News

March 16, 2025  - Iraq/Kurdish -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urgently called for the release of two investigative journalists, Bashdar Bazyani and Sherwan Sherwani, who were detained in Iraqi Kurdistan. Both journalists have been known for their critical reporting on regional political and social issues, which has reportedly led to their arrests. The detentions have sparked widespread concern among press freedom advocates, as RSF highlights a troubling pattern of intimidation and repression against independent media in the region. Authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan have been accused of using legal and extralegal measures to silence journalists...

March 16, 2025 - Philippines - On March 11, 2025, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa was honored with the 2025 Rotary Peace Laureate Award by the Rotary Club of Makati San Lorenzo in the Philippines. The award recognizes her unwavering commitment to press freedom, truth, and social justice amid ongoing challenges to journalism in the country. Ressa, co-founder and CEO of the digital news platform Rappler, has been a prominent figure in advocating for media independence and transparency. Her work has often placed her at odds with governmental authorities, leading to multiple legal challenges...

March 16, 2025 - Georgia -  Georgia's media landscape has witnessed a significant decline in press freedom, marked by increasing violence against journalists and restrictive legislation. On March 15, 2025, Gela Mtivlishvili, editor-in-chief of the “Mtis Ambebi” publication, was attacked by an armed officer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs near Tserovani. The assailant, accompanied by another individual, threatened and physically assaulted Mtivlishvili, attempting to seize his phone as he documented the incident. Eyewitnesses captured the attack on video. This incident underscores the hazardous conditions journalists face in Georgia. The Media Advocacy Coalition (MAC), comprising...

March 16, 2025 - General -  In an opinion piece for The Colorado Sun, columnist Mario Nicolais sounded the alarm over the growing threats facing independent journalism in the United States. Using recent developments at The Washington Post as a case study, Nicolais argues that editorial independence is increasingly compromised by political and corporate pressures, putting democratic integrity at risk. The controversy centers on the paper’s decision not to endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming election, a move Nicolais interprets as an effort to avoid angering former President Donald Trump. He highlights this as...

March 16, 2025 - Kudish/Iraq -  Sherwan Sherwani, a Kurdish investigative journalist and human rights defender, remains incarcerated in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq following a series of controversial legal actions that have drawn widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations. Initially arrested in October 2020 for covering anti-government protests in Duhok, Sherwani was sentenced in February 2021 to six years in prison on charges of "endangering national security." The trial was criticized for serious violations of fair trial standards, including allegations of torture and the use of coerced confessions. In February 2022, his sentence...

March 15, 2025 - General - The Royal Television Society (RTS) reversed its controversial decision to withdraw an award recognizing Gaza-based journalists following widespread criticism and public outcry. The award initially honored their courageous reporting on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The dispute began when RTS rescinded the award, citing concerns over impartiality, sparking accusations that the move amounted to censorship and suppression of vital frontline journalism. Many media professionals, human rights advocates, and international observers condemned the decision, arguing it undermined press freedom and the crucial role of journalists covering conflict zones. Following intense...

March 15, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Since late 2023, Azerbaijan has escalated its campaign against independent journalism, imprisoning more than 20 journalists and media workers, mostly women, on politically motivated charges. This crackdown is widely seen as a deliberate effort by President Ilham Aliyev’s government to silence dissenting voices and control the flow of information. Many detained journalists work for critical outlets such as Abzas Media, Meydan TV, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). For example, Sevinj Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, faces accusations of “smuggling foreign currency,” which she and her supporters reject as...

March 15, 2025 - Palestine/USA/Europe -  The United States and European Union jointly announced the suspension of Al-Aqsa TV from all satellite networks, a move that has sparked widespread condemnation from Palestinian groups and media organizations. The decision includes severe financial penalties and potential legal actions against satellite providers that continue to broadcast the channel, which is affiliated with Hamas. Hamas has denounced the ban as a blatant violation of media freedom and an attempt to suppress the Palestinian narrative. The group asserts that the decision is part of a broader campaign to silence Palestinian...

