ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

March 19, 2015 (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.

• Republican budget offers deep cuts to end deficits in 2024 (Reuters)
• San Diego State Study Shows Americans Are Becoming More Tolerant (KPBS)
• Pew: Nearly One-Third Of Americans Hiding Information Online (NPR)
• Swastikas painted in Jewish fraternity in Tennessee's Vanderbilt University (Reuters)
• FBI’s Plan to Expand Hacking Power Advances Despite Privacy Fears (National Journal) 
• Administration sets record for withholding government files  (AP) 
• U.S.  begins destruction of  chemical weapons stockpiles at Colorado depot (Reuters)

WORLD

• Where do strained U.S-Israeli relations go after Netanyahu victory? (Washington Post)
• In latest testy move, Putin launches military drills in Arctic (CS Monitor)
• UN says 24 dead and 3,300 displaced in Vanuatu cyclone (UT San Diego)
• U.N. expert to probe conditions of North Korean workers abroad (Reuters)
• Saudi prince criticizes Iran deal (JPost)
• Pakistan police use tear gas to break up church attack protests (Reuters)
• Bahrain seizes bomb-making equipment aboard bus from Iraq: agency (Reuters)
• ISIS fighters dress as women in desperate attempt to flee battlefield‏ (JPost) 
• Dozens killed in ethno-religious clash in central Nigeria (AP)
• UN and Russia worry that Islamic State is in Afghanistan (AP)
• U.S. Air Force Veteran Charged With Trying To Aid ISIS (KPBS)
• Major people trafficking ring smashed in Greece: Europol (Reuters)
• Kremlin rules out handing back Crimea to Ukraine (Reuters)
• Iranians optimistic about producing nuclear agreement (Reuters)
• What does firing of well-known journalist mean for Mexico? (CS Monitor) 
• Gunmen storm Tunisian museum, kill 17 foreign tourists (Reuters) 
• After nun rape, India cardinal says protect humans, not just cows (Reuters)

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

U.S.

Republican budget offers deep cuts to end deficits in 2024 (Reuters)

 U.S. House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled a budget that seeks to eliminate deficits by 2024 through deep cuts to social safety net programs, domestic spending and another attempt at repealing "Obamacare" health reforms.

San Diego State Study Shows Americans Are Becoming More Tolerant (KPBS)

On topics such as race, religion and same-sex marriage, Americans are more likely these days to believe that people with different views or lifestyles can and should have the same rights as others, according to a study.

Pew: Nearly One-Third Of Americans Hiding Information Online (NPR)

While Americans are deeply divided over whether government surveillance is serving the public interest, one-third of those surveyed are taking steps to hide their personal information online. 

Swastikas painted in Jewish fraternity in Tennessee's Vanderbilt University (Reuters)

Three swastikas were spray-painted in the house of a Jewish fraternity in Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and the school is investigating the incident as a hate crime, a university official said on Tuesday. 

FBI’s Plan to Expand Hacking Power Advances Despite Privacy Fears (National Journal)

A judicial advisory panel Monday quietly approved a rule change that will broaden the FBI's hacking authority despite fears raised by Google that the amended language represents a "monumental" constitutional concern.

Administration sets record for withholding government files  (AP)

The Obama administration set a record again for censoring government files or outright denying access to them last year under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, according to a new analysis of federal data by The Associated Press.

U.S.  begins destruction of  chemical weapons stockpiles at Colorado depot (Reuters)

The destruction of 2,600 tons of World War Two-era mustard agent weapons banned by international treaty began on Wednesday at a U.S. Army depot in southern Colorado, officials said.

WORLD

Where do strained U.S-Israeli relations go after Netanyahu victory? (Washington Post)

President Obama told the U.N. General Assembly 18 months ago that he would seek “real breakthroughs on these two issues — Iran’s nuclear program and ­Israeli-Palestinian peace.”But Benjamin Netanyahu’s triumph in Tuesday’s parliamentary elections keeps in place an Israeli prime minister who has declared his intention to resist Obama on both of these fronts, guaranteeing two more years of difficult diplomacy between leaders who barely conceal their personal distaste for each other.

