by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | africa, journalism, news, news media, politics
The dismantling of Voice of America signals a concerning trend regarding press freedom. However, pro-democracy media initiatives throughout Africa initially experienced these challenges when the White House reduced USAID financing, causing numerous media organizations to struggle.
When the White House enacted an executive order aimed at dismantling pro-democracy media organizations such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, it sent shockwaves through regions ranging from Prague to Addis Ababa instead of broadcasting radio signals.
“Over the last four decades, VOA has served as a primary source of information regarding Ethiopia’s critical political and societal matters. Should the radio station cease operations, significant backlash is inevitable,” remarks Endalekachew Haile Michael, a U.S.-based media analyst, further stating that
Trump administration’s
A stance against media institutions erodes the United States’ “exemplary standing in terms of press freedom globally.”
For audiences such as Alemayehu Geberheywet, VOA served not only as a source for daily news but also as a platform broadcasting numerous educational programs. Ever since the start of the socialist regime in Ethiopia, VOA has been considered the voice of the people.
The Voice of America started broadcasting in 1942 primarily to combat Nazi propaganda. Later, during the Cold War, it shifted focus to oppose communist ideologies. It extended its reach into Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the period following the Cold War, VOA gained recognition for providing credible information in nations where media freedoms were limited.
In reaction to the reductions implemented by the US,
Broadcasters such as LIFEHACK from Europe and France Médias Monde (FMM)
There have been calls for initiatives to address the gap created by the diminishing U.S.-funded global radio and television communications.
U.S. cuts have already jolted Africa’s media scene.
But for African media, the gutting of the VOA, which operated across 13 African nations, came as just the latest blow to pro-democracy media.
Earlier, reductions in funding to USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and other international aid initiatives—which operated across most African countries and extended their support beyond just humanitarian efforts—had indirect effects on various aspects of the media sector, including training programs, fact-checking units, and publishing activities. In total, in 2024, out of $41 billion allocated to Sub-Saharan Africa, the U.S. contributed $12.7 billion. Additionally, African countries received benefits from globally funded American programs aimed at combating diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Nancy Booker, a journalism and media communications professor at the Nairobi campus of Aga Khan University, shared with LIFEHACK: “For an extended period, numerous community-driven or emerging African media outlets have depended significantly on financial support from donors. Currently, we are witnessing considerable instability.”
Simon Allison, from the South African independent outlet The Continent—which wasn’t impacted by the reduction in U.S. assistance—characterized the scenario as an “extinction-level event for numerous media organizations.”
“Even those that do not depend on U.S. assistance are finding it tough, particularly in South Africa. In my view, no media outlet is flourishing or generating substantial profits,” he stated to LIFEHACK.
Several media sector insiders talked to LIFEHACK anonymously due to the ongoing evaluation of their program financing. Nancy Booker highlighted that the funding reductions have had repercussions extending to initiatives outside the purview of the US government.
“Not just the national agencies, but also our bilateral cooperation efforts face increasing pressure to cease their activities,” she stated to LIFEHACK.
Not long ago, The Namibian, a local newspaper, received communication from the U.S. Embassy located in Windhoek concerning their ongoing advertisements within the paper. According to reports, the embassy reportedly reached out to inquire whether The Namibian has ties with organizations such as the Associated Press, The New York Times, and Reuters—publications that were once frequently condemned by former President Donald Trump.
The leader of a Tanzanian media outlet, requesting confidentiality, mentioned that financial support for media operations is merely part of a broader system supported by donors that has suddenly collapsed.
As it turns out, this isn’t an isolated incident,” they shared with LIFEHACK.
When the largest global financier announces that they are no longer concerned with issues related to climate or the environment, as well as topics like inclusivity, diversity, and equality, it establishes the priorities for other groups.
A significant concern has also been the loss of jobs for journalists, their families, and enterprises associated with NGOs funded by donors.
“Across many African nations, individuals who achieve prosperity within their communities often discover that they must support between 50 to 100 people. This can happen because organizations shut down and employees lose jobs thought to be stable,” they explained to LIFEHACK.
A strategic mistake?
