(2021-02-06). Splintered SCOTUS gives California churches partial win, rules state can't ban indoor services, but can limit capacity over Covid. rt.com 
In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court denied California's ban on indoor church services, but did say the state has the right to limit capacity to 25 percent amid the Covid-19 pandemic. | Religious organizations have been battling with California for months now, as the state's lockdown restrictions have meant that indoor services have been banned across most of the state — a move that has drawn criticism, in particular, because Hollywood productions have been allowed to move forward. | The Supreme Court ruled late Friday night in two cases where churches were suing the state over indoor-services bans, but it…
(2021-02-06). 'He might slip and say something': Biden thinks Trump should be denied traditional intel briefings for former presidents. rt.com 
US President Joe Biden has said that his predecessor Donald Trump is too "erratic" to be entrusted with classified information that is being traditionally provided to former presidents. | Biden was asked by Norah O'Donnell on CBS News whether Trump should get classified intelligence briefings. The president replied: "I think not." | Providing Trump with classified intelligence would be a bad idea "because of his erratic behavior, unrelated to the insurrection," Biden added, referring to the storming of the US Capitol building in Washington by a group of Trump supporters on January 6. | I just think that there…
(2021-02-06). Iraqi forces could seize ISIL ammunition, explosives. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 06 (MNA) — Iraqi intelligence service said in a statement that Iraqi forces were able to identify and confiscate the main warehouse of ammunition and explosives belonging to ISIL terrorist groups in west part of Iraq.
(2021-02-05). The Economist: Democracy Index ranking for Britain rises!! truepublica.org.uk By TruePublica: The 2020 Democracy Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit found that democracy had deteriorated in all seven regions of the world for the first time since 2010, driven by government measures to address the Covid-19 emergency. And while the biggest regressions were in authoritarian regions, the report said that — "the removal of …
(2021-02-05). The Struggle Inside Senator Mitch McConnell's Brain. counterpunch.org Since 2015, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has ruled the Senate with an iron hand, describing himself as "the Guardian of Gridlock." He was Senator "NO," except for confirming over 200 mostly corporatist federal judges. Now comes a new challenge for Mitch McConnell as he leads 49 other Republican Senators, twenty of whom are up
(2021-02-05). Russia slams 'immoral' claims from oligarchs over collapsed Yukos oil empire as final showdown around $50bn legal case begins. rt.com 
A long-running battle over the world's largest legal bill could soon be settled as a court in the Netherlands begins hearing arguments in the case of defunct energy giant Yukos, once among Russia's largest resource companies. | Hearings as part of the $50 billion case began at the Supreme Court in The Hague on Friday, with lawyers for the Russian government seeking to overturn a Dutch tribunal's previous decision to hand damages to the business' ex-shareholders. Yukos' former owners say the company's assets were confiscated in what amounted to state "appropriation." Moscow insists that they are not 'bona fide'
(2021-02-05). Scheer Intelligence: The Egregious Price America Exacts For Integrity. popularresistance.org "George and Mary Oppen were branded enemies of the state," writes Joel Whitney in a recent essay for The Poetry Foundation titled "The Violent Years." "Their FBI files document just how deep their activism went, and the price they paid for it." The author of "Finks: How the C.I.A. Tricked the World's Best Writers" has long been interested in the links between the world of literature and the U.S. surveillance apparatus that grows more unwieldy by the day. As he finished his most recent book tour for "Finks" just as Donald Trump and neo-fascism were on the rise, he tells Robert Scheer on this week's installment of…
(2021-02-05). Saad al-Jabri alleges second assassination plot in amended complaint against MBS. middleeasteye.net 
Saad al-Jabri alleges second assassination plot in amended complaint against MBS | Filing claims Saudi crown prince tried to lure Jabri's daughter to Saudi consulate in Istanbul, days before Jamal Khashoggi was killed | Fri, 02/05/2021 – 19: 57 | New filing is latest action taken in legal battle between Jabri (R) and bin Salman (AFP) | Former Saudi intelligence official Saad al-Jabri claimed agents…
(2021-02-05). Senior US House Democrat introduces Khashoggi Act to protect journalists. middleeasteye.net 
Senior US House Democrat introduces Khashoggi Act to protect journalists | Congressman Adam Schiff, chair of House Intelligence Committee, says legislation would 'hold to account those who would target journalists for violence and persecution' | Fri, 02/05/2021 – 15: 49 | California Congressman Adam Schiff is chair of House Intelligence Committee (AFP) | A senior US House Democrat introduced a bill on Thursday…
(2021-02-04). Surveillance, encryption, security and Huawei. greenleft.org.au Whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed back in 2013 the breadth and scale of the United States government's internet surveillance program. Ernst Merkenich argues that it is only increasing.
(2021-02-03). Philippines apex court kicks off hearings on anti-terror law. peoplesdispatch.org The Supreme Court has begun hearing oral arguments on over three dozen petitions filed against the Anti-Terror Act passed by the Rodrigo Duterte government in July 2020…
(2021-02-03). Ethiopia says it foiled attack on UAE embassy in Addis Ababa. middleeasteye.net 
Ethiopia says it foiled attack on UAE embassy in Addis Ababa | Intelligence and Security Service says 15 people arrested were working at direction of foreigners, local media reports | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 21: 10 | Ethiopian police before inauguration ceremony in Addis Ababa's Sheger park last September (AFP) | Ethiopian authorities arrested 15 people in an alleged plot to attack the United Ar…
(2021-02-03). Indonesian Slaughter, Allen Dulles, and the Assassination of JFK. dissidentvoice.org 
Before I digress slightly, let me state from the outset that the book by Greg Poulgrain that I am about to review is extraordinary by any measure. The story he tells is one you will read nowhere else, especially in the way he links the assassination of President Kennedy to former CIA Director Allen Dulles …
(2021-02-03). Supreme Court pauses Trump immigration cases, as Biden plans to overturn Trump policies & orders a review of 'kids in cages'. rt.com 
The US Supreme Court has canceled arguments on two Trump-era immigration and border security cases, as President Joe Biden eases Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policies. However, the controversial detention of minors continues. | The cases related to Trump's use of military funding to build his long-promised wall on the US-Mexico border, and his "remain in Mexico" asylum policy that required Central American migrants to wait in Mexico while their US asylum claims were processed. Both cases had been challenged by lower courts, and the Supreme Court was preparing to hear oral arguments in their favor until the…