Washington Post cuts 30% of staff, guts foreign desk, Mideast team: What to know Foreign correspondents from the Post have extensively covered wars in Gaza, Ukraine and other global conflict zones. United States
‘Save the Post’: Washington Post journalists urge Bezos to protect foreign desk The Post maintains one of the most extensive overseas reporting networks among US newspapers, including Middle East bureaus in Istanbul, Cairo and Dubai. United States
Iran blackout enters 12th day as filtered internet reveals crackdown Nearly 4,000 people have been killed in the protests in Iran, as videos emerging amid limited access to internet show the scale of the crackdown launched by security forces. Iran
Turkey sentences journalist over 4 years in jail for threatening Erdogan Prominent Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli was sentenced to over four years in prison in a trial government critics say aimed at silencing one of Turkey's most influential journalists and intended to intimidate journalists nationwide. Turkey
Turkish government readies to squeeze internet service providers Ankara is tightening its grip even further over the media in Turkey with a new law increasing its censorship powers over online content, threatening both independent news outlets and domestic access to international reporting. Turkey
Egypt's cartoonists ease tensions as elections kick off Despite the government intensifying its crackdown on dissent and the media ahead of the presidential elections, a handful of Egyptian cartoonists defiantly continue to lampoon Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's inevitable victory. Egypt
Iran's supreme leader criticized for saying there is ‘free speech’ in his country Iranians have criticized Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for claiming that there is free speech in Iran. Iran
As elections draw near, Egypt’s media faces further restrictions Egypt’s top prosecutor has called on his staff to monitor for "fake news," warning against "forces of evil" as this month’s presidential elections approach. Egypt
Women's Taif TV blocked in Gaza two hours before launch The Palestinian Ministry of Information in the Gaza Strip blocked the launch of Taif TV two hours before it was due to go on air, in what raised concerns about freedom of the press in Gaza. Palestine
Egypt sends news editors to military academy for 'training' An agreement that calls for top editors of Egyptian newspapers and websites to take mandatory training sessions in media and national security at the Nasser Military Academy has stirred controversy. Egypt
Palestinian press applauds coverage of Netanyahu investigations While Palestinian journalists have appreciated the Israeli media's reports on the police investigations into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the journalists are sharply critical when it comes to Israeli media coverage of the occupation of Palestinian territories. Palestine
Life sentences for Turkish journalists chill others awaiting verdicts A court jailed three prominent journalists last week to life imprisonment, stoking fears that others in prison for their work may also see harsh penalties. Turkey
Is Erdogan using imprisoned foreigners as bargaining chips? A reporter for Germany's Die Welt newspaper was recently released after a year in prison with no trial, but Turkey is likely to continue detaining foreigners for political bargaining. Turkey
Egypt training opinion leaders as soldiers to fight 'fake' data The Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments is holding courses to teach imams, preachers and other influential leaders how to recognize and confront foreign misinformation — but some argue the plan is actually aimed at imposing the regime's view on citizens. Egypt
'Black Friday' of Turkish democracy Three events from Feb. 16. — a deal to release a Turkish-German journalist, the verdict against three prominent journalists and censorship in the trial of a prominent Turkish-Kurdish politician — demonstrate how Turkey's democracy is being undermined. Turkey
Egypt imposes travel restrictions on journalists Reporters for state-run newspapers in Egypt will now have to get permission from the government to travel to certain countries. Egypt
