December 28, 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.

• Extreme weather continues to slam Midwest, south; fatalities rise (USA Today)
• New York dam hack underscores threat for connected utilities (CS Monitor)
• Dems rip deportation plan (CNN)
• TSA can now require full body scanners (CNN)
• Cleveland police will not face charges in death of Tamir Rice (Time)
• Donald Trump defends Vladimir Putin  (Business Insider)
• U.S. Hostages Held In Iran For 444 Days Finally To Get Compensated (NPR)
• Iran deal restricts U.S. more than Congress knew (Jewish World Review)
• Arizona man indicted in 'Draw Mohammed' event hit with new charges (Reuters)

WORLD

• Islamic leader Baghdadi goads west in rare audio statement(Telegraph)
• Iraqi troops retake center of Ramadi from ISIS (New York Times)
• Australians flee bushfires, lose homes to flames on Christmas Day  (Reuters)
• Somali government bans Christmas celebrations (Reuters) 
• Struggling to absorb asylum seekers, Germany steps up deportations (NPR)
• Muslims protect non-Muslims during Kenya Islamist attack (CS Monitor)
• Newly crowned Miss Iraq receives threatening phone call: Join ISIS or else (JPost)
• U.S. reports 31 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Reuters)
• Afghan militia beheads four Islamic State fighters(Reuters)
• Turkish military offensive kills 110 Kurdish militants in six days  (Reuters)
• Floods force mass evacuations in 4 South American countries (AP)
• Senegalese police arrest 11 accused of homosexual acts (AP)

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

December 22, 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.

• Feds Arrest Martin Shkreli On Fraud Charges (NPR)
• Was that steak raised in the USA? Soon it will be hard to know (NPR)
• Veterans Say 'Burn Pits' Created Toxic Clouds That Made Them Sick (NPR)
• Bernie Sanders’ campaign reaches Voter data deal with Democratic National Committee (Huffington Post)
• Donald Trump Thinks Political Leadership Means Murdering Journalist Critics(Reason)
• Carson touts “humane and reasonable” immigration solution (The Hill)

WORLD

• Russia says can breach U.S. missile defense shield - RIA (Reuters)
  
  Report: Mexico's monarch butterfly reserve lost 24 acres (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Paris synagogue goers mildy poisoned by toxin smeared on lock (JPost)
• Czech Parliament rejects labeling of products from Israeli settlements (JPost)
• Qatar anticipates $12.77 billion budget shortfall in 2016 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Saudi bid to lead anti-terror campaign raises questions of intent (CS Monitor)
• A Hezbollah recruiting push covers its deeper role in Syria (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• 'No fingerprints!' chant migrants in Italy as EU cracks down (Reuters)
• Marina Naprushkina helps refugees and locals meet as equals at her gatherings in Berlin (CS Monitor)
• Iran's October missile test violated UN sanctions, experts say (+video) (CS Monitor)

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Photo credit:  thebadastronomer | Flickr

East County News Service

December 16, 2015 (Paris) - World leaders from 195 nations have signed a landmark climate change accord in Paris.  The goals are ambitious, but there is no binding mandate to reach them.  That’s because the U.S. refused to agree to mandates, since that would have required approval by Congress, a politically unachievable feat given current control by Republican leadership that denies climate change is a problem.

December 8, 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.

• U.S. deploying new force to Iraq to boost fight against Islamic State (Reuters)
•  Facebook CEO, now a father, will give away most of his money (Associated Press)
• Military opens all combat roles to women (Reuters)
• In Iraq, growing belief that U.S., ISIS are . . . allies (JWR)
• American WWII vet becomes first  soldier honored for saving Jews (CBS)
• The terrorists among us  (Slate)
• 'Unprecedented': What ISIS Looks Like In America (NPR)
• Trump: ‘Take out ‘ terrorists families (USA Today)
• Zucker says CNN will not pay Donald Trump to appear at next debate (CNN)
• Bernie Sanders wins reader’s poll for Time person of the year (Time Magazine)
• A world away from Europe, US has its own migrant crisis (CS Monitor)

