'Snowden did it for all of us'

Deutsche Welle, 31 August 2013

The award ceremony for the German Whistleblower Prize in Berlin showed how differently Edward Snowden's leak of classified data can be interpreted. The state or the individual: where should the change begin?

"The power of a single person can change the world - that is the lesson taught to us by Edward J. Snowden," said Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who has led reporting for the British newspaper The Guardian on material leaked to him by Snowden.

Snowden, a child of a normal middle class family, made ​​a significant choice, said Greenwald. "This made an impression on many people around the world, and inspired them to stand up against lies and falsehoods," he said.

Greenwald spoke to guests at the
ceremony via a video conference

Greenwald is currently in South America, and spoke to those gathered at the ceremony via a video conference. Around 300 people, mainly older scientists, intellectuals and politicians, were intently listening. Greenwald's message was one of the highlights of the eighth Whistleblower Prize ceremony, awarded to Snowden in Berlin on Friday (30.08.2013).

Snowden, who has been granted asylum in Russia, was unable to attend the ceremony in person and was represented by an empty chair in front of the guests. He was honored by the Federation of German Scientists (VDW), the International Association Of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA) and Transparency International for leaking information about US National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance of Internet and phone traffic as well as other classified data. Snowden worked as a contractor for the NSA.

The power of the individual

Internet activist Jacob Appelbaum spoke with Snowden before the event and accepted the award on his behalf. Speaking in front of the crowd, he said Snowden had asked him not to talk too much about "geopolitics."

"Instead, he asked me to speak about individuals and about the hope for change," said Appelbaum. He said everyone had the strength to stand up against corruption, war crimes and lies - every day and at any time. It wasn't so much about the topic of Internet freedom, but personal freedoms - spying on the Internet is commonplace, he said, something from which no one is immune. "That's why we need an honest discussion of whether and how much we want to spy on each other."

Change begins with a single voice

"He did away with the propaganda machine and did it for all of us," said Appelbaum. Snowden was described as a man who truly cared about the welfare of others, a man who had earlier asked Appelbaum first if he had slept well before asking whether everything was organized for the event. That was typical of Snowden.

Snowden was a contractor for the
NSA before leaking data to the press

Appelbaum then read a letter from Snowden, who thanked the organizations for the award before symbolically sharing it with "all the individuals and organizations in the countless countries all over the world who have overcome linguistic and geographical boundaries to come together and defend the public right to truth and the value of privacy."

It wasn't him, Snowden said, but newspapers which began to ask questions. It was politicians who wrote proposals for new Internet protection laws. And he then thanked all those who convinced their friends and family how important these things were, "because change starts with a single voice."

More transparency needed

Snowden's message to the world, according to Appelbaum, was that "governments must be held accountable for their decisions that shape our lives. Freedoms and the rights of individuals must be decided by governments in public, and not in darkness."

He said the path is a difficult one, but one that would lead us to a better world for future generations.

Appelbaum said that neither he nor Snowden were against the United States, but against corrupt forces in the current government. "As American citizens, we ask you here in Berlin for your solidarity and support," he said, adding that Germans especially with their difficult 20th century history could encourage people to overcome the fear that controls them and begin to change.

"You must talk about how the current affair scares you, how it's reminiscent of the time of the secret police in the GDR. And you can tell from personal experience what it means to live in dark times."

Call for Snowden's asylum in Germany

Some guests at the ceremony said
Germany should offer Snowden asylum

Edda Müller, the chair of Transparency International in Germany, also spoke at the event and challenged the German government over its lack of implementation of international anti-corruption measures. Müller said whistleblowers were vital, not just in Snowden's case but also to protect the economy and uncover corruption.

In her speech, renowned journalist Sonia Seymour Mikich called Snowden's revelation of the NSA affair historic. "No one will be able to say later that he heard nothing of the creeping erosion of democracy," she said. She added that it was shameful that Germany and other Western countries had not offered Snowden political asylum, a criticism echoed by IALANA head Otto Jäckel.

Chelsea Manning is 'doing well' in military prison, her lawyer says

Manning undergoing indoctrination process at Fort Leavenworth where she's made 'several friends who accept her for who she is'

theguardian.com, Staff and agencies, Thursday 29 August 2013

Inmates are not usually allowed outside contact during indoctrination
 process, but US barracks made an exception. Photograph: Ho/AFP/
Getty Images

A lawyer for army private Chelsea Manning says the soldier is doing well as she goes through the indoctrination process at military prison.

