Prism scandal: the NSA had intercepted 56,000 private emails per year

 

The National Security Agency (NSA) may have "inadvertently" and illegally intercepted private emails to 56,000 per year between 2008 and 2011 as part of a program that a secret court found that may have violated the laws and the Constitution of the United States, show documents published Wednesday, August 21.

These previously classified secret documents were declassified by the White House, trying to fall the scandal caused by revelations of Edward Snowden computer on the extent monitoring programs for U.S. intelligence agencies. 

According to U.S. officials, the documents show that programs to collect information that led the NSA to intrude "inadvertently" on the private lives of Americans were identified , s and corrected.

The interception of emails between U.S. citizens should normally be authorized by a warrant.

But this was not the case, which led to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), a secret court that oversees intelligence activities in question in 2011 on the legality , shares of the NSA. 

The extrajudicial collection of tens of thousands of emails seemed "in certain respects, lacking legal and constitutional basis," has found John Bates, a magistrate of the FISC, in October 2011, we read in one of declassified documents Wednesday.

According to U.S. officials and a court document declassified by the White House, the NSA has decided to "destroy" these collected "inadvertently" and strengthen its procedures.

"When there is a complex operation in terms of technology, in which thousands of people are involved, there are bound to be mistakes," pleaded one American intelligence official. 

NSA happen annually screened some 250 million emails in the world and millions of telephone conversations.

Reuters

PRESIDENTIAL MALI: Mali: IBK named the winner of the presidential election by his rival Soumaila Cisse

 

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, known as IBK, should soon be officially proclaimed president of Mali after being congratulated by his opponent, Soumaila Cisse, who recognized Monday, August 12 defeat after the second round of the presidential election. "My family and I went to Mr. Keita, future president of Mali, congratulate him on his victory. God bless Mali ", wrote Monday unsuccessful candidate on his Twitter account.

Soumaila Cisse made the announcement even before the publication of the results of the second round. The former Minister of Finance decided to concede defeat when it became clear qu'IBK was head Gao even the most largest city in the north of Mali. Estimates for two-thirds of the ballots gave, indeed, a very large advance IBK.

After the first round of 28 July, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita had obtained 39.79% of the vote against 19.70% for his rival, and went heavily favored in the second round. He had obtained the rallying 22 25 candidates eliminated.

A daunting task for the winner

Despite some marginal irregularities, Malian and international observers praised the conduct of the election. "This election, in terms of democratic norms, is a follow one another s ", told Louis Michel, head of the observation mission of the European Union. "This is an election that now allows Mali to start the conclusion of an ongoing process: the return to a normal democracy," he added.

"This was an important step in the transition to Mali to peace and reconciliation, said the Special Representative of the UN, Bert Koenders. There were small imperfections […] but no violence was impressive in a country emerging from conflict only. "

After the victory of IBK will be officially confirmed, the cacique of the Malian political life of 68 years will prioritize to open negotiations with the Tuareg in the north, whose uprising in early 2012 led Mali to the brink of collapse.

The lack of protest from Soumaila Cisse should give the former prime minister the authority to also engage in discussions on the preservation of the unity of Mali, to reform the army and to tackle endemic corruption found in the circles of power. 

This presidential election is expected to close open in March 2012 by a coup of junior officers unhappy with the failure of the then President parenthesis Amadou Toumani Toure, to quell a rebellion Touareg.

The Movement for the uniqueness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), one of three major Islamic groups at work in 2012 in the north of Mali, had threatened to disrupt the dice , bearing the presidential election, but it has not happened while the UN is currently deploying a peacekeeping of 12,600 peacekeepers, known Minusma.

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PRESIDENTIAL MALI: Mali: the challenges facing the next president

 

Who Ibrahim Boubacar Keita or Soumaila Cisse will be called to preside over the destinies of Mali? This Sunday, August 11, some 6.9 million voters Mali will have to decide between the two finalists in the presidential election, which, in the absence of pre-program cis, seem to further highlight their personality as their vision of the country for the five years to come.

The burning issues, however, are not lacking in this country economically paralyzed from the military coup of 22 March 2012 that toppled President Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT). Endemic corruption, disobedience of the army, Tuareg separatists jolts northern and jihadist threat … The ability of the next head of state to quickly address these questions depends longevity in power.

