ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

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December 3, 2014 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

WORLD

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

U.S.

U.S. military warned of possible Islamic State attacks at home: report (Reuters)

 U.S. officials have warned military personnel that Islamic State forces may be planning attacks against them in the United States, ABC News reported on Monday.  A joint intelligence bulletin sent to law enforcement agencies by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security urged members of the U.S. military to erase from their online social media accounts anything would draw attention from "violent extremists," or reveal service members' identity, the news network said.

House approves new savings accounts for people with disabilities (The Hill)

The House on Wednesday passed legislation to create tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities.  Passed by a vote of 404-17, the bill known as the ABLE Act is intended to help Americans with disabilities pay for the associated expenses, including medical costs and finding employment. Twelve Democrats and five Republicans voted against the measure. The Senate companion bill has 74 co-sponsors, indicating that it would pass easily in the upper chamber.

Is A Threat Posted On Facebook Really A Threat? (NPR)

The Supreme Court is tackling a question of increasing importance in the age of social media and the Internet after a man was convicted of posting threats against his estranged wife and an FBI agent.

Oprah targeted in foiled terror bomb plot (Judicial Watch)

The Chicago studios of talk-show superstar Oprah Winfrey and the iconic “Sears Tower” (renamed Willis Tower) were the targets of a terrorist truck-bomb plot in 2009.  But initially unbeknownst to federal authorities, two of the conspirators recently were arrested for unrelated state crimes in different parts of the country.

Oil prices in freefall (Time)

Oil futures fall nearly 8% to their lowest in five years as Saudi Arabia tries to squeeze U.S. shale industry.

Analysis: Lawmakers can defund Obama’s immigration actions (The Hill)

A report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service says that lawmakers have the power to defund President Obama’s executive action on immigration, reigniting a fight within the GOP.

5 key inconsistencies in what happened  during the Michael Brown shooting (Mother Jones)

Where the accounts of Darren Wilson and witnesses don’t add up.

New bill would allow VA to recommend medical marijuana (Washington Post)

Arguing that medical marijuana may help wounded warriors with anxiety and stress disorders to “survive and thrive,” Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) have introduced legislation that would allow Department of Veterans Affairs’ doctors to recommend the drug for some patients.

A Thanksgiving dinner resolution: why you should invite Indians to the table (Salon)

As we eat that turkey tonight, let's consider how our system is depriving Natives of economic and criminal justice.

Why Clif Bar Dropped Athletes In Dangerous Sports (NPR)

Extreme athletes keep pushing the envelope, and that's causing some sponsors to pull their support. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Outside Magazine's Grayson Schaffer about what makes a sport too risky.

Judge Rules Fewer Political Groups Can Keep Their Donors Secret (NPR)

The ruling targets the funders of campaign issue ads that encourage viewers to choose a specific candidate. The FEC now must decide whether it will appeal the ruling or require more disclosure.

WORLD

300 ISIS supporters facing trial in Germany (Jerusalem Post)

On Friday, a state prosecutor demanded a prison term of more than four years for a 20-year-old German man accused of fighting with Islamic State insurgents in Syria.

Enough is enough: Mexico’s president announces federal takeover of local police forces (RawStory)

Mexico’s embattled president unveiled sweeping reforms Thursday to dissolve corruption-plagued municipal police forces nationwide amid an outcry over the role of gang-affiliated authorities in the presumed slaughter of 43 students.

11 corpses dumped in same Mexico state as apparent student massacre (Reuters)

 Eleven mutilated corpses, many of them decapitated, were found dumped by the roadside in southwest Mexico on Thursday in the same state where 43 trainee teachers were abducted and apparently massacred two months ago, local authorities said.mf

Egyptian court dismisses murder charges against Mubarak  (Jerusalem Post)

An Egyptian court on Saturday dropped its case against ousted President Hosni Mubarak, his interior minister and six aides on charges of ordering the killing of protesters during the 2011 revolt that removed him from power.

Hamas terror attack plot at Jerusalem soccer stadium thwarted (Jerusalem Post)

[Israeli] Security forces arrested more than 30 Hamas operatives suspected of involvement in plot uncovered in September. The Shin Bet and IDF thwarted a large-scale, transnational Hamas terrorism network that was preparing to carry out an array of deadly attacks against Israelis. It was cleared for publication on Thursday that the network planned to target the landmark Teddy soccer stadium in Jerusalem, the capital's light rail system, car bombings, and kidnappings of Israelis in the West Bank and overseas.

"U.S. Drones Kill 28 'Unknowns' for Every Intended Target” (Reason)

U.S. drones in Yemen and Pakistan kill 28 "unknowns" for every intended target. What's more, "41 names of men who seemed to have achieved the impossible: to have ‘died,’ in public reporting, not just once, not just twice, but again and again. Reports indicate that each assassination target ‘died’ on average more than three times beforetheir actual death."

Why are the world's food aid programs running short of money? (+video) (CS Monitor)

On Monday, the World Food Program announced that, due to a funding shortage, it was suspending food aid to more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees. The setback, which comes as winter approaches, is emblematic of a global crisis.

Iran hackers targeted airlines, energy firms: report (Reuters)

Iranian hackers have infiltrated some of the world's top energy, transport and infrastructure companies over the past two years in a campaign that could allow them to eventually cause physical damage, according to U.S. cyber security firm Cylance.

Egyptian court sentences 185 to death for attack on police (Reuters)

 An Egyptian judge sentenced 185 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death on Tuesday over an attack on a police station near Cairo last year in which 12 policemen were killed.

 

 


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