ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

May 28, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM 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.

• Schumer: Obama will act on immigration reform if GOP doesn’t (The Hill)
• Deep problems at Veterans Affairs - Books-cooking is just a symptom (SD City Beat)
• Head of House Veterans Affairs Committee calls for Eric Shinseki’s resignation (Washington Post)
• Killing spree in college community brings back memories of similar crime 12 years ago(Fox News)
• Maya Angelou ‘the brightest light,’ says Obama  (BBC)

WORLD

• Obama lays out new approach to foreign policy in second term (Washington Post)
• Leaders agree to review EU agenda at Brussels summit (BBC)
• Chechen leader Kadyrov denies sending troops to Ukraine (BBC)
• Where's the Dream Act for Meriam Ibrahim? (Jewish World Review)
• Nigerian defense chief says abducted girls located (10 News)
• Battle at Donetsk airport; new Ukraine leader says no talks with 'terrorists'(Reuters)
• Flemish separatists are big winners in Belgian election  (Reuters)

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

U.S.

Schumer: Obama will act on immigration reform if GOP doesn’t (The Hill)

Senate Democratic leaders say President Obama will act unilaterally to reform the nation’s immigration system if House Republicans fail to pass legislation by the end of July.

Deep problems at Veterans Affairs - Books-cooking is just a symptom (SD City Beat)

 That’s at least five distinct VA healthcare systems around the country where there have been accusations of secret waiting lists, destroyed documents and threatened retaliation against potential whistleblowers.

Head of House Veterans Affairs Committee calls for Eric Shinseki’s resignation (Washington Post)

House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) for the first time Wednesday called on Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign immediately following an interim inspector general report that confirms some allegations made against the Department of Veterans Affairs in recent weeks.

Killing spree in college community brings back memories of similar crime 12 years ago (Fox News)

The recent shooting spree in Isla Vista, Calif., bore an eerie similarity to a rampage carried out 13 years ago, prompting Tony and Patricia Bourdakis to relive the horrifying event that took their son's life. Both shooters have a connection with Hollywood and mental illnesses.

Maya Angelou ‘the brightest light,’ says Obama  (BBC)

Famous figure Maya Angelou has passed away at the age of 86 in her home in North Carolina. Angelou was an author, poet, civil rights activist, playwright, actress, director, composer, singer and dancer. Even though she has passed her legacy will live on through so many people.

WORLD

Obama lays out new approach to foreign policy in second term (Washington Post)

President Obama on Wednesday laid out a new, post-9/11 foreign policy after more than a decade of war overseas, outlining a global counterterrorism initiative and arguing for a balance between interventionism and “foreign entanglements.”

Leaders agree to review EU agenda at Brussels summit (BBC)

EU leaders have agreed to re-evaluate the bloc's agenda after voters "sent a strong message", European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has said.

Chechen leader Kadyrov denies sending troops to Ukraine (BBC)

Chechnya's Moscow-backed leader insists he has not sent troops to Ukraine to fight alongside pro-Russia separatists.

Where's the Dream Act for Meriam Ibrahim? (Jewish World Review)

Meriam Ibrahim has been sentenced by a Sudanese court to hang for the crime of being a Christian and refusing to "revert" to Islam…Judge Abbas Mohammed Al-Khalifa has ruled that the convicted woman, who is eight months pregnant, will be permitted to give birth to her child before he executes her. Her two-year-old son Martin is currently imprisoned with her…. Meriam Ibrahim is the wife of a US citizen, Daniel Wani…I don't think it's in the interests of Americans for thug states to learn they can execute the spouses of US citizens with impunity. …. the spouse of a US citizen is entitled to US citizenship herself… make Meriam Ibrahim a US citizen… And the US Government should make plain to its Sudanese counterparts that it expects the entire family on a plane out of there in 48 hours.

Nigerian defense chief says abducted girls located (10 News)

Nigeria's military has located nearly 300 school girls abducted by Islamic extremists but fears using force to try to free them could get them killed, the country's chief of defense said Monday.

Battle at Donetsk airport; new Ukraine leader says no talks with 'terrorists'(Reuters)

Ukraine launched air strikes and a paratrooper assault against pro-Russian rebels who seized an airport on Monday, as its newly elected leader rejected any talks with "terrorists" and said a robust military campaign in the east should be able to put down a separatist revolt in "a matter of hours".

Flemish separatists are big winners in Belgian election  (Reuters)

 A party that wants to dissolve Belgium was the chief winner of a parliamentary election on Sunday, setting the scene for months of deadlock before a new government can be formed.