Senate moves to extend spying law

Senate moves to extend spying law

WASHINGTON

The Senate Intelligence Committee has voted to extend a wide-ranging surveillance law targeting foreigners overseas, but Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., says he will block the measure unless the public is told more about the law’s impact on people living in the United States.

In a closed-door session, the committee turned aside an amendment by Wyden and Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., that would have directed the Justice Department’s inspector general to estimate how many people inside the U.S. have had their telephone calls and emails monitored by government agents under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments of 2008.

The law, due to expire at the end of next year, would be extended to June 2015 if the committee action becomes law.

Mubarak on trial

CAIRO

Hosni Mubarak, 83 years old and ailing, goes on trial today on charges of corruption and ordering the killing of protesters during the 18-day uprising that toppled him, and many Egyptians are celebrating the chance at retribution against a longtime authoritarian ruler.

But they also question whether the trial truly will break with the injustices of the past. Some worry that Egypt’s new military rulers are touting the trial as proof that democratic reform has been accomplished, even as activists argue that far deeper change is still needed.

FAA shutdown to continue into Sept.

WASHINGTON

A partisan stalemate that has partially shut down the Federal Aviation Administration will continue into September, stopping airport-construction projects and depriving federal coffers of potentially more than $1 billion in uncollected ticket taxes, after congressional attempts to reach a deal fell through Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., initially told reporters that he would be willing to accept a House Republican bill to restore the FAA’s operating authority even though it contained cuts in subsidies for rural air service that some Democrats oppose. But he later reversed course after a possible deal with House Republicans had fallen through.

Autopsy inconclusive

STEWARTSTOWN, N.H

An autopsy conducted on the body of an 11-year-old girl who went missing for a week before being found dead in a river was unable to determine how she died, authorities said Tuesday.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Jane Young said the autopsy was conducted Tuesday but didn’t determine the cause or manner of Celina Cass’ death, and further study is required.

Celina was last seen at her home computer around 9 p.m. July 25 and was gone the next morning, authorities said.

Italy recalls envoy

ROME

Italy has recalled its ambassador to Syria to protest the repression of anti-government demonstrations, urging other European nations do the same, and Russia said it would not oppose a U.N. resolution to condemn the violence.

Italy is the first European Union country to withdraw its ambassador, although the EU has been tightening sanctions, imposing asset freezes and travel bans against five additional Syrian military and government officials Monday.

At U.N. headquarters in New York, the Security Council began negotiating a text Tuesday after failing for more than three months to make any statement on the Syrian violence — except to condemn the attacks on the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus.

Associated Press