Video footage has emerged showing U.S. freelance journalist Austin Tice being held by a group of masked men toting assault rifles in the first direct evidence of his condition since his disappearance in mid-August.
The 47-second video clip was posted onto YouTube on Sept. 26 and came to light on Monday after it appeared on a Facebook page associated with supporters of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It is the first to show Tice since he disappeared while reporting on Syria’s civil war. Tice contributed stories to multiple news outlets, including The Washington Post and McClatchy.
The video opens with shaky footage of a convoy of three vehicles moving through scrubby mountain terrain, before cutting to a small knot of armed men, faces obscured, leading Tice up a mountain path while calling “Allahu al-Akbar,” or “God is great.”
A blindfolded Tice is then pushed to his knees and filmed speaking a partially indecipherable prayer in Arabic. Tice, visibly distressed, cries out “Oh Jesus, oh Jesus” in English, before reverting to Arabic, seconds before the footage is cut.
An important development regarding the disappearance of Austin Tice, the American freelance journalist who went missing while reporting on the Syrian uprising in August.
FOIA Online goes live
Starting today, October 1, journalists who submit Freedom of Information Act requests will be able to keep track of their requests through a new system called FOIA Online. The system, which will be used by the EPA, National Archives and Records Administration, Merit Systems Protection Board, Federal Labor Relations Board, and the Departments of Commerce and Treasury, should help both journalists and agencies track requests more efficiently.
From the Sunshine in Government blog:
The new system, called FOIA Online, allows anyone to search pending FOIA requests and documents already released as the result of previous FOIA requests, submit a new FOIA request to an agency, track requests, see the status of any request and receive agency correspondence and documents all within the new system. And for FOIA geeks like us, it provides anyone the ability to search the tracking data, identify trends and keep tabs on how well (or poorly) any agency is fulfilling its obligations under FOIA.
This is really good news for the open-government types.
Purported anti-Muslim film producer arrested in probation violation case
(Photo: NBC News)
LOS ANGELES — Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the Cerritos man who many believe to be behind an anti-Muslim video that has inflamed the Islamic world, was arrested Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles said.
It will be interesting to see how this case plays out.
Can’t say we were expecting this headline when we went to Politico this morning.
Royals ‘saddened’ after topless Kate Middleton photos published in French tabloid Closer
French magazine Closer unleashed a new media tornado on Britain’s royal family on Friday with a five-page splash of photos showing the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, sunbathing topless with Prince William in the south of France.
“Their Royal Highnesses have been hugely saddened to learn that a French publication and a photographer have invaded their privacy in such a grotesque and totally unjustifiable manner,” a spokesperson for St James’ Palace said.
Closer’s editor-in-chief Laurence Pieau described the photos as a “beautiful series” that showed a couple in love and were in no way degrading. She said the magazine had more intimate shots from the same series that it opted not to publish. (REUTERS/Tim Chong)
A few outlets have noted that it’s particularly sketch due to the situation Princess Diana faced with paparazzi. We’re with that camp.
Secret Service investigates reported theft of Romney tax files, $1 million extortion threat
“At this time there is no evidence that our systems have been compromised or that there was any unauthorized access to the data in question,” said Chris Atkins, a spokesperson for PricewaterhouseCoopers.
He passed away just before 2 a.m. local time (12:54 p.m. Sunday in Eastern time zone) from complications of pneumonia, surrounded by family, friends and followers, according to Unification Church leaders.
A comment was not immediately available from Unification Church International President Hyung Jin Moon, his youngest son and appointed successor of the religious movement.
However, in the weeks prior to the passing, Rev. Joon Ho Seuk, the church’s international vice president, said that members worldwide had been conducting prayer vigils and fasting for Rev. Moon’s health.
Moon was also the founder of the Unification Church, and The Washington Times was created as a way to extend his political views to an American audience — something that it was initially successful at, though it has struggled in recent years. At times controversial, he nonetheless was an important figure in both South Korean and American cultural circles.
University of Iowa re James Holmes: “Do NOT offer admission under any circumstances”
More details from a troubled history.
It’s official: The Republicans nominate Mitt Romney for President.
All nominating processes should be Gangnam Style from here on out.
In this week’s Newsweek, a little...
Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
Here’s a hidden feature that shipped in...
Watch: PCB gets a visual shout out on GMA’s Yahoo/Tumblr...
Wrote a thing.
Hat tip to this headline writer.
Neil Young is arguably an astronaut, but that’s a depressing error.
Nintendo Power‘s last issue coming in December (update: Nintendo confirms)
I’ve gotta pick up the last issue.
Great magazine, but man, was it biased towards its creator.
An Icon Passes: A spokesperson has confirmed that actress and comedienne Phyllis Diller has passed away in her Los Angeles home. According to Milton Suchin, her manager for many years, Phyllis “died peacefully in her sleep with a smile on her face.” She is credited as one of the first successful female nightclub comedians, and also found success on a number of television shows during the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Additionally, Diller was the 1992 recipient of the American Comedy Award for Lifetime Achievement. She is survived by her son and two daughters. (Photo via Ottawa Citizen) source
“Akin is taking concrete steps to withdraw by tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.,” a senior Republican told BuzzFeed, adding that Akin could still change his mind.
Tomorrow afternoon is an important deadline: If he files papers to end his candidacy in Jefferson City tomorrow he can end his candidacy unilaterally; after that, he would have to file an application in court.
Possible Republican replacements, the source said, include three former senators: John Ashcroft, Jim Talent, and Kit Bond. Other names being mentioned include former Ambassador Ann Wagner, who is running for Akin’s now-vacant seat; and Auditor Tom Schweich.
An interesting development in the Todd Akin saga, particularly considering he just told Mike Huckabee that he wouldn’t be dropping out of the race.
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