SnowdenRussia.jpgFox News

U.S. lawmakers fumed Thursday after NSA leaker Edward Snowden apparently was allowed to leave the Moscow airport and enter Russian territory on temporary refugee status.

“If these reports are accurate, Americans in Washington should consider this a game changer in our relationship with Russia,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a statement, calling Russia’s decision “provocative” and “a sign of Vladimir Putin’s clear lack of respect for President Obama.”   Continue reading “US lawmakers fume over Russia granting asylum to Snowden”

Fugitive former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden (C) talks with Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena (2nd R) in front of a car at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport August 1, 2013 in this still handout image broadcasted by Rossiya 24 TV Channel. REUTERS-Rossiya 24-Handout via ReutersReuters – by Timothy Heritage and Alissa de Carbonnel

Fugitive former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden slipped quietly out of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on Thursday after being granted a year’s asylum in Russia, ending more than five weeks in limbo in the transit area.

Russia’s decision to help the American, and ignore U.S. requests to send him home to face trial for leaking details of government surveillance programs, is sure to anger Washington and increase doubts that a summit between presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin will go ahead in Moscow in September.   Continue reading “Fugitive Snowden granted a year’s asylum in Russia, leaves airport”

Infowars – by Steve Watson

The NSA head General Keith Alexander faced a hostile crowd Wednesday while attempting to defend mass surveillance programs at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas.

Around 30 minutes into his speech, Alexander claimed that the NSA had “stopped thirteen terrorist related activities in the United States,” flashing up a slide that stated the NSA had prevented fifty-four worldwide terrorist events. “Our nation takes stopping terrorism as one of the most important things.” Alexander stated, prompting a man in the crowd to shout “Freedom!”   Continue reading “Security Consultant Heckles NSA Head: Shouts “Freedom!”; “Read The Constitution!””

Tech Dirt – by Glyn Moody

Two massive trade agreements currently being negotiated — TPP and TAFTA/TTIP — could potentially affect most people on this planet, either directly or indirectly through the knock-on effects. Like all such agreements, they have been justified on the grounds that everyone wins: trade is boosted, prices drop, profits rise and jobs are created. That’s why it’s been hard to argue against TPP or TAFTA — after all, who doesn’t want all those things?   Continue reading “Trade Agreements With Mexico And South Korea Turned Out To Be Disasters For US: So Why Pursue TPP And TAFTA/TTIP?”

EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran. A general view of an oil dock is seen from a ship at the port of Kalantari in the city of Chabahar, 300km (186 miles) east of the Strait of Hormuz January 17, 2012. REUTERS/Raheb HomavandiReuters – by Timothy Gardner

The House of Representatives easily passed a bill on Wednesday to tighten sanctions on Iran, showing a strong message to Tehran over its disputed nuclear program days before President-elect Hassan Rouhani is sworn in.

The vote also highlighted a growing divide between Congress and the Obama administration on Iran policy ahead of international talks on the nuclear program in coming months. Iran insists the nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes.   Continue reading “U.S. House passes Iran sanctions bill to slash oil exports”

Mass Privatel

In the aftermath of the information sharing failures leading to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in a Pennsylvania field, States and localities across the United States established what are known today as State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers (fusion centers). Collectively known as the National Network of Fusion Centers, many of these – now numbering 78 – fusion centers are still in their infancy.   Continue reading “Seventy eight (National Network) fusion centers in America but we only have 50 states”

Detroit Michigan at Milwaukee Junction looking southwest at Russell Industrial Complex - Photo by no body atollEnd of the American Dream – by Michael Snyder

Something very strange is happening to Detroit.  Once upon a time, it was the center of American manufacturing and it had the highest per capita income in the United States.  But now the city is dying and the Chinese are moving in to pick up the pieces.  Lured by news stories that proclaim that you can buy homes in Detroit for as little as one dollar, Chinese investors are eagerly gobbling up properties.  In some cases, this is happening dozens of properties at a time.  Not only that, according to the New York Times “dozes of companies from China” are investing in businesses and establishing a presence in the Detroit area.  If this continues, will Detroit eventually become a city that is heavily dominated by China?   Continue reading “Why Are The Chinese Gobbling Up Real Estate And Businesses In Detroit?”

Oil Price – by John Daly

The British police are probing an allegation that a $1.3 billion Nigerian oil bloc deal involving Royal Dutch Shell and Italy’s Eni SpA may have involved money laundering. Most of the money was allegedly paid to a company linked with Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Dan Etete. Nigerian President General Sani Abacha appointed Etete Minister of Petroleum in March 1995 and he served in that role until 1998, when he went into exile following Abacha’s death. In 2007 Etete was convicted of money laundering in France.   Continue reading “British Police Investigating $1.3 Billion Shell, ENI Nigerian Oil Corruption”

sodaban640.jpgFox News

Another court ruling has taken the fizz out of New York City’s ban on big, sugary sodas.

