Gruevski: Strumica and Turkish theater will get new facilities

After the construction of the Old Skopje Theatre, two new government investments in theater will begin to be realized in the next two months - renewal of theater in Strumica and construction of Turkish Theater, announced today the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

- Already expecting in September, beginning of October at the latest to start rebuilding, but it is almost build a new theater in Strumica, the parameters of the old Tatar as the facility burned to the ground and there is very little debris. Featured is already a company contractor. There remain those limits for appeal and we hope within about one and a half to two months to begin construction of the theater in Strumica. Also, we finish the preparations to start the construction of Turkish theater in Skopje, Gruevski said after visiting the site Skupi, answering a reporter's question.

He added that the Ministry of Culture is preparing for publication zavshni competition for public-private partnership if, as he said, to find a private company to a public private partnership with the state to build facilities for Drama Theater and the National Theatre Centre.

Ristovski: About 7 months used 85 percent of European educational programs

Funds for implementation of educational programs in both European sign, "Lifelong Learning" and "Youth in Action" which has the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility in 2013 increased by 18 percent over the last year and are available 1 , 77 million, announced today at a press conference the Minister of Education and Science Spiro Ristovski.

The program "Lifelong Learning" with four sectoral programs, "Comenius" for elementary and secondary education, "Leonardo da Vinci" of vocational education and training, "Erasmus" for higher education and "Grundtvig" adult education designed to 1, 27 million, while the "Youth in Action" 504 thousand euros.

- In terms of usage, up to this point adopted 111 decisions to grant beneficiaries totaling 1.5 million of which the majority, or 89 are within the "Lifelong Learning" with 1.2 million euros 22 grants program "Leonardo da Vinci." About the program "Youth in Action" adopted 22 decisions that were used 317,000 euros, Ristovski said.

As I said, compared to last year when they were used 87 percent of the funds available this year for seven months spent in 85 percent.

He said that after completion of the accreditation process of the agency over the next year to ensure greater availability of funds from the European Union funds and providing more opportunities for users.

Interior Newsletter

The Medical Center in Kumanovo 22.40 pm last night, was adopted IS (22) from Kumanovo with gunshot wounds in the foot.

The measures taken so far, the Ministry of Interior announced today, it is found that the IS unknown person shot from car movement in the street. "3rd Macedonian Assault Brigade" in Kumanovo. We take measures to detect the perpetrator and resolving the case.

The 17/18.08.2013 year, st. "Luke Gerov" in Skopje, unknown person using a suitable subject window by entering the house of MJ (61), with committing grand theft of a larger amount of gold jewelry valued at 700,000 denars.We take measures to detect the perpetrator.

On 08/18/2013, about 13.10 pm, st. "Dime Teddy Bear" in Skopje, the missile fired from a firearm, caused damage to the hood of the parked passenger motor vehicle "Nissan", which was placed in the yard of the house M.LJ. (27). We take measures to detect the perpetrator.

On 08/18/2013, about 20.00 pm, the MV "Acid Pool", the local time-Aracinovo village Grusino strangers from car "golf" in motion shot of a firearm in the direction of people the cultivated land, which has hurt people and damage is done to a tractor owned by MI (26) from the village. Arachinovo. We take measures to detect offenders.

The 17/18.08.2013 in the village Podgorci-Struga, unknown perpetrators committed a damaging bust of Gotse Delchev located near the eponymous school.Measures are taken to detect the perpetrator.

On 08/18/2013, approximately 21.40 pm, the street. "Thessaloniki" in Kicevo, MA (64) in her own home sustained injury on the right hand of the larger detonator fuse. The same has been given medical assistance and Kicevo Medical Center for major bleeding was taken for treatment at the Emergency Centre in Skopje. The ongoing measures for resolving the case.

SIA Ohrid Border Police Regional Center of West weekend implement joint action with the hotel "ions" in the village. Veleshta found in IB (24) AI (27) MB (30) of the Republic of Albania and MS (34) of Kosovo in irregular stay and against whom criminal charges. Regarding that the same has been imposed a fine of € 300 and banned from entering the Republic of Macedonia in the period of six months to one year. Foreign nationals in the hotel recently worked as a pop artist and had illegally stay in the committing abuse of tourist stay in the country for illegal work.

