NSA Given Go-Ahead to Resume Collecting Phone Data Records

NSA Given Go-Ahead to Resume Collecting Phone Data Records | 30 June 2015 | The National Security Agency may have been ordered out of the phone records business, but a secret court has said it can go ahead anyway. In a decisionpublished Tuesday, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, known as the FISA court, ruled Monday night that the NSA can resume bulk phone data collection for at least five more months."Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" -- "the more things change, the more they stay the same" -- FISA Judge Michael Mosman wrote in saying a federal appeals court ruling rejecting a libertarian activist group's motion to end the program immediately because of a separate court's ruling.

Obama administration spied on German media as well as its government | 04 July 2015 | An investigation by the German parliament is raising questions on whether the Obama administration not only spied on journalists in that country, but also interfered in the exercise of the free press under the guise of U.S. national security. On Thursday, Germany's intelligence coordinator, Günter Heiss, testified before a parliamentary investigative committee of the German parliament, the Bundestag, focused on the activities of the U.S. National Security Agency's spying on Germany and whether the German intelligence agency BND had any knowledge of it. On Thursday, WikiLeaks released more information, presumably from that surveillance, from a conversation between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her personal assistant in October 2011...Less observed this week was news that the NSA was eavesdropping not only on Merkel, but also in some capacity on Germany's free press, specifically Der Spiegel.

Obama: U.S. to increase support for 'moderate Syria opposition' (aka Islamic State) to overthrow Assad | 06 July 2015 | President Barack Obama on Monday pledged to increase U.S. support for the moderate opposition [aka I-CIA-SIS] in Syria's civil war and said the United States needed to do more at home to prevent attacks and combat Islamic State efforts to recruit followers. There are no current plans to send additional U.S. troops overseas, he said, repeating that the fight against the militant group would not be quick..."And I have made it clear to my team that we will do more to train and equip the moderate opposition in Syria." Obama did not give details on what more the United States would do in that regard. [See also: Pentagon paying monthly stipends to Syrian rebels (aka ISIS) to eventually fight Assad and invoke regime change 27 June 2015.]

30 civilians dead in Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemeni market - report | 05 July 2015 | As many as 30 civilians were killed in Saudi-led airstrikes that hit a market in northern Yemen on Sunday, the Houthi-run news agency Saba has reported. The news agency said an unspecified number of people were injured in the attack on the Aahem market in Hajjah province. In response, Houthi forces launched several rocket attacks against Saudi army positions, including a military airfield in Najran, the al-Sharafa army camp, as well as tanks stationed north of the al-Khoba region in the Saudi province of Jizan.

More than 61% of Greeks say 'No' in crucial bailout referendum - final tally | 06 July 2015 | More than 61 percent of Greeks have voted "No" in Sunday's referendum on the bailout deal and austerity measures, reported the Interior Ministry after 100 percent of the vote had been counted. Thousands of people took to Syntagma square in front of the Greek parliament in Athens to celebrate the 'No' vote, which was called "a big Yes to democratic Europe" by the country's fin-nce minister, Yanis Varoufakis. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras praised the 'No' vote in the referendum, saying that his government is ready to return to negotiations with creditors immediately so that the country's banks could re-open.

Britain faces biggest threat from terrorism in a decade, warns MI5 | 04 July 2015 | Britain is facing its biggest threat from terrorism for nearly a decade, according to security sources. The Government has met with MI5 and counter terror police chiefs to discuss the possibility of raising the UK's threat level to 'Critical', meaning an attack is imminent...The last time Britain was placed at 'Critical' was on June 30 2007 following the failed attempt to bomb Glasgow Airport. Currently the threat level facing the country is 'Severe' which means an attack is "highly likely".

Holy fascist police state, Batman! Tourist takes selfie in Brighton, arrested on terrorism offences | 03 July 2015 | A tourist was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after taking a selfie video in Brighton. Nasser Al-Ansari, 38, said he was filming a video of himself on his mobile phone outside a shopping centre in Brighton when the incident happened, according to the Argus. Mr Al-Ansari, from Kuwait, said he was then taken to a car park by officers and held on suspicion of terrorism offences for three hours. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Betts, from Brighton and Hove CID, confirmed to the Daily Mail that Mr Al-Ansari had been arrested under the Terrorism Act and released after "an assessment was made and there was no immediate threat."