Economic reconstruction

These are the reins of a nation just emerging from war that inherit the future Malian leader. Pointing country before the war, the 175th (out of 187) of the classification developed by the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP), Mali's GDP to contract by 1.5% during the events of 2012. A decline would have been even more so without revenues, including the exploitation of gold mines in South untouched by the fighting.

"The reconstruction especially for the north, where the Islamist insurgency and the French intervention destroyed the entire infrastructure of the three major cities of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, observes Michel Galy, professor of gen , opolitique the Institute of International Relations in Paris. But after reconstruction comes time development. For over 30 years, if not 50, nothing has been done to the north, where thousands of CFA francs invested were scattered in the sands of corruption. In this region, especially in the Tuareg villages, there are no schools, no wells, no roads, no health centers. Everything is done. "

"Malians expect the next president homogenization of wealth between the center and the outskirts of the north and south of the country abounds Emmanuel Dupuy, a specialist in international relations in the prospective Institute and Security in Europe (IPSE) he leads. The new government will work towards the development of Mali basement designate foreign companies can operate and then distribute the windfall across the country . "

Aware that regional inequalities are a source of instability, the international community has also conditioned the granting of its 3 billion euros of aid that they are equitably distributed s, especially in the North.

It is also necessary that the northern half, cut the rest of the country during the Islamic occupation, or with institutions capable of managing money. "The economic recovery through the restoration of administrative bases throughout the country. This is one of the major challenges of the future head of state ", Emmanuel Dupuy analysis.

National reconciliation

Halved after the coup jihadists, which was then associated with the Tuareg rebellion, Mali has again its territorial sovereignty since the military intervention French in early 2013. Nevertheless, in some parts of the North, including in Kidal, the Tuareg irredentism experiencing some turbulence. "The Tuareg rebels were present in five countries in Mali but they represent only a residual military force, says Michel Galy. They remained neutral during the campaign mainly because they expect the release of new negotiations that the future president will have to organize, under the terms of the preliminary peace agreement, within 60 days after election to define the status of the Azawad claimed by the rebels. "area

Weakened, divided, the Tuareg separatist movement has much to do for the autonomy of the region. "It will be difficult for the new president to give their view of the nationalist turn What made the campaign. At best, the MNLA [National Liberation Movement of Azawad] may benefit from decentralization, which would apply to the whole country. "

For experts, the Tuareg issue, however, is only part of the reconquest of national unity. "The head of state should make an extra effort vis-à-vis all the Malian people and not just Touareg MNLA says Emmanuel Dupuy. From a political point of view, it must involve the losers of the election. In view of the irregularities that took place during the first round, it may be that the president is elected with a number, after all, limited voice. The weakness of the score so the force to agree with the representatives of other political parties to form a government. To meet the country and meet its challenges, the president whatsoever must find a way to reach some sort of national consensus. "

This strategy may prove to be risky. "If the new president based his power on the consensus, then enroll in the right policy of former President ATT online. And it is this that caused his fall, says André Bourgeot, director of research at CNRS. Meanwhile, Malians ask the next president to establish strong institutions capable, for example, to fight corruption. But this does not happen on the political mégotage. "

The role of the army

Although they quickly left office after the coup, the military, who love nothing less than to feel abandoned by the state, remain a source of instability in a country accustomed , to coups. "The new government will have to consider how to restore the concept of a republican army, which is not yet complete. It is a work reorganization can take time, "says André Bourgeot. "The real challenge is to remind the military obligations and duties of protecting the sovereignty of Mali," insists his part Emmanuel Dupuy.

But then, the Malian armed forces are not the only ones to carry out this mission. Since the war, some 12,000 foreign soldiers, including 3,000 French still are deployed on the territory under the International Support Mission in Mali (Misma). Support which, for many observers, can be interpreted as a trusteeship Malian military. "The president must show that his army can perform the same tasks that foreign troops and will work for a better division of labor between international forces and soldiers Malian, "said Emmanuel Dupuy.

