The German Justice Ministry has finalized a first draft for a comprehensive national whistleblower protection law. The draft comes in response to the obligation of all EU Member States to introduce legislation in compliance with last year‘s EU whistleblowing Directive.

At least 387 journalists and media workers were jailed worldwide as of December 1 this year, with 130 arrested for reporting on the COVID-19 crisis. The figures were compiled by the German office of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and announced in its annual report.

The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) said Greece's New Democracy government failed to strengthen anti-corruption laws diluted by the former ruling SYRIZA. The Radical Left group had introduced softer sanctions on bribery involving public officials.

Some 19 months after journalist Lyra McKee was killed with a shot in the head while covering a protest involving dissident Republicans in Londonderry, other reporters in Northern Ireland are now facing threats directed against them.

Fearing for her safety, a Russian woman who blew the whistle on corruption in Malta and was a key source for murdered investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia is seeking asylum in Greece, where she lives with her husband.

He wants whistleblowers Julian Assange and Edward Snowden hauled in and prosecuted for revealing classified documents, but US President Donald Trump should pardon them instead, said Hawaiian Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat who ran for her party's nomination.

After dropping plans to put a limit on awards to whistleblowers, the US' Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it paid out a record of more than $175 million through Sept. 30 to 39 people who revealed wrongdoing.

Some 26 journalists covering more than three months of protests against the reelection of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko have been jailed, the toll mounting even as he continues to consolidate power.

Lawyers for former military lawyer turned whistleblower David McBride, who revealed Australian elite forces killed civilians in Afghanistan, said charges against him for releasing classified information should be dropped after a report confirmed his claims.

A European Union scheme to let authorities access to encrypted messages if they're tied to investigations into terrorism and organized crime has journalists worried about protecting sources and digital rights campaigners about surveillance.

As complaints have grown about police violence in France, a proposed bill would make it unlawful to disseminate photographs or videos identifying officers if there is an “intent to harm”. The proposal leaves critics worried it could hinder press freedom.

Legislation approved by the Greek Parliament controlled by the ruling New Democracy party will grant amnesty to some 5,000 alleged tax evaders but also, according to critics, undermine the fight against money laundering and financial crime.