East County News Service

Who pulled the plug on North Korea’s internet access?

December 23, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - The nation’s website and online access went dark on Monday and service remains spotty. The outage occurred just days after U.S. President Barack Obama vowed a response to North Korea’s alleged hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

December 18, 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.

• North Korea did it: U.S. set to blame North Korea for Sony hack; Sony pulls “The Interview” release (CNJ)
• Obama to start normalizing relations with Cuba (CBS News)
• Judge declares Obama immigration action unconstitutional (Reuters)
• 300 Obama staffers urge Elizabeth Warren to run for president (Weekly Standard)
• Defense bill passes, giving sacred Native American site to foreign mining company (Huffington Post)
• Wind energy firm sues to block bird death data release (PBS)

WORLD

• Lima call for climate action falls short of what science urges and people demand (Huffington Post)
• Taliban Militants in Pakistan Kill 132 Children, 9 Staffers, in Assault on Army Public School  (Reason)
• Transforming lion killers into lion guardians (CNN)
• Spanish news to vanish from Google globally (My Way News)
• Russia's Rate Increase Fails To Stop Currency's Steep Decline (NPR)
• UN Security Council condemns gun-attack on Israel's embassy in Athens (JPost)

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

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.

• U.S. military warned of possible Islamic State attacks at home: report (Reuters)
• House approves new savings accounts for people with disabilities (The Hill)
• Is A Threat Posted On Facebook Really A Threat? (NPR)
• Oprah targeted in foiled terror bomb plot (Judicial Watch)
• Oil prices in freefall (Time)
• Analysis: Lawmakers can defund Obama’s immigration actions (The Hill)
• 5 key inconsistencies in what happened  during the Michael Brown shooting (Mother Jones)
• New bill would allow VA to recommend medical marijuana (Washington Post)
• A Thanksgiving dinner resolution: why you should invite Indians to the table (Salon)
• Why Clif Bar Dropped Athletes In Dangerous Sports (NPR)
• Judge Rules Fewer Political Groups Can Keep Their Donors Secret (NPR)

WORLD

• 300 ISIS supporters facing trial in Germany (Jerusalem Post)
• Enough is enough: Mexico’s president announces federal takeover of local police forces (RawStory)
• 11 corpses dumped in same Mexico state as apparent student massacre (Reuters)
• Egyptian court dismisses murder charges against Mubarak  (Jerusalem Post)
• Hamas terror attack plot at Jerusalem soccer stadium thwarted (Jerusalem Post)
• "U.S. Drones Kill 28 'Unknowns' for Every Intended Target” (Reason)
• Why are the world's food aid programs running short of money? (+video) (CS Monitor)
• Iran hackers targeted airlines, energy firms: report (Reuters)
• Egyptian court sentences 185 to death for attack on police (Reuters)

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

By Miriam Raftery

November 27, 2014 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning due to the continued threat of protests and violent incidents in Mexico.  U.S. citizens are advised to avoid road travel within all areas of Guerrero including along the main toll road 95D to and from Mexico City and Acapulco. 

U.S. citizens are also warned not to participate in protests in Mexico, since the Mexican constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners.  Americans are urged to avoid areas of demonstrations, which could result in detention, deportation, or worse.

The region has been rocked by protests over the disappearance of 43 student protesters in Iguala. Burned bodies found in a mass grave may be those of the missing students. There are allegations that they were abducted by police on orders of a mayor and turned over to a gang that murdered them. Mexico’s  President Enrique Peña Nieto has called for constitutional reforms to allow the federal government to takeover local police departments, CNN reports. The Mayor of Iguala and dozens more have been arrested by federal police.

November 20, 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.

• Obama Said to Plan Moves to Shield 5 Million Immigrants (NY Times)
• As Ferguson braces for grand jury ruling, activists cite ` fear campaign’ (Los Angeles Times)
• Cannabis hedge funds join the green rush (LA Times)
• US border security: Let the drones do it? (CS Monitor)
• Bill Cosby's Silence On Rape Allegations Makes Huge Media Noise (NPR)
• Obama's immigration plan offers some relief, risk for tech sector (Reuters)

WORLD

• What is Vladimir Putin up to sending Russian bombers close to the US? (CS Monitor)
• For Russian Kids, A Disablity Often Means Life In An Orphanage (NPR)
• Wage war, have the world give you billions (Jewish World Review)
• Study: Terror attacks soar in 2013, kill 18,000 (UT San Diego)

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

Photo, courtesy U.S. State Department: British Foreign Secretary Hammond Condemns Attack on Jerusalem synagogue before meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in London

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2014 (Jerusalem) – Two Palestinians armed with guns and butcher knives opened an attack inside the Kehilat Bnei Torah Synagogue  synagogue in Jerusalem early this morning, killing four rabbis and a police officer.  Three of the rabbis were American-Israeli citizens.

