The number of journalists killed worldwide has surged dramatically in the first half of 2025, according to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC). Since January, 86 media workers have been killed across 26 countries, marking a 16% increase compared to the same period last year.
Gaza: Epicenter of the Crisis
The ongoing conflict in Gaza is the primary driver behind this spike. At least 31 Palestinian journalists were killed in six months by the Israeli army, accounting for more than a third of the global toll.
“The Israeli government is directly responsible for this tragedy, which targets civilians reporting on the situation in Gaza. The Israeli soldiers involved in these war crimes must be identified and prosecuted. This is a massacre on an unprecedented scale,” said PEC President Blaise Lempen, noting that nearly 200 Palestinian journalists have died since October 2023.
He urged an immediate end to the hostilities.
The Delhi High Court's decision to quash the Delhi Police and Enforcement Directorate cases against NewsClick is not merely a legal victory for one media organisation. It is a test of India's commitment to justice, accountability and press freedom.
In unusually strong language, the court described the proceedings as a "gross abuse of the process of law" and observed that the allegations failed to disclose the essential ingredients of the offences alleged. The court further noted that despite years of investigation, no incriminating material had been produced to justify the prosecution. Such observations are rare and significant. They go beyond technical defects and strike at the very...
The second edition of the Kaziranga Chess Carnival concluded successfully today at Borgos Resort, Kohora, drawing 140 chess players from across India in what has quickly become one of Assam's notable sporting and tourism events.
The one-day tournament was held across three categories — Under-10, Under-15 and Open. In the Open category, Amlan Mahanta claimed the top prize of ₹25,000, with Iftikar Alom Mazumdar and Tanmay Rajbongshi finishing second and third respectively. Total prize money for the event stood at ₹1 lakh.
In the Under-15 Boys category, Abhirup Handique topped the standings, followed by Ankit Doley and Bishwajit Boruah, while Debangee Parijat led the Under-15 Girls field...
In a significant initiative to preserve and promote Assam's rich manuscript heritage, the Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva, in collaboration with the International Council on Monuments and Sites, India, North-East Zone (ICOMOS), is organizing a special Internship Program on 'Manuscript and Manuscriptology' beginning July 1, 2026.
The two-week residential training program, designed in alignment with the New Education Policy, is open to college and university students of all disciplines, including Arts, History, Archaeology and Museum Science.
Participants will receive hands-on training in traditional Sanchipat preparation, use of natural pigments such as hengul and haital,...
Nirjuli, June 3: The 1 Arunachal Pradesh Battalion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), under the aegis of the NCC Group Headquarters Tezpur, has commenced its Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC-37) cum Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme (YAMS) programme at the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Nirjuli. The ten-day camp began on June 1 and will continue until June 10.
A total of 350 NCC cadets from Group Headquarters Tezpur are participating in the camp, including 56 cadets enrolled under the Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme. The camp is being conducted under the leadership of the Commanding Officer and Administrative Officer of 1 Arunachal Pradesh Battalion NCC, supported...
The Kaziranga Rhino Cup 2026, a major national-level boxing selection tournament, will be held at Golaghat Stadium in Assam from June 5 to June 7, 2026. The event is being organized as a qualifying platform for the upcoming Pro Boxing League (PBL) of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation.
The tournament will serve as the second qualifying stage ahead of the Pro Boxing League scheduled to be held in New Delhi in July 2026. Through the competition, eight boxers—including five men and three women across different weight categories—will be selected for participation in the professional league.
Speaking about the event, Dr. Rakesh Mishra, National President of the Indian Amateur Boxing...
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has flagged expenditure of ₹509.59 crore incurred by the Assam government during 2024-25 without any budget provision, supplementary grant, or re-appropriation order, raising concerns over financial management and legislative oversight.
According to the CAG's State Finance Audit Report for Assam (Report No. 2 of 2026), the expenditure was incurred in 13 cases under the head "Public Debt and Servicing of Debt" despite the absence of authorization through the state's budgetary process.
The audit report observed that such expenditure was in violation of Article 204 of the Constitution, which mandates legislative approval before funds can...
The granting of environmental clearance for oil drilling inside the Upper Dehing Reserved Forest has reignited concerns among environmentalists and local residents over the future of one of Upper Assam's ecologically sensitive forest landscapes.
According to a public notice issued by Oil India Limited (OIL), the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Assam, has accorded environmental clearance for the diversion of 3.73 hectares of forest land for drilling four oil wells at the old Bogapani-2 plinth in the Upper Dehing Reserved Forest (West Block) under the Digboi Forest Division.
The clearance, granted under the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)...
Vishwa Samvad Kendra (VSK) Assam has announced the annual Devarshi Narad Jayanti lecture programme, which will be held on Sunday, June 7, at Sudarshanalay in the Barbari area of Guwahati. The event will begin at 10:30 am.
Nationally acclaimed news presenter and Senior Advisor of the News Division at Delhi Doordarshan, Prakhar Shrivastava, will deliver the keynote lecture focusing on the life and contributions of Devarshi Narad, regarded as the world's first media professional.
On the occasion, senior journalist and editor of Ishan Darpan, Nava Thakuria, will be conferred the Devarshi Narad Jayanti Award 2026 in recognition of his long-standing contributions to journalism. Three...
Livino K., from the Sumi community in Nagaland, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. Hailing from Yemishe, a small village in Zunheboto district, Livino is set to embark on a transformative six-month study trip to Taiwan.
Her journey into the world of Mandarin began unexpectedly in 2025 while exploring opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. Stumbling upon the online Mandarin programme offered by the Taiwan Education Center at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU), Livino was intrigued by the centre’s reputation, quality teaching, and the opportunity to sit for standardized proficiency examinations. She...
The second edition of the Kaziranga Chess Carnival is set to be held on June 7, 2026 at Resort Borgos, Kohora, near Kaziranga National Park. Organised by Adian Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd. in association with Assam Chess Club and Aaghun, the one-day rapid chess tournament will feature competitions in Under-10, Under-15 and Open categories.
The event is expected to draw over 200 participants, including FIDE-rated players, state champions, junior talents, coaches and representatives from academies across India and neighbouring regions.
The tournament will be conducted under the supervision of International Arbiter and former Indian chess coach Biswajit Bharadwaj under a 7-round Swiss...
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