News

August 26, 2025 - Iran -  Iranian journalist Omid Faraghat, based in Karaj, was sentenced to three months in prison by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. The court ruled that his interviews with Persian‑language media outside Iran constituted “propaganda against the Islamic Republic”, a charge he firmly denied. The verdict comes after a separate court in Karaj acquitted him of similar charges, including propaganda and disturbing public opinion, highlighting inconsistencies between judicial rulings. Faraghat’s sentencing is part of a broader and intensifying crackdown on journalists in Iran. Over the past years, the authorities have detained, summoned, or prosecuted...

August 26, 2025 - General -  Canadian photojournalist Valerie Zink, who worked with Reuters as a stringer for nearly a decade, announced her resignation on August 26, 2025, citing the agency’s handling of the Gaza war and its treatment of journalists reporting from the besieged enclave. Zink accused Reuters of betraying its own principles and enabling what she described as the systematic targeting of media workers in Gaza, where at least 245 journalists and media professionals have been killed since October 2023. In a public statement, Zink said it had become “impossible to continue” under...

August 26, 2025 – Nigeria -  Journalist Azuka Ogujiuba, a prominent publisher of Media Room Hub, has been subjected to repeated arrests and harassment by Nigeria’s police, a move strongly condemned by the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI). The IPI described the actions as "blatant harassment aimed at silencing a journalist for performing her lawful duties," stressing that such tactics are unacceptable in a democratic society. Ogujiuba, formerly a reporter with ThisDay, has faced two arrests and multiple summonses to Abuja, despite residing and working in Lagos. The IPI emphasized that...

August 26, 2025 - General -  The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, issued a powerful rebuke to members of the global press—“Shame on all journalists not raising their voice against the massacre of their brave Palestinian colleagues while documenting the genocide.” She made the statement on the social media platform X, reposting an image of a damaged camera labeled “The Weapon Israel Fears the Most,” suggesting it belongs in a future “Genocide Memorial” to honor the countless victims in Gaza. This scathing call comes in the wake of fresh...

August 26, 2025 - Crimea/Russia -  A recent report from the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reveals that Crimean Tatar journalist and human rights defender Lutfiye Zudiyeva is now facing renewed legal action prompted by her continued reporting on Russian oppression in Crimea. This move represents yet another chapter in a troubling pattern of attempts to silence independent media voices under the guise of legal proceedings. Zudiyeva, known for documenting abuses and amplifying the perspective of her community, has been proactively targeted by Russian authorities. This new prosecution is not just an isolated event—it’s emblematic...

August 25, 2025 - Africa/Palestine -  A new pan‑African coalition, African Journalists Against Genocide (AJAG), has emerged, uniting media professionals from more than 20 African countries to forcefully denounce the systematic targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Spearheaded by Nigerian broadcast journalist Ireti Bakare‑Yusuf, the coalition seeks to elevate global awareness, press for justice, and call out Israel’s role in the escalating media crisis inside the enclave. AJAG’s founding follows the deadly toll of the Gaza war on journalists—over 250 media workers have been killed since October 2023, marking it the deadliest conflict...

August 25, 2025 - Palestine -  In a profoundly emotional broadcast, Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary struggled to maintain her composure while reporting on the Israeli double-tap airstrike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, which tragically claimed the lives of multiple journalists. It was a moment that cut through the usual journalistic reserve, revealing raw human grief under the weight of tragedy. As she narrated, one voice quivered with heartbreak: “Palestinian journalists right now are crying.” The image of her visibly shaken, almost whispering through tears, intensified the impact. This wasn’t merely a report—it was a shared wound, an...

August 25, 2025 - Palestine - A deadly double-tap airstrike struck the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, killing at least 22 people, including Middle East Eye and Quds News Network correspondent Ahmed Abu Aziz. The hospital attack—widely condemned for targeting press and medical personnel during rescue operations—intensified global scrutiny on the rising toll of journalists killed in Gaza. Ahmed Abu Aziz, age 29, was among five journalists killed as they covered the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the hospital. According to profiles published by The Guardian, he was recognized for his perseverance amid danger and his pursuit of academic...