WORLD

General world news

• 96 cities that are quitting fossil fuels and moving to 100% renewable energy (EcoWatch)
• The Marshall Islands are disappearing (New York Times)
• Declaring 'new beginning,' EU and Turkey seal migrant deal (Reuters)
• Wreck Of Legendary Spanish Galleon Is Finally Found, Colombia Says (NPR)
• In the Amazon, the world’s most endangered tribe has few options (Washington Post)
• Mysterious 'ghost' ships drift into Japanese waters (CS Monitor)
• French far-right makes major breakthrough to top regional elections(Reuters)
• Iraq blames Iran after thousands of pilgrims storm border crossing(Reuters)

 Terror news:

• France shuts down three mosques in state of emergency crackdown (USA Today)
• Three injured in knife attack 'terror incident' in London metro (Reuters)
• Boko Haram crisis: Cameroon troops  frees 900 hostages (BBC)
• Syria, Yemen, Libya – one factor unites these failed states, and it isn’t religion (Reuters)
• At NATO, Turkey defiant over downing of Russian jet (Reuters)
• Hacker sent out thousands of 'death to the Jews' messages to phones in Middle East (JPost)
• Russian air force hit 1,458 targets in Syria over week: agencies(Reuters)
• In Worst Attacks, Terrorists Often Have Fraternal Bonds (NPR)
• U.N. condemns air strike that cut water supplies to Syria's Aleppo (Reuters)
• Germany Votes To Provide Military Support In Fight Against ISIS  (NPR)
• Egypt to pay Israel $1.76 billion after halting gas supplies (AP)
• Italy rules out joining Syria air strikes, says another strategy needed (Reuters)
• Saudi-led forces fight Houthi border advance, killing 20: residents (Reuters)
• Police: Palestinian stabbing attack thwarted at Cave of the Patriarchs (JPost)

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 “Tackling climate change is a shared mission for mankind.” – Chinese president Xi Jinping

“We are at the limits of suicide.” – Pope Francis

“Our nations share a sense of urgency about this challenge and a growing realization that it is within our power to do something about it.” – U.S. President Barack Obama

By Miriam Raftery

November 30, 2015 (Paris) –Around the world, an estimated million people took to the streets to call for action to save the planet as world leaders convene today in Paris for an international climate summit. But in Paris, where large public gatherings are banned due to a state of emergency declared after the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks, thousands of Parisians instead brought their shoes, lining them up along the march route in a silent yet powerful expression.

French President Francois Hollande said he cannot separate the “fight with terrorism from the fight against global warming,” adding that leaders must face both challenges to leave children “a world freed of terror” as well as one “protected from catastrophes.”

East County News Service

November 23, 2015 (Washington D.C.)—The U.S. State Department is warning travelers about terrorist threats in multiple regions following a spate of terrorist attacks in France, Nigeria, Denmark, Turkey and Mali as well as ISIS claims of downing a Russian jetliner.

American citizens are urged to be vigilant in public places and transit, avoiding large crowds and exercising particular caution at holiday festivals or events. The alert does not advise canceling travel plans to any specific region, however.

Travelers are also urged to monitor media for updated information and to be prepared for additional security measures and screenings. Also stay in touch with family members and have a contact plan in case of emergency.  You shold also register with the State Department’s  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program

Below is the full text of the alert:

Photo:  Youtube screen-shot

By Liz Alper

November 18, 2015 - After ISIS released a video vowing that it would attack several other major cities worldwide, including Washington, D.C., the hacker group Anonymous released its own video stating that its members would unleash "waves of attacks" on the terrorist group, CBS News reports.  ISIS is also known as ISIL, the Islamic State, or by the Arabic acronym Daesh.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: #PrayforParis, Twitter

November 15, 2015 (San Diego) – In the aftermath of the worst bombings in Paris since World War II,  eight coordinated attacks Friday that killed at least 129 people and wounded hundreds more, France has launched massive air strikes against ISIS in Syria, NBC reports.  The air strikes reportedly destroyed an ISIS command post, arms depot and terrorist training camp.

ISIS, or the Islamic State, claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attacks, calling them the “first of the storm,” according to a New York Times article.  ISIS indicated the attacks were retaliation for French forces supporting a U.S.-led coalition against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.  Meanwhile, people around the world have taken to social media to show solidarity with France.

November 11, 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.