But for the researcher, rather than the army, is a Malian youth who might oppose frontally new power. "It is feared that this impromptu election inadequately prepared and organized in a hurry does not meet the challenges of rejuvenation and urbanization of its population . Discontent may occur otherwise, not necessarily by a coup. I think qu'IBK as Cissé know that if they are elected, their terms will not be a mandate that will lead to an end. "

DR CONGO: Fighting murderers around Goma, the UN ready to use "military force"

 

These are the heaviest fighting for nine months. At least 130 people died in 24 hours in clashes between the Congolese army and rebels of the Movement of 23 March (M23) around Goma. According to the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), the M23 has strengthened its positions around the city using the "heavy artillery" and shielded. Given the intensity of the violence, the UN said they were ready to use Monday, July 15th "armed force" to halt a rebel advance.

Monday noon, shots were heard from the northern districts of Goma, the regional capital of North Kivu. Several Congolese army tanks fired at the positions of the M23, found a photographer from AFP. This reporter has also crossed a thousand refugees crowded into Goma.  

By late morning in Kinshasa, the government spokesman, Lambert Mende, had assured the press that the army had "inflicted heavy losses" to the rebels. According to him, 120 rebels M23 and 10 soldiers were killed. But no record could be obtained from the M23 or from independent sources.

Rebels and government reject the initiative of fighting

The M23 is made up of former Congolese soldiers mutinied and found, according to the DRC and the UN support – in men and ammunition – from Ugandan and Rwandan governments. But these two neighboring countries deny any assistance M23.

The new fighting began early Sunday afternoon at a dozen kilometers from Goma, in the villages and Mutaho Kibati. But since rebels and Congolese government rejected the initiative of new fighting.

Lambert Mende assured that the Congolese rebels, "backed by Rwandan regular troops" had "attacked" the positions of the armed forces. For its part, the M23 said he condemned "in the strongest terms the resumption of war initiated by the Congolese government," in a statement released at night .

Finally, Rwanda accused Monday night the DRC army and MONUSCO have "deliberately" bombed two villages Rwandan border. According to General Joseph Nzabamwita, spokesperson of the Rwandan army, two shells landed in villages and Kageshi Gasiza, no injuries, and it was of "a deliberate act of provocation. " UN troops in a state of "alert" In November 2012, the M23 Goma had occupied for ten days after the army quickly defeated yet supported by UN peacekeepers . The rebels withdrew from the town under pressure from countries in the region in exchange for the opening of negotiations with the government of Laurent-Désiré Kabila.

But these discussions started in December in Kampala have not advanced much since they are denying the government expanded the political and social level.

The UN, which maintains 17,000 peacekeepers in the DRC, had been taken to the end of 2012 for its failure to protect the people of North Kivu. The United Nations has since imposed a framework agreement signed in Addis Ababa on 24 February: all countries of the region committed themselves not to support rebel movements operating in the eastern DRC.

Monday, spokesman Martin Nesirky UN issued a warning from New York: MONUSCO has "placed its troops on alert. (She) is ready to take all necessary measures and this includes the use of military force to protect civilians, "he said. "Any attempt by the M23 heading towards Goma will be considered a direct threat against civilians," he added.

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Crash in San Francisco: a third victim has died

 

A third person, injured July 6 in the crash of Asiana flight 214 to San Francisco, succumbed to his injuries, said Friday the San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH).

The victim, a "minor" whose condition was "critical" for a week, died Friday morning, said in a statement setting .

His death adds to those of two Chinese girls, declared dead the day of the crash.

"A minor who was injured in the crash of Asiana Airlines died this morning. This is a girl who was in critical condition and died of his injuries, "said the hospital.

"Parents have asked us not to give additional information (on the victim) for the moment," added the facility.

Two injured treated SFGH, which hosted the largest number of injuries after the accident, are still in critical condition.

The first results of the investigation into the cause of the crash, led by the U.S. Agency Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), indicate that the aircraft was much too slow and too low in its approach to the runway.

The tail section broke off after hitting a dike separating the trail of a body of water. The plane then crashed into the stomach, before catching fire.

The pilot of the plane, which was being qualified on the Boeing 777 co-pilot and his instructor, which was the first flight as a trainer, have started talking among themselves low speed of the aircraft at the last minute, less than ten seconds before the crash, according to conversations recorded by the black boxes.

The Asiana Airlines flight 214, the second South Korean company, was carrying 307 people, 123 of which are from the accident unscathed.

AFP

FRANCE: Estrosi for travelers: "You will go, but before you pay"

 

The UMP mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, interviewed Sunday in issuing the Grand Rendez-vous Europe 1 on Roma and Travellers, called "the mayors of France to re flip "and offered them his" how to ".

