Encrypted email service thought used by Snowden shuts down

An encrypted email service believed to have been used by American fugitive Edward Snowden shut down abruptly yesterday amid a legal fight that appeared to involve US government attempts to win access to customer information.

"I have been forced to make a difficult decision: to become complicit in crimes against the American people, or walk away from nearly 10 years of hard work by shutting down Lavabit," Lavabit LLC owner Ladar Levison wrote in a letter that was posted on the Texas-based company's website yesterday.

Levison said he has decided to "suspend operations" but was barred from discussing the events over the past six weeks that led to his decision.

US President Barack Obama (L) meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland on June 17, 2013. Obama cancelled a meeting with Putin planned for next month in Moscow over frustration with Russia's asylum for fugitive intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, the White House said on August 7, 2013.

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Obama's Kenyan half-sister makes rare public appearance as she joins Michelle and her daughters for emotional visit to Berlin's Holocaust memorial

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Obama's Kenyan half-sister makes rare public appearance as she joins Michelle and her daughters for emotional visit to Berlin's Holocaust memorial

Auma Obama joined the First Lady and daughters Malia and Sasha at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin

Malia, 14, was clearly moved by memorial and reached out to touch stone

Auma had studied in Germany and now lives in Kenya


Michelle Obama and her daughters were joined by the President's half-sister Auma on Tuesday as the group made a sombre tour of the Holocaust memorial in Berlin.

The First Lady, Malia, 14, and Sasha, 12, bowed their heads and listened carefully to the words of a tour guide. Michelle looked lost in thought as she wandered through the vast site while Malia appeared deeply moved and reached out to touch the stones.

The Obamas are in Germany for a two-day visit and while the President meets with leader Angela Merkel, his wife and daughters visited the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a solemn reminder of the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.



Family: Auma Obama (pictured far left) joined the First Lady and daughters Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11, on a guided tour of the memorial in Berlin which is dedicated to the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust



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