Three largest news agencies – the Associated Press, Agence France Presse and Reuters refused to publish the photos presented to them by the White House press service after their own cameramen were banned to shoot Barack Obama in the Oval Office on the first day of his period of the US President office, AP informs.

The World Association of Newspapers has cancelled the annual congress in March over global economic crisis, France Presse informs on Tuesday, 20 January.

On 20 January human rights activists held the action in commemoration of lawyer, Stanislav Markelov and journalist, Anastasiya Baburova killed the day before in the center of Moscow. As “Interfax” informs, representatives of human rights organizations and plain people came together at the scene of the murder in the Prechistenka Str bringing flowers, candles and photos of the murdered.

www.day.az informs referring to the press service of the AR Ombudsman office that the Ombudsman representatives have visited colony №12 where founder and of the “Gundalik Azerbaijan” and “Realniy Azerbaijan” newspapers, Eynulla Fatullayev is imprisoned.

The “Azerbaijan” publishing house has refused to sign contracts with the newspapers identified as newspapers-racketeers by the Press Council, APA informs referring to deputy director of the “Azerbaijan” publishing house, Besti Ismailova.

On 21 January “Musavat” Party plans to hold a protest action in front of the building of the NTVRC, www.day.az informs, referring to the Party’s press service. They inform that cut off broadcasts of the radios “Azadlig”, “The Voice of America” and the BBC on the national frequencies made by the Council, proved the main motive of the action.

Authorities of Afghanistan arrested editor of the Kabul newspaper for publication of an article where he rejects the fact of all the religions, including Islam, being granted to humanity by divine intent, AFP informs.

As www.day.az informs, referring to “Gazeta.Ru”, Azar Mursaliyev becomes chief editor of “Kommersant” newspaper; he took the position of deputy chief editor of the newspaper. Ex-chief editor Andrey Vasilyev is still chief editor of the publishing house.

Chief editor of Azerbaijani newspaper “Kadr va taraggi” Zokhrab Sadigov is detained on suspicion in raping, APA informs referring to police of the Agdam region.

Media Rights Institute made a statement strongly condemning the beating of “Yeni Musavat” newspaper journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, www.day.az informs, referring to the statement.

Authorities of Iraq have introduced a fines system for mass media distorting information while covering municipal elections, Reuters informs. Mass media violating the adopted code may be fined or forced to apologize in public. They may also be deprived of their possessions except real estate ones.
In case sanctions are not followed by companies, the licenses of the latter will be annulated.