August 2024
Journalist back on US soil in historic Russia prisoner swap
Reporter Evan Gershkovich arrived home, along with other US prisoners freed from Russian jails, following the largest such deal with Moscow since the Cold War.
- Updated
- Andrew Osborn and Filipp Lebedev
July 2024
US journalist sentenced to 16 years in Russian prison
The Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich becomes the first Western reporter to be convicted of spying in modern Russia, and could be used in a prisoner swap.
- Ivan Nechepurenko
Why Britain’s new PM could hold the key to Jimmy Lai’s freedom
Keir Starmer cut his teeth as a barrister at the same firm as Australian human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, who is fighting for the release of Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai.
- Gus McCubbing and Hannah Wootton
June 2024
Don’t trade free speech for iron ore, jailed HK mogul’s son warns
Sebastien Lai wants the Albanese government to pressure China to release his pro-democracy father Jimmy Lai.
- Andrew Tillett
May 2024
‘Dark day for media’: Israel shuts down Al Jazeera’s operations
The government accused the Qatari-funded satellite channel of being a “Hamas mouthpiece” and a threat to national security.
- Kareem Fahim and Adela Suliman
February 2024
Putin critic Alexei Navalny dies in Arctic prison camp
Alexei Navalny, the Russian lawyer and activist who became the most potent voice in opposition to President Vladimir Putin, died in his prison camp on Friday.
- Updated
- Benedict Smith, Cameron Henderson, Timothy Sigsworth and Peter Baker
November 2023
Ex-AFR journalist returns to Australia after arrest in Malaysia
Kean Wong was investigated for sedition in relation to a book he edited that examined the country’s 2018 election.
- Gus McCubbing
October 2023
Freedom of information delays a ‘cancer’ on access
Complaints about freedom of information requests are rising, and government agencies are increasingly failing to meet the legislated time frame for decisions.
- Max Mason
May 2023
Dutton’s surprise backing of Assange lifts supporters’ hopes
Advocates for Julian Assange want Australia to push for the Wikileaks’ founder’s freedom when US President Joe Biden visits later this month.
- Andrew Tillett
March 2022
Australian envoy denied access to Cheng Lei trial in Beijing
Ambassador Graham Fletcher has been denied access to the trial of Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who was detained in 2020.
- Michael Smith
September 2021
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why the crackdown on journalism in Asia matters to Australia
From Myanmar to China, the media faces authoritarian challenges that will have a material impact on our understanding of the region shaping the future of the world.
- Bonnie Bley
July 2021
Peter Greste pushes for media freedom act to protect journalists
The Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom is launching a press freedom tracker to assist in conversations with politicians and governments about the state of the media across the Asia-Pacific region.
- Miranda Ward
June 2021
Apple Daily writer arrested at airport as media delete articles
Journalist Fung Wai-kong was detained as he attempted to leave the city, media including broadcaster TVB said, making him the seventh person swept up in a probe into the now-shuttered newspaper.
- Natalie Lung and Iain Marlow
Apple Daily to stop publishing by Saturday
The end of the popular 26-year-old tabloid has escalated alarm over media freedom and other rights in the Chinese-ruled city.
- Reuters
February 2021
- Opinion
- Defamation
Aston verdict shows defamation laws have pole-vaulted original purpose
The courts’ role is not to police rudeness or protect hurt feelings - let alone dampen free speech and silence journalists exposing bad corporate behaviour.
- Jeremy Leibler
January 2021
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Hurt feelings win is no protection for investor losses
It is the nature of defamation law that the losses of investors attract less recompense than the hurt feelings of an investment manager.
- The AFR View
September 2020
Chinese journalist says dawn raids by ASIO traumatised his daughter
China's state news agency, Xinhua, published a detailed account by one of four journalists it said were targeted in raids linked to a foreign interference investigation.
- Updated
- Michael Smith
'Slanted views': Dutton puts foreign journalists on notice
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says there is no evidence Australian correspondents were put in peril because of raids on Chinese journalists.
- Andrew Tillett
Business hopes for a China reboot suffer blow
China's top trade expo is unlikely to see Trade Minister Simon Birmingham attend because of travel restrictions.
- Andrew Tillett
China intimidation linked to ASIO raids
The intimidation of two Australian journalists may have been prompted by raids on four Chinese journalists in Australia, and the expulsion of two Chinese academics.
- Andrew Tillett