March 15, 2025 - Africa -  Press freedom remains a critical barometer of democracy and human rights across Africa. In 2025, several African nations have stood out either for upholding robust media freedoms or for continuing to restrict independent journalism under government pressures. Among the best performers, Ghana consistently ranks as a leader in press freedom. Its vibrant and pluralistic media environment allows journalists to operate relatively independently without fear of censorship or persecution. Ghana’s constitutional protections and active civil society contribute to a flourishing media landscape, making it a regional beacon for press rights....

March 15, 2025 - Palestine -  Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals, including eight aid workers and journalists affiliated with the UK-based Al Khair Foundation. The victims were conducting humanitarian efforts in Beit Lahia when their vehicles were targeted. The Israeli military claimed to have struck "terrorists operating a drone," but the Al Khair Foundation and witnesses assert that the victims were civilians engaged in relief work, not combatants. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from international organizations and human rights groups, who view it as a...

March 15, 2025 - USA -  The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on U.S. congressional leaders to protect the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) following President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at dismantling the agency. USAGM oversees critical media outlets, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia (RFA), which provide uncensored news in regions with restricted press freedom. The executive order led to the suspension of over 1,300 VOA employees, including journalists, and the termination of funding for RFE/RL and RFA. This move has raised concerns...

March 15, 2025 - USA -  The Trump administration took drastic steps by freezing operations and cutting funding for major U.S.-funded international media outlets, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia (RFA). This decision resulted in over 1,300 VOA employees being placed on administrative leave and the suspension of broadcasts in key regions such as Asia and the Middle East. The sudden layoffs affected many journalists and staff, with contracts terminated by the end of March. Some VOA channels were forced to replace news programming with music due...

March 15, 025 - Nigeria -  In March 2025, Amb. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the First Lady of Kwara State, Nigeria, addressed Muslim women journalists during the inaugural Ramadan symposium organized by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Ilorin. Represented by the state's Commissioner for Environment, Hajiya Nafisat Buge, Mrs. Abdulrazaq emphasized the importance of positive media representation to counteract misconceptions about Islam. The First Lady expressed concern over the commercialization of the media, which has led to the proliferation of fake news. She urged journalists to uphold the truth, balancing professional ethics with Islamic...

March 15, 2025 - Palestine -  Israeli airstrikes struck Gaza, killing at least nine Palestinians, among them two journalists, sparking international outrage. The strikes targeted multiple locations, including the offices of the Al-Khair Foundation, a Palestinian humanitarian organization, leading to casualties and destruction of essential infrastructure. According to Palestinian medics, the air raids resulted in the deaths of two journalists who were reportedly covering the events at the time of the strikes. The loss of media personnel highlights the increasing dangers faced by journalists working in conflict zones, particularly in Gaza, where ongoing hostilities put...

March 15, 2025 - Palestine -  Alaa Asaad Hashim, a Palestinian journalist based in Gaza, tragically died on March 14, 2025, after succumbing to injuries sustained months earlier in an Israeli airstrike. The attack left her critically wounded, and she remained in a coma before her passing, highlighting the grave risks faced by journalists working amid ongoing conflict in Gaza. Hashim’s death marks a devastating loss in a region where journalists routinely face extreme dangers. Since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023, over 200 Palestinian journalists have been reported killed or injured, making...

March 14, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In Azerbaijan, six journalists from the independent online outlet “Abzas Media,” including editor-in-chief Sevindj Vagifgyzy, are facing trial on charges of foreign currency smuggling. Authorities allege that €40,000 in cash was found at the publication's office. However, the journalists assert that their arrests are politically motivated, aimed at silencing their investigative reporting on government corruption. The trial proceedings have been marred by concerns over the treatment of the detained journalists. Initially, they refused to attend court sessions, protesting against being held in cold, smoke-filled rooms and being transported separately...