Such action was realized last weekend when Kicevo in control of the catering facility "old plant" with illegal residence and illegal work were found two citizens of the Republic of Serbia. After they filed misdemeanor charges have been fined and banned from entering the Republic of Macedonia for a period of one year.

The weekend in coordination with the Environmental Inspectorate, SVR Ohrid executive control through catering facilities in Ohrid. The violations are noted for loud music, the presence of minors in bars and serving alcohol to minors.

SIA Kumanovo filed criminal charges against O.L. (49) from Tetovo crime "bribery." On 8/16/2013, approximately 13:00 pm, the GP "Tabanovce" the output of R. Macedonia, declared that has dual citizenship (Macedonian and Swiss), because he did not return to residence, the police officer left a note for 20 euros.

SIA Kumanovo filed two criminal charges against DK (39) and entity DTPUT "Ars Vivendi Dragan" LLC against ID from (31) and entity DPTU "Steve Matt" LLC for crimes committed "a violation of rights industrial property and unauthorized use of another company. "Submitted, in order to obtain illegal profit cheated buyers in a way that without the approval of the holder of the trademark rights to the trademark" Touch "Turkish manufacturer" Zorlu Tex "were selling bedding of the said manufacturer in their facilities. In the control run, the 07/26/2013, at their sale items were found a total of 13 sets of bed linen bearing the counterfeit mark.

SIA Kumanovo filed criminal charges against V.LJ. (43), owner of DUPT "BBB Internet Group" LLC Kumanovo E.Z. (27), manager of the said entity, BK (35) principal subsidiary of legal person and legal person against crime "violation of industrial property rights and unauthorized use of another company." Reported, with intent to obtain unlawful gains without approval ovalsten distributor of special technical protective satellite signal to TV channels, acting distribute more TV channels area Lipkovo and Kumanovo municipality. The run control at the company found and seized 26 receivers and a card to decode and transmit protected satellite channel.

SIA Veles filed criminal charges against BA (32) and doo (20), both of Veles committed "unauthorized manufacture and sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors." During March 2013 , the second person of the first person purchased 30.63 grams of narcotic drug "marijuana" with the intent to resell it and pay the first person amount of MKD 2,000, but the executive search over the second person, the drugs were found.

Police station in Kocani filed criminal charges against R.L. (29) and SA (38), both of Kocani for crime "enabling the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances." In March 2013, after the first person procured narcotic drug "marijuana" from his friends from Stip and Skopje, took home the second person, which will allow several people to enjoy it. On 03.07.2013, the executive search over the first person found 01.58 grams of "marijuana" and a joint.

On 08/18/2013 21.10 am in the stretch between ZHS-Chaska and ZHS-Veles, train accident occurred between passenger train traveling en route Skopje-Bitola, owned by MR and operated by engineer SN (49 ) from Skopje and PMV "Ford Escort" driven L.L. (20) of s.Bashino village veleshko.Od accident driver L.L. and passenger of the vehicle, PA (20) of village s.Bashino suffered injuries and were transported to Medical Center Veles for medical help. Rail traffic on that section of track was halted from 21.10 to 23.45 hrs.

Stavreski: It devises budget for 2014

Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski informed that already stitching the budget for next year and the Ministry of Finance started the necessary calls and arrangements with other departments.

- I am focused together with the Ministry of Finance and other ministries of the preparation of the budget for 2014. We have already started preparations and discussions with ministries.At the same time you are working on a medium-term framework or the indicative budgets for 2015 and 2016, Stavreski said, when asked about the possibility of the revised budget.

After the end of the month, said Deputy Prime Minister, will see if it needs any adjustments. - We will wait to see how you spend August and then we will see whether there is a need for any adjustments. But what matters most is that the overall implementation of the budget and revenue is within the planned Stavreski said while visiting the construction site of AD for management of residential and commercial properties in the neighborhood in The Regional Municipality of Centre Airport.

According to him, the end of the long recession in the eurozone is a positive signal, and government and business need to stay active.

- In this context, the Macedonian economy can be considered that there will be increased demand from countries evrzoonata, but it will not happen suddenly, or there will be challenges. You need everyone to continue its efforts, the pace of reforms to improve the business climate by providing cheap loans. Stay active and we as government and businesses because there is no room for relaxation too. But you have to be a little more optmist given positive results in the European economy, said Stavreski.

