Europe

France revealed to be spying on its citizens’ phone calls, email and social media

"France’s external intelligence agency spies on the French public’s phone calls, emails and social media activity in France and abroad. It said the DGSE intercepted signals from computers and telephones in France, and between France and other countries, although not the content of phone calls, to create a map of 'who is talking to whom'. It said the activity was illegal. 'All of our communications are spied on,' wrote Le Monde, which based its report on unnamed intelligence sources as well as remarks made publicly by intelligence officials. 'Emails, text messages, telephone records, access to Facebook and Twitter are then stored for years,' it said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance revealed to be spying on its citizens’ phone calls, email and social media

Italy bans sale of electronic cigarettes to minors

"Italy banned the sale of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine to minors on Thursday and forbid their use in schools, amid criticism from a consumer watchdog that the move did not go far enough. Italian consumer association Codacons criticised the new law as 'utterly insufficient'. 'E-cigarettes should be banned in all public places, just like normal cigarettes. It’s not clear why the ministry believes they are dangerous, and therefore should be banned in schools, but not in other places open to the public,' Codacons president Carlo Rienzi said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingItaly bans sale of electronic cigarettes to minors

European Union ministers back ban on menthol cigarettes

"European Union health ministers on Friday approved plans to ban menthol and other flavoured cigarettes as part of a crackdown on youth smoking. The proposed legislation must now be voted on by the European parliament. Irish Health Minister James Reilly, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, said it was a 'a huge step forward in the fight against tobacco use'. EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg, himself a former smoker, said he believed the ban could be in place within three years. They also agreed to force tobacco companies to cover 65 percent of cigarette packets with health warnings and gruesome pictures." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEuropean Union ministers back ban on menthol cigarettes

New dynamic in Iran’s European ties

"No other Western country has been harmed as a result of Iran sanctions as much as France, which a decade ago was Iran's fifth-largest trade partner. Between 2005 and today, French exports to Iran have shrunk 60% from 2 billion euros (US$2.6 billion) to 800 million euros. US exports to Iran - of computers, cellphones, soft drinks for example - have increased by 50% during the past two years. The French oil giant Total last month was forced to pay a US$400 million fine to the US to end a prosecution in connection with oil contracts in Iran. In 2012, French car maker Peugeot folded business in Iran after 35 years, thus losing the company's largest foreign market." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew dynamic in Iran’s European ties

Diversion of Bolivian president’s plane enrages Latin American leaders

"Latin American leaders slammed European governments on Wednesday for diverting Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane on rumors it was carrying a wanted former U.S. spy agency contractor, and announced an emergency summit in a new diplomatic twist to the Edward Snowden saga. Heads of state in the 12-nation South American bloc Unasur denounced the 'unfriendly and unjustifiable acts.' 'Latin America demands an explanation,' tweeted Ecuadorean leader Rafael Correa. 'If what happened to Evo does not merit a Unasur summit, I don’t know what does.' The Bolivian government said it had filed a formal complaint with the United Nations." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDiversion of Bolivian president’s plane enrages Latin American leaders

France wants to ‘temporarily suspend’ trade talks with US over NSA spying

"France wants to delay the ‘biggest bilateral trade deal in history' by 2 weeks after learning the USA was allegedly tracking economic communications of EU member states. But Germany says they should go ahead as planned. The trade agreement negotiations, which could potentially be a key factor in reversing the slow economic climate, are set to commence Monday in Washington DC. Despite surveillance claims, Germany wants the talks to go on as planned, Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said shortly after France raised a 2-week delay proposal. 'We want this free trade agreement and we want to start the talks now,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance wants to ‘temporarily suspend’ trade talks with US over NSA spying

Germany prepares to charge UK and US intelligence over fresh bugging allegations

"Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s office said it was preparing to bring charges against British and US intelligence today amid fresh allegations that the services spied far more extensively than thought on German phone and internet traffic and bugged European Union offices in America. The leak from fugitive ex-CIA analyst Edward Snowden claimed that the NSA tapped into half a billion German phone calls, emails and SMS messages each month. Reports last week revealed extensive tapping of German phone and internet traffic by British intelligence under its so-called Tempora programme. The information was said to be shared with the NSA." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGermany prepares to charge UK and US intelligence over fresh bugging allegations

Paul Craig Roberts: Has Washington’s Arrogance Undone Its Empire?

"The German Justice Minister, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenburger, demanded an 'immediate explanation' why Washington was applying to Germany policies 'reminiscent of the actions against enemies during the Cold War.' The president of France has said that France will not again cooperate with Washington on any issue until France receives 'full assurances' that Washington will cease spying on France. Do any of these protests from politicians who are almost certain to be on Washington’s payroll mean anything, or are they just make-believe protests to quiet the domestic European populations who have been betrayed by their elected leaders?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPaul Craig Roberts: Has Washington’s Arrogance Undone Its Empire?

‘Top French politicians had Swiss accounts’

"A former executive of a Geneva-based bank says he gave authorities in France a list of 15 former and current French cabinet ministers with secret Swiss bank accounts. Pierre Condamin-Gerbier, formerly with Reyl & Company, said on Wednesday he had submitted the list of 'big names' to investigators. Condamin-Gerbier was a witness before a French parliamentary commission investigating France’s former Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac, who resigned in disgrace in March over an undeclared foreign bank account said to contain around €600,000. Cahuzac is now facing charges of tax fraud. He had earlier said the list contained a number of well-known names." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Top French politicians had Swiss accounts’

ECB Suspends Cyprus Government Bonds as Collateral

"Cyprus’s local-currency issuer rating was lowered to restricted default by Fitch Ratings yesterday after the nation completed an exchange of government bonds for longer-dated securities. The bond exchange is part of commitments under a 10 billion-euro ($13 billion) bailout that saved Cyprus’s financial sector from collapse in March. Under the rescue program, deposits above 100,000 euros are taxed after an initial plan with a levy on deposits of less than 100,000 euros was rejected by parliament. Banks using such bonds to obtain funding will have to tap their national central banks’ Emergency Liquidity Assistance programs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingECB Suspends Cyprus Government Bonds as Collateral