INTERNATIONAL: The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize is to be shared by two journalists for their work defending the freedom of speech in their respective countries. The Philippines’ Maria Ressa and Russia’s Dmitry Muratov have been awarded the Prize in a speech by the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Anderson.

Reiss-Anderson has stated the two journalists are “representatives of all journalists who stand up to this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions”. She added that “Free, independent and fact-base journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda”.

It’s the first-time journalists have won the prize since 1935, when German Carl von Ossietzky was awarded for revealing German’s secret post-war rearmament program. The Nobel Peace Prize will be officially presented at a ceremony on the date of the anniversary of death of Alfred Nobel, the founder of the award, on 10 December.