David Coombs said on his blog on Thursday that he was able to speak with Manning, previously known as Bradley Manning, while she goes through the three-week indoctrination at Fort Leavenworth.

Coombs said inmates are not usually allowed to have outside contact during that time, but the US disciplinary barracks made an exception for Manning.

He said Wednesday was the first time he talked with Manning since she was sentenced to 35 years for leaking mountains of classified material to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.

Coombs said Manning had made some friends and was grateful for the support for her decision to live as a woman.

He wrote: "I am happy to report that she is doing very well at the USDB, and has already made several friends who accept her for who she is. Due to going through indoctrination, Chelsea was unaware of the response to her public statement on the Today show. During our conversation, I informed Chelsea of the overwhelming support for her decision.

"I also told her about how most responsible media have elected to respect her wishes and refer to her by her new name. Chelsea was very happy to hear of these developments. She requested that I relay how grateful that she is for everyone's understanding and continued support."

The Associated Press contributed to this report

US bank chief pleads guilty to using bailout cash to buy home

BBC News, 27 August 2013 

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Mr Woods had said the money was
needed prop up a "bleeding patient".

A US bank chairman has pleaded guilty to using bailout money given to rescue his firm to buy himself a luxury home.

Darryl Woods used $381,000 (£245,000) of the $1m given to his Mainstreet Bank to buy the Florida waterfront property.

Following the US housing collapse and financial crash, Mainstreet needed to be propped up with taxpayers' money.

US district attorney Tammy Dickinson said: "At a time when many Americans were losing their homes, he was siphoning off public funds."

Bailout money was given to Mainstreet under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) established after the US financial crash.

Mr Woods had previously written to TARP regulators describing Mainstreet as a small community bank and saying the funds "will provide vitally needed infusions to a bleeding patient".

His wrongdoing was uncovered when regulators began examining how the money was used.

To date, some 140 criminal cases have been filed against individuals alleged to have misused funds.

Fed minutes show cautious move towards end of economic stimulus

Released record of Federal Open Market Committee meeting shows mixed optimism and caution on recovery of US economy

theguardian.com, Dominic Rushe in New York, Wednesday 21 August 2013

The Federal Reserve is inching closer to reining in its $85bn-a-month
stimulus programme. Photograph: Matthew Cavanaugh/EPA

The Federal Reserve inched nearer to reining in its $85bn-a-month economic stimulus programme last month, according to the minutes of its last meeting which were released on Wednesday. But the central bank did not give any clear indication about when that scaling back might begin.

The minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting which took place late last month offered a mixed view on committee members' willingness to ease back on the so-called quantitative easing (QE) programme. According to the minutes, "a few" officials were keen to make a move sooner and "a few" urged more caution. The minutes also revealed that some FOMC members were cautious about the still weak US recovery. US stock markets were largely unchanged after the news was released.

Most FOMC members felt that growth in the economy would pick up in the second half of the year and further strengthen in 2014. According to the minutes: "A number of participants indicated, however, that they were somewhat less confident about a near-term pickup in economic growth than they had been in June." The minutes described recent economic data as "mixed".

The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, indicated in June that the stimulus programme could be scaled back later this year, if economic data continued to be positive. The news sparked a sell off in the equity markets but despite some volatility they have remained close to record highs.

The QE programme, the Fed's third round of bond buying, is intended to keep rates low and encourage investment in the economy in the hopes of driving jobs growth. Bernanke has given no clear indication when any tapering in the massive bond-buying programme could begin; economists have speculated that it could come as soon as September or be delayed until next year.

The summary of the 30-31 July meeting said that while "a few [committee] members emphasized the importance of being patient and evaluating additional information before deciding on any changes to the pace of asset purchases", a few others "suggested that it might soon be time to slow somewhat the pace of purchases".

The signals from the US economy are broadly positive but there are still many concerns. Unemployment rates continue to inch down but remain relatively high. The Fed minutes said: "Private-sector employment increased further in June, but the unemployment rate was still elevated." The US housing market appears to be on the mend but some have worried that a recent rise in interest rates could have an impact. "While recent mortgage rate increases might serve to restrain housing activity, several participants expressed confidence that the housing recovery would be resilient in the face of the higher rates," the minutes said.

