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68 journalists killed in 2024 – UNESCO report
UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has said for the second consecutive year, conflict zones have proven dangerous for journalists and media workers, with 2024 seeing at least 68 deaths in the line of duty.
More than 60 per cent of these killings occurred in countries experiencing conflict – the highest percentage in over a decade, according to UNESCO new data
“Reliable information is vital in conflict situations to help affected populations and to enlighten the world,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, said in a statement on Thursday.
“It is unacceptable that journalists pay with their lives for this work.
“I call on all States to step up and ensure the protection of media workers, in accordance with international law,” she added.
The report highlights that 42 journalists were killed in conflict zones this year, including 18 in Palestine, which recorded the highest toll.
Other countries such as Ukraine, Colombia, Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, and Sudan also saw multiple fatalities, underscoring the heightened risks in regions marked by violence and instability.
This follows an unsettling trend seen in 2023, with more journalists losing their lives in conflicts over the past two years than in any comparable period since 2016-2017.
While conflict zones remain a critical concern, the overall number of journalist killings decreased slightly during this year.
A notable reduction in deaths occurred in non-conflict areas, where 26 journalists were killed – the lowest figure in 16 years.
This decline was particularly evident in Latin America and the Caribbean, where journalist killings dropped from 43 in 2022 to 12 in 2024.
This suggests some progress in addressing threats against journalists in peacetime, especially in regions previously plagued by violence against media workers.
UNESCO’s data, sourced from leading international press freedom organisations, is rigorously verified to ensure impartiality.
Cases are excluded if deaths are deemed unrelated to the victims’ journalistic work. However, dozens of cases remain under review, and UNESCO continues to monitor developments closely.
The Organisation’s mandate extends beyond tracking fatalities. It works to protect journalists through initiatives such as the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
In addition to physical threats, journalists are facing new challenges, including financial and legal pressures.
UNESCO has reported a 42 per cent increase in attacks on journalists reporting on environmental issues between 2019 and 2024, highlighting the evolving nature of risks confronting the media.
As UNESCO continues its efforts to promote press freedom and safeguard journalists, the agency calls on the international community to strengthen protections for media workers – ensuring that the quest for truth does not come at the ultimate cost. (NAN)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed on Sunday that Europe seeks collaboration with the United States, while simultaneously asserting that the EU is ready to take unified action if Washington enforces tariffs on steel and aluminum.
During his address at the Hanover Industrial Trade Fair, which this year highlights Canada as its partner country, Scholz underscored Canada’s status as an independent nation.
This statement follows former US President Donald Trump’s remarks about the potential annexation of Canada, referring to it as the 51st state of the US.
“We stand alongside you. Canada is not a territory to be claimed by anyone else. It is a proud, sovereign nation,” he affirmed.
In response to Trump’s tariff proposals, the Chancellor articulated that his counter to “America First” policies is a call for enhanced free trade, increased competitiveness, and greater technological independence.
He emphasized that Europe is neither naive nor weak, asserting that trade conflicts are harmful to all parties involved.
“I convey this message to the United States: Europe’s objective remains cooperation. However, if the US forces our hand through tariffs on steel and aluminum, we, as the EU, will respond collectively,” he concluded.
Trump said “There are methods which you could do it,” when asked to clarify a remark on seeking another term.
Donald Trump on Sunday repeated his suggestion that he might seek a third term as US president, NBC News reported, which would defy the two-term limit stipulated in the US constitution.
In a Sunday-morning phone call with NBC News, Trump said “I’m not joking,” when asked to clarify a remark on seeking another term, adding: “There are methods which you could do it.”
The 78-year-old billionaire has a history of suggesting he might serve more than two terms, but Sunday’s remarks were the most concrete in terms of referring to plans to achieve the goal.
Trump has launched his second presidency with an unprecedented blitz of executive power, using the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, to dismantle swaths of the government, and said his supporters want even more.
“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump told NBC News on Sunday. “But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”
Amending the US constitution to allow a third presidential term would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, which Trump’s Republican Party does not have.
Trump said it was “far too early to think about it,” but told NBC he had been presented with plans that would allow him to seek reelection.
When NBC asked Trump of a possible scenario whereby Vice President JD Vance would run for president and then abdicate the role to Trump, the US president said “that’s one” method.
He added that “there are others,” but refused to share further details.
If Trump does not approach Congress for the constitutional amendment, he would need to get support from two-thirds of the country’s 50 states to call a constitutional convention that would propose changes to the charter.
Whether he goes through Congress or the states, he would then require ratification from three-quarters of all states.
Both routes appear to be unlikely, given the current number of states and Congressional seats under Republican control.
A constitutional convention has never been successfully called in the United States, where all 27 constitutional amendments have been passed by the congressional method.
In January, days after Trump took office, Republican Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a House joint resolution to amend the constitution to allow presidents up to three terms.
AFP
US President Donald Trump has asserted that he is not jesting about his ambitions for a third presidential term, despite the constitutional restrictions in place.
While the U.S. Constitution prohibits any individual from serving more than two four-year terms, Trump indicated that it is premature to delve into such considerations.
Having assumed office for his second, non-consecutive term on January 20, Trump has hinted at his desire for a third term, addressing the matter more directly in a telephone conversation with NBC News.
“No, I’m not joking. I’m not joking,” Trump reiterated, though he acknowledged, “it is far too early to think about it.”
He hinted at potential avenues to pursue this goal without providing specific details.
According to the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, U.S. presidents are limited to two terms, whether consecutive or not. To amend this constitutional provision would require a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress, followed by ratification from three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures.
Some of Trump’s allies have suggested the feasibility of extending his stay in the White House beyond 2028. Trump himself has alluded to this notion on multiple occasions, often in a manner that challenges his political adversaries. Should he pursue another term after the November 2028 election, he would be 82 years old, having previously made history as the oldest president at the time of his inauguration.
The tradition of limiting presidential terms was established by George Washington in 1796. This practice was largely followed for over 140 years until Franklin D. Roosevelt broke the norm by winning a third term in 1940. Roosevelt, who led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II, sadly passed away during his fourth term in 1945, leading to the enactment of the term limits amendment in 1951.
Steve Bannon, a long-time adviser to Trump, expressed in a March 19 interview with NewsNation his belief that Trump will indeed run again in 2028. Bannon noted that he and others are exploring ways to facilitate this ambition, including reviewing the definition of term limits. “We’re working on it,” he stated, underscoring the ongoing discussions surrounding Trump’s political future.