ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

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January 7, 2016 (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.

WORLD

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

U.S.

The 2016 Supreme Court Cases  (Washington Post)

…In the next few months, the nine justices will hear cases related to the Affordable Care Act, abortion, laws regarding DUI tests, the power of teachers' unions, freedom of speech in a government office, and other issues. Additionally, the court will hand down rulings in cases it heard in late 2015, on issues like affirmative action.

Armed protesters occupying building on federal land (CNN)

Armed anti-government protesters have taken over a building in a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon, accusing officials of unfairly punishing ranchers who refused to sell their land. ….Acting U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams of Oregon gave a starkly different perspective on the arson case…."Five years ago, a federal grand jury charged Dwight and Steven Hammond with committing arson on public lands and endangering firefighters," Williams wrote …The prosecutor said witnesses saw the Hammonds illegally slaughter a herd of deer on public land….a teenage relative of the Hammonds testified that Steven Hammond gave him a box of matches and told him to start the blaze.

Oregon militants: death threats from ranchers reported years before standoff (OregonLive)

Years before the arson fires that sent two Oregon ranchers to federal prison — sparking an armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge — federal officials reported several death threats from the men. 

Database of 191 million U.S. voters exposed on Internet: researcher (Reuters)

 An independent computer security researcher uncovered a database of information on 191 million voters that is exposed on the open Internet due to an incorrectly configured database, he said on Monday.   The database includes names, addresses, birth dates, party affiliations, phone numbers and emails of voters in all 50 U.S. states and Washington…. 

Suspected Islamic State supporter charged with New Year's Eve plot in upstate New York (Reuters)

A 25-year-old man accused of planning to attack a restaurant in upstate New York on New Year's Eve has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State militant group, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.cWSsg1FuGkA

Donald Trump responds to being used in terrorist video (CBS)

Donald Trump, in an interview airing on Sunday morning on "Face the Nation," responded to his inadvertent starring role in a recent terrorist recruitment video.

America’s abortion wars—and how to end them (Newsweek)

…Unfortunately, in a country torn apart by absolutists, the abortion wars are stuck in a brutal stalemate. Both arguments are infused with hypocrisy, and consequences often go unconsidered while bumper-sticker logic prevails. Making it worse are politicians who use abortion as reliable red meat for their supporters—both liberal and conservative—by continuing to beat the same drums America has heard for decades.

Cuban Immigrants Flow Into The U.S., Fearing The Rules Will Change (NPR)

One consequence of improved relations is that Cubans believe it will soon be harder to immigrate to the U.S. This year has seen the largest influx of Cubans in more than two decades.

New York governor orders homeless off streets in freezing weather (Reuters)

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order on Sunday requiring local officials throughout the state to force the homeless into shelters when temperatures dip below freezing and vowed to defend the edict if challenged in court.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Reuters/domesticNews/~4/u8seMoKzDso

Michigan Supreme Court cracks down on 'pay or stay' imprisonment (NPR)

The court has proposed adopting a standard rule to assess whether defendants can pay fines. In many cases, judges jail those who cannot, but the practice is illegal.

WORLD

North Korea says it successfully conducts hydrogen bomb test (CNN)

North Korea says it has successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, which if confirmed, will be a first for the reclusive regime and a significant advancement for its military ambitions.

Fiery protests erupt at Saudi embassy in Tehran after Saudis execute Shi’ite cleric, 46 others (CNN)

Saudi Arabia said Saturday it had executed 47 people in a single day, including a dissident Shiite cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, who had repeatedly spoken out against the government and the Saudi royal family…Loud and angry demonstrations broke out late Saturday at the Saudi Embassy in Tehran. Video showed at least one person tossing homemade firebombs at the embassy…A prominent pro-ISIS channel on Telegram called for attacks on Saudi embassies, police and scholars, according to the SITE monitoring group.

Airstrike Kills ISIS Leader Directly Linked To Paris Attackers (NPR)

Charaffe al Mouadan, a Syrian-based ISIS member, had ties to suspected Paris mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud. Mouadan was among 10 ISIS militants killed in coalition strikes over the past month.

Newly installed mayor of Mexican city killed (Reuters)

The newly installed mayor of the Mexican city of Temixco was killed on Saturday, according to a tweet from Morelos state Governor Graco Ramirez. Gisela Mota formally took office with the new year on Friday. Mexico City newspaper EL Universal said she was attacked at her home by four armed gunmen…Several mayors were killed last year in Mexico, where armed gangs financed by the drugs trade control many local communities.

Exclusive: Seized documents reveal Islamic State's Department of 'War Spoils' (Reuters)

 Islamic State has set up departments to handle "war spoils," including slaves, and the exploitation of natural resources such as oil, creating the trappings of government that enable it to manage large swaths of Syria and Iraq and other areas.

Mass attacks on German women: what does it spell for refugee crisis? (CS Monitor)

As almost 100 women report being assaulted by a mob of about 1,000 men at Cologne's New Year celebrations, Germany is once again forced to consider its response to the migrant crisis.

 'Hamas activated cells to carry out suicide attacks, target Israeli political figures’( J Post)

Hamas and other Palestinian factions have decided to resume suicide attacks against Israel, according to a report published by a Lebanese newspaper on Thursday…The official said that the terrorist cell was also planning to target Israeli security and political officials.

Volley of rockets fired from Gaza at southern Israel (JPost)

Five rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel on Friday night, with two of the projectiles landing in Israeli territory. Three other rockets landed near the security fence inside the coastal Palestinian enclave. 

Police In Belgium Arrest 6 Over New Year's Eve Terrorist Plot (NPR)

A series of house raids in Belgium have put six people in custody who are suspected of being involved with a plot to carry out a terrorist attack during New Year's Eve celebrations in Brussels.

Europe's Refugee Crisis Pales In Comparison To World War II Aftermath (NPR)

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Ben Shephard, author of The Long Road Home: The Aftermath of the Second World War, about how today's crisis compares to the number of displaced people after World War II.

Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' returns to German market in new form (AP)

For 70 years since the Nazi defeat in World War II, copyright law has been used in Germany to prohibit the publication of "Mein Kampf" — the notorious anti-Semitic tome in which Adolf Hitler set out his ideology.

Russian diplomat: Russia has removed uranium from Iran (AP)

Iran has moved closer to next month's expected implementation of a landmark nuclear deal with six world powers by allowing Moscow to transfer most of its enriched uranium to Russia, a senior Russian diplomat told The Associated Press Monday.

Putin names United States among threats in new Russian security strategy (Reuters)

 A new appraisal names the United States as one of the threats to Russia's national security for the first time, a sign of how relations with the west have deteriorated in recent years. / The document, "About the Strategy of National Security of Russian Federation", was signed by President Vladimir Putin on New Year's Eve. It replaces a 2009 version, endorsed by then- President Dmitry Medvedev, the current prime minister, which mentioned neither the United States not NATO.


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