August 25, 2025 - Palestine -  Gaza endured another wave of deadly bombardments as Israel intensified its attacks, leaving dozens dead and adding to the devastating toll on journalists. Among the casualties was Palestinian journalist Hassan Douhan, who was reporting in Khan Younis when he was killed by Israeli fire. Douhan worked for Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, and his death marked the sixth journalist to be killed in a single day. His killing pushed the number of Palestinian journalists killed since October 2023 to 246, making Gaza the most dangerous place in the world for media workers....

August 25, 2025 - Palestine -  Recent Israeli airstrikes on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis on August 25, 2025, have resulted in a devastating loss of life, claiming at least 20 people—including five journalists from major international outlets—and drawing widespread condemnation. The attack unfolded in a “double‑tap” fashion: the first strike hit the hospital, and just moments later, as rescuers and media personnel responded, a second strike followed. This tactic reportedly targeted rescue efforts and the press covering the aftermath.  Among those killed were five journalists: Hussam al‑Masri (Reuters), Mariam Abu Dagga (AP freelance visual...

August 25, 2025 - Palestine - The Israeli airstrike that hit Gaza’s Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis claimed the life of Palestinian photojournalist Moaz Abu Taha, one of several journalists killed in the deadly attack. According to Al Jazeera’s live updates, Moaz Abu Taha was directly identified among the media professionals who were martyred in the strike. Further confirmation from local posts relayed through social media and eyewitness testimonies emphasized his death in the attack on the hospital complex, which targeted both journalists and medical teams amidst the chaos. Moaz Abu Taha had previously been...

The Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis—one of Gaza’s largest hospital facilities—became the tragic scene of an Israeli airstrike that claimed 14 Palestinian lives, including Maryam Abu Daqqa, a recognized local journalist. Maryam Abu Daqqa was identified by both Palestinian and international media as one of the casualties in the attack, alongside two other journalists: Hussam Masri (Reuters photographer) and Mohammed Salama (Al Jazeera cameraman). The strike occurred in the complex's premises, striking fear into the hearts of medical staff, patients, and news teams covering events on the ground. As emergency crews rushed to evacuate...

August 25, 2025 - Palestine -  Gaza suffered yet another deadly blow when an Israeli strike hit the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, resulting in at least 14 civilian deaths and numerous injuries. Among the victims was Mohammed Salama, an Al Jazeera cameraman, whose death was officially confirmed by the network. Local sources and media accounts describe a double-tap attack: an initial strike on the hospital’s fourth floor followed swiftly by a second as emergency personnel and civilians rushed in to help the wounded. This pattern underscores the escalating threat to journalists and first responders...

August 25, 2025 - Palestine -  Al Jazeera confirmed the killing of its cameraman, Hossam Al Masri, in yet another strike on Gaza that underscored the lethal risks faced by journalists reporting from the besieged enclave. Al Masri was covering the aftermath of an Israeli bombardment when the hospital area he was filming near came under renewed attack. He was struck while documenting the devastation, joining the growing number of media workers who have lost their lives during Israel’s months-long assault on Gaza. Hossam Al Masri had dedicated his work to ensuring that the stories...

Augst 25, 2025 - Palestine -  Tragedy struck the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis when an Israeli airstrike killed at least 14 people, among them four journalists whose deaths underscored the peril faced by media workers in Gaza. The victims were Mariam Abu Daqqa, a respected local journalist; Mohammed Salama, a cameraman for Al Jazeera; Hossam al-Masri, a Reuters photographer; and Moaz Abu Taha, a photojournalist known for documenting the war’s human toll. Their deaths, confirmed by multiple outlets and rights groups, highlight the deliberate dangers endured by those who bear witness in conflict...

August 25, 2025 - Ukraine/Russia -  Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Khylyuk, a correspondent for UNIAN, has finally returned home after spending three years, five months, and 21 days in Russian captivity, liberated during a prisoner exchange on August 24, 2025, coinciding with Ukraine’s Independence Day. Khylyuk was abducted by Russian forces in March 2022, when he and his elderly father were retrieving essentials from their village of Kozarovychi near Kyiv. While his father was released shortly after, Khylyuk remained held incommunicado across multiple locations, including facilities in Dymer, Bryansk, and the Vladimir region. His detention was...

August 24, 2025 - Maldives -  A newly revived media bill in the Maldivian parliament has sparked fierce opposition from local and international journalism bodies. The bill, reintroduced on August 18 by MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, proposes dissolving existing independent regulatory bodies—the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and Maldives Broadcasting Commission—and replacing them with a single "Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission." This new entity would include three presidential appointees (including the chair) and four media-elected members who could be ousted by parliament, raising concerns about government influence and weakened independence. The proposed legislation grants the commission...

