According to a recently published report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, 44 environmental journalists from 15 countries around the world lost their lives in violent attacks from 2009 to 2023; And 24 people managed to return alive.

This information was reported in the report of the news agency Reuters on Friday (May 3).

According to the report, attacks on environmental journalists are increasing around the world. UNESCO representatives interviewed 905 environmental journalists from 129 countries to prepare the report.

In the interview, 749 out of 905 journalists (more than 70 percent) said that they had to face physical attacks or intimidation, threats, and pressure at some point in their lives to perform their professional duties. Many have also had to deal with the legal problems of detention and defamation cases.

Analyzing the cases of assault-harassment, it has been found that the cases of physical assault have occurred more among male journalists. On the other hand, women journalists are more victims of harassment.

Journalists have been attacked and harassed while reporting on various environmental issues. These issues include various mining irregularities, land tenure conflicts, deforestation, extreme weather related disasters, pollution and environmental damage, fossil fuel sector and its trade etc.

All of these attacks and harassment have come from individuals and groups associated with the power structure of the state. In this context, the UNESCO report said, 'Police, army, government officials and employees, people of local government authorities are responsible for these attacks and harassment. 

Dhaka: US accuses Russia of using 'Chloropicrin', a banned chemical used in World War I, in Ukraine.

On Thursday (May 2), the British media BBC reported that US State Department officials said that the attack on Ukraine with this weapon is not an "isolated" incident. Russia often uses it.

However, the Kremlin rejected the allegations, saying the US allegations were baseless. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Russia maintains its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

According to the CWC, the use of ‘chloropicrin’ in any war is strictly prohibited. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the use of this chemical in oil can cause inflammation of the lungs, eyes and skin of people. It can also cause vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.

According to the US, Russia has used chloropicrin to force Ukrainian troops to retreat from fortified positions.

US President Joe Biden had earlier warned Russia about the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. He warned in March 2022, weeks after the attack on Ukraine, that if Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the use of chemical weapons, he would pay a "heavy price".

However, Moscow has been repeatedly accused of using chemical weapons in Ukraine. Mallory Stewart, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control has accused Russia of using riot control chemicals. Ukrainian soldiers have also reported being subjected to chemical attacks in recent months.

Turkey has stopped all trade with the illegal occupier Israel due to the Gaza war.

The British media BBC reported on Thursday (May 2) about the Turkish Ministry of Commerce.

The trade embargo will remain in effect until Israel allows uninterrupted and adequate humanitarian aid to Gaza, the Turkish trade ministry said.

According to the BBC, the trade between Israel and Turkey is about 7 billion US dollars in 2023.

Israel's foreign minister accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of treating him like a dictator in announcing the trade freeze.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on social media that Erdogan is violating international trade agreements by ignoring the interests of the Turkish people and businessmen.

Israel's foreign minister has instructed government agencies to import goods from other countries and produce goods locally as an alternative to Turkey's trade freeze.

He wrote, I have directed the IMF Director General to immediately start working with the concerned parties to find trade options with Turkey. I also asked him for local production and import of products from other countries. Israel will emerge as a powerful and formidable economy. They lose we win.

In 1949, Turkey was the first Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel. But relations between the two countries have deteriorated in recent times.

In 2010, Turkey cut diplomatic ties with Israel after ten pro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed in clashes with Israeli commandos.

US President Joe Biden has said that Americans have the right to protest, but not the right to spread violence.

The US president made this comment at a press conference at the White House on Thursday (May 02) amid growing political pressure on anti-Israel protests and clashes at universities in the United States over the Gaza issue.

Biden said that everyone has the right to protest, but no one has the right to cause chaos.

Recently, pro-Palestinians have been protesting in various universities in the United States. A few university protests were dispersed by the police. Hundreds of students have been arrested. Many are criticizing the initiative of the Biden administration to deal with the situation. He was available for comment through a spokesperson until Thursday.

Biden, who is hoping to be re-elected next November, made very cautious comments. While rejecting anti-Semitism in his comments, he supported the right of young people to protest. He has taken such a stand to avoid political damage in the long run.

Both sides have valid points, Biden said. Peaceful dissent is important in a democracy. But violence will not be tolerated.

Biden said that everyone has the right to protest, but no one has the right to cause chaos.

He said, destruction of property is not a peaceful protest. It is against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing class cancellations – none of these are peaceful protests.

The US president said the US is not an authoritarian state that will silence critics. But discipline must be maintained.

Anti-Israel protests began two weeks ago at Columbia University. Later it spread to other universities in America. At least 30 universities currently have anti-Israel protests.