Asad Hashim

Journalist, sometimes anthropologist. AFP's US Macroeconomics Correspondent. Ex-AJE, Reuters, Dawn, others. AFP Kate Webb Prize '18. Views/opinions my own.

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

In 2001, Wajeeh-ul-Hassan was arrested for committing "blasphemy", allegedly writing a series of letters insulting to Islam and its Prophet. He spent almost half his life on death row, before the Supreme Court acquitted him in October. This is his story: https://t.co/BQknQfBZe0

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

[For @AFP] Republicans routed in the midterm elections may need look no further than Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign slogan to understand what got them here: "It's the economy, stupid." Here's a breakdown of what was driving voters: https://t.co/ciSkwpQtAi

[Committee to Protect Journalists @pressfreedom]

Midterm elections are underway across the United States🗳️ CPJ is here to help journalists stay safe — whether you need emergency assistance, digital safety best practices, or mental health support.

Find safety advice here👇
https://t.co/PFYfEOwsOI

[Freedom Network - FNPK | فریڈم نیٹ ورک @pressfreedompk]

Freedom Network launches its Annual Impunity Report 2026 with IMS, examining how violence and lawfare are being used to punish journalists in Pakistan. Read the report and stand for accountability and press freedom.
https://t.co/cKVQ68scgn
#PressFreedom #EndImpunity

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

A replug also for this piece out of west GA, on the hard work that county election directors do in a US electoral system that often hands them massive unfunded mandates and puts them in the crosshairs of conspiracy theories:

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

[For @AFP] Out in west Georgia, Noah & Akyn Beck took over as county election directors at a fraught time for poll conspiracy theories. They've been working to try and win back voters' trust, and to make sure there are no barriers to casting their ballots: https://t.co/xpGHOAsiAw

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

As Americans go to the polls in key midterm elections -- with early voting already at record numbers -- a replug here for my reporting from GA on how rights groups were fighting electoral reform laws they say are aimed at restricting working-class voter access:

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

[For @AFP] Since 2020, the Georgia has been at the center of US conspiracy theories about elex fraud, and rights' groups allegations that voting reform laws are really aimed at disenfranchising Black & Brown voters. I went down to GA to figure it all out: https://t.co/JCL8SZDjhO

[Barry Malone @malonebarry]

Al Jazeera launched 30 years ago today, challenged the Western-centric framing of other media outlets and changed the face of international reporting forever. I couldn't be more proud to have worked there.

[Nicole Foy @nicoleMfoy]

You can now separately access the database portion of our latest ProPublica investigation & search through the 500+ citizens detained by immigration officials during the 2nd Trump administration

We’ve also added a few more weeks of cases — since citizens are still being detained

[Naimat Khan @NKMalazai]

اس “جرم” پر ایمان اور ہادی کو دس سال کی سزا سنا دی گئی۔

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

A Pakistani court has sentenced human rights activists Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha -- known for representing oppressed communities, incl the Baloch -- to 10 yrs in prison for allegedly breaching an intl cricket team's security arrangements. https://t.co/FdRcwly09W

[Francesca D’Annunzio @FrancescaDnunz]

Early this year, I visited Ingram, a TX town of ~1,900, to check out a tip.

The area was starting to recover from its worst flood in a century.

But as Latino workers drove to jobsites to help rebuild, the tipster said, a cop in a black Dodge Charger kept stopping them ... 🧵

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

[For @AFP] As the Annual Meetings wind down, the IMF chief on Saturday flagged "optimism and worry" among members on the global economic outlook, and said her org had a "responsibility" to aid low-income countries struggling with war-fueled inflation. https://t.co/Nbpac6gPyE

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

@AFP He added that unless the government saw "an absolute dire need", it would not be procuring spot cargoes on the LNG front, which tend to be far more expensive than previously contracted shipments.

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

[For @afp] Pakistan's finance minister told AFP the country had so far withstood the shock from skyrocketing energy prices due to the Iran war, but that attacks on infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries were "worrying" for the longer-term.
https://t.co/DFa8ouwEI5

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

@AFP In an interview on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Muhammad Aurangzeb said the South Asian country had procured enough energy supplies to last through November, and was now planning for the winter months, when household needs typically spike.

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

Rising energy and fertiliser costs are hitting smallholder farmers and driving up prices of agricultural commodities, fueling fears of a global food crisis, the head of the UN agriculture development fund told @AFP's @Julien_Girault. https://t.co/mBYVUnsYsK

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

@AFP The IMF has said governments in countries hard hit by the energy price shock need to make their subsidies more targeted. "How poor do you have to be for them to think that you will need some support?" asked Nacpil. https://t.co/jH4asKDlhY

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

[For @AFP] This week in Bangkok, the IMF's message has been clear: after years of shocks and high debt levels, countries need to cut spending. But for vulnerable low-income countries hit hard by the war-fueled prices, many say that is just not possible. https://t.co/jH4asKDlhY

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

@AFP "Governments across the Global South are being forced to squeeze vital spending on public health, education, and social protection just to service illegitimate debts to wealthy nations and private creditors," Lidy Nacpil, a rights campaigner, said. https://t.co/jH4asKDlhY

[Asad Hashim @AsadHashim]

[For @AFP] World Bank chief Ajay Banga laid out a vision on Friday for how his multilateral development giant should operate, focusing on creating jobs, expanding economic opp and connecting private capital to developing nations that need investment. https://t.co/5XU3eU018I