Ben Bernanke is expected to step down at the end of his third team
as chair of the Federal Reserve. Photograph: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Bernanke is widely expected to announce his decision to resign as Fed chair. His third term comes to an end at the end of January 2014 and President Barack Obama has said that he will appoint a successor this autumn. Bernanke will hold a press conference after the FOMC's next meeting, in mid-September.

The two most likely candidates to take over Bernanke's job at present are the Fed vice-chair Janet Yellen and Larry Summers, a former Treasury secretary who is one of Obama's closest economic advisers.

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WikiLeaks source Manning sentenced to 35 years

Google – AFP, Arthur MacMillan (AFP), 21 August 2013

US Army soldier Bradley Manning arrives at a US military court facility on

August 21, 2013 (AFP, Saul Loeb)

FORT MEADE, Maryland — US Army Private Bradley Manning was sentenced to 35 years in jail Wednesday for handing over to WikiLeaks files that formed the biggest breach of official secrets in American history.

Manning could apply for parole and be freed within a decade, after a months-long trial that laid bare the scale of the 25-year-old soldier's access to government information.

Wednesday's sentence was slightly more than half the 60 year term that prosecutors had pushed for.

Manning appeared ashen-faced moments before he heard his fate in a courtroom at Fort Meade military base in Maryland, close to the US capital.

US soldier Bradley Manning arrives alongside

 military officials at Fort Meade, Maryland on

August 21, 2013 (AFP, Saul Loeb)

Military judge Colonel Denise Lind delivered her verdict in a less than two-minute statement in which she said the soldier would be demoted from Private First Class to Private E1 status, and later dishonorably discharged.

Under military law Manning is eligible for parole on completion of one third of his sentence. His jail time will be shortened by a total of 1,293 days on account of the more than three years he has already served, which means he could be freed in nine years.

A video link to the courtroom cut out as soon as Lind stopped speaking, but several Manning supporters were seen in tears outside immediately following the sentencing announcement.

Civil liberties groups condemned the sentence, but WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy website headed by Julian Assange, hailed it as a "significant strategic victory."

Manning was convicted of espionage and other crimes last month, having earlier admitted being the source of hundreds of thousands of battlefield reports from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and confidential US diplomatic cables.

Publication of the documents caused deep embarrassment to the United States and rankled American allies, prompting warnings from US officials that troops and intelligence sources had been jeopardized.

The 35-year jail term will be considered especially important as another leaker -- the former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, currently in Russia -- is wanted in the United States on espionage charges, having disclosed details of the National Security Agency's secret electronic monitoring operations.

Army lawyers had pressed for a much longer sentence, arguing that significantly more jail time would send a message to people contemplating the theft of classified information.

Lead defense attorney David Coombs, however, appealed for leniency for his client. He said Manning had expressed remorse, cooperated with the court and deserved a chance to have a family and one day walk free.

Coombs is scheduled to speak to reporters at 1:30 pm (1730 GMT) and outline the next steps in the soldier's case. Under military law Manning's sentence will automatically be reviewed in the Army Court of Criminal Appeal.

Manning was a junior intelligence analyst at a US base near Baghdad when he handed over the data -- about 700,000 documents -- to WikiLeaks.

He was arrested in Iraq in 2010 and has since been in military custody.

The years-long legal process that finally culminated in his conviction and sentencing offered an astonishing view inside the young soldier's mind before, during and after he was deployed in Iraq.

The most notorious material that he brought to light was a video file, dubbed "Collateral Murder" by WikiLeaks, showing graphic cockpit footage of two US Apache attack helicopters opening fire and killing 12 people in Baghdad in 2007.

Supporters of US Army Private First
Class Bradley Manning leave Fort Meade,
Maryland on August 21, 2013 (AFP, 
Mladen Antonov)

Manning, a hero to supporters who regard him as a whistleblower who lifted the lid on America's foreign policy, openly condemned the remarks of the pilots, who had branded the victims "dead bastards."

Though found guilty of 20 of the 22 offenses leveled against him, Manning was cleared of the most serious charge -- "aiding the enemy," chiefly Al-Qaeda. More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for Manning's nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize.

