2026 RSF Index: global press freedom at a 25-year low

Bad news! Concerning! Progress is sometimes slow and sometimes it reverses!

It appears, the Trump Derangement Syndrome has also affected the RSF. Very regrettable!

"For the first time in the history of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, over half of the world’s countries now fall into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom.

In 25 years, the average score of all 180 countries and territories surveyed in the Index has never been so low.

Since 2001, the expansion of increasingly restrictive legal arsenals — particularly those linked to national security policies — has been steadily eroding the right to information, even in democratic countries. The Index’s legal indicator has declined the most over the past year, a clear sign that journalism is increasingly criminalised worldwide. In the Americas, the situation has evolved significantly, with the United States dropping seven places [???] and several Latin American countries sliding deeper into a spiral of violence and repression. ...

Five key takeaways from the 2026 RSF World Press Freedom Index:

1. The average score for all countries and territories worldwide has never been so low. For the first time in the Index’s 25-year history, more than half the world’s countries now fall into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom.
2. Out of the five indicators used to assess press freedom worldwide — which determine the economic, legal, security, political and social environments for journalism — the legal indicator has seen the sharpest decline this year.
3. The United States [???] has fallen seven places and other countries in the Americas, such as Ecuador and Peru, have plummeted in the ranking.
4. Norway holds the top spot for the tenth consecutive year, while Eritrea comes in last for the third year in a row. 
5. Post-Assad Syria has seen the biggest improvement in press freedom of all the countries and territories in the 2026 Index, climbing 36 places in the ranking. 

...

US President Donald Trump has turned his repeated attacks on the press and journalists into a systematic policy, pushing the US down to 64th place (-7). ..."

2026 RSF Index: press freedom at a 25-year low | RSF

Der Berliner Empfang für den syrischen IS-Schlächter al-Scharaa. Wirklich!

Manchmal liegt der Tichy's Einblick völlig daneben, wie in diesem Fall!

Al-Sharaa als Schlächter zu bezeichnen zeugt von erheblicher Unkenntnis! Seit al-Scharia die Führung von Syrien übernommen hat ist wohl wenig von seiner terroristischen Vergangenheit zu vernehmen. Er hat inzwischen auch geheiratet und er ist Vater von kleinen Kinder.

"Manchmal kippt Politik nicht durch Programme, Parteitage oder Leitartikel. Manchmal kippt sie durch Bilder. Berlin liefert an diesem 30. März 2026 genau solche Bilder. Ein Mann mit jihadistischer Vergangenheit wird von Mullah-Freund Steinmeier devot mit höchsten Staatsehren empfangen, trifft Merz, wird von einem gewaltigen Sicherheitsapparat abgeschirmt, in einem Luxushotel im Herzen der deutschen Haupstadt einquartiert – und auf deutschen Straßen sammeln sich zugleich Tausende seiner Anhänger, um ihn zu feiern. Mehr Verdichtung des Migrations- und Autoritätsversagens an einem einzigen Tag ist kaum noch möglich. ..."

Diese Bilder treiben die AfD über 30 Prozent "Der Berliner Empfang für den syrischen IS-Schlächter al-Scharaa und der frenetische Jubel tausender seiner Anhänger markieren einen Kipppunkt. Solche Bilder fräsen sich ins Gedächtnis. Wird hiernach nicht entschlossen gehandelt, wird die CDU als stärkste Kraft endgültig abgelöst."

Kurdish-led SDF agrees integration with Syrian government forces

I suppose this is good news!

Has Syria DEFEATED the Kurds? with James Ker-Lindsay

Recommendable!

The Kurdish Question in Syria addressed by a presidential decree

Recommendable! Good news! It appears Ahmed al-Sharaa is making good progress reforming Syria after so many decades of dictatorship.

The Kurdish question, one of the enduring legacies of the post WW I era.

"Days later [1/30/2026], al-Sharaa signed a presidential decree that fundamentally altered the Kurdish question in Syria:

• restoring Syrian citizenship to Kurds stripped of it after the 1962 census and to their descendants;
• legalizing Kurdish-language education in Kurdish-majority areas;
• guaranteeing cultural and political rights;
• repealing discriminatory laws;
• recognizing Nevruz as a national holiday;
• and affirming Kurds as “an integral part of the nation.”