"I have not let go of anything," he assured, saying he spoke with people from illegally installed on a plot of his city trip. "I went to see him and I said, 'Well, you'll leave.' The community would have replied 'No, we are here for three weeks and it is we who impose on you, Mr. Mayor, to stay there for three weeks, "says the elected . "'I have other mate and I materai" said he had told them.

Estrosi and list the measures put in place if the travelers do not leave. "I'm going to put cameras everywhere to monitor your every move. We will note those returning, those who leave, how minute, when and what you will do in the city […], "said the member of the Alpes-maritimes, always yielding a conversation which he had with members of the community.

Bill of € 620,000

"I'll take the plates one after the other, I referred a court as a precaution to seize vehicles," he explains the antenna. "You know, these beautiful and big cars with which they derive their beautiful and large caravans for which the French, [they] may take a lifetime to have the same [sic]."

The mayor of Nice then said to have introduced a bill of € 620,000 as a result of damage caused by caravans of "two soccer fields [of the city] in which kids can not play back. " "'Not only will you leave but before leaving, you will pay. And if you do not pay, ok, seizure of vehicles and sell them to repay what Nice and French taxpayers do not have to pay ".

Asked about his vision of travelers, the mayor of Nice simply replied: "When you break somewhere between an offender it is." Words that should not displease the former president Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front, last week – just in Nice – had raised the "pre , presence and stinging odor "of the Roma in the municipality.

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Egypt: The army launched a 48-hour ultimatum to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi

 

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the chief of staff of the Egyptian army, gave Monday a "last chance" for political leaders to "take their responsibilities to historical circumstances in which the country faces. " In a message read on television message, the military command said that within 48 hours, the people's demands to be satisfied, saying the country could not afford to lose time.

The army could announce his own road

If this deadline is not met, the armed forces announce their own roadmap and measures to overcome the crisis, said Al-Sissi. He also said that the army, which has managed the transition from the fall of Hosni Mubarak in February 2011 and the election of Mohamed Morsi summer , last, no longer wished to be involved in politics or government.

This statement was greeted by an explosion of joy on the part of anti-Morsi gathered in Tahrir Square, the nerve center of the dispute. "Morsi is not our President, Sissi with us," chanted the demonstrators.

General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, however, did not explicitly ask for the resignation of President Mohamed Morsi, main claim millions of opponents who showed Sunday, June 30

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FRANCE: The hidden face of Chinese weddings Tours

 

For over four years, from 2007 to 2011, more than 200 Chinese couples marched in the city of Tours. They came especially from China to symbolically celebrate what they call their "romantic honeymoon". "All Chinese people like the French marriage," showed at the time a bride.

The mayor of Tours Jean Germain, had personally the idea of ​​this operation to develop the economic activities of traders in the town and castles. "The Chinese, they sell us a lot. But we have to sell tourism. And the Loire and the city of Tours, this is very difficult to be relocated, "he explained in 2007.

From marriage to divorce

But the wedding of your dreams quickly turned to divorce. Lise Han, former special assistant to the mayor of Tours, is now suspected of fraud. This young Taiwanese woman was in charge of the entire organization of marriages find couples, to come and settle every detail of the ceremony. The contracts were then transferred to a small business, which it had formerly management, but that it had officially severed all ties to avoid conflict of interest.

Yet in 2011, the newspaper "The Chained Duck" revealed that in reality Lise Han was still a shareholder in this company. She even placed successively her husband and her ex-husband at the head of the structure. For three years, this woman and attributed juicy public contracts with bills sometimes amounting to more than EUR 50 000, were used to fund gala dinners and trips China for city officials.

Time in prison

The former project manager of the Town Hall is now under investigation for fraud, as well as her husband and ex-husband. In recent days, she even sleeps in prison for not paying his bail.

But through his lawyer, Lisa Han pleads good faith and blames the mayor. "I wish the justice go a little faster. Because it's 14 months of preliminary investigation. It is six months of information with judges. And Mayor Jean Germain has never been confronted with my client while it's been six months since I ask, "said Christophe Moysan me.

