I once pretended to be a journalist. Author of Lana Walked on the Shore, available at amzn.to/3C4jVnm and bit.ly/3omXAhl. ✙
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Articles by William Echols
China falsely frames elections in Tajikistan as democratic, inclusive
Tajikistan, the poorest country in Central Asia and bordering Afghanistan, held parliamentary elections on March 2. The country has been under the rule of Emomali Rahmon, a former Soviet Union Communist Party official, since 1992. Rahmon’s party, the People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan, claimed victory in the elections, securing 49 of the 63 parliamentary seats.
សមាជិកព្រឹទ្ធសភាអូស្ត្រាលីយល់ខុសអំពីសិទ្ធិស្ត្រីនៅអ៊ីរ៉ង់
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Georgian speaker misleads on Georgians’ support for Ukraine
Anti-government protests have continued in Georgia for nearly 90 days following disputed parliamentary elections last October. Demonstrators, led by former President Salome Zourabichvili, demand new elections as the means to peacefully resolve Georgia’s political crisis. Zourabichvili accuses the ruling Georgian Dream party’s leadership of working in the Kremlin’s interests and warns against Georgia falling into “Russia’s hands.” On Feb.
Australian senator misleads over women's rights in Iran
No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Australian Senator Fatima Payman told Iran's state-run Press TV that women’s democratic participation and right to work are protected in Iran. VOA’s William Echols explains how that is misleading.
Australian senator misleads over women's rights in Iran
Despite Iranian propaganda claims, women in Iran face systemic repression and severe restrictions on their civil and political rights, undermining any notion of a functioning democracy or gender equality. On Feb. 22, 2025, the Benevolent Iranian Women Association hosted an event in Sydney, Australia, to "commemorate International Women's Day." Iran's state-run Press TV covered the event, framing it as a counter to "misleading Western narratives" about women's rights in Iran.
China falsely accuses Philippines of illegal intrusion after midair standoff over South China Sea
On Feb. 18, a Chinese military helicopter flew within 3 meters of a Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources plane traveling over the contested Scarborough Shoal off the northwest Philippine coast, sparking condemnation from Washington and Manila. The incident was the latest example of China's use of force and coercion to push its neighbors to cede their maritime claims in the resource-rich South China Sea.
China’s denial of coronavirus tinkering at Wuhan lab misleading
President Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, have brought the agency’s global pandemic response efforts into the spotlight.
Russia pins nuclear threat on Ukraine after militarizing atomic power station
No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. At the United Nations, Russia claimed the potential of a nuclear catastrophe is squarely on Ukraine’s shoulders. VOA’s William Echols explains why this is false.
ប្រទេសវ៉េណេស៊ុយអេឡាហៅលោក Rubio ថា "សត្រូវ"ព្រោះអាមេរិកទទួលស្គាល់បូរណភាពដែនដី Guyana
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Russia pins nuclear threat on Ukraine after militarizing atomic power station
Share Russia pins nuclear threat on Ukraine after militarizing atomic power station "Ukraine remains the only source of security threats to the ZNPP as it routinely targets the nuclear facility and its critical infrastructure, as well as the satellite city of Energodar…" International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi warned of an uptick in attacks on the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine during a visit to Moscow on Feb. 7.
Iran leverages Hamas' release of hostages for propaganda purposes
An analysis shows Iran is using the release of U.S. citizen Keith Siegel and other hostages to further a misleading narrative – one that says U.S.-designated terror group Hamas has treated its captives fairly and another that Israel subjected Palestinian prisoners to systematic brutality. On Feb. 1, Hamas released three hostages from captivity in Gaza, including Siegel. Hamas abducted Siegel, who also is an Israeli citizen, from his home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza in its Oct.
Venezuela calls Rubio 'enemy' over US recognition of Guyana's territorial integrity Original
The Essequibo region in question has been under Guyana’s control for more than a century, and it is Venezuela that has failed to maintain its own obligations to law and peace.
លោក Trump ថា សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកនឹងកាន់កាប់តំបន់ហ្កាហ្សាដែលហែកហួរដោយសង្រ្គាម
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Venezuela calls Rubio 'enemy' over US recognition of Guyana's territorial integrity
Share Venezuela calls Rubio 'enemy' over US recognition of Guyana's territorial integrity “Now, [Rubio] seeks to support the fantasies of the Guyanese government, which aims to strip us of the historic rights bequeathed to us by our liberators and which are an inalienable part of our sovereignty.” On Jan. 27, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ “steadfast support” for Guyana’s sovereignty over the Essequibo region, which is disputed by Venezuela.
