the international press institute says india has committed press freedom violations more than any othern the world with 84 offenses. afghanistan has the greest number of targeted people with nine cases. myanmar, china, the philippines, belarus, and hungary are among the countries cracking down. an alarming number of physical and verbal attacks on journalists were reported in europe during the pandemic. fake news laws provide governments with control over the flow of information and they were introduced in 18 jurisdictions. let's bring in our guest in paris. she is a spokeswoman of the reporters without borders, editing chieand founder of the hong kong ee press, independent publication indo hall. the share of journalism program for graduate studies. welcome to the program. how do you explain the rise in attacks targeting journalists? >> this year, with the pandemic, we have seen a number of increases. we have seen a big increase in the attacks on journalists due to the pandemic. it's extremely worrying and we have released a very shortly -- our last index on press freedom which shows tha

media with impunity this has a domino effect encouraging other states to follow suit the international press institute says india has committed press freedom violations more than any other country in the world with 84 offenses afghanistan have the greatest number of targeted killings against journalists with lying cases in march china and the philippines belarus and hungary are among the countries cracking down on media and an alarming number of physical and verbal attacks on journalists were reported in europe during the pandemic so called fake news laws 'd that provide governments with control over the flow of information were introduced in at least 18 jurisdictions. let's bring in our guests in paris palin. is editor in chief and spokeswoman the reporters without borders in hong kong tom grundy editor in chief and founder of the hong kong fia press an independent publication in doha mohammed el masri chair of journalism program. for graduate studies welcome to the program pauline how do you explain the rise in attacks threat targeting journalists worldwide. the theory with the family meet we've see

in new york let's talk to barbara tree on feet she's the executive director of the international press institute she joins us from vienna barbara good to talk to you again so bombing the al-jazeera building but also houses the associated press that also houses local palestinian residents does that get the message are there or is it perhaps an act of desperation because clearly you know our crew are up and running they were up and running within minutes they're still reporting what's going on there. it's absolutely appalling where we find it is not totally up early and then not acceptable and whatever reasons may have been behind this attack and there and by early on except for you know it is and and internationally accept that norms that news organizations think join our lists are the are also during conflicts the cannot and must not be tracked target and you know that they serve a public function and they are there on the ground to deliver baikal information she would to citizens and to the world and and bombing their offices that of course we are grateful that there was a warning and human liv