Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Jobs Report Dominates Holiday-Shortened Week

Investors and economy watchers will have many reports to digest in the coming week. The main course will be Friday?s employment report, served up after U.S. financial markets close Thursday to observe Independence Day.

The payrolls report has been a focus not just for what it says about the state of the economy but also for what it suggests about future Federal Reserve policy decisions. Stronger job growth would probably nudge the Fed closer to discussing tapering its bond-buying program.

Economists don?t think ?stronger? will describe the June employment numbers, which should allay taper fears. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires expects nonfarm payrolls grew by 155,000 slots in June, less than the 175,000 slots added in May.

The June unemployment rate is forecast to slip to 7.5% from 7.6% in May.

Two readings on June business activity are also on tap for the trading week ending July 5. The Institute for Supply Management will release its factory survey Monday. Economists think the top-line purchasing managers? index will increase to 50.0 from 49.0. The 50 mark would mean manufacturing is in neutral. A reading below 50 indicates contraction, and a reading above means expansion.

The ISM?s nonmanufacturing report is on the calendar for Wednesday. The median forecast calls for a June PMI of 54.0, compared with 53.7 in May.

Another June data point will be vehicle sales. Auto makers will report sales Tuesday. Economists think car buying picked up to an annual rate of 15.5 million, from 15.2 million in May.

 
  DATE     TIME  RELEASE                PERIOD  CONSENSUS  PREVIOUS 
           (ET) 
 Monday    1000  ISM Mfg PMI             Jun     50.0  (12)  49.0 
           1000  Construction Spending   May     +0.6% (10)  +0.4% 
 Tuesday   1000  Factory Orders          May     +2.0% (9)   +1.0% 
            N/A  Vehicle Sales           Jun     15.5mln (9) 15.2mln 
 Wednesday 0815  ADP Jobs Svy            Jun     +160K (7)   +135K 
           0830  Jobless Claims         Jun 29   350K  (8)   346K 
           0830  US Trade Deficit        May     $40.3B (12) $40.3B 
           1000  ISM Non-Mfg PMI         Jun     54.0  (11)  53.7 
 Friday    0830  Nonfarm Payrolls        Jun     +155K (13)  +175K 
           0830  Unemployment Rate       Jun     7.5%  (13)  7.6% 
           0830  Avg Hrly Wages          Jun     +0.2% (11)  Unch 
 
   (Figures in parentheses refer to number of economists surveyed.)

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/06/30/jobs-report-dominates-holiday-shortened-week/?mod=WSJBlog

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California gay-opponents want reversal of court order

  • Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    On the face of it, Edward Snowden broke US law when he revealed details of its international eavesdropping programme. However, the benefits of his actions to Americans and the international community, by most accounts, outweigh the cost even in terms of national security. The US should give up its efforts to capture and prosecute him; it should grant him a pardon. If Snowden and ...

  • St Petersburg gays bashed as they launch kiss-in

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    A peaceful protest that had been called for gay rights in Russia turned violent on Saturday as homosexual activists embarked on a kissing protest. Anti-gay protesters threw smoke flares and stones into the small crowd of activists as they demonstrated their sexuality. Police became quickly involved and had to detain people from both sides. City officials later said the protest had ...

  • Gay ambassador banned from office in Dominican Republic

    Bombay News.Net - Saturday 29th June, 2013

    The Dominican Republic's Catholic Church has rejected a new US ambassador. The church has opposed Washington's nomination of gay rights activist, James "Wally" Brewster, with Vicar Pablo Cedano, the archbishop of the capital Santo Domingo, criticizing the nomination as "a lack of respect." He said the US president, Barack Obama, had shown disrespect by sending "that kind of person as ...

  • US general says he wishes there had been talks with Taliban

    Bombay News.Net - Saturday 29th June, 2013

    The deputy commander of the foreign forces in Afghanistan has told the Guardian newspaper that the Western allies should have tried holding talks with the Taliban a decade ago, just after they had been thrown from power. British officer, General Nick Carter, in an interview published on Friday, said a political solution with the Taliban could have been reached at the time forces had them "on ...

  • Climate change on the minds of most people

    Bombay News.Net - Saturday 29th June, 2013

    The effect of global climate change and international financial instability have become the key talking points around the world, according to Politico. Another major issue is Islamic extremism, particularly in the United States, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Majorities of people in nations surveyed have said they are more worried about Islamic extremism than American or Chinese power and ...

