2005-2014

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has urged the German authorities to carry out a full investigation into the spying on investigative journalists that was reportedly carried out by the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from the early 1990s until the autumn of 2005. A parliamentary committee was due to question the BND on 16 May about its extensive clandestine monitoring of the press in which...

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called for an investigation into the apparent links between the paramilitary United Self Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) and a bodyguard assigned to protect independent journalist Pedro Cárdenas. Cárdenas has told the press freedom organisation that one of his bodyguards, provided by the Administrative Security Department (DAS), tried to recruit an AUC...

New York, May 16, 2006 - The Supreme Court in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan today ordered the release from pre-trial detention of Viktor Shmakov, the 63-year-old editor-in-chief of Provintsialniye Vesti (Provincial News), according to local press reports. The court said authorities did not have enough evidence to hold Shmakov on the grounds that he would continue his "extremist activities"...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned over the rejection of accreditation for Taiwanese journalists to cover the 59th annual World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, for the third year in a row. "The World Health Organisation's (WHO) refusal to accredit Taiwanese journalists is discriminatory and is undermining the ability of the Taiwanese media to cover world affairs...

BEIJING -- A freelance writer was sentenced to 12 years in prison yesterday, receiving an unusually harsh penalty amid one of China's most severe media crackdowns since the 1980s. The sentencing of Yang Tianshui on subversion charges was one of a flurry of court actions yesterday against Chinese reporters. In Beijing, prosecutors filed a new indictment against a Chinese researcher for The New York...

Employees who have access to the internet at work spend almost a quarter of their time online visiting news, weather and other websites that have nothing to do with their jobs, according to a new study of web surfing habits. The three-part US study, the third section of which will be published on Wednesday, found that 61 per cent of people who use the internet at work admitted to visiting non-work...

Danish Muslims are increasingly giving their new-born babies Islamic names to help preserve their identity, with that of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) being the most favored choice. "My wife and I have agreed to give our boys and girls Islamic names in the hope they would reflect positively on their personalities," Omran Tharwat told IslamOnline.net on Wednesday, May 10. He...

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) criticized on Tuesday, May 16, Denmark for allowing a climate of suspicion and hatred towards Muslims and blasted as provocative cartoons lampooning Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him). "ECRI notes with deep concern that the situation concerning Muslims in Denmark has worsened since its second report," the independent...

Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about threats by separatist groups against cable TV operators in Kashmir during the past week that led operators to suspend some entertainment channels. "Over the years, armed separatist groups have become more and more threatening towards the media in Kashmir," the organisation said. "We call on all the separatist movements to stop intimidating...

Next Monday night, Jack Bauer will wrap up the fifth season of the U.S. television show "24" by trying to bring down the president of the United States. A Richard Nixon look-alike named Charles Logan, the president has been working secretly with terrorists to secure a steady flow of oil to the United States and doing a lot of bad things in the process. Bauer, a government agent played by Kiefer...