the unbalanced evolution of homo sapiens

“ The US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has ordered a review of cooperation between the National Security Agency (NSA) and the German intelligence agency BND, Bild newspaper reports. Citing an unnamed source in US intelligence, Bild says Clapper is unhappy with Berlin's 'inability to contain secret data'. According to the report, the Bundestag committee on investigating the recent secret service scandals handed some secret documents to the media.” “ Now, the US secret services are reviewing the areas in which cooperation with the BND can be reduced or ended altogether, the paper reports. Several joint projects have already been canceled, it says. Both the German government and the US embassy in Berlin refused to comment on the report.” “ In April, German media reported that over the past decade, the BND helped NSA in spying all over Europe. [...] The public outrage over those allegations and the subsequent investigation cost

“ Iraq’s former national security advisor says most US fighter jets deployed to bomb terrorists in the Arab country return to their bases without engaging terrorist positions, Press TV reports. Mowaffak al-Rubaie on Sunday sharply criticized the US-led airstrikes against the ISIL as ineffective. From where I sit in Baghdad, said Rubaie, 'eight out of each 10' aircraft loaded with ammunition return to their bases without striking their targets.” “ Rubaie also demanded the United States to speed up the process of supplying Iraq with weapons Iraqi forces require, saying Washington must immediately deliver the weapons and military hardware that Baghdad has paid for in the past. There are weapons that the Iraqi government has paid for in the past but has not received yet, Rubaie noted. According to Rubaie, some of the weapons that Baghdad is waiting for the US to send over can potentially turn the tables around on the ground in the fight against

“ A protest rally in the UK city of Manchester has condemned the government’s continuing austerity policy. Some 2,000 people gathered in Manchester to protest the government's 'callous cuts' over the past five years. This happened amid extra police presence meant to ensure the event ran peacefully. The protest, organized on social media, took place in Piccadilly Gardens in the city center. Young people also took part in the protest, holding up a sign that said, 'No Cuts.'” “ The 10 Greater Manchester authorities faced cuts of more than a quarter of a billion pounds (US$387 billion) in 2015. This was on top of the £1.2 billion ($1.85 billion) of cuts since the last government's austerity measures were introduced in 2010, RT reported.” “ The Manchester protest comes days before the Tories set out their legislative plan in the Queen's speech. Meanwhile, a separate protest was taking place in St. Ann's Square on Saturday, with homel

ΙΣΠΑΝΙΑ – δημοτικές εκλογές Ισχυρό πλήγμα στις τοπικές εκλογές δέχτηκε ο πρωθυπουργός της Ισπανίας και αρχηγός του Λαϊκού Κόμματος, Μαριάνο Ραχόι. Σύμφωνα με τα exit polls, το κυβερνών κόμμα έχει έρθει πρώτο σε ψήφους αλλά στις περισσότερες αναμετρήσεις δεν κερδίζει την πλειοψηφία. Άνοδο σε όλη τη χώρα καταγράφουν οι νέες πολιτικές δυνάμεις Podemos (από το χώρο της Αριστεράς) και οι Ciudadanos (από τον κεντρώο φιλελεύθερο χώρο). Το λαϊκό κόμμα του Μαριάνο Ραχόι χάνει μάλιστα - σύμφωνα πάντα με τα exit poll - για πρώτη φορά μετά από 20 χρόνια την πλειοψηφία στο μεγαλύτερο εκλογικό του «κάστρο», τη Μαδρίτη. Το ίδιο συμβαίνει και στη Βαλένθια, επίσης προπύργιο του κόμματος. Eνδέχεται μάλιστα στις περιοχές αυτές να σχηματισθούν αριστεροί συνασπισμοί και το κεντροδεξιό κόμμα να περάσει στην αντιπολίτευση για πρώτη φορά από τα μέσα της δεκαετίας του 1990. Στη Μαδρίτη ο σχηματισμός Ahora Madrid που υποστηρίζεται από κινήματα της Αριστεράς και τους Podemos έρχεται πρώτος σύ

SPAIN – Local elections “ Exit polls from Spanish regional elections predict significant gains for upstart parties, including the leftist Podemos and center-right Ciudadanos, and a loss of majority for the ruling Conservatives.” “ The ruling People’s Party (PP) still received most of the votes in Sunday’s local and regional elections, but has lost its majority in most places, including the Madrid city council, the polls say. The results might be the worst for PM Mariano Rajoy's party in more than 20 years, as many of the voters, suffering from severe spending cuts introduced by the current government, have turned to the market-friendly Ciudadanos and anti-austerity Podemos, after a series of corruption scandals in the country.” “ Podemos is seen winning Barcelona, in a setback for parties that back Catalonia’s independence from Spain.” “ Spain’s PP and its rival Socialists have been trading power for decades, but the surge in support for the pro-business newcomers