Michael Abramowitz has been appointed as the new director of Voice of America (VOA) by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Abramowitz, currently the president of Freedom House and a former journalist at the Washington Post, is expected to take over in the coming months. His appointment follows a period of controversy under the leadership of Michael Pack, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump and later found to have misused his authority. Abramowitz's leadership at Freedom House and his commitment to democracy and human rights were highlighted, and he expressed eagerness to combat disinformation worldwide. The USAGM's oversight has been strengthened by Congress with new checks and balances.

Bill Drexel, an AI expert at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the effectiveness of doctoring news broadcasts as a disinformation strategy. He highlights that news anchors are trusted figures in media, and by manipulating their broadcasts, disinformation agents can leverage this trust to spread misinformation. The article suggests that using news anchors is one of the more potent methods for disseminating false information.

Paul Beckett, the Washington bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal, has taken on a new role as assistant editor to focus solely on the case of his detained colleague, Evan Gershkovich, in Russia. Gershkovich was arrested on accusations of spying, which he, the Journal, and the U.S. government strongly deny. The Journal has been actively campaigning for his release, involving Gershkovich's family, the newspaper, the U.S. government, and the public. Beckett, who is part of 'Team Evan', is working closely with these groups to strategize Gershkovich's release while keeping public attention on the case. The article also touches on the broader implications for press freedom and the dangers journalists face worldwide, particularly in Russia, which is known for its repressive media environment and has multiple journalists imprisoned.

A Voice of America journalist, Jeff Seldin, is among 200 American citizens sanctioned by the Russian government. The sanctions, which also target journalists from The Washington Post and The New York Times, were announced by the Russian Foreign Ministry as a response to what it calls 'anti-Russian activities' by the current U.S. administration. The announcement came just before the Russian presidential elections, with President Vladimir Putin's victory almost certain. The U.S. State Department condemned the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to intimidate and suppress independent journalists and civil society voices. This is not the first time a Voice of America journalist has been sanctioned by Moscow; the acting director Yolanda Lopez was sanctioned in May 2023. The new sanctions list also includes U.S. government officials and professors from universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Columbia.

In Munich, Uyghur children attend classes to learn their native language and culture, an act of defiance against China's policies in Xinjiang. The Chinese government's assimilation policies have been accused of genocide and crimes against humanity. Munich has become a European center for the Uyghur diaspora, with language and dance classes, restaurants, and protests. The World Uyghur Congress and the Ilham Tohti Initiative are among the organizations advocating for Uyghur rights. Uyghur restaurants in Munich, like Tengri Tagh and Kashgar Uyghur Restaurant, serve as cultural hubs for the community.

During his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden emphasized efforts to secure the release of American journalists Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, detained in Russia on espionage charges deemed baseless. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent, has been held since March 2023 and faces 20 years if convicted. His parents, guests at the address, along with the Journal, deny the charges. The State Department has declared Gershkovich wrongfully detained. Russian President Putin suggested a prisoner trade involving Gershkovich. Another journalist, Alsu Kurmasheva of RFE/RL, is also detained in Russia on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent and spreading false information, which she denies. Her husband, Pavel Butorin, spoke of her poor detention conditions and their family's hope for her return.

Freelance writer Alexander Thatcher experienced a break-in at his Tbilisi apartment, which he suspects is linked to his work on Azerbaijani politics. Despite valuable items being left untouched, the apartment was thoroughly searched. This incident coincides with a wave of media arrests in Azerbaijan, which press freedom groups claim are politically motivated. Azerbaijani journalist Elmaddin Shamilzade also faced harassment in Tbilisi, raising concerns about Azerbaijan's crackdown on dissent extending beyond its borders. Both journalists have reported their incidents to the local police, but investigations are slow. The Committee to Protect Journalists and Freedom House have documented Azerbaijan's history of targeting journalists, even outside its borders. The situation is particularly concerning ahead of Azerbaijan's presidential elections, with fears of continued repression against independent media and journalists.

The article discusses a series of cyber kidnapping incidents targeting Chinese students globally. These scams involve perpetrators impersonating Chinese police or government officials to extort large sums of money from the students' families. A recent case in Utah involved a 17-year-old student, Kai Zhuang, who was coerced into hiding and led his family to believe he was kidnapped, resulting in an $80,000 extortion attempt. The FBI has issued a warning about these crimes, which have also occurred in Australia, Canada, the UK, and Japan. Cybersecurity experts believe the criminals exploit the fear of police inherent in China's authoritarian system. The article includes comments from Theresa Payton, CEO of Fortalice Solutions, and Han Jiang Du Diao Seng, a pharmacist who assists Chinese students and runs popular social media accounts.

Oscar Elias Biscet, a contributor to Radio Marti, was arrested by Cuban authorities in Havana without explanation. The U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Radio Marti, has condemned the arrest and demanded Biscet's immediate release. Sylvia Rosabal, director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, described the arrest as an attempt to silence human rights advocacy in Cuba. Biscet, a U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree, has been imprisoned multiple times for his human rights work and refusal to leave Cuba despite safety risks. His arrest coincided with the annual meeting of the Emilia Project, a campaign he founded to promote democracy and human rights in Cuba. Cuba is ranked 172 out of 180 countries in press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.

Armed individuals stormed the TC Television network in Guayaquil, Ecuador, during a live broadcast, threatening staff and causing at least one injury. The assailants, who claimed to have bombs, interrupted the broadcast with what sounded like gunshots. The incident occurred a day after President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency due to criminal activities, including police kidnappings and a prison break by a gang leader. Police arrested about a dozen suspects, while at least two fled. Fundamedios, a press freedom group, confirmed at least one serious injury and urged journalists to take safety precautions amid the country's security crisis. The report includes information from Reuters and the Associated Press.