https://www.voanews.com/z/5818 World Press Freedom https://www.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.voanews.com/z/5818 en 2026 - VOA 60 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:23:46 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA More than 400 titles are banned after being deemed against 'Islamic principles and national interest' https://www.voanews.com/a/author-says-ban-on-her-book-reflects-taliban-s-repression-of-women/8011004.html https://www.voanews.com/a/author-says-ban-on-her-book-reflects-taliban-s-repression-of-women/8011004.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:59:58 -0400 Press FreedomSouth & Central Asiawebdesk@voanews.com (Roshan Noorzai, Noshaba Ashna) Reza Valizadeh, a dual-citizen Iranian American journalist imprisoned in Iran, ended his hunger strike after six days on Thursday out of concern for his mother, who went on the hunger strike with him. Valizadeh said family members asked him to end the strike because his mother’s physical and mental condition had severely deteriorated, and he had developed motor impairment and a weakened physical condition. Click here for the full story in Persian. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-iranian-american-journalist-ends-hunger-strike-/8010387.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-iranian-american-journalist-ends-hunger-strike-/8010387.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 22:49:54 -0400 Middle EastIranPress Freedomwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) Founder of Guatemalan news website awaits retrial in case widely criticized by lawyers, international community https://www.voanews.com/a/publisher-zamora-reimprisoned-in-guatemala-in-move-his-lawyers-call-inhumane-/8010046.html https://www.voanews.com/a/publisher-zamora-reimprisoned-in-guatemala-in-move-his-lawyers-call-inhumane-/8010046.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:03:04 -0400 Press FreedomAmericaswebdesk@voanews.com (Liam Scott) WASHINGTON — The son of imprisoned pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai this week brought the campaign to secure his father’s release to the Trump administration in Washington. Nearly two months into President Donald Trump’s second term, Lai’s son Sebastien and their international legal team were in Washington this week to meet with Trump administration officials and lawmakers in hopes that the United States can help push for Lai’s release. Lai, a businessman and founder of the now-shuttered... https://www.voanews.com/a/advocates-for-jailed-publisher-lai-turn-to-trump-administration/8009044.html https://www.voanews.com/a/advocates-for-jailed-publisher-lai-turn-to-trump-administration/8009044.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 21:47:55 -0400 Press FreedomUSAEast AsiaChina Newswebdesk@voanews.com (Liam Scott) Blessed Mhlanga faces charges of incitement over interviews with a politician who criticized Zimbabwe's president https://www.voanews.com/a/zimbabwe-journalist-still-in-custody-after-case-adjourned/8008998.html https://www.voanews.com/a/zimbabwe-journalist-still-in-custody-after-case-adjourned/8008998.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 21:26:24 -0400 Press FreedomAfricawebdesk@voanews.com (Gibbs Dube) Azerbaijani hitman testifies at trial of two men accused of hiring him to kill a VOA host who is a critic of Iran https://www.voanews.com/a/i-was-there-to-try-to-kill-the-journalist-gunman-tells-new-york-court/8008126.html https://www.voanews.com/a/i-was-there-to-try-to-kill-the-journalist-gunman-tells-new-york-court/8008126.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:25:56 -0400 Press FreedomMiddle EastUSAIranwebdesk@voanews.com (Liam Scott) Experts say the case underscores the lengths Tehran will go to in order to silence its critics https://www.voanews.com/a/trial-to-begin-in-new-york-for-men-accused-of-planning-assassination-of-voa-host/8005312.html https://www.voanews.com/a/trial-to-begin-in-new-york-for-men-accused-of-planning-assassination-of-voa-host/8005312.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 11:38:16 -0400 USAPress Freedomwebdesk@voanews.com (Liam Scott) Civil lawsuit against a Salvadoran officer living in Virginia seeks answers in killings of four Dutch journalists more than 40 years ago during civil war https://www.voanews.com/a/lawsuit-in-us-offers-hope-of-justice-for-brother-of-journalist-killed-in-el-salvador-war/8003149.html https://www.voanews.com/a/lawsuit-in-us-offers-hope-of-justice-for-brother-of-journalist-killed-in-el-salvador-war/8003149.html Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:54:46 -0500 Press FreedomAmericaswebdesk@voanews.com (Liam Scott) Across Pacific Island nations, journalists are pushing back on draconian laws and defamation cases, while weighing the cost of Chinese economic help against true editorial freedom. VOA’s Jessica Stone has the story. Camera: Sharon Elone https://www.voanews.com/a/across-pacific-new-found-freedoms-face-legal-economic-obstacles/8002353.html https://www.voanews.com/a/across-pacific-new-found-freedoms-face-legal-economic-obstacles/8002353.html Fri, 07 Mar 2025 09:32:05 -0500 Press FreedomEast Asiawebdesk@voanews.com (Jessica Stone) In a win for Elon Musk's X corporation, the U.S. state of California will no longer require social media companies to report about their content moderation practices. VOA's Matt Dibble has more from Silicon Valley. https://www.voanews.com/a/california-rolls-back-social-media-law-/8002344.html https://www.voanews.com/a/california-rolls-back-social-media-law-/8002344.html Fri, 07 Mar 2025 09:09:46 -0500 USAPress Freedomwebdesk@voanews.com (Matt Dibble) The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan brought an abrupt end to Aiman Qiyami’s education. But from exile, she is working to achieve her ambition of a career in media. From Peshawar, Pakistan, Muska Safi brings us the story, narrated by Bezhan Hamdard. Roshan Noorzai contributed. https://www.voanews.com/a/barred-from-education-young-afghan-woman-dreams-of-career-in-media-/8001168.html https://www.voanews.com/a/barred-from-education-young-afghan-woman-dreams-of-career-in-media-/8001168.html Thu, 06 Mar 2025 11:09:50 -0500 Press FreedomSouth & Central Asiawebdesk@voanews.com (Muska Safi) Media outlet says Sai Zaw Thaike is beaten daily after raising complaints over abuse of other prisoners at Myanmar prison https://www.voanews.com/a/in-myanmar-journalist-abused-after-speaking-out-about-prison-conditions/7995756.html https://www.voanews.com/a/in-myanmar-journalist-abused-after-speaking-out-about-prison-conditions/7995756.html Mon, 03 Mar 2025 15:33:39 -0500 Press FreedomEast Asiawebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Changes in Pakistan, Myanmar risk adding to already repressive reporting environment, media watchdogs say  https://www.voanews.com/a/cybercrime-laws-risk-steady-criminalization-of-journalists-analysts-warn/7989674.html https://www.voanews.com/a/cybercrime-laws-risk-steady-criminalization-of-journalists-analysts-warn/7989674.html Thu, 27 Feb 2025 08:13:04 -0500 Press FreedomEast AsiaSouth & Central Asiawebdesk@voanews.com (Tabinda Naeem) Vietnam ranks among the worst jailers of journalists in the world https://www.voanews.com/a/vietnam-jails-leading-journalist-over-facebook-posts/7989811.html https://www.voanews.com/a/vietnam-jails-leading-journalist-over-facebook-posts/7989811.html Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:16:36 -0500 Press FreedomEast Asiawebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Fox News reporter describes recovery and return to Ukraine as country enters fourth year of war https://www.voanews.com/a/in-ukraine-resilience-is-key-to-three-years-of-war-coverage/7989677.html https://www.voanews.com/a/in-ukraine-resilience-is-key-to-three-years-of-war-coverage/7989677.html Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:21:26 -0500 UkraineEuropePress Freedomwebdesk@voanews.com (Cristina Caicedo Smit) With Kenyans turning to online and social media platforms for news, the Tuko news group is seen as an early leader https://www.voanews.com/a/in-kenyan-newsroom-young-generation-leads-digital-media-trend/7989065.html https://www.voanews.com/a/in-kenyan-newsroom-young-generation-leads-digital-media-trend/7989065.html Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:02:38 -0500 Press FreedomAfricawebdesk@voanews.com (Victoria Amunga) For more than 50 years, WHUR has been broadcasting to listeners in the U.S. capital from Howard University, a historically black institution. A commercial station owned by the university, it offers music, news and education opportunities. VOA’s Cristina Caicedo Smit met the team behind the effort. https://www.voanews.com/a/in-us-capital-college-owned-station-broadcasts-news-music-and-opportunity/7987495.html https://www.voanews.com/a/in-us-capital-college-owned-station-broadcasts-news-music-and-opportunity/7987495.html Tue, 25 Feb 2025 11:50:07 -0500 USAPress Freedomwebdesk@voanews.com (Cristina Caicedo Smit) The AP sued three senior Trump aides on Friday, arguing that the decision to block its reporters from those locations violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protections https://www.voanews.com/a/us-judge-allows-trump-s-ap-oval-office-ban-to-stand-over-use-of-gulf-of-mexico-name-/7986557.html https://www.voanews.com/a/us-judge-allows-trump-s-ap-oval-office-ban-to-stand-over-use-of-gulf-of-mexico-name-/7986557.html Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:05:10 -0500 USAPress Freedomwebdesk@voanews.com (Reuters) Myanmar, India, Pakistan account for 64% of all recorded shutdowns in 2024, Access Now finds https://www.voanews.com/a/report-in-record-year-of-internet-shutdowns-myanmar-leads/7985585.html https://www.voanews.com/a/report-in-record-year-of-internet-shutdowns-myanmar-leads/7985585.html Sun, 23 Feb 2025 21:02:32 -0500 East AsiaPress Freedomwebdesk@voanews.com (Tommy Walker) Radio Begum launched on International Women's Day in March 2021 https://www.voanews.com/a/afghan-women-s-radio-station-to-resume-broadcasts-after-taliban-say-they-re-lifting-suspension/7984936.html https://www.voanews.com/a/afghan-women-s-radio-station-to-resume-broadcasts-after-taliban-say-they-re-lifting-suspension/7984936.html Sun, 23 Feb 2025 02:39:46 -0500 South & Central AsiaPress Freedomwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press)