To intensify the purchase of wheat, urging the Ministry of Agriculture

To intensify the purchase of wheat by all involved in the process, appeals today the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. As I said, it is particularly important at this time because the means of protecting the interests of individual farmers and domestic companies mill and baking sector and stabilizing the domestic market with wheat flour.

- The achievement of these goals is a priority for the Ministry which is in the interest of the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian agriculture, said MAFWE in the context of the information published in recent days some media.

According to the Ministry, has purchased 120,000 tons or 82 percent of the planned amount ranging within the buyout from previous harvests.

MAFWE informed that accomplishes constant communication with all stakeholders involved in the purchase, with all forms of association of farmers and producers of wheat milling-baking sector through which further monitor the amount of purchased and homemade wheat situation in the field. This process is directly involved and the State Inspectorate for Agriculture who through special teams to monitor the situation, conditions and manner of redemption, by delivering field data on a daily basis.

- In order to objectively inform the public in Macedonia, and in the context of information these days placed by certain media about the conditions related to the purchase of domestic wheat harvest this year, inform the competent authority as closely monitor activities related to the acquisition and implement all activities related to the acceleration of the pace of acquisition, said the Ministry of Agriculture.

Youth Orchestra of the European Union visit Skopje

Youth Orchestra of the European Union (European Union Youth Orchestra-EUYO) night will play in the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, as part of the "Skopje remember" and celebrating 50 years of the Skopje earthquake.

The concert was organized by the Directorate of Culture and the Arts with the support of Ministry of Culture in March and the EU Delegation in Skopje. It is exclusive content of this year's "Skopje Summer" officially ended before 20 days.

The scene of the MOB will be EUYO 120 musicians from all 28 member states, and the concert will lead Dane Thomas Sondergard, who is chief conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Si Wales. It will be their first tour in Macedonia, as part of the summer tour of Europe.

The orchestra will play three classic works: concert waltz "Invitation to Dance" by Weber, Suite from "West Side Story" by Bernstein and burlesque ballet "Petrushka" by Stravinsky version of 1947th

CEO Marcus Marshall Orchestra yesterday at a news conference that members young and 25 who are elected at annual auditions lasting from October to March in the EU countries.

- Members of the orchestra when study and become professional musicians and that's important, transitional period in their lives. When we performed for us is very important to bring musical excellence and present European Union which was created for peace and tangible metaphor of the different cultures together on stage, said Marcus.

With presence in Macedonia, EUYO starts and partnership with "Skopje Summer" and Musical Youth of Macedonia 2013-2015 three-year program, called "Project Macedonia". The goal is to prodlobochi cooperation between the EU Youth Orchestra and cultural institutions in Macedonia.

Youth Orchestra of the EU the most dynamic in the world, about 3,000 students was a bridge connecting the music academies in the professional music world. Graduates of EUYO continue his career in the world's leading orchestras and have careers as soloists, conductors, composers and teachers of music.

Founded in 1976 by Joy Brajer, with the support of the Culture Programme of the European Union and the governments of the Member States. First music director of the orchestra was Claudio Abbado and the current is Vladimir Ashkenazy. Orchestra, a cultural ambassador to the EU, has performed in the world with the best names in classical music.

Mediumskite laws on the agenda of parliamentary committees

Lawmakers begin today with its obligations after the summer vacation. You sit Committee on Transport, Communications and Environment and Legislative Committee. The first session of Parliament after the recess to hold on Monday 26 August.

The agenda of the Committee on Transport, Communications and Environment and the Legislative Commission two media laws, draft laws on media and audio and audiovisual media services, in the second reading, and Draft - Law Amending the Law safety of the railway system in the first reading.

Assembly Government to deliver new amendments to media laws and amendments announced several media organizations. Minister of Information Society and Administration Ivo Ivanovski announced government interventions in the laws before the public hearing held on August 13, but then said he did not rule out amendments to be filed as a result of this hearing, attended by experts from the TAIEX, OSCE and Council of Europe.

Although expected amandmanskata hearing to be completed by the end of the week, media laws to date have not been placed on the agenda of 69. meeting scheduled for Monday 26 August.

Before this session also will sit on Monday and commissions Political System and Inter-Ethnic Relations, Education, Science and Sport and Foreign Policy and Legislative Committee.

