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Business Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Economists split over risk of technical recession, after revised Singapore Q1 growth beats market expectations
[SINGAPORE] Private-sector economists remain split over the risk of Singapore entering a technical recession, with some raising their full-year forecasts after Q1 growth came in better than expected. Singapore's gross domestic product grew 3.9 per cent year on year in Q1, revised up marginally from the advance estimate of 3.8 per cent, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) figures indicated on Thursday (May 22). Though it was a slowdown from the previous quarter's 5 per cent growth, it surpassed economists' expectations of 3.6 per cent. MTI maintained its forecast range of 0 to 2 per cent. Most economists also kept theirs, but two banks – Maybank and UOB – upgraded their forecasts. On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the economy shrank 0.6 per cent, reversing from Q4's 0.5 per cent growth. Though less than the 0.8 per cent contraction in the advance figures, this still paves the way for a technical recession, which MTI permanent secretary Dr Beh Swan Gin acknowledged as 'a possibility' at Thursday's briefing. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Staying cautious In maintaining its forecast, MTI said Singapore's external demand outlook for the rest of the year has 'improved slightly' with a de-escalation of US-China trade tariffs – but the global outlook remains clouded by uncertainty, with risks tilted to the downside. Dr Beh said: 'Given the heightened uncertainty, MTI will continue to monitor developments closely, and make adjustments to the forecast as necessary in the coming quarters.' Most economists similarly remained cautious amid uncertainty. RHB analysts Barnabas Gan and Laalitha Raveenthar maintained their 2025 growth forecast at 2 per cent. For them, ongoing US-China trade talks limit the downside risk of growth being in the lower 0.5 to 1 per cent range. Still, they warned: 'Although recent advances in US-China negotiations provide encouraging signals of easing tensions, we urge continued vigilance and caution against premature optimism.' They expect Singapore to enter a technical recession in Q2 with a contraction of 2.4 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis. OCBC chief economist Selena Ling similarly kept her growth forecast at 1.6 per cent and expects a technical recession in Q2 on a quarterly contraction of 0.3 per cent, with year on year growth slowing further to 2.5 per cent. Despite positive developments such as the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, an initial US-UK trade deal and the 90-day US-China tariff truce, 'some damage to business and consumer confidence has already been done', she said. DBS senior economist Chua Han Teng maintained his 2 per cent forecast for full-year growth, but sees a chance of avoiding a technical recession. With exports being front-loaded during the 90-day reciprocal tariff pause, the boost to Singapore's trade-related sectors 'could be sufficient' to avoid a technical recession in Q2, he said. However, such front-loading 'will eventually be followed by a payback through decelerating trade and production' in the second half of the year. Optimistic for now MTI noted that Q1 growth was largely driven by Singapore's wholesale trade, manufacturing as well as finance and insurance sectors – with the first two likely to have been partly supported by front-loading. Exporters could continue to adopt front-loading as a hedging strategy, allowing for 'bouts of resilience' in Singapore's growth momentum, said UOB associate economist Jester Koh. He raised his full-year forecast to 1.7 per cent, from 1.5 per cent before. But in turn, he lowered his 2026 growth forecast to 1.4 per cent, from 1.6 per cent before. This is as payback effects could result in an 'even more protracted downturn in trade and manufacturing activity' late in the second half of 2025, and into the first half of 2026. Maybank economists Chua Hak Bin and Brian Lee upgraded their full-year forecast to 2.4 per cent – above MTI's forecast range – from 2.1 per cent previously. They expect a growth slowdown in the second half, as opposed to a recession or sharp downturn. This is as front-loading continues into Q3, while the tariff shocks are also cushioned by a construction boom, falling interest rates and fiscal support. Safe-haven flows will also support Singapore's financial and real estate activities. Sectoral outlook For the rest of the year, MTI expects the growth of outward-oriented sectors to slow, particularly as US tariff measures hurt manufacturing. The manufacturing slowdown, alongside weaker global trade, will weigh on trade-related services sectors such as wholesale trade; transportation and storage; and finance and insurance. Worsening business expectations will likely cause companies to cut back on