Russia weds biolab, organ conspiracies to discredit US, Ukraine
No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Russian disinformation narratives about illicit organ harvesting and biological experiments in Ukraine have no basis in fact. Russia intentionally distorts Ukrainian law intended to support vital medical procedures.
Russia weds biolab, organ harvesting conspiracies to discredit US, Ukraine Original
Moscow continues to push the discredited disinformation narrative that the Ukrainian state is systematically engaged in illicit organ harvesting. Russian officials and state-owned news outlets propagate speculations that Kyiv and the U.S. prolong the war to keep ongoing bioweapons experiments and uncontrolled organ harvesting. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently threaded these two propaganda lines together. On Jan.
ទីក្រុងមូស្គូប្រើប្រាស់ការសម្លាប់ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍រុស្ស៊ីដើម្បីផ្សព្វផ្សាយទ្រឹស្តីរួមគំនិត
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Iran’s Press TV claimed Hama in Syrian government hands after rebels entered city
A coalition of rebel fighters in Syria continues its advance claiming more territory from the government days after taking Aleppo, in the nation’s northwest. This week, insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a powerful Islamist faction, advanced on the central city of Hama, encircling it on December 4, after days of intense fighting on its outskirts. Iran, a staunch ally of Syrian ruler Bashar Assad, has sought to downplay the significance of the renewed rebel offensive.
Houthis claim they struck US ships near Yemen; Navy says no
Share Houthis claim they struck US ships near Yemen; Navy says no “The operation was carried out with 16 ballistic and winged [cruise] missiles and a drone in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and the hits were accurate and direct.” With the United States-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah barely holding, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels continue to attack commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, and the Western military ships protecting them.
US sanctions target China over allegations of forced labor in Xinjiang
Share US sanctions target China over allegations of forced labor in Xinjiang “The [MOFCOM] spokesperson emphasized that China is firmly opposed to ‘forced labor’ in any form and there is no forced labor in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.” Source: Global Times, November 26, 2024 False https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202411/1323844.shtml The United States continues efforts to halt the flow of goods made with what it says is the use of forced labor in China’s northwestern...
Iran bucks UN resolution condemning death penalty for minors, rights abuses
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US, China exhibit sharp contrast during final meeting ahead of transition
On November 16, during his final meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese leader Xi Jinping voiced his willingness to work with the new administration, maintain cooperation and manage differences.
China falsely accuses Philippines of escalating tensions in South China Sea
Share China falsely accuses Philippines of escalating tensions in South China Sea “Every escalation between China and the Philippines — without exception — has been caused by Philippine provocations and violation of China’s sovereignty.
China pushes divisive narratives amid heated US election
As the polling sites across the U.S. started counting votes Tuesday in the highly contested U.S. presidential race, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency published a satirical video titled “Presidential Election Victory Speeches of the Divided States of America.” Posted on social media platform X, Xinhua’s video lampooned President-elect Donald Trump and his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, capitalizing on divisive U.S. political and societal topics.
İran'ın ABD'li seçmenleri etkileyebilmek için hem açık hem dolaylı metodlar kullandığı bildirildi
Yabancı hasımlar, ABD Başkan Yardımcısı ve Demokrat Parti başkan adayı Kamala Harris ile Cumhuriyetçi Partili rakibi eski Başkan Donald Trump arasındaki 5 Kasım ABD başkanlık yarışını hedef almak için giderek daha gelişmiş hale gelen müdahale operasyonları yürüttü. İran, kendi dış politika hedeflerine uygun dezenformasyon söylemlerini teşvik ederek seçim sonuçlarını etkilemeye ve müdahale etmeye çalıştı.
İran'ın ABD'li seçmenleri etkileyebilmek için hem açık hem dolaylı metodlar kullandığı bildirildi
Yabancı hasımlar, ABD Başkan Yardımcısı ve Demokrat Parti başkan adayı Kamala Harris ile Cumhuriyetçi Partili rakibi eski Başkan Donald Trump arasındaki 5 Kasım ABD başkanlık yarışını hedef almak için giderek daha gelişmiş hale gelen müdahale operasyonları yürüttü. İran, kendi dış politika hedeflerine uygun dezenformasyon söylemlerini teşvik ederek seçim sonuçlarını etkilemeye ve müdahale etmeye çalıştı.