• U.S. to tighten airline security after crash of Russian plane (Washington Post)
• IRS May Soon Use Private Debt Collectors (NPR)
• GOP candidates oppose raising minimum wage (10 News)
• No Man's Land: When Innocent Prisoners Are Released (NPR)
• Comcast orders MSNBC to remove anti-TPP hosts (Ring of Fire)
• Mormon church bans same sex couples and their children (New York Times)
• Why poor white Americans are dying of despair (The Week)
• Why you probably won't be audited by the IRS (Marketplace)
• Oregon utility offers help to cannabis growers after wave of outages  (Reuters)
• Surge In Cyberattacks [in U.S.] Signals Strength Of Iran's Hard-Liners (NPR)
• Which US states are the most corrupt? (CS Monitor)

WORLD

• U.S. to open new screening centers for Syrian refugees (Reuters)
• The clock is ticking on a time bomb that could blow up free internet: the TPP (Guardian)
• U.S. and 11 Other Countries Sign Pact Promising To End Currency Manipulation (NPR)
• Report: Black boxes show bomb brought down Russian jet (CNN)
• Court ruling could pave the way for marijuana legalization in Mexico (Huffington Post)
• As China ends one-child policy, illegally born kids ask: 'What about us?' (CS Monitor)
• Terrorist killed after attempting to stab IDF soldier at Gush Etzion Junction (JPost)
• In Sweden, refugee crisis spurs an odd side effect: a teacher shortage (CS Monitor)
• Lost at sea: the man who vanished for 14 months (Guardian)
• WADA commission recommends banning of Russian athletes (Reuters)

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October 27, 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.

• Corporate America’s unforgiveable new swindle: leveling workers compensation to nothing (Salon)
• Social Security stuck with the bills as companies subvert Workman’s comp (San Diego Free Press)
• Obama vetoes defense bill (The Hill)
• U.S. to intensify fight against Islamic State militants: Pentagon chief  (Reuters)
• BLM illegally sold off thousands of wild horses (Washington Post)
• It’s not just VW: a robust market for reprogramming vehicles (NPR)
• Controversial cyber security bill advances in Senate  (Reuters)
• Texas deluged by rain in Patricia's wake, flash floods hit Houston (Reuters)
• Clinton confronts Benghazi Republican critics at hearing (Sacramento Bee)
• Few railroads on track to meet end-of-year safety deadline  (NPR)

WORLD

• U.S. Iraqi raid foils ISIS mass execution (BBC)
• Refugees will freeze to death, warns EU head (Telegraph)
• More than 300 dead after Afghan quake rocks Asia (NBC San Diego)
• Palestinians suspicious of al-Aqsa monitoring promoted by Kerry (Reuters)
• UNRWA employee suspended for inciting violence against Israelis on Facebook (Jerusalem Post)
• Russia says has flown 934 sorties in Syria, destroying 819 targets (Reuters)
• Three Palestinians shot dead after knife attacks: Israeli army (Reuters)
• The New Propagandist For Al-Qaida In Syria And His Link To Hollywood(NPR)
• Palestinian uprising: Upstart website feeds youth the news they want (CS Monitor)
• In reversal, US willing to sit with Iran to discuss Syria (JPost)

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

October 14, 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.

• 9 issues Democrats just debated that have been ignored by Republicans (Huffington Post)
• Who won the CNN Democratic presidential debate? Clinton, Sanders praised for performances (International Business Times)
• Race for Speaker of the House could get a lot more crowded (Wall Street Journal)
• The federal government’s irresponsibility on nuclear waste (San Diego Union-Tribune editorial)
• Prison inmates best Harvard debate team: Does prison education work? (CS Monitor)
• 'Great Pause' Among Prosecutors As DNA Proves Fallible (NPR)
• FBI says it 'disrupted' dozens of potential militants  (Reuters)
• Two alleged Hezbollah associates face U.S. arms, money laundering charges (Reuters)

WORLD

• Thousands demonstrate in Germany against EU-US trade deal (AP)
• At least 95 die in Turkish capital bombing (CNN)
• Wave of violence sweeping Israel is 'terrorism,' US says (JPost)
• U.S. Says Russian Missiles Intended For Syria Have Crashed In Iran  (NPR)
• EU gets tough on expelling migrants, talks to neighbors(Reuters)
• What Syria’s refugees think about Israel might surprise you (JPost)
• Weekend suicide bombings in Chad, Cameroon blamed on Boko Haram (CS Monitor)
• Iron Dome battery deployed in Beersheba (JPost)
• The Iran Deal Violations Begin (JPost)
• U.S. airdrops ammunition to Syria rebels (Reuters)
• Blast rocks Tianjin, 2 months after fatal explosion (U-T)

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

October 7, 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.

