Podcasts about Reporters Without Borders

Dan talks with Joe Kriesberg, the publisher of CommonWealth Beacon, and Laura Colarusso, the editor. CommonWealth Beacon is a digital nonprofit that's part of the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth, better known as MassINC, and Joe is the CEO. CommonWealth Beacon covers politics and public policy at the state level, and has increasingly been branching out into local coverage as well. And it happens to be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Joe has been with MassINC since 2023 and has overseen the expansion of CommonWealth Beacon's staff and mission. Before that, he was president and CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations, where he was a leading advocate for affordable housing. He brings decades of nonprofit management experience and an extensive background of working with news organizations. He has raised millions of dollars for mission-driven organizations. Laura is an award-winning editor and reporter who combines digital media expertise with a commitment to old-school reporting. Before coming to CommonWealth Beacon, she was the editor of Nieman Reports, a magazine and website published by Harvard's Nieman Foundation that covers issues related to journalism. She has also worked as the digital managing editor at GBH News and the digital opinion editor at The Boston Globe, and is a frequent contributor to the Washington Monthly. Dan has a Quick Take on the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, published recently by the international organization Reporters Without Borders. It shows that the United States has fallen to 64th, coming in just behind Botswana and just ahead of Panama. Also, an important announcement: Our annual What Works webinar will take place on Thursday, May 21. It's a free, all-day event aimed at enhancing skills in audience development, ethical and effective uses for AI, and how to plan a successful event. You can register at our website, whatworks.news. Just look for the "What Works Webinar 2026" tab at the top of the page. (Ellen is off the air this week but editing behind the scenes.)  

What happens when you publish an investigation that an authoritarian superpower doesn't want the world to see? Journalist Regine Cabato found out.A contributor at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and former Washington Post correspondent in Manila, Regine published an explainer exposing how pro-China disinformation networks have taken root in Filipino social media feeds. The Chinese Embassy in Manila responded by attacking PCIJ online and putting her face on its social media posts - unleashing a torrent of harassment, sexist abuse, and smears labeling her a "CIA plant" and a tool of U.S. interests.In this episode, Ray Powell and Jim Carouso sit down with Regine to unpack what happened and why it matters far beyond the Philippines. She walks us through how she identified the red flags of pro-Beijing propaganda, why participation in China-sponsored journalist programs isn't automatically disqualifying but the rhetoric that follows often is, and how influence operations exploit the overlap between pro-Duterte networks and pro-China narratives without ever being overtly traceable to the Chinese state.Regine also reveals the personal toll: the midnight moment her phone lit up with the embassy's post, watching the hate campaign build in real time, and why she says the attacks are actually a sign her reporting is landing. She reflects on the solidarity she received from the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders and Philippine press organizations - and why the Philippines remains one of the last places in the region where journalists can still report critically on China.The conversation ranges across transnational repression, U.S. credibility under the Trump administration, the weaponization of foreign-funding smears, and the broader chilling effect on Filipino newsrooms. Regine closes with a message for young reporters weighing whether to take on a powerful government: it's not for everyone, but any project that defends democratic discussion is worth it.If you care about press freedom, Chinese political warfare, the South China Sea, or the future of democracy in the Indo-Pacific, this is an essential listen.

Clarence Ford spoke to Veteran journalist Zubeida Jaffer on the ranks of South Africa and Namibia on the 2026 World Press Freedom Index. Views and News with Clarence Ford is the mid-morning show on CapeTalk. This 3-hour long programme shares and reflects a broad array of perspectives. It is inspirational, passionate and positive. Host Clarence Ford’s gentle curiosity and dapper demeanour leave listeners feeling motivated and empowered. Known for his love of jazz and golf, Clarrie covers a range of themes including relationships, heritage and philosophy. Popular segments include Barbs’ Wire at 9:30am (Mon-Thurs) and The Naked Scientist at 9:30 on Fridays. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Views & News with Clarence Ford Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 (SA Time) to Views and News with Clarence Ford broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/erjiQj2 or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/BdpaXRn Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rahoton shekara-shekara da ƙungiyar kare ƴan jarida ta Reporters Without Borders ta fitar, na nuni da cewa an samu gagarumin koma-baya ta fannin ƴancin aikin yaɗa labarai a cikin ƙasashe 100 daga cikin 180 na duniya. RSF ta fitar da rahoton ne a jajibirin ranar ƴancin aikin jarida da ake gudanarwa ranar 3 ga watan Mayun kowace shekara. Latsa alamar sauti don sauraren shirin...

This week, the President AND the press came under attack. After an attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, the Trump administration was quick to blame the media and threaten ABC over a joke that hurt their feelings. On this episode, Alex speaks to Brian Stelter, CNN's Chief Media Analyst, about the chaos in the Washington Hilton and the FCC's unprecedented threats against networks. Then Alex speaks to Simon Ostrovsky, a special correspondent for PBS NewsHour, who recounts his harrowing capture in Ukraine in 2014 while reporting and talks about the need for the press to push back against Trump's insults. Finally, Alex is joined by Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders, USA, to talk through the release of the World Press Freedom Index which shows that journalism is under threat globally.

Editorial note: This conversation was recorded on Friday, April 24, the day before the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Both Nico and Clayton attended the event, where a gunman breached security and opened fire before being apprehended. No one was seriously injured, but the incident serves as a reminder of the threats reporters can face in the course of their work. Since we recorded the conversation before the shooting, Nico and Clayton do not address it, but the incident underscores the stakes of their discussion. — In 2020, Reporters Without Borders launched the Uncensored Library, a virtual archive housed inside Minecraft, the world's most popular computer game. It preserves the work of journalists who have faced censorship, imprisonment, exile, or even death. In countries where their reporting is banned, Minecraft itself is not, making the library a digital sanctuary for suppressed journalism that millions can still access. In March 2026, the project added a United States wing, reminding Americans that subtler, less direct threats to a free press happen everywhere – even at home. With today's release of the 2026 World Press Freedom Index and World Press Freedom Day approaching on May 3, we're unpacking the state of press freedom with Clayton Weimers, the executive director of Reporters Without Borders USA. Download The Uncensored Library here.   Timestamps:  00:00 Intro   04:41 The state of press freedom in the United States 10:51 Trump administration's threats to press freedom 14:16 Patel v. The Atlantic and actual malice 22:55 Who is to blame for distrust in media? 27:58 Viewpoint diversity in the newsroom 32:15 The modern media ecosystem 40:27 What is RSF? 47:00 Freelance and independent journalism 49:11 Clayton's background and more on Reporters Without Borders 51:25 Inside the Uncensored Library  01:01:59 Outro   Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more.  If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack's paid subscriber podcast feed, please email sotospeak@fire.org.

In our new episode we welcome Clayton Weimers, the executive director of RSF USA. Press freedom is under attack worldwide and the reporters without borders Reporters Without Borders are on an important mission. Listen and learn about the USA Room Expansion of the Uncensored Library. Interview section starts at minute 22:05

On this episode of the podcast host Nathaniel Parish Flannery speaks to Andrew Paxman, a historian and a professor at Mexico's CIDE university, who recently published a new book called MEXICAN WATCHDOGS: The Rise of a Critical Press since the 1980s. Right now media outlets and journalists in Mexico are facing unprecented challenges. During the 4T era of the presidencies of Mexico's former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and current president Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico's critical media outlets have had to respond to new policies that restrict access to intervews and information as well as offical government rhetoric that is overtly hostile to the media. Over the last three decades, Mexican media outlets have played a critical role in raising public awareness about problems such as political corruption and organized crime. During the 21st century Mexico has transitioned away from a single party semi authoritian system of government and embraced an imperfect form of multiparty democracy. Along the way journalists in Mexico have found a way to share independent and critical analysis and publish in-depth investigative reports on politics, business and organized crime. At the same time, as organized crime activity and violence surged to unprecedented levels, journalists in Mexico have faced new threats of violence both from criminals and politicians. Former President Lopez Obrador's six years in office, which ended in 2024, are now recognized as the most violent sexenio in modern Mexican history. An astounding 47 journalists were killed during Lopez Obrador's time in office. Lopez Obrador slashed the budget for public advertising for news outlets that published critical journalism and embraced an openly hostile strategy for insulting and undermining the media in Mexico, describing them as part of the political opposition and even part of the mafia in Mexico. Current president claudia sheinbuam speaks in a more measured tone than her predecessor, but she continues to publicly criticize Mexico's journalists. Mexico's media workers now face threats of legal action from politicians who are unhappy with their reporting as well as ongoing threats of physical violence when reporting on corruption or crime. In January2026, the group Reporters Without Borders tallied a count of 11 journalists murdered in Mexico during the first few months of Claudia Sheinbaum's presidency. On today's podcast we're taking a look at the development of Mexico's independent media outlets during the 21st century and the current challenges journalists in Mexico are confonting. Paxman explains the history of news outlets such as Proceso and the impact of journalists such as Carmen Aristegui. Paxman also explains that Mexico's former President Lopez Obrador created a new strategy for dealing with critical reporters and uncomfortable investigative reports into ongoing government corruption, criminal activity, and incompetence. "His default mode was to be critical of the press. [He only praised] La Jornada , which had adopted a propagandistic, or at least semi-propagandistic position towards his, his government. [He also embraced] an increasing number of YouTubers who were admitted to these press conferences as though they were bona fide journalists. Who would ask him softball questions and even compliment him, during the asking of those questions. [But] the vast majority of the press he considered to be 'nuestros oppositores, our opponents,'" Paxman says.