New York City flooded with cops in Fourth of July security alert: Seven thousand officers assigned to potential targets amid a rise in terrorist 'chatter' and fears of attack by homegrown extremists --U.S. Air Force has cancelled an Independence Day event in the UK | 05 July 2015 | More than 7,000 police officers will flood the streets of New York City during the July 4 celebrations has security is ramped up across the country amid concerns ISIS [I-CIA-SIS] sympathizers may try and target the event. The extra cops will be placed at landmarks and in crowded areas as residents watch the firework displays and attend parties around the city. The heightened security comes as local authorities across the country have been told to remain vigilant this Independence Day, while the FBI has also stepped up its presence. Intelligence officials have said there is increased 'chatter' on terrorist networks, prompting fears homegrown extremists may try and stage an attack.

New York amps up security against terror attacks ahead of July 4 weekend --In New York City, the nation's largest municipal police force assigned about 7,000 officers and nearly all its counterterrorism personnel to handle security around Independence Day events. | 03 July 2015 | New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday ordered heightened security measures across the state over the U.S. July 4 holiday weekend in response to a call for vigilance by the federal government. "We are keenly aware that New York State remains a top target for terrorists," Mr. Cuomo said in a statement. The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have issued an alert calling for local authorities and the public to remain vigilant for possible threats following recent calls for violence by Islamic State militants.

Security SWAT Teams Sweeping Navy Yard Buildings --Washington Navy Yard gets all clear after false alarm --The large military site was evacuated and placed on lockdown after reports of a possible shooting | 02 July 2015 | A US military complex in Washington DC has been given the all clear after reports that a gunman was on the site. Hundreds of police officers flooded the US Navy Yard, which was evacuated after the false alarm on Thursday morning. But after scouring the site, officials said police had found no sign of a shooting, made no arrests and found no weapons. The sprawling site in the southeast part of the US capital was the scene of a mass shooting two years ago.

United flight bound for DC is diverted to Ohio after female passenger 'makes threatening comments about a bomb' | 02 July 2015 | A United Airlines flight from Missouri to Washington D.C. was diverted to Ohio on Thursday after a female passenger allegedly made threatening comments about a bomb while on board the plane. United Express Flight 3342 had set off from St Louis at around 8.50am and was traveling to the nation's capital when the flier made the remarks, officials said. The flight crew alerted the pilot, who decided to take action and the aircraft was diverted to Port Columbus Airport. Passengers told Daily Mail Online there had been a 'bomb threat on the plane'.

Police arrest US soldier carrying assault rifle, ammunition and bulletproof vest in North Carolina shopping mall | 03 July 2015 | An Army soldier has been arrested and charged after he was caught walking through a shopping mall with an assault rifle, ammunition and bulletproof vest. But he was just there to get have his portrait done. Bryan Scott Wolfinger, a 25-year-old sergeant, sparked panic at Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville, North Carolina last night when he was allegedly spotted wandering through the mall armed. Fayetteville Police have now charged him with 'going armed to the terror of the public' after it was claimed he had simply arrived to have his photo taken and posed no threat.

North Carolina budget measure would expand 'terrorism exemption' to more state records | 06 July 2015 | Open government advocates say they're concerned about a provision in the state Senate budget that would broaden the so-called "terrorism exemption" and block certain records from public review. Current state records law already blocks the release of "specific details" of security and infrastructure plans, as well as the release of plans to "prevent or respond to terrorist activity." But the state Senate's budget would add exemptions for documents that detail "patterns or practices associated with executive protection and security," among other measures...Two additional provisions would prevent the release of details associated with prison operations and plans by law enforcement "to prevent or respond to criminal, gang or organized illegal activity."

South Carolina Senate votes to remove Confederate flag | 06 July 2015 | The South Carolina Senate voted Monday to removethe Confederate flag from a pole on the Statehouse grounds, though the proposal still needs approval from the state House and the governor. The bill requires a two-thirds vote in each chamber; the Senate approved it 37-3. Gov. Nikki Haley has said she wants the flag to come down and will sign the bill. Monday's vote comes less than a week after the 15th anniversary of South Carolina taking the flag off the Capitol dome where it flew since the early 1960s and moving it to beside a monument honoring Confederate soldiers.

