Miracle said she was wearing a press vest and a badge when she was shot covering a story. Warning: This video contains graphic images.

Port-au-Prince

Haitian journalists have faced increasing danger while reporting, particularly from paramilitary gangs seeking to destabilize the country. During coverage of the reopening of Haiti's largest public hospital in Port-au-Prince, journalist Volandi Miracle was shot multiple times while wearing a press vest and badge. On the same day, her colleague Markendi Nathu was killed on the hospital grounds, also clearly identified as press.

Miracle described being attacked by armed groups, including child soldiers. She sustained seven gunshot wounds, including to the head, mouth, and leg, and required surgery in Cuba. Her brother was also killed in related violence inside the hospital.

Over the past three years, gangs have killed at least 12 journalists in Haiti. Newsrooms have been attacked, with at least three TV and radio stations targeted with guns and arson. One gang took control of a radio station and broadcast propaganda, while the office of the historic newspaper Le Nouvel Est was looted, forcing it to stop print operations.

Gael Alexis, editor-in-chief of Le Nouvel Est's cultural magazine, reports that journalists now work primarily from home due to the risks of being killed or kidnapped. Journalists say that gangs not only fight for territory but also seek to control information and prevent the press from reporting on the situation.

Despite the dangers, Miracle and her colleagues continue to work, emphasizing the importance of sharing stories about culture and daily life in Haiti. Journalists face ongoing threats not only from gangs but also from a security environment where the press is not always protected.



Why journalists are being hunted in Haiti: Velondie Miracle’s story

Christmas Eve in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, Haitian journalists gathered to cover a symbol of hope, the reopening of Haiti's largest public hospital after it was destroyed by paramilitary gangs. But instead, the gangs, in an attempt to further destabilize the country, ambushed the journalists. Haitian reporter Volandi Miracle, 31 years old, would be shot and almost die trying to report. With paramilitary gangs now blocking all roads to Port-au-Prince and flights grounded, seeing her in person was impossible. From Cap-Haitien in Haiti's north, we reached Miracle by video call. I began by asking about her attackers. Do you think they knew that you were a journalist? A 10-year-old? My word. A child soldier with a gun, a press badge in his sights. It's the new reality here. In Haiti, reporting the truth can get you killed. Gangs torch newsrooms and hunt down journalists. The press badge offers no protection here. How do you know that they knew you were a journalist? Two journalists died on the hospital grounds that day. Among them, Miracle's colleague Markendi Nathu, killed wearing his treasured press lanyard. Miracle says seven bullets took her down. One to the head, one to the mouth, five in the left leg. She had to be flown to Cuba for surgery. Her 20-year-old brother was inside, killed in the fire. The heavily armed gangs have killed at least 12 journalists in the last three years to stop the press from letting the world know the terror here. In March, they attacked with guns and gasoline at least three TV and radio stations. In April, a gang took over a radio station outside the capital, broadcasting propaganda after renaming it Taliban FM. And they looted the offices of Le Nouvel Est, Haiti's oldest newspaper, forcing it to suspend the print edition it had published for more than a century and go fully online. I think we're going to keep doing it until we can't anymore. Gael Alexis is the editor-in-chief of Le Nouvel Est's cultural magazine. She files her stories from home, like most of her colleagues. Venturing out can mean getting killed or kidnapped. Do you hear the gunshots? Yes, I do. When they are really near, maybe two blocks away, I really, really, really hear them. Gangs don't just fight for territory. They fight to control the narrative. And journalists stand in the way. They're trying to stop every journalist. They're trying to stop everyone that's been talking and everyone that's been informing. She could walk away. Instead, she writes about music, art, literature. Because in a country under siege, culture still stitches the threads of identity. It sounds like there are a lot of brave journalists in your country, yourself among them. Thank you. Maybe we don't have the choice? No, you have the choice. What would it be? The choice would be to not continue working and not make yourselves a potential target to the gangs. We're going to keep working. I think that's one of the things that still grounds us. That resolve comes at a price. For journalists like Volandi Miracle, it isn't just about surviving bullets. It's about navigating a country where even the police see the press as a threat. Journalists like Miracle navigate a no-win terrain. You're in Port-au-Prince right now. Do you feel safe? So why do it? I'm not sure I'm ready. In Haiti, where that passion for the truth gets journalists killed, Miracle, even in doing this interview, continues to risk it all.

The European Union has agreed to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia, targeting the country's energy and financial sectors in a bid to tighten the screws on the Kremlin's war machine and force a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

EU imposes new sanctions on Russia's oil and banks

U.S. President Donald Trump denies writing a letter signed 'Donald' beneath a nude sketch in Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday album, details of which were published by the Wall Street Journal. The letter is now under review by the U.S. Justice Department.

Washington

Trump denies writing crude letter to Jeffrey Epstein

The United Kingdom is to lower its voting age in general elections from 18 to 16, giving the country one of the lowest voting ages in the world in what the government says is a bid to “modernise our democracy”.

London

UK to lower voting age to 16 in landmark electoral reform

Following a call with President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare apology, saying the only Catholic church in Gaza was hit by stray ammunition. The blast killed three civilians. Ramy Inocencio reports.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Netanyahu apologizes for deadly strike on Catholic church in Gaza

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has suggested that TSA may soon end its restrictions on liquids in carry-on bags.

