WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Freedoms Defense Fund, an independent political organization dedicated to principles of limited government, today released an ad in support of Rep. Todd Akins bid to unseat Senator Clare McCaskill. The ad, entitled Lets Do the Math, calls out Claire McCaskill for her uniform support of Barack Obamas disastrous policies. It is part of a $250,000 independent expenditure aimed at making Todd Akin the next Missouri Senator.

Claire McCaskill votes with Barack Obama 98 percent of the time, the ad notes. McCaskill is a reliable ally in the liberal assault on free-market capitalism and traditional values.

The ad is part of a continuing commitment on the part of Freedoms Defense Fund to support candidates who have been abandoned by the mainstream. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has refused to fund Akins bid, even though polls demonstrate the race to be very winnable.

On the issues, Todd Akin is the right leader for Missouri, said Michael Centanni, Chairman of Freedoms Defense Fund. We know Missouri voters reject Barack Obama and Sen. McCaskills extreme vision for America, and we want to make sure they are informed.

To view the ad, visit http://www.freedomsdefensefund.com.

About Freedoms Defense Fund

Freedoms Defense Fund is a political action committee dedicated to the protection of liberty from big government advocates of either party. Freedoms Defense Fund stands with conservative, pro-freedom candidates against the radical left and their elitist allies in the mainstream media.

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Today: Freedom’s Defense Fund Releases Ad in Support of Todd Akin

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan journalists are claiming a small victory in their battle for press freedom after the government agreed to some softening of media restrictions, industry representatives said on Monday.

Journalists have been locked in a row with the government for months after authorities proposed a revision of the existing media law, which looked to significantly tighten Kabul's grip over the fledgling but lively Afghan press corps.

The legislation raised fresh concerns that authorities were trying to appeal to the more conservative side of society ahead of the pullout of most foreign troops by the end of 2014.

A frequent gripe though was that the changes would have forced reporters to "observe the principles of Islam", a vague catch-all stipulation which some journalists say the government uses to detain them.

The Ministry of Information and Culture agreed to five of 19 changes suggested by journalists. They include getting rid of special courts for alleged media violations and a clause that proposed restriction on foreign programming on radio and TV.

"Afghan journalists consider the new proposal of the media law a move in the right direction," said Abdul Mujeeb Khalvatgar, executive director of media advocacy group Nai.

"Taking in the considerations of the (media) community means the government believes in, trusts and recognizes our field."

President Hamid Karzai trumpets the existing 2009 law, which took years to pass, as one of his government's major achievements, though war and an atmosphere of impunity make Afghanistan one of the most dangerous places to be a journalist.

The new draft still presents the media with restrictions, including a heavy government presence on the High Media Council, a 15-member body which has enormous sway over ethics and legal procedures.

"This draft is significantly better than the last one, but the biggest question still remains, which is why there is a need for a new law in the first place," said Heather Barr, Afghanistan researcher for Human Rights Watch.

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Afghan media claim small victory in fight for press freedom

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Freedom Meditech, Inc., developer of non-invasive ophthalmic products for the detection of disease and management of patient health, today announced it has secured a $2 million line of credit from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). The funds will be used to ramp up manufacturing and distribution of the company's ClearPath DS-120 Lens Fluorescence Biomicroscope, currently under regulatory review in the U.S. and European Union.

SVBs due diligence on our ClearPath DS-120 showed a strong mix of proven technology, market opportunity and just how far we have come in reducing manufacturing, regulatory and marketing risk for the product, said Craig Misrach, Chairman and CEO of Freedom Meditech. The financing provided by SVB is a springboard to launch this new and exciting product in the global healthcare marketplace.

Terms of the credit facility include an initial disbursement with additional funds available upon attaining certain milestones. The transaction is in anticipation of a Series B financing close by the company.

The company plans to launch the ClearPath in international markets with an initial focus on countries that accept the CE Mark and CSA Certification Mark. The CE Mark is required to sell in the 27 countries that comprise the EU and is a gateway to other non-regulated markets. CSA certification is required to sell in Canada and is an entre to certain Latin American markets. The product is also under U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) review.

