AFP photographer wins agency’s 1st Pulitzer PrizeApril 17, 2012 - 17:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Agence France-Presse (AFP) has won its first Pulitzer Prize, with Afghan photographer Massoud Hossaini scooping up the honour in breaking news photography, AFP reported. Hossaini, 30, was awarded the most prestigious U.S. journalism prize for his "heartbreaking image of a girl crying in fear after a suicide bomber's attack at a crowded shrine in Kabul," the Pulitzer committee said Monday, April 16. Hossaini's picture of an Afghan girl standing among a pile of dead bodies captured the devastation in the immediate aftermath of the attack on a Shiite shrine and was published in newspapers and on websites around the world. Hossaini - who joined AFP in 2007 - was just meters (yards) away when the bomb went off on December 6, 2011, killing at least 70 people. AFP chief executive Emmanuel Hoog congratulated Hossaini on winning AFP's first Pulitzer. "The Pulitzer Prize committee has honoured one of our bravest and best photo-journalists, Massoud Hossaini, and the award is recognition of AFP's insistence on quality and commitment across the range of journalistic pursuits," Hoog said. "Bravo and congratulations to Massoud.” "Today, in the news arena, words without images are impoverished and pictures without text are not enough," he said. "The two complement each other and images - fixed or moving - are essential to the journalism of the 21st century." Hossaini, who is based in Kabul, said Tuesday he was "shocked and happy" to receive the news. "This is not just about winning an award because I know I have become a voice for the Afghan people and those who lost their lives in the suicide attacks and for all victims of the war," he said. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |