Latest news with #Sopa
Malaysiakini
a day ago
- Malaysiakini
Mkini bags multiple Sopa awards for human rights, environment reports
Malaysiakini has won the Society of Publishers in Asia (Sopa) 2025 Award for excellence in reporting on human rights issues. The award was granted to S Vinothaa, Azneal Ishak, Khoo Shiyuan, Aidila Razak, Ooi Choon Nam, and Amin Landak for their contribution to 'Heavy metals found in Kelantan Orang Asli blood, community fear poisoned by mining'.
The Citizen
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Tasneem Motara appointed acting premier of Gauteng province
Motara will assume all the duties, authority and obligations of the office. MEC for Human Settlements, Tasneem Motara is not the acting Premier of Gauteng. Picture: X/@Powerfm987 Gauteng has a new premier, albeit for a short while. Premier Panyaza Lesufi has appointed MEC for Human Settlements, Tasneem Motara, as acting premier of the Gauteng Province from Monday, 9 June to Sunday, 15 June 2025. Motara was appointed in terms of Section 131(1)(a) and Section 13 of the constitution. China trip Lesufi's spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla, said the premier is undertaking a working trip to China to finalise a 'landmark agreement with the province of Hunan.' Pamla said this is in line with the commitment he made during his 2025 State of the Province Address (Sopa). ALSO READ: Lesufi links vehicles to crime as Gauteng launches new number plate system 'This historic deal will unlock new trade opportunities for provincial SMMEs, granting them access to Hunan's vast market of over 66 million people across 13 cities, with minimal restrictions.' Unemployment Pamla said the Gauteng-Hunan trade deal aligns with the Gauteng Provincial Government's (GPG) strategy to tackle unemployment, one of the key challenges identified in the G13 (Gauteng 13 priorities). 'This initiative also supports South Africa's broader National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, which emphasises Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) as a critical driver of economic growth and job creation. 'The acting premier will assume all the duties, authority, and obligations of the office to ensure the smooth running of the provincial government,' Pamla said. Sopa In February, during his Sopa, Lesufi detailed how the provincial government is addressing 13 major challenges affecting the province. Lesufi emphasised that the provincial government would align with the five-year Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP), prioritising inclusive growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and building an ethical, capable state, as outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Lesufi acknowledged that Gauteng faces 13 pressing issues, including water shortages, cable theft, non-functional traffic lights, potholes, crime, the rapid expansion of informal settlements, electricity challenges (load shedding and load reduction), gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), drug abuse, inadequate healthcare services, a shortage of schools, failing infrastructure, deteriorating central business districts (CBDs), and unemployment. NOW READ: Panyaza Lesufi accused of covering up alleged corruption involving hundreds of millions
Malaysiakini
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Malaysiakini shortlisted for three Sopa Awards
Summary Malaysiakini has been shortlisted for three Sopa 2025 Awards, for its reporting on a Sabah corruption scandal and two investigative projects by Kini News Lab. The Fourth was also shortlisted for a documentary on stateless families in Sabah, based on Malaysiakini's earlier award-winning exposé. Malaysiakini's coverage last year has been shortlisted for three awards in the Society of Publishers in Asia (Sopa) 2025 Awards for Editorial Excellence. This includes the news portal's reporting on the Sabah corruption scandal implicating several Sabah assemblypersons, which is one of three contenders for The Scoop Award in the local/regional news category. The scandal, which is still developing, is centred around a series of videos, documents, and screenshots of text messages implicating politicians in discussions about bribes in exchange for supporting a businessperson's application for a mining exploration licence. The businessperson 'Albert' is seeking whistleblower protection. Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor had dismissed his claims as part of a coordinated effort to tarnish his administration's reputation. The other two finalists came from the Kini News Lab, which is a Malaysiakini unit specialising in data journalism and innovative storytelling. The report 'Timber grab: The truth behind Pahang oil palm plantations' highlighted how Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Pahang logging activities had disrupted the water supply in villages near Hulu Tembeling, Pahang. It also highlights how such projects are connected with VIPs and GLC, and has been shortlisted for Sopa's Excellence in Reporting on the Environment Award. The 'red river' in Kelantan The other short-listed report is 'Heavy metals found in Kelantan Orang Asli blood, community fear poisoned by mining', which is one of a multi-part series on the plight of a Temiar community in Gua Musang whose main water source has turned red due to mining activities. Both reports by Kini News Lab were produced with support from the Pulitzer Centre. Asia's Pulitzer Sopa was founded in Hong Kong in 1982 to encourage best practices in the publishing industry, set a high bar for journalistic standards, and be a voice for press freedom and journalists' rights in Asia Pacific. The annual Sopa Awards for Editorial Excellence was established in 1999 to recognise and reward great journalism. The annual awards are highly coveted and have become a highlight of the regional media calendar. It has become widely regarded as the 'Pulitzer Awards of Asia'. Malaysiakini is one of only two Malaysian news outlets shortlisted for this year's award. The other is a documentary on 'baby snatching' affecting stateless families in Sabah, which was produced by the investigative news outfit The Fourth and is shortlisted for the Excellence in Video Reporting Award. The documentary was based on Malaysiakini's exposé on the issue in 2023, which was recognised with a Sopa Award last year as well as the Kajai Award.
Malaysiakini
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Malaysiakini shortlisted for three Sopa Awards
Summary Malaysiakini has been shortlisted for three Sopa 2025 Awards, for its reporting on a Sabah corruption scandal and two investigative projects by Kini News Lab. The Fourth was also shortlisted for a documentary on stateless families in Sabah, based on Malaysiakini's earlier award-winning exposé. Malaysiakini's coverage last year has been shortlisted for three awards in the Society of Publishers in Asia (Sopa) 2025 Awards for Editorial Excellence. This includes the news portal's reporting on the Sabah corruption scandal implicating several Sabah assemblypersons, which is one of three contenders for The Scoop Award in the local/regional news category. The scandal, which is still developing, is centred around a series of videos, documents, and screenshots of text messages implicating politicians in discussions about bribes in exchange for supporting a businessperson's application for a mining exploration licence. The businessperson 'Albert' is seeking whistleblower protection. Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor had dismissed his claims as part of a coordinated effort to tarnish his administration's reputation. The other two finalists came from the Kini News Lab, which is a Malaysiakini unit specialising in data journalism and innovative storytelling. The report 'Timber grab: The truth behind Pahang oil palm plantations' highlighted how Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Pahang logging activities had disrupted the water supply in villages near Hulu Tembeling, Pahang. It also highlights how such projects are connected with VIPs and GLC, and has been shortlisted for Sopa's Excellence in Reporting on the Environment Award. The 'red river' in Kelantan The other short-listed report is 'Heavy metals found in Kelantan Orang Asli blood, community fear poisoned by mining', which is one of a multi-part series on the plight of a Temiar community in Gua Musang whose main water source has turned red due to mining activities. Both reports by Kini News Lab were produced with support from the Pulitzer Centre. Asia's Pulitzer Sopa was founded in Hong Kong in 1982 to encourage best practices in the publishing industry, set a high bar for journalistic standards, and be a voice for press freedom and journalists' rights in Asia Pacific. The annual Sopa Awards for Editorial Excellence was established in 1999 to recognise and reward great journalism. The annual awards are highly coveted and have become a highlight of the regional media calendar. It has become widely regarded as the 'Pulitzer Awards of Asia'. Malaysiakini is one of only two Malaysian news outlets shortlisted for this year's award. The other is a documentary on 'baby snatching' affecting stateless families in Sabah, which was produced by the investigative news outfit The Fourth and is shortlisted for the Excellence in Video Reporting Award. The documentary was based on Malaysiakini's exposé on the issue in 2023, which was recognised with a Sopa Award last year as well as the Kajai Award.