August 24, 2025 - Indonesia -  West Papuan journalist Victor Mambor, founder and editor of Jubi and a leading voice for press freedom in Indonesia’s troubled Papua region, has vowed not to be silenced despite enduring years of harassment, intimidation, and even a bomb attack outside his home. In January 2023, an improvised explosive device detonated near his residence and office in Jayapura, shaking the local community and sending a chilling message to journalists covering sensitive issues. Witnesses, CCTV footage, and explosive residue all confirmed the severity of the incident, but in a move widely...

August 24, 2025 - Palestine - In an exclusive interview with Tehran Times, press freedom advocate Sherif Mansour warned that Israel’s killing of journalists in Gaza since October 2023 is not an isolated crisis but part of a decades-long pattern of silencing the press. He pointed to the staggering figure of more than 200 journalists killed in Gaza in less than two years, making it the deadliest place for media workers in modern history. Mansour emphasized that these killings directly violate the Geneva Conventions, which grant journalists protected status in conflict zones, and argued that...

August 23, 2025 - Hong Kong - Bloomberg is working to resolve a visa denial for its veteran correspondent in Hong Kong, Rebecca Choong Wilkins, whose renewal application was unexpectedly rejected without explanation by immigration authorities. Wilkins, a member of Bloomberg’s Asia government and economy reporting team, has covered the region from Hong Kong for six years. Her visa renewal was denied, and no reason was provided, prompting concern from the media community and rights groups alike. The Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) confirmed Wilkins’ situation, lamenting the opacity and warning that “this decision and the...

August 23, 2025 - Pakistan -  The arrest of journalist Khalid Jamil by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has sparked widespread condemnation from rights groups, who call it an assault on press freedom. Jamil, a senior journalist based in Islamabad, was detained after officials raided his residence in Media Town. According to NCCIA, the arrest followed “completion of official procedures,” though authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact charges. The agency has stated that further details will be shared at a later stage. The detention has drawn sharp criticism from media and human rights...

August 23, 2025 - Palestine - Khaled Al Madhoun, a Palestinian cameraman for Palestine TV, was killed in North Gaza while covering the Israeli Army's shooting at hungry civilians waiting for aid. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said Al Madhoun was killed while performing his professional duties, condemning the targeting of journalists as a persistent crime aimed at silencing Palestinian voices and obscuring the truth. It emphasized that such attacks would not break the resolve of Palestinian media workers who continue their mission despite grave risks. According to figures from Gaza's Government Media Office, the number...

August 23, 2025 - Palestine -  A harrowing situation has emerged for Ali al‑Samoudi, a 58-year-old Palestinian journalist widely respected for his decades-long field reporting amid conflict. Detained by Israeli forces in a pre-dawn raid on April 29, 2025, at his son’s home in Jenin, al‑Samoudi remains held without charge under administrative detention, a practice allowing detention with no trial or formal accusation for extended periods. His physical and psychological condition has deteriorated severely. The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate (PJS) reports that he suffers from chronic illnesses—diabetes, hypertension, and stomach ulcers—and is significantly malnourished due to...

August 23, 2025 - UK/Palestine -  Following the deaths of Al Jazeera journalists in a strike near Gaza City's Al‑Shifa Hospital, British media workers mounted a powerful show of solidarity. Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) across the UK and Ireland organized vigils and protests, including a poignant gathering outside 10 Downing Street in London. The NUJ—and particularly its London Digital Media branch- released a forceful statement condemning the targeted deaths of media professionals. Among the victims were Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al‑Sharif and photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher, Mohammed Qreiqeh, and Mohammed Nofal—journalists recognized for...

August 23, 2025 - Bangladesh -  Senior journalist and columnist Bibhuranjan Sarkar, aged 71, was found dead in the Meghna River in Munshiganj’s Gazaria Upazila on Friday afternoon, a day after his disappearance. The body, discovered near Balakir Char by river police, was identified by his family members via photographs and later confirmed at the morgue of Munshiganj General Hospital. Sarkar, who served as Senior Assistant Editor at the Bengali daily Ajker Patrika and regularly contributed columns to other media outlets, left his Siddheshwari residence Thursday morning around 10 AM, reportedly heading to his office. He...