ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

December 15, 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.

• Middle class shrinks to barely half of all U.S. adults (CBS)
• GOP field clashes over single question: who can keep American safe? (Washington Post)
• Why killers’ families always seem to be the last to know (Reuters)
• American Muslims raise more than $100,000 for families of San Bernadino shooting victims (Los Angeles Times)
• Former drone pilots denounce 'morally outrageous’ program (CS Monitor)

WORLD

• Historic new climate deal: Surprises, snubs and what it really means (National Geographic)
• Small, Surprising Dip In World's Carbon Emissions Traced To China (NPR)
• Fish stocks are declining worldwide, and climate change is on the hook (NPR)
• Human shields in Ramadi (Reuters)
• ISIS monthly income said to total $80 million (JPost)
• U.S. Consulate in Istanbul cites possible threat, cancels consular services (Reuters)
• Iran tested missile, breaching U.N. council resolutions: officials (Reuters)
• Venezuela opposition wins supermajority in National Assembly (AP)
• Canada to withdraw jets fighting Islamic State within weeks: minister  (Reuters)
• Palestinian gunman opens fire at West Bank crossing, attempted ramming at Hebron (JPost)
• EU plans new border guard to stem migration (Reuters)
  
  
  
  For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

U.S.

Middle class shrinks to barely half of all U.S. adults (CBS)

… Barely half of adults are now middle-income earners, defined as a household making between $42,000 and $126,000 annually. The percentage has been falling steadily since 1971… The lower income tier has also grown from 16 to 20 percent since 1971. Reilly has been among them since she was laid off. She has a college degree and a masters, but little hope.

GOP field clashes over single question: who can keep American safe? (Washington Post)

The Republican presidential contenders on Tuesday night framed their final debate of the year around a single question: Which of them is best equipped — by background, tough-mindedness and leadership abilities — to protect the country against terrorism?

Why killers’ families always seem to be the last to know (Reuters)

When law enforcement officials entered the Redlands, California, home of Tashfeen Malik and her husband, Syed Rizwan Farook, both suspected of killing 14 and wounding 21 in the deadliest Islamic militant attack on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001, they discovered a veritable weapons factory...It seems incomprehensible that the manufacture of such an arsenal would go undetected by family and friends. Yet they staunchly denied any knowledge…

American Muslims raise more than $100,000 for families of San Bernadino shooting victims (Los Angeles Times)

Muslim neurologist Faisal Qazi has launched a nationwide campaign to raise money for the families of the victims in the San Bernardino shooting rampage. The campaign has so far raised more than $100,000 in four days

Former drone pilots denounce 'morally outrageous’ program

Four former drone operators have penned an open letter to President Obama and the CIA, calling for a reevaluation of the US drone program, which has killed between 488 and 1,071 civilians in the last eight years. 

WORLD

Historic new climate deal: Surprises, snubs and what it really means (National Geographic)

The world’s countries have agreed to initiate a momentous shift away from fossil fuels. Who are the winners and losers? What are the surprises? And what does it all mean?

Small, Surprising Dip In World's Carbon Emissions Traced To China (NPR)

Climate scientists say global emissions of carbon dioxide seem to have dipped a bit in 2015, though the world economy is still growing. China's reduced use of coal may be the main reason.

Fish stocks are declining worldwide, and climate change is on the hook (NPR)

For anyone paying attention, it's no secret there's a lot of weird stuff going on in the oceans right now. We've got a monster El Nino looming in the Pacific. Ocean acidification is prompting hand wringing among oyster lovers. Migrating fish populations have caused tensions between countries over fishing rights. And fishermen say they're seeing unusual patterns in fish stocks they haven't seen before....

Human shields in Ramadi (Reuters)



As Iraqi forces close in on the western city of Ramadi, thousands of civilians are effectively being held hostage inside by Islamic State militants.

ISIS monthly income said to total $80 million (JPost)

Around half of the income comes from taxation and confiscation from businesses within its territory and 43% from oil, according to a study released Monday.

U.S. Consulate in Istanbul cites possible threat, cancels consular services (Reuters)

The U.S. Consulate in Istanbul said on Tuesday it had canceled consular services for Wednesday because of "information about a possible security threat" against the mission.

Iran tested missile, breaching U.N. council resolutions: officials (Reuters)

 (Reuters) - Iran tested a new medium-range ballistic missile last month in a breach of two U.N. Security Council resolutions, two U.S. officials said on Monday.

Venezuela opposition wins supermajority in National Assembly (AP)

Venezuela's opposition won a key two-thirds majority in the National Assembly in legislative voting, according to final results released Tuesday, dramatically strengthening its hand in any bid to wrest power from President Nicolas Maduro after 17 years of socialist rule.

Canada to withdraw jets fighting Islamic State within weeks: minister  (Reuters)

 Canada's new Liberal government will act within weeks to fulfill a campaign promise to withdraw six fighter jets that have been attacking Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria, a top official said on Monday.

Palestinian gunman opens fire at West Bank crossing, attempted ramming at Hebron (JPost)

Israeli forces arrest terrorist from Thursday’s West Bank ramming attack.



EU plans new border guard to stem migration (Reuters)



The European Union will nearly treble its spending on frontier defense provided by a new European Border and Coast Guard under proposals unveiled on Tuesday to tackle a migration crisis that threatens Europe's security and passport-free travel area.