discretionary spending, dampening the growth of the information and communications as well as professional services sectors. Finally, growth in consumer-facing sectors such as retail trade as well as food and beverage services is likely to remain lacklustre, as locals continue to spend abroad and domestic labour market conditions weaken. This follows a Q1 in which the outward-oriented sectors generally had year-on-year growth but quarterly contraction. Manufacturing growth slowed to 4 per cent, from 7.4 per cent before. Growth was mainly driven by the electronics, precision engineering and transport engineering clusters. But on a quarterly basis, the sector shrank 5.8 per cent, weakening from flat growth before. Construction grew 5.5 per cent, up from 4.4 per cent before. But sequentially, it contracted 1.4 per cent, reversing Q4's 0.3 per cent expansion. The wholesale trade sector grew 4.2 per cent year on year, slowing from 6.7 per cent. But it shrank 0.4 per cent quarter on quarter, reversing from Q4's 0.9 per cent growth. For domestic-oriented services, retail trade grew by a marginal 0.1 per cent, accommodation shrank 0.9 per cent, and food and beverage services shrank 0.2 per cent. In contrast, growth accelerated for several services sectors: to 5.2 per cent for transportation and storage; to 7.1 per cent for real estate; to 1.4 per cent for professional services; to 4.4 per cent for information and communications; and to 2.8 per cent for administrative and support services. Other services industries grew 1.1 per cent, slowing from 3.1 per cent the previous quarter.
Business Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore keeps 2025 growth forecast despite easing US-China tensions, upward revision of Q1 growth
[SINGAPORE] Despite first-quarter growth coming in marginally higher than advance estimates, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) maintained its 2025 full-year forecast range at 0 to 2 per cent. Singapore's external demand outlook for the rest of the year has 'improved slightly' with a de-escalation of US-China trade tariffs, yet the global outlook remains clouded by uncertainty and risks are tilted to the downside, said MTI on Thursday (May 22) morning. With Q1 gross domestic product shrinking sequentially, a technical recession – two straight quarters of contraction – 'is a possibility', said MTI permanent secretary Dr Beh Swan Gin at a press briefing. But he noted that this may not mean a 'full-blown economic recession', which depends on year-on-year figures. For Q1, year-on-year growth was revised upwards to 3.9 per cent, marginally higher than the advance estimate of 3.8 per cent, but moderating from the 5 per cent growth in the fourth quarter of 2024. The economy shrank 0.6 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, reversing from Q4's 0.5 per cent growth. Though less than the 0.8 per cent contraction in the advance figures, this still paves the way for a potential technical recession. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up With the release of advance Q1 figures in April, MTI downgraded its full-year growth forecast range to between 0 and 2 per cent, from between 1 and 3 per cent previously. That downgrade was due to a 'significant deterioration' in Singapore's external demand outlook with the intensifying US-China tariff war, which was expected to hit global trade and growth. Dr Beh said: 'Given the heightened uncertainty, MTI will continue to monitor developments closely, and make adjustments to the forecast as necessary in the coming quarters.' Asked if MTI may hold back on upward revisions to forecasts as trade tensions could flare up again, he replied that it was 'premature' to comment, as much depends on what sort of agreement the US strikes with major trading partners. On Thursday, MTI noted that the US has been in trade talks with several economies affected by its tariffs, including China. The US and China have also agreed to slash tariffs for 90 days from May 14. 'Given the steps taken by major economies to de-escalate global trade tensions, MTI's assessment is that Singapore's external demand outlook for the rest of the year has improved slightly compared to April,' the ministry said. However, it flagged three downside risks. First, elevated economic uncertainty may cause a 'larger-than-expected' pullback in economic activity, as households and businesses take a wait-and-see approach. Second, a re-escalation in tariff actions could cause a 'full-blown' global trade war and a sharper slowdown. Third, disruptions to the global disinflation process and recession risks could destabilise capital flows, triggering 'latent vulnerabilities' in banking and financial systems. Sectoral outlook MTI noted that Q1 growth was largely driven by Singapore's wholesale trade, manufacturing as well as finance and insurance sectors – with the first two likely to have been partly supported by front-loading ahead of anticipated US tariff hikes. For the rest of the year, MTI expects the growth of outward-oriented sectors to slow. 