Larry Register’s forced departure from the US public diplomacy channel marks a low point for American efforts at broadcasting to the Middle East, an entirely predictable debacle which likely puts paid to even the slender hopes that the station might turn itself around argues Editorial Board Member Marc Lynch.

The Arab Broadcast Forum both intentionally and inadvertently exposed some of the obstacles that continue to plague Arab World television media, as well as the conference’s own shortcomings. But its ability to critically examine these things?despite some flaws?demonstrates that the Arab media is at least on the right track, says Abigail Hauslohner.

BBC Monitoring Text of report by Palestinian Ma'an News Agency website     ["Hamas Accuses Palestine Satellite Channel Television of Featuring Footage Showing Movement Members, Saying That It Will Deal With Those Responsible as Collaborators With the Occupation" - Ma'an headline]     Gaza, 14 June (Ma'an) - The Martyr Izz al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, …

BBC Monitoring Text of report by Palestinian news agency Wafa website     ["Ministry of Information Issues Decree To Close Al-Aqsa Satellite Station Due to its Incitement to Sedition and Killing" - WAFA headline]     Ramallah, 14 June (WAFA) - The Palestinian Ministry of Information issued an edict today to the effect of …

BBC Monitoring At 1707 gmt, Palestinian Al-Aqsa Satellite TV posts the following "breaking news" caption: "Palestine Satellite Television employees in Gaza flee station; station now transmitting from Ramallah."     Source: Al-Aqsa Satellite TV, Gaza, in Arabic 1707 gmt 14 Jun 07  

BBC Monitoring Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 12 June     Reporters Without Borders today condemned new media censorship in Yemen, where access to at least two websites has been blocked since the start of the year, in one case for three months, and the …

BBC Monitoring Text of report by Palestinian Filastin al-An website on 10 June; subheadings as published     The official Palestine Television is Palestinian in name, but biased in performance. It is clearly biased towards one side at the expense of the other, even if it has to fabricate news, falsify facts …

BBC Monitoring Text of press release by Cairo-based satellite operator Nilesat on 4 June     The Egyptian satellite company Nilesat intends to procure its next generation satellite, designated Nilesat 201, through an international tender, and invites qualified satellite manufacturers to submit firm fixed-price proposals for the production and delivery, on-orbit, of …

BBC Monitoring Text of report by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website on 11 June     Prague, Czech Republic 11 June: Iranian government officials have informed lawyers for Radio Farda correspondent Parnaz Azima that they will not return her passport and that her case will have to be decided in court.     Her …

BBC Monitoring Text of report by Sudanese newspaper Al-Sahafah on 12 June     The information and communication committee at the parliament and the future directions' body yesterday approved the draft bill of the new press law. The new draft bill, which consists of seven parts and 30 articles, is to be …