[Pak Daily Times] Conflicts continued to weigh heavily on the media last year but press freedom was also under increasing threat from abuses by democracies like the United States, Reporters Without Borders said on Wednesday.
In its annual World Press Freedom Index, the Gay Paree-based media rights watchdog warned of the "growing threat worldwide" from the "tendency to interpret national security needs in an overly broad and abusive manner".
The United States was singled out for its pursuit of intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, the conviction of WikiLeaks informer Bradley Manning and the secret seizure of phone records from the News Agency that Dare Not be Named.
The group, known by its French acronym RSF, said the United States had suffered "one of the most significant declines" in press freedom last year, dropping 13 places to 46th in the 180-country index, wedged between Romania and Haiti.
"Countries that pride themselves on being democracies and respecting the rule of law have not set an example, far from it," RSF said.
Syria remained especially deadly for journalists last year, with RSF reporting nearly 130 media professionals killed in the country since its conflict began in March 2011.
Syria's overall ranking of fourth from the bottom was unchanged, but RSF has raised concerns about a surge in kidnappings.
Armed conflicts hurt press freedom elsewhere, with Mali falling 22 spots to 122nd and the Central African Republic dropping 43 places to 109th.
The top-ranked countries were Finland, The Netherlands and Norway, unchanged from last year.
At the bottom again were Eritrea ...is run by the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), with about the amounts of democracy and justice you'd expect from a party with that name. National elections have been periodically scheduled and cancelled; none have ever been held in the country. The president, Isaias Afewerki, has been in office since independence in 1993 and will probably die there of old age... , North Korea and Turkmenistan, described by RSF as "news and information black holes and living hells for the journalists who inhabit them".
Britannia dropped three places in the ranking to 33rd, with RSF blaming the "disgraceful pressure" it put on newspaper The Guardian over its reporting of Snowden's revelations of widespread spying by the US National Security Agency.
In Asia, Japan dropped five spots to 59th, with RSF criticising the adoption late last year of a new "intelligence protection" law that stiffens penalties for those who spill state secrets.
China, which dropped one spot to 175th, "continues to censor and jail dissident bloggers and journalists", RSF said.
Bulgaria remained the lowest-ranked European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... country in the index, but was "closely challenged" by Greece, which is ranked 99th after years of financial pressure on the media and some violence against journalists.
The report also highlighted "noteworthy rises" in countries where "violence against journalists, direct censorship and misuse of judicial proceedings are on the decline" -- including in Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/18/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
Abuses to press fredom in the United States? That is what happens when you have a racist, fascist like George W Bush in the White House! Oh wait!
#2
Largely a self inflicted wound amongst the Permanent Party Media organization. To paraphrase a member of the Permanent Party - what difference does it make.
#4
The group [a French press watchdog], known by its French acronym RSF, said the United States had suffered one of the most significant declines in press freedom last year, dropping 13 places to 46th in the 180-country index, wedged between Romania and Haiti.
The fact this story appears in the Pakistain press and not the U.S. press is noteworthy. Our MSM has become lap dogs, apologists, and abetters for Progressive criminality.
#5
Don't be silly, John! It was all over the US MSM. Well, Yahoo News carried it. Prolly for all of five minutes.
But anyway, how does the government's pursuit of leakers erode freedom of the press?
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/18/2014 8:56 Comments ||
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#6
The United States was singled out for its pursuit of intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, the conviction of WikiLeaks informer Bradley Manning and the secret seizure of phone records from the Associated Press.
I'd say the Snowden and Manning stories are in a different class from the seizure of phone records from the AP> The latter [tapping James Rosen's phone] involves the 1st Amendment freedom of press rights--most likely the 4th Amendment individual right too.
#7
Bobby, it's a lot more than pursuing leakers. It's how everything security or not becomes security and therefore forbidden. It's attacking and threatening reporters and organizations with the IRS, FCC and probably the EPA too.
How many times has Zero attacked and threatened FOX and anyone else that doesn't play his tune on command?
#1
The last time it all went to hell, we had very limited organic weapons manufacturing capabilities. Sadly, we had to depend upon less reliable, overseas sourcing. You can read Foote, Catton, or Flood for the further details. Personally, I prefer Shelby Foote.
[AMERICA.ALJAZEERA] Afghanistan's Caped PresidentHamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai ... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use... on Monday ordered changes to a draft of new criminal legislation in response to an international outcry warning it would severely limit justice for victims of domestic abuse.
Afghanistan's parliament had passed a new criminal procedure code that would ban relatives from testifying against alleged abusers.
While the legislation awaited signature from Karzai, human rights ...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty... organizations and several of Afghanistan's Western allies -- including the U.S. and European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... -- voiced strong concerns it would effectively curb prosecutions involving violence against women, where relatives are often the only witnesses.
In a statement, Aimal Faizi, the presidential palace spokesperson, said the cabinet had decided that a new "Afghan criminal prosecution code won't come into force unless new amendments are made."