'In particular, the US' tariff measures are likely to adversely affect the manufacturing sector given its export exposure to the US market, as well as slowing growth in global end-markets.' But within the sector, transport engineering remains a bright spot, especially given the shift towards higher value-added aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul works in Singapore. The manufacturing slowdown, alongside weaker global trade, is expected to weigh on trade-related services sectors such as wholesale trade; transportation and storage; and finance and insurance. Worsening business expectations will likely cause companies to cut back on discretionary spending, dampening the growth of the information and communications as well as professional services sectors. Finally, growth in consumer-facing sectors such as retail trade as well as food and beverage services is likely to remain lacklustre, as locals continue spending abroad and domestic labour market conditions weaken. Sectoral performance In Q1, outward-oriented sectors generally had year-on-year growth but quarterly contraction. Manufacturing growth slowed to 4 per cent year on year, moderating from 7.4 per cent in the previous quarter. Growth was mainly driven by the electronics, precision engineering and transport engineering clusters. The sector shrank 5.8 per cent quarter on quarter, weakening from flat growth before. Construction grew 5.5 per cent, up from 4.4 per cent in the previous quarter, with increases in both public and private-sector construction output. Sequentially, the sector contracted 1.4 per cent, reversing Q4's 0.3 per cent expansion. The wholesale trade sector grew 4.2 per cent year on year, slowing from 6.7 per cent the previous quarter. Growth was led by the machinery, equipment and supplies segment, with the fuels and chemicals segment and the 'others' segment also expanding. But the sector shrank 0.4 per cent quarter on quarter, reversing from Q4's 0.9 per cent growth. For domestic-oriented services, retail trade grew by a marginal 0.1 per cent, accommodation shrank 0.9 per cent, and food and beverage services shrank 0.2 per cent. In contrast, growth accelerated for several services sectors: to 5.2 per cent for transportation and storage; to 7.1 per cent for real estate; to 1.4 per cent for professional services; to 4.4 per cent for information and communications; and to 2.8 per cent for administrative and support services. Other services industries grew 1.1 per cent, slowing from 3.1 per cent the previous quarter.
Cision Canada
20-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Arizona Metals Strengthens Board with New Director Nominee; Announces Director Retirements and Provides Corporate Update
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES/ TORONTO, May 20, 2025 /CNW/ - Arizona Metals Corp. (TSX: AMC) (OTCQX: AZMCF) (the "Company" or "Arizona Metals") announces changes in the Board of Directors and provides a corporate update. On May 16, 2025, with the objective of improved governance, Mr. Conor Dooley's resignation from the Board of Directors was accepted. Mr. Dooley will continue to serve the Company in his role as Corporate Secretary. Mr. Dooley has been a valued member of the Board of Arizona Metals since 2019; the Company thanks him for his longstanding service and contributions and is pleased to be able to continue to benefit from his legal advice and support Additionally, Mr. Rick Vernon has informed the Company that he will not be standing for re-election at the upcoming Annual General and Special Meeting of shareholders, scheduled for June 18, 2025. Mr. Vernon has served as Chair of the Compensation, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee since the Company completed its going-public transaction in 2019 and has served as the Company's lead independent director. Mr. Vernon's guidance has been instrumental in shaping Arizona Metals' governance and strategy. The Company is also pleased to announce that Ms. Breanne Beh will stand for election to the Board of Directors at the upcoming annual shareholder meeting. Ms. Beh is a Professional Geologist with over a decade of technical and exploration experience in the mining industry. Ms. Beh began her career as an exploration geologist with Probe Mines, working on the Borden Gold Project in Chapleau, Ontario, from 2012 to 2016. Ms. Beh was a key member and leader of the team that received the 2013 Ontario Prospectors Award for advancing this world-class deposit. Currently, Ms. Beh serves as President and CEO of Angus Gold, where she has led the company in identifying several new gold zones at the Golden Sky Project through just 40,000 metres of drilling. Most recently, Angus Gold announced its proposed acquisition by Wesdome Gold Mines, a friendly transaction expected to close in Q2 2025. Ms. Beh holds a BSc in Geology from the University of Calgary and an MSc in Geology from Lakehead