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Reporters Without Borders Urges Afghan Government to Prioritize Press Freedom

Reporters Without Borders also called for the rapid adoption of a proposed media law.

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - Addressing a news conference today in Kabul, Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Jean-François Julliard urged President Hamid Karzai and the rest of the Afghan government to make it one of their priorities to defend press freedom.

Accompanied by representatives of Afghan journalists’ organisations, Julliard gave the press conference on the penultimate day of a one-week fact-finding visit to Afghanistan at the head of a Reporters Without Borders delegation.

“The press freedom situation is getting worse in Afghanistan and it is the government’s duty to reverse this disturbing trend,” Julliard said.

French President Praises Obama`s Views on Afghanistan and Iran

The politically conservative president of France salutes Obama's plans.

(DOHA) - U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's plan to prioritize the war in Afghanistan and continue talks with Iran over its nuclear program is receiving praise from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Agence France-Presse reports.

"Barack Obama has already announced that he will make Afghanistan a priority and I am delighted because we have to put all of our energy and willpower into helping Afghanistan to stand up on its own feet," Sarkozy told the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat.

"A key to the solution will also be opening a broad political dialogue that would allow all Afghans who want to, and renounce violence, to participate in the rebuilding of their country," the French president was quoted as saying in the interview published ahead of his Saturday meeting with Saudi King Abdullah in Jeddah.

Remains of WWII Pilot Recovered in France

An Army Air Force Lt. in a flight of 22 U.S. fighters was attacked by 80 German aircraft.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The remains of a U.S. serviceman missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. 2nd Lieutenant Ray D. Packard, U.S. Army Air Forces, of Atwood, California. He will be buried on October 22nd in Prescott, Arizona.

Enroute to their target, the fighter group was intercepted by more than 80 German fighters near Beauvais, France. During the ensuing dogfight, 11 P-38s were shot down, including Ray Packard's which crashed 15 miles south of Beauvais near the town of Angy.

Five of the pilots escaped and evaded enemy capture and two were taken as prisoners of war. Of the four men who were missing in action, three were later recovered and identified, but Lt. Packard remained unaccounted-for.

Alps-Riviera Province in France Seeks to Eradicate Female Circumcision

The region PROVENCE - ALPS-RIVIERA wants to eradicate the intolerable practice of excision.

(PARIS, France) - According to the Ministries of Education and Health, nearly 60,000 women and girls are circumcised or threatened to be in France. Among those listed are about 3,000 in the Provence-Alpes - Côte d'Azur regions, according to estimates by the National Institute of Demographic Studies, based on populations of migrants.

In the Alpes-Maritimes, where the number of females excised or threatened to be is estimated to nearly 500, maternity hospitals have received their form and the investigation has already begun.

Protesters in France Douse Olympic Torch in Support of Tibet

The group Reporters Without Borders isn't letting China off the hook for human rights violations.

(PARIS, France) - Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the Eiffel Tower for the passing of the Olympic Torch say the world will be aware of China's military crackdown in Tibet. The protesters were able to put the torch out as it made its way through the French capitol.

The demonstrators say it is ridiculous to allow Beijing to pretend it is a fair and open nation as the Communist driven Asian giant cracks down on peaceful protesters in both Tibet and in the Muslim province of Xinjiang, where residents voiced support of the Dali Lama and Tibet.