News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The BH Journalists Steering Committee has called on the Una-Sana Canton (USC) Government and Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports to include the media community in drafting the new Law on Information. This law aims to update the 1998 legislation by addressing hate speech, fake news, and harmful online content. Proposed measures include requiring
Read more →Turkish opposition leaders condemned the detention of Riza Akpolat, the opposition mayor of Istanbul’s Besiktas district, along with 46 others on corruption charges. The allegations include bribery, bid-rigging, and involvement in a criminal organization. The detentions have sparked criticism, labeling them as incompatible with democratic principles. The opposition accuses the government of manipulating public opinion
Read more →The International Press Institute (IPI) and the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC) report assesses media capture in Romania. The analysis highlights the political influence over Romania’s media regulators, including the National Audiovisual Council (CNA), and the challenges facing public service broadcasters like the Romanian Television Company (TVR) and the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company (SRR).
Read more →The Government of North Macedonia invites CSOs registered under the Law on Associations and Foundations to complete a questionnaire assessing the implementation of the Action plan of the Government’s Strategy for Cooperation with and Development of Civil Society (2022-2024) for 2024. The questionnaire gathers data on organizational activities, sectors of work, cooperation with the Government,
Read more →Tens of thousands gathered at Belgrade’s Slavija Square for one of Serbia’s largest rallies in recent years, protesting against President Aleksandar Vucic and his government. The protest, led by students and farmer unions, was part of a movement demanding accountability for the November 1 railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad, which killed 15 people.
Read more →Recent European Commission policy guidelines barring NGOs from using EU funds for advocacy work are a profound threat to democracy and civil society’s role in policymaking. CINEA, the agency that deals with funding for all kinds of environmental projects financed by the LIFE programme on behalf of the EC has requested NGOs to review 2024
Read more →Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama announced a one-year TikTok ban starting in 2025, following the fatal stabbing of a teenager allegedly linked to social media disputes. Rama accused platforms like TikTok of inciting youth violence and stressed society’s collective responsibility. TikTok denied involvement, citing no evidence of accounts linked to the incident and clarifying the
Read more →A report by Amnesty International reveals that Serbian police and intelligence services are using advanced forensic tools and NoviSpy spyware to surveil activists, journalists, and civil society members. Tools from the Israeli firm Cellebrite are being employed to unlock devices and install spyware during police interrogations or confiscations, violating Serbian law and fundamental rights. Amnesty’s
Read more →Turkey has intensified its crackdown on journalists, media outlets, and civil society groups critical of its Syria policy following the recent overthrow of the Assad regime by Turkey-backed opposition forces. Authorities are targeting dissenting voices through arrests, house detentions, and investigations, often accusing them of spreading misinformation or supporting terrorism. Protests against the treatment of
Read more →Serbian students are leading nationwide protests against President Aleksandar Vučić’s government, sparked by a deadly canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station in November, which killed 15 people and exposed corruption tied to infrastructure projects involving Chinese companies. Rejecting accusations of Western funding to overthrow the government, students have suspended classes at over 40
Read more →In a letter to the European Commission, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) raises concerns that the proposed “agent of influence” bill in Turkey poses a serious threat to fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and press freedom. Under consideration by the Turkish Parliament, the bill could see individuals facing 3-7 years of imprisonment for
Read more →BiH Journalists’ Association is calling for urgent protective measures for an investigative journalist after reports of an assassination plot by an organised crime group. The journalist, known for exposing links between international drug cartels and crime networks, has faced significant threats and pressure, including from high-level politicians. The leader of the group was arrested in
Read more →