It's Tuesday, April 7th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson and Timothy Reed Easter massacre in Nigeria Easter weekend was one long, bloody massacre for Christians in Nigeria, reports TruthNigeria.com. Heavily armed Fulani Muslim insurgents burned down three Christian communities in Nasarawa State. Sadly, the Nigerian government offered no protections for the Christians.  The Muslim Fulani tore through the Benue State chanting “Allahu Akbar,” burning houses and killing 17 residents there.  Again, witnesses say the government offered no protection. On Sunday, 15 more Christian worshipers were killed in the Southern Kaduna State. Please, pray for the heavily oppressed Nigerian Christians.  Will Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán win re-election? Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán may be on his way out. The Prime Minister, who is a close friend to the Trump administration, and has held power for 16 years, is slumping in the polls. Opposition candidate Peter Magyar is garnering support among young Hungarians, and some polls have his Tisza Party at 50% support. Viktor Orbán has been known as a fierce nationalist over the years. The elections will take place this Friday.   Hungary drops in Freedom Index Since Orban's election to office in 2010, Hungary's rating on the Heritage Foundation Freedom Index has witnessed a 7% drop. Plus, The Freedom House index registers a 30% loss in freedom for Hungary since 2010. Freedom of the press has also lost ground. Reporters Without Borders puts Hunrgry at the 68th place in the world, down from 23rd place in 2010. During the COVID years, spreading “false information” about the pandemic was made a crime, punishable by five years in prison. State control of private property increased during Orban's administration from 11% to 16.5% of the Gross Domestic Product which is the total monetary value of all goods and services produced within the country's borders in a year. And homeschooling is practically banned in Hungary. Orban's government has held the ground on pro-family issues relating to abortion and LGBTQ sexual perversion indoctrination in schools.   Pew Research reports that Hungary is in religious decline. Orban's efforts to raise the birth rate have largely failed, with the 2025 birth rate dropping to 1.31. Only 17% of Hungarians attend religious services weekly or monthly, and only 16% of the population say they pray daily. That compares to 29% for the region of Eastern Europe.  King Charles ignores Easter and celebrates Ramadan The English monarch, King Charles III, broke tradition this year and neglected to include a message to Christians on the day that many churches celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Instead, on the Royal Family's account, he opted to celebrate the Islamic holiday, Ramadan. King Charles wrote, "Wishing all Muslims in the U.K., the Commonwealth and around the world, a blessed and peaceful Ramadan.” In Luke 9:26, Jesus said, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2nd, reported NBC News. He has temporarily appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to the position.  In a post on Truth Social, President Trump wrote that Bondi “will be transitioning to a much-needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future.” Bondi, a Trump loyalist, had taken heat for her handling of the Epstein Files. That's the second of five female cabinet members to be removed in the last two months, following the dismissal of Kristi Noem as Department of Homeland Security Secretary. Senator Rand Paul flirting with presidential run Appearing on CBS' Sunday Morning, Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul is floating a potential presidential bid in 2028.  PAUL: “There used to really be a free market/libertarian wing of the party. And now there's not much left. In fact, on many days, it's me in the Senate, the only one left for free trade. “But I think there still is a desire among business for it, and it may make the so-called libertarian vote, which might not be big enough to ever win anything, if you combine that with the Chamber of Commerce and the traditional business community, that doesn't like protectionism, there may be a force out there for a different direction from the party, other than being continued to be led by populism.” REPORTER: “There was recently a headline in the Washington Examiner: ‘Rand Paul sounds like he's running for president.'” PAUL: “Yeah, I don't know yet. So, maybe they know something. I don't know. We're thinking about it, and I would say 50/50. We'll make a decision after the election.” Rand Paul has served in the Senate since 2011, and has recently battled President Donald Trump on certain issues.  U.S. national debt soared to $39 trillion The national debt continues to spike, sitting at well over $39 trillion.  President Trump has officially requested a raise in the Pentagon budget to $1.5 trillion for the 2027 fiscal year budget, up from $1 trillion this year. Artemis II surpasses human travel record Artemis II continues its voyage on the first manned space flight beyond Earth's orbit. As of yesterday, the craft has surpassed the previous record of human travel in distance away from the Earth, set by Apollo 13. The crew reached 252,760 miles from Earth, surpassing the record by over 4,000 miles. Artemis surveyed the dark side of the moon Monday afternoon, and should be on its way home today.   Captain Victor Glover of the Artemis II mission sent a special message from space on Easter Sunday, referencing the Bible and acknowledged the beauty of creation. Listen. GLOVER: “As we are so far from Earth, and looking at the beauty of creation, I think for me, one of the really important personal perspectives that I have up here is I can really see Earth as one thing. And you know, when I read the Bible, and I look at all of the amazing things that were done for us, who were created, you have this amazing place, this spaceship. “You guys are talking to us because we're in a spaceship really far from Earth.  But you're on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe, in the cosmos. Maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we're doing is special, but we're the same distance from you. “And I'm trying to tell you, just trust me, you are special. In all of this emptiness --- this is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe -- you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together.” Second U.S. airman rescued in Iran proclaims, “God is good!” Great news! The second American airman who was shot down in Iran on April 3rd was rescued over the weekend, reports Fox News. The lost airman was recognized by his squadron by a cryptic message that came across in three words: "God is good!” He was known by his buddies as a "religious man” and this message confirmed his whereabouts. Though injured, he climbed a 7,000-foot mountain ridgeline, hid in a crevice, and waited for the rescue. Thankfully, nobody was injured in this in-and-out operation, conducted by the United State Central Intelligence Agency. Psalm 141:8 says, “But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, April 7th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

TESTO DELL'ARTICOLO ➜ https://www.bastabugie.it/8450VALANGHE DI EURO DALL'UE AI MEDIA PER FABBRICARE IL CONSENSOdi Lorenza Formicola C'è un miliardo di euro che si muove nell'ombra dei palazzi di vetro di Bruxelles, con un unico obiettivo: fabbricare il consenso. Mentre l'Unione Europea si erge a paladina globale della libertà di stampa, un rapporto esplosivo intitolato Bruxelles's media machine: European media funding and the shaping of public discourse, firmato da Thomas Fazi per il think tank MCC Brussels, squarcia il velo su un sistema di finanziamento capillare. Non si tratta di semplice sostegno all'editoria, ma di una vera e propria ingegneria del discorso pubblico che, nell'ultimo decennio, ha drenato quasi 1 miliardo di euro dalle tasche dei contribuenti per alimentare narrazioni pro-UE e soffocare il dissenso.La cifra è notevole, ma secondo il rapporto è persino prudente. La Commissione Europea e il Parlamento Europeo erogano collettivamente circa 80 milioni di euro all'anno per "progetti mediatici". Analizzando la struttura di spesa, emerge un sistema ramificato: il cuore finanziario di questa colossale operazione di condizionamento batte all'interno della DG CONNECT - dipartimento della Commissione europea responsabile per la politica digitale dell'UE - che ogni anno irriga il sistema mediatico con circa 50 milioni di euro. A questa imponente dotazione si affianca l'azione parallela del Parlamento Europeo, il quale, agendo tramite la propria DG COMM (Direzione Generale della Comunicazione), immette nel circuito altri 10 milioni di euro annui sotto forma di sovvenzioni destinate a co-finanziare programmi radiofonici, televisivi e piattaforme digitali incaricate di riportare l'attività legislativa comunitaria. Tuttavia, la proiezione di potere di Bruxelles travalica i confini dell'Unione per farsi strumento geopolitico: per il solo 2025, infatti, sono stati stanziati ulteriori 10 milioni di euro destinati esclusivamente al panorama informativo ucraino.Tutto questo avviene sotto etichette rassicuranti: "lotta alla disinformazione", "promozione dell'integrazione europea" o "difesa dei valori".MILIONI DI EUROIl rapporto scende nel dettaglio dei beneficiari, svelando che la Commissione europea ha letteralmente messo a libro paga tante agenzie di stampa: 7 milioni di euro all'Agence France-Presse (AFP), 5,6 milioni all'italiana ANSA, 3,2 milioni alla tedesca DPA, 2 milioni alla spagnola EFE e persino 1 milione alla statunitense Associated Press (AP). Anche testate minori come la portoghese Lusa (200.000 euro) o la polacca PAP (500.000 euro) compaiono nella lista.Il quadro si fa ancora più inquietante osservando le emittenti e i gruppi editoriali. Euronews svetta con un finanziamento monstre di 230 milioni di euro. Seguono la franco-tedesca ARTE con 26 milioni, la piattaforma Euractiv con 6 milioni e giganti del servizio pubblico come Deutsche Welle (35 milioni), France Médias Monde con 16,5 milioni, 444.hu (Ungheria) 1,1 milioni di euro e la spagnola RTVE con 700.000 euro. In Italia, la RAI ha beneficiato di 2 milioni di euro, mentre il Gruppo Editoriale GEDI ha ricevuto 190.000 euro. Persino organizzazioni teoricamente indipendenti come Reporters Without Borders (5,7 milioni) e il sito di investigazione Bellingcat (440.000 euro) risultano agganciate ai flussi di Bruxelles. Il controllo avviene attraverso programmi tecnici dai nomi asettici. L'IMREG (Information Measures for the EU Cohesion Policy) ha speso dal 2017 ad oggi oltre 40 milioni di euro in campagne "pubbliredazionali". Il programma Journalism Partnerships, con un budget di circa 50 milioni, supervisiona collaborazioni che promuovono esplicitamente la "demistificazione dell'UE" e la lotta ai "movimenti nazionali estremisti".Il quadro si completa con le Multimedia Actions, un polmone finanziario da oltre 20 milioni di euro l'anno che tiene in vita la European Newsroom, il consorzio di 24 agenzie di stampa strategicamente appostato nel cuore di Bruxelles. A queste si affianca l'EDMO (European Digital Media Observatory), la corazzata "anti-disinformazione" da 27 milioni di euro incaricata di pattugliare i confini della verità ufficiale. Il risultato è un conflitto di interessi sistemico: un ecosistema in continua espansione che, sotto le insegne virtuose della difesa dei valori europei, cementa una dipendenza finanziaria letale che incentiva l'allineamento e marginalizza le voci dissenzienti.UNA NARRAZIONE PILOTATA DALL'ALTOLa strategia di Bruxelles non si limita ai media tradizionali, ma si estende al controllo brutale dello spazio digitale. Jim Jordan, presidente della Commissione Giustizia alla Camera Usa, ha rivelato una campagna decennale architettata per imporre la censura europea su scala globale. Attraverso il Digital Services Act (DSA), la Commissione Europea ha trasformato quelli che erano nati come codici di condotta "volontari" in veri e propri obblighi di fatto, costringendo le piattaforme a riscrivere le proprie linee guida per conformarsi ai desiderata di Bruxelles.L'obiettivo di questa pressione sistematica è la definizione dei confini del dibattito pubblico su temi politici cruciali, come l'immigrazione o l'identità di genere. Migliaia di documenti interni confermano come le Big Tech, per non perdere l'accesso al mercato unico europeo, abbiano esteso gli standard restrittivi dell'Unione a tutto il mondo, censurando contenuti protetti dal Primo Emendamento persino negli Stati Uniti. Un caso emblematico è quello di TikTok, che ha modificato le proprie policy globali arrivando a oscurare affermazioni come "esistono solo due generi" per allinearsi ai parametri del DSA.Le radici di questa offensiva risalgono a ben prima dell'entrata in vigore del nuovo regolamento: già nel 2020, Bruxelles pretendeva la rimozione dei contenuti che mettevano in discussione le narrazioni ufficiali sull'emergenza sanitaria legata al Covid-19 e sui vaccini. Con l'avvento del DSA, questa prassi è divenuta strutturale, imponendo alle piattaforme una "revisione continua" dei contenuti per restare in regola. Le interferenze sono state particolarmente aggressive durante le tornate elettorali in Francia, Olanda, Irlanda, Slovacchia, Moldova e Romania, dove la Commissione ha esercitato un monitoraggio ossessivo sui contenuti politici ritenuti sgraditi. In questa trama di influenze e capitali, il confine tra informazione e propaganda istituzionale non è più una linea sottile. Ciò che le istituzioni vendono come un argine alla disinformazione si rivela, alla luce dei fatti, un'imponente opera di architettura sociale: una "sfera pubblica" fabbricata in laboratorio per essere impermeabile al dissenso. In questo impero invisibile, centinaia di milioni di cittadini europei si ritrovano immersi in una narrazione che è stata pagata per essere fedele.