Faizi added that Karzai was "well aware" of the criticism and decided at a Cabinet meeting Monday that the legislation must be changed.
He also suggested that there may have been issues with how that part of the legislation -- Article 26 -- was translated into English.
While the Ministry of Justice will decide on how to amend the text, Faizi stressed that the resulting legislation will be clear.
"This law will not bar any relative or any family member to testify against each other or another member of family," he told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named. "It will be up to them. They will have the freedom."
Manizha Naderi, executive director of Women for Afghan Women, said she was "absolutely thrilled" by the move.
"Our tireless advocacy for the last few weeks paid off," she said. "This is what we wanted -- for the bill to go back to the Ministry of Justice for revision."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/18/2014 00:00 ||
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The parents of detained Australian journalist Peter Greste have again pleaded with Egyptian authorities to release him as he awaits trial. His trial is due to begin on Thursday.
The Al Jazeera journalist is accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and portraying Egypt as in a state of "civil war".
Greste's parents say their son, who is being kept in solitary confinement, is innocent. They said, "Our son Peter has been in jail for 50 days awaiting trial for his work as a journalist. We sincerely believe he has done nothing wrong and is not a supporter of terrorism. We humbly request the Egyptian authorities show compassion for our son and ensure his early release."
Greste faces up to seven years in jail if convicted.
#1
Greste's parents say their son, who is being kept in solitary confinement, is innocent. They said, "Our son Peter has been in jail for 50 days awaiting trial for his work as a journalist.
[Bulawayo 24] A pressure group, predominantly composed of white nationals has called for unconditional lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
The group, calling itself "Zimbabweans Against Sanctions", has members Mathew Smith, his father Gary and former Zimbabwe Cricket captain Heath Streak.
The lobby group, according to Smith, wants the EU as it sits in Brussels this week to review sanctions on Zimbabwe, to remove the measures unconditionally.
#1
Obviously Smith is off his meds and should be categorically ignored. The lifting of sanctions will mean the beginning of economic aid to these communists. No need to rush into that.
#3
If the reason for sanctions has Streak stumped, then maybe he should look at the wrong 'un in charge. Bad Bob's a wicket man. and... maybe Streak's bats, or maybe he'll be caught if he says anything else. It does seem a silly point to make. Howzat?
[BLOOMBERG] Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called supporters to take to the street tomorrow, hours after an opposition politician sought by police urged his allies to march with him on the same day.
Leopoldo Lopez, the leader of opposition party Voluntad Popular, whom Maduro accuses of inciting violence, urged Venezuelans to dress in white and march with him on Tuesday, daring officials to enforce an arrest order issued against him. After Maduro responded by summoning a demonstration of 30,000 to 40,000 oil workers at the same location, Voluntad Popular today switched the site of their march.
"I've not committed any crime," Lopez said in a YouTube video posted on his Twitter account yesterday. "If there is a decision to illegally jail me, I'll be there."
On Feb. 12, three people died and 66 were maimed when protesters clashed with government supporters. The biggest demonstrations against Maduro's administration since he was elected in April spread across the country this month as Venezuelans struggle with the world's fastest inflation and shortages of everything from medicine to food.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/18/2014 00:00 ||
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Leopoldo Lopez was taken peacefully into custody. Massive crowd. He spoke to the from from the state of Marti. Go to Daniel's and look at the pictures.
Be aware that Daniel is French and gay, but a damn fine man.
Six policemen died in Tuesday's riots, while another 39 officers sustained gunshot wounds, according to the Ukrainian Police. More than 100 other officers were injured.
At least seven protesters were also killed in clashes with the police. Time for dada Vlad to put his foot down?
#1
The police and state in Ukraine are the bad guys here. They are protecting a would be dictator and totalitarian toady of Putin. If you are rooting for them to "put the foot down", realize that foot is wearing a jackboot, and you're cheering for the wrong side you stupid SOB.
Kazakhstani authorities have detained several women protesting against a ban on lace underwear, it has been reported.
One of the seven women held at the demonstration in Almaty, was waving what she said was the last pair of lace panties she had left, a local website reported. Another protester told Russia's independent Rain TV that local residents have been receiving messages on their phones urging them to stay at home.
Production, import and sale of lace underwear will stop in July 2014 in Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus under a Moscow-led Customs Union. Officials say lace does not absorb enough moisture. The regulation was approved back in 2011, but has not been enforced until now.
[CNN] A stunning catalog of torture and the widespread abuse of even the weakest of North Koreans reveal a portrait of a brutal state "that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world," a United Nations ...an idea whose time has gone... panel reported Monday. Golly. It's only taken 62 years or so.
North Korean leaders employ murder, torture, slavery, sexual violence, mass starvation and other abuses as tools to prop up the state and terrorize "the population into submission," the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea said in its report.
The commission traced the abuses directly to the highest levels of the North Korean government while simultaneously blaming world leaders for sitting on their hands amid untold agony.
