Bakhtar News Agency Director Attends OANA 65th Anniversary Media Forum in Moscow

On 9 Rabi’ al-Thani 1448 AH Mawlawi Ehsanullah Hassan, Director of Bakhtar News Agency under the Ministry of Information and Culture, attended a media forum in Moscow marking the 65th anniversary of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA).
Representatives from 43 news agencies were invited to the forum, where participants discussed the future of the media, cooperation among news agencies, the importance of accurate information and efforts to address misinformation.
In his opening remarks, Andrei Kondrashov, Chairman of OANA and Director General of Russia’s TASS news agency, emphasized the importance of truth and trust in journalism. He said the spread of misinformation can undermine public trust and contribute to division and conflict.
On the sidelines of the forum, OANA and the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN) signed a cooperation agreement. Under the agreement, the two organizations will cooperate in the areas of information verification, the use of new technologies and the dissemination of reliable information.
A photography exhibition was also opened as part of the forum. According to the report, Kondrashov identified a photograph from Afghanistan as a notable image in the exhibition.
Other sessions addressed efforts to combat fake news, the use of artificial intelligence in the media, professional ethics and measures to improve the quality of news reporting.
OANA was established in 1961 at the initiative of UNESCO to facilitate the exchange of news and promote cooperation among news agencies in the Asia-Pacific region.
22 sep 2026