In this solo episode, I recap the latest good vibes in DEI. This week our conversation is about pickleball making access the default, autistic Barbie done with care, bonuses for the whole crew, and more!Here are this week's good vibes:Pickleball makes access the defaultAutistic Barbie, done with careBonuses for the whole crewA font that saves secondsMinecraft breaks the censorship wall Good Vibes to Go: Bernadette's GVTG: It's Girl Scout Cookie time! Here's the now-annual list of trans kids to order Girl Scount cookies from.Read the Stories.Subscribe to the 5 Things newsletter.Watch 5 Things Live on YouTube. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

 International Law in TattersShould we be surprised by the decision of President Trump to kidnap President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores? Should we be shocked by his claim that the US will now administer Venezuela or that US Oil companies will manage Venezuela's huge oil reserves? And what of his threats against Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, Greenland, Nigeria and others?The historical reality is that we have seen all of this before. The most brazen example this century was the invasion of Iraq in 2003, under the pretext of the non-existent weapons of mass destruction. The truth then was that US and British interests were primarily concerned with the control of Iraq's oil. The result was a million Iraqi dead and a region torn apart by the subsequent political instability. International law was flagrantly broken. Torture and a brutal occupation followed. The Fellow in the Big PictureOver the Christmas break I watched more television than I do at any other time. Regular readers will know that I'm more of a radio man. RTE Radio, Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió Fáilte, Radio Ulster. I listen to these every day. But I like westerns. And there is always a ton of westerns to be seen on television over the Christmas period. Some are old ones featuring Audie Murphy, Gene Audrey, Alan Ladd, John Wayne, Maureen O Hara and the likes.  TG4 usually has a good selection of these.They also show a lot of movies featuring Clint Eastwood. I like his films.  And not just the westerns. Although he first came to our attention in Ballymurphy with Rawhide. Unforgiven was the film of choice this Nollaig with Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman, all in starring roles. And it was followed by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  Irish government should be ashamed2026 began for the people of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Occupied Territories with more Israeli attacks by land and sea and air; winter storms that have added to the enormous hardship of people trying to survive in flimsy tents; and the denial of appropriate humanitarian aid.2025 also ended with Israel having killed nearly half of all those journalists killed last year. Reporters Without Borders recorded that 29 reporters were killed by Israeli forces making Israel “the worst enemy of journalists.” 

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz will bring his proposal to close Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) to the cabinet for approval on Sunday. The coalition has also set up a special Knesset committee to advance a bill that would replace Israel’s independent media regulators with political appointees. The change will give the government sweeping authority to fine and sanction news outlets – a move critics warn could permanently reshape the country’s media environment. Another bill under discussion would privatize Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, and close down its news division. Earlier this year, Reporters Without Borders dropped Israel’s ranking to 112 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. KAN's Mark Weiss spoke about these developments with Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, and the head of the Institute’s Democracy in the Information Age program. (Photo: AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Reporters Without Borders report warns of escalating danger for journalists globally, and highlights that deaths in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli military accounted for nearly half of all reporter deaths this year. The NGO's chief Thibaud Bruttin told RFI that Palestinian journalists were deliberately targeted, and also spoke about the violence spreading across Latin America and how hundreds of reporters remain imprisoned worldwide. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has warned that journalists are facing increasing dangers worldwide, with Israel emerging as the most lethal country for media workers for the third year running. In its annual report, the Paris-based watchdog says 67 journalists were killed over the past 12 months – and almost half of them died in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces. Twenty-nine Palestinian journalists were killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the reporting period, alongside what RSF calls "a whole strategy" by Israeli authorities that has severely restricted reporting on the conflict. The NGO's director Thibaud Bruttin told RFI that the pattern of deaths in Gaza cannot be dismissed as the tragic fallout of war. "There has been a whole strategy that has been put in place since October 2023," he explained. "First, there has been the decision to block the entry of Gaza to international journalists. Second, there has been a unit set up within the Israel Defence Forces to smear Palestinian journalists… and then we've seen massive strikes against journalists, which have been actually claimed as targeted strikes by the IDF." RSF says nearly 220 journalists have been killed since the Gaza war began in late 2023. Of those, the organisation believes 56 have been deliberately targeted. Bruttin stressed that RSF is not including people loosely associated with Hamas in that count, as some Israeli officials have claimed. “We're talking about journalists – reporters who have been working, some of them for years, with respected international outlets – and these independent reporters have been deliberately targeted by the IDF." The report also highlights one of the deadliest attacks on media workers this year – a so-called ‘double-tap' strike on a hospital in south Gaza on 25 August, which killed five journalists, including contributors to news agencies Reuters and the Associated Press. French unions take Israel to court for restricting media access to Gaza Information blackout A key concern for RSF is the ongoing block on independent media access to Gaza. Foreign reporters can only enter on tightly controlled military tours, despite sustained calls from media groups and press freedom organisations. The Foreign Press Association in Israel has taken the matter to court, challenging the IDF's decision to deny access. Bruttin said the case has reached a critical point. "There has been an intermediary decision by the Supreme Court... and we're expecting any time in the coming weeks a decision which should, we hope, enable the press to enter." He added that a combination of the restrictions and IDF smear campaigns has cooled global solidarity with Palestinian journalists. "The smear campaign … has had an impact on the solidarity among the profession," he said. "It has been very hard to attract the attention of news media globally, and these news media outlets have been very timid in voicing concern over the fate of Palestinian journalists." But the scale of the recent strikes appears to have shifted sentiment. According to Bruttin, the deadly attacks of 10 and 25 August prompted “an uptick in the interest of media around this”, allowing RSF to launch a major drive on 1 September that “blew away the smear campaign of the IDF”. With a fragile ceasefire now in place, he hopes momentum will grow around reopening access to Gaza and restoring independent reporting. 'Nowhere in Gaza is safe' says RFI correspondent amid call for global media access Beyond the Middle East While Gaza dominates the headlines, RSF's report shows that the risks for journalists are a global concern. Mexico remains one of the world's most perilous environments for reporters, despite government pledges of greater protection. Nine journalists were killed there in 2025 – the deadliest year in at least three years. Bruttin warns that the danger is spreading across Latin America. “The phenomenon has extended beyond the borders of Mexico,” he said. “We've seen journalists killed in Honduras, in Guatemala, in Peru, in Ecuador, in Colombia.” Around a quarter of all journalists killed this year were in Latin America, with many targeted by cartels, narco-traffickers and armed groups. This trend, he said, is “very concerning” and presents a serious challenge for governments attempting to safeguard reporters. Sudan and Ukraine also continue to be among the most dangerous places from which to report, with conflict making journalists prime targets on all sides. Global press freedom at 'tipping point', media watchdog RSF warns Journalists detained Alongside killings, RSF's report documents a surge in the number of journalists imprisoned for their work. As of early December, 503 journalists were behind bars in 47 countries. China tops the list with 121 detained, followed by Russia with 48 and Myanmar with 47. Bruttin believes the international community can do far more to secure the release of detained reporters. “We need to effectively, deliberately campaign for the release of journalists,” he said. He pointed to the case of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, who was released as part of a prisoner swap with Russia. “If governments prioritise the release of journalists, they can meet success.” He expressed particular concern for the 26 Ukrainian journalists detained by Russia, many “outside of any legal framework”. He told RFI that Ukraine has the ability to prioritise their release through prisoner exchanges, citing a recent precedent in which RSF helped confirm proof of life for a detained Ukrainian reporter, forcing Russia to acknowledge holding him. “He was part of one of the latest prisoner swaps,” Bruttin noted. Although the overall number of journalist deaths remains below the highs of the early 2010s, RSF says the deliberate targeting of reporters and the erosion of access to information are becoming worryingly entrenched.

