128 Journalists, Media Workers Killed Worldwide in 2025 as IFJ Warns of Worsening Global Threat to Press Freedom

At least 128 journalists and media workers were killed across the world in 2025, according to the International Federation of Journalists’ (IFJ) final “Killed List” released on December 31. The death toll, which includes 10 women and nine accidental deaths, marks a sharp increase from the 122 journalists killed in 2024, highlighting what the IFJ describes as a worsening global trend against press freedom.

The Middle East and Arab World recorded the highest number of casualties with 74 deaths, including 56 journalists killed in Palestine amid the Gaza war. Yemen, Ukraine, Sudan, India, Peru, and several other countries also recorded multiple killings, while Africa saw nine work-related journalist deaths, largely linked to the conflict in Sudan.

Reacting to the figures, IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger described the deaths as a global crisis, calling on governments to protect journalists, end impunity, and support the adoption of a United Nations convention to guarantee the safety and independence of media workers worldwide.

Nigerians now banned from travelling to US as Trump expands travel restriction list

President Donald Trump on Tuesday, December 16, signed a proclamation further restricting entry into the United States for nationals of countries identified as high risk due to what the White House described as persistent and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting and information sharing that threaten national security and public safety.

Among the 15 additional countries placed under partial entry restrictions is Nigeria. The decision was announced in a fact sheet published on the White House website on December 16, 2025, titled “President Donald J. Trump Further Restricts and Limits the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States”.

The White House said the move was aimed at strengthening national security through what it called common sense restrictions based on data.

The proclamation maintains full entry restrictions on nationals from the original 12 countries previously listed under Proclamation 10949. These countries are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

It also introduces full restrictions on five additional countries, namely Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria, as well as individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously under partial restrictions, have now been placed under full restrictions.

Nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo and Venezuela remain subject to partial restrictions.

In addition, the proclamation imposes partial entry restrictions on 15 more countries. These include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The fact sheet states that exemptions remain in place for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories such as athletes and diplomats, and individuals whose entry is deemed to serve United States national interests.

Iraq has frozen the financial assets of major Iran-backed militias — including Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi movement — in one of Baghdad’s strongest moves yet to curb the funding networks of Tehran-aligned groups.

According to a notice published in Iraq’s official gazette, the order targets organisations long influential across the region, signalling a significant shift in Baghdad’s approach to militia financing and regional power dynamics.

#Iraq #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #Iran-backedGroups

Iraq Freezes Assets of Iran-Backed Militias, Including Hezbollah and Houthis, in Major Policy Shift

Iraq has frozen the financial assets of major Iran-backed militias—including Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis—in one of its strongest moves yet to restrict Tehran-aligned networks. The directive, published in Iraq’s official gazette, comes amid rising regional tensions, U.S. pressure to curb Iranian influence, and intensified Israeli strikes on Iran-linked groups. Analysts say the decision highlights Baghdad’s struggle to balance ties with Washington and Tehran while navigating internal political and security pressures.

SCANDAL IN YEMEN..

For the first time, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, indicated that Haytham Tabatabai was present in Yemen from 2015 until 2024 on missions of a military nature.

Drone Strike From Yemen Hits Israeli Resort City of Eilat, 20 Injured
A drone launched from Yemen struck the Israeli resort city of Eilat on September 24, 2025, injuring 20 people, including two critically. The IDF confirmed the attack, saying attempts to intercept the drone failed. Emergency services evacuated casualties to Yoseftal Hospital. Israeli media linked the strike to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, though the group has not claimed responsibility. The incident is part of a series of recent Houthi drone and missile attacks on Israel amid the Gaza conflict, to which Israel has responded with retaliatory strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.

One million Yemenis flood the streets of Sana'a in support of Palestine and in defiance of the forces of Satan manifested as "Israel"

THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR TO THE ZIONISTS

BREAKING #Yemen announced it has successfully targeted sensitive Nuclear, Airforce and arms depot site in Southern Israel with Iranian Ballistic Missiles.

Trump’s govt sends US convicts, other third-country deportees to Southern Africa’s Eswatini.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that a deportation flight carrying immigrants from various countries has landed in Eswatini, Southern Africa — marking one of the first such removals following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to lift restrictions on third-country deportations.

In late June, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Trump administration, allowing it to resume deporting migrants to countries other than their own without offering them the opportunity to present evidence of potential harm.

The ruling bolstered President Donald Trump’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.

“A safe third country deportation flight to Eswatini in Southern Africa has landed — This flight took individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said late on Tuesday.

McLaughlin, in a thread posted on social media platform X, identified five deportees on the flight originating from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba and Yemen.

She said the individuals had been convicted of serious crimes including child rape and murder.

Earlier this month, a top Trump administration official indicated in a memo that immigration authorities may carry out third-country deportations with as little as six hours’ notice.

While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) typically gives at least 24 hours’ notice to migrants about their removal to a third country, the July 9 memo from acting ICE director Todd Lyons allows for expedited removals in “exigent circumstances,” provided the migrants are given an opportunity to speak with a lawyer.

The memo also stated that deportations could proceed to countries that have pledged not to torture or persecute migrants, bypassing the need for additional legal procedures.

The development suggests the Trump administration is prepared to ramp up its global deportation operations under the broadened legal framework.

Human rights groups have voiced concern over the potential erosion of due process protections under the new deportation measures, even as the Trump administration defends its policies as necessary for national security.

Iranian ballistic missiles have hit Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is currently under attack! Iran has launched several hypersonic ballistic missiles, which travel at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound, making them extremely challenging to detect.

Despite Israel's advanced defense systems, it was unable to intercept these missiles. This vulnerability could embolden other adversaries, such as Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon, to deploy similar weapons against Israel in the future.

The conflict has escalated into a full-scale war between the two nations. The United States, Germany, and France may soon intervene to support Israel, potentially broadening the conflict.