China reverses position, now says it will censor internet access during Olympics

From the AFP…
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China will censor the Internet used by foreign media during the Olympics, an organising committee official confirmed Wednesday, reversing a pledge to offer complete media freedom at the games.

“During the Olympic Games we will provide sufficient access to the Internet for reporters,” said Sun Weide, spokesman for the organising committee.

He confirmed, however, that journalists would not be able to access information or websites connected to the Falungong spiritual movement which is banned in China.

Other sites were also unavailable to journalists, he said, without specifying which ones.

EU to lift diplomatic sanctions against Cuba …Should the United States follow suit?

From the Associated Press
June 19, 2008
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BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Thursday agreed to lift its diplomatic sanctions against Cuba but imposed tough conditions on the Communist island to maintain sanction-free relations, officials said.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the bloc felt it had to encourage changes in Cuba after Raul Castro took over as the head of the country’s government from his ailing brother Fidel.

“There will be very clear language also on what the Cubans still have to do … releasing prisoners, really working on human rights questions,” she told reporters at an EU summit. “There will be a sort of review to see whether indeed something will have happened.”

The measures were imposed in 2003 and were suspended in 2005. Some EU nations — including the Czech Republic and Sweden — were reluctant to lift the diplomatic sanctions entirely during this week’s two-day summit, saying they wanted to see Cuba improve human rights first.

Washington imposed a trade blockade of Cuba almost 50 years ago and has no immediate plans to lift it…

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SEE ALSO:
Rare photos of everyday Cuba (definitely worth a look)
CIA World Factbook entry: Cuba