Awards
AFP reporter in Syria's Aleppo wins journalism award
Karam al-Masri, Agence France-Presse's correspondent in besieged eastern Aleppo in Syria, was honoured on Tuesday by a French foundation for his work and courage.
The 25-year-old journalist, who was born in Aleppo city, has been working for AFP since 2013.
The Varenne Foundation presented him with its grand prize in the photojournalism category for his pictures of a man known as Abu Omar, who chose to remain in the war-torn northern city to take care of his classic automobiles.
Before he became an AFP journalist, Masri had survived both detention by the Syrian regime and kidnapping by the Islamic State group.
The reporter, photographer and videojournalist has also had to withstand the pain of losing his parents, who were killed in an air strike.
AFP's Chief Executive and Chairman Emmanuel Hoog received the award on Masri's behalf, paying tribute to his "extraordinary courage and exemplary professionalism."
Press freedom groups called Tuesday for safe passage for media workers trapped inside east Aleppo as the Russian-backed army advances.
Masri's blog for AFP, "Covering Syria through hunger and fear", was published in September 2016.