ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

December 27, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to news sources  representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.  Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Judge’s partial lifting of Trump ban gives some relief to San Diego refugees (KPBS)
• Over five feet of snow fall I Pennsylvania, New York; cold temperatures heading to northeast, midwest (ABC News)
• Trump administration rolling back use of fines against nursing homes (The Hill)
• After Harvey, Texans Are Preparing For Future With Raised Homes, Private Flood Gates (NPR)
• Putin’s man in the White House?  (Newsweek)
• Voting by mail grows in popularity – but is it reliable? (CS Monitor)

 WORLD

• Iraq Christmas service takes place in Mosul after IS defeat (BBC)
• There’s a sharp split among Christians over Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as capitol of Israel (Los Angeles Times)
• At Least 120 Dead, 160 Missing After Tropical Storm Hits Philippines (NPR)
• Shin Bet chief tells Knesset: Over 400 attacks thwarted in 2017 (Jerusalem Post)
• Russia establishing permanent presence at its Syrian bases (Reuters)
• Tiananmen Square protest death toll 'was 10,000' (BBC)
• Egypt detains 15 after dozens attack Coptic church south of Cairo (Jerusalem Post)
• Attack on Libyan crude pipeline cuts output by up to 100,000 bpd (Reuters)  

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

U.S.

Judge’s partial lifting of Trump ban gives some relief to San Diego refugees (KPBS)

After hearing heartbreaking stories of refugees who have struggled to reconnect with their families and listening to the plight of others who strive to leave dangerous situations… U.S. District Judge James Robart released a 65-page order that gave relief to both groups: He granted a nationwide injunction that blocks the administration's restrictions on the process of reuniting refugee families and partially lifted a ban on refugees from 11 mostly Muslim countries.

Over five feet of snow fall I Pennsylvania, New York; cold temperatures heading to northeast, midwest (ABC News)

Over 5 feet of snow has fallen in parts of western New York and Pennsylvania in a record-breaking lake effect snow event as bitter cold temperatures are heading to the Northeast.

Trump administration rolling back use of fines against nursing homes (The Hill)

The Trump administration is reportedly rolling back the use of fines against nursing homes that have been cited for violations such as neglect or mistreatment. The move comes after the nursing home industry requested the change in the Medicare program's penalty protocols, The New York Times reported over the holiday weekend.

After Harvey, Texans Are Preparing For Future With Raised Homes, Private Flood Gates (NPR)

Houston, the nation's fourth largest city, is planning to remake itself into a more flood-proof metropolis after Hurricane Harvey hit the region hard. But Texas still doesn't have the money it wants to do that, let alone detailed plans on how to spend it. Some Texans simply aren't waiting; they're forging ahead on their own.

Putin’s man in the White House?  (Newsweek)

Real Trump-Russia scandal is not mere collusion, top counterspies say.

Voting by mail grows in popularity – but is it reliable? (CS Monitor)

In 27 states, voters now can choose to vote by mail. But unlike votes cast in person, many absentee ballots wind up uncounted, for reasons ranging from invalid signatures to simply being late. Experts say the method is also vulnerable to fraud.

WORLD

Iraq Christmas service takes place in Mosul after IS defeat (BBC)

A Christmas service at a church in the Iraqi city of Mosul has taken place for the first time since militants from the so-called Islamic State (IS) were driven out of the region…. During the service, armoured vehicles sat outside Saint Paul's church and, inside, white sheets covered up bombed-out window frames. The patriarch of Iraq's Chaldean Catholic Church, Louis Raphael Sako, requested that followers pray for "peace and stability in Mosul, Iraq and the world".

There’s a sharp split among Christians over Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as capitol of Israel (Los Angeles Times)

… The divide between evangelicals and other Christian denominations reflects two views of Jerusalem — one traditional and political, the other literal and theological.

At Least 120 Dead, 160 Missing After Tropical Storm Hits Philippines (NPR)

The southern Philippines were hit hard when heavy rains from Tropical Storm Tembin caused flooding, landslides and mudslides that carried people and houses away.

Shin Bet chief tells Knesset: Over 400 attacks thwarted in 2017 (Jerusalem Post)

…The agency had thwarted over 400 terrorist attacks in 2017, including 13 suicide attacks and 8 kidnappings, as well as 1,100 potential lone-wolf attacks

Russia establishing permanent presence at its Syrian bases (Reuters)

 Russia has started establishing a permanent military presence at naval and air bases in Syria, the defense minister said on Tuesday as parliament ratified a deal with Damascus to cement Russian presence in the country, the RIA news agency reported.

Tiananmen Square protest death toll 'was 10,000' (BBC)

The Chinese army crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests killed at least 10,000 people, according to newly-released UK documents.

Egypt detains 15 after dozens attack Coptic church south of Cairo (Jerusalem Post)

Dozens of Muslims from the village of Kafr al-Waslin attacked the church after Friday prayers, smashing the windows and breaking everything inside.

Attack on Libyan crude pipeline cuts output by up to 100,000 bpd (Reuters)  

Armed men blew up a pipeline pumping crude oil to Es Sider port on Tuesday, cutting Libya's output by up to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd), military and oil sources said.