News

May 09, 2025 - USA -  At Columbia University, the student-led protests in support of Palestinians in Gaza have not only drawn national attention but also sparked a debate over freedom of the press and student rights on campus. Student journalists from Columbia's own publication, the Columbia Daily Spectator, claim they were blocked from covering key moments of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations, especially when police were called in to dismantle encampments and arrest students. According to the student reporters, the university administration limited press access and forced journalists to leave the protest area or face arrest,...

May 08, 2025 - Greece -  Media freedom in Greece continues to deteriorate, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch and multiple international journalism watchdogs. The findings highlight how systemic government surveillance, lack of transparency, and legal intimidation are undermining the ability of journalists to operate freely in the country historically known as the birthplace of democracy. The Human Rights Watch report, titled “From Bad to Worse”, details how journalists in Greece are subject to increasing levels of harassment, surveillance, and obstruction. Among the most concerning revelations is the use of spyware against...

May 08, 2025 - Palestine - The death toll of journalists in Gaza has reached alarming levels, with many media workers caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict. Since the start of the conflict, at least 215 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces, marking the situation in Gaza as one of the deadliest for journalists in recent history. The death of journalists is not just a statistic but an attack on press freedom and the right to report the truth. In the most recent incident, Palestinian journalist Hassan Islayeh, a prominent field reporter...

May 08, 2025 - India/America -  In early May 2025, India launched "Operation Sindoor," a series of precision airstrikes targeting militant infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This military action was in direct response to a terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 Hindu pilgrims were killed. The operation aimed to dismantle terrorist networks responsible for the attack and to address longstanding security threats emanating from across the border. One of the most significant outcomes of Operation Sindoor was the reported killing of Abdul Rauf Azhar, a senior commander of the...

May 08, 2025 - Cameroon -  Cameroonian journalist Fred Vubem, a seasoned reporter with the Cameroon Tribune, is recovering after a harrowing ordeal that saw him kidnapped, injured, and ultimately escape from his captors. Vubem was abducted on May 4, 2025, in Bambui, a locality in Cameroon’s conflict-hit North West Region, while returning from a visit to his native village, Kedjom Keku. According to media reports, Vubem was seized by unknown assailants and held overnight. The following day, he managed a daring escape and endured a three-day trek through dense bush terrain in search of...

May 08, 2025 - South Africa -  South African journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, who had been missing for nearly three months, are now believed to be dead after police discovered human remains near Rust de Winter in Limpopo on May 7. The bodies were found buried in a shallow grave in a remote bushy area, following a breakthrough in the case that involved multiple arrests. The couple was last seen on February 18 in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, sparking a weeks-long investigation and public appeals for information. Ndlovu, a...

May 08, 2025 - Mexico -  Miguel Ángel Anaya Castillo, the director of the independent digital outlet Pánuco Online, has been missing since April 13, 2025, in the northern Veracruz municipality of Pánuco. His disappearance, reported on April 19, has raised urgent concerns among press freedom organizations and local journalist protection bodies in Mexico. Anaya, known for his reporting on local politics, public corruption, and crime, had reportedly been under threat in the weeks leading up to his disappearance. According to accounts from his family and colleagues, three unidentified men claiming to represent the municipal...

May 08, 2025 - Palestine -  Two Palestinian journalists, Yahya Subaih and Nour al-Din Abdo, were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, highlighting the extreme dangers faced by media professionals in the region. Yahya Subaih, 30, was a dedicated reporter and photographer for the Palestine Post Agency, known for documenting civilian suffering, especially among children and displaced families. Tragically, he was killed just hours after the birth of his daughter, making him a father for only a brief time. His death underscores the personal toll of the conflict on journalists who strive to report from...

May 08, 2025 - Palestine -  A new investigative documentary has reignited global attention on the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by naming the Israeli soldier allegedly responsible for her death. The film, titled The Killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, presents fresh evidence and detailed analysis that points to an Israeli sniper as the shooter, contradicting earlier Israeli claims of uncertainty over the source of the fatal bullet. The documentary, co-produced by journalist Sharif Kouddous and directed by Yumna Patel for the outlet Mondoweiss, meticulously reconstructs the events of May 11, 2022, when...

