Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov sent a letter to Helsinki Commission of the US Congress where he states the broadcast rules for foreign radios in Azerbaijan, IA “Turan” informs.

Until the parliamentary lections of 2010 there will be regional TVs in all the regions of Azerbaijan, IA “Turan” informs, quoting charman of the NTVRC of Azerbaijan Nushiravan Maharramli.

Yesterday, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to the CNN channel in “Congress” Hotel in Davos (Switzerland), as www.day.az informs, referring to AzerTaj.

President of the AIU, Elshad Abdullayev, has filed a suit against editor-in-chief of the “Tazadlar” ("Contradictions") newspaper, Asif Merzili, www.day.az informs referring to the Reporters’ Freedom and Safety Institute.

The multimedia center has published the book titled “Information Technologies for journalists”. The book was published to assist journalists in using information technologies in practice for efficient and swift production and transfer of information.

Barack Obama is to give his first interview to the Arabian “Al-Arabia” TV channel after being elected the US President, the ABC News informs. According to the ABC, Obama’s interview, recorded Monday evening, will be aired by the “Al-Arabia” on 27 January, at 07:00, by Moscow time. No details of the first Obama's TV interview are disclosed.

Ayanda Mursaliyeva, spouse of chief editor of the “Azadlig” newspaper, Ganimat Zahid, met him yesterday in correctional facility №17, www.day.az informs referring to www.mediaforum.az. According to the chief editor’s spouse, her husband is concerned about the journalists still remaining on freedom.

The British BBC has refused to allow free air time to charitable organizations to collect aid for the Palestinians suffered from the Israeli military operation in Gaza Strip, The Times writes. The decision was made by the BBC in connection with the fear that this action would undermine the TV Company’s unbiased image.

The Democratic League of Journalists fixed 356 facts relating to the situation in the sphere of free speech and the press. In the reporting period, law enforcement bodies detained and questioned 36 representatives of mass media with 32 of them beaten, morally pressed and threatened by policemen and civilian persons.

BBC announcer, Jonathan Ross was allowed to return to broadcast after the scandal with the indecent telephone spoof, France Presse informs Thursday, 22 January.

Israel removed 22 January a ban on entry to Gaza Strip for foreign journalists. The check-point Eretz, where they may pass to the Palestinian territory, will resume its usual working regime on Friday, 23 January, the Associated Press informs.

A radio journalist was killed on the Philippines, Reuters informs 22 January. Journalist, Badrodin Abbas, the narrator of an Islam-oriented radio program, was shot by two passengers of the minibus he was going on.

As www.day.az has already informed, the National TV and Radio Council warned some Azerbaijani TV channels over screening of films in a foreign language without translating them into Azerbaijani.

TV broadcast of the inauguration ceremony of the 44th president of the USA Barack Obama taken place on 20 January in Washington, was watched by 37,8 Americans, TV Week edition informs, referring to preliminary information of the Nielsen Media Research.

The broadcast of programs of the Russian “RTR-Planet” TV may be stopped in Tajikistan. This statement was made by Asadullo Rakhmonov, the chair to the State Committee on TV and Radio Broadcasting of the republic, IA “Central Asian News” informs.