On 8 February in Belarus the Law “On mass media”, adopted in summer, 2008, is coming into force, as “Nezavisimaya gazeta” writes. It stipulates more tough regulations as well as concerning journalists as mass media owners.

The News Corporation – one of the largest media holdings of the world – has fixed the pure loss of USD 6, 4 mld in the forth quarter of 2008, The Guardian writes. The major part of Rupert Murdoch’s corporation losses was because of writing off the asserts on USD 8, 4 mld.

British journalist Tim Wall becomes chief editor of Russian English-language The Moscow News paper, RIA Novosti - owner of the edition - informs on Friday, 6 February. Already on Friday they released the first updated weekly issue of The Moscow News edited by Tim Wall.

The Baku Court of Appeal has considered the claim of “Azadlig” newspaper collaborator Mirza Sakit, lodged against the verdict made by the Nariman district court. As www.day.az informs, the Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the Nariman district court and did not meet Mirza Sakit’s claim concerning pre-term leave the prison.

French weekly edition Paris Match was fined for EUR 4 thousand for publication of photos of the wedding ceremony of the youngest son of the President Nicolas Sarkozy, Jean without certain permission, AFP informs.

Armed man shot director of the leading independent radio station of the capital of Somali – Mogadishu, AFP informs. The radio’s employee Horn Afrik said to the agency that director left the office and later on his body was found in the street.

The Central Election Commission has refused to register the initiative group “Azad syoz” created in relation to the referendum taking place on 18 March. As APA informs, at the yesterday session of the CEC, the Commission’s secretary Natik Mammadov said that 43 thousand and a hundred signatures had been submitted from the initiative group.

Party of “Civil Solidarity” demands to stop broadcast of the Iranian TV “Sahar” in Azerbaijan, IA “Turan” informs. In the statement of the Party, published on Thursday, they state that the channel had already been carrying out “a dishonest” campaign against leader of the party Sabir Rustamkhanli and the Azerbaijani state, instigating the civilian people to speak anti-government for the whole week.

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.