U.N. diplomats talking too much? Turn off microphone, says Britain

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Britain's U.N. Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant suggested a new tactic on Tuesday to stop diplomats at the United Nations from speaking for too long - turn off their microphone.

During a recent visit with the U.N. Security Council to the African Union Peace and Security Council in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Lyall Grant was impressed by its procedures.

"I, for one, would support implementing here the African Union Peace and Security Council practice of cutting off speakers who have exceeded their allotted time by turning off their microphones," Lyall Grant told the Security Council.

Speakers at U.N. meetings can be limited by the president using a gavel, but this is rare.

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi addressed the U.N. General Assembly in 2009 for 1 hour and 35 minutes, while in 1960, Cuba's Fidel Castro took to the U.N. podium to blast U.S. imperialism for about four hours.

The Security Council "encourages" U.N. members to deliver statements at meetings in five minutes or less. During Britain's presidency of the council in June, Lyall Grant cut off several speakers, some of whom officially complained.

"It is entirely possible to keep to short interventions without limiting the ability of member states to fully express their views," Lyall Grant said. "I am sure this would also be the case if we did adopt the African Union practice."

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)

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Britain waives fitness test for cybersoldiers

LONDON (AP) — Flabby keyboard jockeys, stringy coders, and out-of-shape hackers: The British military wants you.

British Defense Minister Philip Hammond told lawmakers Wednesday that military physical aptitude tests won't apply to computer experts working as reservists.

He says the military will "specifically be recruiting cyberreservists, who will not necessarily have to have the same levels of fitness or deployability as reservists in general."

Britain, like other countries, is boosting its electronic capabilities as attention increasingly turns to the twin threats of cyberespionage and cybersabotage.

The U.K. is already active in the world of hacking.

Documents recently leaked by U.S. intelligence worker Edward Snowden have revealed details of alleged aggressive British cyberattacks against other countries' diplomats at international conferences.

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