Members of the Committee on Transport, Communications and Environment and Legislative Committee, as announced at today's session will also discuss the draft law amending the Law on Safety in railway system, at first reading.

Hackers use virus to create fake ‘likes’ and followers on social media sites

Hackers are using the Zeus virus to create bogus ‘likes' and followers that purport to come from users of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media sites. The scheme is aimed at making products appear more popular.

As social media becomes increasingly more important in shaping the reputations of people and businesses, hackers are using their skills to create false endorsements, according to cyber experts at RSA, the security division of EMC Corp.

Fake ‘likes’ are sold in batches of 1,000 on internet hacker forums. One thousand fake Instagram followers will cost just US$15, while 1,000 ‘likes’ will go for $30. In comparison, 1,000 credit card numbers from a stolen PC cost as little as $6.

Online marketing experts say that people are willing to spend a lot of money to create an internet buzz and sensationalize a product.

“People perceive importance on what is trending. It is the bandwagon effect,” Victor Pan, a senior data analyst with internet marketing and software company WordStream, told Reuters.

Facebook, which has almost 1.2 billion users, insists it is stepping up security at Instagram, which it brought last year for $1 billion. Instagram, which has just 130 million users, will soon have the same security measures as Facebook. 

Michael Kirkland, a spokesman for Facebook, encouraged users to be vigilant for suspicious activity and report it through Facebook links and apps.

“We work hard to limit spam on our service and prohibit the creation of accounts through unauthorized or automated means,” Kirkland said.

Fraudsters most commonly use automated software programs to manipulate ‘likes.’ The Zeus virus is the first piece of malicious software found to date, which is being used to post fake endorsements. The virus is normally used to steal credit card data.

The modified Zeus virus controls an infected computer from a central server, which effectively forces the computer to post ‘likes’ for specific users.

According to Don Jackson, a senior security researcher with Dell Secure Works, hundreds of millions of PCs have been infected with Zeus since the virus surfaced just over five years ago.

Online marketing consultant Will Mitchel said that he sometimes advises clients to buy bogus social networking traffic to get their foot in the online door early.

“It’s fine to do for the first 100, but I always advise stopping after that,” said Mitchel.

He went on to explain that one of his clients bought more than 300,000 ‘likes’ on Facebook. “It was just ridiculous, everybody knew what they were doing,” he added.

But whatever the ethics of creating fake accounts, ‘likes,’ and followers, the problem is not going to go away.

“The accounts are always just a means to an end. The criminals are always looking to profit,” said Chris Gear, a research scientist at the University of California at Berkeley, who spent a year working on a team that investigated fake accounts on Twitter.

Russia tops medal table at World Athletics Championships

The 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow saw a full stadium during its eighth and final day, pushing away disagreements concerning Russia’s “gay propaganda law.” Russia topped the medal table with seven gold, four silver, and six bronze medals.

The international sporting event was held at Luzhniki Stadium from August 10-18. Nearly 2,000 track and field athletes from 206 countries gathered for the competition. 

The US came in second place at the event, receiving six gold, 13 silver, and six bronze medals. Jamaica placed third, with its athletes earning six gold, two silver, and one bronze.  

The president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Lamine Diack, thanked Moscow for hosting the championships, officially closing the event on Sunday. 

On the last day of the event, Usain Bolt – the Jamaican sprinter widely regarded as the fastest person ever - followed up on wins in the 100- and 200-meter races, winning a gold medal in the relay. His victories earned him the title of the most successful athlete in world championship history. 

Two-time Olympic champion Elena Isinbaeva, who holds 28 records for women’s pole vaulting, capped her glittering career with success on Tuesday. She accepted the gold medal as cries of "Elena! Elena!”echoed around the stadium. This may be the Russian's last major championship final, as the 31-year-old athlete has said she wants to take a break to start a family. 

The competition was held amid controversy brought about by a recently adopted Russian law which bans the propaganda of homosexuality to minors. 

The law sparked concern from the international LGBT community, which has called for pressure to be applied to the Russian government. Some political and public figures have urged for a boycott of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, fearing the law could be used against participants. (link) 

At least two women athletes competing in the Moscow championships painted their fingernails the colors of the LGBT rainbow flag, in an attempt to showcase their support for gay rights. However, Swedish high jumper Emma Green Tregaro was forced to repaint her nails after being told by the IAAF that her actions were in violation of the code of conduct at the world championships. 

