Respect media freedom, says PM

October 3rd, 2009 Rally held in Rome to defend press freedomROME — Tens of thousands of people, including journalists and media rights activists, gathered in a Rome square Saturday to defend press freedom, accusing Premier Silvio Berlusconi of trying to silence critical voices. Berlusconi, a media magnate, has dismissed the accusations as a "joke" and the demonstration as a "farce." He said this week that there is more press freedom in Italy than in any other Western country.

September 2nd, 2009 Sri Lanka defends 20-year sentence for journalistCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka's government defended a 20-year prison sentence given to a journalist accused of violating the country's strict anti-terror law, saying he was given a fair trial and the decision did not impact media freedom on the island. J.S. Tissainayagam — who was singled out by President Barack Obama in a May speech as an example of persecuted journalists around the globe — wrote articles for the now-defunct Northeastern Monthly magazine in 2006 and 2007 that criticized the government for its conduct in the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels.

August 28th, 2009 Dutch royals win privacy case against APAMSTERDAM — A court ruled Friday that The Associated Press violated the privacy of the Dutch royal family by photographing them on a skiing holiday in Argentina. The judge handed down an injunction against further distribution or sale of four images of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander's family that were made available worldwide last month and widely used by the Dutch media.

August 9th, 2009 MUMBAI - Nation observed the 67th anniversary of the Quit India Movement on Sunday and paid tributes to the martyrs and freedom fighters who had taken part in the movement. On the occasion, members of the Congress party, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, gathered at a function organised at the August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai to honour the freedom fighters.

May 5th, 2009 IMF urged to link Sri Lanka loan to rightsCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The International Monetary Fund must insist that Sri Lanka's government respect media rights and the rule of law before granting any new lending, a press freedom group said Tuesday. The Sri Lankan military's recent successes against separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in the north have been accompanied by a "ruthless campaign" against the media and dissidents, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders wrote in a letter to the IMF.

May 1st, 2009 NEW YORK - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that China, Cuba and Eritrea are responsible for half of the 125 journalists imprisoned in 2008, some of whom have been under detention for years. 'I urge all governments that have detained journalists to ensure that their rights are fully respected, including the right to appeal and defend themselves against charges,' Ban said on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day held each May 1 around the world, citing the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

May 1st, 2009 Sri Lanka accused of 'brutal' media suppressionCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The Sri Lankan military's success in its fight against separatist rebels has been accompanied by a "brutal campaign" against dissenting media, an international press group said Friday. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders branded Sri Lanka as the "least respectful of media freedom" among countries with democratically elected governments.

April 18th, 2009 NEW YORK - It seems Nick Cannon has got tired of rumours about wife Mariah Carey's pregnancy, as he has asked people to give their privacy a little respect. When asked about the authenticity to the claims, Cannon just laughed them off and urged people to respect his privacy.

April 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Reacting to a journalist hurling a shoe at Home Minister P. Chidambaram to vent his anguish over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, editors of various media organisations said Tuesday the act was 'unprofessional' and 'uncalled for'.

March 16th, 2009 BRUSSELS - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari for imposing a ban on certain media organisations, accusing him of 'intolerable interference' in press freedom. The Brussels-based journalists forum has also welcomed the resignation of Pakistan's Information Minister Sherry Rehman in protest against Zardari's action, EuAsiaNews reported Sunday.

March 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Hollywood actress Hayden Panettiere tried to talk down reports claiming that she lashed out at a journalist in Hawaii, saying that they were blown out of proportion. Hayden reportedly shouted angrily at a reporter, who tapped her shoulder at a fundraiser gala in Hawai.

January 24th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Freedom fighters living in the union territory of Chandigarh have returned the administration's invitation for the Republic Day function to protest its indifferent attitude to their grievances. There are around 32 families of freedom fighters living in Chandigarh and many of them have returned the invitation card of the administration.

January 21st, 2009 CHANDIGARH - A group of freedom fighters living in this city had a pleasant surprise when Punjab Governor and Chandigarh’s Administrator Gen. (retd) S.F. Rodrigues visited their homes Thursday.

January 17th, 2009 BOGOTA - A Colombian court allowed an inmate to wear a skirt and makeup in a men's prison, acknowledging his freedom of personality, EFE has reported. The decision of the Superior Court of the central city of Ibague Friday will allow Fairber Narvaez to dress like a woman and go by the name of 'Mireya' in the jail near Chaparral.

January 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured editors of prominent news channels that the government would not take any step that would compromise the freedom of media, the editors said Friday after meeting him here. The editors, who have been protesting against the government's proposed measures to control the electronic media in emergency situations, said the spirit of self-regulation must prevail and hoped that after Friday's meeting, the issue would be completely closed.