The American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday's sentence was sad for Manning but also sad "for all Americans who depend on brave whistleblowers and a free press for a fully informed public debate."

"When a soldier who shared information with the press and public is punished far more harshly than others who tortured prisoners and killed civilians, something is seriously wrong with our justice system," they added in a statement.

Expert witnesses testified during the sentencing phase of Manning's trial that the soldier was confused about his gender and sexuality and under enormous psychological stress at the time he committed the leaks.

Manning also apologized. He told Lind during a hearing last week: "I'm sorry that my actions have hurt people and have hurt the United States."

Bradley Manning, condemed to 35 years in prison (AFP/Graphic)

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14 year old Rachel Parent debates Kevin O'Leary on the issue of Genetically Modified Food. Rachel's website: http://www.gmo-news.com/

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JPMorgan in bribery probe over China hiring: report

Google – AFP, 18 August 2013

Illustration: The entrance to the JP Morgan Chase World Headquarters

on Park Avenue in July 13, 2012 (AFP, Timothy A. Clary)

NEW YORK CITY, New York — JP Morgan Chase is being investigated by US authorities over claims the bank hired the children of influential Chinese officials to secure business in the country, the New York Times reported Saturday.

The Times reported on its website, citing a confidential United States government document, that a bribery investigation had been opened to study the allegations.

The paper cited one case where the bank hired the son of Tang Shuangning, a former Chinese banking regulator who was now chairman of the state-run China Everbright Group financial conglomerate.

The paper reported that JPMorgan secured a succession of sought-after deals from China Everbright after hiring the son, Tang Xiaoning.

The Times report said the Hong Kong office of JPMorgan had also hired the daughter of a Chinese railway official.

The official in question was later arrested in connection with a bribery scandal, according to the document cited by the Times.

It said the daughter's hiring came as The China Railway Group's selected JPMorgan to advise it on becoming a public company.

China Railway later raised a staggering $5 billion when it floated in 2007.

The civil investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission's anti-bribery unit had not previously been disclosed.

The Times however said the government document did not show a clear link between JPMorgan's hiring policy and its ability to secure business.

The records also did not suggest that the hired employees were unqualified, or that they necessarily helped JPMorgan secure business. The bank has not been accused of any wrongdoing, the paper added.

"We publicly disclosed this matter in our 10-Q filing last week and are fully co-operating with regulators," a JPMorgan spokesman was quoted by the Times as saying.

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Multinational pharmas go ever further to secure business in China

US prosecutors charge two JP Morgan traders over 'London Whale' incident

Multinational pharmas go ever further to secure business in China

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2013-08-16

GSK's office building in Tianjin. (Photo/Xinhua)

Police in China probing four senior executives of British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have expanded their investigation to AstraZeneca, Sanofi and Eli Lilly as the scandal has exposed a general culture of corruption in the country's healthcare sector, the Chinese-language magazine Capital Week reports. The executives at GSK China, including legal director Zhao Hongyan and HR director Alex Cheung were summoned over allegations of paying bribes to doctors and hospital officials.

Multinational pharmaceutical companies have been in the Chinese market for more than 30 years, developing from initial joint ventures to wholly owned subsidiaries, setting up factories, establishing research and development centers, and appointing locals as their chief executives in the country. They now use other methods to introduce new products to doctors and hospitals.

To better ingratiate themselves with the government, multinational pharmaceutical companies have actively recruited the offspring of senior government officials. Pfizer hired Feng Danlong, granddaughter of the famous general Feng Yuxiang, as its director of China corporate affairs and the company's spokesperson. Feng formerly was a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Insiders say that relying on market operations alone does not guarantee a company's success as each province's procurement and standards are all affected by the central government's policies. Therefore, companies have sought to influence the policymaking process as part of their way of doing business, the unnamed insider said.

Multinational pharmaceuticals are more familiar with national laws and policies than even some government officials, and far more than some domestic rivals. In recent years, however, the multinationals have been increasingly negotiating with the government and domestic health insurance agents over bids to provide cheaper and more accessible medication.

