On Thursday Basmanniy court of Moscow partially satisfied the claim lodged by the mayor of Moscow Yury Lujkov against GQ magazine and businessman Aleksandr Lebedev, RIA Novosti informs referring to the respondent’s representative Artem Artemov. According to Artemov, judge obliged Lebedev and GQ to pay 50 thousand rubles each to Yury Lujkov as compensation on the claim on honor and dignity and business reputation. Initially, Lujkov demanded 500 thousand rubles from each of the respondents.

Former president of Iran Mohammed Khatemi stated about his intention to launch his own TV channel to be broadcasted via a satellite soon.

One of the largest in the world news TVs - the CNN is going to reduce the part of foreign materials in its news programs to minimum, the CNN International executive director Tony Maddox said in an interview to the Financial Times Deutschland.

The Washington Post newspaper has backed up the candidacy of Dem. Barack Obama at the forthcoming presidential elections. The Senator from Illinois was dedicated an editorial column in the newspaper's 17 October issue.

On Friday the authorities of China declared on constant abolition of some restrictions imposed in the country for foreign mass media, France Presse informs.

Today - the18th of October is the State Independence Day in Azerbaijan. At the end of XX century, thanks to a historic chance bound up with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the opportunity given by fortune itself, Azerbaijani people hoisted a banner of independence for the second time during the past century. It was the second bright victory in the political history of our people in the XX century.

Hackers have cracked the site of Arabic Al-Arabiya satellite TV, France Press informs. It is supposed that the resource was hacked by Shiite extremists. However, no grouping has assumed the responsibility for the break-in.

A helicopter with the employees of “Channel 13” of ABC TV Company on board crashed in Texas, the USA. A pilot of the helicopter and a photographer of “Channel 13” died at the scene, the TV Company’s representatives said.

On 10 October, an Uzbek journalist and human rights activist Salidjon Abdurahmanov was sentenced to ten years in prison, Uznews.net informs. He was convicted under an accusation of drug trade. Salidjon Abdurahmanov was detained early June in Nukus city. His car was stopped by a traffic police inspector for a check-up. The inspector alleged that his patrol dog smelt drugs.

American journalists arrested in Syria for illegal entering the country, were handed over Thursday to the USA, France Presse informs citing the US State Department's representative.

The Azerbaijan Public TV and Radio (ITV) has paid a fine to the European Broadcast Union for the refusal to participate in the Junior Eurovision – 2008 contest, APA informs referring to chief of the ITV department on music, art and entertainment programs, Fizuli Ismailov.

Two American reporters are missing in Lebanon, Lebanese Internet edition Naharnet informed Wednesday, 8 October. Due to the initial data, the journalists worked on The Jordan Times newspaper.

They are preparing a provocation against imprisoned “Azadlig” newspaper's journalist, Mirza Sakit being in a hospital. Day.Az reports quoting the Institute of Reporters’ Freedom and Safety that the journalist's spouse, Rena Zahidova informed about it.

President of Egypt Hosny Mubarak has pardoned chief editor of newspaper Al-Dustour Ibrahim Eissa, sentenced by the court to two months’ imprisonment for publication of rumors about the president’s heath, AFP informs referring to Arab MENA.

Well known presenter of the BBC has accused the corporation of “servility” before the British crowned family, AFP informs.