News

September 28, 2025 - USA -  Illinois authorities have launched a criminal investigation after a federal immigration agent is accused of firing a chemical munition at CBS reporter Asal Rezaei’s pickup truck near an ICE facility in Broadview. Rezaei says she approached the facility to observe possible activity when she was struck by a pepper ball fired from about 50 feet inside the fenced perimeter. She describes feeling intense burning on her face and inside her truck, with white powder lingering on her windshield and interior surfaces. She also says she vomited shortly afterward, though...

September 28, 2025 - Haiti/France -  France 24’s documentary “Haiti: The Iron Grip of the Gangs”, directed by Catherine Norris-Trent and Roméo Langlois, has been honored with the 2025 DIG Award for Long Reportage. The 52-minute film presents a stark portrait of how criminal organizations have consolidated control over Haiti’s economy, infrastructure, and the movement of essential goods. It argues that many Haitians have been stripped of agency as gangs dominate ports, borders, and commerce—using violence and coercion to entrench their power. The DIG Award, presented by the investigative journalism festival in Modena, Italy, celebrates...

September 27, 2025 - Palestine -  Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Dayah was killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza, becoming the latest member of the press to lose his life in the ongoing war. According to reports from Wafa news agency and regional outlets, al-Dayah was working inside a media tent when the area came under heavy shelling. His death adds to the growing toll of journalists who have been killed since the beginning of Israel’s assault on Gaza, a number that now exceeds 250. Witnesses stated that al-Dayah was clearly identifiable as a journalist,...

September 28, 2025 - Palestine -  A recent investigative effort by Reuters, echoed by Al Jazeera’s coverage, dismantles Israel’s official narrative concerning the August 25 strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza, which claimed 22 lives, including five journalists. Israel asserted that its forces targeted a Hamas-operated surveillance camera mounted at the hospital, presenting drone footage as justification. But Reuters’ in-depth review of visual evidence and eyewitness testimonies uncovered a starkly different picture: the camera actually belonged to Reuters journalist Hussam al-Masri. For months, al-Masri had placed his camera on the hospital stairwell and routinely shielded...

September 28, 2025 - Philippines -  The Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (PCP) strongly denounced what it described as disturbing police hostility against members of the press who covered the Sept. 21 anti-corruption rallies. Marking the anniversary of martial law’s declaration, the protests were meant to spotlight government accountability and alleged misuse of funds, but for photojournalists on the ground, the day became a reminder of the fragile state of press freedom. PCP reported that numerous journalists were obstructed while attempting to document the demonstrations. Officers reportedly blocked their access to public spaces, mishandled their...

September 26, 2025 - Turkey -  Journalist Celalettin Yalçın, who has been held in pretrial detention for nearly two years on charges of “being a member of an illegal organization,” was released during his retrial hearing under judicial supervision and subject to reporting conditions. The decision came from the 37th Heavy Penal Court in Istanbul at the first hearing of Yalçın’s retrial. The court ordered that he must regularly report to authorities as a condition of release. Although the original sentence—six years and three months—was affirmed, the court took into account the time Yalçın already...

September 26, 2025 - Palestine -  Since the outbreak of the Israel–Gaza war on 7 October 2023, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has documented at least 152 cases of journalists being injured, and two cases of journalists going missing during the conflict. CPJ warns that the actual numbers—especially of injuries—are likely significantly higher, given limited access, security barriers, and unreported incidents. Many of these reported injuries have occurred in scenarios where journalists are working under bombardment or during attacks on civilian infrastructure. For example, CPJ records that during a targeted Israeli strike in Gaza City,...

September 26, 2025 - Palestine -  The Palestinian Journalists Protection Center (PJPC) condemned the arrest of 27-year-old journalist Yasser Jaradat, who works as a reporter and photographer for Palestine Post and other local media outlets. Jaradat was seized in a dawn raid on his home in Sa’ir, north of al-Khalil (Hebron), and taken by Israeli occupation forces to an undisclosed location. The PJPC characterized the arrest as part of “a systematic Israeli policy aimed at intimidating journalists and silencing the truth” in the occupied territories. It said that violations against Palestinian media professionals have surged this...