March 14, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In recent months, Azerbaijan has escalated its suppression of independent journalism and political dissent, drawing international condemnation. Meydan TV Journalists Detained Since December 2024, Azerbaijani authorities have detained multiple journalists associated with Meydan TV, an independent media outlet operating from Berlin. The journalists face charges of smuggling foreign currency, allegations widely regarded as politically motivated. Among those arrested is Ulviyya Guliyeva, the 25th journalist detained in Azerbaijan over the past 18 months. Guliyeva, known for her coverage of human rights and social justice issues, anticipated her arrest and left...

March 14, 2025 - Philippines -  In March 2025, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila and transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity. The ICC alleges that Duterte is responsible for the murder of at least 43 individuals between 2011 and 2019, linked to his controversial "war on drugs" during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and later as president from 2016 to 2022. Human rights organizations estimate that the total death toll from this campaign could exceed 30,000, many of...

March 14, 2025 - Malaysia -  B. Nantha Kumar, a senior journalist with Malaysiakini, pleaded not guilty in the Shah Alam Sessions Court to a charge of accepting a RM20,000 bribe. The charge alleges that Kumar received the bribe from Muhammad Zahid, a Pakistani national, as an inducement to remove an article from the Malaysiakini portal and refrain from further reporting on a foreign worker agency allegedly involved in a syndicate. The alleged offense took place at a hotel in Shah Alam at approximately 11:45 p.m. on February 28, 2025. Kumar was charged under Section...

March 14, 2025 - Lagos -  A group of journalists was violently attacked while reporting on the demolition of homes in the Otumara community, located in the Ilaje area of Lagos Mainland. The assailants, suspected to be affiliated with the Lagos State government, targeted media personnel from six to seven different outlets, resulting in multiple injuries and the destruction of equipment. Among the journalists assaulted were Segun Adeboboye of Control TV, Oluwatosin Sanni of News Buster, Gbenga Adewale of Seefame News, Seyi Fadoro of Distinct Media, Oluwaseun Adeola Oluwole of Integrity News, Wasiu Ayinde of...

March 14, 2025 - Syria -  Three news crews came under fire while covering violent clashes in Syria, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released on March 14, 2025. The incidents occurred as fighting intensified between armed factions in the northwestern region of the country. These assaults are part of a growing pattern of violence against journalists in war zones, raising concerns about press freedom and safety. The first attack happened in the Idlib region, where a crew from the local Orient TV was fired upon while filming from a...

March 14, 2025 - Colombia -  In March 2025, Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism issued a strong statement defending press freedom and free speech following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Khalil, a lawful U.S. permanent resident, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 8 without being charged with any crime. His arrest was part of a broader federal crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activism. The Journalism School's faculty expressed deep concern over what they described as an "alarming chill"...

March 14, 2025 - USA -  In February 2025, the Trump administration announced a significant shift in White House press access, asserting direct control over the selection of journalists in the presidential press pool. This move ended over a century of precedent where the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) managed the rotation of reporters covering the president in close quarters, including aboard Air Force One and in the Oval Office. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the change by stating that the administration aimed to include a broader range of media voices, suggesting that the WHCA...

March 13, 2025 - USA/India -  U.S. journalist Raphael Satter filed a lawsuit against the Indian government after his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status was revoked. Satter, a cybersecurity reporter for Reuters, received a letter from India's Ministry of Home Affairs in December 2023, accusing him of producing work that "maliciously" tarnished India's reputation. The revocation of his OCI card means he can no longer travel to India, where his family resides. Satter denies conducting journalism in India and asserts that he only visited the country to see his family. He believes the cancellation...

March 13, 2025 - Agentina -  Argentine photojournalist Pablo Grillo was critically injured while covering a protest in Buenos Aires against President Javier Milei's austerity measures. Grillo, a member of the Association of Graphic Reporters of the Argentine Republic (aRGra), was struck in the head by a tear gas grenade fired by police during clashes between demonstrators and security forces. He underwent emergency surgery and remains in critical condition. The protest, primarily organized by retirees demanding higher pensions and the restoration of certain free medications cut by Milei's government, escalated when football fans joined the...