UN #Syria findings are ‘politicized and biased’ – Russia’s deputy FM

Russian deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that Russia is disappointed that the UN inspectors’ findings are “politicized” and “biased” in nature, adding that without the complete picture of what is happening in Syria, the conclusions can only be described as one-sided.

"We were disappointed to say the least, with the approach adopted by the UN and the UN inspectors, who were in Syria, which was very selective and incomplete, without regard to the circumstances, and was compiled without the collection of materials in the other three sites,” Ryabkov said. 

Former NSA director: Fair to say US militarized the internet

“the tension between security and liberty” at a church in downtown Washington, Hayden defended the legal rationale -- Section 702 of the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act (FISA) -- for the PRISM program that allows the National Security Agency access into the servers of major tech companies like Google.

In defending mass surveillance programs exposed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, Hayden said the US "could be fairly charged with the militarization of the World Wide Web."

Documents released by Snowden to The Washington Post showed the extent of the government's elite hacking unit, Tailored Access Operations (TAO), an aspect of the NSA that collects intelligence by hacking into foreign targets’ computers, confiscating data and monitoring communique. In addition, the documents proved the US government routinely hacks into foreign computers around the world, especially targets in China.

Hayden dismissed a question about whether the US is setting a damaging precedent with its aggressive spying operation by pointing to the internet’s US origins.

In Snowden’s footsteps: NSA leaker’s new life in Russia

Apparently being shielded by Russia and its laws is no guarantee of safety. “I don't think that is going to happen but we saw American special forces intervening in other countries. Also with regards to our own citizens – they get detained abroad and transferred to U.S. territory.”

“We believe the danger remains quite high and, as I see it, it is impossible at the moment to reveal where he's living or to talk openly about it,” he said, adding that “what you have to understand is that he's being persecuted by a major power – the US government and we fear there could be some very serious consequences.”

  

But it would be foolish for Snowden to completely let his guard down. Nor does he wish to, as it was at his request that his location remain absolutely secret. The prospect of discovery and lack of knowledge on what might be done by outside actors to influence the leaker’s life here in Russia still make this a somewhat tricky situation, as Kucherena put it.

U.S. Navy was warned that Washington shooter 'heard voices'

Rhode Island police warned the U.S. Navy last month that Washington Navy Yard gunman Aaron Alexis had reported "hearing voices," raising further questions about how he gained security clearance at the complex where he went on a shooting rampage.

source reuters.com

Envoys seek Syria U.N. resolution as France, Russia squabble

Diplomats from five key nations kicked off talks on Tuesday on a Western-drafted U.N. Security Council resolution to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons even as France and Russia clashed over Moscow's insistence that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is innocent in an August 21 poison gas attack on civilians

source reuters.com

Colorado floods: Hundreds still missing

Emergency teams are searching for hundreds of people still missing after Colorado's deadly floods.

State officials say more than 300 are still unaccounted for, but many are believed to be merely cut off in remote areas inundated by the historic rains.

Several towns were encircled by raging waters. More than 3,000 people have been evacuated by air and ground.

The floods have been blamed for eight deaths, 1,500 homes destroyed and another 17,000 properties damaged.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff calls off US trip

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has called off a state visit to Washington next month in a row over allegations of US espionage.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) has been accused of intercepting emails and messages from Ms Rousseff, her aides and state oil company, Petrobras.

The allegations were based on documents leaked by fugitive former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

President Barack Obama had promised to investigate the incident.

The White House said he had telephoned Ms Rousseff on Monday to discuss the matter.

The allegations of widespread espionage against Brazilian citizens were first published in July by Rio de Janeiro-based journalist Glenn Greenwald, a reporter for the British Guardian newspaper.

source bbc

American poverty figure edges up to 46.5 million

The number of Americans in poverty rose slightly last year to 46.5 million, according to US Census data, despite a stock market recovery.

That edged up from 46.2 million Americans in 2011, meaning the national poverty rate remains unchanged at 15%.

It is the sixth year in a row that the rate failed to improve, despite the US being out of a recession since 2011.

The poverty threshold in 2012 was earning below $23,492 (£14,700) for a family of four.

Analysts point to changing employment patterns and tightening of the US safety net.