University. She is a registered member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and the Ordre des Géologues du Québec. Duncan Middlemiss, CEO of Arizona Metals, commented"On behalf of the entire Arizona Metals team, I want to sincerely thank both Conor and Rick for their many years of dedicated service and valuable contributions to the Board. Their insight and leadership have played an important role in helping guide the Company through key phases of growth and development. We are pleased to welcome Ms. Breanne Beh as a nominee to our Board. Her strong technical background and proven leadership in advancing high-potential exploration projects make her a very welcome addition to our team as we continue to unlock the value of the Kay Mine Project and the Sugarloaf Peak project." Corporate Update The Company is pleased to announce that it has secured permitting for three additional drill pads on the Kay Mine project under its current Notice of Intent to Explore with the Bureau of Land Management. These pads will allow drill testing of the Kay North Extension and the North Central targets, two of the most prospective exploration targets on the Kay property. Permitting for two additional drill pads is underway. Deep drilling to test the vertical extents of the Kay deposit and the Kay2 lens has been challenged by faulted/broken ground and swelling clays located in the distant hanging wall of the potential plane of mineralization. This resulted in slow and difficult drilling, in particular in hole KM-25-177 (targeted at the depth extension of the main Kay deposit), which was lost at a depth of 1,076 meters before reaching the mineral horizon. Its branch hole, KM-25-177A, is currently advancing and approaching the target horizon. Assays are pending for hole KM-25-176, targeted at the depth extension of the Kay2 lens. Drilling to support the upcoming mineral resource estimate is nearing completion, with the final holes in progress. Following completion of the two current holes, both drill rigs currently active on the property will move to the newly permitted drill pads to begin the 10,000 meters of drilling planned for exploration targets outside the Kay deposit. The property's mineral resource estimate is on track to be released during June. Arizona Metals' second project is the 100% owned Sugarloaf Peak Project, in La Paz County, which is located on 4,400 acres of BLM claims. The Company is currently planning an initial 7,500 meter reverse-circulation drilling program at the Sugarloaf Peak Project to extend mineralization both along strike and to depth and to verify historic drilling. Past drilling has been relatively shallow (averaging about 75-125 m) but Arizona Metals' drilling and metallurgical testing indicated good potential for processing of deeper sulfide mineralization. The Company expects to begin drilling early in the second half of 2025. The Sugarloaf Peak Project is a heap-leach, open-pit target and has a historic estimate of "100 million tons containing 1.5 million ounces gold" at a grade of 0.5 g/t (Dausinger, N.E., 1983, Phase 1 Drill Program and Evaluation of Gold-Silver Potential, Sugarloaf Peak Project, Quartzsite, Arizona: Report for Westworld Inc.) The historic estimate at the Sugarloaf Peak Property was reported by Westworld Resources in 1983. The historic estimate has not been verified as a current mineral resource. Duncan Middlemiss, President and CEO of Arizona Metals, comments: "We are very pleased to receive the recent drill permits under our existing NOI on the Kay project. This will allow us to test the most prospective areas of the project, with additional pads on the way. Although deep drilling at Kay and Kay2 has been challenging, we remain on track to complete the resource drilling in support of the project's first mineral resource estimate during Q2." About Arizona Metals Corp Arizona Metals Corp owns 100% of the Kay Project in Yavapai County, which is located on 1669 acres of patented and BLM mining claims and 193 acres of private land that are not subject to any royalties. An historic estimate by Exxon Minerals in 1982 reported a "proven and probable reserve of 6.4 million short tons at a grade of 2.2% copper, 2.8 g/t gold, 3.03% zinc, and 55 g/t silver." The historic estimate at the Kay Mine Project was reported by Exxon Minerals in 1982. (Fellows, M.L., 1982, Kay Mine massive sulphide deposit: Internal report prepared for Exxon Minerals Company) The Kay Project's historic estimate has not been verified as a current mineral resource. None of the key assumptions, parameters, and methods used to prepare the historic estimate were reported, and no resource categories were used. Significant data compilation, re-drilling and data verification may be required by a Qualified Person before the historic estimate can be verified and upgraded to be a current mineral resource. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify it as a current mineral resource, and Arizona Metals is not treating the historic estimate as a current mineral resource. The Kay Project is a steeply dipping VMS deposit that has been defined from a depth of 60 m to at least 900 m. It is open for expansion on strike and at depth. The Company also owns 100% of the Sugarloaf Peak Project, in La Paz County, which is located on 4,400 acres of BLM claims. The Sugarloaf Peak Project is a heap-leach, open-pit target and has a historic estimate of "100 million tons containing 1.5 million ounces gold" at a grade of 0.5 g/t (Dausinger, N.E., 1983, Phase 1 Drill Program and Evaluation of Gold-Silver Potential, Sugarloaf Peak Project, Quartzsite, Arizona: Report for Westworld Inc.) The historic estimate at the Sugarloaf Peak Project was reported by Westworld Resources in 1983. The historic estimate has not been verified as a current mineral resource. None of the key assumptions, parameters, and methods used to prepare the historic estimate were reported, and no resource categories were used. Significant data compilation, re-drilling and data verification may be required by a Qualified Person before the historic estimate can be verified and upgraded to a current mineral resource. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify it as a current mineral resource, and Arizona Metals is not treating the historic estimate as a current mineral resource. Qualified Person and Quality Assurance/Quality Control All of Arizona Metals' drill sample assay results have been independently monitored through a quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") protocol which includes the insertion of blind standard reference materials and blanks at regular intervals. Logging and sampling were completed at Arizona Metals' core handling facilities located in Phoenix and Black Canyon City, Arizona. Drill core was diamond sawn on site and half drill-core samples were securely transported to ALS Laboratories' ("ALS") sample preparation facility in Tucson, Arizona. Sample pulps were sent to ALS's labs in Vancouver, Canada, and Reno, Nevada, for analysis. Gold content was determined by fire assay of a 30-gram charge with ICP finish (ALS method Au-AA23). Silver and 32 other elements were analyzed by ICP methods with four-acid digestion (ALS method ME-ICP61a). Over-limit samples for Au, Ag, Cu, and Zn were determined by ore-grade analyses Au-GRA21, Ag-OG62, Cu-OG62, and Zn-OG62, respectively. ALS Laboratories is independent of Arizona Metals Corp. and its Vancouver and Reno facilities are ISO 17025 accredited. ALS also performed its own internal QA/QC procedures to assure the accuracy and integrity of results. Parameters for ALS' internal and Arizona Metals' external blind quality control samples were acceptable for the samples analyzed. Arizona Metals is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. The qualified person who reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this release is David Smith, CPG, a qualified person as defined in National Instrument43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Smith supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has reviewed and approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Smith is the Vice-President, Exploration of the Company. Mr. Smith supervised the drill program and verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical and QA/QC data, underlying the technical information in this news release, including reviewing the reports of ALS, methodologies, results, and all procedures undertaken for quality assurance and quality control in a manner consistent with industry practice, and all matters were consistent and accurate according to his professional judgement. There were no limitations on the verification process. Disclaimer This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the expansion potential of the Kay Project, statements regarding drill results and future drilling of the Kay2 Zone and the main Kay deposit, statements regarding Kay2 Zone mineralization, statements regarding Kay2 Zone mineralization and the contribution of the Kay2 Zone mineralization to the mineral resource estimate for the Kay deposit, and the mineral resource estimate being completed in H1 2025 or at all, and the nomination of directors for election by shareholders of the Company. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: availability of the Company to stay well funded; delay or failure to receive required permits or regulatory approvals; and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward- looking statements or otherwise.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Widow entitled to spouse's death benefits in Winchester workplace fatal, top court says