  • Appelas Court gives OK for Californian gay marriages

    Bombay News.Net - Saturday 29th June, 2013

    An appeals court in California has lifted the state's ban on same-sex marriage. The order lifting the ban was issued Friday by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. It was only days after the US Supreme Court allowed the appeal to take place. The order came following opinion which was published on Wednesday by the US Supreme Court, which effectively killed a voter-approved ban on same-sex ...

  • Mandela to get visit from Barack Obama

    Bombay News.Net - Saturday 29th June, 2013

    US President Barack Obama has arrived in Johannesburg as part of his three-country tour of Africa. While in the country, he will have talks with President Jacob Zuma on trade, economic co-operation and other issues. The health of Nelson Mandela is also expected to be high on the agenda. While Nelson Mandela's health issues have captured attention around the world, the US president had ...

  • Britain set to approve three-person fertilization method

    Bombay News.Net - Friday 28th June, 2013

    LONDON - In a significant development that will help in eliminating serious genetic disorders, the United Kingdom is all set to become the first country in the world to allow the creation of babies using DNA from three people. The controversial procedure is called mitochondrial transfer that uses three-person in vitro fertilization (IVF) to eliminate debilitating and potentially fatal ...

  • EU demands explanation after reports of US spying

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    A media report claiming that the US National Security Agency spied on EU offices may have tremendous repercussions, the European Union (EU) said Sunday, and asked for immediate explanation from Washington. German magazine Der Spiegel reported that "the US placed bugs in the EU representation in Washington and infiltrated its computer network. Cyberattacks were also perpetrated against Brussels ...

  • EU questions U.S. over alleged spying Media

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    Brussels, June 30, (Xinhua-ANI): The European Union (EU) said it has questioned U.S. authorities about alleged spying on EU offices, media reports said on Sunday. The EU has contacted with U.S. authorities immediately and demands "full clarification" after a report made by German weekly Der Spiegel claimed that Washington bugged EU offices in Brussels and the U.S., an EU statement was quoted as ...

  • Rolling Stones already planning 60th anniversary tour

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    'Rolling Stones' band members, who are currently on their '50 and Counting' world tour to mark their 50th wedding anniversary, have already started thinking about the 60th anniversary tour. During a chat with Classic Rock magazine, team member Keith Richards said that he has been hooked on everything once or twice in his life, but the one thing he can't kick is playing with the band, ...

  • Two ICC Womens World Cups and four ICC Womens World Twenty20 tournaments to be staged from 2016-2023

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    Chair of the ICC Women's Committee Clare Connor has hailed the decision by the IDI Board which approved six global women's tournaments in the next ICC events calendar from 2016-2023. The schedule will see two ICC Women's World Cups as well as four ICC World Twenty20 events, including the continuation of the highly successful joint men's and women's events of the ICC World Twenty20 in 2016 and ...

  • McEnroe launches No.1 coffee-table book

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    Tennis great John McEnroe has launched ATP's commemorative coffee table book 'No.1' celebrating all year-end ATP World Tour No.1s over the past 40 years. "I first became World No.1 at Memphis in March 1980. I got goosebumps thinking that I was ranked ahead of Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors. I didn't think I quite deserved it yet. I thought I had more work to do. It was inspiring to hit that mark ...

  • Interesting seeing new faces at Wimbledon second week Djokovic

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    World No.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic says seeing new faces break through to the second week at Wimbledon is positive for the sport. A total of seven players who will contest the pre-quarterfinals Monday are unseeded. "It is a surprise, there's no question about it. It's a strange feeling not to have (Roger) Federer or (Rafael) Nadal at the second week of a major. There are some players who ...

  • Over 568000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon UN

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    Beirut, June 30 (Xinhua-ANI): The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said Sunday that over 65,000 Syrian refugees registered with its office in Lebanon in June, bringing the total number to 568,000 since the Syrian crisis that began over two years ago. The UNHCR said in a report that the refugees are benefiting from aid provided by the UN, the Lebanese government and various non-governmental aiding ...

