International Press Institute (IPI)

The Jordanian government began, on 2 June 2013, to block over 200 news websites for failing to register and obtain licenses under a recently amended and controversial Press and Publications Law.

The recent arrest of a lawyer in India’s Andhra Pradesh state over a Facebook post has added to the controversy surrounding a section of the country’s Information Technology Act, which has been used to punish social media users critical of the government.

Yara Abbas, 26, a war correspondent for the al-Ikhbariya television channel, was killed by opposition gunfire in an offensive by forces loyal to President Bashar al Assad.

Egypt’s abuse of the country’s laws to intimidate journalists is apparent after two reporters known for their criticism of President Mohamed Morsi’s government were ordered to stand “expedited” criminal trials.

Louisiana’s Senate has voted in favour of a bill which would make it illegal for journalists to report on concealed handgun permits in Louisiana under a proposed law that appears headed to the state’s governor for signing.

Over 50 NGOs worldwide signed a joint appeal to the U.N. against the ill-treatment and torture of detained human rights defenders, activists and photojournalists in Bahrain, calling for U.N. and Red Cross visits.

In a report released by IPI, the lack of free movement for journalists emerges as the single greatest challenge to local reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The U.S. government has searched a Fox News reporter’s private communications on the ground that his use of flattery to obtain information from a State Department source made him a co-conspirator to espionage.