Russian President Vladimir Putin has slashed the cost of gas sold to Ukraine and agreed to buy billions of Ukrainian government bonds, thus convincing Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to sign a trade agreement favoring a new alliance with Russia -- rather than with the European Union (EU) which the vast majority of Ukrainians prefer -- the Europe News website reports today (December 17, 2013).
Putin sealed the deal after talks in Moscow with Yanukovych.
The deal sees Russian state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom cutting the price of gas deliveries from January 2014. Putin also said Russia would buy some 11 billion euro of Ukraine's government bonds.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian protesters have been camping on the main square of Kiev -- the capital of Ukraine -- for nearly a month, because they are angry at the prospect of being drawn back under the influence of the Kremlin. Opposition leaders have warned Yanukovych not to bother coming back to Ukraine if he "sells out" to Russia.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Snowden Sends Letter to Brazil Asking for Asylum; Says in Return, He'll Inform Brazil of US Spying
Edward Snowden -- who was granted political asylum in Russia until next summer after he revealed secret and illegal NSA (National Security Agency) spying operations -- has written "an open letter to the people of Brazil" offering to help Brazil's government investigate allegations of U.S. spying, but on the condition that he be granted permanent political asylum, the USA Today website reports today (December 17, 2013).
"I've expressed my willingness to assist where it's appropriate and legal, but, unfortunately, the U.S. government has been working hard to limit my ability to do so," his letter says.
"Until a country grants me permanent political asylum, the U.S. government will continue to interfere with my ability to speak out," Snowden writes in the letter. He adds that, "Many Brazilian senators agree and asked me to help their investigations into suspected crimes against Brazilian citizens."
Snowden said that he felt vindicated by a federal judge's ruling yesterday that the collection of data by the NSA was most likely unconstitutional. What Snowden fails to indicate, however, is that he took a federal government oath in which he pledged never to reveal any U.S. classified information to anyone without a need to know -- and he has violated that oath. Conclusion: Two wrongs don't make a right.
"I've expressed my willingness to assist where it's appropriate and legal, but, unfortunately, the U.S. government has been working hard to limit my ability to do so," his letter says.
"Until a country grants me permanent political asylum, the U.S. government will continue to interfere with my ability to speak out," Snowden writes in the letter. He adds that, "Many Brazilian senators agree and asked me to help their investigations into suspected crimes against Brazilian citizens."
Snowden said that he felt vindicated by a federal judge's ruling yesterday that the collection of data by the NSA was most likely unconstitutional. What Snowden fails to indicate, however, is that he took a federal government oath in which he pledged never to reveal any U.S. classified information to anyone without a need to know -- and he has violated that oath. Conclusion: Two wrongs don't make a right.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Judge Rules NSA's Phone Spying Violates Const.; Says Author of Const. Would Be "Aghast" at Action
A Federal District Court judge ruled today (December 16, 2013) that the National Security Agency (NSA) program that is systematically keeping records of all Americans' phone calls violates the Constitution, and he ordered the government to stop collecting data on two plaintiffs' personal calls and destroy the records of their calling history, the NY Times website reports.
The 68-page ruling of Judge Richard Leon of the District of Columbia called the program's technology "almost Orwellian" and suggested that James Madison, the author of the Constitution, would be "aghast" to learn that the government was encroaching on liberty in such a way.
"I cannot imagine a more 'indiscriminate' and 'arbitrary' invasion than this systematic and high-tech collection and retention of personal data on virtually every single citizen for purposes of querying and analyzing it without prior judicial approval," Judge Leon wrote. "Surely, such a program infringes on 'that degree of privacy' that the founders enshrined in the Fourth Amendment."
Judge Leon stayed his injunction "in light of the significant national security interests at stake in this case and the novelty of the constitutional issues," allowing the government to appeal it -- a matter that he said could take some six months.
The 68-page ruling of Judge Richard Leon of the District of Columbia called the program's technology "almost Orwellian" and suggested that James Madison, the author of the Constitution, would be "aghast" to learn that the government was encroaching on liberty in such a way.
"I cannot imagine a more 'indiscriminate' and 'arbitrary' invasion than this systematic and high-tech collection and retention of personal data on virtually every single citizen for purposes of querying and analyzing it without prior judicial approval," Judge Leon wrote. "Surely, such a program infringes on 'that degree of privacy' that the founders enshrined in the Fourth Amendment."
Judge Leon stayed his injunction "in light of the significant national security interests at stake in this case and the novelty of the constitutional issues," allowing the government to appeal it -- a matter that he said could take some six months.
Israeli Troops Shoot Two Lebanese Soldiers Today; As a Payback for Lebanese Sniper Killing an Israeli
Israeli troops shot two Lebanese soldiers early today (December 16, 2013), just hours after a Lebanese army sniper killed an Israeli soldier as he drove along the volatile border late last night, according to the Washington Post website.
The shooting raised the possibility of renewed fighting in the area, which has remained mostly quiet since a month-long war in the summer of 2006.
