ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

April 1, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Tornado, storm destruction spans several states: 18 people dead; US power outages spike to 900k (USA Today)
• New tornadoes menace Georgia as Biden approves disaster relief for Mississippi (ABC News)
• ‘Delay, delay, delay’: How Trump could push his trial into the heart of campaign season (Politico)
• DeSantis, the Disney board and King Charles III: A power struggle, explained  (NPR)
• Exploring the many reasons why car prices remain high (NPR)
• When Jefferson and Madison Banned Guns on Campus (The Atlantic)
• Biden is creating new national monuments in Nevada and Texas  (NPR)
• After 50 years, a Florida aquarium plans to return Lolita the orca to her home waters (NPR)

WORLD

• Israel’s judicial overhaul postponed after massive protests and strikes (CNN)
• Russian security services detained a 'Wall Street Journal' reporter  (NPR)
• Finland's NATO membership: What's next?  (AP)
• US strikes Iran-backed facilities in Syria after drone kills American (Reuters)
• Putin says Russia will station tactical nukes in Belarus (AP)
• Netanyahu acted illegally by getting involved in judicial overhaul, says Israel’s attorney general  (CNN)
• Germany at a standstill as huge strike halts planes and trains (Reuters)
• King Charles state visit to France postponed amid violent pension protests  (CNN)

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

U.S.

Tornado, storm destruction spans several states: 18 people dead; US power outages spike to 900k (USA Today)

The death toll rose to 18 people on Saturday after tornadoes and powerful storms that started Friday tore through the South and Midwest, leaving residents to pick up the pieces as more severe weather loomed.

New tornadoes menace Georgia as Biden approves disaster relief for Mississippi (ABC News)

At least two twisters touched down Sunday morning in Georgia -- both described by the National Weather Service as "large and extremely dangerous" -- as President Joe Biden approved disaster relief for storm-battered Mississippi, where at least 25 people were left dead in the wake of powerful tornado outbreak.

‘Delay, delay, delay’: How Trump could push his trial into the heart of campaign season (Politico)

From pre-trial motions to negotiations over security, the master of legal stalling has many tactics in his arsenal.

DeSantis, the Disney board and King Charles III: A power struggle, explained  (NPR)

In a quiet move that's enchanting the internet, the former Reedy Creek Development board signed its power back to Disney before leaving office, a binding declaration that doesn't expire until England's monarchy dies out. That means the five DeSantis allies who pledged to rein in one of Florida's largest employers lack the ability to do much of anything, at least until they take legal action.  Here's a look at what's going on and what could come next.

Exploring the many reasons why car prices remain high (NPR)

The average new vehicle is just under $49,000. That's actually down a bit from the previous month, but it's much, much higher than pre-pandemic. And used cars - wholesale prices were getting better last year, but now they're rising again….brace yourself.

When Jefferson and Madison Banned Guns on Campus (The Atlantic)

Today’s pro-gun politicians can’t avoid the fact that these founding fathers explicitly banned firearms from the university they founded.

Biden is creating new national monuments in Nevada and Texas  (NPR)

President Biden on Tuesday will proclaim two vast swaths of land – Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada, and Castner Range in West Texas – as national monuments, a designation that effectively preserves a total of nearly 514,000 acres of land from new development. Biden also will start the process to designate 777,000 square miles around the Pacific islands southwest of Hawaii as a National Marine Sanctuary. Part of this area includes an existing marine national monument.

After 50 years, a Florida aquarium plans to return Lolita the orca to her home waters (NPR)

…after years of growing pressure from animal rights activists calling for Lolita's release from the Miami aquarium, officials announced their plans for the "process of returning [Lolita] to her home waters."

WORLD

Israel’s judicial overhaul postponed after massive protests and strikes (CNN)

Israel’s judicial overhaul legislation will be put on hold until the next session of the Knesset, after the Passover recess in April, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Jewish Power party said in a statement Monday.  The statement comes as parts of Israel have been brought to a standstill after the country’s largest trade union federation announced a "historic" strike Monday to protest the plan. Workers from multiple sectors have joined the strike, shutting down transportation, universities, restaurants and retailers in protest.

Russian security services detained a 'Wall Street Journal' reporter  (NPR)

Russia has detained a U.S. citizen working for the Moscow bureau of The Wall Street Journal on suspicion of spying, drawing condemnation from the United States and press freedom groups. The newspaper swiftly denied the accusation.

Finland's NATO membership: What's next?  (AP)

Finland received the green light to join NATO when Turkey ratified the Nordic country’s membership late Thursday, becoming the last country in the 30-member Western military alliance to sign off. However, a few more steps and procedures are required before the northern European nation becomes the 31st full NATO member….

U.S. strikes Iran-backed facilities in Syria after drone kills American (Reuters)

The U.S. military carried out multiple air strikes in Syria on Thursday night against Iran-aligned groups that it blamed for a drone attack that killed an American contractor, wounded another and also hurt five U.S. troops, the Pentagon said.

Putin says Russia will station tactical nukes in Belarus (AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans on Saturday to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus, a warning to the West as it steps up military support for Ukraine.

Netanyahu acted illegally by getting involved in judicial overhaul, says Israel’s attorney general  (CNN)

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acted illegally by announcing Thursday that he would involve himself directly in his government’s moves to change the country’s judicial system, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara told him in an open letter …The move raises the stakes even further in a national controversy that has sent tens of thousands of demonstrators onto Israel’s streets, caused military reservists to refuse to train, and prompted criticism from business and financial leaders, former military and intelligence commanders, and international allies including US President Joe Biden.

Germany at a standstill as huge strike halts planes and trains (Reuters)

Airports and bus and train stations across Germany were at a standstill on Monday, causing disruption for millions of people during one of the largest walkouts in decades in Europe's biggest economy as soaring inflation stokes wage demands.

King Charles state visit to France postponed amid violent pension protests  (CNN)

…Clashes between groups of protesters angry over proposed pension reforms and police broke out after workers staged a national strike throughout Thursday, with flare-ups in Paris and regional capitals. In Bordeaux, demonstrators set fire to the entrance of the city hall during skirmishes with police, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.