The ClearPath DS-120 incorporates the use of proprietary biophotonic spectroscopy to detect autofluorescence of the crystalline lens of the eye. The ClearPath non-invasively scans blue light into the lens of the eye in less than six (6) seconds and produces a result immediately at the point of care. The test is painless, requires no special preparation such as fasting, and produces no bio-hazardous waste or disposal cost. This information, along with other data collected in a routine health examination, can provide clinicians with a more robust wellness program designed to identify the potential risk of chronic systemic disease and the need to institute appropriate patient management plans.

About Freedom Meditech Freedom Meditech, Inc. is a medical device company focused on the commercialization of novel ophthalmic technologies for the detection of disease and management of patient health. The company maintains research and development operations throughout California and Ohio with supporting corporate and engineering activities in San Diego, CA. For more information, visit http://www.freedom-meditech.com.

AboutSilicon Valley BankSilicon Valley Bankis the premier bank for technology, life science, cleantech, venture capital, private equity and premium wine businesses. SVB provides industry knowledge and connections, financing, treasury management, corporate investment and international banking services to its clients worldwide through 27 U.S. offices and seven international operations. (SIVB)www.svb.com. Silicon Valley Bankis theCaliforniabank subsidiary and the commercial banking operation ofSVB Financial Group. Banking services are provided bySilicon Valley Bank, a member of theFDICand theFederal Reserve System. SVB Financial Groupis also a member of theFederal Reserve System.

The ClearPath DS-120 is an investigational device and is limited by federal (U.S.) law to investigational use.

ClearPath DS-120 Lens Fluorescence Biomicroscope is a trademark owned by Freedom Meditech, Inc.

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Freedom Meditech Secures $2 Million in Funding from Silicon Valley Bank

Freedom rides defense to 16-6 victory No. 5 Freedom (3-1) came back from a halftime deficit for the third straight game to beat host Winter Park (1-4) 16-6. The Patriots (3-1) scored on their first possession of the second half with a 1-yard run by QB Jimmy Kealy to erase a 6-3 deficit. That score was set up by a fumble recovery by DB Darrion Gutierrez. Freedom’s Devin Cortese rushed for 131 ...

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No. 5 Freedom drops Winter Park to 1-4 | Video

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Muslim leaders were in unison at the United Nations this week arguing that the West was hiding behind its defense of freedom of speech and ignoring cultural sensitivities in the aftermath of anti-Islam slurs that have raised fears of a widening East-West cultural divide. A video made in California depicting the Prophet Mohammad as a fool sparked the storming of U.S ...

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At U.N., Muslim world questions Western freedom of speech

#25 Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5: Tom Long, Derek Whitis Photo by: Luis Betancourt LAKEVILLE, Conn.—Last year, Freedom Autosport’s Derek Whitis and Tom Long won the ST race at Lime Rock Park. This year, they’ll be happy just to finish in the top six. That’s where the duo will have to place in order to clinch their first GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge championship. Whitis and Long ...

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Freedom Autosport’s Whitis, Long Hope to clinch ST Championship at Lime Rock

The United States has the second highest degree of Internet freedom in the world, according to a new study from Freedom House. What country's ahead of America? Estonia, a country of 1.29 million in northeast Europe.

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U.S. Ranks Second in Internet Freedom, Behind Estonia

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ARE THE DAYS OF online freedom numbered? Screen grab from YouTube (TechfluffTV)

WASHINGTON, USA - Online freedom has suffered setbacks in many countries but also some gains amid the Arab Spring uprisings and political upheaval in parts of the world, a new study showed.

The report by the research group Freedom House found that 20 countries "experienced a negative trajectory since January 2011" as authorities used newer, more sophisticated controls to quell dissent on the Internet.

"The findings clearly show that threats to Internet freedom are becoming more diverse," said Sanja Kelly, project director at Freedom House and co-author of the report released Monday covering the period from January 2011 to May 2012.