For his part, the mayor remains silent. He does not give interviews, preferring to reserve his speech to justice. He himself filed a complaint for fraud after the discovery of unjustified double bills. Despite this unflattering interlude, he hopes soon to celebrate the Chinese new marriages.

Focus Christophe DANSETTE Claire DEBUYSER China France City Wedding Tourism

EGYPT: Cairo foiled attacks against France and the United States

 

A source close to Al-Qaeda cell dismantled last weekend in Egypt, preparing for suicide car bomb against the embassies of France and United States in Cairo for "protest against the military intervention of France in Mali", reported Wednesday's national news agency MENA, quoting sources close to the investigation.

Saturday, Egyptian authorities announced the arrest of three Egyptian militants close to al-Qaeda. The defendants were in possession of 10 kg of aluminum nitrate, used to make bombs, had said the interior minister, Mohamed Ibrahim, during a press conference at Cairo without specifying the nationality of suspects. The official MENA news agency had in turn assured that the suspects were Egyptians.

According to the survey of the security services, the three members of the arrested cells are part of the prisoners who escaped detention in the early days of the revolt, in January 2011 , Egypt.

Two of them had been extradited to Algeria and Iran in 2009 and imprisoned in Egypt. The three members of the cell would be recognized in contact with Al-Qaeda but denied planning attacks, according to the findings of the survey cited by Mena.

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INTERNET: Refusal redemption of Dailymotion: "France does not need predator capital"

 

The Minister of Productive Recovery Arnaud Montebourg, announced Wednesday that it had thwarted the takeover of 75% of the video site Dailymotion, a subsidiary of France Telecom-Orange, the compa American ty Yahoo!. This interference by the minister raises many critics. Asked by the newspaper Les Echos, CEO of Orange, Stéphane Richard, regretted this decision because, according to him, Dailymotion needs a U.S. partner to continue to die develop and compete with its main rival YouTube. He also argues that the failure of the sale could damage the image of France to foreign investors.

Sterdyniak Henry, director of the Department of Economics at Sciences Po Paris globalization, believes instead that the intervention of Arnaud Montebourg is sound. In international economics specialist, France, in fact, all the capabilities to maintain its ground for innovative companies.

FRANCE 24: The Minister of Productive Recovery Arnaud Montebourg, opposed the redemption Dailymotion, a subsidiary of France Telecom-Orange, the U.S. giant Yahoo!. Is that such blocking is new government?

Henri Sterdyniak: It actually is exceptional. The logic usually prevails, the government does not interfere in the conduct of business, except in very special cases. So far, the government felt that these obstacles were not of a strategic nature, but now we are seeing a change in doctrine. We do not want to let a company go under foreign control. When this happened, France lost all means of action.

These companies have lost their substance and disappeared completely. We think of course Arcelor-Mittal and steel Florange in recent news. The minister and wanted to put a stop to these practices and make clear with Dailymotion, France has a well located in an area of ​​future business. It would be stupid to sell abroad. There is no reason to lose its future development for short-term profits. Especially Orange has money and that also has public Investment Bank.

According to you, Arnaud Montebourg was therefore right to oppose the takeover?

H. S. : It is a gesture that will, in fact, in the right direction, because France has the financial capacity to develop independent businesses on the Internet. This is a trend that seeks to promote the Minister Arnaud Montebourg. He wants to keep France in innovative companies. You can not call this protectionism, but it is necessary that the French companies keep on making up their centers and production, otherwise we will be completely disarmed.

The American media yet very critical with regard to the French government. Does this decision may degrade the image of France to foreign investors?

H. S. : It must be remembered that the United States often take protectionist measures, especially against China. This is not a purely French practice. Americans have a strategy that is not hard-liberalism. The fact that France clearly say it has the concern to maintain the productive sectors on its soil should not surprise them. It is legitimate that encourages foreign investment the type of Toyota, which has installed a plant and create jobs in France, but when an investment is to take control of & rsquo , a company that works and has a potential for the future is more problematic. France does not have a Yahoo! guarantee for the future development of Dailymotion. She did not know either if the hidden objective was to kill the business because it is ultimately a competitor.

This blockage can get chilly foreign investors, but France has an important savings rate and capital available. We have the means to choose foreign investment and support companies that want to grow. France did not need the contribution of capital predators, but rather companies that bring something. In this case, the government found that the acquisition would provide no guarantee.