WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

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May 1, 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.

WORLD

U.S.

Boston police: 3 more in custody for Boston bombing (10 News)

In a tweet Wednesday morning, the police department says only that three more suspects are in custody and more details will follow

Colorado court rules marijuana smokers may be fired (Christian Science Monitor)

Medical and recreational marijuana may be legal in Colorado, but employers in the state can lawfully fire workers who test positive for the drug, even if it was used off duty, according to a court ruling Thursday.  The Colorado Court of Appeals found there is no employment protection for medical marijuana users in the state since the drug remains barred by the federal government.

Bombing suspects' mom also in terror database (U-T San Diego)

Two government officials tell The Associated Press that U.S. intelligence agencies added the Boston bombing suspects' mother to a federal terrorism database about 18 months before the attack.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev Spoke Of Jihad With Mother, Reports Say (NPR)

(NPR) -- Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev "vaguely discussed" jihad during a 2011 phone conversation with his mother... The recording is among data recently sent by the Russian Federal Security Service, or FSB, to the FBI to aid its investigation of the Boston Marathon bombings…,  In the recorded call, Tamerlan and his mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaeva, reportedly talked about Tamerlan traveling to the Palestinian territories. But the son said he would probably not go there, because he doesn't speak Arabic… “Intelligence officials have also found text messages in which the other discusses how Tamerlan is ready to die for Islam," Newsday says, citing two anonymous sources.

U.S. gives big, secret push to internet surveillance (CNet)

Justice Department agreed to issue "2511 letters" immunizing AT&T and other companies participating in a cybersecurity program from criminal prosecution under the Wiretap Act, according to new documents obtained by the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

Lawmakers, aides may get Obamacare exemption (Politico)

(Politico) -- Congressional leaders in both parties are engaged in high-level, confidential talks about exempting lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides from the insurance exchanges they are mandated to join as part of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, sources in both parties said.

As Injuries Rise, More Calls to Refuse The 'Cinnamon Challenge' (NPR)

The game, if you want to call it that, involves trying to quickly swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon without the benefit of anything to wash it down. It's practically impossible.  There are tons of YouTube videos showing the typically embarrassing results: gagging, coughing and choking. .. What you aren't likely to see in the videos are the hospitalizations by people breathing cinnamon into their lungs. There were 222 cases of "abuse or misuse of cinnamon by teens" in the U.S. last year, according to calls compiled by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. 

The FAA Strikes Again, the FAA Brags (Wall Street Journal)

 The Federal Aviation Administration claims the sequester spending cuts are forcing it to delay some 6,700 flights a day, but rarely has a bureaucracy taken such joy in inconveniencing the public... Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn noticed this rare case of FAA technological entrepreneurship and fired off a letter Wednesday protesting what he called the agency's "full blown media rollout" to hype the flight delays. .. FAA regional employees wrote to blow the whistle on their bosses. As one email put it, "the FAA management has stated in meetings that they need to make the furloughs as hard as possible for the public so that they understand how serious it is."

Congress Acts On Flight Delays, What's Next? (NPR)

It appears Congress decided not to leave town while airport delays pile up. The Senate miraculously approved a measure to restore funding for air traffic controllers, and the House followed suit on Friday. Considering this turn of events, could other sequester interventions be in the offing?

Court: State can block out of state use of FOIA

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that it's legal for a state to limit use of its Freedom of Information Act to its own residents.

 

WORLD

EU bans pesticides over bee fears (Reuters)



Europe has voted to ban three of the world's most widely used chemicals for two years after EU scientists said there were links to the decline in bee populations, crucial to the pollination of crops

Canada thwarts "al Qaeda-supported" passenger train plot (Reuters)

(Reuters) - Canadian police said on Monday they had arrested and charged two men with an "al Qaeda-supported" plot to derail a passenger train.

Russia detains 140 suspected Islamic extremists (U-T San Diego)

(AP) -- Russian police and security agents have detained 140 people at a mosque in Moscow on suspicion of involvement with Islamic extremism.

Once-touted corruption cases collapse in Mexico (U-T San Diego)

Some of Mexico's most high-profile corruption cases have unraveled recently on thin or made-up evidence, reinforcing long-held notions that the Attorney General's Office is more focused on political vendettas or favors than justice.

Iraq: 51 dead in clashes, bombing as tensions rise (U-T San Diego)

Clashes erupted Wednesday between the Iraqi army and armed Sunni tribesmen who sealed off two central Iraqi towns, leaving 38 dead, just a day after a bloody incident involving soldiers and protesters set off fighting that killed 56 people.  Other violence Wednesday killed 13. The unrest is heightening Sunni-Shiite tensions and raising fears that the country could be headed toward a new round of all-out sectarian violence.

Defecting Syrian officer 'told to use WMD' (Jerusalem Post)

Officer who now fights with the Free Syrian Army tells Saudi based TV station he was told to use chemical weapons against rebels.  “I was given orders to execute the use of poisonous chemicals in caves and tunnels that are used by the Free Syrian Army, but I mixed all chemicals with water and used Javel water instead,” Sakit told Al-Arabiya….

Taliban vow suicide and "insider" attacks in new spring offensive (Reuters)

(Reuters) - The Taliban in Afghanistan vowed on Saturday to start a new campaign of mass suicide attacks on foreign military bases and diplomatic areas, as well as damaging "insider attacks", as part of a new spring offensive this year.

Japan court rejects demand to evacuate children (U-T San Diego)

The unusual lawsuit was filed on behalf of the children by their parents and anti-nuclear activists in June 2011. The Sendai High Court handed down its ruling Wednesday.  The case had drawn international attention because it touched the uncertainties about the effects of continuous low-dose radiation on health, especially that of children, who are far more vulnerable than adults.

Israel shoots down drone from Lebanon: Israeli military (Reuters)

(Reuters) - An Israeli fighter plane shot down a drone from Lebanon over the Mediterranean sea on Thursday as it was approaching the Israeli coast, the military said.

14 killed in clashes in 3 western Mexico towns (U-T San Diego)

Mexican officials say 14 people died in several clashes between members of a "community police" group and a drug gang in the western state of Michoacan.

More Than 50 Dead So Far in Run Up to Pakistani Elections (Reason)

Pakistan is holding parliamentary elections to elect a new government on May 11. The election represents the first successful transition of civilian governments; no Pakistani government had previously completed a full five year term. The Pakistani Taliban is targeting the elections in a bloody campaign that has killed more than 50 people in the last two and a half weeks; at least 20 in the last three days alone. 


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