September 26, 2025 - Germany -  The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), together with the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) network, has publicly condemned recent actions by German police that hindered journalists covering pro-Palestinian protests—and urged stronger protections for press freedom. According to the joint statement, since early September 2025, MapMF (Mapping Media Freedom) has registered at least two incidents in Berlin in which journalists were obstructed while reporting on the demonstrations slated under the “All Together for Gaza” banner. In one case, on September 3, Italian photojournalist Zaira Biagini was stopped...

September 26, 2025 - Egypt -  On 24 September 2025, Egyptian authorities detained Ismail Alexandrani, a prominent investigative journalist, writer, and researcher, at a security checkpoint in Matrouh Governorate. He was later charged with “joining a terrorist group,” “spreading false news,” and “using a website to promote terrorist ideas,” and remanded for 15 days pending investigation. This detention marks a renewed crackdown on Alexandrani, who has already spent seven years imprisoned from 2015 to 2022 following a conviction by a military court on politically charged charges, including publishing military secrets. His re-arrest is widely seen by...

September 25, 2025 - Belgium -  The Kurdish Women Journalists Association (ROJIN) has condemned the detention of Heval Arslan, a founding member of ROJIN and presenter at Medya Haber TV, and urged Belgian authorities to release her immediately. Arslan was summoned to the Ninove police station on the evening of September 22, where she was detained without a court order. During her arrest, her personal belongings were confiscated, she underwent a strip search, and was placed in a cell. Officials allegedly threatened that she might be extradited, first to France and then onward to Turkey....

September 25, 2025 - Russia -  Journalist and Circassian activist Larisa Tuptsokova, who has resided in Georgia for over 14 years, has learned that Russian authorities have opened a criminal case against her on charges of involvement with an extremist organization. The notice was reportedly sent to her parents’ home in Maykop, Adygea, even though she has not been officially informed of the charges or permitted access to the case documents. Tuptsokova is also a philologist and teacher of the Circassian (Adyghe) language, in addition to her work as a journalist. She publicly stated that...

September 25, 2025 - Moroccan -  Moroccan journalist Younes Ftaite, editor-in-chief of the Bladna24 news outlet, was detained by authorities early on September 25, 2025, and then released later that same day. He confirmed the events via his Instagram account, stating that he had been taken in for questioning regarding his recent reporting and social media publications. The detention, though short-lived, raised alarms among press freedom defenders and fellow journalists, who viewed it as a possible act of intimidation against independent media voices in Morocco. Local news outlets reported that authorities have not publicly disclosed...

September 25, 2025 - Serbia -  Since June 1, 2025, at least 28 journalists in Serbia have reported being specifically targeted by police during coverage of anti-government protests, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Local press freedom groups describe such incidents as occurring almost daily in August. Many of these attacks involve journalists covering police violence. Rather than protecting these reporters, authorities are accused of harassment, beatings, phone seizures, and arbitrary detention. The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia reports 19 physical assaults in 2025 so far, already exceeding the full count of 17 in...

September 25, 2025 - General -  Over a month after an Israeli strike hit Gaza’s Nasser Hospital and killed five journalists, the Associated Press (AP) and Reuters are renewing their call for a transparent account from the Israeli authorities. The two media agencies issued a joint statement demanding clarity and accountability, emphasizing that the journalists were present in a location protected under international law and were performing essential reporting duties. The strike, which occurred on August 25, 2025, in Khan Younis, came in two waves. The initial attack hit a newsroom position, interrupting a live...

September 25, 2025 - Palestine -  A new campaign has been launched urging Israel to allow international journalists into Gaza, highlighting the urgent need for independent coverage of the war’s impact. The appeal, produced by BBC alongside other major news outlets, comes amid growing concern that the absence of foreign reporters has left Palestinian journalists to shoulder the reporting burden alone under conditions of extreme danger. Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby narrates the film at the heart of the campaign, calling attention to the critical role of open access in ensuring accountability and transparency during conflict....

September 24, 2025 - Iraq/Kurdistan -  Journalist Sherwan Sherwani, known for his investigative reporting in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, was arrested on charges of undermining public order, local media reports say. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) must immediately free him, human rights organizations and press‐freedom advocates assert. According to Menarights, Sherwani was detained following his coverage of political and security affairs. His arrest comes amid a climate of increasing pressure on critical voices in the region. Sherwani’s work has often examined official conduct, and his detention is viewed by many observers as retaliation for...