The Jewish Federation of San Diego issued a press release stating, “We are shocked and appalled by the horrific attack on innocent worshipers that took place in Jerusalem earlier today. As a community, we send our condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. …The recent wave of terror attacks and acts of violence in Israel is outrageous and completely unacceptable, but today’s attack on innocent people praying in a synagogue is incomprehensible. We call on the entire global community to join us in condemning this attack in the strongest possible terms, immediately and unconditionally.”

November 6, 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.

• Freshman class is young by U.S. Senate standards but has governing experience (Washington Post)
• President vows to work with – and without – Congress (NY Times)
• President to seek Congressional backing for military fight against ISIS (NY Times)
• Midterm elections results: Why Republicans crushed Democrats (CS Monitor)
• Ending Washington gridlock now largely in Mitch McConnell’s hands now (LA Times)
• Election brings new GOP power to state capitols (SF Gate).
• Oil drops 50% from all-time high (USA Today)
• Surgeries suspended for military family pets as cost-saving measure (KPBS)

WORLD

• Fugitive Mexican mayor and wife arrested in missing students case (Washington Post)
• Terror in Jerusalem: One dead [and 14 injured] as Palestinian driver rams van into crowded light rail station (JPost)  
• Ukraine crisis: Poroshenko orders troops to key cities (CNN)

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

October 30, 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.

• Nurse defies Ebola quarantine (CBS)
• Leaked autopsy raises questions about Michael Brown narrative (+video) (CS Monitor)
• Deaths at the US-Mexico border drop to 15-year low (CS Monitor)
• Recently Returned From Africa, Doctor Tests Positive For Ebola At NYC Hospital (NPR)

WORLD

• Japan nuclear plant gets approval to restart, over three years after Fukushima (Reuters)
• Egypt to create buffer zone along Gaza border (AP)
• Shooting at Canada's Parliament leaves two dead, shooter identified  (CS Monitor)
• Jerusalem to step up security after second day of violence (JPost)
• Mexico: Iguala Mayor linked to disappearance of 43 students (+video) (CS Monitor)
• Japan warns of increased activity at volcano near nuclear plant(Reuters)

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

October 15, 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.

• Blackwater Founder Wants Mercenaries to Fight ISIS War (Reason)
• Supreme Court blocks Texas abortion law (Washington Post)
• U.S. Army says it faces huge equipment, training risks with budget cuts (Reuters)
• Lay-offs begin at CNN (Media Bistro)
• Feds Clear 7 On No-Fly List To Travel, Will Tell 6 More Why They Can't (NPR)

WORLD

• Meet The Kurdish Female Fighters Who Are Determined to Kick ISIS' Arse (JWR)
• Mexican activist slain during radio broadcast (AP)
• Global hero, local lightning rod? Why Malala's Nobel rankles many Pakistanis (+video) (CS Monitor)
• UN agency: Ebola cuts food in Sierra Leone (AP)
• Nations pledge $5.4 billion for Gaza at Cairo reconstruction conference (Reuters)
• UK lawmakers pass symbolic motion to recognize Palestine as a state (Reuters)
• Soldiers who fought in Gaza worry about traveling overseas (Jerusalem Post)
• ISIS threatens to conquer the Vatican, 'break the crosses of the infidels' (JPost)

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

October 1, 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.

• First case of confirmed Ebola in United States (CNBC)
• Judge accepts guilty plea in U.S. embassy bombing case (Reuters)
• Mexico Pays To Help Its Citizens Avoid Deportation From The U.S. (NPR)
• US: Immigrant families fail to report to agents (AP)
• Why Civilians Must Acknowledge the Individual Cost of War: War Letters Collector Andrew Carroll (Reason)
• New documents show legal basis for NSA surveillance programs (Reuters)

