Your Thursday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top CNS stories for today including the Justice Department released Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump; The Trump administration suffered a legal defeat at the Ninth Circuit as a panel denied its attempt to prevent California from implementing sanctuary laws meant to protect residents from federal immigration enforcement officials; The Indiana Supreme Court heard oral arguments over whether police can force criminal suspects to unlock their cellphones, and more.
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National
1.) Offering insight into an investigation that captivated the nation for two years, the Justice Department on Thursday released Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump.
2.) The Trump administration suffered a legal defeat at the Ninth Circuit on Thursday as a panel denied its attempt to prevent California from implementing sanctuary laws meant to protect residents from federal immigration enforcement officials.
3.) In a case involving an accused stalker, the Indiana Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday over whether police can force criminal suspects to unlock or decrypt their cellphones.
International
4.) Some of Europe’s last tracts of old-growth forest, left untouched for centuries due to their remoteness in the steep Carpathian Mountains of Romania, are being cut down, often by lucrative illegal logging operations, scientists and advocacy groups warn.
5.) North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday it no longer wants Secretary of State Mike Pompeo involved in ongoing disarmament negotiations, after Pyongyang claimed he has been too reckless in his remarks about the talks.
6.) A group of lawyers accused Greek authorities on Thursday of violating human-rights laws when they arrested a man in 2016 for trying to help asylum-seekers at sea reach Europe’s shores.
Science
7.) Interpreting DNA from the bones of 13th-century Crusaders has given researchers insight into the remarkable story of their genetic diversity and highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to fill in the gaps of historical events.
8.) A study published Thursday found that the unusually persistent reign of the South American empire immediately preceding the Inca is attributable to one major factor — a steady supply of beer.
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