ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

February 25,  2023 (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 a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• White House announces additional Russia sanctions, Ukraine aid on anniversary of invasion (The Hill)
• Georgia grand jury recommended indictments for more than a dozen people in Trump probe, foreperson says (NBC)
• Biden declares ‘Kyiv stands’ in surprise visit to Ukraine (AP)
• Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Subpoenaed in Jan. 6 Investigation (New York Times)
• Train that derailed in Ohio highlights cost-cutting strategy in rail industry  (CBS News)
• What we know so far about the Chinese spy balloon and the other objects the U.S. shot down (CBS)
• US says China balloon could collect intelligence signals (AP)
• Off camera, Fox hosts doubted 2020 election fraud claims (AP)
• Police identify MSU shooting suspect, say all victims were students (NBC)
• Nikki Haley announces run for president, challenging Trump (AP)
• Students walk out after told to limit Black History program (AP)
• Trump: I Was Right to Trust Putin Over US Intelligence Officials (Hill Reporter)
• Governor's office in Pennsylvania makes a criminal referral in Ohio train derailment   (NPR)
• Former Arizona AG sat on records, refuting election fraud  (AP)

WORLD

• Russia is suspending its participation in New START nuclear weapons treaty, Putin says (CNN)
• Russian lawmakers endorse suspension of nuclear pact with US  (AP)
• Earthquake death toll tops 33,000; Turkey starts legal action (Reuters)
• No tents, no aid, nothing: Why Syrians feel forgotten (BBC)
• Russia has 97% of army deployed in Ukraine: UK (Newsweek)
• US renews warning it'll defend Philippines after China spat (AP)
• Nicaragua's vote to strip opponents of citizenship (AP)
• Indian tax authorities raid BBC after critical Modi documentary  (NPR)

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

U.S.

White House announces additional Russia sanctions, Ukraine aid on anniversary of invasion (The Hill)

The White House on Friday marked one year since Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by announcing additional military and economic aid for Ukraine and a fresh round of sanctions on Russia. The Biden administration, in coordination with allies in the Group of Seven (G-7), announced measures aimed at further squeezing the Russian economy and sources of revenue to fund the country’s war effort in Ukraine. The U.S. will increase tariffs on Russian imports and target companies, including some in China, that have helped Russia evade sanctions.

Georgia grand jury recommended indictments for more than a dozen people in Trump probe, foreperson says (NBC)

Emily Kohrs told NBC News the panel's recommendations include "some names you expect." Asked whether they included Trump, she said, "Potentially, it might."

Biden declares ‘Kyiv stands’ in surprise visit to Ukraine (AP)

President Joe Biden swept unannounced into Ukraine on Monday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a defiant display of Western solidarity with a country still fighting what he called “a brutal and unjust war” days before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Subpoenaed in Jan. 6 Investigation (New York Times)

The special counsel overseeing the inquiry into Donald Trump’s efforts to retain power after the 2020 election wants the former president’s daughter and son-in-law to testify to a grand jury.

Train that derailed in Ohio highlights cost-cutting strategy in rail industry  (CBS News)

The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that contaminated at least 15,000 pounds of soil and 1.1 million gallons of water earlier this month has brought to light a cost-cutting strategy in the rail industry. The strategy, known as Precision Scheduled Railroading, seeks to streamline rail operations by lengthening trains while cutting the workforce… "This has been part of a drive by these multibillion dollar companies to wring every penny of profit out of the rail system," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CBS News. "They have to cut their workforce massively, including safety positions, including maintenance positions."

What we know so far about the Chinese spy balloon and the other objects the U.S. shot down (CBS)

When a Chinese spy balloon floated across the U.S. in early February, it ignited a firestorm of concern on Capitol Hill and led to the cancellation of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to China amid already fraught relations between the two countries. China has maintained it was a weather balloon that veered off course. But the balloon was doing something much more sinister, according to the U.S. There have since been a number of other incidents involving flying objects, raising even more concern. Here's what we know about the balloon and those other objects: 

US says China balloon could collect intelligence signals (AP)

The China balloon shot down by the U.S. was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals as part of a huge, military-linked aerial surveillance program that targeted more than 40 countries, the Biden administration declared Thursday, citing imagery from American U-2 spy planes.

Off camera, Fox hosts doubted 2020 election fraud claims (AP)

To millions of viewers, Fox News hosts gave allies of former President Donald Trump a platform to champion false claims that he lost the 2020 election because of voter fraud. To one another, they expressed doubts about the claims and mocked the people making them. Private exchanges between Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham, and other network bigwigs — including the chairman of Fox Corporation, Rupert Murdoch — show a wide chasm between what the network promoted in primetime and the doubts that its stars held behind the camera, according to new court filings in a defamation lawsuit being waged by a company whose voting systems were regularly maligned on air.

