News

February 18, 2025 - Philippines -  In a significant escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has condemned what it describes as "dangerous" maneuvers by a Chinese Navy helicopter that flew within three meters of a Philippine surveillance aircraft over the contested Scarborough Shoal on February 18, 2025. The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft, which was conducting a routine maritime domain awareness flight, had a group of journalists onboard. According to the PCG, the Chinese helicopter performed "reckless" flight maneuvers, tailing the plane before drawing...

February 18, 2025 - France/Syria - The French judiciary has expanded its investigation into the 2012 deaths of journalist Marie Colvin and photographer Rémi Ochlik in Syria, now considering the incident as a potential crime against humanity. This move follows new evidence suggesting a coordinated attack targeting civilians, including journalists and human rights defenders, as part of a systematic campaign. Marie Colvin, a renowned American war correspondent for The Sunday Times, and French photographer Rémi Ochlik were killed on February 22, 2012, during a shelling of the Baba Amr Media Center in Homs, Syria. The...

February 18, 2025 - Belarus - Belarus has released three detainees, including an American citizen and a journalist affiliated with U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). This move is seen as part of Belarus's efforts to improve relations with the United States. The American detainee's identity and the charges against them have not been publicly disclosed. The journalist, Andrey Kuznechyk, was arrested in November 2021 during a crackdown on independent media in Belarus. Initially sentenced to 10 days in jail on hooliganism charges, Kuznechyk was later charged with participating in an extremist organization and sentenced...

February 18, 2025 - Australia - A 61-year-old man from Lake Cathie, New South Wales, has been arrested and charged with sending a harassing and racially charged email to journalist Antoinette Lattouf. The email, which contained violent threats, was reported to police by Lattouf in late 2024. Following an investigation by the Counter-Terrorism and Special Tactics Command’s Security Investigations Unit, authorities executed a search warrant at the man's residence and arrested him on February 18, 2025. He has been charged under Section 474.17 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) for using a carriage service...

February 17, 2025 - Turkey - Turkish authorities have intensified their scrutiny of journalists and media outlets critical of the government, leading to arrests and legal actions that have raised concerns about press freedom in the country. Halk TV Journalists Detained On January 28, 2025, Turkish police detained three prominent journalists from the opposition broadcaster Halk TV—Barış Pehlivan, Seda Selek, and Serhan Asker. The detentions were part of an investigation into allegations that the journalists had attempted to influence an expert witness in ongoing court cases involving mayors from the main opposition Republican People's Party...

February 17, 2025 - France - In a landmark decision, a French court has sentenced 39-year-old French jihadist Mehdi Nemmouche to life imprisonment for his role in the 2013 kidnapping of four French journalists by the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. Nemmouche, who was already serving a life sentence in Belgium for a 2014 attack on the Jewish Museum in Brussels, was convicted of holding the journalists hostage in Aleppo for 10 months. The court also sentenced his co-defendants: Abdelmalek Tanem received 22 years, and Kais Al Abdallah was sentenced to 20 years. Two...

February 17, 2025 - Philippines - For the first time in two decades, the Philippines reported no journalist killings in 2024, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). This marks a significant shift from previous years, where the country consistently ranked among the deadliest for journalists. However, experts caution that this development may be attributed to factors beyond improved press freedom. The CPJ's report highlights that the absence of journalist deaths in 2024 could be due to various reasons, including the lack of local reporting on such incidents, increased safety measures, and potential self-censorship...

February 17, 2025 - Bangladesh -  Journalists in Bangladesh are facing increasing threats, attacks, and legal pressures, raising serious concerns about press freedom in the country. In early 2025, the situation worsened as reporters were subjected to physical violence and intimidation, with at least 17 journalists attacked in February alone. A notable incident involved Shohag Khan Sujon, a correspondent for the daily Samakal, who was assaulted with a hammer and stabbed after investigating allegations of medical negligence. Such attacks highlight the dangerous conditions under which journalists operate, especially when reporting on sensitive issues. Alongside physical...

