London, Jan.

26: India's ranking in a global press freedom index has fallen significantly in the past year, putting it behind countries such as Liberia, Kyrgyzstan, South Sudan and Albania. India fell to 131 out of 179 on the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, from 122 last year. The index uses 44 different criteria ranging from censorship of news media to physical attacks on journalists, and the ability of the media to investigate and criticise and reflects the degree of freedom that journalists, news media, and netizens enjoy in each country and the efforts made by the authorities to respect and ensure respect for this freedom, the US organisation said. London, Jan. 26: India's ranking in a global press freedom index has fallen significantly in the past year, putting it behind countries such as Liberia, Kyrgyzstan, South Sudan and Albania. India fell to 131 out of 179 on the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, from 122 last year. The index uses 44 different criteria ranging from censorship of news media to physical attacks on journalists, and the ability of the media to investigate and criticise and reflects the degree of freedom that journalists, news media, and netizens enjoy in each country and the efforts made by the authorities to respect and ensure respect for this freedom, the US organisation said. Popular Uprisings On the list, the Arab nations of Syria, Bahrain and Yemen were the biggest fallers, reflecting the crackdowns on the popular uprisings. Crackdown was the word of the year in 2011. Never has freedom of information been so closely associated with democracy, said the organisation. Never have acts of censorship and physical attacks on journalists seemed so numerous. The US fell 27 points to 47, as a result of the arrest of journalists covering the Occupy movement, while China fell to 174 because of a stepping up of Internet censorship and increased control of news outlets as a result of local protests. The top position was shared by Finland and Norway, followed jointly by Estonia and Netherlands. Eritrea remained at the bottom position, a position it has held since 2007. Intimidation of journalists In India, RwB pointed to the exposure of violence of journalist as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh, as well as intimidation of journalists by mafia groups in the country's biggest cities. However the authorities were no better, they warned, pointing to the dangerous implications of the Information technology Rules 2011 introduced last year and which requires Internet firms to remove harassing, obscene, libellous and other forms of content or risk prosecution. Foreign journalists were also impacted, with troubles obtaining visas, and pressure to give the country positive coverage, the organisation said. On the list, the Arab nations of Syria, Bahrain and Yemen were the biggest fallers, reflecting the crackdowns on the popular uprisings. Crackdown was the word of the year in 2011. Never has freedom of information been so closely associated with democracy, said the organisation. Never have acts of censorship and physical attacks on journalists seemed so numerous. The US fell 27 points to 47, as a result of the arrest of journalists covering the Occupy movement, while China fell to 174 because of a stepping up of Internet censorship and increased control of news outlets as a result of local protests. The top position was shared by Finland and Norway, followed jointly by Estonia and Netherlands. Eritrea remained at the bottom position, a position it has held since 2007. Intimidation of journalists

In India, RwB pointed to the exposure of violence of journalist as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh, as well as intimidation of journalists by mafia groups in the country's biggest cities. However the authorities were no better, they warned, pointing to the dangerous implications of the Information technology Rules 2011 introduced last year and which requires Internet firms to remove harassing, obscene, libellous and other forms of content or risk prosecution. Foreign journalists were also impacted, with troubles obtaining visas, and pressure to give the country positive coverage, the organisation said.

IAF rushes to evacuate snow-trapped in Jammu Jammu, Jan 27: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday rushed to evacuate as many snow-trapped people as possible from remote areas of the Jammu region before it starts raining or snowing again. A defence spokesperson said 108 adults and 13 children have so far been rescued since the IAF started the evacuation operation Wednesday. He said over 300 people were trapped in an inaccessible mountainous area that recently experienced heavy snowfall which cut off many villages like Sondar, Dachan, Marwah, Nawapachi and Warwan from the rest of the state. "These villages do not have road connectivity. The people have to trek long distances to go to their villages," the spokesperson said. The operation, being carried out by a helicopter unit of the IAF under the leadership of Wing Commander Anurag Kumar, was suspended Thursday due to severe snow blowing in Nawapachi, Inchan area in Kishtwar district. It takes minimum three to four days of difficult trek on foot to reach most of the cut-off villages. The IAF spokesperson said visibility was very low and the temperature was also 5-6 degrees Celsius below the freezing point. Said Mohammad Abbas of Marwah who was airlifted by the IAF along with his family: "We were stranded there for two weeks."

President, PM felicitate India on Republic Day ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani congratulated their Indian counterparts on the countrys 63rd Republic Day on Thursday. In his letter to Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President Zardari conveyed his good wishes on behalf of the people of Pakistan. I am confident that our two countries will continue to endeavour to develop friendly, good neighbourly and cooperative relations. We wish the people of India progress and prosperity, the letter further stated. In his message to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that Pakistan was fully committed to developing friendly relations with India on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect and commonality of interest. We believe that the development and well-being of our people and our common goal of a peaceful and prosperous South Asia, can be achieved through the resolution of all outstanding bilateral issues, the prime minister added. app