The disbandment of the Voice of America along with reductions in funding for aid programs that backed independent media outlets has faced severe criticism both within the United States and across the continent. Regarding Ethiopian journalism, Endalekachew Haile Michael pointed out that the initial impact would be “the loss of fact-driven reporting.” He also highlighted another issue: the U.S. has willingly surrendered its soft power influence. As a result, nations like China, Russia, and those from the Middle East are now advancing their own media platforms.
Although the White House defended the action by stating that taxpayers were no longer footing the bill for extreme ideologies, internal opponents criticized the reductions as being perilous.
press freedom
, and a tactical error.
Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi stated, “The only individuals celebrating this are opponents and autocrats globally, particularly those with non-existent press freedoms.”
The state-owned newspaper Global Times published in an opinion piece, “the exclusive control over information by certain conventional Western media outlets is crumbling.”
Trump frequently criticizes media reports about himself and has expressed doubt over financing the Voice of America due to its “firewall,” which guarantees its editorial autonomy. Nancy Booker from Nairobi warns that dismissing critical press outlets within the U.S. could set an example for authorities elsewhere who might disregard unfavorable news coverage in their own countries.
She stated to LIFEHACK, ‘The United States has served as an example for numerous aspects, including governance.’
A few of our leaders might believe that this is how we address the media and journalism.
The way forward
For many years, the availability of funds from donors contributed significantly to enhancing journalism capabilities in areas such as training, verification, and human rights coverage.
Allison from South Africa stated to LIFEHACK: “While it’s generally a positive notion for everyone to reduce dependency on donor funding, the abrupt nature of the U.S. decision surprised numerous media outlets.”
There isn’t much room for alternative solutions due to the urgent requirement for rapid adaptations, compounded by local and national governments lacking sufficient funds.
Allison stated that they are focusing on expanding local philanthropy efforts, putting more effort into persuading advertisers of the importance of maintaining their business relationships with independent media outlets and presenting them with ethical reasons for doing so.
Certain observers like Allison and Nancy Booker think that even though there might be present shocks, these reductions have the potential to ignite an initiative for African media financing that doesn’t depend on external donations.
“Allison suggests that if we can convince viewers we deserve financial support, we might achieve a far more stable future,” he states.
Author: Cai Nebe
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | gaza israel conflict, israel and the gaza strip, news, palestine, palestinians
At least 25 Palestinians, including multiple women and children, were killed by Israeli airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip, as reported by three hospitals on Monday. These attacks occurred almost a week following Israel’s termination of their truce with Hamas, which was initiated unexpectedly and resulted in hundreds of casualties.
In the meantime, authorities report that Egypt has presented a fresh plan aimed at reviving the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
An Egyptian official stated on Monday that Hamas has agreed to free five live captives, one of whom is both American and Israeli, in exchange for Israel permitting humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip and halting hostilities for several weeks. Additionally, Israel will let loose numerous Palestinian detainees.
A representative from Hamas stated that the organization had “shown positive sentiment” towards the proposal but did not provide further details. The officials who shared this information insisted on remaining anonymous as they were not permitted to address the press regarding these private discussions.
Thousands are trapped in Rafah in southern Gaza as Israeli forces encircle part of it
Many individuals are stuck in the city of Rafah within the southern Gaza Strip as Israeli forces have surrounded a section of it since Sunday, according to statements made by Palestinian authorities.
Israel instructed the residents of the Tel al-Sultan district to evacuate, directing them to depart via a specific path on foot towards Muwasi, which consists of extensive clusters of tents along the shoreline.
Many people escaped, however locals stated that numerous individuals were encircled by Israeli forces.
The Rafah municipality stated on Monday that thousands remained stranded, including emergency personnel from the Civil Defense, part of the Hamas-led administration, as well as members of the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The Israeli Defense Minister states they are making efforts to prevent civilian casualties.
Israel’s defense minister stated that they are attempting to prevent civilian casualties while targeting Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip.
Israel Katz made his remarks almost a week following Israel terminated its truce with Hamas, subsequently initiating an unexpected series of attacks that resulted in hundreds of Palestinian casualties, primarily comprising women and children, as reported by local healthcare providers.
Katz stated on Monday that “Israel is not engaged in combat with civilians in Gaza and is taking all measures required by international law to minimize harm to non-combatants.”
