New Zealand probing report its military spied on McClatchy freelance journalist in Afghanistan

WELLINGTON, New Zealand ? New Zealand's acting defense force chief said Monday that there is no evidence the military unlawfully spied on a journalist in Afghanistan who was freelancing for U.S. news organization McClatchy.

The statement came in response to a report in the Sunday Star-Times newspaper that the military collected phone metadata to spy on journalist Jon Stephenson, a New Zealander. The story by journalist Nicky Hager said the military became unhappy at Stephenson's reporting on how it treated Afghan prisoners.

Also Monday, the country's Minister of Defense Jonathan Coleman acknowledged the existence of an embarrassing confidential order that lists investigative journalists alongside spies and terrorists as potential threats to New Zealand's military.

The acting defense force chief, Major General Tim Keating, said the military officers responsible for operations in Afghanistan have assured him that there had been no unlawful monitoring of Stephenson by New Zealand or foreign spy agencies.

That would appear to be a reference to the NSA with which New Zealand shares intelligence information under a long-standing arrangement known as the "Five Eyes," which in addition to New Zealand and the U.S. includes the Britain, Australia and Canada.

The White House and AP intelligence sources in Washington did not respond Sunday to requests for comment on the Sunday Star-Times story.

"We have identified no information at this time that supports Mr. Hager's claims," Keating said in the statement.

Stephenson wrote for several news organizations and was a freelancer for McClatchy for about 10 months last year.

Source: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/217326551.html

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Mayor's former assistant gets probation

DANBURY -- The mayor's former executive assistant has voluntarily withdrawn several claims against the city after accepting a special form of probation in connection with health-insurance fraud.

Among the claims Wendy DaCosta withdrew was a claim that she was arrested on felony charges in January in retaliation for her lawsuit against the city that claimed she was unjustly fired from her position in August 2011.

The city, however, asserted that DaCosta had kept her ex-husband on her city-sponsored health insurance plan well after the couple divorced.

Earlier this month, DaCosta was given accelerated rehabilitation, a special form of probation available to first-time offenders. The charges, including health-insurance fraud and second-degree larceny, would be dismissed in a year if she successfully completes the program. DaCosta is required to make restitution to the city of an undisclosed amount.

Attorney Jeff Jowdy, who represents DaCosta in the criminal case, said he believes it was a fair resolution to the charges, and court officials were instrumental in getting the parties from the criminal and the civil complaints together "to allow this disposition to happen."

Michael Rose, an attorney defending the city against the lawsuit, said the court required DaCosta to withdraw several aspects of the complaint as part of the resolution to her criminal case.

DaCosta withdrew allegations that the city violated her civil rights by firing her shortly after she applied for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, claiming she needed to address a substance-abuse issue.

City officials, however, maintained that DaCosta's termination was in the works prior to the request.

DaCosta was fired, city officials have said, after several harassment complaints had been lodged against her by a department head with whom DaCosta had a brief relationship.

In her lawsuit, DaCosta continues to claim she was treated differently than other employees, including by Boughton, who she said had been the subject of harassment complaints.

Boughton, however, has denied that a harassment complaint had ever been filed against him, and no such complaint has been produced by DaCosta.

"At the end of the day, what happened to this employee (DaCosta) was completely appropriate," Rose said. "As time goes on, those involved, including the mayor, will be exonerated."

Elisabeth Maurer, an attorney representing DaCosta in the civil matter, could not be reached for comment Monday.

Several depositions, including those of Boughton and the city's former human resources director, Carol DeSantie, will be held next month as part of the lawsuit.

Source: http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Mayor-s-former-assistant-gets-probation-4694158.php

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This Flowchart Will Tell You Exactly Which New SUV Or Crossover To Buy

Some of you may remember the new car-buying flow chart I made a bit over a month ago. Between the comments suggesting I seek out my clergyperson, I noticed many of you wanted a similar chart to help you pick a new SUV. As always, I listened, and am here to help.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/oILdeWMV9Tk/this-flowchart-will-tell-you-exactly-which-new-suv-or-c-748429996

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Google Maps App Bringing Back Offline Maps Button ASAP

Yesterday we reported that part of the Google Maps App "upgrade" a few features went away. One such feature was easy access to offline maps.

Google removed the offline maps button and said to take your maps offline, you need to search for "OK Maps" and it will save the map you are on for offline viewing.

As you can imagine, users did not like that. Google listened and is rushing out an update to bring a button to the Android version that reads "Make this map area available offline."

The picture on this post is what it will look like.

Google said in a Google+ post:

We?ve been happy to hear so many of you enjoying the interface and features of the new Google Maps app for Android, but we know some of you are missing an easy way to access maps offline. That?s why our engineering team has been working around the clock to add a "Make this map area available offline" card below the search box for easier access. And, if you still want some #thumbercise, typing ?ok maps? will work too!

The update will begin rolling out globally starting today. In the meantime, keep shakin? to send us feedback!

Forum discussion at Google+.

Source: http://feeds.seroundtable.com/~r/SearchEngineRoundtable1/~3/-jw60gcjYoA/google-maps-offline-maps-coming-17057.html

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