Today's Headlines and Commentary

Yesterday came news that the United States has been collecting British citizens' phone and email information. The reactions followed quickly. Sir Malcom Rifkind, chair of the parliamentary intelligence and security committee, demanded an urgent report from the U.K.’s own surveillance giant, Government Communications Headquarters. Rifkind wants to know why, and how, the agreement that the U.S.-U.K. "no spying on one another" agreement was changed. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is attempting to rein in the number of Americans who have been granted security clearances. Currently, there are nearly 5 million. The administration has ordered a government-wide reassessment to see if all of these individuals actually require access to sensitive national security information. The Hill reports on tension in the House over NSA reform. Both the Judiciary Committee and the Intelligence Committee claim jurisdiction over government surveillance programs. But the two committees have different views on just how much to rein in the NSA’s powers: whereas the Intelligence Committee does not see the need for a sweeping overhaul, the Judiciary Committee is more likely to aggressively reform NSA's snooping capabilities. Still, the Intelligence Committee is still getting as much done as it can. It approved legislation yesterday that would re-authorize  the NSA and other intelligence agencies, at least ensuring the survival of the American intelligence community. After lots of confusion surrounding a pending U.S.-Afghanistan security deal---one with vast implications for the former's future presence in the latter---the White House is insisting that President Karzai sign an agreement before the end of the year. Afghanistan's leader surprised the international community when he announced yesterday that he did not want to sign the accord, which had been advertised by Secretary of State Kerry as final and mutually-agreed upon, until after Afghan elections in the spring of 2014. The United States has signaled that American-North Korean relations could improve if North Korea were to release 85-year old Korean War veteran Merrill Newman. Newman’s story went viral yesterday after his son decided to speak to the press. As talks in Geneva concerning Iran’s nuclear program move into a third day, it seems as though Iran and world powers aren’t any closer to striking a deal. The talks are slated to end this evening, but reports suggest that the talks could run through the weekend, with Secretary of State Kerry making an appearance. The Times takes a look at difficult choices for some Syrian refugees: many Syrians seeking asylum in Turkey have been denied entry because of pigeon flocks. Syria is home to many pigeon collectors; finding safe refuge for the collectors and their beloved pigeons is but one of many issues posed by the country's long and dragging conflict. Questions of what do to with Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal continue to surround the international community. The latest option on the table: enlisting private companies to destroy the weapons. Residents of Tripoli are celebrating the departure of the majority of Libyan militias from the city. There has been a rise in mob violence in Israel. Recent incidents have prompted a swift reaction and denouncements from the Israeli government. The fierce debate surrounding gang violence and organized crime led the Israeli security minister to call “for the use of anti-terror tactics usually reserved for Palestinian militants – including administrative detention – against Jewish Israeli crime families.” An Iranian-backed Shia group based in Iraq has claimed responsibility for six mortar bombs that landed in Northern Saudi Arabia. The attack was meant to serve as a “warning” to Saudi Arabia that its border stations and patrol are within the group’s range of fire. But perhaps Saudis won’t be too worried: NPR tells us that Saudi Arabia has is the “biggest foreign customer for German arms, buying nearly a quarter of German’s total weapons sales.” Kenya is spearheading an effort to amend the founding document of the International Criminal Court so that sitting heads of state would be immune from prosecution before the tribunal. Kenya’s foreign minister put forward her position at the ICC's Assembly of States Parties' annual meeting in The Hague. The proposed tweak is particularly important to Kenyans, as the current Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, is facing charges of crimes against humanity by the ICC. The Times is reporting that China successfully carried out the first flight of a stealth combat drone on Thursday.