Free Expression Daily Digest: Tues., April 5

PEN’s Free Expression Digest brings you a daily curated round-up of the most important free expression-related stories from around the web. Subscribe here. *This mailing list is currently in BETA as we work out the kinks. Please send your feedback and suggestions to [email protected]

China censors mentions of ‘Panama Papers’ leaks
The release of the “Panama Papers” is setting off a political firestorm around the world. But in China, where the names of relatives of several top leaders have been found in the leak of documents from a Panamanian law firm that expose the murky world of offshore companies, most citizens will never hear of the news.
THE NEW YORK TIMES

Maldives police arrest 16 journalists
Maldives police arrested 16 independent journalists on Sunday while breaking up a demonstration against an alleged crackdown on freedom of speech in the politically troubled nation, private media outlets reported. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

UK journalist to appeal as Seoul blocks his site on North Korea
A British journalist who runs a website that documents North Korean technology issues said Tuesday that he’ll appeal a decision by South Korean authorities to block his site for allegedly violating the country’s National Security Law. THE NEW YORK TIMES

Virginia: Warning on school books is vetoed
Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed a bill Monday that would force schools to warn parents if their children will be assigned books with sexually explicit content. Mr. McAuliffe, a Democrat, said that the State Board of Education was already examining such a policy and that curriculum decisions should be left to local boards. THE NEW YORK TIMES

Survey: College students seek balance on free speech and hate speech
The survey released Monday and sponsored by the Knight Foundation and Newseum Institute in partnership with Gallup sheds light on the complexities of student viewpoints on free speech and other First Amendment issues in a year of significant tumult on campuses nationwide. THE WASHINGTON POST

TV reporter attacked live on air in Molenbeek during report on Brussels attacks
Italian journalist Giovanna Pancheri was reporting live on air in the now infamous district of Belgium’s capital city when a young hooded man suddenly grabbed her in an attempt to disrupt the broadcast.
DAILY MIRROR