(CMFR/IFEX) - Two local courts recently decided two separate cases of work-related killing of broadcasters in Region XI (Davao Region). Eight out of the 78 work-related killing of journalists/media practitioners since 1986 happened in Region XI.

(BCHR/IFEX) - The Bahraini Public Prosecution (PP) has summoned Mr Abdulhasan Bu-Hussain, a journalist writer at "Alwasat" local newspaper, on a case brought against him by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) accusing him of smear and defamation in a series of articles written by Bu-Hussain about the CSB and its regulations.

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The Burmese military junta's censorship board has imposed restrictions in the coverage of the anniversary of the deadly Cyclone Nargis, sources in local journals in Rangoon said.

The swoop indicates that Najib's administration is far from sincere about instituting reforms and allowing greater openness despite his call for "OneMalaysia".

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the Saudi pro-government daily "Al Watan's" attempts to interfere in the programming of MBC, a privately-owned, pan-Arab satellite television station based in Dubai. A recent column in the newspaper called one of MBC's programmes "contrary to society's customs."

(ANHRI/IFEX) - The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) strongly condemns the action taken by Yemeni authorities against several independent newspapers and journalists. The latest action was the confiscation of seven newspapers in two days and the arrest of journalist Fuad Rashid, the owner and publisher of http://www.mukallapress.com. The confiscation orders follow the papers' coverage of protests in southern Yemen and criticism of the way the Yemeni government responded to the problems.

(CIJ, interim member/IFEX) - The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) condemns the arrest and remand of media and electoral reform activist Wong Chin Huat on 5 May 2009 over his strong calls against the Barisan Nasional party's takeover of the state of Perak and refusal to call for new elections in the state following the political crisis that has been going on since February.

(RSF/IFEX) - 6 May 2009 - Reporters Without Borders deplores the deterioration in the media situation in the Swat valley since the military launched an offensive against the Taliban. The valley has been plunged into chaos, fighting is raging, the population is fleeing, and the media are all paralysed.

(IPI/IFEX) - Vienna, 7 May 2009 - The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate, strongly condemns the threat made by the Serbian Orthodox priest Vlastimir Zlatic against the Serbian journalist Zoran Marjanovic, correspondent for the newspapers "Kurir" and "Glas Javnosti", in the village of Silopaj, near Gornji Milanovac, Serbia.

(JED/IFEX) - On 4 May 2009, a broadcast ban on two Likasi-based, independent media outlets, Community Radio of Katanga (RCK) and Radiotélévision Likasi 4 (RTL4), was lifted. The ban was ordered on 11 March by Jean-Marie Dikanga Kazadi, the provincial minister of the interior, customs, security and communications. Likasi is the capital of the mining province of Katanga, in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 16 April 2009, a dozen students of the University of Carabobo, identified as militants of Venezuela's United Socialist Party (PSUV), the government's party, arrived at the headquarters of the newspaper "El Carabobeño", painted messages on its facade that said "pitiyanquis", "tell the truth" and "how much are you getting paid?", and insulted the employees. The incident took place in the city of Valencia, in central Venezuela.

(AJI/IFEX) - On 5 May 2009, The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia read out its decision over the request for a Judicial Review against Law No. 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions. The Court rejected the request to revoke article 27 paragraph (3) of the said law.

(MISA/IFEX) - On 6 May 2009, former news reader with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project Jestina Mukoko was granted bail by Harare Magistrate, Catherine Chimanda after the defence reached a mutual agreement with the Attorney General's office to that effect.

(EOHR/IFEX) - The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) condemns the unlawful detention of human rights activists in a clear violation of their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed by international human rights covenants and the Egyptian constitution.

(EOHR/IFEX) - The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) condemns the unlawful detention of human rights activists in a clear violation of their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed by international human rights covenants and the Egyptian constitution.

In addition to harassing victims' family members, state security forces have also targeted individuals trying to investigate the possible causes of school collapses or compile lists of quake victims.

(IJC/IFEX) - 30 April 2009 - The Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections - Coalition 2009 - calls on the Main State Tax Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova to ensure transparency regarding the fiscal verification of non-governmental organizations which were active during the 2009 elections.

Members of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in Paris and London went hungry this World Press Freedom Day - in support of jailed U.S.-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi, who herself started a hunger strike on 21 April. Thankfully, Saberi, who was protesting an eight-year jail sentence for spying for the U.S., has since started eating again. But the international campaigning for her release goes on. Next week, an Iranian appeals court will hear her case, and a verdict is expected shortly thereafter. As World Press Freedom Day was commemorated on 3 May, Saberi is just one of about 125 journalists jailed worldwide because of their work - and an example of the threats hundreds of thousands of journalists and others face for exercising their right to free expression.

A Mexican journalist who was critical of local authorities in the northern state of Durango was assassinated on 3 May, World Press Freedom Day, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN.

Brazil's Supreme Court has made a "historic decision" to repeal the 1967 press law, which allowed for jail sentences for press offences, report the Associação Brasileira de Jornalismo Investigativo (ABRAJI), the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), ARTICLE 19 and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).