News

June 11, 2025 - Palestine -  Israeli naval forces intercepted the UK‑flagged aid vessel Madleen in international waters, approximately 185 km off the Gaza coast, amid a humanitarian convoy organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The flotilla, which set sail from Sicily on June 1 carrying symbolic aid—baby formula, rice, medical kits—intended to highlight Gaza’s critical humanitarian crisis. Israeli commandos boarded the vessel using drones, communications jamming measures, and irritant sprays before towing it to Ashdod. Aboard were 12 individuals, including high-profile participants such as climate activist Greta Thunberg, French MEP Rima Hassan, and two journalists from...

June 10, 2025 - Eritrea -  Eritrea remains one of the most repressive countries for journalists, with a history of arbitrary detentions and a complete absence of independent media. Since the government's crackdown on the press in 2001, many journalists have been imprisoned without charge or trial, enduring harsh conditions and prolonged isolation. Dawit Isaak: The Longest-Imprisoned Journalist Dawit Isaak, a Swedish-Eritrean journalist and co-founder of Setit, Eritrea's first independent newspaper, was arrested in September 2001 during a government purge targeting independent media. Despite holding dual citizenship, Isaak has been detained without trial for over...

June 10, 2025 - General -  Nicole Sadek, an investigative reporter for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), has been awarded the 2025 Livingston Award for Excellence in International Reporting. The award recognizes her exceptional work on the "Caspian Cabals" investigation, a collaborative project that exposed how Western oil companies overlooked corruption risks to secure stakes in a critical Kazakhstan-Russia pipeline, enriching Kazakh and Russian elites in the process. Sadek's reporting was praised for its "tenacity and sensitivity," highlighting the human impact of the environmental and health crises caused by the oil industry in...

June 11, 2025 - Ethiopia -  Ethiopian journalist Tesfalem Waldyes has been detained by authorities in Addis Ababa despite a court order granting him bail, raising serious concerns about press freedom in the country. Waldyes, a well-known journalist and co-founder of the independent media outlet Ethiopia Insider, was held even after a judge authorized his release. This move has sparked condemnation from international organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which has called for his immediate release. Tesfalem Waldyes has faced legal challenges before. In 2015, he was detained on terrorism-related charges, which were...

June 10, 2025 -  Interviewing potentially dangerous individuals, such as armed actors, criminals, or volatile sources, poses serious risks for journalists. Both Journalism.co.uk and IJNet emphasize the importance of preparation, awareness, and ethical boundaries when navigating such encounters. The first step is thorough preparation. Journalists should conduct a full risk assessment before setting out, considering the location, the subject’s background, and the broader context. Understanding the political, social, or criminal dynamics involved can help anticipate possible threats. Enrolling in hostile environment training and carrying a basic first aid kit are also recommended, especially in unstable...

June 10, 2025 - Cambodia -  Cambodian court sentenced Sy Loeuy to 12 years in prison for the murder of environmental journalist Chhoeung Chhoeng. The 63-year-old journalist, who worked for the Khmer-language newspaper Kampuchea Aphiwat, was shot on December 4, 2024, in Siem Reap province while investigating illegal logging operations. Chhoeng succumbed to his injuries three days later in the hospital. The case drew national and international attention, particularly due to the long-standing risks faced by journalists reporting on environmental and land issues in Cambodia. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Loeuy...

June 10, 2025 - Palestine -  The ongoing conflict in Gaza has claimed another journalist's life, raising serious concerns over the safety of media professionals operating in the region. On June 9, 2025, Palestinian freelance photojournalist Momen Abu Alof was killed during Israeli attacks in eastern Gaza City. Abu Alof, who was accompanying an ambulance crew to evacuate the injured, died alongside three paramedics when Israeli forces targeted the area. His death brings the total number of journalists killed since the start of Israel's military operations on Gaza in October 2023 to 227, according to...

June 09, 2025 - France/Palestine -  Two French journalists—Yanis Mhamdi (Blast) and Omar Faiad (Al Jazeera)—were detained by the Israeli military on June 9 during the interception of the Gaza-bound aid vessel Madleen, prompting swift international outcry from press freedom groups. The Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Sicily on June 1 carrying symbolic humanitarian aid and 12 passengers, including climate activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan. Israel’s navy intercepted the ship in international waters—around 185 km from Gaza—and towed it to Ashdod. Military commandos boarded after deploying drones and “irritant” substances to disable communications....