TSA may eliminate liquid restrictions on planes

A Tennessee judge on Thursday set Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal trial date for January 27, 2026. Abrego Garcia is facing human smuggling charges. CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane reports.

Tennessee

Judge sets Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal trial date for January 2026

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that President Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency.

Trump diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency

Black-box recording indicates that the flight's captain switched off fuel flow to both engines of the recently crashed Air India airplane, according to media reports on Wednesday, citing preliminary U.S. assessment of evidence.

Ahmedabad

Flight captain switched off fuel flow to engines in Air India crash

The Department of Justice has fired Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor and the daughter of ex-FBI director James Comey. This comes as the White House tries to mitigate demands for the Jeffrey Epstein files to be released.

DOJ fires Maurene Comey, who helped prosecute Jeffrey Epstein

The Senate approved a $9.4 billion rescissions request, sending it back to the House of Representatives for approval.

Senate approves spending cuts to foreign aid, public broadcasting

Israel has faced international condemnation over its three days of airstrikes in Syria. The European Union and the United Nations have called for a return to calm, while Iran has urged countries in the region to respond against Israel.

Damascus

World reacts to Israeli attacks on Syria’s Damascus

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz makes his first state visit to the United Kingdom to sign a historic defence cooperation treaty—the first of its kind between Germany and Britain since the Second World War. The agreement includes plans for joint defence efforts, boosting economic collaboration, and tackling illegal migration.

Germany and UK seal historic defence pact

Donald Trump says American-made weapons bought by NATO are being shipped to Ukraine. Trump's also threatening sanctions, saying his aim is to force Putin to negotiate an end to the war. But with Ukraine under nightly attack, there’s scepticism over whether he'll achieve anything.

Kyiv

U.S. ships NATO purchased Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Syria condemns Israel for fatal strikes on several government buildings in Damascus. The escalation threatens to disrupt new U.S.-brokered security talks between Israel and Syria, with both sides expressing concerns over stability in the region.

Israeli airstrikes on Syria threaten security talks

U.S. President Donald Trump is still dealing with fallout from his own supporters over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. CBS News Department of Justice reporter Jake Rosen has more.

Trump says Epstein conspiracy theory is hoax started by Democrats

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that she spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and that the two had agreed to strengthen trade collaboration, particularly in light of the tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump set to go in effect on August 1.

Mexico City

Global Tariffs

Mexico plans to strengthen trade with Canada

Former President Barack Obama joined his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, on her latest podcast episode with her brother Craig Robinson to address divorce rumors.

Obamas address divorce rumors on Michelle’s podcast

Israel struck Syrian military targets as well as central Damascus on Wednesday (July 16) as it continued its campaign to protect Druze minority communities in southern Syria.

Israel strikes Damascus as fighting rages in southern Syria

U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee's appearance at Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial follows President Trump's call for Israel to throw out the case or pardon the Israeli prime minister.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

U.S. ambassador attends Netanyahu trial to show support from Trump

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. would impose a 19% tariff on goods from Indonesia under a new agreement with the Southeast Asian country and more deals were in the works as he continued to press for what he views as better terms with trading partners.

Trump eyes more trade deals soon as EU readies retaliation

At least 20 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday (July 16) at an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in what the U.S.-backed group said was a crowd surge instigated by armed agitators. This video contains graphic images.

Crush at Gaza aid site kills at least 20, GHF blames agitators

Police in Los Angeles have arrested a 22-year-old suspect in the double homicide of American Idol executive Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca. The couple, both 70 years old, was found shot to death in their home earlier this week.

Encino

Police make arrest in murders of American Idol executive, husband

Streaming shows dominated nominations for the 2025 Emmy Awards. "Severance" earned the most series nominations with 27. Meanwhile, "The Studio" earned the most-ever nominations for a debut comedy series with 23.

Hollywood

'Severance' and 'The Studio' earn top Emmy nominations

The United Torah Judaism party has decided to quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition over its failure to secure military service exemptions. Members of the ultra-orthodox community have been exempted from enlisting in the army since 1948.

Major cracks in Netanyahu coalition as ultra-Orthodox party quits

New information about the Jeffrey Epstein case may soon be made public after a reversal from U.S. President Donald Trump and weeks of criticism — the loudest of which has come from within the MAGA movement.

Epstein files may be released after Trump reversal

Russia's Vladimir Putin has rejected President Trump's ultimatum for Moscow to sign a ceasefire deal with Ukraine in the next 50 days. Trump has threatened to issue a 100% tariff on any country that does business with Russia if no ceasefire deal is reached.

Russia rejects Trump's ultimatum for ceasefire in Ukraine

Fighting has erupted in the southern Syrian city of As Suwayda just six hours after a ceasefire was announced. Earlier on Tuesday, Syrian government forces withdrew heavy vehicles from the city, hoping to ease tensions.

As Suwayda

Fighting erupts in Syria’s As Suwayda hours after ceasefire deal

Two laptops and hard drives containing watermarked and unreleased music by Beyoncé were stolen from her choreographer’s rental car in Atlanta, according to police.

Atlanta

Unreleased Beyoncé music stolen from choreographer’s rental car

The House Committee on Education and Workforce is holding its ninth hearing in 18 months on antisemitism on college campuses. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has more details.

Anger at House committee hearing on antisemitism in college campuses

An Air India Boeing airplane crashed in northwestern India in June, killing all people on board but one passenger. India's aviation regulator has now ordered airlines to examine fuel control switches on several Boeing models.