"As authoritarian rulers see that blocked websites and high-profile arrests draw local and international condemnation, they are turning to murkier but no less dangerous methods for controlling online conversations."

The study found that Estonia had the highest level of online freedom among the 47 countries examined, while the United States ranked second.

Iran, Cuba and China received the lowest scores and 10 other countries received a ranking of "not free" Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Bahrain and Syria.

The worst declines, according to the report, were in Bahrain, Egypt and Jordan, reflecting "intensified censorship, arrests and violence against bloggers."

It said online freedom was also hurt in Mexico "in the context of increasing threats of violence from organized crime," and in Ethiopia, "possibly reflecting a government effort to establish more sophisticated controls before allowing access to expand."

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'Online freedom sees setbacks'

American NGO Freedom House compiles a report every year on violations occurring on the web. Its new Freedom on the Net 2012 study shows shifting trends in the Asia Pacific region as the reforming Burma ...

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As Burma Improves, China is Now Asia's Worst Net Freedom Offender

Many countries are increasingly clamping down on what their citizens can say online, but Estonia ranks at the top of countries for freedom on the Internet, according to a survey.

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Bits Blog: Estonia Gets Highest Marks for Internet Freedom

Online freedom has suffered setbacks in many countries, but also some gains, amid the Arab Spring uprisings and political upheaval in parts of the world, a new study showed.

The report by the research group Freedom House found that 20 countries "experienced a negative trajectory since January 2011" as authorities used newer, more sophisticated controls to quell dissent on the Internet.

"The findings clearly show that threats to Internet freedom are becoming more diverse," said Sanja Kelly, project director at Freedom House and co-author of the report released Monday covering the period from January 2011 to May 2012.

"As authoritarian rulers see that blocked websites and high-profile arrests draw local and international condemnation, they are turning to murkier -- but no less dangerous -- methods for controlling online conversations."

The study found that Estonia had the highest level of online freedom among the 47 countries examined, while the United States ranked second.

Iran, Cuba, and China received the lowest scores and 10 other countries received a ranking of "not free" -- Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Bahrain and Syria.

The worst declines, according to the report, were in Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan, reflecting "intensified censorship, arrests, and violence against bloggers."

It said online freedom was also hurt in Mexico "in the context of increasing threats of violence from organized crime," and in Ethiopia, "possibly reflecting a government effort to establish more sophisticated controls before allowing access to expand."

In Pakistan, the downgrade "reflected extreme punishments meted out for dissemination of allegedly blasphemous messages" and tighter censorship by regulators.

Improvements were cited in 14 countries, including some with "a dramatic regime change or political opening" such as Tunisia, Libya and Myanmar. But restrictions also eased in some other countries such as Georgia, Kenya, and Indonesia, where the report cited "a growing diversity of content and fewer cases of arrest or censorship than in previous years."

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Online freedom sees setbacks, a few gains: study

Many countries are increasingly clamping down on what their citizens can say online, but Estonia ranks at the top of countries for freedom on the Internet, according to a survey by an American advocacy group.

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Estonia Gets Highest Marks for Internet Freedom

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - Sep 25, 2012) - The Fuel Freedom Foundation today announced the winners of its first college video competition, recognizing the work of three filmmakers from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. The winning films are short segments that illustrate the severity of our oil addiction, and the urgency to develop cheaper, cleaner, American-made replacement fuels.

"These highly talented young artists have created powerful visual statements that show why we must open the transportation fuel market to competition from alternatives to gasoline, such as natural gas, ethanol and methanol," said Eyal Aronoff, co-founder of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Fuel Freedom Foundation. "We want to use all forms of media to spread the word, including high-quality, creative videos that will become viral and create an impact on the internet."

The winners of the Chapman University competition will be eligible to compete in a national college video contest. The Foundation also plans to hold Fuel Freedom video competitions for the general public.