Relations between Lebanon and Israel are so fraught with tensions that any incident risks sparking a major conflagration. The two have been officially at war since Israel became an independent nation in 1948. Each country bans its citizens from visiting the other, and there are no direct trade ties between the two.
In the incident yesterday, Israeli soldier Shlomi Cohen, 31, was fatally shot by a Lebanese army sniper near the tourist site of Rosh Hanikra on the Mediterranean Sea, the Israeli military said.
The shooting raised the possibility of renewed fighting in the area, which has remained mostly quiet since a month-long war in the summer of 2006.
Relations between Lebanon and Israel are so fraught with tensions that any incident risks sparking a major conflagration. The two have been officially at war since Israel became an independent nation in 1948. Each country bans its citizens from visiting the other, and there are no direct trade ties between the two.
In the incident yesterday, Israeli soldier Shlomi Cohen, 31, was fatally shot by a Lebanese army sniper near the tourist site of Rosh Hanikra on the Mediterranean Sea, the Israeli military said.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Police in Rome Nab 11 Anti-Austerity Protesters; Crowds Protest Spending Cuts, Unemployment
Italian police yesterday arrested 11 people in Rome, after demonstrators set ablaze garbage bins outside the Finance Ministry building as a protest against austerity, the Europe Sun website reports today (December 15, 2013).
As clashes with police became worse, demonstrators hurled eggs and fireworks at the building, which has been a prime location for angry anti-austerity demonstrators.
The so-called "pitchfork" protests -- which were originally organized by a group of Sicilian farmers -- began early last week, when crowds in Rome called for the government's resignation for its failure to contain rising unemployment.
It has been estimated that tens of thousands of anti-austerity protesters have been in Rome -- as well as several other Italian cities -- to protest against the harsh spending cuts the government has implemented to meet its deficit target. Austerity policies are unpopular in Italy where citizens are facing falling incomes, higher unemployment, tax hikes, and inflation.
As clashes with police became worse, demonstrators hurled eggs and fireworks at the building, which has been a prime location for angry anti-austerity demonstrators.
The so-called "pitchfork" protests -- which were originally organized by a group of Sicilian farmers -- began early last week, when crowds in Rome called for the government's resignation for its failure to contain rising unemployment.
It has been estimated that tens of thousands of anti-austerity protesters have been in Rome -- as well as several other Italian cities -- to protest against the harsh spending cuts the government has implemented to meet its deficit target. Austerity policies are unpopular in Italy where citizens are facing falling incomes, higher unemployment, tax hikes, and inflation.
Five Philly Priests Are Fired for Sexual Misconduct; Abp. Chaput Has No Tolerance for Abusive Priests
The Philadelphia Archdiocese revealed today (December 15, 2013) that five priests were removed from the Roman Catholic ministry due to allegations of sexual misconduct, according to the UPI (United Press International) website.
One of the priests banished by Archbishop Charles Chaput -- who has no tolerance at all for abusive priests -- had been cleared by an archdiocese review board, the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper said today.
The Rev. Michael Chapman had been accused of sexual abuse involving a minor. Within months of being cleared by the review board, a new accuser came forward, the newspaper said.
The details of the allegations against the other four priests were not revealed by the archdiocese.
One of the priests banished by Archbishop Charles Chaput -- who has no tolerance at all for abusive priests -- had been cleared by an archdiocese review board, the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper said today.
The Rev. Michael Chapman had been accused of sexual abuse involving a minor. Within months of being cleared by the review board, a new accuser came forward, the newspaper said.
The details of the allegations against the other four priests were not revealed by the archdiocese.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Bishop Demands Kidnappers Release Syrian Nuns; Says Abductors Want to Show They Have No Mercy
Bishop Selwanos Boutros Alnemeh of Homs and Hama in Syria has repeated an appeal for the release of 12 women religious kidnapped in Syria on December 2, the Ekklesia (British) website reports today (December 14, 2013).
The nuns are Sisters from the Convent of St. Tekla in Maalaoula -- a largely Christian town north of Damascus.
Speaking in an interview with the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Syrian Orthodox Bishop Alnemeh said that he had not heard from the Sisters since their disappearance over 10 days ago. He said he believes that the women are now being held in Yabrud, which is 12 miles from Maaloula.
The bishop declared: "I demand the immediate release of the nuns, who have done no harm to anyone. We've reached the point where even nuns are being abducted. What have they done wrong? It's a crime. The abductors want to demonstrate that they know no mercy."
The nuns are Sisters from the Convent of St. Tekla in Maalaoula -- a largely Christian town north of Damascus.
Speaking in an interview with the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Syrian Orthodox Bishop Alnemeh said that he had not heard from the Sisters since their disappearance over 10 days ago. He said he believes that the women are now being held in Yabrud, which is 12 miles from Maaloula.
The bishop declared: "I demand the immediate release of the nuns, who have done no harm to anyone. We've reached the point where even nuns are being abducted. What have they done wrong? It's a crime. The abductors want to demonstrate that they know no mercy."
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