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"Recalibration of Free Choice"–  Mar 3, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: (Old) Souls, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, Shift of Human Consciousness, Black & White vs. Color, 1 - Spirituality (Religions) shifting, Loose a Pope “soon”, 2 - Humans will change react to drama, 3 - Civilizations/Population on Earth,  4 - Alternate energy sources (Geothermal, Tidal (Paddle wheels), Wind), 5 – Financials Institutes/concepts will change (Integrity – Ethical) , 6 - News/Media/TV to change, 7 – Big Pharmaceutical company will collapse “soon”, (Keep people sick), (Integrity – Ethical)  8 – Wars will be over on Earth, Global Unity, … etc.) - (Text version)

“…7 - Predictions (Big Pharma)

There are two more. Very recently we gave you a prophecy of prediction. We reiterate it now. Right now on the planet there's something in the works that is going to bring big pharma to its knees. Much like what happened to the tobacco industry, where there was a realization of a lack of integrity, there was alarm and outrage. You saw an industry that knowingly addicted the young and caused death, and this was revealed. And it didn't take that long, did it? And we said this not too long ago, and I repeat: When you see an entire industry that, for monetary reasons, is willing to keep people sick for profit, it's going to fall over. Sooner than later. You're going to see the rumblings of it very soon.

You're going to start to see Human Beings look at their health in a different way. Do you know what the real answer to long-term health care is? Not only in this country, but the earth? I will give you a hint. Don't get sick! And that, dear Human Being, is what I'm going to tell you is at hand. Coming is an understanding of the body in a way you have not understood it before. Your DNA is built to regenerate and last for hundreds of years. Right now, you're here for a moment and you die. The research is there. The beginning of extended life is there. Human Beings are going to search for things that are natural and processes that have always existed, and that will have an avenue of opening because of the demise of big pharma. And you'll wonder why you didn't know it before and you will look back and cringe, like you do today with the ads of the '50s with the doctor smiling, recommending a certain kind of tobacco.

I don't have a clock, dear one. I cannot tell you when. I can only guarantee you it is going to happen. It has to. You cannot have systems that are that large that have no integrity existing in the new energy. Do you understand? Then there are those who will say, "I hope it happens while I'm here." Oh, it will. Maybe you won't be who you are today, but you'll be here to see it, old soul. [Kryon smile] And that was number seven... ..."

More financial sector staff to take bankers' oath of integrity

DutchNews.nl, Thursday 15 August 2013

Finance minister Jeroen
Dijsselbloem (ANP)

Finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem is introducing new legislation which will require all bank workers who have direct contact with clients to swear an oath of integrity.

Since the beginning of this year senior executives and supervisory board members at financial institutions have to take the oath, as part of efforts to improve confidence in the financial sector.

However, Dijsselbloem now wants to extend this to all staff who have contact with clients, and those whose job could affect the institution’s risk profile, such as brokers.

In addition, the minister wants to extend the central bank’s compulsory check on board members’ expertise and trustworthiness to all staff responsible for risky financial transactions.

The proposals have been put out to online consultation.

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"Recalibration of Free Choice"–  Mar 3, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: (Old) Souls, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, Shift of Human Consciousness, Black & White vs. Color, 1 - Spirituality (Religions) shifting, Loose a Pope “soon”, 2 - Humans will change react to drama, 3 - Civilizations/Population on Earth,  4 - Alternate energy sources (Geothermal, Tidal (Paddle wheels), Wind), 5 – Financials Institutes/concepts will change (Integrity – Ethical) , 6 - News/Media/TV to change, 7 – Big Pharmaceutical company will collapse “soon”, (Keep people sick), (Integrity – Ethical)  8 – Wars will be over on Earth, Global Unity, … etc.) - (Text version)

“…5 - Integrity That May Surprise…

Number five: There will be those who think it impossible to have a search for integrity and fairness in all things. In other words, Human Beings will not simply go with what they are told is the status quo. They will look at it and they will say, "Well, I think it could be better. I'm going to look around for something that has more integrity and fairness." Yes, there will be those who tell you, "Look, the institutions hold all the cards and you have to do it their way. If you want health insurance or you want loans from the banks for your home, you better do it their way." I have news for you. Even this is going to change.

"What are you going to do?" the Human asks. "They hold all the power!" In the past, there was nothing you could do. Now I'll tell you what the potentials are. You're going to pull out the puzzle and look past the walls of the maze. You're going to say, "Well, then I'll start my own institution." And some will. The new institutions, based on integrity, will sweep right past an old energy. In other words, there will be those who are young today who are going to start a new way of banking, a new way of health care, and a new way of insurance. And when you see these plans, you'll say, "Why didn't we think of that?"

