenster was arrested as he tried to leave the country in May
OSN launches first dedicated Asian entertainment channel in MENA
- Partnership iQIYI International brings mix of drama, romance, fantasy, anime and action to MENA audience
- Programming will air in original languages with English and Arabic subtitles, with select titles offered in Arabic-dubbed versions and available on demand through the OSNtv content library
LONDON: OSN on Monday announced the launch of a new Asian-content channel in partnership with iQIYI International, bringing entertainment from East Asia to viewers across the Middle East and North Africa
The new OSNtv iQIYI channel, available as a linear pay-TV service on OSN, will offer a mix of drama, romance, fantasy, anime and action.
“Through our partnership with OSNtv, we are bringing iQIYI’s premium Asian content closer to audiences across the MENA region,” said Xianghua Yang, president of iQIYI International. “This dedicated linear channel marks an important step in integrating our globally popular stories, genres, and formats into the region’s entertainment landscape.”
Billed as the first channel in the Middle East dedicated exclusively to Asian content, OSNtv iQIYI expands OSN’s portfolio by adding Eastern storytelling alongside existing Western programming. New titles will be added monthly to keep the schedule refreshed.
“The launch of OSNtv iQIYI is a unique and exciting addition to our channel line-up, reflecting how viewing preferences across the region continue to evolve” said Andy Grant, vice president of programming at OSN.
Shows will air in original languages with English and Arabic subtitles, with select titles also available on demand through the OSNtv content library. Some shows will be offered in Arabic-dubbed versions to broaden their appeal.
The launch is part of a wider partnership between OSN and iQIYI. The iQIYI app will be preloaded on OSNtv set-top boxes, with a dedicated section on the OSNtv homepage to boost visibility.
The companies said further bundling offers and platform integrations will be announced later.
