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The Norwegian Embassy in Baku has issued a statement regretting the court’s ruling to imprison two young bloggers – Emin (Milli) Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizade, right.

As Index on Censorship and English Pen launch “Free Speech is Not For Sale”, a damning report on English libel laws, John Kampfner highlights the pressing need for reform: “London is the global centre of libel tourism. From Middle Eastern potentates to Russian oligarchs, the rich and powerful use our legal system to bully people.”

Malnutrition kills between 3.5 and 5 million children under five each year. A new report from Doctors Without Borders reveals that the world’s richest countries overall spend only $350 million to combat the problem, or 3 percent of World Bank’s recommendation.

The state of Bosnia and Herzegovina has recently released a draft of the National report for the UPR. However, on a public debate which was organized by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees (MHRR) last week, the country’s NGO sector criticized collectively its content.

In their submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Republic of Belarus, International Comission of Jurists stressed the key importance of this review about to happen in May 2010, given “the persistent failure of Republic of Belarus to meet many of its international human rights obligations”. Key Belarusian human rights NGOs have also presented their vision of situation.

Today the Sabail District Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Araz Huseynov, issued a verdict in the criminal case opened under article 221.2.1(hooliganism) and 127 (inflicting intentional minor bodily harm) against young bloggers Emin Abdullayev (Millli) and Adnan Hajizade. Emin Milli was sentenced to 2,5 years imprisonment and Adnan Hajizade – to 2 years imprisonment.

At a time when US President Barack Obama is about to visit Beijing, he is urged to intervene on behalf of more than 40 writers imprisoned in the People´s Republic of China. Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders appeal for a goodwill gesture regarding Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen, whose ill health is not compatible with prolonged detention, the Norwegian Tibet Committee reported.

The UN Human Rights Committee considered the second periodic report of Republic of Croatia on its session held on 14th and 15th of October 2009, pointing out its positive aspects, but also issues of concern, and recommendations.

ARTICLE 19 calls on the Mexican authorities to fully and immediately investigate the killing of journalist José Bladimir Antuna García, in the state capital of Durango in northern Mexico. So far, nine journalists have been killed in Mexico this year, while eight remain missing and hundreds more have suffered threats or aggressions.