WORLD

• 31 people feared dead in Mt. Ontake volcano eruption (+video)   (CS Monitor)
• US-led planes strike Islamic State on Syria-Turkey border (CS Monitor)
• Mexico seeks 57 missing after weekend violence (AP)
• Mexico manhunt after politician slain in Acapulco (UT San Diego)
• Catalonia defies Spain by calling secession vote (UT San Diego)
• Liberia: Top doctor goes under Ebola quarantine (UT San Diego)
• Police clamp down as Hong Kong students protest for democracy (CNN)
• Europe's stand against Islamic State is all about the home front (CS Monitor)
• Aral Sea's Eastern Basin Has Dried Out, NASA Photos Show (NPR)
• Mexico says 14 of 57 missing students found (UT San Diego)
• Thousands of Ebola orphans 'shunned' (BBC)

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

Photo: Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, right, and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel testify before Senate Armed Services Committee on the threat from ISIL

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2014 (Washington D.C.)--U.S. military & partner nation forces have begun striking ISIL targets in Syria using mix of fighters, bombers and Tomahawk missiles, Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon Press Secretary, confirmed Monday evening.  The U.S. has previously led over 150 air strikes in Iraq, before joining with allies to expand the assault on ISIL, or Islamic State, forces into Syria.

Residents of Raqqa, the Islamic State’s self-proclaimed capital, have reported attacks on the city on social media sites.  An estimated two-thirds of ISIL forces are located in Syria.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Pentagon News Service

September 9, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - The Pentagon confirms that a U.S. air strike has killed the co-founder of al-Shabaab, an Al Qaeda affiliated terrorist group based in Somalia.

Watch on YouTube

Read the President's full address here.

By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2014 (Washington D.C.)-- President Obama tonight spoke to the nation , laying out a comprehensive strategy to “degrade and ultimately destroy” ISIL (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) terrorist group that has declared an Islamic state across Iraq and Syria, massacring thousands of Iraqis and beheading two captured American journalists.

“Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that we’re hitting ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense.  Moreover, I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are,” the President said. “That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq.  This is a core principle of my presidency:  If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven.”

The President made clear that the U.S. will lead an international effort to eradicate ISIL. He assured that unlike the past decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, this conflict will not include U.S. combat troops on the ground.  Instead, he laid out a four-part strategy. First, air strikes will target ISIL in Iraq, Syria and wherever else ISIL poses a threat.

August 27, 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.

• Obama studying plan to expand legal immigration, press reports (Vida Latina)
• Pentagon warns: Islamic State threat greater than 9/11 (JPost)
• Clinton vs. Warren: Where they disagree (The Hill)
• Agencies grapple with a proliferation of buzzing drones (eenews)
• Fatal shooting by 9-year-old at firing range stirs debate over guns (CBS)
• U.S. undercover investigators among those exposed in data breach (Reuters)
• St. Ann Police Officer in Ferguson That Threatened Protestors ‘Suspended Indefinitely’ | (EURweb)

WORLD

• President Obama considers air strikes, other military options in Syria against ISIL’s ‘terrorist army’ (Associated Press)
• Cease-fire extended, but not on HAMAS’ terms (New York Times)
• Brazil dismantles ‘biggest destroyer’ of amazon rainforest (BBC)
• Hundreds dead as Islamic State seizes Syrian air base: monitor (Reuters)
• After Foley murder, more jihadi threats to murder hostages (CS Monitor)
• Ukraine defiant on national day, rebels parade captives (Reuters)
• Twelve dead, 36,000 homeless in Niger flooding (Reuters)
• A New Strain Of Ebola Emerges In Democratic Republic Of Congo (NPR)
• African Doctor Treated With San Diego Company's Ebola Drug Dies (KPBS)

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

By Nadin Abbott, Reporting San Diego

Reporting San Diego sat down on August 22 in Santee with Ben Kalasho, a leader in the Chaldean community, to discuss genocide in Iraq. Excerpts below are reprinted with permission.

Aug. 24, 2014 (Santee)--“All those people who you see on the mountain side on Sinjar, sleeping on what seems to be the front of churches, those people were homeowners, they owned vehicles, they had jobs or owned businesses and are now homeless,” said Ben Kalasho, a leader in the Chaldean community and President of the East County Chaldean-American Chamber of Commerce.

According to Kalasho,600,000 people are internally displaced in Iraq. This is an almost incomprehensible number, but we cannot turn away from it.

Our leaders, starting with the President, have mentioned the Yazidis, who are an ancient people that precede Islam and Christianity in Iraq. But the plight of other minorities, including Christian Chaldeans, Siriacs and others has not drawn the same level of national media attention.