ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

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November 13, 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.

Obama to send 1,500 more troops to assist Iraq (NY Times)

President Obama has authorized the deployment of an additional 1,500 American troops to Iraq in the coming months, doubling the number of Americans meant to train and advise Iraqi and Kurdish forces. The trainers and advisers are to help Iraqis and Kurds as they plan a major offensive expected next spring against Islamic State fighters who have poured into Iraq from Syria.

House, Senate to hold votes on Keystone XL project (Washington Post)

For the first time in the six-year fight over the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, both houses of Congress will hold a vote on the proposed project, giving each side in a Louisiana Senate election a chance to boost its candidate.

Tiny spacecraft nails target: comet 300 M miles away (USA Today)

The anxiety isn't over yet. After a nerve-racking 7-hour descent, a miniature spacecraft drifted softly onto the surface of a comet more than 300 million miles away from Earth on Wednesday morning. It was the first craft in history to land on a comet, and the apparently successful feat provoked hugs, cheers and joyous laughter in the control room in Germany.

Report: Obama’s immigration plan expected next week (The Hill)

President Obama plans to unveil a comprehensive immigration plan through executive action as early as next week, Fox News reported Wednesday.

Hundreds of US troops exposed to dangerous chemicals in Iraq (CS Monitor)

The US military acknowledges that more than 700 American troops may have been exposed to chemical agents in Iraq between 2004 and 2010, according to a statement released by the Pentagon Friday.

If You Want To Help Veterans, Get Attention By Shaming The VA (KPBS)

In general, the VA has jumped to fix long-festering issues only after they have blown up in the media, embarrassing the president.v5seKJ9O91w

Mormon church admits founder Joseph Smith had about 40 wives (Reuters)

The Mormon church has admitted that founder Joseph Smith married about 40 women including a 14-year-old and others who were already the wives of his followers, having maintained for nearly 200 years that he was monogamous.

The $9 billion witness: Meet JP Morgan Chase’s worst nightmare (Rolling Stone)

Meet the woman JPMorgan Chase paid one of the largest fines in American history to keep from talking



WORLD

World losing battle against climate change (USA Today)

In the battle to combat global warming, the world isn't moving fast enough to stay in the fight. The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — which releases a new report every few years — again gave grim news last week as emissions rose 2.3% to a record in 2013, marking the largest year-to-year change in three decades…Perhaps most stunning in this year's IPCC report was scientists' certainty that humans are behind the warming: 95%.

Islamic State seeking to 'delete' entire cultures, UNESCO chief warns in Iraq (CS Monitor)

The so-called Islamic State’s “cultural cleansing” of minority groups uprooted from their northern Iraq homelands has led to fears that entire cultures from the cradle of civilization are under the biggest threat in recorded history, the United Nation’s top cultural official warns.  “It can be compared to the Nazi methods, and here I think it goes all across the board,” says Irina Bokova, director general of the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Easing of Saudi Driving Ban Possible (AP)

It's only for women over 30, who must be off the road by 8 p.m. and cannot wear makeup behind the wheel. But it's still a startling proposal.  The Saudi king's advisory council — whose suggestions are not binding — has recommended that the government lift its ban on female drivers, a member of the council told The Associated Press Friday....

Hamas announces creation of 'popular army' for 'liberation of al-Aksa' (JPost)

Hamas claims 2,500 have already been recruited.

Gang member confessions point to massacre of missing Mexico students (Reuters)

Mexico's government said on Friday evidence suggests that 43 missing trainee teachers were murdered and their charred remains tipped in a rubbish dump and a river in southwest Mexico, based on the confessions of three detained gang members....

Russia launches new media to lead 'propaganda war' with West (Reuters)

Russia launched on Monday a state-of-the-art media organization with hundreds of journalists abroad intended to wean the world off what it called aggressive Western propaganda - dubbing it with echoes of the Cold War, Sputnik.

CNN to end broadcasting in Russia

(AP) — The international news channel CNN says it will halt broadcasting in Russia due to recent changes in media legislation.

The Woman Fighting ISIS in Court (JPost)

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner's strategy in attacking the terrorists in their pocketbooks is to use legal loopholes to block their funding. 

Ukraine accuses Russia of sending in tanks, escalating crisis (Reuters)

Ukraine's military accused Russia on Friday of sending a column of 32 tanks and truckloads of troops into the country's east to support pro-Russian separatists fighting government forces.

 

 


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