pWotD Episode 3121: Sheikh Hasina Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 199,741 views on Monday, 17 November 2025 our article of the day is Sheikh Hasina.Sheikh Hasina Wazed (born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001 and from 2009 to 2024. She was the longest-serving prime minister of Bangladesh since the country's independence and the longest-serving female head of government in the world. Her premiership was characterized by dictatorship, oligarchy, and crimes against humanity. She resigned and fled to India following the July Revolution in 2024, and in November 2025, she was found guilty of crimes against humanity by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal and sentenced to death in absentia.Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's founding president, and is a member of the Tungipara Sheikh political family. She had little presence in politics before her father's assassination in August 1975. Afterwards, she took asylum in India, became involved with the Awami League, and was elected as its president – a position which she continues to hold. After returning to Bangladesh in 1981, she and the Awami League became involved with the pro-democracy movement against the military rule of Hussain Muhammad Ershad, culminating in the 1990 Bangladesh mass uprising and the restoration of parliamentary democracy in the 1991 Bangladeshi general election.Following a narrow loss to Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the 1991 election, Hasina, as leader of the opposition, accused Zia's BNP of electoral dishonesty and boycotted the Parliament. This was followed by violent demonstrations and political turmoil, causing Zia to resign in favour of a caretaker government. Hasina was elected prime minister in the June 1996 election, and she was succeeded by Zia in July 2001. During the 2006–2008 political crisis, Hasina was detained on extortion charges. After her release from jail, her party won the 2008 election, and she became the prime minister for a second term.During Hasina's second premiership, Bangladesh witnessed democratic backsliding and widespread human rights abuses. Her re-elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024 were criticised by international observers as being fraudulent, with the earlier and latter being boycotted by the BNP. Human Rights Watch documented widespread enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings under her government. Numerous politicians and journalists were systematically and judicially punished for challenging her views. Reporters Without Borders gave a negative assessment of Hasina's media policy for curbing press freedom in Bangladesh since 2014. A 2024 government report estimated that more than US$16 billion was annually laundered from the country during Hasina's tenure from 2009 to 2024, adding up to more than $240 billion over 15 years. Her government provided assistance to nearly a million Rohingya who had entered the country fleeing the genocide in Myanmar.In 2022, anti-government protests broke out demanding Hasina's resignation. These were followed in July 2024 by fresh student protests which demanded the reform of quotas in government jobs. The protests were met with brutal crackdown by law-enforcement agencies and paramilitary forces, resulting in massacre of students. By August, the protests intensified into a mass uprising against the government, culminating in Hasina resigning and fleeing to India. In February 2025, a UN OHCHR report found that she personally directed and coordinated the crackdown and that it may amount to crimes against humanity. In November 2025, she was convicted of crimes against humanity by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal and sentenced to death in absentia. Hasina stated the trial was a "farce trial" driven by a "political vendetta."Hasina was among Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2018, and was listed as being one of the 100 most powerful women in the world by Forbes in 2015, 2018, and 2022.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:49 UTC on Tuesday, 18 November 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Sheikh Hasina on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Salli.

Hundreds of reporters covering the war in Gaza on-the-ground have been killed since 2023. KCSB's Emerson Good speaks with the Reporters Without Borders nonprofit organization about the injustices and holding Israel accountable.

This week's show features stories from Radio Japan, France 24, NHK World, Radio Havana Cuba, and Radio Deutsche-Welle. http://youthspeaksout.net/swr250905.mp3 (29:00) From JAPAN- A group of Japanese high school students submitted 110,000 signatures to the UN calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. China hosted a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which leaders from more than 20 countries attended- including India and Russia. The current shift in US international relations was a major focus of the summit, with a general call for a multipolar world order. The countries agreed to enhance a multilateral trade system, and step up cooperation on counter terrorism, security, and energy. 2 days after the SCO summit China held a military parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japan. From FRANCE- First press reviews on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China from both Asian and Western papers. Then a report on the US airstrike on a boat leaving Venezuela allegedly carrying a large quantity of cocaine. Organized by Reporters Without Borders major newspaper around the world blacked out their front pages on Monday to protest the more than 200 journalists murdered by Israeli forces for reporting from the war on Gaza. The Washington Post reported on the Trump post-war plan to develop Gaza into a resort and tech hub for at least 10 years. Finally the Israeli press on the Freedom Flotillas heading to Gaza with emergency aid. From CUBA- A report on the Sumud flotilla heading to Gaza with Greta Thunberg, the former mayor of Barcelona, and other dignitaries. From GERMANY- More on the US military presence off the coast of Venezuela- an interview with Mike LaSusa of InSight Crime which researches organized crime in the Americas. Available in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml PODCAST!!!- https://feed.podbean.com/outFarpress/feed.xml (160kb Highest Quality) Website Page- < http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml ¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts "Whether we like it or not, Gaza is a mirror reflecting all of us. It is impossible not to take a position here. Every boat sailing toward Gaza is a cry for human dignity. This mission is not a threat; it is an act of humanity against barbarity. Silence is complicity. And silence kills as much as bombs do." --Eduard Fernandez Dan Roberts Shortwave Report- www.outfarpress.com YouthSpeaksOut!- www.youthspeaksout.net

Governor Hochul announced sweeping action against illegal vape shops today. WFUV's Xenia Gonikberg has more on the largest vape enforcement action in the state's history. New York City is looking to teach residents how to protect themselves in emergencies. The city's Emergency Management agency is rolling out events to learn more about potential disasters and how to be ready for them. WFUV's Alexandra Pfau reports. Conflict zones threaten not only soldiers and civilians but also journalists. WFUV's Jay Doherty spoke with Reporters Without Borders about the mounting threats to press freedom, and what's at stake for those committed to telling the world's most urgent stories.

pWotD Episode 3028: Vladimir Putin Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 142,070 views on Saturday, 16 August 2025 our article of the day is Vladimir Putin.Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012. Putin worked as a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He resigned in 1991 to begin a political career in Saint Petersburg. In 1996, he moved to Moscow to join the administration of President Boris Yeltsin. He briefly served as the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and then as secretary of the Security Council of Russia before being appointed prime minister in August 1999. Following Yeltsin's resignation, Putin became acting president and, less than four months later in May 2000, was elected to his first term as president. He was reelected in 2004. Due to constitutional limitations of two consecutive presidential terms, Putin served as prime minister again from 2008 to 2012 under Dmitry Medvedev. He returned to the presidency in 2012, following an election marked by allegations of fraud and protests, and was reelected in 2018.During Putin's initial presidential tenure, the Russian economy grew on average by seven percent per year as a result of economic reforms and a fivefold increase in the price of oil and gas. Additionally, Putin led Russia in a conflict against Chechen separatists, re-establishing federal control over the region. While serving as prime minister under Medvedev, he oversaw a military conflict with Georgia and enacted military and police reforms. In his third presidential term, Russia annexed Crimea and supported a war in eastern Ukraine through several military incursions, resulting in international sanctions and a financial crisis in Russia. He also ordered a military intervention in Syria to support his ally Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war, with the aim of obtaining naval bases in the Eastern Mediterranean.In February 2022, during his fourth presidential term, Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which prompted international condemnation and led to expanded sanctions. In September 2022, he announced a partial mobilization and forcibly annexed four Ukrainian oblasts into Russia. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes related to his alleged criminal responsibility for illegal child abductions during the war. In April 2021, after a referendum, he signed constitutional amendments into law that included one allowing him to run for reelection twice more, potentially extending his presidency to 2036. In March 2024, he was reelected to another term.Under Putin's rule, the Russian political system has been transformed into an authoritarian dictatorship with a personality cult. His rule has been marked by endemic corruption and widespread human rights violations, including the imprisonment and suppression of political opponents, intimidation and censorship of independent media in Russia, and a lack of free and fair elections. Russia has consistently received very low scores on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, The Economist Democracy Index, Freedom House's Freedom in the World index, and the Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:55 UTC on Sunday, 17 August 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Vladimir Putin on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Olivia.

In het Centraal-Afrikaanse land Tsjaad is journalistiek een risicovol beroep. Intimidatie, arrestaties en verdwijningen zijn aan de orde van de dag. Het land staat op plek 117 van 180 op de persvrijheidsranglijst van Reporters Without Borders. Antropoloog Mirjam de Bruijn doet al jaren onderzoek in de regio en volgt er jongeren die zich via social media en videoactivisme uitspreken tegen het regime. Eén van hen is haar held Zyzou. In Bureau Buitenland Zomerhelden spreken we met deskundigen over hun held of heldin, mensen die tegen de stroom in gaan, die ons inspireren en die bouwen in plaats van afbreken.  Presentatie: Chris Kijne.

This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Deutsche-Welle, NHK Japan, and Radio Havana Cuba. http://youthspeaksout.net/swr250704.mp3 (29:00) From FRANCE- First a press review about the bill before the French Parliament which would merge all public broadcasters together, revenge from some politicians who do not like their criticism- the bill has failed to pass so far. A press report on West Bank settlers who have been attacking Israeli Defense Forces who shot an Israeli 14 year old who the soldier mistook for a Palestinian. Then an updated report from Jerusalem about the West Bank settlers and the Israeli right wing who accuse the military of being leftists. From GERMANY- Following an Israeli attack on a seaside cafe in Gaza that killed 30 civilians including another journalist, DW interviewed Martin Roux from Reporters Without Borders. They discuss this cafe incident as well as the unprecedented killing of 200 journalists by the Israeli army in its war on Gaza since October 2023. Journalists in war zones are protected under international law, and targeting them is a war crime. From JAPAN- Trump has expressed frustration in trade talks with Japan- Japan is also frustrated and this report expresses the view from Japan. It also includes some history of the tariff conflict between the massive business partners. Zelensky wants to pull Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention which bans anti-personnel land mines- recently Poland and Finland said they are withdrawing from the treaty as well. Ukraine carried out a drone strike on a Russian factory 800 miles across the border. From CUBA- Venezuela reported an international conspiracy bringing weapons across their borders to destabilize the country and justify a US intervention. No one is sure if the International Criminal Court will survive the Trump administration pressure on Gaza. Iran urged the UN and Security Council to strongly condemn Israel and the US for violating its national sovereignty. Available in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml PODCAST!!!- https://feed.podbean.com/outFarpress/feed.xml (160kb Highest Quality) Website Page- < http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml ¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts "Voters want a fraud they can believe in." -- Will Durst Dan Roberts Shortwave Report- www.outfarpress.com YouthSpeaksOut!- www.youthspeaksout.net

