Barack Obama suggests all nations spy on each other
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama brushed aside sharp European criticism Monday, suggesting that all nations spy on each other as the French and Germans expressed outrage over alleged U.S. eavesdropping on European Union diplomats.
The comments came as Edward Snowden, believed to still be at Moscow’s international airport, applied for political asylum to remain in Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a statement he acknowledged sounded odd, told reporters in Moscow that Snowden would have to stop leaking U.S. secrets if he wanted asylum in Russia – and he added that Snowden seemed unwilling to stop publishing leaks of classified material. At the same time, Putin said that he had no plans to turn over Snowden to the United States.
Obama, in an African news conference with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, said the U.S. would provide allies with information about new reports that the National Security Agency had bugged EU offices in Washington, New York and Brussels. But he also suggested such activity by governments would hardly be unusual.
President expresses sorrow over Ariz. firefighters’ deaths
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – President Obama has called Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to receive an update on the wildfires in a forest northwest of Phoenix and express his condolences to the families of the 19 firefighters who died in the blaze and to all whose lives have been impacted by the fires.
Obama also expressed his gratitude to the hundreds of first responders who continue to work around the clock to protect homes and businesses.
During the call, the president reinforced his commitment to providing necessary federal support to Arizona and to local first responders fighting fires. The administration says it will continue to keep in constant contact with local officials and coordinate with federal agencies.
Texas Capital preps for new abortion battle
AUSTIN, Texas – Troopers lined the halls of the Texas Capitol, and 5,000 protesters rallied outside against proposed abortion legislation, as lawmakers convened Monday for a second special session that Republican leaders pledged wouldn’t descend into chaos like the first.
The Texas House and Senate each met for less than an hour before recessing for the week. That was just long enough to schedule new committee hearings for the proposed restrictions that would make Texas one of the toughest places in the nation for women to get abortions.
The legislation would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, requiring that the procedure be performed at ambulatory surgical centers, and mandating that doctors who perform abortions obtain admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles.
Associated Press
