DEVELOPING: Press Freedom Plummets Across Asia as Journalists Sound Alarm on Deteriorating Conditions

Breaking News: Press Freedom Plummets Across Asia, Journalists Sound Alarm on Deteriorating Conditions Former Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan sentenced to four more years in prison for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" after posting videos from Wuhan during the COVID-19 outbreak. Zhang's sentencing is seen as a stark example of China's crackdown on independent reporting, with rights group Reporters Without Borders calling it "fresh evidence" of Beijing's efforts to silence journalists. The case comes amid growing concerns about press freedom in Asia, where many countries are witnessing a decline in media freedoms. In recent years, governments across the region have increasingly used laws and regulations to restrict reporting and silence critics. According to RSF, China is now ranked 177th out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom, while other Asian nations such as Vietnam and Cambodia also rank low on the index. The situation has sparked alarm among journalists and rights groups, who warn that the erosion of press freedoms poses a significant threat to democracy and transparency in the region. This is a developing story. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*