set up during Abe ' s first 2006-7 term recommended that the ban be lifted in certain cases, such as intercepting ballistic missiles bound for the United States. A new committee of advisers is expected to reach similar conclusions.
China ' s top official in charge of religious groups and ethnic minorities vowed on Tuesday to step up the fight against exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, as a rights group reported police shootings of monks marking his birthday. The comments by Yu Zhengsheng, number four in the ruling Communist Party ' s hierarchy, appear aimed at thwarting speculation that China ' s new leadership could take a softer line on the Dalai Lama. Beijing considers the Dalai Lama, who fled China in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, a violent separatist. The Dalai Lama, who is based in India, says he is merely seeking greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland. Visiting a heavily Tibetan area of the western province of Gansu, Yu told local officials and religious leaders that the Dalai Lama ' s separatist activities ran counter to the country ' s interests and to Buddhist tradition. Yu repeated that ties with the Dalai Lama could only improve if he openly recognized that Tibet has been a part of China since ancient times and abandoned his Tibetan independence activities. Speculation China would take a softer line towards the Dalai Lama had been fuelled in part by an essay written by a scholar from the Central Party School, who said that China could take some steps toward resuming talks with the Dalai Lama ' s representatives, which broke down in 2010. Rights groups also say there has been some discussion about lifting restrictions on public displays of the Dalai Lama ' s picture in Qinghai province, where the monk was born. Despite a heavy security presence, protests and resistance against Chinese rule in Tibetan areas have continued. Police in a restive Tibetan part of Sichuan province opened fire on a group of monks and others who had gathered to mark Dalai Lama ' s birthday over the weekend, seriously injuring at least two. While Chinese security forces often use heavyhanded tactics to stop protests in Tibetan regions, they rarely use guns. China ' s Foreign Ministry said it was unaware of the reports, but said the Dalai Lama was using the opportunity of his birthday to promote his separatist agenda.
Latin America Brazilian media claimed that the US National Security Agency has targeted most Latin American countries in its spying programs, with Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico ranking among those of highest priority for the US intelligence agency. Citing documents leaked by Edward Snowden, the fugitive former American intelligence contractor, O Globo newspaper said the NSA programs went beyond military affairs to what it termed " commercial secrets." These included petroleum in Venezuela and energy in Mexico, according to a graphic O Globo identified as being from the NSA and dated February of this year. Also swept up in what O Globo termed as US spying were Argentina,
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