May 07, 2025 - El Salvador - In early May 2025, El Salvador's independent news outlet El Faro reported that at least seven of its journalists are facing imminent arrest following the publication of interviews with former gang leaders alleging longstanding ties between President Nayib Bukele's administration and criminal organizations. The journalists are reportedly being targeted for charges including "unlawful association" and "advocacy of crime," marking a significant escalation in the government's crackdown on press freedom. The controversy centers around a three-part video series released by El Faro, featuring testimonies from ex-leaders of the 18th...

May 07, 2025 - General -  Journalists operating in conflict zones face escalating threats, with both state and non-state actors undermining their safety and freedom. Despite international laws designed to protect them, the reality on the ground often tells a different story. International humanitarian law (IHL) classifies journalists as civilians, granting them protection during armed conflicts. However, this distinction is frequently ignored, leading to attacks, censorship, and intimidation. The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) emphasizes that the erosion of press freedom in war zones not only endangers journalists but also deprives societies of critical...

May 07, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In early May 2025, Azerbaijani authorities arrested two independent journalists, Ulviyya Ali and Ahmad Mammadli, escalating the ongoing suppression of press freedom in the country. These arrests bring the total number of detained journalists to at least 25 since late 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Ulviyya Ali, a contributor to Voice of America, was detained at her residence and remanded to nearly two months of pre-trial detention. Authorities allege her involvement in a currency smuggling case linked to Meydan TV, a Germany-based independent outlet. However,...

May 07, 2025 - Peru -  On May 7, 2025, veteran Peruvian journalist Raúl Celis López was assassinated in Iquitos, marking the second journalist killing in Peru this year. Celis, 70, was ambushed by two gunmen on a motorcycle while en route to his early-morning radio program, Hora Zero, on Radio La Karibeña. He was shot three times in the back of the head and died at the scene. Celis was renowned for his fearless reporting on corruption, organized crime, and illegal lending practices in Peru’s Amazon region. His broadcasts frequently exposed the activities of...

May 07, 2025 - India -  Recent developments in the investigations of two journalist killings in Pakistan and India have reignited debates over press freedom, accountability, and justice in South Asia. In Pakistan, a key suspect was killed in a police encounter, while in India, the main accused in another case was arrested by authorities. In Sukkur, Sindh province of Pakistan, Sikandar Lanjar—identified as the prime suspect in the 2023 murder of journalist Jan Mohammad Mahar—was killed during a police raid. According to police, Lanjar was involved in organized crime and resisted arrest, prompting an...

May 06, 2025 - Nepal -  Nepal's media landscape is facing a dire crisis as journalists become casualties in the nation's escalating political unrest. The deaths of photojournalist Suresh Rajak and reporter Suresh Bhul have underscored the increasing dangers faced by media professionals in the country. On March 28, 2025, during a pro-monarchy protest in Kathmandu's Tinkune area, 29-year-old Suresh Rajak, a cameraman for Avenues Television, was tragically killed. He was found dead inside a building set ablaze by demonstrators. The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has called for a high-level investigation into his death,...

May 06, 2025 - India/Pakistan - Following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, the Indian government has taken swift actions to control the media narrative, blocking several YouTube channels, arresting social media users, and cracking down on independent commentary. The response has raised concerns among press freedom advocates over the shrinking space for dissent and the growing criminalization of speech. The attack, which resulted in multiple casualties, was attributed to Pakistan-based militants. In its aftermath, authorities began targeting what they labeled as “anti-India propaganda.” Several Pakistani YouTube channels were blocked for allegedly spreading misinformation and...

May 06, 2025 - Turkey -  Global outrage is mounting over the deaths of dozens of journalists in Gaza, with international media watchdogs and political leaders accusing Israel of deliberately targeting members of the press during its ongoing military operations. As the conflict continues to escalate, the toll on media professionals has reached unprecedented levels. Media freedom advocates have condemned what they describe as a systematic assault on journalists working in Gaza. According to the International Federation of Journalists and other rights groups, Israel's military actions have led to the deaths of over 60 journalists...