The $5,000 Grand Prize was awarded to Jacob Taylor, whose two-minute video, "Fuel Freedom Campaign," received more than 13,000 views on YouTube. Taylor is an undergraduate at Chapman's Dodge College, one of the nation's premier film and media arts schools, located in Orange, CA. The two runners-up were Ryan Broomberg, a graduate film student, for his one-minute "Funny Dog Commercial for Fuel Freedom," and Brandon Wade, a 2012 MFA graduate, whose two-minute video was titled "Oil Makes The Myths Remix."The runners-up each received $2,500. Broomberg's video attracted more than 4,000 YouTube views and Wade's received more than 5,800 views.

The winners were determined based on formula that took into account virality, creativity, quality and accuracy.

About Fuel Freedom The Fuel Freedom Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the U.S. economy's oil addiction through the development of cheaper, cleaner, American-made replacement fuels. Americans could easily convert their cars to run on replacement fuels for gasoline, but outdated regulations and entrenched commercial interests stand in the way. The Fuel Freedom campaign aims to remove barriers to competition so that natural gas, methanol, ethanol and electricity can compete on equal footing with gasoline at the pump and at the dealership. Achieving Fuel Freedom will lower fuel prices, create jobs, spur economic growth, reduce pollution, and improve national and global security. For more information go to the Foundation's website at http://www.fuelfreedom.org; Facebook: FuelFreedomFoundation; and Twitter: @FuelFreedomNow.

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Fuel Freedom Announces Winners of First College Video Competition

Would the fight for Internet freedom get you to vote? That's the hope of a new voter registration drive labeled "Internet Votes."

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Register to Vote for Internet Freedom

Internet freedom in the past two years has been threatened by attacks on bloggers, web content manipulation and restrictive laws regulating online speech, as well as other diverse threats, says a new study released by Freedom House on Monday.

The Freedom on the Net 2012: A Global Assessment of Internet and Digital Media report by the U.S.-based nongovernmental organization identified countries where the situation worsened, and said Russia was among the Countries at Risk group.

The findings clearly show that threats to internet freedom are becoming more diverse, Sanja Kelly, project director for Freedom on the Net at Freedom House, said.

The report said governments are responding to increased internet influence through seeking to control web activity, restricting the free flow of information, and otherwise infringing on the rights of users.

Freedom House claimed that the methods of control are becoming more sophisticated, and tactics previously evident in only the most repressive environments - such as governments instigating deliberate connection disruptions or hiring armies of paid commentators to manipulate online discussions - are appearing in a wider set of countries.

Regarding Russia, the report said that the internet is the last relatively uncensored platform for public debate in the country. However, it added, since January 2011, massive distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and smear campaigns to discredit online activists have intensified.

After online tools played a critical role in galvanizing massive anti-government protests that began in December 2011, the Kremlin signaled its intention to further tighten control over internet communications, Freedom House said.

Freedom on the Net 2012 identified key trends in internet freedom in 47 countries. Evaluating each country on the basis of barriers to access, limits on content, and violations of user rights, it said that Estonia had the biggest degree of internet freedom among the countries examined, followed by the United States.

Iran, Cuba, and China had the smallest degree of internet freedom, with eleven other countries receiving a ranking of Not Free. They included Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Thailand.

Twenty of the examined countries experienced a negative trajectory in internet freedom since January 2011, with the greatest declines registered in Bahrain, Pakistan, and Ethiopia.

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Threats to Internet Freedom More Diverse - Freedom House

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Study: Estonia, US have most Internet freedom

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Residents of Estonia have the most freedom to do what they want on the Internet, with the U.S. ranking second among 47 countries examined by a group that pushes for democratic freedoms worldwide.

However, residents of several countries have experienced attacks on bloggers, politically motivated surveillance, government manipulation of Web content and regulations focused on online speech, said Freedom House, which issued a report on Internet freedoms Monday.

Twenty of the 47 countries have less Internet freedom now than they did in January 2011, with Bahrain, Pakistan, and Ethiopia seeing the greatest declines, according to the report.

"We are seeing an increasing number of governments trying to limit free speech online," Sanja Kelly, project director of the study, said during a forum in Washington, D.C.

A number of governments in the Middle East have restricted Internet freedom since the Arab Spring movement that began in late 2010, she said. "They saw what kind of consequences can happen when people organize with social media," Kelly said.