General secretary of the Swedish athletics federation, Anders Albertsson, agreed with the IAAF’s stance on the issue. 

“The code of conduct clearly states the rules do not allow any commercial or political statements during the competition,” Albertsson said, as quoted by AFP. 

Russian pole vault gold medallist Isinbaeva caused a stir in the media after criticizing Green Tregaro’s action. The athlete expressed her opinion on the promotion of non-traditional sexual orientation in public, which some considered to be anti-gay. 

She later apologized, claiming she was “misunderstood.” She added that she was opposed to any discrimination against homosexuals. 

Many of the world championship athletes will soon return to Russia for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, which will take place in February 2014. 

Record eruption at Japanese volcano, city covered in ash

Sakurajima, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has covered the city of Kagoshima in southern Japan in ash and spewed a record-high cloud of smoke 5 kilometers into the sky.

The smoke plume was the highest since 2006, when meteorologists began storing data on smoke during eruptions from the volcano. 

Sunday’s eruption was the largest at Sakurajima in decades, but the 500th recorded this year, according to Wired.com. 

Lava flowed 1 kilometer from the volcano, but no injuries or damage were reported. 

People living in Kagoshima, a city of 600,000 people 10 kilometers from the volcano, wore masks and raincoats, and took umbrellas to protect themselves from the hazardous ash. 

Volcanic ash causes respiratory problems and can damage eyesight. Minerals present in volcanic ash can also trigger fatal lung diseases. 

Local officials seemed unfazed by the latest eruption, however. 

"The smoke was a bit dramatic, but we are kind of used to it," a city official who requested anonymity told AP.

Railway services were suspended in the city, so that ash could be removed from the tracks, and car drivers were forced to turn on their headlights as the sky went dark. 

By Monday morning, the air was clearer as hundreds of rubbish trucks and sprinklers were used to cope with the aftermath. Masked residents helped sweep up the ash. 

Japan’s Meteorological Agency warned that volcanic activity could continue and advised residents against approaching the volcano. However, the agency said it was not expecting any larger eruptions soon. 

Russia’s Far East hit by biggest floods in 120 years

Up to 100,000 people may be evacuated from flood-hit regions in Russia’s Far East. Water levels at local reservoirs have already reached historic highs, and officials say the floods raging in the area are expected to continue rising even further.

Floods are currently affecting over 32,500 locals living in over 5,000 homes. Over 17,000 residents have already left the area over the disaster.

Viktor Ishayev, Russia’s Minister for the Far East, said that "in the worst-case scenario up to 100,000 people could be evacuated" from the Amur, Khabarovsk and Jewish Autonomous Regions. 

The water level in the Amur River near Khabarovsk has risen 17 centimeters in one day and now stands at 657 centimeters, the regional office of the Emergency Ministry reported. Authorities fear that by August 25, the water level will reach the seven-meter mark.

Dozens of bridges have been swamped by the waters, complicating the evacuation.

The area adjacent to the Amur River is experiencing its highest water level ever. However, observers indicated that the situation remains relatively calm.

Gmail violates Russia’s constitution – senator

A Russian senator has challenged Internet giant Google to explain its use of clients’ personal Gmail data, and claimed that the e-mail service violates individuals’ right to the secrecy of correspondence under the country’s constitution.

Google’s position on data protection is that it “reserves the right to get access to correspondence of Gmail users and to use this data,” Senator Ruslan Gattarov said in a letter to Google Russia, which was obtained by Itar-Tass. 

Gattarov also cited a Google court filing in the US, in which the company says that “a person has no legitimate expectation of privacy in information he voluntarily turns over to third parties.” 

This, Gattarov says, violates Russia’s personal data protection law and Article 23 of the Russian constitution, which guarantees the “right to the inviolability of private life” and “to the privacy of correspondence.” 

In his letter to Google to be sent Monday, Gattarov asks representatives of the California-based corporation to explain how and when the company filters and reads users’ e-mails, as well as the usage of collected data for creating ads and blocking spam.   

A meeting between a group of Federation Council senators investigating alleged Russian user-data leaks and Google executives is expected to take place in Russia mid-September, Gattarov said Sunday. 

In July, Gattarov – who chairs the Federation Council’s committee on the development of information society – filed an official request to the Prosecutor General’s Office to investigate Google’s activities in Russia, alleging that was violating the country’s laws. 