  • Danish favourites disappoint in Speedway World Cup Grand Prix

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    Top Danish drivers Nicki Petersen and Niels-Kristian Iversen failed to make it to the semifinals in the Danish Grand Prix for the Speedway World Cup 2013 contest at national stadium Parken here. Australian rider Darcy Ward won the Danish Grand Prix Saturday night. He is now ranked 12 with 44 points in the overall standings in the Speedway World Cup 2013, reports Xinhua. Petersen is placed ...

  • India U-19 beat Papua New Guinea by 71 runs

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    India comprehensively defeated Papua New Guinea by 71 runs at Tracy Village here Sunday in a friendly Under-19 International Series match. Papua New Guinea bowler Sakavai Charlie Gebai (4/26) restricted India to 136 all out from 43.1 overs with Indian opener and captain Vijay Zol top scoring with 48 runs. In reply, Papua New Guinea were no match with the bat against the experienced Indian ...

  • Nike laying off workers to avoid criticism over factory working conditions Report

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    Nike is slashing on its international workforce in an aim to cut down on labour costs. However, the move by the American sportswear giant could even be to cut down on criticism over the way it treats its workers. According to the Huffington Post, Don Blair, Nike's chief financial officer, said the company is engineering the labour out of some of its products by replacing workers with ...

  • Australia beat New Zealand in U-19 series

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    An impressive five-wicket haul by pacer Matt Fotia saw Australia off to a flying start in the U-19 International Series with a 19-run win over New Zealand at the Marrara Oval here Sunday. The Australian bowlers built up pressure and snatched five wickets in five overs to win the game. New Zealand had been cruising in their chase of Australia's total of 225/6 from 50 overs but fell short thanks ...

  • Poland to host FIVB Beach Volleyball World meet

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    Poland will host the ninth edition of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships starting from July 1. There are 48 teams in each gender taking part in the seven-day championships from July 1 to 7, including Chinese women's pair of Xue Chen and Zhang Xi, reports Xinhua. The championships will be played in Stare Jablonkia, a small village in the Mazury lake region (northeastern Poland). ...

  • Bahrain calls for EU support to stop Hezbollah interference in Syria

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    Manama, June 30 (Xinhua-ANI): Bahrain, along with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, on Sunday called for the European Union (EU)'s support to stop Hezbollah's increasing " interference" in Syria. Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa made the call during the opening of the 23rd EU-GCC ministerial meeting which is currently held in the kingdom. "Foreign ...

  • Pakistani paramilitary accused of killing boxer

    Bombay News.Net - Sunday 30th June, 2013

    The Pakistan Rangers paramilitary force has been accused of killing an international boxer in a staged shooting incident, media reports said Sunday. The boxer, identified only as Saqib, was an international boxer and represented Pakistan in several tournaments held abroad, according to the Dawn and News International dailies. The Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Karachi chapter termed the ...

  • Source: http://www.bombaynews.net/index.php/sid/215533427/scat/b8de8e630faf3631

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    The Most Reliable Denver Life Insurance Companies

    In a recently available segment of "The David Pakman Show" it is reported that 4 states happen to be proposing bills to require gun proprietors to buy gun liability insurance. For example, the State of New York Insurance Department prescribes an incredibly technical statement that have to be included on all personal automobile applications and claim forms. You ought to preserve PIP together with PDL in force so long as your car is in fact registered and accredited inside Fl.

    If Americans usually are not all stupid enough to willingly stop trying their guns, let's just force them to buy yet another kind of insurance. This is because in the event the area by which the individual lives or even the area in which the auto owned by you is parked is susceptible to vandalism or features a history of grand theft auto, then this quote price will be much higher. Another driver is on its way up behind the initial vehicle and sees the junction is obvious and assumes that this other driver will move off.

    You won't find this with other insurance firms, for example State Farm Insurance, Allstate Insurance, progressive Insurance , aaa automobile insurance or farmers Insurance. Now, move your right foot on the gas and slowly depress the gas and release the clutch at a similar time. In the present scenario, people owning cars must get themselves insured.

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    Did you know that you simply have the legal to cancel your insurance at any time throughout the policy period? However these are the two which might be mandated. However, as New York is really a heavily populated state, with both big towns and big suburban areas, the report could be considered a great representation of insurance company performance nationwide.

    Specialized %anchor_text covers similarly as what Fully Comprehensive car insurance coverage does. So in case you have a classic car, consider the stipulations of the auto insurance policy first. He was presented with two citations, which the three police acknowledge he won't pay because his facts are probably false and once you he could have disappeared to the woodwork like the majority of illegal aliens do.