Have you seen innovation and invention in the past decade that required thinking out of the box of an old reality? Indeed, you have. I can't tell you what's coming, because you haven't thought of it yet! But the potentials of it are looming large. Let me give you an example, Let us say that 20 years ago, you predicted that there would be something called the Internet on a device you don't really have yet using technology that you can't imagine. You will have full libraries, buildings filled with books, in your hand - a worldwide encyclopedia of everything knowable, with the ability to look it up instantly! Not only that, but that look-up service isn't going to cost a penny! You can call friends and see them on a video screen, and it won't cost a penny! No matter how long you use this service and to what depth you use it, the service itself will be free.

Now, anyone listening to you back then would perhaps have said, "Even if we can believe the technological part, which we think is impossible, everything costs something. There has to be a charge for it! Otherwise, how would they stay in business?" The answer is this: With new invention comes new paradigms of business. You don't know what you don't know, so don't decide in advance what you think is coming based on an old energy world.

The Unthinkable… Politics, A Review

Humans will begin to search for integrity and fairness and it's going to happen in the places you never expect. I said this last week, so this is a review. There'll come a time when you will demand this of your politics - fairness and integrity. So when the candidates start calling each other names, you will turn your back on them and they won't get any votes. They're going to get the point real fast, don't you think? How about that?

Let me give you another potential. This country that I sit in right now [USA] will set the mold for that particular attribute. I have no clock. Watch for the youngsters to set this in motion, and they will, for they are the voters of tomorrow and they do not want the energy of today. To some of them, it's so abominable they won't even register to vote in this energy. You're going to see this soon. That was number five.. ..."

US prosecutors charge two JP Morgan traders over 'London Whale' incident

Two bankers accused of 'creatively cooking books', with further charges over $6bn scandal not ruled out

The Guardian, Dominic Rushe in New York and Jill Treanor, Wednesday 14 August 2013

JP Morgan Chase World HQ on Park Avenue, New York. Photograph:
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Two former London-based traders of JP Morgan have been charged by US prosecutors in relation to the "London Whale" trading incident that cost the US bank more than $6bn (£3.9bn) last year.

Setting out the state's case at a press conference in New York, the city's attorney general, Preet Bharara – referring to JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon's initial dismissal of the potential losses – said: "This was not a 'tempest in a teapot', but rather a perfect storm of individual misconduct and inadequate internal controls."

Bharara refused to comment on whether other JP Morgan bankers would face charges. "The investigation remains open," he said.

Javier Martin-Artajo and Julien Grout were charged in the southern district court of New York with four counts of falsification of books, wire fraud and making false statements to the US regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bruno Iksil, the French-born trader dubbed the London Whale for his large trading position, is not being charged, according to documents issued by the US department of justice on Wednesday and sent to Iksil's lawyer on 20 June.

Iksil, also nicknamed "Voldemort" by other traders because of the impact his huge bets were having on the market, is co-operating with the US authorities as they build their case.

His agreement with the justice department does not exempt him from other potential actions but officials said they would "bring the co-operation of Iksil" to the attention of any prosecutor who might pursue him.

Bharara alleged that as the London losses mounted the defendants began to "creatively cook the books". By March 30, 2012, January losses of $130m had risen to $767m. "I don't know where he [Martin-Artajo] wants to stop, but it's idiotic," Iksil told colleagues as JP Morgan's losses began to spiral out of control.

Lawyers for Martin-Artajo did not update a statement issued on Tuesday night in which they said he was "currently on a long-planned vacation and will be returning to the UK as scheduled".

"Martin-Artajo has co-operated with every internal and external inquiry which was required of him in the UK. He received no communication from any governmental regulators, including the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK with whom he has fully co-operated, which would indicate that he should not be on vacation at this time," said his lawyers at Norton Rose Fulbright.

"Martin-Artajo is confident that when a complete and fair reconstruction of these complex events is completed, he will be cleared of any wrongdoing."

Grout's lawyers are also reported to have said he has not committed any wrongdoing.

The prosecutors said JP Morgan had issued its results for the quarter ended 31 March 2012 on the basis of false and fraudulent information about the value of complex credit derivatives conducted by the bank's chief investment office (CIO).

