ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

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April 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.

WORLD

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

U.S.

U.S. airliners could be vulnerable to in-flight hacking: GAO (Reuters)

U.S. commercial airliners could be hacked in flight by passengers using a plane's wireless entertainment system to access its flight controls, a federal watchdog agency warned on Tuesday. 

Obama pledges $200 million in humanitarian aid to Iraq to help fight IS (CS Monitor)

President Obama made the financial commitment during an Oval Office meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Tuesday, to continually improve coordination to make sure Iraqi forces are positioned to succeed against Islamic State militants.

Denver TSA agents targeted 'attractive' passengers for pat-downs: authorities (Reuters)

The Transportation Security Administration has fired two screeners at Denver's international airport who schemed to conduct pat-down searches on attractive male passengers, officials said on Tuesday.

Maryland detains 'free-range' kids: how walk to playground became so fraught (CS Monitor)

Two Maryland parents' decision to allow their 10- and 6-year-old children to walk to the park without an adult has reignited a national debate over how much supervision children must – or should – have.

Before The NSA, The DEA Used Phone Records To Track Drug Cartels (NPR)

NPR's Arun Rath speaks with USA Today reporter Brad Heath about how the Drug Enforcement Administration collected the records of billions of American telephone calls.

Kansas man arrested in bomb plot in support of Islamic State: prosecutor (Reuters)

A Kansas man was arrested on Friday as part of an FBI sting operation in which he was plotting a suicide car bombing at Fort Riley army base in support of the Islamic State militant group, prosecutors said.

Do Hillary and Jeb have an 'unfavorable' problem? Yes, but in different ways. (+video) (CS Monitor)

Some 49 percent of Americans feel favorably about Clinton, but 46 percent had unfavorable views and only 4 percent felt undecided, according to a March ABC News/Washington Post poll....  For Mr. Bush, the challenge of negative opinion is even steeper. The recent polling average is just 33 percent favorable to 49 percent unfavorable. That leaves about 18 percent of Americans undecided about the former Florida governor, who has not yet made his candidacy official.

WORLD

U.S. allies conduct 17 air strikes in Syria, Iraq: military (Reuters)

U.S.-led forces targeted Islamic State militants in Syria with three air strikes from Sunday to Monday morning and conducted 14 strikes against the group in Iraq, the U.S. military said.

Tijuana Police Officers Claim Corruption In The Force (KPBS)

A recent survey of Tijuana police officers shows more than 80 percent of the force acknowledges some level of corruption, according to the University of San Diego's Justice in Mexico.

Australia To Stop Payments To Families Who Refuse Child Vaccinations (NPR)

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says that starting in 2016, welfare payments and childcare rebates will be cut off to families that take a "conscientious objector" exemption to avoid immunizations.

Nigeria's Boko Haram abducted 2,000 women and girls: report (Reuters)

Boko Haram Islamic militants have kidnapped at least 2,000 girls and women since the start of last year, turning them into cooks, sex slaves and fighters, and sometimes killing those who refused to comply, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

Islamic State militants claim attacks on embassies in Libya (Reuters)

A bomb exploded at the gate of the Moroccan embassy in the Libyan capital early on Monday, causing some damage but hurting nobody, a security official said, only hours after gunmen attacked South Korea's mission in Tripoli.

Iran will sign final nuclear deal only if sanctions lifted: Rouhani (Reuters)

Iran will only agree to a final nuclear accord with six major powers if all sanctions imposed on the country over its disputed nuclear work are lifted, President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech on Thursday.

Iran creating 'suicide' drones that threaten Israel, U.S. Navy: Pentagon (Washington Times)

 Iran has placed an “explosive emphasis” in putting military surveillance and attack drones into the sky, including “suicide” aircraft that increase risks for Israel and for U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf, according to a new U.S. Army analysis.

Israel Foils Gaza Smugglers as Hamas Prepares for Next War (JWR)

Israeli authorities have thwarted an attempt to smuggle high-tech equipment into the Gaza Strip, allegedly to militant groups preparing for the next round of conflict with Israel, according to the Israeli defence ministry.

Two IDF soldiers stabbed by Palestinian (JPost)

 Two soldiers were attacked by a knife-wielding terrorist on Route 60 in Samaria on Wednesday morning, before one of the victims shot him dead.  One soldier was seriously wounded, but the second, St.- Sgt. Tomer Lan, managed to fire his rifle and kill the terrorist, despite being stabbed in the back. 

Malaysia toughens sedition law to include online media ban, mandatory jail (Reuters)

Malaysia has strengthened its controversial sedition law, imposing a minimum jail term of three years and allowing the government to block online media deemed to be seditious, lawmakers said on Friday.

Despite Optimism, Many Cubans Still Wish To Leave, Secret Poll Finds (NPR)

NPR's Melissa Block talks to Fernand Amandi about how his research firm was able to conduct a secret, comprehensive poll in Cuba without the Cuban government knowing about it.

Russia to deliver S-300 missiles to Iran as sign of 'good will' over nuclear talks (CS Monitor)

- The $800 million deal to supply Iran with the sophisticated S-300 air defense system had been frozen for years amid objections from the United States and Israel. Both nations objected Monday.

When Rates Turn Negative, Banks Pay Customers To Borrow (NPR)

European interest rates are being pushed so low — to less than zero — that some banks are paying borrowers to take loans. Such low rates are aimed at boosting Europe's economy, but there are risks.

Mexico oil spill affects drinking water for Tabasco city (AP)

Mexico's Gulf coast state of Tabasco has set up an emergency plan to supply drinking water to the capital of Villahermosa after oil thieves punctured a pipeline, contaminating rivers that normally supply the city.

France's govt wants emergency surveillance powers (UT San Diego

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called Monday for emergency government surveillance powers in case of an exceptional threat, a move prompted by the deadly Paris attacks earlier this year.

 


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