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France hits back at US spying allegations

France on Wednesday slammed as "unlikely" US allegations that European spy agencies shared phone call records with US intelligence, as a transatlantic surveillance row intensified.

France hits back at US spying allegations
France has slammed allegations from the US that it had handed over phone records on their citizens to NSA spy chiefs. Photo: Jim Watson / AFP

General Keith Alexander, head of the US National Security Agency, on Tuesday took onlookers at a Congress hearing by surprise when he dismissed allegations that his agency had swept up data on millions of phone calls in Europe as "completely false".

Instead, he turned the tables on countries such as France, Germany and Spain – which have reacted with fierce anger to the spying allegations – saying that in many cases European spy agencies had handed phone call records over to them.

"The NSA director's denials don't seem likely," government spokeswoman Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said after a cabinet meeting.

She pointed to a pledge made last week by French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose own phone was reportedly tapped, to reach an understanding with the United States on the conduct of intelligence gathering among allies.

"We must shine the light on the practices of the past and make sure that things work out for the best in the future… We cannot let doubt set in between partners," she added.

The allegations of US spying are based on information leaked by former US security contractor Edward Snowden and were published in European newspapers such as France's Le Monde and Germany's Der Spiegel.

They have rocked US President Barack Obama's administration, which claims to have repaired ties with key allies that frayed under former president George W. Bush.

But the outrage in Europe has been met with suspicion by some prominent US politicians, who say everyone spies on everyone at a time of anti-terror priorities.

Alexander and the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on Tuesday said the reports that triggered such fury were based on a misunderstanding of the information passed by Snowden.

France's foreign ministry, meanwhile, said on Wednesday it was specifically concerned about the "nature and scale of US wiretapping on our territory".

"Where our intelligence agencies' surveillance activities are concerned, they are strictly framed by the law," spokesman Romain Nadal said.

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Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Monday 

Find out what’s going on in Norway on Monday with The Local’s short roundup of important news. 

Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Monday 
Oslo Operahus. Photo by Arvid Malde on Unsplash

Norwegian government to unveil more details around Covid certificate 

On Monday, the government will issue guidelines on how exactly its Covid-19 certificate will be used domestically.

At 3pm, the government will hold a press conference where they will reveal more about how the Covid-19 certificates will work.

The certificate launched on Friday, but so far, the government have been sparing with details on how it will be used. 

READ MORE: Explained: How to access Norway’s Covid-19 certificate 

They have, however, revealed the certificate would be used for access to large events as well as tours and cruises within Norway. 

We will have all the details on how the certificate will be used covered in an article later today. 

Ministry of Defence: No signs of espionage 

There is no evidence to suggest that Danish data cables were used to actively spy on Norwegian politicians by the US, Defence Minister Frank Bakke Jensen has told parliament. 

At the end of May, Danmarks Radio reported that the US used Danish data cables to spy on politicians across Europe. 

“These are serious allegations that the government takes very seriously. Based on what we know, it does not look like there has been activity (espionage) directed at Norwegian politicians,” Jensen said in a statement. 

READ MORE: Norway summons US embassy top official over spying claims 

“Systematic espionage is completely unacceptable. We are clear to the Danish and American authorities about this. We are also in active dialogue with Danish and American authorities and services about the information regarding this matter,” he added. 

One in ten Norwegians plan summer holiday abroad 

Only ten percent of respondents to a new survey have said they plan on going on holiday abroad this summer. 

According to the survey by employer organisation, Virke, the majority, 60 percent, said that their travel plans have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Fewer children are being adopted from abroad in Norway 

In 2020, 46 children were adopted from abroad in Norway, half the number of foreign adoptions compared to 2019.

According to new figures from Statistics Norway, the number of foreign children being adopted in Norway is also less than 10 percent of what it was in 1998 when 795 foreign adoptions were registered. 

A total of 243 adoptions were recorded in Norway last year, almost 100 less than the year before. 

One of the reasons fewer foreign children are being adopted is that countries that have previously released children for adoption abroad can now take care of these children themselves, according to Statistics Norway.

96 new coronavirus cases

On Sunday, 96 new cases of Covid-19 were registered in Norway, 89 fewer than the seven-day average of 185. 

Fewer cases tend to be registered on weekends and public holidays than on weekdays. 

The R-number or reproduction rate in Norway is currently 0.9. This means that every ten people that are infected will, on average, only infect another nine people, indicating that the infection level is declining.

Total number of Covid-19 cases in Norway. Source: NIPH
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