September 24, 2025 - Peru -  A journalist in Peru, Dennis Muñoz, has been subject to intimidation after bullets were left at both his workplace and his home, according to LatAm Journalism Review, citing Pachamama Radio. The incident took place in the early morning hours: one bullet was found at the main entrance of the radio station Radio Universal in Ayaviri, and two bullets were placed at Muñoz’s house. The placements appear calculated to provoke fear. Muñoz is director of the news program Chekaq Willakuykuna – Rijchariy Melgarino.  In recent weeks, he has reported on...

September 24, 2025 - USA -  Journalist Mario Guevara, detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since June following his arrest while livestreaming a protest in Georgia, has published a powerful handwritten letter from detention detailing his ordeal, emotional toll, and determination to continue reporting. Guevara’s detention comes despite all criminal charges against him being dropped and an immigration judge granting him bond—moves that did not lead to his release. The Board of Immigration Appeals instead reopened a 13-year-old deportation order, effectively nullifying the bond and ordering his removal to El Salvador. In his...

September 24, 2025 - Ecuador -  Ecuadorian reporters Elvira del Pilar Nole and Juan Carlos Tito, both forced into exile due to threats and persecution linked to their investigative work, were recently honored with the prestigious 2025 Press Freedom Award. The award, presented by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), recognizes their resilience in continuing to speak truth to power despite severe suppression. Del Pilar Nole, a journalist and human rights advocate, fled Ecuador after facing criminal defamation lawsuits and intimidation for reporting on corruption. Tito, her colleague, similarly confronted legal harassment and threats tied to...

September 24, 2025 - General -  The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, in partnership with the Google News Initiative, is launching a free online course titled Google AI Tools for Journalists: Optimizing Editorial Workflow, Content Creation, and Audience Engagement. Running from October 20 to November 16, 2025, the four-week bilingual (English/Spanish) program offers practical instruction in integrating Google AI into newsroom work. Designed for journalists, editors, freelancers, and newsroom staff, the course will cover how to streamline editorial tasks, boost investigative reporting, and increase audience interaction through AI tools. Instructors from the Google News...

September 24, 2025 - General -  At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the State of Qatar and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) came together in a high-level ministerial initiative to spotlight the grave dangers faced by journalists in Gaza. Qatar, represented by H.E. Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, reaffirmed that deliberate targeting of journalists violates international humanitarian law and called on the global community to ensure accountability for those responsible. She stressed that safeguarding journalists is not only a moral obligation but also a critical step in ensuring transparency during...

September 24, 2025 - Congo - Pacifique Muliri, a reporter with the Congolese Press Agency and freelance contributor to Africa Mining Intelligence, has been forced into hiding since early July 2025 following threats tied to his investigatory work in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. His investigation focused on gold-mining operations at the Lomera site in Kabare territory, South Kivu province, where he explored possible collusion between armed rebel groups and authorities in Kinshasa. During that period, Muliri’s home in Bukavu was assaulted by soldiers linked to the M23 and Congo River Alliance (AFC) militia factions,...

September 23, 2025 - Nigeria -  In his address at the Beatrice Bassey Ita Best Investigative Journalist Award ceremony in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, Union of Journalists (NUJ) President Alhassan Yahya affirmed that investigative journalism is essential to inclusive, sustainable democracy. He argued that probing reporting fosters transparency, accountability, and good governance—pillars without which democratic systems weaken. Yahya also used the platform to highlight the grave risks and pressures confronting Nigerian journalists today. He cited censorship, harassment, detention, and even threats to life as daily hazards in the work of uncovering the truth. Despite...

September 24, 2025 - Australia -  In Australia, the Federal Court has ruled that the national broadcaster, ABC, must pay journalist Antoinette Lattouf A$220,000 after finding her dismissal unlawful. Lattouf, hired on a short-term contract in December 2023, was terminated just three days in after she reposted a Human Rights Watch statement on Instagram about Israeli actions in Gaza. The judgment included A$150,000 in pecuniary penalties against ABC, added to the A$70,000 awarded earlier for non-economic loss. The court determined that ABC breached the Fair Work Act and its own enterprise agreement by failing to...