In 14 countries, the governments are hiring people to comment online and drown out unpopular posts. This is one of the more "worrying trends" the study found, Kelly said.

The study found new laws or directives passed since January 2011 in 19 of the 47 countries to restrict online speech, violate user privacy, or punish people who post content deemed objectionable or undesirable.

In 26 countries, at least one blogger or Internet user has been arrested for content posted online or sent by text messages. In 19 countries, a blogger or Internet user was tortured, beaten or has disappeared apparently in response to their online posts, the study said. In five countries, an activist or citizen journalist was killed in retribution for posting information that exposed human rights abuses.

But the study reports what Kelly called a positive development in Internet freedom. In several countries, Internet activists and technology companies have fought against restrictive laws, she said.

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Study: Estonia, U.S. have most Internet freedom

Ukraine has been included on the list of countries in which pro-government commentators are used to manipulate Internet discussions, reads a report entitled "Freedom on the Net 2012. A Global Assessment of Internet and Digital Media" of the international non-governmental organization Freedom House.

The report shows how actively the authorities in various countries use a range of tactics to control speech online. Such tactics include the restriction and filtration of the information, the adoption of laws prohibiting certain types of content, active manipulations, physical attacks on bloggers and other Internet users, and politically motivated supervision.

According to the results and the level of use of such tactics, the countries were divided into three groups in the report: free, partly free and not free.

Ukraine along with Georgia, Argentina, Italy, Hungary, Germany, and the United States are on the list of free countries. According to the report, Estonia has the highest level of freedom from censorship and intrusions of the government in the functioning of the online media.

According to Freedom House, Kazakhstan, Russia, India, Azerbaijan are partly free, and Belarus, Uzbekistan, Iran, Cuba, China and Vietnam are not free from censorship online.

The organization pointed out progress in the level of freedom comparing to that of last years in Tunisia, Georgia, and Burma. Meanwhile, the level of freedom on the Internet has significantly dropped in Bahrain, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Egypt.

Despite the fact that Ukraine's level of freedom of speech online was assessed higher than in other post-Soviet countries, it was still included in the group of countries (along with Belarus, Bahrain, China, Cuba, Egypt, Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela) where pro-government commentators are used to manipulate Internet discussions, reads the report.

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Freedom House: Ukrainian authorities manipulating Internet discussions

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Sep 24, 2012) - Newspapers Canada will release its seventh annual National Freedom of Information (FOI) Audit today at the Sunshine Summit in Calgary.The launch of the 2012 report coincides with the beginning of Canadian Right to Know Week.

The annual FOI audit reviews the performance of Canadian governments with respect to their access to information regimes.As such, it provides the public the opportunity to see the degree to which our governments are in compliance with their own FOI legislation, as well as facilitating comparisons among jurisdictions.

"The annual FOI audit represents an important tool for protecting the public''s right to access government information," said John Hinds, CEO of Newspapers Canada.

"Municipalities continue to perform fastest in the audit, easily outpacing the senior levels of government," noted Professor Fred Vallance-Jones, the National FOI audit''s lead researcher. "Thirty years after the Access to Information Act was passed, the federal government seems stuck in a rut of delays and can''t get out of the 50 to 60 percent range when it comes to completing requests on time."

The FOI audit compares the performance of government and various public institutions across Canada.To obtain the data for the audit, a team of researchers requested the same information from the federal and provincial government, as well as a selection of municipalities.

The FOI audit was done in collaboration with Fred Vallance-Jones, associate professor of journalism at the University of King''s College, and his team.

The 2012 Newspapers Canada FOI Audit is now available at http://www.newspaperscanada.ca/public-affairs/freedom-information.

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Seventh Annual National Freedom of Information Audit Released Today

Hyderabad, Sep 21 (IANS) Eminent freedom fighter and a well-known figure in the Telangana movement, Konda Lakshman Bapuji died here Friday. He was 96.

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Freedom fighter, Telangana leader Bapuji is dead