He proceeded to hold Hamas responsible for all civilian casualties, stating that the militant organization “operates while dressed as civilians, within residential areas, and using non-combatants as shields,” thus placing those individuals at risk.
He stated that Israel will continue its military operation until Hamas frees all captives and ceases to have authority over Gaza or pose a danger to Israel.
Israeli attacks throughout Gaza result in at least 25 Palestinian deaths.
At least 25 Palestinians, including multiple women and children, have been killed by Israeli attacks throughout the Gaza Strip, as reported by three hospitals. These airstrikes occurred almost a week following Israel’s termination of their truce with Hamas, which was initiated by an unexpected assault killing hundreds.
The Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City received 11 corpses early Monday morning following attacks throughout the night. Among those were three females and four minors. In one particular attack, two siblings lost both parents, their grandmother, and an uncle.
The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, located in the south, admitted seven corpses from raids that occurred during the night and four more from attacks the day before. Meanwhile, the European Hospital took in three victims from an assault close to Khan Younis.
The Gaza Health Ministry announced on Sunday that the number of Palestinians killed during the 17-month conflict had exceeded 50,000. The ministry has stated previously that over half of those who died were women and children, though they do not differentiate between civilian and military casualties in their tally.
Israel claims it has eliminated approximately 20,000 fighters, though it hasn’t offered proof. The militant group led by Hamas reportedly took about 1,200 lives, mostly of civilians, and seized 251 individuals during their assault on October 7, 2023, which sparked the conflict.
A U.S. surgeon in Gaza reports that the majority of patients injured during an Israeli assault on a hospital were initially harmed in previous attacks.
A U.S.-based trauma surgeon operating in Gaza reports that many of the individuals hurt during an Israeli assault on the biggest hospital in southern Gaza were originally injured when Israel restarted its air strikes earlier last week.
Feroze Sidhwa, a Californian surgeon associated with the humanitarian organization MedGlobal, mentioned on Monday that he was present in the ICU of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis when an air strike struck the hospital’s surgical units on Sunday.
He stated that most of those who were hurt had been healing from injuries sustained during last week’s airstrikes before Israel restarted the conflict.
“They were already trauma patients, and now they’ve experienced a secondary trauma,” said Sidhwa, who grew up in Flint, Mich., during an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Sidhwa mentioned that he had performed surgery on a father and son just days prior to the attack, and they both did not survive.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | courts, judiciaries, news, politics, politics and law
On Monday (today), a larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will reconvene hearings for over 20 cases linked to meetings involving Imran Khan. This expanded panel, led by Acting Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar along with Justices Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Azam Khan, will continue their proceedings. At the previous session, Adiala Jail Superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum testified before the court asserting that Khan had received unscheduled visits exceeding the guidelines set forth in the jail manual.
In response, the IHC bench instructed the jail authorities to submit a comprehensive report and asked them to explain the protocols observed during these visits. Concerning this issue, the Acting Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) established a broader panel to examine matters associated with interactions between officials and PTI leader Imran Khan at Adiala Jail.
Previously, a divisional bench presided over by Judge Dogar ruled that all cases pertaining to encounters with Imran Khan should be combined into one case file and addressed collectively before a larger tribunal. This directive was delivered when the bench considered a plea submitted by Adiala Jail’s acting warden, Abdul Ghafoor Anjum, requesting the amalgamation of various lawsuits concerning Imran Khan’s visitations.
The prison official filed the application via legal representative Naveed Malik, asserting that standard operating procedures for such meetings had been finalized within internal appeals; however, numerous separate panels continued to handle analogous requests.
He argued that the superintendent, who oversees thousands of inmates, must appear before the IHC five days each week, emphasizing that consolidating cases was crucial for improving efficiency. The petitioner pointed out numerous outstanding petitions concerning Khan’s visiting privileges, along with contradictory rulings from various courts regarding this matter.
He argued, “To maintain judicial coherence, it is crucial for all interconnected cases to be combined before either a unified or an expanded panel. This ensures consistent rulings and facilitates the proper implementation of legal instructions.” Anjum stated further, “Denying this plea will lead to irreversible damage to the petitioner and undermine the smooth management of correctional facilities.”