June 09, 2025 - Australia/USA -  Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, a correspondent for Nine News, was struck by a rubber bullet while covering protests in Los Angeles on June 8, 2025. The protests were sparked by a series of controversial ICE raids targeting immigrant communities. Tomasi was reporting live when the incident occurred, and the moment was captured on air as she was hit in the leg while marked as press. The footage shows Tomasi visibly recoiling in pain but quickly assuring viewers, “I’m good,” as she was escorted away from the scene. Despite wearing...

June 08, 2025 - Vancouver -  Canadian journalist Mocha Bezirgan was assaulted on June 8, 2025, while covering a pro-Khalistan rally in downtown Vancouver. The attack has raised fresh concerns about press freedom, political extremism, and the growing tensions within Canada’s Sikh diaspora community. Bezirgan, known for his investigative work on extremism, was filming the rally when a group of pro-Khalistan protesters confronted him aggressively. He reported that multiple individuals surrounded him, attempted to block his camera, and forcibly seized his phone. One attacker, believed to be a British national, followed him persistently even after...

June 07, 2025 - Palestine -  In a sharply worded response, UN agency chief Philippe Lazzarini has denounced Israel’s continued prohibition on international journalists entering Gaza, calling it “a ban on the truth” and warning that it fosters misinformation, heightened polarization, and dehumanization. The ban, in effect since the outbreak of war, now surpassing 20 months, has drawn international condemnation from humanitarian groups and global media organizations. Lazzarini emphasized the critical role of independent coverage, urging that international journalists be granted access to directly report from Gaza. He also stressed the need to support local...

June 06, 2025 - Iran -  Iran’s government has intensified its transnational repression by systematically targeting the families of exiled journalists, particularly those working for BBC Persian. This growing campaign aims to silence journalists abroad by threatening their loved ones still living inside Iran, using a calculated mix of intimidation, harassment, and punishment. According to reports from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Iranian intelligence agents have summoned family members of several journalists and delivered chilling ultimatums: tell their relatives abroad to stop reporting or face severe consequences. In some cases, relatives have...

June 06, 2025 - Malta -  Nearly eight years after the brutal murder of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, several key figures involved in the assassination have been convicted and sentenced, marking a significant development in one of Europe's most shocking attacks on press freedom. Caruana Galizia, known for her fearless reporting on political corruption, money laundering, and organized crime in Malta, was killed on October 16, 2017, when a car bomb detonated under her vehicle near her home. The assassination sent shockwaves through the international community, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for justice....

June 05, 2025 - UK - Recent reports focus on Tommy Robinson, a well-known British activist and former leader of the English Defence League, amid his court appearances and accusations of harassment against journalists. Robinson, who has a history of provocative activism and legal issues, was recently in the news for his involvement in a court case and subsequent allegations. According to The Independent, Tommy Robinson appeared in court facing charges related to his conduct, which included accusations of breaching court orders and disrupting proceedings. The case has drawn significant media attention due to Robinson’s...

June 05, 2025 - Yemen -  Recent reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and Radio Free Asia reveal a troubling escalation in Yemen's crackdown on the press. The Yemeni authorities have issued arrest warrants against multiple journalists, primarily targeting those investigating corruption and challenging government narratives, amid a broader pattern of harassment and repression of media workers. According to the CPJ, Yemen's security agencies have issued warrants for the detention of several journalists, accusing them of spreading false information and undermining national security. These actions come amid...

June 05, 2025 - General -  Recent reports highlight significant challenges faced by journalists amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Arab News and BBC News have covered the tense situation involving media coverage in conflict zones, emphasizing the risks journalists encounter and the importance of press freedom. Additionally, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has issued a statement condemning the detention of BBC journalists by Israeli forces. Arab News reports on the increasing dangers for journalists reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The article highlights instances where journalists have been targeted or detained, underscoring the...

June 05, 2025 - Africa - More than 100 African journalists and media rights organizations have joined forces to demand transparency and accountability from Guinea’s military authorities regarding the disappearance of journalist Habib Marouane Camara. The prominent reporter, who founded and managed the Conakry-based news outlet Le Révélateur 224, has been missing since December 3, 2024. Camara was abducted in the Lambanyi district of Conakry by men dressed in gendarme uniforms. Witnesses reported that he was forcibly removed from his vehicle, beaten unconscious, and taken to an undisclosed location. His car was later found with...

