Turkey on Thursday remanded in custody 16 journalists accused of links to pro-Kurdish media outlets and belonging to a "terrorist organisation", their lawyer said.
Most of the journalists work for media aligned with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which is facing the threat of being banned in Turkey over accusations that it has links to outlawed militants waging a decades-long insurgency against the government.
The 16 were detained, along with four other journalists, on June 8 in Diyarbakir, south-east Turkey, on charges of belonging to the press services of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), classed as a terrorist group by Ankara, the EU and US.
The HDP denies formal ties to the PKK.
The arrested journalists include Serdar Altan, co-president of a journalists' association.
Four others were released under judicial supervision.
A representative of the Turkish arm of Reporters Without Borders, Erol Onderoglu, denounced the detentions as an attempt to weaken the "Kurdish political class... and deprive them of a voice" before Turkey's presidential election next year.
Turkey says it is planning to launch an offensive in northern Syria against Kurdish militants.
The HDP has already had many of its current and former members arrested in a government operation that started after a failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016.
Turkey's western allies have been alarmed by the clampdown, warning that it threatens to further undermine diplomatic ties with Mr Erdogan's government.
Turkey ranks 149th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2022 press freedom index and is regularly criticised for muzzling press critical of the government.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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School uniforms report
COMPANY%20PROFILE
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Scorebox
Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries Gormley, Penalty
Cons Flaherty
Pens Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons Caldwell 2
Pens Caldwell, Cross
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
FORSPOKEN
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Street%20Fighter%206
Diablo%20IV
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The%20Legend%20of%20Zelda%3A%20Tears%20of%20The%20Kingdom
Marvel's%20Spider-Man%202
Assassin's%20Creed%20Mirage
Starfield
MATCH INFO
Scotland 59 (Tries: Hastings (2), G Horne (3), Turner, Seymour, Barclay, Kinghorn, McInally; Cons: Hastings 8)
Russia 0
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