Turkish authorities are intensifying their crackdown on Istanbul's imprisoned mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu. The move comes as İmamoğlu, despite his incarceration, remains President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's principal political rival, with protests continuing over his arrest. On Wednesday, a suburb of Istanbul witnessed the latest demonstration in support of the city's detained mayor. Despite the protest taking place in a traditional electoral stronghold of President Erdoğan, tens of thousands attended.İmamoğlu masksIn a recent attempt to quell the unrest, Istanbul's governor's office issued a decree ordering the removal of all images, videos, and audio recordings of İmamoğlu from state buildings and public transport across the city. Within hours, social media was flooded with footage of people wearing İmamoğlu masks while riding public transport.Turkey's youth rise up over mayor's jailing and worsening economy“Up to 75% are against İmamoğlu's arrest, as the aversion to Erdoğan's attempt to sideline his opponent with foul play was widely distributed by all parties,” claimed political analyst Atilla Yeşilada of Global Source Partners, citing recent opinion polls.Yeşilada argues that the poll's findings underscore the opposition's success in winning over public opinion.“There is a strong reaction. This is not a temporary thing. It's a grievance that will be held and may impact the next election whenever they are held,” he added.Recent opinion polls also show İmamoğlu enjoying a double-digit lead over Erdoğan in a prospective presidential race, with a majority of respondents believing the corruption charges against the mayor are politically motivated—a claim the government denies.Erdogan's jailed rivalsPolitical analyst Sezin Öney of the independent Turkish news portal Politikyol suggests Erdoğan may have expected İmamoğlu to follow the same fate as other jailed rivals, whose influence faded once imprisoned. “The government is counting on the possibility that İmamoğlu is jailed, is out of sight, out of mind, and the presidency will have his ways,” explained Öney.Further arrests as Turkey cracks down on protests over jailed Istanbul mayorTurkish authorities have persistently sought to curtail İmamoğlu's presence on social media. His accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky have been frozen following court rulings.The fate of opposition journalistsSimilar actions have been taken against opposition journalists and their supporters. “The operation goes deeper and deeper in recent months; it's just a very concerted policy to create a blackout in this vibrant society,” claimed Erol Önderoğlu, Istanbul representative of the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders.The legal crackdown on the Istanbul municipality continues, with further waves of arrests extending even to İmamoğlu's personal bodyguard. His party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), is also under investigation for alleged irregularities at its party congress.Analyst Öney predicts that further crackdowns are likely, given the potential implications for Erdoğan's political future. “I am sure this is being calculated and recalculated every day—whether it's beneficial to throw more cases at him (İmamoğlu), by weakening his party, the Republican People's Party, weakening him personally, or whatever is convenient. But the sky is the limit,” explained Öney.Nevertheless, each new crackdown appears only to fuel the momentum behind opposition protests, which continue to attract large crowds across the country—including in Erdoğan's own political bastions.Protest movementThe leader of the main opposition CHP, Özgür Özel, has earned praise for his energetic performances and has won over many former sceptics. However, analyst Yeşilada questions whether Özel can sustain the protest movement.“I feel in the summer months, it's very difficult to keep the momentum; the colleges are closed, and people are shuffling through the country, so if that (protests) is the only means of piling the pressure on Erdoğan, it's not going to work,” warned Yeşilada.Istanbul's mayorial elections mean more than just running the city Yeşilada believes the opposition leader must elevate his strategy. “Özel needs to find new tricks. It will take two things: A) hearing what the grassroots are saying, in particular the younger generation, and B) being able to reshuffle the party rank and file so true activists are promoted—so they can energise the base,” he added.In 2013, Erdoğan weathered a wave of mass protests which largely dissipated with the closing of universities and the arrival of the summer holidays. This year, he may again be relying on summer to quieten dissent. For the opposition, the challenge is to ensure that Erdoğan's summer is anything but peaceful.

During the last year of Bashar al-Assad's rule of Syria, Reporters Without Borders ranked the country second to last in the World Press Freedom Index. The country was incredibly dangerous for journalists who had to manage strict government censorship. But in December 2024, Assad's rule was toppled by a swift rebel offensive that took the capital city Damascus within a few days. The country then experienced a level of press freedom it hadn't seen for decades. Dalia Haidar of BBC Arabic worked as a journalist in Syria whilst Assad was in power, she joins us to describe what it was like and what the hopes are for the future. Plus, a tour of Chiclayo, the Peruvian city Pope Leo XIV used to call home, with José Carlos Cueto from BBC Mundo; and how a Ferrari flag became a symbol of protest, with Slobodan Maričić from BBC Serbian. Presented by Faranak Amidi Produced by Caroline Ferguson and Alice Gioia(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

The World Press Freedom Index, which is issued by Reporters without Borders, measures the health of press freedom around the world. They do so along a number of axes, including the economic health of independent media, legal protections for the press and the physical security of journalists. In 2025, the global score on the index was the lowest it's ever been.On this episode, Dan Richards talks with three journalists and media thinkers who work in a part of the world where press freedom is, at times, a matter of life and death. Chernoh Bah is a Sierra Leonean journalist, historian and postdoctoral research fellow at the Watson Institute. Sadibou Marong is a journalist and Sub-Saharan Africa bureau chief for Reporters Without Borders, based in Sénégal. Zubaida Ismail is a freelance journalist and Ghana's correspondent for Reporters Without Borders.They discuss the state of press freedom in countries across Africa, what the struggle for independent journalism in countries in Africa can teach the rest of the world, and the broader relationship between independent media and democratic health. These guests, along with many others, gathered at the Watson Institute this Spring as part of the Media and Democracy Conference hosted by Watson's Africa Initiative. You can watch more conversations and presentations from the conference here. Transcript coming soon to our website.

In a report earlier this month, the group Reporters Without Borders said, "Trump's second term as president has brought a troubling deterioration in press freedom." For two decades, the number of American journalists has been in decline. The Star-Ledger in New Jersey is an example of a high-profile newsroom that stopped producing a print edition and cut more staff in 2024. Fewer than a quarter of American newsrooms are in growth mode. We discuss the state of the profession with our guests: Gino Fanelli, investigations and City Hall reporter for WXXI News Veronica Volk, senior producer for WXXI News Natasha Kaiser, rising senior in the photojournalism program at RIT Roisin Meyer, rising senior in the international relations and economics program at the University of Rochester

The annual World Press Freedom Index ranks the UK as 20th out of 180 countries. We reflect on the big trends and turning points from the last 12 months

Another riding has flipped to the Liberals nearly two weeks after the election. The federal NDP are attempting to have Prime Minister Mark Carney bypass Parliament rules and grant them official party status even though they don't have the required number of seats. Reporters Without Borders released its global press freedom index and Canada has fallen several places, now ranking 21st. Tune into The Daily Brief with Isaac Lamoureux and Noah Jarvis! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Turkey slipped further down in the latest Press Freedom Index, the country's besieged opposition and independent media are voicing concerns that some of the tech giants are increasingly complicit in government efforts to silence them. While protests continue over the jailing of the Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, his account on social media platform X has been cancelled.X, formerly Twitter, claims it was in response to a Turkish court order. Dozens of Imamoglu supporters have also had their accounts suspended, drawing widespread condemnation.The controversy is stoking broader concerns over the stance of the world's tech giants towards Turkey."These international tech companies find it well to keep good relations with the Turkish authorities because their only evaluation is not just on the side of democratic standards," said Erol Onderoglu of the Paris-based Reporters without Borders."But there is another challenge which is based on financial profit. The country's advertising market is very vibrant regarding social media participation," he added.Google is also facing criticism. The US tech giant was recently accused of changing its algorithms, resulting in a collapse in people accessing the websites of Turkey's independent media and therefore depriving the companies of vital advertising revenue.Turkish radio ban is latest attack on press freedom, warn activistsFewer alternative voicesUntil now, the internet has provided a platform for alternative voices to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who controls around 90 percent of the mainstream media."Google has a very big effect when you search the web for news, the most visible ones are always from pro-government media or state media. But the omission of independent media from results is just a mystery right now," said Volga Kuscuoglu editor of Bianet English edition.Turkey's independent media is battling arrests and fines by the Turkish authorities. Reporters Without Borders' latest index on press freedom saw Turkey slip further down the rankings to 159 out of 180 countries.Koscuoglu fears the government is seeking to extend its control over the media to the internet."We don't know whether there was any political pressure as no reports have been made about that," said Koscuoglu. "But the government has passed several laws in recent years and those were aimed to bring large social media under control in Turkey."You wouldn't expect Google to be excluded from this control; so yes, there could be political influence on that decision."How Turkish voters are beating internet press clampdown before pollsThreat to reduce bandwidthDuvar, one of Turkey's largest and most prominent independent news portals, closed its doors in March, citing a loss of revenue following the collapse in internet hits, which it blamed on Google's change to algorithms.Google was approached to comment on the accusations but did not reply.However, a spokesperson speaking anonymously to Reuters news agency said that any algorithm changes were simply aimed at enhancing the search facility.Internet experts believe the Turkish government has controlled the world's tech giants by making them liable to Turkish law."The government, in addition to warnings, financial penalties and an advertisement ban, was going to impose a bandwidth restriction," said Yaman Akdeniz, a co-founder of Turkey's Freedom of Expression Association."The government was going to throttle the social media platforms that didn't comply...up to 50 percent of their bandwidth access was going to be reduced, and that was going up to 90 percent of their bandwidth being restricted from Turkey."Social media providers didn't want to risk that," he concluded.Press freedom concerns as Ankara forces internet giants to bow to Turkish law'Extinction of pluralism'With some of Turkey's independent media organisations claiming their web activity has dropped by as much as 90 percent in the past few months, many are struggling to survive and are laying off journalists.The experience of Turkey could well be the canary in the mine.Onderoglu of Reporters Without Borders claims the plurality of the media is at stake."Extinction of pluralism within the media, which means that you'll have just one echo from a country which is the official line, is extremely dangerous," he warned."This is the main concern not only in Turkey but in dozens of countries around the world," he added."Journalists are trying to make viable another view within society, another approach from the official one."Questions over Google's power as effective gatekeeper to the internet and what critics claim is the lack of transparency over the search engine's algorithms are likely to grow.Meanwhile, the algorithm changes leave Turkey's besieged independent media, already battling arrests and fines, fighting for financial survival.

Tommy and Ben discuss President Trump's firing of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and the dangers that come along with consolidating responsibilities into fewer hands, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to the White House, and cuts to the CIA, military, and other intelligence agencies while Trump plans a “big, beautiful” military parade on his birthday. They also talk about Israel's plan to occupy and hold Gaza indefinitely, the anti-Trump effect in the Australian election, but a rightward turn for elections in the UK and Romania. Additionally, they cover the rocky start for Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the Trump administration's defense of Germany's far-right AfD party after being designated as an “extremist endeavor”, India's military response to a terrorist attack in the Kashmir region, and they take bets on the papal conclave. Finally, Ben speaks to Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders in the US about the grim state of global press freedom. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

【ニューヨーク時事】国際ジャーナリスト団体「国境なき記者団」は２日、２０２５年版の世界の報道自由度ランキングを発表した。 Japan placed 66th, the lowest among the Group of Seven major countries, in the 2025 freedom of press rankings announced by Reporters Without Borders, or RSF, on Friday.