• This We Do Know About TPP: The Shouting Is Already Loud (NPR)
• Why China won't be joining the TPP...for now (APM Marketplace)
• Military vet shot seven times as he protected Oregon classmates (Reuters)
• As deadlines pass, Biden remains opaque about a 2015 candidacy (Washington Post)
• Obama says he won’t sign another ‘short-sighted’ spending bill (CBS)
• Donald Trump:”I would send Syrian refugees home” (BBC)
• Clinton e-mails: Did donors get special State Department access? (CS Monitor)
• Vatican says ‘private audience’ in Washington D.C. was with Pope’s gay ex-student, not Kim Davis (Los Angeles Times)
• FAA Proposes Nearly $2 Million Fine To Drone Operator For Restricted Flights (NPR)
• Why Justice Department's plan to free 6,000 inmates is only the beginning (CS Monitor)

WORLD

• Hospital hit, 3 staff killed in bombing of Afghan hospital (Reuters)
• Nicholas Kristof: The secret of declining global poverty (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Nuclear smugglers sought terrorist buyers (AP)
• U.S. charges ex-U.N. General Assembly president, five others for corruption (Reuters)
• Israeli couple killed in West Bank shooting attack, 4 children escape unhurt (JPost)
• Terrorist shot dead by police after stabbing youth in Jerusalem (JPost)
• Palestinians celebrate while leaders withhold comment on Henkin terror attack (JPost)
• Children of the Yuan Percent: Everyone Hates China’s Rich Kids (Bloomberg)
• 'ISIS militants blow up ancient Arch of Triumph in Palmyra' (JPost)
• Indonesia's dry-season forest fires could be worst on record, says NASA (CS Monitor)

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

September 23, 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.

• Pope Francis arrives in U.S. for historic visit (CNN)
• Wisconsin health hazard ruling could shock wind industry (Greenwire)
• 87 deceased NFL players test positive for brain disease (KPBS)U.S. in agreement to provide Indian tribes $940 million for unmet service payments (Reuters)
• GM To Pay $900 Million To Settle Criminal Case Over Faulty Ignition Switches (NPR)
• 64,000 people fled Puerto Rico last year amid economic crisis (CS Monitor)
• Donald Trump sends cease and desist letter to Club for Growth (Politcio)
• Fiorina's Feminism Strategy (Reason)
• Carly Fiorina stood up to Trump, but she isn’t standing up for women’s issues (Huffington Post)
• General Motors To Settle Criminal Case Over Deadly Defective Ignition Switches NPR
• Survey Finds Poverty, Income Numbers Remain Unchanged  (NPR)

WORLD

• U.S. indifference to Afghan child sex abuse led boy to kill 3 marines, lawsuit claims (Washington Times)
• More than 2,000 enslaved fishermen rescued in 6 months ( AP)
• Russian helicopters spotted at Syria airfield: U.S. officials (Reuters)
• Britain offers warship to tackle people smugglers in Mediterranean  (Reuters)
• At least 10 killed, over 1 million evacuate as strong earthquake rocks Chile (+video)  (CS Monitor)
• UN nuclear conference votes down anti-Israel resolution (AP)
• The Nobel Peace Prize: A prestigious award or a political tool? (CS Monitor)
• Number of children displaced by Boko Haram hits 1.4 million: UNICEF (Reuters)
•  Venezuelan soldiers entered Colombia, fired weapons: Colombian army (Reuters)
• Israeli aircraft strike Gaza after rocket fire  (Reuters)

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September 9, 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.

