Asia

March 9, 2026, New Delhi—Indian authorities must drop all pending charges against Republic TV journalists C.G. Shankar and S. Mani and stop using espionage laws to criminalize legitimate journalism, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Shankar, Mani, and a boat driver were detained on March 7 by officers from a paramilitary force after allegedly…

Bangkok, March 9, 2026—China’s Embassy in the Philippines should cease its online attacks and intimidation against the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) after the outlet published a report into China-aligned influence networks operating in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. The embassy’s remarks targeted PCIJ contributor Regine Cabato’s investigation and follow-up…

New York, March 4, 2026—The Taliban must return control of the privately owned Rah-e-Farda TV station to its owner, permit the broadcaster to resume operations, and immediately end their systematic repression of independent media in Afghanistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On February 28, Taliban intelligence officers raided Rah-e-Farda TV’s office in the…

Editor’s Note: Following publication of this alert, CPJ learned that Thura Aung, a reporter with The People’s Voice, and Maung Maung Myo, a journalist with Mekong News Agency, were also released in the amnesty on March 3 and March 11, respectively. Singapore, March 4, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release in recent days…

New York, February 27, 2026—Pakistani authorities should swiftly investigate a shooting attack on the residence of journalist Ihsan Khattak and ensure the safety of all reporters working in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On February 12, at about 9.45 p.m., unidentified gunmen fired multiple shots at the main…

Jakarta, February 26, 2026—Malaysian anti-corruption chief Azam Baki should immediately withdraw his lawsuit against Bloomberg news agency for a report about his alleged shareholdings, and allow journalists to report on matters of public interest without the fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. “Azam Baki should drop his legal action against Bloomberg…

The Committee to Protect Journalists alongside 17 other press freedom and human rights organizations have written to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging his government to take immediate steps to uphold the country’s constitutional and international obligations to protect press freedom. In a joint letter, the groups said recent legal and institutional developments, coupled with…

Bangkok, February 20, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the harsh 14-year prison sentences handed to Cambodian journalists Pheap Phara and Phon Sopheap for treason, after they were found guilty of “supplying a foreign state with information prejudicial to national defense.” Phara, a reporter with the local TSP 68 TV Online, and Sopheap, a journalist…

Bangkok, February 17, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Cambodian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Luot Sophal, who was arrested after publishing a report about an alleged water shortage faced by frontline Cambodian soldiers. On February 13, Sophal, a journalist with the local independent Srotop Yuvakvey news, was arrested by police in…

New York, February 16, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Philippine court’s decision to deny journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio bail, and calls on authorities to drop all remaining charges against her and immediately end the judicial harassment. “Frenchie Mae Cumpio has been deprived of her freedom for more than six years. The latest ruling…