The United States has tried to defuse France anger of allegations that the US National SecurityAgency secretly recorded 70 million phone calls in one month in France. The US secretary ofState John Kerry told journalists in Pairs that it was a part of operations to protect the securityof American citizens. The allegations were published by the newspaper Le Monde. With moredetails, here's Christian Fraser in Pairs.
Le Monde's report was written by the outgoing Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald who hasworked with Edward Snowden to lift the lid on the NSA activities between December andJanuary this year. It's believed the agency tapped over 70 million phone calls in France over 30-day period. The program code-named in documents is US-985D monitors target phonenumbers and can pick up text messages that features specific words, it gives analysts asystematic record of who is talking to who. Not only that the alleged the NSA snooping onthose connected to terrorist plot, but also on senior business figures and government officials.
A consortium led by Brazilian and Chinese state oil companies backed by the firms Total andShell have been awarded the right to explore Brazil's biggest new oil field. But there wereclashes between security forces and protesters outside the hotel where the auction took placeas Wyre Davies reports.
Outside the luxury beachfront hotel to the south of Rio where the auction was taking place. Riotpolice clashed with anti-government protesters, many of them are striking oil workers. Tear gasand stun grenade were fired as bemused holidaymakers and some bays are locked on. The hugemilitary presence ensured the event inside the hotel went to ahead undisturbed, what was builtas one of the biggest oil sell-offs ever was won by a single bid, all be in a consortium ofChinese, Brazilian, French and Anglo-Dutch companies. Delighted Brazilian Ministers and officialsdeclared the proceedings an overwhelming success.
A suspected suicide bomber attacked on a bus in the southern Russian city of Volgograd haskilled 6 people and injured more than 30. Russian anti-terrorism officials say an explosive devicewas detonated by a female suicide bomber - believed to be the wife of an Islamist militant.