Elke jaar publiceert Reporters Without Borders haar Press Freedom Index, en de conclusies zijn snoeihard: de persvrijheid bereikt een wereldwijd dieptepunt. Welke veranderingen zien we de afgelopen jaren in de positie van de journalist? Wat voor middelen heeft de overheid om de pers onder druk te zetten en hoe zit het met persvrijheid in conflictgebieden? Te gast: Ruth Kronenburg, directeur van Free Press Unlimited.

The Constitutional Court's new power for banning parties, the former FSB lieutenant's interview, plans on adding Chinese language to Georgian schools, Tea Tsulukiani's comments about Georgia's national hero, the Reporters Without Borders article, and much more! Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at info@rorshok.com You can also contact us through Instagram @rorshok_georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgiaLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.French journalists refused an entry to Georgia: https://rsf.org/en/georgia-two-french-journalists-turned-away-border-authoritarianism-hardensRorshok Updates: https://rorshok.com/updates/We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

The world reacts to a major security breach after the White House accidentally shared highly sensitive military plans through a group chat, which included an ‘Atlantic’ journalist. Our security correspondent, Gorana Grgić, brings us the latest. Then: Fiona O’Brien of Reporters Without Borders updates us on the current threats to journalists in Turkey, as anti-Erdogan protests continue. Plus: Chiara Rimella on the latest news in the world of food and drink.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Journalists do not die, they are killed; they are not in prison, regimes lock them up; they do not disappear, they are kidnapped.” These are the words of Thibaut Bruttin, the Director General of Reporters Without Borders. Is the security situation for journalists worldwide getting worse? Thibaut Bruttin is today's special guest on Vinohradská 12.Všechny díly podcastu Vinohradská 12 můžete pohodlně poslouchat v mobilní aplikaci mujRozhlas pro Android a iOS nebo na webu mujRozhlas.cz.

“Journalists do not die, they are killed; they are not in prison, regimes lock them up; they do not disappear, they are kidnapped.” These are the words of Thibaut Bruttin, the Director General of Reporters Without Borders. Is the security situation for journalists worldwide getting worse? Thibaut Bruttin is today's special guest on Vinohradská 12.

Reporters Without Borders issued an SOS plea for help after President Trump shut down the USAID. The NGO said thousands of reporters and media organizations have suddenly lost their funding. Reporters Without Borders denounced the cutoff of US federal funds, stating it has plunged many NGOs, media outlets, and journalists into chaos uncertainty. Meanwhile Democratic members of Congress converged on the sidewalk in front of the Department of Education in Washington and were denied entry into the government agency's headquarters by armed private security guards.Rick Wiles, Doc Burkhart. Airdate 02/07/2025Join the leading community for Conservative Christians! https://www.FaithandValues.comYou can partner with us by visiting TruNews.com, calling 1-800-576-2116, or by mail at PO Box 399 Vero Beach, FL 32961.Get high-quality emergency preparedness food today from American Reserves!https://www.AmericanReserves.com             It's the Final Day! The day Jesus Christ bursts into our dimension of time, space, and matter. Now available in eBook and audio formats! Order Final Day from Amazon today!https://www.amazon.com/Final-Day-Characteristics-Second-Coming/dp/0578260816/Apple users, you can download the audio version on Apple Books!https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/final-day-10-characteristics-of-the-second-coming/id1687129858Purchase the 4-part DVD set or start streaming Sacrificing Liberty today.https://www.sacrificingliberty.com/watchThe Fauci Elf is a hilarious gift guaranteed to make your friends laugh! Order yours today!https://tru.news/faucielf

Always remember that Lofi Poli Sci is more than just me, it's the we, that we be. Episode Link: https://youtu.be/eB4fG2CMmCg Episode 5 Season 11 (series 896) YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LofiPoliSciPodcast Instagram: lofi_poli_sci_podcast LinkedIn: Michael Pickering #lofipolisci #lofi #news #worldnews #podcast #politics #cats #reporterswithoutborders #reporterssansfrontier #media #mediafreedom #freespeech #freepress

This week, we're looking at the RADICAL new design of the iPhone 17 Pro! Love it or hate it? Also, when to expect the first folding iPhone, Apple's bad AI summaries ruin headlines, and more picks for the best (and worst) of 2024! This episode supported by: Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com CultCloth will keep your Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 15 Pro, guitars, glasses and lenses sparkling clean! For a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a two free CarryCloths with any order $20+ at CultCloth.co Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/CultCast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. This week's stories: iPhone 17 Pro Max renders give early glimpse of next Apple flagship With purported details of the iPhone 17 Pro Max appearing online many months before the device's launch, a Russian YouTube channel prepared renders that reveal what Apple's next top-tier handset could look like. First folding iPhone could arrive by 2026 Hoping to boost sales, Apple could launch its first folding iPhone as soon as 2026, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apple faces pressure to drop AI news summaries after false headline International journalism organization Reporters Without Borders is calling for Apple to remove its new artificial intelligence-powered news notifications, following a complaint from the BBC over a bogus news summary. Best and Worst of 2024: Erfon: Camera Control Lewis: AirPods Pro 2 Griffin: HEETA Scalp Massager Erfon: AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation

Namibiese media se onafhanklikheid word toenemend bedreig deur politieke inmenging, wat lei tot 'n aansienlike daling op die persvryheidsranglys. Volgens Tannan Groenewald, hoof van data en analise by Cirrus, het Namibië sy posisie verloor as die Afrika-land met die vryste pers, soos weerspieël in Reporters Without Borders se 2024 Persvryheid-indeks. Die land se algehele telling het van 80,91 in 2023 tot 74,16 vanjaar gedaal, met noemenswaardige dalings in politieke, ekonomiese, wetgewende, maatskaplike en sekuriteitsaanwysers. Politieke aanwysers het van 29ste plek tot 45ste gedaal, terwyl sosiale aanwysers skerp gedaal het van 18de tot 43ste plek. Kosmos 94.1 Nuus het met Tannan Groenewald gesels, wat meer deel.

Eritrea is the worst place to work as a journalist in the world and is one of the most repressive countries on press freedom. In the latest World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, Eritrea was ranked last out of 180 countries. Since 2001, the government has banned all independent media outlets, leaving only state-controlled media under the Ministry of Information. That year, about 11 journalists were arrested and put in jail without trial in a crackdown against the country's first independent newspaper. Half of them have since died while the rest, including journalist Dawit Isaak, languish in prison. Mr Isaak is now considered to be one of the world's longest detained journalists. He was recently recognised with the prestigious Edelstam prize in Sweden for his commitment to freedom of expression. His daughter Betlehem Isaak will be receiving the award on his behalf today. Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja spoke to her about campaigning for her father's release and what she believes needs to be done to make this happen.

Bluesky says it won't train AI on your posts, Reporters Without Borders says it's pressing charges against X, and The Onion won the auction for Infowars and was given ‘clear next steps to complete the sale.' It's Monday, November 18th and this is Engadget News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2023, journalist Stanis Bujakera was imprisoned for six months. The prosecutors were aiming for 20 years. The charge? Writing an article that suggested the country's military intelligence had been involved in an assassination.Stanis Bujakera is one of Democratic Republic of Congo's most popular journalists. In 2023, he was imprisoned for six months while reporting on the elections. The prosecutors were aiming for 20 years. After his arrest, organisations fighting for press freedom, like Reporters Without Borders, (that's RSF), and the Congo Hold-Up investigative team, worked to free him. Journalists and intellectuals including Wole Soyinka, Leïla Slimani and Soulemayne Bachir Diagne signed petitions. And ambassadors worked behind the scenes.There are countless other journalists in Africa who are stopped from doing their job - through intimidation, censorship and violence. In this interview we remember journalists like the Cameroonian Martinez Zogo and Sylvie Yebel. And there are others who have also died in suspicious circumstances: John Williams Ntwali in Rwanda, Ahmed Hussein-Suale in Ghana, and Thulani Maseko in Eswatini.The work African journalists do is extremely dangerous. In this interview, Stanis talks about his day-to-day life in the notorious Makala jail. It's a chilling reminder of the risks independent journalists take to tell the truth to power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Petro's first two years as president have been marked by tension between him and various media sectors. He has repeatedly denigrated journalism critical of his government, labelling those responsible as “liars” and “scumbags” who are just trying to undermine his administration.   Petro's attacks began after the Bogotá-based news magazine Cambio published an article by political reporter Maria Jimena Duzán on 23 June in which she raised questions about the possibly fraudulent manner in which the brother of the president's chief of staff had obtained public contracts.    The president responded on his X account by branding Duzán's reporting as “Mossad journalism” and suggesting that she was involved in a disinformation campaign designed to hurt his government. Duzán said she received threats after this post by the president.   Since the start of the year, Reporters Without Borders has registered two journalists killed in Colombia in connection with out their reporting. while FLIP (Colombian Foundation for Press Freedom) has registered 330 other press freedom violations, including 133 cases of threats, 43 verbal attacks and 11 physical attacks. Of these attacks, 81 were perpetrated by government officials and 69 by armed groups, which highlights the complexity of combating this growing phenomenon in Colombia, one of the most dangerous countries in Latin America for journalists.   In Colombia, the media confront opposing realities. In the nation's capital there is virtually no censorship or threats against the media. However, Colombia's regional media outlets face many pressures, according to the FLIP based in Bogotá. In the last four years, FLIP has documented an annual average of 200 threats against journalists, a number that has been increasing steadily. 