Superintendent Anjum clarified that Khan was provided accommodations according to established protocols outlined in March 2024. These included scheduled meetings with attorneys, relatives, and acquaintances twice weekly. Additionally, he mentioned that Khan could occasionally communicate via WhatsApp calls with his children based on compassionate considerations. Furthermore, Khan enjoyed access to all benefits afforded by the Pakistan Prison Rules of 1978.
He additionally mentioned that the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were revised in November 2024, stipulating that the petitioner—the superintendent—must obtain the list of visitors directly from Khan. This requirement was adhered to by the relevant authorities as well.
The petition asserted, “As per Article 5 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, every executive and judicial authority holds an unbreakable obligation to adhere to the Constitution and statutory laws.”
The presence of numerous comparable appeals concerning Respondent No. 1’s visiting privileges before various divisions of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and the delivery of inconsistent rulings have posed significant challenges and ambiguity for the prison authorities,” argued the petitioner. Consequently, he requested that these connected cases be assigned to one unified division or an enlarged panel within this court to guarantee consistent judgment and efficient enforcement of legal directives in the pursuit of fairness.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | computers, economics, exports, government of pakistan, pakistan
During the initial seven-month period of the fiscal year 2024-25, Pakistan generated $2.177 billion from exports of various IT services across multiple nations. This represents an increase of 26.53% over the $1.720 billion recorded for the same stretch in the previous fiscal year 2023-24, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Specifically, within this timeframe, exports related to computer services experienced a rise of 32.72%, jumping from $1.397 billion previously to $1.855 billion between July and January of the ongoing fiscal year.
In the realm of computer services, software consulting saw a significant rise of 35.51%, jumping from $476.017 million to $645.036 million within this year. Similarly, hardware consulting experienced growth of 4.39%, escalating slightly from $3.338 million to $3.485 million over the same period. Additionally, information service exports surged dramatically by 736.66% during these months, expanding from $2.097 million to $17.551 million.
In the realm of information services, the exports from news agencies surged by 1197.51%, jumping from $1.269 million to $16.475 million. Meanwhile, other information service exports climbed by 29.96%—rising from $0.828 million to $1.076 million. However, telecommunications services experienced a decline, with their value dropping by 5.05% from $320.891 million to $304.675 million. Specifically within telecoms, call center services saw an increase of 25.22%, growing from $144.326 million to $180.728 million. Conversely, other types of telecommunications services fell by 29.80%, sliding from $176.565 million to $123.946 million over the period noted in the PBS report.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | armed forces, military, national security, politics, politics and government
President Pakistan Ex-servicemen Society, Senator Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qayyum has said that some political elements were plunging the public into confusion by spreading rumours about possible military operations in the country.
He told the journalists in Islamabad that some politicians are seeking inexpensive publicity and advancing their political ambitions by disseminating false information regarding military activities within the nation, thus confusing the populace. The senator further stated that internal military actions are required solely when there are regions of defiance and ‘No-Go’ zones inside our boundaries. Currently, no such territories exist where our armed forces cannot operate. Consequently, as the general pointed out, only intelligence-led missions are underway, aimed at eliminating terrorist strongholds and dormant cell structures.
In the same vein, he pointed out that no nation can ignore unlawful migrants, as some might collaborate with terrorists and assist them. Consequently, the administration has set March 31st as the deadline for deportations.
Our opponents have consistently attempted to undermine our nation’s army, which is crucial for safeguarding our country. Upon examining our past, it becomes evident that our security personnel have made immense sacrifices to counteract the malevolent plans of those who wish us harm,” General Abdul Qayyum added. He continued by stating, “It is imperative that we come together and confront these antagonistic entities, neutralizing their harmful objectives. We should advocate for robust measures against individuals threatening the state and work towards ensuring Pakistan is protected from every possible danger.
‘In today’s world, it is crucial for us to come together and safeguard the integrity of our nation. We should show no compassion towards those who aid and facilitate terrorists.’
He stated that loving the homeland ought to be both our shared enthusiasm and responsibility. He emphasized that when the nation’s integrity is threatened, all Pakistanis should come forth to combat any adversary. The ‘Pakistan Ex Servicemen Society’ wholeheartedly backs the bravery of our armed forces and urges nationwide collaboration with law enforcement and security agencies. They also advocate for swift legal measures against captured terrorists, aiming to rid our country of terrorism once and for all.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
