February 14, 2013 (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.

• REI CEO named head of Department of Interior (Sustainable Business)
• A Secretary  to match the setting (New York Times)
• US military deaths in Afghanistan at 2,045 (U-T San Diego)
• U.S. withdrawing 34,000 troops from Afghanistan within a year (Reuters)
• US gas prices jump 25 cents over past 2 weeks (Sacramento Bee)
• Mississippi tornado hits Hattiesburg, leaves no fatalities (+video) (Christian Science Monitor)
• Navajo, Hopi tribes struggle without water in Southwest cold snap (Reuters)
• Massive power outages as ‘Nemo’ storm lashes northeast (USA Today)
• Death By Drone, And The Sliding Scale Of Presidential Power (NPR)
• Solar industry grapples with hazardous wastes  (Sacramento Bee)
• 'Every new car' connected to web by 2014 (BBC)

WORLD

• Vatican announces Pope to step down by end of February (10 News)
• Bizarre stories of the 4 other popes who resigned in the last  1,000 years (Washington Post)
• Exiting U.S. general says Afghan women's rights are key (Reuters)
• Pakistan Says U.S. Drone Strikes Violate Its Sovereignty (NPR)
• Iran's Khamenei rebuffs U.S. offer of direct talks (Reuters)
• Irish marchers protest nationwide against austerity (Reuters)
• Exclusive: U.N. monitors see arms reaching Somalia from Yemen, Iran (Reuters)

HEALTH

• Folic acid in pregnancy  may help lower autism risk (CNN)
• DePuy Hip Implant Problems In San Diego (KPBS)
• Chain Restaurants Boost Sales With Lower-Calorie Foods (NPR)
• Lenses could 'cure colour-blindness' (BBC)
• Pig Manure Reveals More Reason To Worry About Antibiotics (NPR)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.