Oh welche Ehre! Zu unserer Kampagne gegen das EU-US Handelsabkommen TTIP gibt es ein offizielles EU-Dokument. Es ist richtig schick mit Briefkopf und vier Seiten lang. Da hat sich jemand echt Mühe gegeben. Oder Angst bekommen.

Die vier Seiten sind, um es mit dem Schriftsteller Lion Feuchtwanger zu sagen “schwach im Geist und stark im Urteil”. Gleich zum Einstieg haut die EU-Kommission feste drauf:

Debatte über die Hintergründe der Terroranschläge in Russland

Zugleich mit dem Aussenminister John Kerry, der Rahmenbedingungen vorlegt, um die Friedensverhandlungen zwischen Israel und den Palästinensern wieder in Bewegung zu bringen, hat Israel laut Berichten den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika ein Angebot präsentiert, nach dem es einen Teil von Ost-Zentral-Israel mit den Palästinensern für das Recht „tauschen“ würde, große Siedlungszonen in der okkupierten West Bank einzurichten.

The FM/NSG manages the end-to-end GEOINT process, which includes the cycle of activities for: tasking national imagery and geospatial information collection; advisory tasking for theater and tactical assets when under the control of a Military Department or COCOM; processing raw intelligence data from national and commercial satellites; exploiting geospatial information and imagery intelligence; and analyzing and disseminating information, knowledge, and intelligence to consumers in the form of GEOINT data and products.

Geospatial technology affects almost every aspect of life, from navigating to law enforcement. The world is so interconnected today, and everything is based on spatial relationships. Geospatial technology refers to equipment used in visualisation, measurement, and analysis of earth’s features, typically involving such systems as GPS, GIS, and RS. Its use is well-known and widespread in the military and in national security, but its influence is pervasive everywhere, even in areas with a lower public profile, such as land use, flood plain mapping and environmental protection. The National Survey Authority, established in October 1984, participated in the Oman Geospatial Expo 2013. The National Survey Authority (NSA) was established in October 1984 with responsibilities for all survey activities in the Sultanate…

Here is the full statement from Apple:

It is time for the United States to offer Mr. Snowden a plea bargain or some form of clemency that would allow him to return home, face at least substantially reduced punishment in light of his role as a whistle-blower, and have the hope of a life advocating for greater privacy and far stronger oversight of the runaway intelligence community.

One story that rocketed around the intelligence community involved a meeting between the president and NSA Director Keith Alexander. Alexander, who holds advanced degrees in physics and electronic warfare, was trying to explain certain aspects of one of the surveillance programs to Obama. As his highly technical and jargon-laden presentation rambled on, Obama was beginning to lose patience. When Alexander finished, the president thanked him and then icily asked if he could do it over again, “but this time in English.”

The Daily Beast has an interesting article with a number of insider accounts, suggesting that President Obama is seriously leaning towards cutting back the NSA‘s activities. I‘ll believe it when I see it — and there‘s still a compelling argument that all of these moves are really just an attempt to block or delay serious judicial or Congressional review of these programs. However, there are some very interesting tidbits in the article, including this chastising of NSA boss Keith Alexander for trying to dazzle Obama with tech jargon:

Archaeologist and former antiquities minister says rise of army leader mirrors ascent of Mentuhotep II 4,000 years ago

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The grand finale to the Sochi 2014 Cultural Olympiad will take place during the period of the Games and the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee has created an exceptional program for those visiting Sochi next February. Visitors and locals will have the opportunity to enjoy over 500 hours of performances from Russia’s most well-known and notable music and dance groups, including Chukchi throat singing, fiery Dagestan lezginka, melodic Kuban Cossack tunes and virtuoso alto improvisations from world famous maestro Yuri Bashmet. In total, more than 5,000 artists from 70 regions of Russia will perform at numerous venues around Sochi.

Soyuzneftegaz (Russian: СоюзНефтеГаз) is a Russian oil and gas company. It is headed by Russia‘s former energy minister Yuri Shafranik. The main shareholder is the Central Bank of Russia.

(25.12.) Damascus has signed a major oil and gas deal with Russian company Soyuzneftegaz which allows for offshore drilling, development, and production to take place in Syria’s territorial waters for the very first time.

The deal permits the exploration of 2,190 square kilometers in the Mediterranean. The costs, which are estimated at around US$90 million, will be covered solely by Soyuzneftegaz.