Threats to press freedom in the Americas

Venezuela’s ham-handed crackdown on journalists Latin America has never been a particularly accommodating environment for journalists, with threats stemming mostly from criminality (primarily of the narcotrafficking kind) and corruption, as practitioners of those dark arts are all too willing to eliminate anyone that dares to ask impertinent questions about their enterprises. But things have taken…

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Israel to loosen blockade Gaza Strip

Construction materials OK after deadly flotilla raid JERUSALEM – Israel agreed Thursday to ease its three-year-old land blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory hoping to quell international outrage over its deadly raid on a flotilla bound for the Palestinian territory. In one of the major changes, Israel will allow in more desperately needed construction materials for…

After Israel’s Gaza flotilla raid, is Turkey rejecting Europe?

Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan (l.) pressed for EU membership while visiting France’s Nicolas Sarkozy (r.) in April. Mr. Sarkozy is opposed, saying Turkey is not part of Europe. After Israel’s flotilla raid earlier this month, Turkey may be reconsidering its relationship with Europe. Jacques Brinon/AP Israel’s Gaza flotilla raid prompted a response in Turkey…

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Naked Solidarity rides New York streets

World Naked Bike Ride took place this past weekend to protest overdependence on cars. A good message, but why is bike solidarity always naked? If biking without a helmet is dangerous, shouldn’t nude biking be, too? I support biking and I support nudity. But as a joint phenomenon, nude biking has always eluded me. Naked…

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Taliban Hangs Afghan Boy, 7, for Spying

Taliban militants accused a seven-year-old boy of spying and hanged him earlier this week in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province, a local government official tells CBS News. Provincial government spokesman Daud Ahmadi confirmed the incident which took place on Tuesday in the Taliban stronghold of Sangin, in Helmand. Ahmadi told CBS News’ Fazul Rahim the boy…

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Crisis in Thailand Leads to Net Crackdown, Censorship

At least 80 people were killed during the latest clashes in Thailand. But the confusion and danger that are present in various parts of Bangkok do not explain why several Thai and foreign journalists have been shot since April. Two are dead. The tense political situation also doesn’t justify the leadership’s blocking of more than…

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Islamists and Jihadists have Mastered Media Manipulation

Jihad in Humanitarian Clothing By Brigitte Gabriel As world organizations, nations and international media rally together in their favorite cause célèbre of vilifying Israel the Gaza flotilla attack, the country finds itself again on the defensive, trying to explain to the world why it instituted the blockade of Gaza and what part the terrorist organization…

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The Greek debt crisis simplified and updated and cut to the bone

Greece’s government must cut spending and improve tax revenue in order to greatly reduce or eliminate its need to borrow, reduce the cost of its output (via domestic deflation or leaving the Euro and depreciating a new currency) in order to restore the external balance between its imports and exports, and to reduce the impediments to economic efficiency and productivity growth so that its economy can grow more rapidly. How did it get in such a mess? What role was and is played by its use of the Euro? And what are its options?