Those results were later restated by $660m as a result of mis-valued trading positions, the prosecution alleges.

The prosecutors said the CIO operation employed 100 people and that Martin-Artajo was head of credit and equity trading, working out of London but visiting New York. Iksil worked for him, as did Grout.

In the allegations about Grout, the prosecutors said there was a "growing disparity" between valuations in their trading books and what the traders believed were the actual values.

"This gap reached hundreds of millions of dollars by the end of March 2012," according to the allegations which cite email exchanges between employees.

The prosecutors said JP Morgan later discovered that 107 of 132 trading positions were marked in the books at more favourable prices than they should have been.

The losses have proved embarrassing for Dimon. Once the extent of the losses emerged the chief executive apologised. His bonus was cut in half as a result and the bank conducted internal reviews. Its top bankers have also appeared before the US Senate.

Dimon later admitted that "some of these mistakes obviously scared us".

Bradley Manning 'sorry' for hurting US at Wikileaks trial

BBC News, 14 August

Bradley Manning has said he leaked the papers to provoke public debate

Wikileaks Revelations

• Manning profile
• Wikileaks spotlight
• Overreach?
• Cables at a glance

Pte First Class Bradley Manning has apologised for hurting the US by leaking a trove of classified US government documents to Wikileaks.

Pte Manning, 25, spoke at the sentencing hearing of his court martial at Fort Meade, Maryland.

Earlier on Wednesday, a military psychiatrist testified Pte Manning had struggled with his gender identity.

Pte Manning faces up to 90 years in prison following his conviction in July on 20 espionage and other charges.

In an unsworn statement at the hearing, Pte Manning said: "I'm sorry that my actions hurt people. I'm sorry that it hurt the United States.

"I'm apologising for the unexpected results of my actions. The last three years have been a learning experience for me."

Pte Manning said he did not believe at the time that leaking the information would cause harm.

Last month, military Judge Col Denise Lind convicted Pte Manning of 20 charges including espionage, theft and violating computer regulations.

He had already admitted passing hundreds of thousands of battlefield reports and diplomatic cables to Wikileaks.

The BBC's Tara McKelvey at Fort Meade, Maryland, says that in Wednesday's hearing Pte Manning was quiet and took notes throughout the testimony, but appeared to grow emotional as one defence witness spoke about his desire to change the world.

'Off-keel'

The sentencing phase of the trial has focused on how much damage the revelations caused. The prosecution has called witnesses who described the impact on US diplomatic relations and on the military's dealings with Afghan civilians, among other affects.

Pte Manning has said he never intended to harm US national security but wanted the disclosures to provoke public debate about US foreign policy and the military.

Ahead of Pte Manning's statement, Navy Capt David Moulton, a forensics psychiatrist, testified that at the time of the leak he felt abandoned by friends and family and had hit a rough patch with his boyfriend amid an isolating deployment.

The psychiatrist interviewed Pte Manning for 21 hours after his arrest.

Pte Manning had also decided he wanted to become a woman, Capt Moulton said.

In psychiatric terms, Pte Manning has a "gender-identity disorder", or "disturbance of one's gender", Capt Moulton said.

This is different from being gay, he added.

"Gender is very much at the core of our identity," he said, adding that when a person is uncertain about his or her gender, the whole world seems "off-keel".

Amid this turmoil, Pte Manning also became disillusioned about the US war in Iraq and was trying to correct "injustices", Capt Moulton said.

"Manning was under the impression that the leaked information was going to change how the world saw the war in Iraq," the psychiatrist testified.

About to leave?

He added that Pte Manning believed the leaks would ultimately end all war, and the young soldier was unclear about the extent of the punishment he would face for his actions.

"He underestimated how much trouble he would get in, for sure," Capt Moulton said.

Pte Manning's supporters delivered 100,000 

signatures in support of him receiving

 the Nobel Peace Prize

"He was really relying on his morals and his ideology and not thinking beyond that."

Separately, an Army psychotherapist who treated Pte Manning while he was in Iraq said he had begun the process to remove him from the military.

"He was having issues at work," Capt Michael Worsley said, adding Pte Manning's job as an intelligence analyst had made him even more isolated and anxious.

Pte Manning's sister and aunt are also on the list of potential defence witnesses. Dozens of spectators and journalists were in attendance on Wednesday amid tight security at Fort Meade.

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