Global NGO defending freedom of information
The Maltese court continues the trial of Yorgen Fenech, accused of orchestrating the 2017 murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Prosecutors describe a complex web of payments and accomplices, while the case has sparked calls for accountability over an atmosphere of impunity linked to high-level politics.
Lebanese authorities have released Fadel Shaker on bail after questions over allegations including army involvement, funding militias, and money laundering related to the Sidon clashes in 2013. Shaker, once a famed singer, has a long history linked to the Al-Assir faction and subsequent legal proceedings.
The Department of Homeland Security has replaced the long-standing "duration-of-status" system with fixed admission periods: most international student and exchange visas will be capped at four years, and foreign journalist visas will be limited to 240 days (90 days for mainland Chinese nationals). The rule will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register and requires extensions or re-entry to remain beyond the limit.
The Department of Homeland Security has replaced the duration of status system with fixed periods for foreign journalists and students, aiming to improve vetting. Journalists face a maximum stay of 240 days (and 90 days for Chinese reporters), with extensions possible. The policy takes effect 60 days after publication, drawing criticism from press groups who warn of restricted reporting.
The Department of Justice has withdrawn grand jury subpoenas that sought New York Times reporters' testimony and phone records after a federal judge sharply questioned the government's handling of the leak probe into reporting about President Trump's new Air Force One. The DOJ has said the investigation remains ongoing.
The Federal Communications Commission has voted 2-1 to remove the statutory 39% national TV ownership cap and replace it with case-by-case reviews of proposed mergers. Chair Brendan Carr has said the change will let broadcasters scale up and invest in local news; Democrats and press advocates say the commission lacks authority and will spur consolidation and legal challenges.
French journalists Gaël Mocaër and Sebastián Perez Pezzani, with Togolese fixer Fred Vedomey, remain in pre-trial detention in Lomé after being arrested on July 27 in Kara while filming a documentary. Authorities allege missing permits and drone use; supporters say permits were obtained and the case is a press-freedom concern.
Rights groups report a sustained crackdown on civil society in Tunisia, with arrests, financially targeting NGOs, and suspensions widening under President Saied. The move is described as a strategic clampdown on dissent amid protests and deteriorating living conditions.
A Maltese jury has acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of complicity and criminal association in the 2017 car‑bomb killing of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict has provoked outrage from the victim's family, press freedom groups and politicians, and it has prompted a Council of Europe inquiry into judicial failures and calls for EU action on Malta's rule of law.
Hong Kong's court has acquitted Dow Jones Publishing Co. (Asia) of dismissing a journalist for union activity while convicting on the charge that it prevented or deterred union participation. The case centers on Selina Cheng, former WSJ reporter and HKJA chair, who argued her firing was linked to her union role.
Gaza flotilla activists have joined Wael Naouar’s hunger strike in Tunisian custody amid a probe into alleged financial flows. The detainees’ health is deteriorating as a Tunisian court weighs extending pre-trial detention for six months.
Belarusian authorities have released 25 political prisoners as part of a U.S.-brokered interim deal, with sanctions relief on two state companies linked to the move. Washington says more releases and relief will follow as talks continue, while opposition figures warn that repression persists.
Multiple outlets have been barred from White House access as President Trump argues the coverage is biased. News organizations vow to challenge the bans in court, asserting a constitutional right to report. The White House has referred to Trump’s Friday comments announcing the bans.