It's Tuesday, September 3rd, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Nicaragua bans another 92 religious groups Daniel Ortega's government has cancelled legal recognition of another 92 religious organizations in Nicaragua. It's all part of a cancellation of 1,651 civil social organizations. That brings to a total of 5,552 organizations that have been blackballed by the Nicaraguan government. Of the most recent cancellations, most prominent are the Episcopal Church of Nicaragua, which has had a presence in the region since 1612, and the Moravian Church of Nicaragua, which was established in 1847. And, to add insult to injury, the Ortega government has announced they will be taxing churches of their monies received from tithes and offerings, at a rate of 10 to 30%, according to La Prensa.   In fact, La Prensa itself lost its facilities to the government in 2022, and 135 reporters have been in exile since then. Mexico, Syria, and Pakistan: Top 3 most dangerous for journalists The nation where it is most dangerous to work in journalism is Mexico, followed by Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, and the Congo. That's according to a recent report from Reporters Without Borders. Denmark and Norway eager to kill more babies Both Denmark and Norway are allowing for more killing of babies, by liberalizing their abortion laws this year.  They have legalized abortion to 18 weeks of pregnancy, up from 12 weeks.  However, Parliament has still to vote on the Norwegian proposal. According to a report from the Council on Foreign Relations, “Since 2020, Argentina and Thailand legalized abortions, with certain gestational limits; South Korea decriminalized abortion; and New Zealand eased its abortion restrictions. … Colombia has made abortion legal on demand up to twenty-four weeks of pregnancy, and Mexico decriminalized abortion as well.  Only Honduras, Poland, and the United States have contemplated more restrictions on abortion of late.” Psalm 46:6-7 says, “The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice, the Earth melts. The Lord of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Chinese stock hit another low The Chinese Shanghai Stock Index has hit another low, representing a downward trend since May 2021. The far east markets have failed to improve any since 2006.  Vermont schools bans use of terms: “Sons and daughters” The Vermont Department of Health has issues guidelines, advising public school teachers not to use terms like “Sons and Daughters,” but to prefer gender-neutral terms like kids or children. African Methodist Episcopalians demanding reparations The African Methodist Episcopal denomination is demanding reparations for sins committed by previous generations against African immigrants. The meeting of 15,000 delegates and observers also received video greetings from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The denomination voted down an initiative to legitimize homosexual marriage — and remanded the matter back to committee.  God's law, as stated in Ezekiel 18:20, reminds us that, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Ford, Lowe's Tractor Supply Co, & Harley Davidson renounce DEI Big business is getting cold feet on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. So far, Ford Motor Company, Lowe's, John Deere, Tractor Supply Co., and Harley Davidson have changed their approaches to DEI policies. More companies are backing away from participating in the pro-homosexual Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. 68% of Evangelicals plan to vote for Trump A recent Deseret/HarrisX poll found that 51% of Christians and 68% of Evangelicals are planning on voting for Donald Trump in the upcoming election — that despite Trump's announcement he would oppose a federal abortion ban. Separately, a Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll found that 78% of white Evangelicals are planning to vote for Donald Trump this November.  That compares to 76% of white Evangelicals voting for Trump in the 2020 election, according to Gallup polling. The HarrisX poll found Catholics are split exactly 46% to 46% on Trump and Harris in the upcoming election.  Reagan movie beloved by moviegoers but despised by liberal critics And finally, Reagan, the new film starring Dennis Quaid as the 40th president, was released over Labor Day weekend. It nearly doubled expectations at the box office, bringing in $9.2 million in total. The film set the record for the largest disparity between an audience score and the critics score. The critics savaged the film with an average Rotten Tomatoes rating of 20%. Meanwhile, the audience scored the film at a 98% approval rating.   My kids and I saw it this past Saturday in San Antonio, Texas along with three friends. It was an inspiring and touching film.  I recommend it highly. Watch the Reagan trailer and get tickets at www.Reagan.movie.   The Boondock Saints movie, released in 2000, produced a 65% divide between critics and audience scores. And the Kendrick Brothers' movie Facing the Giants, released in 2006, produced a 69% divide between critics and audience scores. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, September 3rd, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

There will be a general election on 4 July. Campaigning will start at the end of next week, but already some of the key players are speaking out. What are women's top concerns in this election? What do women want addressed? Anita Rani speaks to Professor Rosie Campbell, professor of politics and director of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at King's College London, who has been looking at women's voting behaviour for many years.Head teachers who are a part of St Albans Primary Schools Consortium have urged parents not to give their children a smartphone until they are aged 14. Anita speaks to Rachel Harper, principal of a primary school in County Wicklow in Ireland about what advice she would offer one year after she and seven other headteachers in her town asked parents not to allow their children phones until they were older.Olivier award-winning theatre maker Marisa Carnesky is taking over an entire street at this years Brighton Festival with her show, Carnesky's Showwomxn Sideshow Spectacular, honouring the forgotten women of the circus. Marisa shares with Anita the lost history of ground-breaking women magicians, aerial artists and sword climbers and how their stories are being explored through a new generation of performers.A Chinese blogger who was jailed for four years for her reporting on the first Covid outbreak in Wuhan, has been released from prison. The media watchdog Reporters Without Borders shared a video showing the blogger, Zhang Zhan, saying she had been released on schedule and thanking everyone for their concern. The former lawyer was jailed after she travelled to Wuhan to document the outbreak in a series of widely-shared online videos. She was due to be freed last week but friends and supporters were concerned when they were unable to contact her. Anita speaks to the Guardian's senior China correspondent Amy Hawkins, who is following the story.Gemmologist Helen Molesworth is the Senior Jewellery Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and Professor of Jewellery at the Geneva University of Art and Design. In her new book, Precious: The History and Mystery of Gems, she explores the geology, symbolism and history of gemstones through some of their famous owners and those that have courted controversy. Helen explores their enduring fascination with Anita.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Bob Nettles

In this special episode to mark World Press Freedom Day, Jeffrey Gedmin, cofounder and editor-in-chief of American Purpose and former president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the global state of press freedom. They cover the challenges that a growing number of journalists face in exile or imprisonment, the U.S. role in upholding freedom of the press, and more.    Mentioned on the Podcast   “Exile Journalists Map—Fleeing to Europe and North America,” Reporters Without Borders   “Media Freedom,” Freedom House   2023 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders   Journalists:    Parnaz Azima   Jamal Khashoggi   Alsu Kurmasheva   Monica Lovinescu   Georgi Markov   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-press-freedom-day-2024-mounting-threats-renewed-purpose 

More reporters are said to have been killed in this conflict than any in decades. Jonathan Dagher, from Reporters Without Borders, discusses what it means for public understanding of the region. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Ralph is joined by author and human rights activist Miko Peled. They discuss the excuses that Israel uses to defend the atrocities they commit against Palestinians, and the truth behind all the propaganda. Miko Peled is an author, writer, speaker, and human rights activist living in the United States. He is considered by many to be one of the clearest voices calling for justice in Palestine, support of the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and the creation of a single democracy with equal rights in all of historic Palestine. Mr. Peled was born and raised in Jerusalem. His grandfather was a signer of the Israeli Declaration of Independence and his father was a general in the 1967 war. Anybody who is not courageous enough to stand up and speak the truth and stand up for what is right, because they might be called this name or that name—it's cowardice, it's hypocrisy. Being called antisemitic is a small price to pay when you talk about standing for the rights of millions of people who have been living under such terror for so many decades.Miko Peled This is pure revenge. What we're seeing is vengeance of a military force and a state that have been humiliated. And just like any bully, any gangster who's been humiliated, they take it out on the weakest people they can find, people who cannot defend themselves… It's revenge for the sake of revenge. It's savagery for the sake of savagery. It's brutality in its purest form. There's no other reason than the brutality itself. Miko Peled Palestinians deserve nothing less than the lifting of the siege, release of all prisoners, and the dismantling of the apartheid state. Nothing less than that should be demanded. And all we're seeing people talk about is ceasefires, as though a ceasefire is some great accomplishment. Ceasefire does not provide the possibility of a future where this is not repeated. What needs to be demanded now is a political solution that will ensure the safety and security of Palestinians—and that is never part of the conversation. A ceasefire does not secure the lives or the security of Palestinians, because we know Israel will violate it a week later. Miko Peled It's not going to collapse because Israelis agree. It's not going to collapse because Israelis wake up one morning in a good mood. Israel is going to have to be forced on its knees. Just like in South Africa, whites in South Africa were on their knees. We're talking about severe sanctions. We're talking about closing down all diplomatic missions. We're talking about not allowing Israelis to participate in sporting events, cultural events, any events, academic arenas. They need to be shunned. Israeli society and the apartheid state that they created need to be brought on their knees.Miko Peled In Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantis1. The Intercept's Prem Thakker reports 43 members of Congress now support a ceasefire. Some notable additions in recent days include Reps. Becca Balint, Sara Jacobs and Jamie Raskin, the first Jewish members to call for a ceasefire, and Jeff Merkley, the second Senator to call for a ceasefire. Pressure continues to mount on Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, but they still do not support a ceasefire. And the LA Times editorial board has become the first in the nation to call for a ceasefire.2. According to Time, Reporters Without Borders has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court for war crimes committed against Palestinian journalists in Gaza. The complaint cites the "deliberate, total or partial, destruction of the premises of more than 50 media outlets in Gaza." This crisis will likely prove decisive for the legitimacy of the ICC, as several countries including South Africa, have alleged that the court is biased in favor of western-aligned governments.3. Haaretz reports former Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who crafted the “Leahy Law” which prohibits U.S. military assistance to foreign security forces that violate human rights, has gone on record saying that the U.S. routinely ignores Israeli human rights abuses. Leahy said “it appears to me that shooting civilians and targeting civilian infrastructure, when you can't prove it is being used by Hamas, would be a violation of human rights…What is being done to apply the Leahy law now? I don't know. I know past administrations have been too concerned to do it. It should apply to the Israeli Defense Forces, unless the administration, as many have, has waived it."4. While not calling for a ceasefire, both Bernie Sanders and President Biden have announced plans to reshape military aid to Israel. Senator Sanders has put forth a plan to condition military aid upon multiple criteria including “the right of displaced Gazans to return to their homes” and “an end to settler violence in the West Bank.” Barak Ravid reports President Biden is considering imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers – who have long operated with legal impunity – threatening to ban visas for violent Israeli extremists in the West Bank. Ravid adds this would be the “1st time the U.S. [has] publicly consider[ed] individual sanctions against settlers.”5. KCRA reports The California Democratic convention was interrupted at multiple points by demonstrators demanding the candidates to fill Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat call for a ceasefire. Rep. Barbara Lee has done so, but not Reps. Katie Porter or Adam Schiff. Barbara Lee won the most votes at the convention, but fell short of the 60% threshold required to get the formal endorsement of the state party.6. A stunning ceasefire protest in the Bay Area saw activists park their cars on the bay bridge, then throw their keys into the water below – making it impossible for them or the police to move the vehicles, per FOX 8. Another protest at the DNC resulted in a police crackdown leaving 90 protesters injured, per the Guardian. Yet another protest at DC's Union Station resulted in 3 arrests on vandalism charges for protesters leaving bloody handprints on the inside of the station, per WTOP. Expect these disruption tactics to escalate as political leaders continue to ignore demands for a ceasefire.7. While many colleges are clamping down on pro-Palestine protests, Ryan Grim reports Occidental has set the model for engagement with student activists. The college announced that, following a student occupation of the administration office, they would pursue a dialogue with the student activists. Both the students and the administration stressed that Barack Obama got his start in activism at Occidental, pressuring the administration to divest from apartheid South Africa.8. In other news, Bloomberg reports the Public Prosecutor's office in Guatemala has conducted raids and arrests of Semilla party members. Semilla candidate Bernardo Arevalo was elected earlier this year, successfully, dealing a rare defeat to the openly corrupt political establishment in that country. The Public Prosecutor's office also announced that they will file charges against Arevalo, his vice-president elect, and several Semilla congressmen. The State Department has decried this move and is seeking to “Impose Additional Visa Restrictions in Response to Anti-Democratic Actions in Guatemala.” 9. Finally, More Perfect Union reports that “For the first time ever, U.S. auto workers have gotten a shuttered factory reopened. Workers at the massive Belvidere [Illinois] Jeep plant were laid off or told to relocate in March. Now the plant is not only reopening — @UAW won three times as many jobs and a $30/hour wage floor.” This stunning victory shows what is possible in terms of revitalizing domestic manufacturing with a renewed labor movement. And that is something we can all be thankful for.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Today's Headlines: Amid ongoing fighting and bombings in Gaza, a group of injured Palestinians and foreign nationals, including some American citizens, were permitted to leave through the Rafah crossing into Egypt for medical treatment. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to Israel and Jordan for diplomatic efforts to seek a resolution to the conflict. He aims to address the violence by right-wing settlers in the West Bank and reaffirm the U.S.'s commitment to a Palestinian state. Reporters Without Borders filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court regarding the killing of journalists and the destruction of media outlets in Gaza. The ICC is already investigating actions by Israeli and Palestinian authorities since the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. A vote to expel Representative George Santos failed along party lines. Donald Trump Jr. testified in the Trump family civil fraud trial, addressing his involvement in the company. The American Cancer Society updated its guidelines, recommending annual lung cancer screenings for all current and former smokers starting at age 50, removing the previous barrier related to the time since quitting smoking. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: AP News: After weeks in besieged Gaza, some foreign nationals and wounded Palestinians are allowed to leave AP News: Blinken heads to Israel, Jordan as Gaza war and criticism of it intensifies AP News: A media freedom group accuses Israel and Hamas of war crimes and reports deaths of 34 journalists  WA Post: Second effort to expel George Santos from House fails  CBS News: Donald Trump Jr. began testifying at the Trump fraud trial in New York NPR: The American Cancer Society says more people should get screened for lung cancer Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Amanda Duberman and Bridget Schwartz Edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our continued coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ralph welcomes James Zogby, co-founder and president of the Arab American Institute and author of "Palestinians: The Invisible Victims.” Then, no-nukes activist Harvey Wasserman joins to warn us about the dangerous condition of nuclear reactors across the country, including the threat of “embrittlement” at the California reactor in Diablo Canyon. James Zogby is co-founder and president of the Arab American Institute, and he is featured frequently on national and international media as an expert on Middle East affairs. Since 1992, he has written a weekly column— “Washington Watch” —that is published in 12 countries. He is the author of several books, including Looking at Iran: The Rise and Fall of Iran in Arab Public Opinion, The Tumultuous Decade: Arab, Turkish, and Iranian Public Opinion - 2010-2019, Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us, and Why it Matters, and Palestinians: The Invisible Victims.There are two narratives, and we have to understand both. There's Israeli trauma and Jewish trauma, and there's Palestinian and Arab trauma. Both are real because there are two groups of humanity who each have histories. When we adopt one and ignore the other, then we end up creating the kind of torment the Palestinians have been living with.James ZogbyThis does not make Israel more secure. Taking massive amounts of Palestinian lives, evacuating them, forcing them to flee from their homes, murdering them from the air—doesn't make them more secure. At the end of the day, when the dust settles and the tears dry, you're going to have a whole lot more dead people, a whole lot more anger, a whole lot more frustration, and nothing else will change in Gaza or in the West Bank.James ZogbyHamas was a tiny religious organization which was fostered into a more powerful organization by the United States and Israel. They thought that if they built up a religious organization, it would undermine the PLO (the Palestine Liberation Organization). And once again, just as in Afghanistan, we create our own adversaries, blundering back and forth.Ralph NaderHarvey Wasserman is a journalist, author, democracy activist, and advocate for renewable energy. Mr. Wasserman is the author of Solartopia! Our Green-Powered Earth, and The People's Spiral Of U.S. History. He has written and researched atomic energy since 1973, and co-authored Killing Our Own: The Disaster of America's Experience With Atomic Energy.There's only one explanation why they're continuing to operate these two reactors and all the other reactors in the United States. And that's because the commercial reactor industry is now the infrastructure of the nuclear weapons industry. If you like nuclear power, you love nuclear weapons. They are joined at the hip, these two industries.Harvey WassermanThese two reactors are upwind of the entire United States. An accident at Diablo Canyon could—within four hours—send an apocalyptic radioactive cloud into Los Angeles, into the Central Valley where we get our fruits and vegetables for the winter, and into the Bay Area. The stakes could not be higher. And again, these are military facilities, masquerading as fighters of global warming, which is absolutely ridiculous.Harvey WassermanIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantis1. The Huffington Post reports that the State Department has imposed a censorship regime, directing high-level diplomats involved in Middle East affairs to refrain from using the following phrases: “de-escalation/ceasefire, end to violence/bloodshed, and restoring calm.” This mirrors White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's response to a reporter's question during a recent briefing, when she deemed calls for a ceasefire by progressives in Congress “wrong…repugnant, and…disgraceful.” Rejecting this censorious framework, Rep. Jamaal Bowman tweeted that the “Official statement from [his] office [is] De-escalate. End the violence. Restore calm.”2. According to Semafor, MSNBC has “quietly” pulled their Muslim anchors from the air, preventing them from covering the rapidly escalating situation in Gaza. “The network did not air a scheduled Thursday night episode of The Mehdi Hasan Show…reversed a plan for Ayman Mohyeldin to fill in this week…for…Joy Reid's 7 p.m. show… [and] the network also plans to have Alicia Menendez fill in …for Ali Velshi.” This piece goes on to quote from anonymous MSNBC sources who “[feel] all three hosts have some of the deepest knowledge of the conflict.” NBC denies this is an intentional and coordinated move, instead claiming these shifts are merely “coincidental.” Meanwhile, MSNBC did prominently feature New York City Mayor Eric Adams making the extraordinarily dubious claim that “the DSA and others [were] carrying swastikas and calling for the extermination of Jewish people.” DSA members are now mulling a suit against the mayor for defamation, per City and State NY.3. The Intercept is out with a story about divisions within the liberal Zionist advocacy group, J Street. Per the story, J Street is supporting a congressional resolution that “pledges unconditional support to Israel's war in Gaza,” which “makes no mention of Palestinian civilians.” In response, over 1,000 former J Street staffers and representatives are urging the organization to join calls for a ceasefire. J Street's position mirrors that of many congressional progressives who have been hesitant to call for a ceasefire even as the civilian death toll continues to mount.4. Law schools have become another major venue for conflict on this issue. The Jewish Law Students Association of the City University of New York has issued a statement, expressing their “uncompromising solidarity with the Palestinian people in their righteous struggle for self-determination,” and noting that “institutions like the UN have consistently demonstrated an unwillingness and/or inability to hold Israel accountable over its blatant disregard for international law.” Similar statements have come out of Harvard, Columbia, and NYU – leading top law firm Davis Polk to rescind job offers they had extended to students from these institutions, per NBC. Some donors have also cut ties with Harvard over the statement, including the Wexner foundation, founded by former Victoria's Secret CEO and close Epstein associate Leslie Wexner.5. The Washington Post reports Venezuela and the United States have reached a breakthrough agreement in which the U.S. will ease sanctions on the country's oil industry, and in exchange the country will hold  “a competitive, internationally monitored presidential election next year.” This agreement represents a win for both nations, with the Biden administration hoping it will ease oil and gas prices, while the Maduro administration will, at long last, have the opportunity to reaffirm its legitimacy following the Trump-backed coup attempt that began in 2019.6. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has called on the full Senate to expel Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey following his indictment on corruption charges and allegations by the Department of Justice that he was acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Fetterman's statement reads “Senator Menendez should not be a U.S. Senator. He should have been gone long ago. It is time for every one of my colleagues in the Senate to join me in expelling Senator Menendez…This is not a close call.” This from the Hill.7. Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP have broken down yet again, this time over two specific issues. The first, according to the LA Times, is the actors' demand for a 2% share of streaming revenue, or alternatively 57 cents per subscriber per year. The studios have called this an “overreach” which would “create an untenable economic burden.” The other major point of contention is AI, with the studios “continuing to demand ‘consent' on the first day of employment for use of a performer's digital replica for an entire cinematic universe (or any franchise project),” per Deadline. Meanwhile, the guild has lauded a new Senate bill – the NO FAKES Act – which would “prevent a person from producing or distributing an unauthorized AI-generated replica of an individual to perform in an audiovisual or sound recording without the consent of the individual being replicated.” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said of the bill “A performer's voice and their appearance are all part of their unique essence, and it's not ok when those are used without their permission. Consent is key,” per Deadline.  8. Finally, the Guardian reports that Indian officials have approved a trial for sedition against renowned author Arundhati Roy concerning a 2010 speech she made on Kashmir. The article notes Reporters Without Borders has warned that “press freedom is in crisis” in India. Roy herself has been an outspoken critic of the rising tide of Hindu nationalism in India, which has earned her the ire of right-wing authoritarian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 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