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'Bulletproof Vests' brings the stories of Gaza's press to Colombo's ...
A new theatre production confronting the human cost of journalism in Gaza will make its Colombo debut on Saturday, May 10, 2026, at the New Theatre, BMICH, as part of Charitable 2026 – a joint initiative by the Rotaract Clubs of Colombo Fort and Colombo North. Bulletproof Vests, compiled and directed by Murthaaz Abdul Barry, tells the stories of six journalists in Gaza who redefined the meaning of courage in the middle of the world’s most documented genocide. Through documentary-style vignettes drawn from real wills, letters, and public statements, the production blends primary source material with visceral theatrical expression to amplify voices that have been silenced by conflict, asking audiences a stark question: what happens to the truth when it is buried beneath the rubble? More than 290 journalists have been killed in Gaza since 2023, making it one of the deadliest press environments ever recorded. Bulletproof Vests puts faces and lives to that figure through six portraits: Shireen Abu-Akleh – The Daughter of Palestine Fatima Hassouna -The Eye of Gaza Anas Al-Sharif – The Voice of Gaza Mariam Abu Dagga – The Hero of Press Freedom Saleh al-Jafarawi – The Martyr of Truth Bisan Owda -The Next Generation The production is devised by and features Mashika Methmini, Hirupa Kithmina, Kavishka Lochana, and Sadeepa Wickramage, with guest artists Vishi and Nipuni Sharada. Writer by day, actor by night, Murthaaz Abdul Barry is a performer and activist with over a decade of experience whose work is defined by a single conviction: that art can give voice to the unheard. He has taken that conviction to international stages, performing at the World Conference on Statelessness in Malaysia and the Ubumuntu Arts Festival in Rwanda. In Sri Lanka, he leads the Youth Ensemble of Stages Theatre Group and is an active member of the Free Palestine Movement of Sri Lanka. Bulletproof Vests is a direct expression of that advocacy – a commitment to ensuring the stories of the oppressed are not forgotten. Charitable 2026 is presented in collaboration with the Interact Clubs of Ave Maria Convent, Carey College, Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Sujatha Vidyalaya, St. Lawrence’s Convent, and Visakha Vidyalaya. Show Details Date: Saturday, May 10, 2026 Time: 4:30 p.m. onwards Venue: New Theatre, BMICH, Colombo Tickets and inquiries: +94 75 133 4918 | +94 72 204 0786 | +94 75 493 4871 (Newswire) 2026-05-05
Media leaders ask Israel to lift ban on independent Gaza reporting | AP ...
The leaders of major media companies around the world, including The Associated Press, are calling on Israel’s government to lift a ban keeping foreign journalists from being able to independently enter and report from Gaza, a barrier that’s been in place since the war’s start in 2023 and continues even as a ceasefire has been in place for more than six months.“Being on the ground is essential. It allows journalists to question official accounts on all sides, to speak directly with civilians and report back what they witness firsthand,” said the statement from the executives, released Thursday. “That is why news organizations send their reporters into the field, often at great personal risk.”From the AP and the BBC and Sky News to CNN to MS NOW, from Reuters to German news agency dpa to The New York Times and The Washington Post, the top editors of more than two dozen organizations said the Israeli government has so far not responded to their efforts to discuss the situation. They questioned the country’s rationales for why the restrictions are still in place.The letter was released at 5 a.m. ET by the local foreign press association. Israel had said ban was necessaryInitially, Israel said the ban was necessary because foreign journalists allowed into Gaza could give away the positions of Israeli soldiers and endanger them. Other rationales have included that as an active battle zone, it was too dangerous. The army has occasionally brought foreign reporters in on highly controlled trips, but media outlets want independent access. An email seeking comment was sent to New York-based representatives of the Israeli government. There was no immediate response.Currently, “the heaviest fighting is over and there is a ceasefire in place,” the editors’ statement said. “The hostages have come home. Journalists do not pose a threat to Israeli troops. There is a mechanism in place—however restrictive—that allows aid workers to enter and exit the territory. Why not journalists?” There have been attempts at legal action to force the issue. The Foreign Press Association, which represents international media in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, has been waiting on a decision from the Israeli Supreme Court on a petition for independent access to Gaza. That action was filed in 2024, but a ruling has been repeatedly delayed, most recently in January. With foreign journalists kept out of Gaza, coverage of the conditions on the ground there has been possible only for local Pa...
Trump jokes about wearing bulletproof vest - The Hill
President Trump joked Thursday about the possibility of him wearing a bulletproof vest in the future in the aftermath of a third assassination attempt, joking that he does not know if he "can ...
A new theatre production confronting the human cost of journalism in ...
NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK). 110 views. A new theatre production confronting the human cost of journalism in Gaza will make its Colombo debut on Saturday, May 10, 2026, at the New Theatre, BMICH, as part of Charitable 2026 - a joint initiative by the Rotaract Clubs of Colombo Fort and Colombo North. Bulletproof Vests, compiled and directed by Murthaaz Abdul Barry, tells the stories of ...
