Trust in News Erodes in the Philippines: Reuters Institute’s 2026 Digital News Report finds Filipinos’ trust is sliding fast, with only 28% saying they trust news most of the time (down from 38% in 2025), while social media remains the dominant source (72% via Facebook). Analysts link the drop to years of attacks on media plus influence operations online. AI With Editorial Guardrails: Malaysia’s Vanakkam Malaysia says AI can speed drafting and translation, but editorial responsibility must stay with journalists and editors. Press Freedom Under Pressure in Albania: Albania’s media committee warns press freedom is worsening after the country fell again in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, citing weak editorial independence and fear among critical outlets. Child Safety Rules Spread in the UAE: The UAE sets a minimum social media age of 15, requiring platforms to disable under-15 accounts within 12 months or face penalties. Journalism Under Threat: RSF reports 677 Afghan journalists were forced into exile from 2021-2025, nearly half of the cases it assisted worldwide. Platform Control Shift: Meta is letting users steer their feeds more directly with “Your Algo,” continuing the trend toward more transparent, user-influenced recommendations.