ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

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.

U.S.

Obama Said to Plan Moves to Shield 5 Million Immigrants (NY Times)

President Obama will ignore angry protests from Republicans and announce as soon as next week a broad overhaul of the nation’s immigration enforcement system that will protect up to five million undocumented immigrants from the threat of deportation and provide many of them with work permits, according to administration officials who have direct knowledge of the plan.

As Ferguson braces for grand jury ruling, activists cite ` fear campaign’ (Los Angeles Times)

Missouri officials have repeatedly warned that events after the grand jury decides whether to charge a white Ferguson police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man will be a balancing act between the need for security and the desire to protect free speech. On Tuesday, officials tried to have it both ways.

Cannabis hedge funds join the green rush (LA Times)

The rapid spread of laws permitting recreational pot is enticing hedge fund managers, venture capitalists, software developers and many others to get in on what inevitably is being touted as a green rush.

US border security: Let the drones do it? (CS Monitor)

Nearly half the US-Mexico border is now patroled by surveillance drones. Since March 2013, about 10,000 Predator B drone flights have occurred over the US border. The program is expected to expand to the US-Canada border. 

Bill Cosby's Silence On Rape Allegations Makes Huge Media Noise (NPR)

Bill Cosby's silence when asked by an NPR anchor about rape allegations made big media news. The ongoing controversy may also hint at a generational divide between his fans and his latest critics.

Obama's immigration plan offers some relief, risk for tech sector (Reuters)

President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration is expected to include some modest changes to make it easier for technology companies to retain high-skilled workers frustrated by long and unpredictable waits for green cards.

WORLD

What is Vladimir Putin up to sending Russian bombers close to the US? (CS Monitor)

Experts play down concerns about a return to Cold War days. But Russian long-range bombers coming close to the US, plus other seemingly provocative acts, indicate a retrenched power attempting to assert its global presence again

For Russian Kids, A Disablity Often Means Life In An Orphanage (NPR)

Nearly 30 percent of Russian children with disabilities end up in state orphanages, where they can suffer neglect and abuse at understaffed facilities, according to a human rights group.

Wage war, have the world give you billions (Jewish World Review)

According to Forbes Israel, Hamas is the runner-up to ISIS in the competition for the title of wealthiest terror organization. ISIS has $2 billion in assets while Hamas has only $1 billion. 

Study: Terror attacks soar in 2013, kill 18,000 (UT San Diego)

A new global study says there were nearly 10,000 terrorist attacks in 2013, 44 percent more than the year before.