Global Press Freedom Index Shows Sharp Decline | JQJO

Sacha Baron Cohen has defended bringing his satirical character Ali G back for a new film after twelve years, saying that the character’s outdated and problematic nature is why he resurrects him. The comedian first introduced Ali G on Channel 4’s The 11 O’Clock Show in nineteen ninety‑eight and will reprise the role in the forthcoming film Ali G: Who Iz I?, which arrives in cinemas later this week. Calls to boycott the film have emerged, with critics arguing that the character stereotypes white, middle‑class young men who adopt Jamaican and hip‑hop culture. In a Time magazine essay published on twenty‑October, Cohen explained that his characters aim to expose prejudice, bias and stupidity, and that the current world has become worse than when he first created Ali G. He hopes the new film will sound the alarm about rising political violence, misogyny and extremism, especially with the U.S. midterm elections approaching.

Elon Musk, CEO of both SpaceX and Tesla, publicly stated that the two companies are exploring a potential merger or acquisition that could become the largest corporate transaction in history. The comments have prompted insiders to warn that the disclosure could invite shareholder scrutiny and delay the process by several weeks. Musk’s remarks echo concerns that surfaced during Tesla’s 2016 acquisition of SolarCity, which led to years of litigation over his influence on the deal. The parties have hired advisers and are evaluating various structures, including an all‑stock deal, but the talks remain in early stages. Tesla, SpaceX and Musk have not yet responded to requests for comment.

A federal judge ruled late Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s practice of knocking on doors and asking about immigration status and recent voting likely violates the Voting Rights Act. Judge Araceli Martinez‑Olguin ordered immigration authorities to cease elections‑related field operations in nine states, including California and New York, until polls close. The ruling followed a CBS News investigation that documented agents approaching homes in multiple states. Martinez‑Olguin sided with groups that sued over the practice, citing intimidation of legal voters and high likelihood of error in target lists. The order remains until Election Day, with a stay until Friday 5 p.m. to allow appeal.

Amazon Prime members who signed up between June 23 2019 and June 23 2025, attempted to cancel online during that period without success, and used no more than 20 Prime benefits in a 12‑month span, could receive up to $200 in refunds. The refunds are part of a $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and are being sent automatically via Venmo, PayPal or mailed check. Customers have 60 days to redeem the payment after the issue date, and those who already received $51 from an earlier settlement may still receive an additional $149. Qualified refunds are expected to be issued by April of next year.

Meta announced it will issue a new Class C share class, a one‑for‑one stock dividend, to all shareholders. The move, disclosed with the company’s third‑quarter earnings, aims to raise capital without diluting Mark Zuckerberg’s voting power and to enable him to meet pledges to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and potentially fund a California wealth tax. Zuckerberg currently holds about 60.6 % of voting control through Class B shares, which carry ten votes each, while his equity stake is roughly 13.4 %. The new Class C shares will not affect his voting rights. Meta’s dual‑class structure, common among tech firms, allows founders to maintain control while raising outside capital. The decision follows months of negotiation with board members, including DoorDash CEO Tony Xu, Ambassador Robert Kimmitt, and former Microsoft executive Charles Songhurst. Meta’s SEC filings show the company repurchased $26.3 billion in Class A stock in 2025 but has not bought back shares in the past four years. The new share class is intended to support Meta’s AI expansion while safeguarding Zuckerberg’s majority control.

A federal judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security to stop field investigations targeting noncitizen voters in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin. The judge cited faulty data that includes U.S. citizens and warned that investigations could wrongly target citizens. The order will take effect Friday afternoon, giving the Trump administration time to appeal, and will remain in force until after the midterm elections. The ruling limits DHS actions such as interviews and door‑knocking when a target may be a citizen.

John Goodman said he once weighed nearly 400 pounds after giving up alcohol, a weight he attributed to “eating alcoholically.” The actor, who began his weight‑loss journey in 2007 at age 55, admitted that he had repeatedly lost and regained weight before deciding to stay sober. Goodman, now 74, explained that he underwent stomach surgery to address the weight gain, but the procedure caused other health issues such as anemia and a loss of subcutaneous fat. He has since lost 200 pounds and recently appeared at the Los Angeles premiere of “Digger,” where he was noted for his slimmer figure.

Prosecutors in New Mexico filed a civil lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn, accusing them of profiting from his sex‑trafficking ring. The lawsuit, filed under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act and New Mexico Racketeering Act, claims the men concealed abuse at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe. Indyke and Kahn deny any knowledge of the crimes and their attorney rejected the claims as "categorically false." The suit is separate from the state’s criminal probe, which was re‑launched in February. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez argues the executors are blocking victims’ efforts to recover Epstein’s estimated $635 million estate.