A New York appeals court on Tuesday ruled that the city Board of Health exceeded its legal authority and acted unconstitutionally when it tried to put a size limit on soft drinks served in city restaurants.    Continue reading “Appeals court rules against NYC soda ban”

SC Magazine – by Juha Saarinen

A team of university students have demonstrated that it is possible to subvert global positioning system navigation signals to pilot a superyacht without tripping alarms.

The experiment was conducted in June this year, with the permission of the owners of a 65-metre (213ft) superyacht worth US$80 million (A$87 million), the White Rose that sailed from Monaco to the island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean.   Continue reading “Students hijack luxury yacht with GPS spoofing”

Not your average jail: Inmates can transfer to Fremont Jail from anywhere in the state, provided they can afford the fancy new digsDaily Mail – by Ryan Gorman

California prisoners in one town are now able to upgrade their digs if they’ve got deep enough pockets.

Fremont, CA recently began charging inmates $155 a night to stay in a previously unused jail. The program is pay-as-they-go and provides a few perks that might be worth the cost to a few discerning inmates.   Continue reading “California prison is charging inmates $155 to upgrade to fancy wing with widescreen TV and ‘quiet surroundings’”

Tragic: Kali Hardig, 12, is in critical condition after contracting a rare amoebic meningitis after she swam in a lake at a water park last weekDaily Mail – by MICHAEL ZENNIE

A 12-year-old girl is fighting for her life in critical condition after contracting a rare and extremely deadly brain-eating amoeba while swimming at an Arkansas water park.

Kali Hardig is the second person to have come down with primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in three years after swimming in the sandy-bottom lake at Willow Springs Water Park near Little Rock, Arkansas.    Continue reading “Girl, 12, in critical condition after contracting deadly brain eating amoeba while swimming at water park”

Washington’s Blog

Energy Markets Are Manipulated

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says that JP Morgan has massively manipulated energy markets in  California and the Midwest, obtaining tens of millions of dollars in overpayments from grid operators between September 2010 and June 2011.   Continue reading “Big Banks Manipulated Energy Markets In California and the Midwest … Ripping Off Tens of Millions of Dollars in 9 Months”

AlterNet – by Rose Bouboushian, Courthouse News

Pittsburgh SWAT officers must face claims that they raided a family’s home, violently dragged a child from the bathtub, and “terrorized” them at gunpoint, a federal judge ruled.

Georgeia Moreno and her family sued Pittsburgh, its police chief and 14 police officers in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.   Continue reading “Lawsuit: SWAT Officers Dragged 10-Year-Old from Bathtub, Made Him Stand Naked Next to 4-Year-Old Sister, Terrorized Family”

Fox News

WASHINGTON –  Police have arrested a woman in the splattering of green paint inside two chapels at the Washington National Cathedral and are trying to determine if she has any connection to two similar incidents on the National Mall.

Police say 58-year-old Jiamei Tian was arrested Monday inside the cathedral shortly after the paint was found and charged with defacing property. Assistant D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said investigators were hoping to question her about the vandalism on the Mall, including at the Lincoln Memorial, but a language barrier was complicating those efforts.   Continue reading “Police: Woman arrested in green paint vandalism at Washington National Cathedral”

oaklandNatural News – by Mike Adams

Forget “gun control.” That’s old news. The city of Oakland, California now wants to ban any object that could be used as a “tool of vandalism,” including hammers, wrenches, slingshots, shields and presumably anything else with a blunt edge such as garden rakes or sticks.

It’s all part of Oakland’s response to recent protests in which angry mobs of people caused significant damage to local businesses (because angry mobs tend to loot and burn their own neighborhoods first).   Continue reading “Oakland to ban hammers, wrenches, tripods, walking canes, shields and other ‘tools of vandalism’ in bizarre Orwellian disarmament push”

livingston county man police standoffLivingston Daily – by Lisa Roose-Church

3:50 p.m. UPDATE –– An Oceola Township man was arraigned this afternoon after a more than seven-hour police standoff and the alleged choking of his girlfriend.

Michael George Porr, 43, is charged with assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder, interfering with electronic communication, interfering with a crime report, and animal cruelty.     Continue reading “Livingston County, Michigan man arraigned after 7-hour police standoff”

Victor Ruiz tow truckHuffington Post – by David Moye

It’s hard enough being a parent these days without having your kids taken by a tow truck driver.

And it’s even worse when you’re slapped with child abandonment charges as a result.

That’s the parental predicament being faced by Victor Ruiz, who cops say parked his car in a no-parking zone outside his Houston apartment Thursday and left his two young daughters in the car while he took his groceries inside.   Continue reading “Victor Ruiz Arrested After Tow Truck Tows Away Kids”

fema-truckSHTF Plan – by Mac Slavo

It’s no secret that the U.S. government has been domestically stockpiling unimaginable amounts of ammunition and weapons. So much ammunition, in fact, that it surpasses even what the military uses on a yearly basis in the mid east theaters of war.

All of these arms and ammunition are being transported within the borders of the United States by third-party truck drivers contracted by the Department of Homeland Security, and some of these drivers are reportedly foreign born originating from countries like Russia and Poland.   Continue reading “FEMA Insider: A Large Number of Truck Drivers Have Vanished While Delivering Weapons, Grenades, Ammo”