Feb. 19—The widow of a mechanic killed in a 2016 workplace accident in Winchester is entitled to receive workers' compensation death benefits, New Hampshire's highest court has ruled. The state Supreme Court overturned a decision by the New Hampshire Compensation Appeals Board that ruled that Maia Beh's request was a separate and additional claim than one filed on behalf of their daughter, and it was barred by a three-year statute of limitations. "Because we conclude that adding a dependent to an open death benefits claim does not constitute a separate claim, and that the New Hampshire Workers' Compensation Law sets no time limit for the dependent of a deceased employee to request allocation of benefits under an open death benefits claim, we reverse and remand," the unanimous ruling said. In July 2016, Gilbert Menke, 42, of Marlborough, died after a truck's 2,000-pound transmission fell on him at Global Truck Traders in Winchester, police said at the time. Beh became his common law spouse upon Menke's death on July 13, 2016, according to the court ruling. Beh received a letter dated the next day from the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association — the insurer of Menke's employer, Global Truck Traders (referred to in the ruling as "collectively, the carrier.") The letter said Beh and/or her daughter may be entitled to benefits and to file paperwork. On Oct.19, 2020 — more than three years after Menke died — Beh requested to be added to the list of his dependents and receive an appropriate allocation of death benefits. She enclosed a copy of a December 2017 probate court order recognizing her as Menke's common law spouse. The carrier denied her request, in part because Beh wasn't recognized as the common law spouse when Menke died. At a Department of Labor hearing Beh requested, the carrier said it was no longer disputing Beh as a common law spouse. The Department of Labor sided with Beh, saying her claim was filed in a timely manner. The carrier appealed to the New Hampshire Compensation Appeals Board, which held a hearing and denied Beh's request. The board said she couldn't be added to the list of dependents, because it "was a separate and additional" claim from the original claim filed for the child and was filed outside the time allowed by the statute of limitations. In its seven-page ruling, the justices dismissed the carrier's concerns that a carrier may not know the extent of its potential liability within the statutory period, with the court saying state law doesn't require that. "Indeed, the very nature of the Workers' Compensation Law makes it common and foreseeable that a carrier will not know the full extent of its liability within the limitations period," the decision said. The court also wrote that "allocating death benefits between dependents does not change the total amount of weekly compensation to be paid."
Express Tribune
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Journalist killings reach record high in 2024
Listen to article A surge in global conflicts and political crackdowns has made 2024 the deadliest year for journalists in over three decades, new figures from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reveal. At least 124 media workers lost their lives across 18 countries last year, a sharp increase that reflects the growing threats to press freedom worldwide. Nearly 70 per cent of those deaths were linked to Israel's military campaign in Gaza, where 85 journalists were killed, including 82 Palestinians. The data, compiled by the New York-based press freedom watchdog, points to a broader deterioration in journalist safety, as political unrest and armed conflicts escalate in multiple regions. Sudan and Pakistan tied for the second-highest number of journalist killings in 2024, with six each. Sudan's deaths stemmed from the country's devastating civil war, which has left thousands dead and millions displaced. Pakistan, which had recorded no journalist fatalities since 2021, saw a spike in killings amid political unrest and increasing media censorship. 'It's very clear from our latest report that today is the most dangerous time to be a journalist. The number of journalist deaths in 2024 marks the deadliest year on record since CPJ began tracking fatalities in 1992,' Beh Lih Yi, CPJ's Asia Program Coordinator, told the Express Tribune. Over the last twelve months, she explained, the media watchdog had documented the highest number of work-related killings, with freelancers accounting for close to a third of all cases. She noted that this troubling trend reveals the global nature of the crisis and the need for swift intervention. Beh emphasized that government officials and local authorities have a duty to investigate journalist killings and ensure justice is served. 