The 9th Congress of Azerbaijani Journalists brought together media professionals, policymakers, and regulators in a shared moment of reflection on the state of journalism in the country. Among the voices that carried particular weight was that of Natiq Mammadli, Head of Department at the Azerbaijan Media and Broadcasting Council. His address did not dwell on the familiar themes of press freedom or professional ethics alone, but instead turned to a more urgent and combative concern: the unrelenting battle against disinformation. In a world where fabricated narratives can travel across borders in seconds, and where hostile actors seek to undermine national…

There are moments in life when everything seems to hang in the balance—when months of preparation, sleepless nights, and quiet hopes all converge on a single morning. For hundreds of thousands of South African learners, that moment arrived with the 2026 National Senior Certificate examinations. These are not just tests; they are gateways to futures, to university dreams, to the pride of families who have sacrificed so much. The atmosphere surrounding the matric exams is always charged with tension, but it was recently shaken by an ugly rumor that threatened to undermine the entire process. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube…