As Europe Erupts Over US Spying, NSA Chief Says Government Must Stop Media

NSA Director, General Keith Alexander

THE GUARDIAN: With General Alexander calling for NSA reporting to be halted, US and UK credibility as guardians of press freedom is crushed

The most under-discussed aspect of the NSA story has long been its international scope. That all changed this week as both Germany and France exploded with anger over new revelations about pervasive NSA surveillance on their population and democratically elected leaders.

As was true for Brazil previously, reports about surveillance aimed at leaders are receiving most of the media attention, but what really originally drove the story there were revelations that the NSA is bulk-spying on millions and millions of innocent citizens in all of those nations. The favorite cry of US government apologists -– everyone spies! -– falls impotent in the face of this sort of ubiquitous, suspicionless spying that is the sole province of the US and its four English-speaking surveillance allies (the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). » | Glenn Greenwald | Friday, October 25, 2013

Spain Summons US Ambassador over Claim NSA Tracked 60m Calls a Month

Mariano Rajoy, Prime Minister of Sapin

THE GUARDIAN: El Mundo newspaper reports having seen NSA document that reveals extent of agency's monitoring of Spanish phone calls

The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has summoned the US ambassador to explain the latest revelations to emerge from the files leaked by Edward Snowden, which suggest the National Security Agency tracked more than 60m phone calls in Spain in the space of a month.

Spain's European secretary of state, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, is meeting James Costos as the White House struggles to contain a growing diplomatic crisis following accusations that the NSA monitored the phones of scores of allies, including the German chancellor, Angela Merkel.

El Mundo newspaper reported on Monday that it had seen an NSA document that showed the US spy agency had intercepted 60.5m phone calls in Spain between 10 December 2012 and 8 January this year. » | Paul Hamilos in Madrid | Monday, October 28, 2013

EL MUNDO: Margallo: si se confirma el espionaje, podría suponer 'ruptura de confianza' entre España y EEUU » | Ana Romero | Madrid | Lunes, 28 de octubre 2013

EL MUNDO: La NSA niega que Obama aprobara el espionaje a Merkel » | Europa Press – Berlin, Reuters – Washington | Lunes, 28 de Octubre 2013

Saudi Satirist's 'No Woman, No Drive' Goes Viral

Saudi comedian Hisham Fageeh's version of the Bob Marley classic No woman, no cry, protesting the ban on women driving in the kingdom has become a viral sensation

Read the Telegraph commentary here | Monday, October 28, 2013

Embassy Espionage: The NSA's Secret Spy Hub in Berlin

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: According to SPIEGEL research, United States intelligence agencies have not only targeted Chancellor Angela Merkel's cell phone, but they have also used the American Embassy in Berlin as a listening station. The revelations now pose a serious threat to German-American relations.

It's a prime site, a diplomat's dream. Is there any better location for an embassy than Berlin's Pariser Platz? It's just a few paces from here to the Reichstag. When the American ambassador steps out the door, he looks directly onto the Brandenburg Gate.

When the United States moved into the massive embassy building in 2008, they threw a huge party. Over 4,500 guests were invited. Former President George H. W. Bush cut the red-white-and-blue ribbon. Chancellor Angela Merkel offered warm words for the occasion. Since then, when the US ambassador receives high-ranking visitors, they often take a stroll out to the roof terrace, which offers a breathtaking view of the Reichstag and Tiergarten park. Even the Chancellery can be glimpsed. This is the political heart of the republic, where billion-euro budgets are negotiated, laws are formulated and soldiers are sent to war. It's an ideal location for diplomats -- and for spies.

Research by SPIEGEL reporters in Berlin and Washington, talks with intelligence officials and the evaluation of internal documents of the US' National Security Agency and other information, most of which comes from the archive of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, lead to the conclusion that the US diplomatic mission in the German capital has not merely been promoting German-American friendship. On the contrary, it is a nest of espionage. From the roof of the embassy, a special unit of the CIA and NSA can apparently monitor a large part of cell phone communication in the government quarter. And there is evidence that agents based at Pariser Platz recently targeted the cell phone that Merkel uses the most. » | SPIEGEL Staff | Sunday, October 27, 2013

New Dark Age Alert! Brunei a Throwback to an Age of Absolute Monarchy

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: For the 400,000 inhabitants of Brunei, life is a throwback to the age when monarchs wielded absolute power and their word went unquestioned.

With a swing of his powerful arm, a prison guard landed a wicked-looking cane on the back of a dummy dressed in the white uniform of convicts in Brunei.

“It doesn’t hurt as much as you think,” he said.

Earlier this month, the International Convention Centre in Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, was hosting a regional summit with the likes of John Kerry, the US secretary of state, and President Xi Jinping of China.

Last week, however, it was the venue for a three-day event designed to showcase the Sultan of Brunei’s decision to adopt Sharia for his country's Muslim population. Robes worn by judges were put on display and Islamic scholars gave speeches.

But the caning demonstration brought home the harsh reality of a penal code which punishes adultery with death by stoning, theft with amputation by sword - and drunkeness with 40 lashes from a rattan cane.

From next April, the Muslims who are 70 per cent of Brunei’s 400,000-strong population will risk all these punishments. And despite the guard’s assertion, just three or four strokes of his cane will break the skin and leave most victims scarred for life.

The impending adoption of Sharia has led to calls for Britain, Brunei’s closest ally, to re-assess its relationship with a former Protectorate which won independence as recently as 1984.

David Cameron was already facing criticism for agreeing to attend next month’s Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka, where human rights abuses are common. The Prime Minister is now being pressed to condemn Brunei’s embrace of laws widely regarded as barbaric and draconian. » | David Eimer, Bandar Seri Begawan | Sunday, October 27, 2013

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Brunei introduces death by stoning under new Islamic laws: Brunei is to introduce a raft of tough sharia punishments including amputation and death by stoning for adulterers » | David Eimer, in Bangkok and Colin Freeman | Tuesday, October 22, 2013

La Grande-Bretagne et la France attendent la tempête

LA PRESSE: Le Royaume-Uni se préparait dimanche soir à affronter sa pire tempête en plus de dix ans, avec des vents attendus de plus de 130 km/h et de possibles inondations, selon l'organisme de prévisions météorologiques, Met Office.

La perturbation devrait aussi affecter le Nord-Ouest de la France, où Météo-France prévoit des rafales atteignant 120-130 km/h sur le littoral dans la nuit de dimanche à lundi. Dans la soirée une forte houle s'abattait déjà sur les côtes de Bretagne et de Normandie.

Au Royaume-Uni, le Met Office a prévenu que les vents violents risquaient d'entraîner des chutes d'arbres, des dégâts sur les bâtiments, des coupures d'électricité et des perturbations dans les transports. De fortes pluies (20-40 mm) devraient s'abattre à partir de dimanche soir, pendant six à neuf heures, risquant de causer des inondations localisées.

Ces précipitations s'accompagneront lundi de rafales entre 100 et 130 km/h sur le sud de l'Angleterre et le Pays de Galles, voire plus en certains endroits.

Le Met Office a émis une alerte orange (avant-dernier niveau) pour le sud du pays, appelant la population à reporter ses déplacements dans la matinée pour éviter le gros de la tourmente. » | Agence France-Presse | Londres | dimanche 27 octobre 2013

NSA-Affäre: Westerwelle warnt vor deutsch-amerikanischem Bündnisbruch

Guido Westerwelle, Außenminister Deutschlands

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Die Wut gegen die USA wächst. Laut Außenminister Westerwelle sind die Ausspähungen durch die NSA "politisch höchst schädlich". Auch Unions- und SPD-Politiker sind alarmiert: Amerika müsse sein Weltmachtgehabe ablegen, sagte CDU-Fraktionschef Kauder.

Hamburg/Berlin - Die Bundesregierung verschärft den Ton gegenüber den USA. "Nicht alles, was technisch möglich sein mag, ist auch politisch vernünftig", teilte Außenminister Guido Westerwelle am Sonntag mit. Der FDP-Politiker spielt damit auf massive Vorwürfe gegen US-Geheimdienste an, wonach die Amerikaner Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel sowie das Berliner Regierungsviertel ausspähen.

Abhören unter Freunden und Partnern sei politisch höchst schädlich, so Westerwelle weiter. "Denn es droht die Bindungen zu untergraben, die uns zusammenhalten und die wir für die gemeinsame Gestaltung der Zukunft in der globalisierten Welt des 21. Jahrhunderts mehr denn je brauchen", warnt der deutsche Außenminister. Auf deutschem Boden gelte deutsches Recht - und zwar, so Westerwelle, für jeden: "für Deutsche und Ausländer, für Bürger und Unternehmen ebenso wie für Diplomaten und Botschaften." "Amerika muss sein Weltmachtgehabe ablegen" » | lgr/Reuters | Sonntag, 27. Oktober 2013

Germany Presses for 'Complete Information' on U.S. Spying Allegations

THE GLOBE AND MAIL: Germany’s interior minister is pressing for “complete information” from Washington on the alleged U.S. surveillance of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone and any other snooping.

Merkel complained to President Barack Obama on Wednesday after receiving information her phone may have been monitored. German spy chiefs plan to travel to Washington for talks.

Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich was quoted Sunday as telling newspaper Bild am Sonntag he wants “complete information on all accusations” and that “if the Americans intercepted cellphones in Germany, they broke German law on German soil.” He added wiretapping is a crime and “those responsible must be held accountable.”

News magazine Der Spiegel, whose research prompted the government’s response, reported that a document apparently from an NSA database indicates Merkel’s cellphone was first listed as a target in 2002.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry lands in Rome and Paris to talk about Mideast issues but is confronted by outrage over U.S. spying abroad. President Barack Obama has defended surveillance activities to leaders of Russia, Mexico, Brazil, France and Germany. » | The Associated Press | Washington | Sunday, October 27, 2013

Cameron und die USA: "Geheimdienst Ihrer Majestät" in einer Doppelrolle

KRONEN ZEITUNG: Als Juniorpartner der USA haben sich die britischen Agenten eine Sonderrolle in Europa erarbeitet. Im Kreis der EU bringt das Premier Cameron in die Zwickmühle. Seine Leute arbeiten Hand in Hand mit der NSA, offiziell muss er deren Tun aber auch kritisieren. Der "Geheimdienst Ihrer Majestät" und David Cameron in einer brisanten Doppelrolle.

Ein Doppelagent ist per Definition ein Agent, der so tut, als stünde er auf der einen Seite und in Wahrheit aber für die andere arbeitet. Großbritanniens Premierminister David Cameron ist sicher kein Spion - aber auch er ist in einer Doppelrolle. Sein Horchposten GCHQ arbeitet seit Jahrzehnten aufs Engste mit der amerikanischen NSA zusammen und sammelt gezielt und strukturiert Informationen in Europa und weit darüber hinaus - offiziell zur Terrorabwehr. Der Juniorpartner aus dem Heimatland von James Bond gilt sogar als besonders eifrig (siehe Infobox).

Im Angesicht der Spionage- Krise sah sich Cameron zur Solidarität mit seinen europäischen Kollegen gezwungen. Im Kreise der 28 Staats- und Regierungschefs der Europäischen Union unterzeichnete der Premierminister eine Erklärung, die aufruft, "Vertrauensverluste" zwischen Europa und den USA zu vermeiden. Das mutmaßliche jahrelange Mithören von US- Spionen auf Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkels Mobiltelefon zwang auch Cameron zu öffentlichen Krokodilstränen. "Was Angela Merkel und Francois Hollande tun wollen, ist sehr vernünftig", erklärte Cameron mit Blick auf den geplanten Vorstoß Deutschlands und Frankreichs in Richtung USA. » | AG/red | Sonntag, 27. Oktober 2013

Argentine : le début de la fin pour Cristina Kirchner?

Cristina Kirchner

leJDD.fr: Trente millions d'Argentins sont appelés aux urnes dimanche. Convalescente, la présidente risque de perdre la majorité au Parlement.

Sur le quai numéro deux de la gare Once, le train blanc et bleu a défoncé le butoir. Il gît à même le quai, encastré dans le plafond, à trois mètres des tourniquets. Une centaine de blessés. Trois accidents et 50 morts en un an sur le même train, c'en est trop. Mercredi dernier, le ministre de l'Intérieur annonce la nationalisation de la ligne. Pourtant, "la présidente n'est au courant ni de l'accident, ni de la nationalisation", admet-il. Depuis trois semaines, Cristina Kirchner se remet d'un hématome cérébral à l'abri des médias. Ne comptez pas sur Amado Boudou, vice-président et chef d'État par intérim, pour tenir la barre. Les proches de Cristina limitent ce descendant d'Aveyronnais à inaugurer des salons en province, par peur que sa mauvaise réputation - la justice le soupçonne de trafic d'influence - ternisse un peu plus celle du gouvernement. » | Olivier Ubertalli, correspondant du Journal du Dimanche à Buenos Aires (Argentine) | Le Journal du Dimanche | samedi 26 octobre 2013

#Handygate: Obama wollte alles über Merkel wissen

► US-Präsident ist seit 3 Jahren informiert ► Er persönlich genehmigte Spionage gegen Merkel ► Schon Schröder wurde abgehört

BILD AM SONNTAG: Diesen Bericht von BILD am Sonntag muss das Weiße Haus dementieren: Der US-Präsident hat den Lauschangriff gegen die Kanzlerin ausdrücklich gebilligt!

Bis vergangenen Mittwoch war es unvorstellbar, dass US-Geheimdienste gezielt die Bundeskanzlerin belauschen. Daran gibt es drei Tage später keinen Zweifel mehr.

Gerätselt wird in Berlin um so heftiger, ob Präsident Barack Obama über den Lauschangriff der NSA auf Angela Merkels Handy informiert war.

Laut einem Bericht der „Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung“ versicherte Obama der Kanzlerin am Mittwochnachmittag in einem persönlichen Telefongespräch, dass er davon nichts gewusst habe. Sollte der Bericht zutreffen, dann war das zumindest eine diplomatische Notlüge. Denn nach Informationen von BILD am SONNTAG aus US-Geheimdienstkreisen wurde der Präsident 2010 von NSA-Chef Keith Alexander persönlich über die Geheimoperation gegen Merkel informiert.

Obama hat die Aktion damals nicht gestoppt, sondern weiter laufen lassen“, erklärte ein mit der NSA-Operation gegen Merkel vertrauter Geheimdienstmitarbeiter BILD am SONNTAG. » | Von Michael Backhaus und Kayhan Özgenc | Sonntag, 27. Oktober 2013

Barack Obama 'Approved Tapping Angela Merkel's Phone 3 Years Ago'

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama was told about monitoring of German Chancellor in 2010 and allowed it to continue, says German newspaper

President Barack Obama was personally informed about secret US monitoring of Angela Merkel three years ago, according to latest reports on the eavesdropping affair.

The President allowed the National Security Agency (NSA) to continue spying on the German chancellor, it was claimed.

Mr Obama was told of the secret monitoring of Mrs Merkel by General Keith Alexander, the head of the NSA, in 2010, according to Bild am Sonntag, a German newspaper.

“Obama did not stop the action at that time but allowed it to continue,” a US intelligence source close to the NSA operation told the Sunday newspaper.

The White House later commissioned an extensive NSA dossier about Mrs Merkel, according to Bild. » | Louise Barnett, Berlin and Philip Sherwell, New York | Sunday, October 27, 2013

My comment:

Obama's presidency is falling apart. He has p***** off so many of his friends and allies in a matter of weeks: France, Germany, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Brazil. He is leading America down a road that will both impoverish the country and destroy its reputation in the world. I see that respectable German newspapers are already talking of a post-American era. Obama talked so much of "hope and change" before his first election victory. What he should have talked of is 'despair and destruction'. Americans beware: It takes a long time to build a wonderful nation, but it can be destroyed in short order. – © Mark

This comment appears here too.

Chronology of a Storm That Could Bring Hurricane-strength Winds to the UK

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Forecasters explain the progress of a storm which will form over the Atlantic at the weekend and could bring 80mph winds to the country by Monday


Read the chronology here | Theo Merz | Sunday, October 27, 2013

Stop Watching Us: Largest Privacy Rally in US History Hits DC

Crowds are flooding Capitol Hill in Washington DC, venting their fury against the NSA's sweeping surveillance practices. The organisers say it's the largest pro-privacy rally in US history.

Kommentar: Vor einer post-amerikanischen Ära

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Die Enthüllungen Edward Snowdens sind der Weckruf für eine Bewegung zum besseren Schutz der Bürgerrechte und der Privatsphäre im Internet. Nun könnte sich ein epochaler Wandel vollziehen.

Das Weiße Haus verfolgt die weltweite Empörung über die Spähangriffe seines Geheimdienstes NSA in einer Mischung aus Arroganz und Ignoranz. Spione seien eben zum Spionieren da, andere Staaten würden doch auch schnüffeln, zudem mache Amerikas globaler Lauschangriff die ganze Welt sicherer, heißt es sinngemäß. Doch während der Präsident und die republikanische Opposition ihren Washingtoner Komödienstadel um Staatshaushalt, Schuldengrenze und Gesundheitsreform fortschreiben, vollzieht sich draußen in der Welt ein epochaler Wandel. Der wird, wenn nicht alles täuscht, zu einer Verschiebung der Kommunikationsknoten in unserer digitalisierten Welt führen – im wörtlichen wie im übertragenen Sinn.

Die Enthüllungen des früheren CIA-Mitarbeiters Edward Snowden haben vor allem bei Verbündeten und Freunden Amerikas Entsetzen ausgelöst. In Mexiko und in Brasilien zeichnete die NSA die elektronische Kommunikation der Staatschefs Felipe Calderón und Dilma Rousseff mit ihren engsten Beratern auf. Dass ausgerechnet die politischen Führer der engsten Verbündeten und wichtigsten Partner Washingtons von der NSA ausspioniert wurden, hat das in ganz Lateinamerika ohnedies verbreitete Misstrauen gegen die Vereinigten Staaten zementiert. In Europa ist das mutmaßliche Abhören des Handys von Kanzlerin Angela Merkel zum Fanal für eine Bewegung in der gesamten EU zum besseren Schutz von Bürgerrechten und Privatsphäre im Cyberspace geworden. » | Von Matthias Rüb | Samstag, 26. Oktober 2013

Ausspäh-Affäre: Die Spionage-Botschaft

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Das Handy von Bundeskanzlerin Merkel steht einem Medienbericht zufolge seit dem Jahr 2002 auf einer Liste mit Aufklärungszielen des amerikanischen Geheimdienstes NSA. Die Abhörtechnik befinde sich im Gebäude der amerikanischen Botschaft am Pariser Platz.

Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel wird einem Medienbericht zufolge möglicherweise seit mehr als zehn Jahren vom amerikanischen Geheimdienst überwacht. Der „Spiegel“ berichtet, die Nummer des Mobiltelefons Merkels befinde sich seit 2002 auf einer Liste mit Aufklärungszielen des amerikanischen Geheimdienstes NSA.

Dies ergebe sich aus einem Auszug, der offenbar aus einer geheimen NSA-Datei stamme, berichtet das Nachrichtenmagazin weiter. Auch nach Informationen der „New York Times“ wurde mit der Überwachung vor etwa einem Jahrzehnt begonnen. Der amerikanische Präsident Barack Obama hat sich dem Bericht zufolge bei Merkel für den mutmaßlichen Lauschangriff entschuldigt. » | Quelle: FAZ.net | Samstag, 26. Oktober 2013

Espionnage américain : Offensive diplomatique de l'Allemagne contre les USA

24 HEURES: Une délégation allemande de haut rang doit se rendre la semaine prochaine aux USA pour obtenir des explications sur la surveillance du téléphone d'Angela Merkel.

L’Allemagne s’est engagée dans une offensive diplomatique à la suite des révélations sur la surveillance présumée du portable de la chancelière Angela Merkel par Washington. Une délégation allemande doit se rendre la semaine prochaine aux Etats-Unis pour obtenir des explications et un projet de résolution est prévu à l’ONU.

La mission va comprendre des membres des services secrets allemands, selon la presse allemande citant samedi des sources proches des services de renseignements. «Des représentants de haut rang du gouvernement vont se rendre rapidement aux Etats-Unis afin d’avancer dans les discussions avec la Maison blanche et la NSA sur les allégations récemment évoquées», avait déclaré vendredi le porte-parole adjoint de la chancelière.

Selon le quotidien Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), le chef des services secrets allemands (BND), Gerhard Schindler, sera du voyage, tout comme, selon d’autres médias, le chef de la chancellerie et chargé du renseignement, Ronald Pofalla. » | afp/Newsnet | samedi 26 octobre 2013

Remember: Clocks Go Back One Hour This Weekend

MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS: British Summer Time will officially end at 2am on Sunday morning, October 27, as the clocks go back to 1am.

For those battling with this week's dose of heavy rainfall and gusty winds, British Summer Time will have felt like a long time ago.

But the curtain will officially fall on BST this weekend when the clocks go back an hour on Sunday. » | Andrew Stuart | Saturday, October 26, 2013

24 HEURES: Le changement d'heure, c'est cette nuit! » | samedi 26 octobre 2013

TAGESSCHAU.DE: Eine Stunde mehr für alle: Rund 100 Millionen Funkuhren wurden am Sonntag in Deutschland automatisch aktualisiert, alle anderen Zeitmesser müssen per Hand umgestellt werden: Die Sommerzeit ist zu Ende. Um genau 3.00 Uhr wurde die Zeit auf 2.00 Uhr zurückgedreht - der Sonntag wird dadurch eine Stunde verlängert. »

'Islam-leaning UK Politicians Openly Forecast Complete Takeover of British Politics' – Ex-EDL Leader

Arab spring refugee tide has made the immigration issue yet more stretching for the European governments. In some towns the indigenous population is already in the minority. Can migrants overflow breed new fascism? Will Islam win politically? What has to happen to ensure peacefulness of the seemingly inevitable Europe ethnic makeover? Our guest today is Tommy Robinson, founder and former leader of the English Defence League (EDL) notoriously known for its anti-Islam stance.

Swiss Finishing School Opens Its Doors to Male Students

THE GUARDIAN: Last finishing school in Switzerland bends to social change and offers chance for men to polish their small talk and learn the "dos and don'ts" of gifts

The sign on the door of a stick-figure of a man marked with a big "X" will have to go; bending to economic reality and social change, the last Swiss finishing school now accepts men.

The Institut Villa Pierrefeu, perched on a hill looking out over Lake Geneva at Glion, Montreux, is the last in a line of institutions that have floundered under the weight of an elitist image as "schools for princesses". Lady Diana Spencer attended one in the same canton.

In their heyday, European aristocrats sent their daughters to finishing schools in safe, neutral Switzerland to polish their manners and prepare them for married life. A handful of these academies once flourished in the French-speaking Alps but one by one, these have closed as young women attend university and pursue careers.

Now, however, a rekindled demand for their particular schooling in manners has come from an unlikely source - men. "Men are starting to realise that like it or not, we are also judged by our manners," Philippe Neri, the crisply suited grandson of the school's founder, says. » | Emma Farge in Glion | Friday, October 25, 2013

Saudi Activists Cancel Women 'Drive-in' Plan

AL JAZEERA: A planned driving campaign has been cancelled after the government threatened legal action against the women involved.

Activists pressing to end Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving have dropped plans for a "drive-in" on Saturday after threats of legal action and have opted instead for an open-ended campaign.

"Out of caution and respect for the interior ministry's warnings ... we are asking women not to drive tomorrow and to change the initiative from an October 26 campaign to an open driving campaign," activist Najla al-Hariri told AFP news agency on Friday.

Several women said they had received telephone calls from the ministry, which openly warned on Thursday of measures against activists who chose to participate and asked them to promise not to drive on Saturday. » | Source: Agencies | Saturday, October 26, 2013

Inside Story: Trouble in US-Saudi Relations?

Amid reports of tensions between the historic allies, we discuss the regional implications of a possible fall out.

Read the article here

Talk to Al Jazeera: José Mujica: 'I Earn More Than I Need'

The man described as the world's 'poorest president' discusses Uruguay's move to legalise marijuana.

Read the article here

Dozens of Saudi Arabian Women Drive Cars on Day of Protest against Ban

THE GUARDIAN: Activists say at least 60 joined call to allow female drivers – making it country's biggest ever demonstration against the ban


More than 60 Saudi women got behind the wheels of their cars as part of a protest against a ban on women driving in the kingdom, activists have claimed.

A Saudi professor and campaigner, Aziza Youssef, said the activists have received 13 videos and another 50 phone messages from women showing or claiming they had driven, the Associated Press reported.

She said it had not been not possible to verify all of the messages. But, if the numbers are accurate, they would make Saturday's demonstration the biggest the country has ever seen against the ban.

Despite warnings by police and ultraconservatives in Saudi Arabia, there have been no reports from those who claimed to have driven of being arrested or ticketed by police. » | Staff and agencies | Saturday, October 26, 2013

Georgia's Mikheil Saakashvili Faces the Vengeance of His Rivals

Mikheil Saakashvili

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Mikheil Saakashvili was once the centre of the world's attention for standing up to Russia, but as Georgia heads to the polls, he faces police questioning, the end of his political career and an uncertain future

For a few days at the height of summer in 2008, one of the youngest heads of state in the world stood at the epicentre of a grave international crisis.

President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, then aged just 40, was locked in a confrontation with Russia over the breakaway republic of South Ossetia. He faced a full-scale invasion, with columns of Russian tanks moving down the highway towards to his capital, Tbilisi. For a moment, he became that rarest of politicians – a European leader waging a war on his own soil.

Last week, however, the man who once commanded the world's attention was moving out of the presidential residence and into a modest second floor flat in Tbilisi, the city he once pledged to defend against Russian invaders. As he stood amid a jumble of cardboard boxes in his old home, Mr Saakashvili might have reflected that at the age of 45, he has suffered comprehensive political defeat. » | Damien McElroy, Tbilisi | Saturday, October 26, 2013

ObamaCare Website Has Been Rolling Disaster

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Debut of HealthCare.gov, the website for ObamaCare, has been a major embarrassment for President Barack Obama

You can't afford to screw up your signature accomplishment. And yet that's what the Obama administration seems to have done with the botched launch of HealthCare.gov.

After all of the overheated debates, the midnight votes and Supreme Court skirmishes, the long-anticipated October 1 ObamaCare debut has been a rolling disaster. This is not partisan spin but a matter of consensus, from the president's supporters to his most obsessive critics.

The problem lies in a website that seems more brick and mortar than terabytes. – slow-moving, complicated and badly coded. This technological leviathan was developed in large part by a Canadian government contracting firm called CGI, apparently lacking the agility of the tech-savvy activists who drove President Barack Obama's two presidential campaigns into the history books.

At a cumulative cost of roughly $300 million (£185 million) taxpayer dollars, excuses ring hollow. But the problems seem to have stemmed from a combination of sclerotic procurement rules and civil service regulations that hamstrung the development process so much that even rank amateurs spending more than five minutes on the site now dismiss it as not ready for prime time. » | John Avlon | Saturday, October 26, 2013

Saudi Women Filmed Defying Driving Ban in October 26 Protest

Activists have begun posting videos of women in Saudi Arabia driving cars, as their one-day campaign to defy a ban on female drivers in the conservative kingdom gets under way.

How Do World Leaders Cope with Being Bugged?

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor

BBC: The most common reaction to news that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone was bugged by the US National Security Agency appears to be world-weary resignation.

Followed by a sly suggestion that someone of her experience and stature should have known better.

Kurt Volker, former US ambassador to Nato 2008-2009, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme "every country spies" and he could not believe that the revelations were a surprise to anyone.

Lord West, a security minister under Gordon Brown, said he had "always worked on the assumption" that people were listening to his phone calls.

"I know they jolly well were," he told Today.

"I don't think it's surprising that people try and listen. If you are a head of state there are lots of people, not just other states, who are listening.

"There are companies, all sorts of people, who want to hear what you are saying and I think you have to be extremely careful." » | Friday, October 25, 2013

Mosque Bomber Pavlo Lapshyn Given Life for Murder

Pavlo Lapshyn

BBC: A Ukrainian student has been jailed for at least 40 years for murdering an 82-year-old man and plotting explosions near mosques in racist attacks.

Pavlo Lapshyn stabbed Mohammed Saleem in Small Heath, Birmingham on 29 April, five days after arriving in the UK.

On Monday, Lapshyn, 25, admitted murder as well as plotting to cause explosions near mosques in Walsall, Tipton and Wolverhampton in June and July.

At the Old Bailey, he was told he would be jailed for life.

Mr Saleem was stabbed to death, just yards from his home, after attending prayers at his local mosque in Green Lane.

Lapshyn, from Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine, was living in Birmingham while on a temporary work placement in the city when he killed Mr Saleem, a grandfather of 22.

He later planted three bombs near mosques in the West Midlands as part of a campaign he said was motivated by racial hatred.

He was arrested almost a week after an explosion in Tipton. 'Hated non-whites' » | Friday, October 25, 2013

EU Leaders Warn US 'Spying' Could Harm Fight Against Terror

Angela Merkel with François Hollande

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Germany and France demand US signs up to new international “code of conduct” on intelligence gathering after EU leaders warn revelations over 'snooping’ damaged trust and hampered the fight against terrorism

In an unprecedented statement, breaking the taboo that European leaders should not discuss national security or secret service operations, the German Chancellor and French President called for a new transatlantic pact to prevent American intelligence services spying on Europe.

“We need a code of good conduct to be adopted by the Europeans and we ourselves have to be clear that we should not do what we don’t want others to do,” said François Hollande, the French leader.

“France and Germany will take an initiative. We will start discussing the matter with the Americans in order to agree a common framework that will be done by the end of the year, and the other Europeans who would like to join us will be welcome.”

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, said new international agreements were needed to hold spy agencies in check, after it emerged on Thursday that her mobile phone may have been bugged by an American listening post in Berlin.

“The US has every reason for wanting to have friends in the world of today. Trust needs to be rebuilt. That implies trust has been severely shaken,” she said. “Words will not be sufficient. True change will be needed.” » | Bruno Waterfield, and Christopher Hope in Brussels and Peter Foster | Friday, October 25, 2013

Saudi Arabia's Women Plan Day of Action to Change Driving Laws

THE GUARDIAN: Government warily observes public reaction as media joins calls for ban on female drivers to be rescinded

Saudi women are gearing up for a day of action to challenge the kingdom's ban on female driving, amid signs of slowly growing readiness by the authorities to consider reform in the face ofstrong opposition by the clerical establishment.

Twitter, Facebook and other social media have been used to get women drivers on the roads on Saturday in a marathon push against this unique restriction.

Activists say they have 16,600 signatures on an online petition calling for change. Efforts to publicise the issue by the "October 26 driving for women" group have been described as the best-organised social campaign ever seen in Saudi Arabia, where Twitter has millions of users and is used to circulate information about the monarchy and official corruption.

Now the mainstream press is getting involved too, a telling indication of a thaw on this issue. "It's time to end this absurd debate about women driving," wrote Dr Thuraya al-Arid in al-Jazirah newspaper. In another paper, al-Sharq al-Awsat, Mshari Al-Zaydi said: "The time has come to turn the page on the past and discuss this issue openly." Read on and comment » | Ian Black, Middle East editor | Friday, October 25, 2013

My comment:

I'm all for Saudi women having the right to drive; in fact, it is an outrage that they cannot already. But one word of caution: Saudi men, starved as they are of female contact, can be lecherous when they come into contact with women. So I have this to ask: If Saudi women were to be allowed to drive, how safe would they be driving alone on the roads of Saudi Arabia? Many will surely become targets of starved men. – © Mark

Bulgarien baut eine Mauer an der Grenze zur Türkei

DIE WELT: Um sich vor illegaler Zuwanderung aus Syrien zu schützen, errichtet Bulgarien eine 30 Kilometer lange Mauer an der Grenze zur Türkei. Das ärmste EU-Land will so eine humanitäre Krise verhindern.

Bulgarien hat mit der Errichtung einer 30 Kilometer langen Mauer an der Grenze zur Türkei begonnen, um das Eindringen illegaler Migranten aus Syrien zu verhindern. Die Einrichtung werde nach einem entsprechenden Beschluss der Regierung gebaut, teilte das Verteidigungsministerium in Sofia mit.

Die Schutzmauer entsteht auf dem kritischsten Abschnitt der südöstlichen Grenze zur Türkei. Angestrebt wird, dass die vom Bürgerkrieg in Syrien vertriebenen Menschen künftig nur über die offiziellen Grenzübergänge nach Bulgarien und damit in die EU kommen. » | dpa/epd/tb | Freitag, 25. Oktober 2013

US Spying: Britain Forced to Sign EU Statement Expressing 'Deep Concern'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain signs EU statement that is critical of US spying on European governments

Britain has been forced to sign a European Union statement expressing "deep concern" over American, or any other country's, intelligence activities that undermine trust between Europe's governments.

Following tense talks on the conduct of intelligence operations, including accusations that Britain was spying on Italy, David Cameron was forced by 27 other European leaders to sign the common EU statement in the early hours of this morning.

"Heads of state or government discussed recent developments concerning possible intelligence issues and the deep concerns that these events have raised among European citizens," the statement said.

"This applies to relations between European countries as well as to relations with the USA. A lack of trust could prejudice the necessary cooperation in the field of intelligence gathering."

The reference to "relations between European countries" is said by EU diplomats to be a criticism of Britain and GCHQ's widespread intelligence gathering in Europe. » | Bruno Waterfield, and Christopher Hope in Brussels | Friday, October 25, 2013

My comment:

Britain forced to sign EU statement expressing 'deep concern'

Rightly so! Britain is in the EU, isn't it? Why should special rules apply for the UK? You either play by the rules, or get out.

US espionage is totally and utterly unacceptable. And so is ours. Is privacy now to be consigned to the dustbin of history? Obama is p****** off just about all his allies with his spying. And so will we if we follow America's lead. It's shameful. – © Mark

This comment appears here too.

How Committed Is the White House to Protecting Religious Freedom?

Shannon Bream reports

Tony Benn: 'I'm Not Afraid of Dying'

Tony Benn, 88

BBC: The veteran Labour politician Tony Benn, 88, has just released the final instalment of his diaries.

They reach 2009, when illness forced him to stop writing the daily entries that he started more than 60 years ago.

He has been speaking about his lifetime in Labour politics, his continuing appetite for campaigning and the significant challenges of old age.

Ben Wright reports. Watch BBC video » | Thursday, October 24, 2013

It Is A Slow Metabolism After All: Scientists Discover Obesity Gene

THE INDEPENDENT: Mutations in "KSR2" gene prevent cells from processing glucose and fatty acids, scientists find

Obese people who claim they have a “slow metabolism” may have a point after scientists discover a gene that for the first time links being overweight with reduced metabolic activity.

Researchers from Cambridge University found that mutations in a gene known as KSR2 reduce the ability of cells to metabolise glucose and fatty acids, which provide energy.

These gene mutations are also more common in people with severe obesity than in the general, non-obese population, they found.

It has long been suggested that some people may be predisposed to obesity because of a “slow metabolism” but this is the first time that scientists have been able to identify a definite genetic basis for such an idea.

“It was something that most of us didn’t quite believe could happen because there wasn’t much evidence for it until now,” said Professor Sadaf Farooqi of the University of Cambridge.

“Up until now, the genes we have identified that control body weight have largely affected appetite. This gene also increases appetite but it is also causes a slow metabolic rate,” Professor Farooqi said.

“KSR2 is different in that it also plays a role in regulating how energy is used in the body. In the future, modulation of KSR2 may represent a useful therapeutic strategy for obesity and type-2 diabetes,” she said. » | Steve Connor | Science Editor | Thursday, October 24, 2014

Frenemies: Spying on Allies Fits Obama's Standoffish Profile

Obama with Queen Elizabeth II. He gave the Queen an iPod

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Diplomats are not surprised that the security agencies under US President Barack Obama have reportedly been monitoring close allies like German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He has failed to foster close relationships with other heads of state, causing much frustration around the world.

US President Barack Obama was scheduled to visit the Church of Our Lady cathedral in Dresden during a June 2009 whistle-stop visit to Germany. Diplomats from the German Foreign Ministry had painstakingly planned every last detail. They were looking forward to the photographs of Chancellor Angela Merkel with the US president in front of cheering crowds.

But the White House bristled. The president didn't want to do that -- that was the word in Washington. He reportedly placed little value on such photo ops, and he had to leave as quickly as possible, to get to an appearance at the Buchenwald concentration camp. The haggling went back and forth for weeks, and in the end the White House gave in, but only a little. Obama raced through Dresden. After their visit inside the church, Merkel had to shake hands with visitors by herself. The president had already disappeared.

On this day, at the latest, it must have dawned on diplomats that this US president was different from his predecessors. He was someone who did not attach value to diplomatic niceties nor to the sensitivities of his close friends, which he already had proven as a presidential candidate. At that time he put Chancellor Merkel in an awkward position by wanting to make a campaign speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate. This site was traditionally set aside for sitting presidents, which Obama also knew.

The Democrat, who prefers to spend his evenings with his family or alone in front of his computer, has made it no secret in Washington that he does not want to make new friends. That maxim especially applies to his foreign diplomacy. Unlike his predecessor George W. Bush, Obama is loved by the people of the world, but much less by their heads of government. On the heels of recent revelations that US spy agencies might have monitored Chancellor Merkel's cell phone, the complaints about Merkel's "lost friend" Obama are misplaced. Obama doesn't want to be a friend[.] » | Gregor Peter Schmitz | Thursday, October 24, 2013

Spying Row: Merkel Urges US to Restore Trust at EU Summit

BBC: Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has said it is "really not on" for friends to spy on each other, referring to alleged US snooping on her phone calls.

On arrival at an EU summit in Brussels Mrs Merkel said "we need trust between allies and partners, and such trust needs to be restored".

She said she had given that message to US President Barack Obama when they spoke on Wednesday.

Other EU leaders also voiced concern about the scale of US surveillance.

The spying row threatens to overshadow EU talks on economic growth and migration to the EU. Mrs Merkel has demanded a "complete explanation" of the claims, which came out in the German media.

She grew up in former communist East Germany, where secret police surveillance was pervasive.

Her delegation in Brussels confirmed she had met briefly to discuss the issue with France's President Francois Hollande, who has expressed alarm at reports that millions of French calls have been monitored by the US.

There is concern that the furore could jeopardise EU-US talks on reaching a major free trade deal. The head of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD), Sigmar Gabriel, said such a deal was hard to imagine if the US had infringed citizens' privacy. The SPD is in coalition talks with Chancellor Merkel. (+ video) » | Thursday, October 24, 2013

Obama Left Increasingly Isolated as Anger Builds among Key US Allies

THE GUARDIAN: Merkel the latest to rebuke Washington over NSA spying while US relationships in the Middle East are also unravelling

International anger over US government surveillance has combined with a backlash against its current Middle East policy to leave President Obama increasingly isolated from many of his key foreign allies, according to diplomats in Washington.

The furious call that German chancellor Angela Merkel made to the White House on Wednesday to ask if her phone had been tapped was the latest in a string of diplomatic rebukes by allies including France, Brazil and Mexico, all of which have distanced themselves from the US following revelations of spying by the National Security Agency.

But the collapse in trust of the US among its European and South American partners has been matched by an equally rapid deterioration in its relationships with key allies in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia this week joined Israel, Jordan and United Arab Emirates in signalling a shift in its relations with the US over its unhappiness at a perceived policy of rapprochement toward Iran and Syria.

Though the issues are largely unrelated, they have led to a flurry of diplomatic activity from Washington, which is anxious to avoid a more permanent rift in the network of alliances that has been central to its foreign policy since the second world war.

Secretary of state John Kerry has been meeting with Saudi and Israeli leaders in an effort to keep them involved in Middle East peace talks about Palestine and Syria, Obama met Wednesday with Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif to reassure him over separate anxiety over US drone attacks, and the White House has been privately trying to mend fences with world leaders on the surveillance issue.

"The [NSA] revelations have clearly caused tension in our relationships with some countries and we are dealing with that through diplomatic channels," said White House spokesman Jay Carney on Thursday.

"These are very important relations both economically and for our security, and we will work to maintain the closest possible ties."

But the Guardian has spoken with several diplomats and foreign government officials – all of whom agreed to talk only on the condition of anonymity – who say the White House is still underestimating the anger felt over recent disclosures. » | Dan Roberts and Paul Lewis in Washington | Thursday, October 24, 2013

World Leaders 'Had Their Phones Monitored by US Spies'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: At least 35 world leaders had their phones monitored by US spies, it has been claimed, an escalating diplomatic row between Europe and America

Hours after Angela Merkel confronted President Barack Obama over allegations that her personal mobile had been tapped, new documents showed that US surveillance extended to dozens of other heads of government.

The National Security Agency (NSA) encouraged other US government departments to share their "rolodexes" of foreign contacts which were then targeted.

"Such 'rolodexes' may contain contact information for foreign political or military leaders, to include direct line, fax, residence and cellular numbers," according to one document given to The Guardian by Edward Snowden, the fugitive leaker.

The White House told The Telegraph the US had never monitored David Cameron's communications but would not give the same assurance about other leaders.

"We are not going to comment publicly on every specific alleged intelligence activity," said Caitlin Hayden, a White House spokeswoman. » | Raf Sanchez | Thursday, October 24, 2013

Telegraph View: Suu Kyi Lets Us Down

Aung San Suu Kyi

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Aung San Suu Kyi's equivocal attitude towards the violence against Burma’s Muslim minority threatens to tarnish her reputation

The hardships endured by Aung San Suu Kyi during her long struggle against Burma’s dictators and her 15 years of house arrest almost defy comprehension. After all that suffering, it would be tragic if her reputation were to be tarnished just as she stands on the verge of becoming her country’s president in the 2015 election. Sadly, Miss Suu Kyi’s equivocal attitude towards the violence against Burma’s Muslim minority threatens to do exactly that. Read on and comment » | Telegraph View | Thursday, October 24, 2013

Arnoud van Doorn: From Anti-Islamic Film-maker to Hajj Pilgrim

Hajji Arnoud van Doorn

Why is a former member of Geert Wilders' anti-Islamic Party for Freedom – who made a film claiming Muslims are violent – tweeting from Mecca?
Read why here

Germany Summons US Ambassador Over Claim NSA Bugged Merkel's Phone

Guido Westerwelle, Germany's Foreign Minister

THE GUARDIAN: Allegations that US spying has reached highest level of government met with outrage and disappointment in Germany

Germany's foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, has called the US ambassador to a personal meeting to discuss allegations that US secret services bugged Angela Merkel's mobile phone.

The decision to call in John B Emerson, who has only been the US representative in Berlin since mid-August, is an unusually drastic measure. During previous upheavals in relations, such as over the Syrian crisis, conversations have taken place between diplomats.

Allegations that the US government's spying had reached the highest level were met with outrage and disappointment in Germany on Thursday. The country's defence minister, Thomas de Maiziere, told ARD television that it would be "really bad" if the reports turned out to be true. Washington and Berlin could not return to "business as usual", he said.

Suddeütsche Zeitung conveyed a strong sense of the depth of disillusionment with the US president in Germany when it wrote that "Barack Obama is not a Nobel peace prize winner, he is a troublemaker".

In a comment piece in the German broadsheet, Robert Rossmann wrote that during his last visit to Germany, "the American president had flamboyantly promised more trusting collaboration between the countries. Even Merkel seems to have lost faith in that promise by now. One doesn't dare imagine how Obama's secret services deal with enemy states, when we see how they treat their closest allies." » | Philip Oltermann in Berlin | Thursday, October 24, 2013

A Widening Gulf

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: It is to be hoped that the US and Saudi Arabia patch up their differences soon

Throughout Saudi Arabia’s long alliance with the West, one principle above all has governed its diplomacy: to keep any disagreements firmly behind closed doors. So the very public quarrel this week between Riyadh and Washington, which has seen the Saudis reject a rotating place on the United Nations Security Council, scale back cooperation with the CIA over Syria, and pledge to seek alternative weapons suppliers to the United States, is both unprecedented and extraordinarily important.

For many, the fact that Barack Obama’s administration has upset the House of Saud – despite protestations of enduring friendship from John Kerry, the Secretary of State – will be entirely welcome. The Saudis’ wealth and strategic importance have long bought them immunity from the criticism that their record of fomenting Islamist extremism and denying women’s rights might otherwise have incurred. With the shale revolution ensuring that America is no longer dependent on the Middle East for its oil, and a more pacific president (in every sense) in the White House, it is surely only natural that some distance appears. This was always, after all, an alliance based on self-interest rather than any real kinship. Read on and comment » | Telegraph View | Wednesday, October 23, 2013

France's FN to Team Up with Other Far Right Parties for European Elections

Marine Le Pen, leader of 'Front National', France

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Marine Le Pen announces plan to create pan-European far-Right front, teaming up with Dutch, Swedish, Belgian and Austrian anti-immigration parties

Populist and anti-immigrant far-right parties will fight together on a common manifesto in next year's European Union elections but will not form an alliance with neo-fascist parties, Marine Le Pen has said.

The French Front National (FN) leader is planning to team up with Dutch, Swedish, Belgian and Austrian anti-immigration parties but has asked her father Jean-Marie Le Pen to break with groups such as the British National Party (BNP).

During a Strasbourg press conference to launch her softer focus "European Alliance for Freedom", Miss Le Pen, who is already an MEP, poured scorn on Nigel Farage for being immature, scared of joining forces with her and worried that she would overshadow him and Ukip as Europe's most important populist leader.

"We do have contact with them. Ukip is a young movement without the maturity of established nationalist parties. Ukip is already so much a victim of demonisation that it is afraid to undergo the demonisation other parties have faced. It is afraid of its image," she said.

"I would like them to join the alliance but if they don't want to that is too bad. I think Nigel Farage is worried because I would be the leader." » | Bruno Waterfield, Brussels | Wednesday, October 23, 2013