"The suffering and tears of the people of North Korea demand action," commission Chairman Michael Kirby told news hounds.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/18/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
"The suffering and tears of the people of North Korea demand action," commission Chairman Michael Kirby told news hounds.
"Now outta my way. The Buffet Line just opened."
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
02/18/2014 8:26 Comments ||
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The whole 'crimes against humanity' thing aside, we owe a debt of gratitude to the Norks. It is not often in the fuzzy sciences like economics that we get to do actual controlled experiments. However, in the late 20th century, we got to do it twice, once with Germany and once with Korea.
In both cases, we took a single country and split it in half. Once side got a free-market economy, the other got communism. The results were definitive and indisputable: communism sucks. That famous graphic is a visual example.
On behalf of everyone, I would like to thank the North Koreans for their...um, participation.
[Aypee] It is time Israel fought back against those who boycott the Jewish state, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, dubbing them "anti-Semites."
The comments come as concerns grow in Israel over a Palestinian-led movement of boycott, divestment and sanctions --knows by its acronym, BDS. The boycott has been growing recently, mainly in Europe, where some businesses and pension funds have cut investments or trade with Israeli firms they say are connected to West Bank settlements.
Speaking to a group of visiting, chronically democratic voting,
Unfortunately true. The leaders of the Jewish Republicans and other conservative Jewish groups are generally not included by their liberal brethren in such meetings. I don't know if the Prime Minister meets with them separately.
Jewish-American leaders, Netanyahu said it is time for Israel to "delegitimize the delegitimizers."
[ARTICLES.LATIMES] Officials say an $80,000 Stonehenge-like worship center underscores a commitment to embrace all religions.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/18/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
Will the USDOD + Service Academies do the same iff the Pedophiles + ZooPhiles, etc, succeed in getting their -Philism legalized, perhaps to include Govt. recognition as a formal religion???
Never say Never.
IMO OWG Amerika's future Globalist DOD = Euros = end up getting heavily or wholly "unionized", albeit Tech-centric, such it can no mount any "offensive"-capable protractive MilOps, ONLY SELECT OR LIMITED "DEFENSIVE" OR "NEUTRAL" ACTIONS E.G. UN PEACEKEEPING.
Socialist Amerika will not be able to effectively defend itself nor go to war [regional-local only] save in coalition.
#2
I like Groucho Marx's comment about joining organizations:
In "Groucho and Me," he said he wrote it in a telegram to "a prominent theatrical organization" whose members didn't do much of anything except cheat at cards. The chapter concludes "The following morning I sent the club a wire stating "Please accept my resignation. I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member."
That foto came from a Jay Leno video a coupla years back
.."micro-aggression".?wouldn't that imply the suitableness of a micro-apology.? Oh, yeah, we're dealing with, not to be redundant, humorless liberals here..
#5
The wording of the apology is priceless: subsequently allowed a medium of communication to become the site of a microaggression
I micro-laughed so hard that I shed micro-tears.
#7
Micro apologies are appropriate for micro aggressions. How small can one go? I'm thinking the worship of absurdity is rampant in universities today.
[Pak Daily Times] US foreign policy circles are complaining about the record number of political appointees, especially big donors to President Barack Obama I am not a dictator!... , getting plum postings at embassies around the world.
While the practice of thanking big presidential campaign donors with chief of mission postings is common in the United States, it is rarely used by other world powers.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
02/18/2014 00:00 ||
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I do not believe for a moment that funding was unavailable for this tribute, but somehow it seems fitting that the role of the gov't in this solemn event was limited, and that volunteers stepped forward.
#2
Super Bowl flyover to cost taxpayers up to $100,000
Published January 31, 2014/
FoxNews.com
Army helicopters from the 101st Airborne will perform a flyover during Sundays Super Bowl in East Rutherford, N.J., which will cost taxpayers about $100,000, a Pentagon spokesman said.
Col. Steven Warren, the spokesman, said these flyovers need to be approved and are still technically on a "restricted" status. The Pentagon sees the Super Bowl as a good venue for potential recruiting benefits, he said.
The Pentagon plans on conducting Combat Air Patrol with military fighters around MetLife stadium to enforce the temporary flight restrictions there. Link
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Pak Daily Times] Conflicts continued to weigh heavily on the media last year but press freedom was also under increasing threat from abuses by democracies like the United States, Reporters Without Borders said on Wednesday.
North Korea
The parents of detained Australian journalist Peter Greste have again pleaded with Egyptian authorities to release him as he awaits trial. His trial is due to begin on Thursday. 
Kazakhstani authorities have detained several women protesting against a ban on lace underwear, it has been reported.
[ARTICLES.LATIMES] Officials say an $80,000 Stonehenge-like worship center underscores a commitment to embrace all religions.
Making fun of the brand is NOT ALLOWED! Only pictures of harmony and love thanks to the ONE. 