Govt to raise maximum annual radiation exposure ahead of restart of nuclear reactors | 30 June 2015 | (Japan) The government will raise the maximum permissible radiation dose for people including local government officials and bus drivers who will give evacuation guidance to local residents or transport materials in the event of a nuclear accident from the current 1 millisievert per year. At the time of the outbreak of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, efforts to evacuate and transport materials were hampered because a sufficient number of necessary people such as government staff were not secured for the local task force near the crippled nuclear power complex...The government plans to set up a working group within the Cabinet Office as early as next month to start discussing a new standard. The new maximum permissible radiation dose will be applied mainly to local public servants other than police and fire department officials and local bus and truck drivers. [Hopefully, the Japanese people will engage in *open rebellion* to prevent the restart of deadly nuclear power plants.]

Radioactivity detected in two places at Czech nuclear plant | 04 July 2015 | An official says low [?!?] radioactivity has been unexpectedly detected in two places outside one of the two reactors at a Czech nuclear power plant. The reactor where radioactivity was detected is currently shut down for planned maintenance. Environmentalists in Austria have demanded that the Temelin plant be closed because of security concerns, but Czech authorities insist it is safe.

Greenpeace and utilities launch suit against Hinkley nuclear plant | 02 July 2015 | Greenpeace and nine German and Austrian utilities selling renewable energy said on Thursday they are launching legal action against state aid for a new British nuclear power plant, which was approved by the European commission. Greenpeace and the others in the group said at a news briefing that the lawsuit would be filed with the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg in the coming days, over the Hinkley Point C project in south-west England. "We are complaining against these boundless nuclear subsidies, because from an ecological and macro-economic viewpoint, they appear senseless and bring substantial financial disadvantages for other energy suppliers, renewable energies and for consumers," said Soenke Tangermann, managing director of the Greenpeace Energy co-operative.

CSX Train Derails in Tennessee; 5,000 Evacuated Because of Toxic Gas as Storms Approach Area | 02 July 2015 | At least one train car carrying a flammable and toxic gas derailed earlyThursday and caught fire in eastern Tennessee, prompting an evacuation within a 2-mile radius, authorities said. NBC News reported that more than 5,000 residents of Maryville have been evacuated after the CSX train derailed in Blount County, south of Knoxville. Seven officers were taken to the hospital after breathing in fumes from the blaze, Blount County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Marian O'Briant told NBC.

Solar-Powered Plane Lands in Hawaii After Flight From Japan --Wings of Solar Impulse 2 were equipped with 17,000 solar cells that charged batteries | 03 July 2015 | A plane powered by the sun's rays landed in Hawaii Friday after a record-breaking five-day journey across the Pacific Ocean from Japan. Pilot Andre Borschberg and his single-seat aircraft landed at Kalaeloa, a small airport outside Honolulu. His 120-hour voyage from Nagoya broke the record for the world's longest nonstop solo flight, his team said.

Polar bears in peril: Iconic Animals will soon be EXTINCT if global warming is not reversed, government study warns --Global warming is reducing the amount of summer sea ice in the Arctic | 02 July 2015 | Polar bears are at risk of dying off if humans don't reverse the trend of global warming, a blunt U.S. government report has said. Halting Arctic warming will require a global commitment, said Jenifer Kohout, the Fish and Wildlife Service's regional program manager and a co-chair of the polar bear recovery team. Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming, which is reducing the amount of summer sea ice in the Arctic. The Office of Naval Research said the past eight years have had the eight lowest amounts of summer sea ice on record.

Polar bears will die out if global warming is not reversed, US report finds | 02 July 2015 | Polar bears will be wiped out if humans don't reverse the trend of global warming, according to a blunt report by the US government. In a draft recovery plan for polar bears produced by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, it says: "The single most important step for polar bear conservation is decisive action to address Arctic warming. Short of action that effectively addresses the primary cause of diminishing sea ice, it is unlikely that polar bears will be recovered." Polar bears eat, mate and give birth on sea ice. Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming, which is reducing the levels of summer sea ice in the Arctic. No sea ice means polar bears will struggle to survive.