Iran uses open and covert methods to sway US voters
Foreign adversaries used increasingly sophisticated meddling operations to target the November 5 U.S. presidential race between Democratic party candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and her Republican party opponent, former President Donald Trump. Iran has sought to influence and interfere with the results of the poll by promoting disinformation narratives favorable to its own foreign policy goals.
Iran uses 'mental health' pretext to downplay woman’s dress code protest
Share Iran uses 'mental health' pretext to downplay woman’s dress code protest “Rather than respecting her dignity and focusing on the mental health challenges she was facing, these groups saw an opportunity to fuel their anti-government agenda.” The arrest of a female student who undressed at the Islamic Azad University campus in Tehran has brought Iran’s strict dress code policies and controversial use of coercive psychiatric treatment back into the global spotlight.
Russia protests Berlin’s installation of military base in Germany
The Two Plus Four Agreement’s Article 5, paragraph 3 regards the time frame following the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Germany. However, Article 6 states that the conditions of Article 5, paragraph 3 no longer apply after Germany joins an alliance.
Accused of interference in Georgia, Russia pumps up anti-US propaganda
Tbilisi and Moscow have exchanged harsh rhetoric about the results of the October 26 parliamentary elections in Georgia that brought thousands to the streets protesting the victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who is aligned with the pro-Western opposition, accused Russia of running a “special operation” to “falsify” the election results in favor of the ruling party, which is widely seen as increasingly pro-Kremlin and authoritarian.
Russia protests Berlin’s installation of military base in Germany
Share Russia protests Berlin’s installation of military base in Germany “The creation, at Berlin’s initiative, of a regional NATO maritime command headquarters at the German navy base in Rostock, East Germany … constitutes gross violation of the spirit and letter of the Two Plus Four Agreement, Article 5, paragraph 3 of which mandates Germany to prevent the stationing and deployment of foreign armed forces on the territory of the former East Germany.” On October 22, Russia's Foreign Ministry...
Beijing Touts Hong Kong’s Business Bona Fides Amid Rights Restrictions
What you need to know The Fraser Institute ranks Hong Kong as the world's freest economy, but concerns arise regarding its declining economic and human freedoms. By William Echols The Economic Freedom of the World 2024 Annual Report ranked Hong Kong as the freest global economy.
Beijing touts Hong Kong’s business bona fides amid rights restrictions
Share Beijing touts Hong Kong’s business bona fides amid rights restrictions “Since its return to China, Hong Kong has retained its status as an international financial, shipping and trade center, remained free and open, and maintained world-class business environment.” The Economic Freedom of the World 2024 Annual Report ranked Hong Kong as the freest global economy.
Turkey's ruling party uses misinformation to downplay scope of femicide
The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing mounting criticism over the rise of gender-based violence in Turkey, which ranks among the world's worst countries for violence against women. Just last week in Istanbul, a 19-year-old Turkish man killed two young women — first, his 19-year-old girlfriend at his home, and then a woman, also 19, whom he met in the city. He beheaded the second victim and threw her head over a wall onto a crowded street before taking his own life.
Iran propagates Israel’s response to Houthi attacks as ‘war crimes’
Share Iran propagates Israel’s response to Houthi attacks as ‘war crimes’ “The Zionist regime’s move to attack Yemen and the country’s civilian and service infrastructure is a blatant and repeated violation of the United Nations Charter.” Source: Press TV, Sept. 29, 2024 Israel’s latest strikes against Iranian-backed militant groups followed several attacks by the Houthis, a Shiite Islamist political and military organization that controls large swaths of Yemen.
Iran uses UN meetings to attack Israel, whitewash destabilizing actions
No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Iran distorts what sparked the Israel-Hamas war and glosses over Tehran’s decadeslong effort to destroy Israel via proxy forces.
Iran uses UN meetings to attack Israel, whitewash destabilizing actions
Israel and Iran traded barbs at the United Nations General Assembly meetings this week, with each accusing the other of responsibility for the deadly violence in Lebanon and Gaza. While each side pressed its case in strong language, Iran’s framing distorts what precipitated the Israel-Hamas war and whitewashes Tehran’s decadeslong effort to destroy the state of Israel via proxy forces.
