News Snippets

>> Harvard University administrators have said they searched emails of deans as part of an investigation into a leak of a student cheating scandal. Over 120 students were implicated for cheating on an exam in an introductory government class last spring.

Chinese checkers

Two major US newspapers have alleged that they have been targeted by Chinese hackers. The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have reported that hackers from China broke into their websites in the midst of both papers doing extensive reporting on China. The New York Times claimed the hackers obtained passwords for its reporters. Both papers said Chinese spying has become a “widespread phenomenon”.

Environment beats retreat

On January 16, the nine journalists who make up The New York Times’ environment desk learned that they will be reassigned. The newspaper is shutting down its environment desk.

Taste of freedom

Myanmar has announced it will allow private daily newspapers starting in April for the first time since 1964, in the latest step towards allowing freedom of expression. The Information Ministry announced on its website that any Myanmar national wishing to publish a daily newspaper will be able to submit an application in February. They will be allowed to begin printing from April 1 in any language.

News Snippets

>> The new BBC wildlife series Africa will make it clear when animals have been filmed under controlled conditions. The move comes a year after an episode of Frozen Planet, featuring a polar bear with her cubs, was criticised. Some shots in the programme were filmed in a Dutch zoo, but viewers assumed that the footage came from the Arctic. The producers of Africa said they felt it “appropriate to be more explicit” about the origins of such sequences.

Communist stocks

The mouthpiece of China’s ruling Communist Party is taking to capitalist ways. On April 7, the online version of People’s Daily launched an initial public offering of its shares in Shanghai. It aims to raise 527 million yuan (US $84 million) to upgrade its technology and strengthen its operations. The paper faces competition from private online rivals such as Sina Corp and Sohu.

No foreign hand

The Macedonian government’s plan to regulate the work of foreign media and distribution of foreign information has come under strong criticism both at home and abroad.

NYT’s faulty posture

An incendiary piece in New York Times, under the headline, “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body”, has upset the US’ usually chilled community of yoga-lovers. The article which appeared across several pages of the paper’s Sunday magazine alleged students and even “celebrated teachers” were injuring themselves “in droves” by over-ambitious and under-taught yoga moves.

No space for dissent

A prominent Uzbek newspaper has suspended publication. Bakhodyr Yuldashev, the chief editor of the Russian-language Zerkalo XXI (Mirror XXI), told news agency Radio Free Europe the paper stopped publishing due to financial difficulties. But he also hinted that government pressure was among the reasons for the newspaper’s going off stands. “Any of our readers can confirm that we have had tonnes of critical reports. And no one likes criticism,” he says.

Editors’ appeal

Armenia is debating the repeal of controversial legislation that has led to a sharp increase in libel suits filed against media organisations. The country’s human rights ombudsman Karen Andreasian has urged the court to consider declaring the law unconstitutional after protests from editors of leading publications. Amendments to Armenia’s libel laws last year decriminalised libel, but toughened financial penalties. After that at least 15 libel suits have been filed by government officials, including former president Robert Kocharian, and businessmen with government connections.