These guarantees were framed as constitutional and non-negotiable, marking the formal end of the century-long Syrian Kurdish struggle for recognition.

..."

The Kurdish Question in Syria - by Ammar Abdulhamid "Long-standing Kurdish grievances in Syria are real and well documented. What they ultimately produced was not sovereignty, but something more modest and durable: legal belonging."

Syria's New Government and Kurdish Forces Sign Deal After Deadly Clashes with Palki Sharma

Good news! Why not give the Kurdish people some autonomy?

Syrian government renews commitment to destroy chemical weapons programme

Good news!

The monster dictator and doctor of medicine Bashar al-Assad (in office from 2000-2024) used chemical weapons on his own people!

"UN officials have welcomed Syria’s renewed commitment to eliminate the country’s chemical weapons programme that was developed under the previous regime. ...

Engagement between Syria and the OPCW started over 10 years ago after the 2013 sarin nerve gas attack by the former Syrian regime on opposition held areas of Damascus, which killed hundreds of people. Syria signed the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty shortly after. ..."

Syrian government renews commitment to destroy chemical weapons programme | News | Chemistry World

Bashar al-Assad

IDF sources: Iran seeking to kill Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa for being too cozy with Israel

Bad news, if confirmed!

"Iran is working together with additional hostile elements to assassinate Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, IDF sources warn. 

The warning was issued recently against the backdrop of the opening of contacts between Israel and Syria. It also comes amid rising regional tensions and is based on security intelligence indicating that Sharaa faces real threats and has been forced to invest significant efforts in protecting himself and stabilizing his regime. ..."

IDF sources: Iran seeking to kill Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa | The Jerusalem Post "The warning was issued recently against the backdrop of the opening of contacts between Israel and Syria."

The U.S. military began a large-scale attack against Islamic State targets in Syria

Did the current Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa approve of these attacks? If he was consulted and approved it then very good If not then President Trump may have made a grave mistake!

"The strikes were a response to the deaths of three Americans last week. A U.S. military official said that dozens of targets were being struck by U.S. F-15 and A-10 warplanes, Apache attack helicopters and Himars rockets. The Dec. 13 ambush attack killed two soldiers from the Iowa National Guard and a U.S. civilian working as an interpreter."

The Wall Street Journal What's news

The US Congress repeals the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act

Good news!

"[The repeal] as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will reopen the Syrian economy to global investment.

President Trump is expected to sign the NDAA into law on December 22.  The Caesar Act was the most stringent layer of US sanctions imposed on Syria and imposed secondary sanctions that targeted anyone who provided financial support to the Syrian government.

Congress’s repeal requires President Trump to submit an unclassified report to Congress within 90 days of the NDAA’s passage that confirms that the Syrian transitional government is meeting eight key US security demands. The US President will be required to submit biannual reports to Congress for the next four years on the status of these demands. The US demands include:

• Continuing to cooperate with US forces on counter-ISIS efforts
• Removing foreign fighters from senior government and military positions
• Protecting Syrian religious and ethnic minorities
• Avoiding unprovoked attacks on nearby states, including Israel
• Implementing the March 10 agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces
• Combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and weapons and drug trafficking
• Prosecuting government security forces responsible for post-2024 atrocities

..."

Iran Update, December 11, 2025 | Critical Threats

Two US Army Soldiers and a Civilian interpreter ambushed and killed near Palmyra, Syria along with Syrian troops

Bad news!

Should the US have US soldiers stationed in Syria? Should these US soldiers engage in combat activities? Maybe Syrian government soldiers ought to be given only support in their fight against Islamists/terrorists.

It is also strange that Turkish soldiers are operating in Syria!

The good news is that apparently the current government of Syria is cooperating with the US to eliminate Islamist terrorists.

"Two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in an ambush on Saturday after shots were fired at U.S. and Syrian forces near Palmyra, Syria. 

Three other service members were injured in the incident and taken by helicopters to the al-Tanf garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan.

The ambush was carried out by a lone Islamic State gunman, U.S. Central Command said. The gunman was engaged and killed.

The U.S. maintains about 1,000 troops in Syria, primarily as part of its anti-ISIS efforts. After the fall of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad last year, the new government in Damascus pledged to work with the U.S.-led coalition to counter the Islamic State in Syria."