    Here's some info on how to read your auto insurance policy. Saving your hard earned money on your insurance policy is possible should you possess a safe car. If you are certainly not at fault for a major accident and have suffered a personal injury and vehicle damage, you need to make a claim.

    To change into second gear, again depress the clutch and take your foot in the gas, move the stick shift into second gear after which apply the gas and release the clutch simultaneously. However, the seems and simplicity with possessing it integrated for the radio will probably be worth the added cost. Even more true now, considering the state of our own economy as well as the need for website visitors to cut corners.

    The vehicle is priced new at $30,000 and it is 1 year old. Car owners of most ages often tend to upgrade their unique stereo initial. This, however, might not exactly be the same because the total price tag to the damages.

    About the Author:
    Vivan Murillo is how she's called however she doesn't such as when individuals utilize her complete name.
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    Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Most-Reliable-Denver-Life-Insurance-Companies/5211555

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    Sunday, June 30, 2013

    New system uses low-power Wi-Fi signal to track moving humans -- even behind walls

    June 28, 2013 ? The comic-book hero Superman uses his X-ray vision to spot bad guys lurking behind walls and other objects. Now we could all have X-ray vision, thanks to researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.

    Researchers have long attempted to build a device capable of seeing people through walls. However, previous efforts to develop such a system have involved the use of expensive and bulky radar technology that uses a part of the electromagnetic spectrum only available to the military.

    Now a system being developed by Dina Katabi, a professor in MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and her graduate student Fadel Adib, could give all of us the ability to spot people in different rooms using low-cost Wi-Fi technology. "We wanted to create a device that is low-power, portable and simple enough for anyone to use, to give people the ability to see through walls and closed doors," Katabi says.

    The system, called "Wi-Vi," is based on a concept similar to radar and sonar imaging. But in contrast to radar and sonar, it transmits a low-power Wi-Fi signal and uses its reflections to track moving humans. It can do so even if the humans are in closed rooms or hiding behind a wall.

    As a Wi-Fi signal is transmitted at a wall, a portion of the signal penetrates through it, reflecting off any humans on the other side. However, only a tiny fraction of the signal makes it through to the other room, with the rest being reflected by the wall, or by other objects. "So we had to come up with a technology that could cancel out all these other reflections, and keep only those from the moving human body," Katabi says.

    Motion detector

    To do this, the system uses two transmit antennas and a single receiver. The two antennas transmit almost identical signals, except that the signal from the second receiver is the inverse of the first. As a result, the two signals interfere with each other in such a way as to cancel each other out. Since any static objects that the signals hit -- including the wall -- create identical reflections, they too are cancelled out by this nulling effect.

    In this way, only those reflections that change between the two signals, such as those from a moving object, arrive back at the receiver, Adib says. "So, if the person moves behind the wall, all reflections from static objects are cancelled out, and the only thing registered by the device is the moving human."

    Once the system has cancelled out all of the reflections from static objects, it can then concentrate on tracking the person as he or she moves around the room. Most previous attempts to track moving targets through walls have done so using an array of spaced antennas, which each capture the signal reflected off a person moving through the environment. But this would be too expensive and bulky for use in a handheld device.

    So instead Wi-Vi uses just one receiver. As the person moves through the room, his or her distance from the receiver changes, meaning the time it takes for the reflected signal to make its way back to the receiver changes too. The system then uses this information to calculate where the person is at any one time.

    Possible uses in disaster recovery, personal safety, gaming

    Wi-Vi, being presented at the Sigcomm conference in Hong Kong in August, could be used to help search-and-rescue teams to find survivors trapped in rubble after an earthquake, say, or to allow police officers to identify the number and movement of criminals within a building to avoid walking into an ambush.

    It could also be used as a personal safety device, Katabi says: "If you are walking at night and you have the feeling that someone is following you, then you could use it to check if there is someone behind the fence or behind a corner."

    The device can also detect gestures or movements by a person standing behind a wall, such as a wave of the arm, Katabi says. This would allow it to be used as a gesture-based interface for controlling lighting or appliances within the home, such as turning off the lights in another room with a wave of the arm.