February 17, 2025 - El Salvador/USA - Salvadoran journalist Manuel Duran spent over 15 months in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after covering an immigration protest in Memphis, Tennessee. His arrest and prolonged detention have sparked concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists reporting on immigration issues. Duran was arrested in April 2018 during a protest against ICE’s immigration enforcement policies. Although he was initially charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing a highway, those charges were eventually dropped. However, because of a 2007 deportation order from when he was younger, ICE...

February 17, 2025 - South Africa/Netherlands - Dutch journalist Sophie van Leeuwen, an Africa correspondent for RTL Nieuws, was detained by Sierra Leonean authorities on suspicion of espionage. She was reportedly conducting documentary work in Freetown when she was arrested by the Sierra Leone Police. The police alleged that she was filming without proper authorization, leading to her detention and subsequent interrogation at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Van Leeuwen's arrest coincided with heightened tensions between Sierra Leone and the Netherlands over the alleged presence of Dutch drug lord Jos Leijdekkers in Sierra Leone. Leijdekkers,...

February 16, 2025 - Turkey/Syria -  Syrian Kurdish journalist Agid Roj was killed on February 15, 2025, in a Turkish drone strike near the Tishrin Dam, northeast of Manbij, Syria. Roj, originally from Afrin, had been reporting on escalating tensions between Turkish forces and Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. His death has drawn widespread condemnation from press freedom organizations and local activists, who accuse Turkey of deliberately targeting journalists and civilians in the region. The Tishrin Dam area has been a focal point of Turkish military operations, with repeated airstrikes and shelling attacks targeting the...

February 16, 2025 - Syria -  The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) has issued a strong call for the global community to end its silence over repeated attacks on journalists in the region. This appeal comes in the wake of the recent killing of Kurdish journalist Egîd Roj (also known as Şervan Sîdo), who was killed in a Turkish drone strike near the Tishrin Dam. This tragic event marks the third attack on journalists in Northeast Syria since December 2024. DAANES condemned the Turkish state and allied forces for targeting media...

February 16, 2025 - Syria/Turkey -  Egîd Roj, a courageous journalist from Afrin, Syria, lost his life on February 15, 2025, during a Turkish drone strike at Tishrin Dam in northeastern Syria. Known for his fearless reporting from conflict zones, Egîd was covering the ongoing civilian resistance when he was targeted. His death highlights the extreme dangers faced by journalists working to document the realities in war-torn regions. Before his tragic death, Egîd shared a powerful message of resilience and hope. In his final words, he urged people not to give in to despair, emphasizing...

February 16, 2025 - Turkey -  Journalist Egîd Roj (born Shervan Seydo) was killed in a Turkish drone strike while covering civilian protests at Tishrin Dam in northeastern Syria. His death underscores the perilous conditions faced by journalists in conflict zones and highlights the targeted attacks on the press by the Turkish state. Born in Afrin into a patriotic family, Egîd Roj dedicated his life to documenting the struggles and resistance of his people. Since the outbreak of the Northern and Eastern Syria Revolution in 2012, he joined the revolutionary movement, initially participating in defense...

February 16, 2025 - General - Since the outbreak of intense conflict in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Palestinian journalists have faced extraordinary dangers while reporting from the frontlines. Despite relentless attacks, including bombings and sniper fire, more than 200 media workers have lost their lives, making Gaza one of the deadliest places for journalists globally. The killing of reporters such as Ismail al-Ghoul, who died covering critical events in Gaza City, highlights the grave risks these journalists endure daily. Israeli forces have systematically sought to suppress independent media coverage by evacuating foreign journalists and...

February 14, 2025 - General - A dispute between the White House and the Associated Press (AP) arose over the naming of a major body of water. President Donald Trump issued an executive order renaming the "Gulf of Mexico" as the "Gulf of America," a move that drew criticism from the Mexican government, international media, and many observers who viewed it as unnecessary and politically charged. The AP, known for maintaining strict editorial standards, continued to use the term "Gulf of Mexico" in its reporting. The agency justified this decision by citing the name’s long-standing...

February 13, 2025 - Italy - The Italian government faced allegations of using Israeli-made spyware, Graphite, developed by Paragon Solutions, to surveil journalists and migrant activists. The controversy erupted when WhatsApp informed 90 individuals across 24 countries, including Italian journalist Francesco Cancellato and migrant rights advocate Luca Casarini, that their phones had been compromised by the spyware. The spyware, capable of accessing encrypted messages and other sensitive data, was reportedly deployed without the users' knowledge. The Italian government denied any involvement in the surveillance activities. Cabinet Minister Luca Ciriani acknowledged that at least seven Italian...