Sunday, December 14, 2025 - Join The Flyover

With flags and fireworks, Syrians celebrate one year since fall of al-Assad

Good news! It appears to be a great celebration by the people! The Assad dictatorship was ruling the country since 1971! The son was apparently a monster compared to his father.

Trump Speaks to Netanyahu, Warns Israel Not to ‘Interfere’ in Syria

An attention grabbing and kind of unusual headline!

Apparently, Ahmed al-Sharaa is to be given a chance to transition Syria from 50 some years of autocratic dictatorship to something better without having to worry too much about Israeli military interventions.

Will Ahmed al-Sharaa be able to prevent terrorist attacks on Israel?

Caveat: I did not read the entire article.

Trump Speaks to Netanyahu, Warns Israel Not to ‘Interfere’ in Syria | Frontpage Mag

President Ahmad Al Shara and his wife greet children orphaned in Syria's civil war

‘The funniest’: Hilarious moment Trump asks Syrian President how many wives he has and sprays Trump cologne on him and others

This scene is so incredible and hilarious, I had to post it twice. This footage is better than my previous post.

Why is it that I learn about this unique and historic event only from Australian news stations?

Trump asks Syria’s leader how many wives he has, sprays him with Trump cologne in hilarious exchange

Only about the last minute of this video covers this hilarious event. President Trump sprayed cologne on the necks of several of the attending men in the Oval Office. Then he gave al-Sharaa a little slap on his elbow. It appears, al-Sharaa was actually responding very well to this, smiling and so on.

President Trump, the peacemaker with cologne! 😊

‘I mourn every victim’: Syria's Sharaa responds to questions on his al-Qaeda past in his interview on Fox News

Apparently, the Jerusalem Post struggled with how to evaluate this remarkable interview given the two very different earlier and later headline for this article.

I have blogged here about the interview before.

Al-Sharaa also mentioned during this interview that he was only 19 years old when the September 11 terrorist acts were committed.

Give al-Sharaa a chance!

Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa denies connection to 9/11 attack on Fox News | The Jerusalem Post "During the interview, al-Sharaa stated that "the matter of previous links with al-Qaeda is part of the past and was not a topic of discussion during his talks with Trump.""

Source

Syrian president addresses his past connections to al-Qaeda, relations with US

Recommendable! Give this man a chance! Just the fact that he was willing to give such an interview speaks for him!

Is Syria Switching Sides? Al-Sharaa at the White House with Palki Sharma

Very recommendable! Bravo President Trump! Give Al-Shara a chance!

The current Russia-Syria relationship

Recommendable! High level meetings!

According to Google, Russia maintains military bases only in two countries of the Middle East, i.e. Libya and Syria.

"Syrian Transitional President Ahmed al Shara’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 15 indicates that the Syrian government will likely pursue a pragmatic and multi-faceted relationship with Russia.

[i] This meeting was the first between the two leaders since Shara came to power in December 2024.  Shara told Putin that he is attempting to “redefine” the Syrian-Russian relationship and that Russia will play a “significant role” in helping Syria advance its political goals.

[ii] Putin stated that he is ”prepared to do everything possible” to implement new initiatives between the two countries in reference to discussions about Russian participation in the reconstruction of Syria’s energy sector.

[iii] Syrian Defense Minister Major General Marhaf Abu Qasra, Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani, head of intelligence Hussein al Salama, and Maher al Shara, who is Shara’s brother and a Russian citizen, also attended the meeting.

[iv] The current Russia-Syria relationship consists of mutually beneficial arrangements and understandings that have developed since the fall of the regime. Russia, once a key Assad ally, has maintained a military presence at three military bases in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, including an airbase and a naval base in coastal Syria that are critical for Russia’s power projection in the Mediterranean Sea.

[v] Russia has attempted to use economic incentives to secure its basing rights in Syria under Shara’s government. The continued Russian presence in Syria suggests that this effort has been somewhat successful.

[vi] The Syrian government has proven to be increasingly willing to engage directly with Russia since Spring 2025 on economic, military, and political issues that are advantageous to Syria. ..."

Iran Update, October 15, 2025 | Critical Threats

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa: The 60 Minutes Interview

Recommendable! Give this man a chance!