Asia Media Watch

 Published yesterday:  Two journalists investigating corruption at a Madhya Pradesh RTO were assaulted on November 28, prompting strong condemnation from media unions and renewed calls for stronger journalist protections.

 Published 2 days ago:  Chinese photojournalist Du Bin has been detained for a third time amid a widening crackdown on independent media, raising fresh concerns about press freedom and state censorship in China.

 Published 3 days ago:  India has withdrawn its directive requiring all smartphone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app after widespread criticism over privacy, surveillance, and press freedom concerns.

 Published 4 days ago:  CPJ urges Kazakhstan to drop false information charges against Orda editor Gulnara Bazhkenova after police raids in Astana and Almaty and escalating pressure on independent media.

 Published 4 days ago:  Myanmar’s military government has released two prominent journalists as part of a mass prisoner amnesty, raising cautious hopes and questions about press freedom ahead of the December 2025 election

 Published 6 days ago:  Floods sweeping Thailand and Indonesia in November 2025 have disrupted infrastructure, hampered news distribution, and challenged media coverage, underlining risks for disaster journalism and reporting access.

 Published 6 days ago:  The deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong puts strain on newsrooms covering mass-casualty events, highlighting challenges in press access, verification, and reporter safety during chaotic disasters.

 Published last week:  India’s Supreme Court urges the creation of an independent regulator and pre-screening rules for social media content, signaling major shifts in digital media oversight and compliance.

 Published last week:  Former Global Times editor urges restraint in China’s state media coverage of Japan, highlighting censorship, social media deletions, and challenges for independent journalism.

 Published last week:  UN experts raise alarm over Kashmir crackdown, citing mass arrests, media restrictions, and social media blocks that threaten journalists and freedom of expression.

 Published last week:  A Tamil Nadu politician is booked for allegedly threatening a journalist at a public event, raising concerns over press safety and the growing intimidation of reporters in India.

 Published last week:  Malaysia plans to bar under-16s from social media in 2026, introducing mandatory eKYC age checks for platforms amid debate over privacy, enforcement, and child online safety.

 Published 2 weeks ago:  GIJC25 opened in Kuala Lumpur with Maria Ressa urging journalists to confront authoritarian threats and shrinking resources through radical collaboration to protect global press freedom.

 Published 2 weeks ago:  Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urges fair pay for journalists, highlighting low wages and promising government action to improve media workers’ financial conditions

 Published 2 weeks ago:  CPJ urges authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to return seized Kashmir Times property and clarify the legal basis for a newsroom raid that raises fresh press freedom concerns.

 Published 2 weeks ago:  Press freedom is declining in Asia as governments adopt China-style controls, with intensifying crackdowns in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Hong Kong, says RSF.

 Published 2 weeks ago:  Thai authorities indicted Australian journalist Murray Hunter, prompting warnings from press freedom groups about cross-border defamation risks and potential transnational repression in Southeast Asia

 Published 2 weeks ago:  Bangkok court indicts Australian journalist Murray Hunter in a Malaysian defamation case, raising alarms over cross-border legal actions threatening press freedom and journalistic safety

 Published 2 weeks ago:  Myanmar’s junta charges AAMIJ News under its election law as a contributor Myat Thu Kyaw, remains imprisoned, deepening concerns over press freedom and escalating media repression.

 Published 2 weeks ago:  RSF’s latest Press Freedom Awards highlight escalating risks for journalists across Asia, drawing global attention to detentions, crackdowns, and worsening conditions for independent reporting.

 Published 3 weeks ago:  Fiona O’Brien named CPJ Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, strengthening press freedom advocacy amid rising global threats to journalists.

 Published 3 weeks ago:  Japanese publishers launch AI copyright lawsuits, pushing for stricter licensing rules and reshaping how media content can be used to train AI models.

 Published 3 weeks ago:  OSCE hosts the 25th Central Asia Media Conference in Tashkent, focusing on media sustainability, resilience, regulatory challenges, and cross-border cooperation for independent journalism.

 Published 3 weeks ago:  A Beijing court has upheld a journalist’s seven-year espionage sentence, closing the appeal and intensifying concerns over press freedom in China.

 Published 3 weeks ago:  China’s state media condemns Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi over Taiwan remarks, intensifying nationalist rhetoric and fueling press freedom and diplomatic concerns.

 Published 3 weeks ago:  Ahead of India’s National Press Day, experts urge the media to strengthen its role as democracy’s fourth pillar amid AI, social media, and freedom-of-expression challenges.

 Published last month:  The Court of Appeals in the Philippines voided the civil forfeiture case against journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and layworker Marielle Domequil, ruling that no proof linked them to the CPP-NPA.

 Published last month:  UN and rights groups warn of escalating media repression in Myanmar, citing arrests, censorship, and digital surveillance that threaten to erase independent journalism.