The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today condemned the murder of a bureau chief of a domestic daily newspaper in India.

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending the freedom of the media today denounced the death of Syrian photojournalist, Khalid Al Issa, who was killed after a homemade bomb detonated in his building.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he was extremely disturbed by recent remarks made by the President-elect of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, regarding extrajudicial killings.

Top United Nations officials today highlighted the dependency of human rights, democratic societies and sustainable development on the free flow of information and press freedom, stressing that these fundamental rights are vital in providing information to citizens around the world and for progress itself.