In latest testy move, Putin launches military drills in Arctic (CS Monitor)

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered nearly 40,000 troops to go on full alert Monday in snap military exercises in the Arctic, part of his effort to expand Russia's presence in the region.

UN says 24 dead and 3,300 displaced in Vanuatu cyclone (UT San Diego)

The United Nations says 24 people are confirmed dead and 3,300 have been displaced by Cyclone Pam in the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu.

U.N. expert to probe conditions of North Korean workers abroad (Reuters)

The U.N. human rights investigator for North Korea said on Monday that he would probe allegations of an estimated 20,000 North Koreans working in slave-like conditions abroad, mainly in China, Russia and the Middle East. 

Saudi prince criticizes Iran deal (JPost)

Any terms that world powers grant Iran under a nuclear deal will be sought by Saudi Arabia and other countries, risking wider proliferation of atomic technology, a senior Saudi prince warned on Monday in a BBC interview.

Pakistan police use tear gas to break up church attack protests (Reuters)

Pakistani police broke up Christian protesters in the eastern city of Lahore with tear gas and baton charges on Monday, a day after suicide bombers killed at least 16 people outside two churches, police said.

Bahrain seizes bomb-making equipment aboard bus from Iraq: agency (Reuters)

Bahraini security forces have seized bomb-making equipment being smuggled from Iraq aboard a passenger bus for use in attacks in the Gulf Arab kingdom, the public prosecutor said. 

ISIS fighters dress as women in desperate attempt to flee battlefield‏ (JPost) 

On Monday, the Iraqi army arrested 20 male Islamic State members dressed as women in the northern city of Baquba, according to spokesman Ghalib al-Jubouri....  Underneath the robes and veils, the men put on makeup, wore dresses and some even wore women's bras. Others chose not to shave their facial hair, though still applied eyeliner, eyeshadow and blush.  The men were desperately attempting to flee the fighting in Tikrit, which Iraq's military only managed to take back from Islamic State six days ago.

Dozens killed in ethno-religious clash in central Nigeria (AP)

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed 45 people in the latest clash believed to be part of ongoing land disputes between mainly Muslim herders and predominantly Christian farmers in central Nigeria, police said Monday.

UN and Russia worry that Islamic State is in Afghanistan (AP)

The top U.N. envoy in Afghanistan says recent reports indicate the Islamic State group has established a foothold in Afghanistan, a view echoed by Russia which urged the Security Council to stop the extremists' expansion.

U.S. Air Force Veteran Charged With Trying To Aid ISIS (KPBS)

Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh faces charges of attempting to join the self-described Islamic State and obstruction of justice. He is expected to plead not guilty.

Major people trafficking ring smashed in Greece: Europol (Reuters)

Police raids across Greece last week smashed an international people trafficking ring that made $8 million in profit from smuggling Syrian migrants into Europe, and 16 suspects were arrested, officials said on Tuesday.

Kremlin rules out handing back Crimea to Ukraine (Reuters)

Russia said on Tuesday it would not hand back Crimea to Ukraine, despite warnings by the United States and European Union that they will not drop sanctions over the Black Sea peninsula's annexation a year ago.

Iranians optimistic about producing nuclear agreement (CS Monitor)

The United States and Iran are working to meet two target dates — a framework in the next two weeks that lays down the outlines of a final deal by the end of June.

What does firing of well-known journalist mean for Mexico? (CS Monitor)

The firing of one of Mexico’s most prominent journalists this week added to a growing list of concerns about the strength of the country's democracy.  Carmen Aristegui, who exposed numerous high-profile scandals, including ones that touched President Enrique Peña Nieto and his wife, was dismissed by radio station Noticias MVS Sunday.

Gunmen storm Tunisian museum, kill 17 foreign tourists (Reuters)

Gunmen wearing military uniforms stormed Tunisia's national museum on Wednesday, killing 17 foreign tourists and two Tunisians in one of the worst militant attacks in a country that had largely escaped the region's "Arab Spring" turmoil....

After nun rape, India cardinal says protect humans, not just cows (Reuters)

 The head of India's Catholic bishops, speaking out after a nun was raped in the east of the country last week, has said the country should be as concerned about the welfare of its people as it is about its cows.