Assange lauds surveillance reversal_美文_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Assange lauds surveillance reversal

The Obama administration has vigorously pursued Snowden to bring him back to the US to face espionage charges for leaking details of US surveillance programs to the media.

Snowden granted temporary asylum in Russia earlier this month, a move that so angered Obama that he canceled an upcoming high-profile meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, the European Union is ranked as a key priority in a list of spying targets for the US National Security Agency, German weekly Der Spiegel said on Saturday, citing a document leaked by Snowden.

The classified document, dated April 2013, states that the US secret services are especially interested in gathering intelligence concerning the 28-member bloc's foreign policy, international trade, and economic stability, the magazine reported.

Using a ranking system from one to five (from high to low importance), those three areas were given a number three ranking, according to the document seen by Der Spiegel. Topics related to new technology and energy security were assigned the lowest-level priority.

Among individual countries, Washington reportedly listed China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea among its top surveillance targets.

About the broadcaster:

Lance Crayon is a videographer and editor with China Daily. Since living in Beijing he has worked for China Radio International (CRI) and Global Times. Before moving to China he worked in the film industry in Los Angeles as a talent agent and producer. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.