Google, in response, said it was ready to cooperate with Russia in investigating alleged Russian user-data leaks and requested a meeting with the Federation Council’s working group.  During the meeting, Carlo d'Asaro Biondo – Google's vice president for Southern, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa business – assured that the company did not provide access to their systems “to any authority.” 

“For us, our presence in Russia is fundamental. We want to be a Russian citizen in Russia. We are convinced that we respect the laws in Russia, that we welcome the analysis that the Senate will do and we will cooperate fully and openly,” Biondo stated, the Voice of Russia reported.  

Germany recognizes Bitcoin as ‘private money’

Bitcoin has been recognized for legal and tax purposes in Germany, making it the first country to take an official stance on the status of using the online currency as money.

Berlin has acknowledged the virtual tender as a "currency unit" and "private money," according to German newspaper Die Welt.

The classification means that some commercial profits on Bitcoin related endeavors may be taxable, but personal use of the currency will remain tax-free, the paper reported.

The recognition was laid out in a Finance Ministry response to a query from Frank Schaeffler, a member of parliament’s Finance Committee.

"For the first time, the federal government recognizes Bitcoins as private money," said Schaeffler.

In July, the first trading platform for Bitcoins in Europe with direct cooperation with a bank regulated by the Financial Supervisory Authority was set in Germany. Bitcoin Deutschland GmbH agreed to convey Bitcoins on its platform as an intermediary through the German web 2.0 bank Fidor.

Bitcoin has been a popular form of payment around the globe since it was first introduced in 2009, as people became dissatisfied with the conventional banking system. Meanwhile, the currency’s viability has been questioned because Bitcoins are backed by neither a government nor a central bank.

At the beginning of August, a US federal judge in Texas ruled that Bitcoin is a legitimate currency. The decision came after Trendon Shavers, a 30-year-old businessman, was charged with running a Ponzi scheme, scamming customers out of roughly US$4.5 million worth of the crypto-currency through his online hedge fund.  He argued that Bitcoin is not real money and therefore is not subject to regulation by the US government. However, the court dismissed his claim. 

The ruling brought Bitcoin one step closer to being recognized as a real currency. However, the decision opened up the possibility for the virtual money to be regulated by governments, which oppose the original concept of Bitcoin – a peer-to-peer, relatively anonymous payment.

Supporters of the virtual currency argue that it helps protect the identities of users from theft and credit card fraud. Critics argue that the lack of regulatory oversight and alleged greater privacy makes the currency more attractive to scammers. In addition, skeptics question the currency’s volatile exchange rate, inflexible supply, high risk of loss, and minimal use in trade.

An overseer group called the Bitcoin Foundation limits the total number of currency units to 21 million. Currently, the price of a unit is around $ 110 (82 euros), according to online currency conversion sites.

Egypt draft constitution may ban religious political parties – report

The new Egyptian constitution may seek to ban all religious parties from the political arena, sources told Ahram Online. The interim government may declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terror organization amid clashes which have left over 800 dead.

The new draft constitution is expected to be announced on Wednesday, Ali Awad, head of the ten-member technical committee and legal aid to the interim president, said in a Sunday press conference.

Following the ousting of former President Mohamed Morsi, interim President Adly Mansour created a ten-member committee tasked with proposing amendments to the constitution. The panel consists of six judges and four constitutional law professors.

A second committee, comprised of 50 public figures will then have 60 days to review those amendments, to determine if the new proposals are fit for a public referendum. Parliamentary elections are expected to follow after the referendum.
 
“Fundamental changes must be introduced to [the] 2012 Islamist-backed constitution,” Ahram Online quoted source close to the committee as saying. According to the source, the committee has agreed that the new constitution will ban political parties based on religious ideology.

Such a move will clash directly with Morsi’s Article 2 of 2012's constitution, which stipulates that Islamic Sharia law supersedes civilian judiciary. Last week, however, Awad was quoted as saying that Article 2 will be kept “in order to stress the Islamic identity of Egypt.” 

Washington divided: Obama under pressure to cut Egyptian military aid

The US Congress is split over whether to cut military aid to Egypt in the wake of last week’s bloody crackdown. Republicans have slammed Obama’s lack of action as going against US values, but a withdrawal of funds could trigger an economic backlash.