February 13, 2025 - Egypt -  In a deepening crackdown on dissent and press freedom, Egyptian authorities arrested Nada Mougheeth, the wife of jailed cartoonist Ashraf Omar, on January 16, 2025. Her arrest came shortly after she gave an interview criticizing the government’s treatment of her husband, who has been detained since July 2024 for publishing satirical cartoons critical of the Egyptian regime and economic mismanagement. According to reports, Mougheeth was taken from her home in Cairo by state security officers. She now faces serious charges, including “spreading false news” and “joining a terrorist organization.”...

February 13, 2025 - Georgia -  Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist and founder of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, has become a symbol of resistance against the Georgian government's increasing authoritarianism. On January 12, 2025, Amaghlobeli was arrested during an anti-government protest in Batumi, initially for placing a sticker calling for a national strike. She was later rearrested and charged with assaulting a police officer after slapping Batumi's police chief, Irakli Dgebuadze, in response to alleged verbal abuse. The charge carries a potential prison sentence of 4 to 7 years. In protest...

February 13, 2025 - Source: News4 -  The Italian government denied Wednesday that it had spied on journalists and migrant activists using spyware but said it would cooperate with an investigation into “vulnerabilities” after at least seven Italian cellphones were apparently hacked with military-grade surveillance technology. Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service informed dozens of people across the European Union on Jan. 31 that they had been targeted in a spyware attack using technology from Israeli cyber firm Paragon Solutions. In a statement provided by Meta’s Italy press office, WhatsApp said it had disrupted what it called...

February 13, 2025 - USA -  Tensions escalated between the White House and the Associated Press (AP) over the renaming of the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America.” President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14172 on January 20, mandating that federal agencies adopt the new name. Though the order was limited to government use, it quickly became a point of contention with media organizations and the public, who criticized the move as politically motivated and historically inaccurate. The AP maintained its editorial policy of using “Gulf of Mexico” in its coverage, recognizing the...

February 12, 2025 - Madacasgar -  Investigative journalist Fernand Cello, affiliated with the daily newspaper Basy Vava, was arrested at his home in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, and detained at Antanimora prison. His detention has been marked by a lack of access to legal counsel, family, or colleagues, raising serious concerns about due process and press freedom. Cello's arrest stems from a September 2023 Facebook post in which he inaccurately claimed that President Andry Rajoelina and other top officials had fled to France. Although he promptly retracted the statement and issued a public apology, authorities charged...

February 12, 2025 - USA - Belarus released three detainees on February 12, 2025, including an American citizen, Belarusian journalist Andrey Kuznechyk, and opposition activist Alena Maushuk. The surprise move, facilitated through diplomatic coordination with Lithuania and the United States, was welcomed by the White House and international human rights advocates. The American citizen, whose identity remains undisclosed, was reportedly transferred to safety in Vilnius, Lithuania, along with the two Belarusians. The U.S. government confirmed their release and praised the collaborative efforts that led to their freedom, particularly highlighting Lithuania’s role in providing safe passage...

February 12, 2025 - Haiti -  Haiti has become one of the deadliest places in the world to be a journalist, despite not being in an official war zone. Journalists in the country face relentless threats from heavily armed gangs, political instability, and the breakdown of government institutions. The once-vibrant media landscape is now in survival mode, as reporters are targeted with alarming frequency. Gang violence, especially in Port-au-Prince, has made newsrooms direct targets. In March, the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition launched coordinated attacks, setting fire to at least three radio stations, including the...

February 12, 2025 - Palestine -  In 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported a record 124 journalist deaths across 18 countries, marking the deadliest year since the organization began tracking such data over three decades ago. Notably, Israel was responsible for nearly 70% of these fatalities, with 85 journalists killed by the Israeli military during the conflict in Gaza. The majority of those killed were Palestinians, including freelancers and local reporters who continued to document the war despite facing extreme risks. The CPJ highlighted that freelance journalists accounted for over a third of...