Washington woman who died of measles WAS vaccinated against the disease --An autopsy has revealed that a Washington state woman died of measles in the spring, marking the first measles death in the U.S. since 2003 | 03 July 2015 | A woman who became the first person to die of the measles in the U.S. in 12 years had been vaccinated against [sic] the disease, it has been revealed. Health officials said she had the injection as a child but succumbed because she had a compromised immune system. The female patient, who passed away in the spring, lacked some of the measles' common symptoms, such as a rash, so the infection was not discovered until an autopsy, Washington State Department of Health spokesman Donn Moyer said. This is the 11th case of measles in Washington - and the sixth in Clallam County - this year, Moyer said. Officials didn't say whether the woman was vaccinated, but they did note she had a compromised immune system.

Feds: Immigrant Kids Given Adult Dose of Hepatitis A Vaccine in Texas Detention Center --ICE, Department of Homeland Security's Office of Health Affairs investigating how 'mix-up' at detention center in Dilley occurred | 04 July 2015 | Authorities say about 250 immigrant children were given an adult dose of a Hepatitis A vaccine at a Texas detention facility where they are being held with their mothers. U.S. Immigration and Customs spokesman Richard Rocha says health care professionals will monitor the children over the next five days for any potential side effects...

New doubts over mammograms: Study of 16 million women casts doubts on the benefits of screening | 06 July 2015 | Routine breast cancer screening may be incorrectly picking up women who do not actually have the disease, research suggests. A huge study of 16 million women casts doubts on the benefits of routinely offering mammograms to women of a certain age. The data suggest that routine screening is leading to significant numbers of 'false positives' - in which women are wrongly told they might have breast cancer when, in fact, they do not. Other women might undergo gruelling chemotherapy to treat small, slow-growing tumours which might never have troubled them if they lived on in ignorance.

Man rushed to isolation unit in Liverpool hospital to be tested for Ebola --The man was rushed into an isolation unit after falling ill and is being tested for a number of diseases, but experts say the disease remains a low risk to the UK. | 03 July 2015 | A man recently working in Africa is being treated for the deadly Ebola virus in a UK hospital. The patient was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital for tests after concerns were raised over his health. The man, described as having a history of travel to Western Africa, became unwell in North Wales and was rushed to Merseyside in an ambulance. The hospital is one of four in the UK placed on standby last year in case the disease reaches Britain.

Health Insurance Companies Seek Big Rate Increases for 2016 [Of course. That's why in 2010 the US should have implemented single-payer health care, but Obama and his Wall Street overlords wouldn't allow it.] | 03 July 2015 | Health insurance companies around the country are seeking rate increases of 20 percent to 40 percent or more, saying their new customers under the Affordable [sic] Care Act turned out to be sicker than expected. Federal officials say they are determined to see that the requests are scaled back. Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans -- market leaders in many states -- are seeking rate increases that average 23 percent in Illinois, 25 percent in North Carolina, 31 percent in Oklahoma, 36 percent in Tennessee and 54 percent in Minnesota, according to documents posted online by the federal government and state insurance commissioners and interviews with insurance executives. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico has requested rate increases averaging 51 percent for its 33,000 members.

Jim Webb Announces 2016 Presidential Run | 02 July 2015 | Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb announced in an email Thursdaythat he will seek the Democratic nomination for president. Despite being the first potential candidate to launch a presidential exploratory committee last November, Webb will likely be the last Democrat to challenge frontrunner Hillary Clinton for the party's presidential nomination. Webb is a Vietnam veteran and assistant secretary of defense and secretary of the U.S. Navy. In his email announcing his run, Webb was critical of U.S. intervention overseas, writing, "The attack in Benghazi was inevitable in some form or another."

Feel the Bern: Sanders Wows in Wisconsin | 02 July 2015 | Adispatch from the Associated Press in Madison, Wisconsin: Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders touted his progressive credentials before his largest crowd to dateWednesday night as he pushed his campaign into Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker's backyard. Sanders packed the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Madison, filling its 10,000 seats to show his bid to snatch the Democratic nomination from front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton isn't a long shot after all.

Richard Nixon told his FBI director to be as ruthless as the Nazis in hunt for Deep Throat, declassified Watergate documents reveal | 03 July 2015 | Richard Nixon was a booze-ridden insomniac who told the new director of the FBI to be as ruthless as if he were a Nazi storm-trooper in a bid to win his loyalty. A new book reveals that the former President demanded that L. Patrick Gray be 'brutal, tough and respected' so that he could cover up his secrets. Nixon invoked the image of German soldiers in WWII who threatened to shoot an entire town if they came under sniper fire.