• Judge upholds Arizona's 'show your papers' immigration law (Reuters)
• Ben Carson: #BlackLivesMatter misfire (USA Today)
• Millennials don't think much of themselves, report says. (CS Monitor)
• Clinton aide invokes constitution to dodge probing about private e-mail (CS Monitor)
• Nearly 900,000 veterans are still waiting to get onto the VA backlog (CS Monitor)
• Veterans Used In Secret Experiments Sue Military For Answers (NPR)
• The Iran Vote Explained, In 1 Infographic (NPR)
• Second Review Says Classified Information Was in Hillary Clinton’s Email (NY Times)
• Oil train risks affect many U.S. schools, group says (Retuers)

WORLD

Europe and Asia

• Austria, Germany open borders to migrants offloaded by Hungary  (Reuters)
• France says taking all refugees would be victory for ISIS (JPost)
•  Egyptian Billionaire Searches For An Island That Migrants Can Call Their Own (NPR)
• How is the Arab world responding to the refugee crisis?(JPost)
• U.S. asks Greece to deny Russian flights to Syria Reuters)
• Queen Elizabeth II to break royalty record (CS Monitor)
• North Korea apparently building at nuclear site, IAEA says(JPost)

Middle East

• Migration from hell- Christians left behind (San Diego 6 News)
• Deadly storm engulfs Middle East, slows Syria air strikes (Reuters)
• Sinai blasts injure six peacekeepers, including four Americans: Pentagon (Reuters)
• Report: Iraqi woman kills ISIS commander that forced her into sex slavery (JPost)
• UN agency forced to cut food aid to 200,000 Syrian refugees (AP)
• U.S., allies launch 25 air strikes in Iraq, eight in Syria: U.S. (Reuters)
• Turkish jets strike PKK targets after deadly militant attack (Reuters)

Africa

• Village of 1,000 sealed off over Ebola (BBC)
• U.S. warns of possible attack in South Africa targeting Americans (Reuters)
• South African Jewish groups: Proposal to cancel dual citizenship motivated by anti-Semitism (Jpost)

Mexico

• 4 more Mexican officials held in 'El Chapo' prison escape (AP)

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

August 26, 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.

General U.S. news

• Americans Recount Subduing Gunman Aboard French Train (NPR)
• Judge orders prompt release of immigrant children from detention (LA Times)
• Weary US firefighters call on Australia, New Zealand for relief (CS Monitor)
• A Shariah-approved nuclear attack {Washington Times)
• Why Obama's approval numbers are sliding (CS Monitor)
• Uber's driver screening practices fuel political debate on rider safety (LA Times)
• Ashley Madison data includes San Diego government, military email addresses (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• What the secret agreement between Iran and the UN says (AP)

Presidential race

• Donald Trump and the mob (CNN)
• Straight outta Brooklyn, by way of Vermont: The Bernie Sanders Story (Tablet)
• The deceptions of Hillary Clinton (JWR)
• Former Attorney General Questions Clinton's Email Comments (NPR)
• Between eye surgeries in Haiti, Rand Paul talks 2016 challenges (Portland Press Herald)

WORLD

Middle East and Africa

• White House: Islamic State second-in-command killed in U.S. air strike (Reuters)
• U.S.-led coalition stages 26 air strikes on Islamic State (Reuters)
• Report: Turkey erects concrete wall along border with Syria (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Iran unveils new missile with 500 km range, says seeks peace through strength (JPost)
• Islamic State militants blow up temple in ancient city of Palmyra (Reuters)
• Too soon for 'illogical' U.S. to return to Tehran: Iran  (Reuters)
• Israel to P5+1: Iran, Islamic Jihad behind rocket attack against our northern towns (JPost)
• Tens of thousands displaced by Boko Haram in two weeks in Chad (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

Europe and Asia

• Police In Macedonia Fire Stun Grenades At Refugees Who Storm Border (NPR)
• Masses of dead fish wash up on shores 6km from Tianjin blast site (Shanghaiist)
• Typhoon leaves 15 dead, 12 miners missing in Philippines (CS Monitor)
•  How Asia's melting Tian Shan glaciers could fuel conflict (CS Monitor)
• In Spain, Entire Villages Are Up For Sale — And They're Going Cheap (NPR)
• Another factory explosion rocks China. Another case of corruption exposed? (CSMonitor)
• What Greece's new elections mean for the bailout (AP)

Mexico

• Mexico sees first conviction of soldier in disappearance (AP)
• The Underage Girls Of Mexico's Sex Trade: Hope Amid The Horror (NPR)

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