Cutting the $1.3 billion US aid package that supports the Egyptian military could have repercussions in the region. For one, US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia have already moved to step up their support for the military-led overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi.Saudi Arabia, which is seeking to curtail the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood in the region, pledged $5 billion to the Egyptian military following Morsi’s ouster.

Its Gulf neighbors Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, who also fear the spread of the Brotherhood’s ideology, have also promised aid.

There are also implications for the American economy. Canceling military aid could mean US taxpayers are left to foot the bill for Egyptian military equipment already ordered on credit from US arms manufacturers, while canceling defense orders could also hit US company profits and jobs at home – at a time when recession fears are growing.

Obama last week said a military exercise with Egypt would be canceled, but it is less clear whether any cuts will be made in the $1.3 billion military aid.

"As we've made clear, all of our assistance to Egypt is currently under review, and we will consider additional steps as we deem necessary," said National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden.

Atomic kitchen: French research center stores plutonium in pressure cookers

A French nuclear research center has been using ordinary pressure cookers to store and transport plutonium and other “sensitive materials” for 50 years, it has been revealed. The news leaked as the center posted a public tender for 4,000 pressure cookers.

“We are seeking 4,000 stainless steel pressure cookers with a volume of approximately 17 liters,” the tender read, in an announcement more akin to a restaurant chain looking to upgrade its casseroles than a nuclear facility.

The center insists that pressure cookers have been safely holding atomic material for the last five decades, pointing to their secure fastenings that ensure contents don’t escape – even if dropped from a considerable height.

Conveniently, pressure cookers are also cheaper than specialized containers.

“The pressure cooker… provides the best value for money,” Bugaut François, the head of the research center in Valduc, told ‘France Info’ radio. “This is perfectly normal, we’ve done this for decades.” 

And the practice is even more widespread, it seems.

A representative of French household goods manufacturer SEB claims to have sold thousands of pressure cookers to the country’s nuclear industry.

Assassination TIME: Sr. journalist ‘can’t wait’ to justify drone strike that will kill Assange

The unethical and legally questionable statement made by TIME magazine’s senior national correspondent has been met with a barrage of criticism. Although Michael Grunwald deleted the comment and apologized, WikiLeaks is still pushing for his resignation.

The scandal was sparked by a Twitter post on Grunwald’s account which stated that he is eager to write an article on Julian Assange’s execution by a drone.  

WikiLeaks tweeted that they have sent a letter to the publication demanding Grunwald’s resignation. They have said that the magazine must show that journalists calling for the murder of other journalists is “never acceptable.” 

Who’s to blame for Egypt violence? EU, Obama and Mideast leaders beg to differ

The EU will urgently review its relations with Egypt, the two top officials of the 28-member union said – signaling a more critical European approach toward the country’s military rulers than that coming from Washington.

President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso in a rare joint statement Sunday strongly criticized the military-backed Egyptian government for failing to curb the week’s violence.

“We regret deeply that international efforts and proposals for building bridges and establishing an inclusive political process, to which the EU contributed actively, were set aside and a course of confrontation was pursued instead,” the statement read.

The EU leaders called for an immediate halt to violence in Egypt, for the resumption of political dialogue and a return to democratic rule, stressing that it was the interim government’s job to ensure an end to violence. 

“While all should exert maximum restraint, we underline the particular responsibility of the interim authorities and of the army in bringing clashes to a halt. The violence and the killings of these last days cannot be justified nor condoned. Human rights must be respected and upheld. Political prisoners should be released,” the statement reads.

The statement came after the Egyptian government sought to justify the military’s violent crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood supporters as an anti-terrorist operation, pointing to the group’s alleged links with Al-Qaeda.

The EU’s call for an urgent review of its relations with Egypt stood in contrast to the much milder reaction from the US, where President Barack Obama earlier in the week canceled a planned joint military exercise with the Egyptian military, but left Washington’s $1.3 billion in military aid to Cairo unchanged.

In his statement, Obama also put the blame less clearly on the Egyptian military, and mentioned specifically violence against Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority.

“We call on those who are protesting to do so peacefully and condemn the attacks that we’ve seen by protesters, including on churches,” Obama said. 

The US has also refrained from describing Morsi’s ousting by the army in early July as a military coup.

