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Welcome back!
Attacks on press freedom across the world continued last week – with reporters in our network being challenged in Malaysia and Panama.
Our Malaysian member Steven Gan, editor of Malaysiakini, faces jail time and fines at a trial set to begin next week. Gan stands charged with contempt of court for five comments, left on the outlet’s website by readers, that were allegedly critical of the country’s judiciary.
Meanwhile, in Panama our partner and leading newspaper La Prensa has had $1.13 million worth of assets frozen. The decision is in connection with an eight-year-old legal challenge from former president Ernesto Pérez Balladares. No conviction has been made against La Prensa in this case. Follow Mary Triny Zea for all the latest.
The entire ICIJ family stands with our colleagues, as they fight for justice. Journalism is not a crime! Here are this week’s stories:
For so long women have complained about fatigue, memory loss, joint and muscle pain – and claimed it was connected with their breast implants. But the existence of breast implant illness has been dismissed as scientifically unproven. Now, a new study for 750 women found that – within 30 days of having the implant removed – the patients had significant relief. Published in a leading plastic surgery journal, the author says the data “speaks for itself.”
First it was Senegal, now Zambia is ripping up its tax treaty with Mauritius in hope of a better deal. As Mauritius Leaks exposed, the island nation has become known for lopsided tax deals, shell companies with no employees and organizations created, in part, to avoid paying taxes. A senior Zambian official told us the treaty was “not balanced or fair.” Tax experts say this move shows treaties can be renegotiated to generate more benefits for each nation.
Mining giant Glencore is under investigation in Switzerland for its “failure to have the organizational measures in place to prevent alleged corruption” in the Democractic Republic of Congo. The company was already under investigation in the United Kingdom and United States over its compliance with money-laundering and other laws. In 2017, Paradise Papers revealed Glencore’s operations in the DRC and its close ties with Appleby, the offshore law firm at the heart of the leak.
Until next week!
Amy Wilson-Chapman
ICIJ’s community engagement editor
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