By Miriam Raftery

November 27, 2012 (La Mesa)—ECM writer Kristin Kjaero has asked us to post a request from a friend stationed in Afghanistan with the Army Corps of Engineers.  He seeks donations of twin-sized blankets for 300 female students.  Below is his letter, which tells their remarkable story.

Please read it, and consider donating new or second-hand blankets to bring some much-needed comforts to these courageous and determined young women.

• Obama spending binge never happened (Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch)
• GOP Senators push for Medicare cuts (The Hill)
• Wall Street rebounds, but investors dump Facebook (Reuters)
• As NATO summit wraps, Romney and Obama trade attacks (USA Today)
• This terrifying amendment legalizes use of propaganda on the U.S. public (Business Insider)
• Republican-led House votes to allow military action against Iran (RawStory)
• CEOs who delivered the most and least bang for the buck (Wall Street Journal)
• Facebook users file class action over online tracking (RawStory)
• Romney, Obama in dead heat, new poll finds (Washington Post)
• Troops face same risk of brain-wasting disease as football players (KPBS)

• U.S. Senate approves bill to toughen Iran sanctions (BBC)
• Italy earthquake: Monti prepares for state of emergency (BBC)
• Suicide bomber kills 90 in Yemen (Reuters)
• Despite end to Afghan war in 2014, U.S. to shoulder burden of funding (Fox News)
• A look at ‘wind turbines of the deep’ (BBC)

• 7 U.S. soldiers wounded after Afghan naval base attacked (Reuters)
• Cruiseline: 22 passengers robbed in Mexico resort (CNN)
• National gas prices up 18 cents in last two weeks (San Francisco Chronicle)
• House GOP leaders announce vote on jobs creation package as early as next week (The Hill)

• Romney wins Michigan, Arizona, in big night (CNN)
• Presidential race highlights California GOP convention (KPBS)
• Obama mocks GOP on gas price issue (USA Today)
• Poll: Romney overtaking Santorum nationally (The Hill)
• UAW to protest Romney at Daytona 500 (Detroit News)
• Maher donates $1 million to Obama super pac  (USA Today)
• Santorum says he “almost threw up” after reading JFK speech on separation of church, state (Washington Post)

• Karzai urges Afghans to avoid violent retaliations over Koran burnings  (Washington Post)
• Children left behind in world’s city boom: UNICEF (RawStory)
• Nigeria unrest: Suicide bomb targets church in Jos (BBC)
• Iran poised for big nuke jump (UT San Diego)

• FDA adds new safety warnings to statin drugs (USA Today)
• Why doctors die differently (Wall Street Journal)

January 26, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting 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:  

• State of the Union: Obama calls for tax fairness (BBC)
• Starbucks pro-gun policy prompts gun victims’ advocate group to announce nationwide boycott on Valentine’s Day
• Army says suicides down, but violent crimes up (MSNBC)
• Senate Dems make Mitt Romney the poster boy for tax reform (The Hill)
• Wisconsin recall petition of Gov. Walker gets 1 million signatures (Washington Post)

• South Carolina primary: Newt Gingrich defeats Mitt Romney (ABC)
• Obama launches swing state tour (CNN)
• Santorum hails delayed Iowa win as huge upset (CNN)
• Bain Capital owns Clear Channel:
• Romney parks millions in Cayman Islands offshore tax haven (ABC News)
• Ex-wife claims Gingrich sought open marriage, Gingrich says allegation false (Fox News)
• Perry drops out, endorses Gingrich (CNN)

• Navy Seal raid frees Somali hostages (BBC)
• Israel rattled as hackers hit bourse, banks, El Al (Reuters)
• The secret document that transformed China (NPR)
• Recent attacks by radical Islamist sect in Nigeria (San Diego U-T)
• Afghan asylum bids hit 10-year high (San Diego U-T)

• Blind can see again: First patients seen to improve with stem cell tissues (Reuters)