May 06, 2025 - Sudan -  Sudanese journalist Hassan Fadl al-Mawla Mousa was killed during a violent assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the paramilitary group captured the town of Wad al-Noura in Sudan’s Gezira state. His death marks yet another blow to press freedom in a country where the ongoing civil conflict has created increasingly dangerous conditions for journalists. Mousa, who was also an Islamic scholar, lost his life while documenting the unfolding military operation. He was shot and killed during the RSF’s takeover of the town, part of a broader push...

May 06, 2025 - Tajikistan -  The government of Tajikistan is facing growing condemnation for its prolonged detention of independent journalist Rukhshona Khakimova, whose case has come to symbolize the country’s tightening grip on freedom of expression. Human rights advocates, international watchdogs, and Khakimova’s own family are urging authorities to release her immediately and drop the politically motivated charges. Khakimova, a young reporter known for her critical coverage and ties to independent outlets, has been in custody since September 2023. Initially taken in for questioning, her detention was later extended under accusations of involvement in...

May 06, 2025 - Vietnam -  Vietnam’s hardline stance on dissent continues to draw international concern, with several journalists imprisoned for sharing views critical of the government. Human rights advocates and press freedom groups are now urging U.S. officials to push for their release, emphasizing the growing repression in the Southeast Asian nation. A coalition of press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), has formally appealed to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio to address the issue with Vietnamese leaders. The appeal highlights the imprisonment of multiple journalists, arguing that the U.S. has both...

May 06, 2025 - Iran -  Iran has sentenced six senior media professionals in a sweeping campaign that reflects the government’s escalating pressure on independent journalism. The convictions come amid a broader suppression of dissent, with journalists, activists, and political voices facing mounting risks. The six media executives, affiliated with the reformist newspaper Shargh and the Ham Mihan outlet, were found guilty of various charges, including spreading propaganda against the state and collusion to undermine national security. Their trials, held behind closed doors, were widely criticized for lacking transparency and due process. These prosecutions follow...

May 05, 2025 - Cameroon -  Journalists in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions are facing escalating threats from both government forces and separatist fighters, caught in a deadly crossfire that has turned reporting into a life-threatening act of bravery. The crisis, rooted in a separatist rebellion that began in 2017, has severely undermined press freedom and placed reporters in an impossible position: serve the truth and risk death, or stay silent and watch injustice unfold. Many journalists report being pressured by both sides to control the narrative. Former Canal 2 International reporter Lambert Kehven shared how separatist...

May 05, 2025 - Palestine -  The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to an unprecedented number of journalist fatalities, with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reporting at least 124 media worker deaths worldwide in 2024—the deadliest year on record. Nearly 70% of these deaths occurred in Gaza, underscoring the region's perilous environment for journalists. The CPJ and other organizations have documented a disturbing pattern of Israeli military forces targeting journalists and their families, raising serious concerns about press freedom and the protection of media personnel in conflict zones. Reports indicate that Israeli forces...

May 03, 2025 - Palestine -  As the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd, a grim truth casts a long shadow over the celebrations: in Gaza, journalism has become a deadly profession. Since Israel launched its military operations in Gaza in October 2023, at least 212 journalists and media workers have been killed, according to reports from The New Arab and Anadolu Agency. This makes Gaza the deadliest conflict zone for journalists ever recorded. In addition, 409 journalists have been injured and 48 detained. Many of those killed were not just casualties...

May 05, 2025 - General -  World Press Freedom Day 2025, observed on May 3, brought together global and regional voices to reflect on the evolving challenges facing journalism, with a particular focus on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), gender-based threats, and the ongoing struggle for press freedom. UNESCO's flagship event, held in Brussels under the theme "Reporting in the Brave New World," examined the transformative role of AI in journalism. Discussions highlighted both the opportunities AI presents for investigative reporting and fact-checking, and the ethical dilemmas it introduces, such as algorithmic bias and...