Germany, meanwhile, immediately froze its aid to Egypt. The EU is going to hold an urgent meeting in Brussels next week to discuss suspending of 1 billion euro in aid to Cairo. 

Several rulers in the Arab world, particularly the Gulf monarchies such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan, expressed their strong support for the security crackdown on the Egyptian opposition. 

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah called for “honest people and intellectuals” to “stand firmly against all those who try to shake the stability of a country that has always led the Arab and Islamic worlds," AP reported him as saying.

The only Gulf monarchy to express an opposing opinion was Qatar, which is supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. 

“There is an excessive use of force and that concerns us,” Mohammad Al Attiyah, Qatar’s Foreign Minister, told reporters in Berlin on Saturday. “In this case, we condemn violence against protesters and also the destruction of public buildings. We urge those in power in Egypt to end the violence.”

Another majority Muslim country to condemn the army’s crackdown on the pro-Morsi sit-ins was Turkey. President Abdullah Gul described the violence in Egypt as “a shame for Islam and the Arab world." Late Thursday, as relations between the two countries worsened, Turkey and Egypt recalled their ambassadors for consultations.

WikiLeaks posts 400 gigabytes of encrypted ‘insurance’ data online

WikiLeaks has released a trove of encrypted “insurance” data on Twitter and Facebook. The data can’t be read without an encryption key, but the movement’s supporters say that could be published later in case anything happens to leading WikiLeaks figures.

The whistleblowing organization published links for a massive 400 gigabytes worth of encrypted data it described as “insurance documents” on its Twitter and Facebook accounts. It is possible to download the files but advanced encoding prevents them from being opened. 

Swedish gay rights athlete repaints rainbow fingernails after officials’ warning

Swedish high jumper Emma Green Tregaro, who painted her fingernails in rainbow colors to support gay rights at the Moscow World Athletics Championships, has switched to red nail polish after a warning from the track and field governing body, the IAAF.

Swedish officials told Green Tregaro that her rainbow gesture could be a violation of the competition’s regulations. 

Anders Albertsson, general secretary of the Swedish athletics federation, said the organization spoke to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) about the issue, which said that Green Tregaro’s action was “by definition” a “breach of the regulations.”

“The code of conduct clearly states the rules do not allow any commercial or political statements during the competition,” he told journalists before Saturday’s high jump finals, as quoted by AFP. 

The official added that he had not put pressure on Green Tregaro to change the color of her fingernails, but “understood from Swedish media that her nails are now red.”

The athlete’s rainbow fingernails attracted international attention as a silent protest against Russia’s ‘anti-gay propaganda law,’ which aims to protect children from “harmful information” and bans the promotion of homosexual relations to minors. However, critics argue that the law violates the rights of the LGBT community and may spark homophobia in the country.

Twenty-eight-year-old Green Tregaro, who placed fifth at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, said she was “surprised by the big reaction” but happy because it has “mostly been very positive,” reported AP. 

She added that “it was harder to not paint [the fingernails] in the rainbow than it was to choose to paint them.”

Talking to Swedish media, the high jumper explained that in her view, “love for another person is the most beautiful thing in the world, and that's what I want to show, no matter the gender or whatever.” However, after Swedish athletics officials asked her to “please respect the rules” and change the color of her nails, Green Tregaro decided “to paint them red instead, for love.”

Along with Green Tregaro, Swedish athlete Moa Hjelmer also displayed her support for gay rights by sporting rainbow colored fingernails while running the women’s 200-meter heat at the Moscow World Athletics Championships.

The athletes’ cause would probably have received less publicity if it wasn’t for criticism from Russian pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva, who slammed the Swedes’ actions and backed the ‘gay propaganda’ law.

The 31-year-old athlete stated that the protest was disrespectful to Russia and its people. 

"Maybe we are different than European people and people from different lands. We have our law which everyone has to respect,” Isinbayeva said at an English-language press conference. “When we go to different countries, we try to follow their rules. We are not trying to set our rules over there."

Isinbayeva went on to say that heterosexual relations are historically considered “normal and standard” in Russia and that “if we really allow [gays] to promote and do all this stuff in the streets,” it would cause problems.

Later, the athletics star - who came under fire from western media over her comments - stated that she was misunderstood since English is “not her first language.” Isinbayeva underlined that she was opposed to “any discrimination against gay people.”