June 05, 2025 - Palestine -  On June 4, 2025, an Israeli unmanned aerial strike targeted the courtyard of the Al‑Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, where a group of journalists had gathered. The attack resulted in the deaths of four media workers—Ismail Baddah, Suleiman Hajjaj, Samir Al‑Rifai, and Ahmad Qalja (who later succumbed to injuries), while Imad Daloul was critically wounded. Eyewitnesses and hospital staff, including hospital director Dr. Fadel Naeem, confirmed the strike hit journalists at their makeshift reporting site. Daloul and Qalja were rushed into intensive care. Local and international press freedom monitors...

June 05, 2025 - Brazil -  Brazilian prosecutors have officially charged Rubén Darío Villar, a Colombian fish trader, for orchestrating the brutal 2022 murders of British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira. The indictment marks a major milestone in a case that has drawn global attention to the dangers faced by environmental defenders and journalists in the Amazon. On June 5, 2022, Phillips and Pereira disappeared while traveling by boat in the remote Javari Valley, one of Brazil's most isolated regions plagued by illegal fishing, logging, and mining. Their mission was to...

June 04, 2025 - India -  The Supreme Court recently declined to grant interim protection to two journalists from Madhya Pradesh who had accused the police of custodial abuse and harassment. The journalists sought the court’s intervention following what they described as police intimidation linked to their professional work. The journalists alleged that police officers had subjected them to harsh treatment and abuse while in custody. They claimed that this harassment was an attempt to suppress their reporting and intimidate the press. The case raised serious concerns about freedom of the press and police conduct...

June 04, 2025 - El Salvador - In a landmark ruling, a Salvadoran court on June 3, 2025, convicted three former military officials for orchestrating the 1982 killing of four Dutch journalists during the country’s civil war. The court sentenced Gen. José Guillermo García (91), Col. Francisco Morán (93), and Col. Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena (85) to 15 years in prison each. García and Morán, both in fragile health, were present via hospital custody in San Salvador. Reyes Mena, who resides in the United States, was convicted in absentia and faces extradition. The victims—Jan Kuiper,...

June 04, 2025 - UK/Brazil -  Charlotte Alice Peet, a 32-year-old British journalist, has been found safe in Brazil nearly four months after she was reported missing. Known for her coverage of South American affairs for outlets like The Independent, Al Jazeera, and The Times, Peet had been living in Brazil and returned to the country in November 2024. She last communicated with her family on February 8, 2025, telling them she was headed to Rio de Janeiro in search of accommodation. After that, she went silent, prompting growing concern. Peet’s family filed a missing...

June 04, 2025 - Argentina -  In a troubling trend drawing global condemnation, journalists covering peaceful protests in Argentina are increasingly facing targeted repression at the hands of state security forces. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has raised urgent alarms about what it describes as a systematic campaign to silence media coverage through violence and intimidation—an effort that directly threatens democratic freedoms in the country. Since the inauguration of President Javier Milei in December 2023, Argentina has witnessed a surge in public demonstrations, particularly among pensioners protesting austerity measures and social reforms. Yet these otherwise peaceful...

June 03, 2025 - General -  The European Union, together with the Samir Kassir Foundation, celebrated the 20th edition of the Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press. The ceremony took place at the historic Sursock Palace Gardens in Beirut, Lebanon. Established in 2006 to honor the memory of Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir, the award recognizes courageous and outstanding journalism in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf region. This year, the award highlighted the exceptional work of three journalists from Palestine, Egypt, and Syria, whose reporting shed light on critical and often...

June 03, 2025 - Yemen - Houthi authorities in Yemen have escalated their campaign against journalists and humanitarian workers, drawing international condemnation for a wave of detentions and rights violations. At least four journalists were abducted between May 21 and 23 in the Houthi-controlled city of Hodeidah. The detainees include freelance photographer Abduljabbar Zayad, journalist Hassan Ziyad of Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, media director Abdulaziz Al-Noum, and syndicate official Walid Ali Ghalib. The arrests were reportedly carried out without legal warrants or explanation. In a separate case, journalist Mohamed Al-Miyahi was sentenced on May 24 to 18...