United States government secrecy

Edward Snowden has offered to assist Brazil in its criminal investigation of US surveillance in the Latin American nation. And, by the way, he’s also looking for a country to grant him “permanent political asylum” — hint, hint.

Iran’s been in the spotlight because of the agreement reached on its nuclear program. In Iran, the reaction has been positive, no matter which side of the country’s culture people sit on. Plus, an independent Scotland? Scots will be voting and the campaign is on. That and more, in today’s Global Scan.

Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon had received classified briefings on the NSA’s collection of phone call data, but he didn’t feel free to warn the country about it, until Edward Snowden revealed the program.

Edward Snowden’s NSA documents continue to provide new information about the American surveillance apparatus. Some British politicians says the disclosures need to be stopped.

Spain has learned that the NSA secretly monitored 60 million phone calls — in just one month. The revelations, and the angry reactions, are presenting challenges to American diplomats in the field.