'What we want to stress is that they are responsible for these investigations,' she said. However, she noted that there is often little willingness to hold those responsible to account, which creates a chilling effect on the media. Consistently dangerous Beyond the dangerous spike last year, CPJ data reveals another troubling pattern – six countries—including Pakistan and India, which calls itself the world's largest democracy—have remained consistently dangerous for journalists since 2000. Alongside Mexico, Iraq, Syria, and the Philippines, these nations have repeatedly recorded journalist deaths, with little to no accountability for those responsible. Describing the killing of journalists as 'one of the world's safest crimes—a crime to silence the truth,' CJP's Asia Program Coordinator stressed that the lack of accountability allows these attacks to continue, urging governments, including those in Mexico, India, and Pakistan, to take decisive action to prosecute those responsible and put an end to journalist killings. According to the media advocacy group, in Pakistan, three of the six journalists killed in 2024 were murdered. Two others were killed after covering militant activity. India, which has long faced criticism for its treatment of the press, recorded the killing of at least one journalist last year, while continued threats and attacks against media workers have fueled an atmosphere of fear. Referring to the recently passed Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, which critics say is an attempt to stifle the press, Beh voiced concern over its implications for journalists. 'Just last month, Pakistan passed a bill criminalizing false news,' she said, warning that the measure grants the government sweeping authority over the press. 'We are very concerned about such legislation because it gives governments broad powers to silence journalists.' Under the law, she noted, individuals convicted of intentionally spreading false information that could incite public fear or unrest may face up to three years in prison, fines of up to two million rupees, or both. 'Using 'fake news' laws to criminalize journalists threatens press freedom and the public's right to information,' Beh cautioned. 'At the same time, news organizations have a responsibility to ensure the safety of journalists. Every time a journalist is killed, we lose a truth-teller,' she added. Elsewhere, Mexico remained one of the world's deadliest places for journalists, with five reporters killed in 2024. The press freedom watchdog has consistently flagged the Mexican government's failure to protect journalists, despite having mechanisms in place that are supposed to provide security. When asked about the methods used to silence journalists, Beh said it was a combination of various tactics. Censorship, CJP's Asia Program Coordinator noted, remains a key tool, with governments using legal and regulatory measures—sometimes unrelated to journalism—to target reporters. 'Increasingly, we see financial and regulatory charges used to create a chilling effect on newsrooms,' she added. Beyond legal measures, Beh pointed out that officials often use hostile rhetoric to erode public trust in journalists, which in turn increases the risk of violence. 'When authorities fail to properly investigate journalist killings, it signals that such crimes are tolerated,' she said. 'Killing a journalist is the ultimate form of censorship,' she cautioned, stressing that these tactics together create a highly repressive media environment. Deadliest region According to the New York-based press freedom group, North Africa and the Middle East accounted for more than 78 per cent of all journalist killings in 2024, with Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq among the most dangerous places to report. In Lebanon, three journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike, while at least 10 Palestinian journalists were murdered in targeted attacks, CPJ found. Iraq and Syria, both long-standing danger zones for journalists, saw deadly attacks resume in 2024. In Syria, four journalists were killed following the December 8 ousting of president Bashar al-Assad, raising concerns about the future of press freedoms in the country. Beyond the Middle East, journalist killings were documented in Myanmar, Mozambique, and Sudan, where ongoing civil unrest has made reporting an increasingly lethal profession. The report also notes that in some cases, journalist killings are not isolated incidents but part of a broader effort to silence dissent and restrict press freedoms. Rising contempt for press President Donald Trump's return to the White House earlier this year has posed a significant challenge to press freedom. The president frequently berates journalists and accuses news organizations—particularly CNN—of spreading false information. Asked whether Trump's hostility toward independent reporting could have broader consequences, Beh Lih Yi, the Asia Program Coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, warned that such rhetoric undermines journalist safety and weakens press protections worldwide. 'These attacks on journalists' credibility and their reporting contribute to an unsafe environment,' Beh said. 'When such rhetoric is used in established democracies, it can send a message to less mature democracies that this kind of behavior is acceptable. This, in turn, emboldens regimes to adopt similar tactics to silence the press,' she warned.
