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Entity Type: Domestic Non-Chinese Language Media

Silk Road News

Launched on October 1, 2019, the Chinese Silk Road News Network presents itself as an independent media platform dedicated to promoting Sino-Arab relations and the Belt and Road Initiative. While claiming to be a “neutral” news outlet, the network appears to be a carefully crafted propaganda tool designed to advance Chinese soft power in the Arab world. Founded by Abdel Kader Khalil, a former head of an international Arab journalists’ union, the network purports to bridge cultural gaps between China and Arab countries. However, its stated mission of “revealing the true image of China to the world” suggests a clear agenda of image management rather than objective reporting. The network provides a platform for Chinese writers and China-friendly Arab journalists to publish content that overwhelmingly portrays China’s international initiatives in a positive light, raising serious questions about its editorial independence and actual journalistic integrity. While there is no evidence that the outlet is operated or influenced directly by PRC entities, content from official state media, including Xinhua News Agency and CGTN, is prevalent.

Thansettakij

Thansettakij is a leading Thai economic newspaper that operates as a bi-weekly publication in traditional bulletin journal format, covering business news, politics, and economic analysis for diverse demographics across Thailand. The publication is part of Nation Multimedia Group (NMG), which confirmed that Thansettakij joined their media portfolio alongside other major Thai publications including Nation Thailand, Kom Chad Luek, and Krungthep Turakij. According to NMG’s 2019 business strategy announcement, Thansettakij was identified as a “soon-to-join family member” that would provide “in-depth data and analysis in their respective fields to specific groups of readers” as part of the group’s offline data strategy. The newspaper maintains both print and digital operations, with its website serving as what industry analysts describe as having “a very large online following.” Thansettakij has established itself as a credible source for Thai political and economic reporting, frequently cited by international news agencies including Bloomberg for its coverage of Thai government developments and business affairs. The publication focuses on comprehensive coverage including business editorial sections, social issues, HR topics, and international politics.

Mehr Media Group

Mehr Media Group, comprising Mehr News Agency and The Tehran Times, represents one of Iran’s prominent state-affiliated media organizations. The Tehran Times was established in 1979, coinciding with the Islamic Revolution, while the broader media group operates under the Islamic Development Organization’s umbrella. The organization maintains offices across Iran’s 31 provinces and select neighboring countries, positioning itself as what its materials describe as “the voice of the oppressed all around the world.” According to their self-description, the group aims to “spread the ideals of the Islamic revolution” and serve as “the loud voice of the Islamic Revolution and the supporter of the oppressed people worldwide,” quoting the founder Martyr Beheshti. The organization claims direct access to government sources through its institutional affiliations, operating from its headquarters on Nejatollahi Street in Tehran.

Merdeka

Merdeka.com is an Indonesian news website founded in 2012 by Indonesian-born entrepreneur Steve Christian. According to its company profile, the platform was created through “collaboration between technology developers and journalists,” with the aim of delivering news content that is both accurate and accessible to Indonesian audiences. The website covers a range of topics, including national and international news, politics, business, entertainment, and lifestyle, for readers across Indonesia. “Merdeka” is the Malay word for “independence.

TG5

TG5 or TeleGiornale 5 is the flagship news program of Italy’s Canale 5, broadcasting from Rome as part of the Mediaset network. The program launched on January 13, 1992, under founding director Enrico Mentana, who created the newscast alongside journalists including Lamberto Sposini, Clemente J. Mimun, Emilio Carelli, Cesara Buonamici, and Cristina Parodi. The program evolved from earlier regional news coverage, including Video 5 (1980) and Canale 5 News (1983). Currently headed by editor-in-chief Clemente Mimun since July 2007, TG5 features multiple daily broadcasts starting with “TG5 Prima Pagina” at 6:00 AM, followed by editions throughout the day, including morning, midday, evening, and late-night broadcasts. The format typically employs single newsreaders with live correspondent reports and specialized presenters for financial segments.

Studio Homegrown Productions

Studio Homegrown Productions, a Solomon Islands media entity founded in 2004 by Karl Tokuro Vaekesa, initially operated as “Pink Moskito Net Production” before being renamed “Homegrown Productions” later that year and subsequently registered as Studio Homegrown Productions. Based in Naha 3, East Honiara, the company specializes in music videos, cultural content, and multimedia production services promoting “homegrown music, cultures, stories, and lifestyle of Solomon Islanders.” The studio maintains a significant digital presence with 80,000 Facebook followers and 40,000 YouTube subscribers. Vaekesa participated in Chinese government-sponsored media exchanges in 2025, visiting Beijing institutions including China Media Group Mobile and CCTV.com as part of the Belt and Road Initiative programming between China and Pacific nations.

Il Sole 24 Ore

Il Sole 24 Ore is Italy’s leading financial newspaper, created on November 9, 1965, through the merger of Il Sole, founded in 1865, and 24 Ore, launched in 1946. The newspaper is owned by Confindustria, Italy’s employers’ federation, and is headquartered in Milan. Il Sole 24 Ore covers business, politics, commercial law, and financial markets, and operates as part of the broader 24 ORE Group. In 2019, Italy’s securities regulator Consob fined the newspaper’s management 1.05 million euros for inflating digital circulation figures.

Italia News Online

Italia News Online is a digital magazine focused on public administration and business news in Italy. The publication targets professionals and entrepreneurs with daily updates on topics relevant to their work. Beyond its website and social media channels, Italia News Online distributes a weekly newsletter and a print magazine at public administration events. The platform describes itself as connecting businesses with government opportunities and providing insights for managers in both sectors.

Postimees

Postimees is Estonia’s oldest daily newspaper and the direct successor of Pärnu Postimees, founded in 1857. During Soviet occupation, the paper was published under the name Edasi (The Forward), but regained its original name in 1990 before Estonia’s full independence. The newspaper launched a Russian-language edition in 2005, which became online-only in 2016 and resumed as a weekly in March 2022. Postimees experienced significant upheaval in 2019, with two editors-in-chief appointed within months and over 30 journalists departing amid censorship scandals, as the paper shifted toward a more conservative editorial stance.