Iran seeks to legitimize disputed reelection of Venezuela’s Maduro
Share Iran seeks to legitimize disputed reelection of Venezuela’s Maduro “The Islamic Republic of Iran will certainly continue to support the legitimate and legal government of Mr. Maduro with all its strength, as it has in the past.” Source: Press TV, September 18, 2024 Iran, like authoritarian allies China, Cuba and Russia, continue to support the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following his disputed reelection in late July.
Russia capitalizes on Trump assassination attempt to sow division, deny election meddling
Share Russia capitalizes on Trump assassination attempt to sow division, deny election meddling We are watching this closely, but we have never interfered in this in any way, and we are not interfering now. False ussia's efforts to amplify political divisions in the United States and influence the November 5 presidential election are well-documented.
Iran denies delivering ballistic missiles, aid to Moscow’s Ukraine war effort
Share Iran denies delivering ballistic missiles, aid to Moscow’s Ukraine war effort The United States’ decision to impose new sanctions on Iran over its supplying ballistic missiles to Russia has been met with a firestorm of denials from Tehran.
US and EU expect Mongolia to adhere to its commitments to the ICC to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin on alleged war crimes charges
Share Moscow trades on Putin’s Mongolia visit to undercut ICC warrant, rehash Ukraine Nazi claims “[I]f someone raises questions about why such closeness [between Mongolia and Russia] — well, probably, these are the people who once again began to slip Nazi overtones into their actions, not only their thoughts, which is reflected in support for the Kyiv regime.” Moscow is using Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to Mongolia earlier this week to undermine the International...
China deflects after UN renews calls to investigate Xinjiang abuses
No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Beijing continues to stonewall efforts to address its well-documented abuse of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.
រុស្ស៊ីហៅការការពារខ្លួនរបស់អ៊ុយក្រែនថាជា"ភេរវកម្ម" ខណៈរុស្ស៊ីបន្តដៅលើជនស៊ីវិលអ៊ុយក្រែន
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'He was not a journalist,' Kremlin says about Reuters staffer killed in strike
Share 'He was not a journalist,' Kremlin says about Reuters staffer killed in strike "I read information from the agency staff that he was not a journalist, but some kind of security advisor.
Security, not ‘Russophobia’ spurred Czech Republic’s biometric passport requirement for Russian citizens
Share Security, not ‘Russophobia’ spurred Czech Republic’s biometric passport requirement for Russian citizens “By refusing to accept Russian passports lacking biometrical chips, Czech authorities have added to their list of discriminatory measures against Russia & once again demonstrated their Russophobic approaches.
Russia leverages ouster of Bangladesh PM to baselessly accuse US of fomenting coup
The unfounded conspiracy theory that the United States orchestrated the ouster of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina dominates Russian disinformation narrative. The propaganda campaign involves top state officials and news media. The narrative is nothing new: For decades, Russia has sought to discredit democratic and popular protests around the world as U.S.-fomented “color revolutions,” ignoring the reality of domestic politics and local grievances.
Venezuela attacks UN with 'propaganda' accusation for reporting election transparency issues
Share Venezuela attacks UN with 'propaganda' accusation for reporting election transparency issues “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the publication of the so-called ‘Preliminary Report’ by the Electoral Expert Panel of the United Nations, which disseminates a series of lies.” False The U.N. report is well documented. A panel of experts from the United Nations bolstered allegations that Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election result was deeply flawed.
Kremlin calls Ukraine's self-defense 'terrorism,' as Russia targets Ukrainian civilians
The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Under international law, Ukraine has the right to extend its operations into Russian territory, strike Russian military targets and defend itself against Moscow’s aggression.
Kremlin calls Ukraine's self-defense 'terrorism,' as Russian strikes keep targeting Ukrainian civilians
Share Kremlin calls Ukraine's self-defense 'terrorism,' as Russian strikes keep targeting Ukrainian civilians “The Ukrainian actions are an evident terrorist action. No one hides the fact that American weapons have become a murder weapon of ordinary Russians.
Russia’s arrest video of Gershkovich shows normal journalistic activities, not espionage
No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Following a historic prisoner swap with the United States, Russia continues to propagate the unfounded claim that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was spying for the CIA.
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