    Venkat Padmanabhan, a principal researcher at Microsoft Research, says the possibility of using Wi-Vi as a gesture-based interface that does not require a line of sight between the user and the device itself is perhaps its most interesting application of all. "Such an interface could alter the face of gaming," he says.

    Unlike today's interactive gaming devices, where users must stay in front of the console and its camera at all times, users could still interact with the system while in another room, for example. This could open up the possibility of more complex and interesting games, Katabi says.

    Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/cHF_GAWaRds/130628092149.htm

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    WaterField Designs Samsung Galaxy S4 Cases Review

    We got a look at a two WaterField Designs Samsung Galaxy S4 Cases. The Hint Wallet and the Suede Jacket each offer no frills, snug fitting sleeve style cases for the Samsung Galaxy S4. Sadly, one doesn?t measure up to what we?ve come to expect from the company, while the other did.

    The Suede Jacket sells for $10 or $14, depending on whether the user gets one without or with the external mesh pocket. The versions for the plain Samsung Galaxy S4 will fit either the phone naked or with a bumper. The version we tested, with the pocket, costs $14.

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    The Suede Jacket looks like little more than a form-fitting sock for the Galaxy S4. When we say form-fitting, we mean it. The case fits snug. We struggled to slide the phone into the Suede Jacket and to remove the phone once?inside. It?s hard to keep from rejecting a call while removing the phone from the case. Who likes calling people back and apologizing for hitting the wrong button when the person calls??In the video below, Gary from?WaterField Designs explains that the case will loosen up after use. We gave up before we got to that point.

    We like the back pocket and, thanks to plenty of experience testing WaterField Designs products, we know it will hold up over time. We just wish it started out a little more loose. At only $10, users who like the idea of a sock for their phone can give it a try without giving up too much.

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    Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gottabemobile/~3/yAodCm4MeHo/

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    Saturday, June 29, 2013

    Nevada gambling regulator says Macau junkets, triads on the decline

    June 28, 2013

    macau-nevada-burnettNevada Gaming Control Board chief A.G. Burnett told Congress it was ?common knowledge? that Macau?s VIP gaming rooms have ?long been dominated by Asian organized crime.? Burnett made the comments on Thursday while addressing the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which is investigating alleged money laundering activities in the Asian gambling hot spot. Burnett suggested that since the arrival in Macau of three US-based casino companies ? Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts ? ?much of those triad activities had actually decreased in one fashion or another.?

    However, at least two of those operators ? Sands and Wynn ? are currently the subjects of US federal investigations regarding their Asian activities. Asked whether Nevada regulators had ever seen fit to punish a US operator for its activities in Macau, Burnett admitted they hadn?t, but suggested that the operators had nonetheless ?suffered? due to their footing the bill for Burnett and his ilk to fly out to Macau on fact-finding missions. ?Travel to China is not cheap.?

    Burnett said he believes US casino operators in Macau are conducting satisfactory due diligence on their junket partners, but Burnett also claimed the junket operators? influence was on the decline thanks to the casinos? new preference for the higher margins offered by so-called ?premium mass? tables, which don?t operate on credit, eliminating the need for junkets. Burnett said there would be no need for junket operators if China would only loosen restrictions on its citizens? ability to take money out of the country. The RMB 20k (US $3,240) limit is ill-suited to the financial needs of China?s high-rollers, leaving them little alternative but to seek out junket operators or engage in some creative dealings with Macau?s pawnshops.

    The political appointees conducting Thursday?s hearing were a singularly unimpressed lot. Commission member and former GOP senator Jim Talent said the truth was that ?we really don?t have any idea what?s going on in Macau,? while fellow commissioner Michael Wessel described the casino-junket relationship as ?so complex it reminds me of a Rube Goldberg-style equation.? The Commission strongly suggested that Treasury Department assistant secretary for terrorist financing Daniel Glaser should increase scrutiny of Macau?s casino industry. It?s worth noting that in 2011, the US State Department claimed a direct link between Macau casinos and terrorist financing, only to backtrack when challenged to back up these allegations with, you know, evidence.