Police identify MSU shooting suspect, say all victims were students (NBC)

President Joe Biden released a statement Tuesday grieving the Michigan State University shooting saying, “Action is what we owe to those grieving today in Michigan and across America.”

Nikki Haley announces run for president, challenging Trump (AP)

Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, announced her candidacy for president on Tuesday, becoming the first major challenger to former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination.

Students walk out after told to limit Black History program (AP)

More than 200 students walked out of class at an Alabama high school after they say they were told by school leaders to omit certain relevant events from an upcoming student-led Black History Month program. …Students told WBMA-TV they were ordered to leave out major historical moments, including slavery and the civil rights movement…

Trump: I Was Right to Trust Putin Over US Intelligence Officials (Hill Reporter)

Via a Monday morning post to Truth Social, Donald Trump claimed that he was right to trust Vladimir Putin over his own intelligence officials.In 2016, Russia made the determination that having Donald Trump in the White House would help to destabilize the United States. As a result, the Kremlin engaged in a program to help the former businessman become President. 

Governor's office in Pennsylvania makes a criminal referral in Ohio train derailment   (NPR)

…"We made a criminal referral to the office of attorney general. They'll determine whether or not there was criminal activity," Shapiro said. "What I know is that Norfolk Southern is governed every day, not by caring about the communities that they send their trains through, but by corporate greed."

Former Arizona AG sat on records, refuting election fraud  (AP)

Arizona’s former attorney general suppressed findings by his investigators who concluded there was no basis for allegations that the 2020 election was marred by widespread fraud, according to documents released Wednesday by his successor.

WORLD

Russia is suspending its participation in New START nuclear weapons treaty, Putin says (CNN)

Russia is suspending its participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday…The New START treaty is the only agreement left regulating the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals.

Russian lawmakers endorse suspension of nuclear pact with US  (AP)

Both houses of Russia’s parliament on Wednesday quickly endorsed President Vladimir Putin’s move to suspend the last remaining nuclear arms treaty with the United States, with officials and lawmakers casting it as an eleventh-hour warning to Washington amid the tensions over Ukraine.

Earthquake death toll tops 33,000; Turkey starts legal action (Reuters)

… With chances of finding more survivors growing more remote, the toll in both countries from Monday's earthquake and major aftershocks rose above 33,000 and looked set to keep growing. It was the deadliest quake in Turkey since 1939… Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said 131 suspects had so far been identified as responsible for the collapse of some of the thousands of buildings flattened in the 10 affected provinces.

No tents, no aid, nothing: Why Syrians feel forgotten (BBC)

Those living here on the Syrian side may have been displaced by the country's more than decade-old civil war. But they could also be survivors of the earthquake..The earthquake, untroubled by international borders, has brought havoc to both countries. But the international relief effort has been thwarted by checkpoints. In southern Turkey, thousands of rescue workers with heavy lifting gear, paramedics and sniffer dogs have jammed the streets, and are still working to find survivors. In this part of opposition-held north-west Syria, none of this is going on.

Russia has 97% of army deployed in Ukraine: UK (Newsweek)

Russia has nearly its entire army deployed in Ukraine, according to United Kingdom Defense Secretary Ben Wallace…Wallace made the comments from Brussels, where he was present for a NATO meeting of defense ministers

US renews warning it'll defend Philippines after China spat (AP)

The United States renewed a warning that it would defend its treaty ally if Filipino forces come under attack in the disputed South China Sea, after a Chinese coast guard ship allegedly hit a Philippine patrol vessel with military-grade laser that briefly blinded some of its crew.  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian in Manila on Tuesday to express his serious concern “over the increasing frequency and intensity of actions by China against the Philippine coast guard and fishermen"....

Nicaragua's vote to strip opponents of citizenship (AP)

Last week Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega packed off 222 political leaders, priests, students, activists and other dissidents to the United States, their release long demanded by the international community.  Shortly after, Ortega’s government voted to strip the former prisoners of Nicaraguan citizenship. Analysts, legal experts and human rights groups are calling it a…violation of international law…  Spain has offered its citizenship to the 222 exiles, while the U.S. granted the Nicaraguans a two-year temporary protection.

Indian tax authorities raid BBC after critical Modi documentary  (NPR)

More than a dozen Indian Income Tax officials entered the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai Tuesday morning seizing accounts, financial documents, and phones of BBC employees...The searches came weeks after the BBC aired a two-part documentary series critical of India's prime minister… [that] examined Modi's role in anti-Muslim raids that killed hundreds in his home state of Gujarat in 2002.