    MACAU CRACKS LOAN SHARK GANG
    As if on cue, Macau?s Judiciary Police (JP) have just announced the takedown of what they claim is the biggest loan-sharking gang the city has seen in over a decade. The Macau Post Daily reported that 13 suspects were arrested Tuesday, including six locals, five Hong Kong residents and two from the Chinese mainland, while the JP seized around HKD 500k ($64.5k) in cash. The investigation began in 2010 following a tip-off about loan sharks prowling casino floors looking for gamblers down on their luck. The sharks would offer loans in the form of gambling chips, while collecting commissions of 30% directly off the top, or 10% of every wager or anytime the ?lucky? baccarat gambler hit an eight or nine.

    Source: http://calvinayre.com/2013/06/28/casino/nevada-regulator-says-macau-junkets-on-the-decline/

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    Spy program gathered Americans' Internet records

    (AP) ? The Obama administration gathered U.S. citizens' Internet data until 2011, continuing a spying program started under President George W. Bush that revealed whom Americans exchanged emails with and the Internet Protocol address of their computer, documents disclosed Thursday show.

    The National Security Agency ended the program that collected email logs and timing, but not content, in 2011 because it decided it didn't effectively stop terrorist plots, according to the NSA's director, Gen. Keith Alexander, who also heads the U.S. Cyber Command. He said all data was purged in 2011.

    Britain's Guardian newspaper on Thursday released documents detailing the collection, though the program was also described earlier this month by The Washington Post.

    The latest revelation follows previous leaks from ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who is presumed hiding at a Moscow airport transit area, waiting to hear whether Ecuador, Iceland or another country might grant him asylum. He fled Hong Kong over the weekend and flew to Russia after being charged with violating American espionage laws.

    The collection appears similar to the gathering of U.S. phone records, and seems to overlap with the Prism surveillance program of foreigners on U.S. Internet servers, both revealed by Snowden. U.S. officials have said the phone records can only be checked for numbers dialed by a terrorist suspect overseas. According to the documents published by The Guardian on Thursday, the Internet records show whom they exchanged emails with and the specific numeric address assigned to a computer connected to the Internet, known as the IP, or Internet Protocol, address.

    The program, described in a top secret draft report from the NSA inspector general, described the efforts of then-NSA Director Gen. Mike Hayden to fill gaps in intelligence gathering after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. One NSA officer quoted in the report described "NSA standing at the U.S. border looking outward for foreign threats" and "the FBI looking within the United States for domestic threats. But no one was looking at the foreign threats coming into the United States. That was the huge gap that NSA wanted to cover."

    The draft added that the sweeping phone and Internet data-gathering programs were meant to speed up the process of surveillance of a terrorist suspect overseas, because "the average wait time was between four and six weeks" to get a court order from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. "Terrorists could have changed their telephone numbers or Internet addresses" before the NSA received permission to spy on them on U.S.-based phone or Internet systems.

    Alexander said at a Baltimore conference on cybersecurity that the NSA decided to kill the Internet data gathering program because "it wasn't meeting what we needed and we thought we could better protect civil liberties and privacy by doing away with it."

    He said the program was conducted under provisions of the Patriot Act, and that NSA leaders went to the Obama administration and Congress with the recommendation to shut it down.

    Shawn Turner, a spokesman for the director of national intelligence, said the program has not resumed.

    The Washington Post had described the Internet surveillance in an earlier report, without publishing the documents or releasing as many details. The Post described it as part of four secret surveillance programs ? two aimed at phone and Internet metadata, while two more target contents of phone and Internet communications.

    Alexander, who has been up on Capitol Hill frequently for hearings and meetings since the NSA phone and email surveillance was made public, laid out a broad defense of the programs.

    He said he worries that more leaks are coming, adding that "every time a capability is revealed we lose our ability to track those targets."

    While never mentioning Snowden by name, Alexander said his irresponsible releases of classified information "will have a long term detrimental impact on the intelligence community's ability to detect future attacks."

    He declined to provide more details on what the NSA is doing to prevent such leaks in the future. He has said that the agency is changing passwords and improving its ability to track what system administrators are doing.

    On Thursday, he said he was looking at how the leak happened and the people involved. He said the NSA can't do its job without contractors because it doesn't have all the talent or access it needs to do the job.

    ___

    Baldor reported from Baltimore.

    ___

    Follow Kimberly Dozier on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kimberlydozier

    Follow Lolita C. Baldor on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lbaldor

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-06-27-US-NSA-Surveillance-Internet-Records/id-b111b28b984e437795b742b1c86c871f

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