ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

by ECM | March 5, 2015 6:01 am

March 4, 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.

United Airlines warns pilots after four safety incidents[1] (Reuters)

United Continental Holdings Inc warned its pilots last month to double down on safety procedures after one flight was in danger of crashing and another landed with fewer fuel reserves than regulations require, the airline confirmed Wednesday.

Among CEOs, women are outnumbered by men named John[2] (APM Marketplace)

If your name is John, congratulations. If you’ve got a woman’s name — literally any woman’s name — well, here’s the deal.  The New York Times’ data journalism venture The Upshot reported Monday there are more CEO’s named “John” at S&P 1500 companies than there are women CEOs.  If you toss the names Robert, William and James in the mix, you end up with four CEOs with those names for every female CEO. The Upshot has dubbed that measurement the “Glass Ceiling Index… it’s a stark snapshot of women’s standing in the boardroom.

Engineer pleads guilty in U.S. to trying to take jet materials to Iran[3] (Reuters)

A former engineer for Pratt & Whitney and other defense contractors pleaded guilty on Wednesday to trying to export sensitive information about U.S. military jets to his native Iran, where he hoped to find a job, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

U.S. charges three with conspiring to support Islamic State[4] (Reuters)

Three [Brooklyn] men were charged on Wednesday with conspiring to support Islamic State, including two who planned to travel to Syria to fight on behalf of the radical group, U.S. authorities said.

Ohio man accused of providing support for Middle East terror[5] (Reuters)

A judge on Wednesday set bail at $1 million for an Ohio man accused in state charges of providing support and money laundering in support of terror, prosecutors said without identifying the people he was accused of aiding.

 Ex-CIA chief David Petraeus pleads guilty to mishandling classified materials[6] (CS Monitor)

The Justice Department said Tuesday former CIA Director Petraeus was charged with one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified information. The former top army general had signed an agreement pleading guilty to the single criminal count.

Education Department Terminates Contracts With Debt Collectors Accused Of Wrongdoing[7] (Huffington Post)

The U.S. Department of Education, under fire for its lackluster oversight of student loan contractors, said Friday it will terminate its relationship with five debt collectors after accusing them of misleading distressed borrowers at “unacceptably high rates.”…

Dare to Dream: IRS Subject of Criminal Probe Over Missing Emails[8] (Reason)

Last night during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, an official revealed that they had tracked down more than 30,000 allegedly missing/deleted emails from former IRS official Lois Lerner. Futhermore, now federal officials are considering whether any criminal activity occurred in relation to their disappearance.

 

INTERNATIONAL

Nemtsov killing follows slaying of other Kremlin critics[9] (AP)

Prominent Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov’s killing follows the slaying over the past decade of several other high-profile critics of President Vladimir Putin and his policies. Here is a look at some of the best-known cases. 

Police capture Mexico’s most-wanted drug lord ‘La Tuta’ Gomez[10] (CS Monitor)

‘La Tuta’ Gomez, a former school teacher and head of the Knights Templar, was captured early Friday by federal police, according to Mexican officials.

Islamist militants shell two Libyan oilfields, port pipeline damaged[11] (Reuters)

Islamist militants shelled Libya’s Bahi and Mabrouk oilfields on Monday, damaging a pipeline to the Es Sidra oil port, a spokesman for forces protecting energy infrastructure said.

Brickbat: The Swedish Way of Life[12] (Reason)

Sweden’s resettlement assistants are supposed to help immigrants learn the language, assist them in filling out paperwork, and generally help them fit into Swedish society. But the government says many of them instead were recruiting people[23] to fight alongside terrorist groups such as ISIS. It has disbanded the entire network of resettlement assistants.

 Sanctioned North Korea shipping firm still active, renamed ships – U.N. panel[13] (Reuters)

A U.N.-blacklisted North Korean shipping company has renamed most of its vessels in a bid to disguise their origin and continues its illicit shipments in violation of United Nations sanctions, according to a U.N. experts report seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

UNICEF: Hundreds of South Sudanese boys believed abducted[14] (AP)

The U.N. children’s agency said on Saturday that hundreds of children were abducted two weeks ago by an armed group in South Sudan that is suspected to have ties with the country’s military. 

Why are mysterious drones flying around Paris landmarks?[15] (CS Monitor)

For the second night in a row, several drones were seen flying over major landmarks in Paris. Police and the public reported at least five sightings overnight Tuesday. The previous night, at least five drones were spotted over the city, including one over the US embassy….. Drones are prohibited in France from flying over urban areas or at night without authorization.

With wary eye on Russia, Lithuania to reintroduce the draft[16] (CS Monitor)

President Grybauskaite announced the measure – pending parliamentary approval – amid concerns over Russia’s expanding sphere of influence in the region. Other Baltic nations, like Latvia and Estonia, have similar concerns.

Exclusive: Iran smuggles in $1 billion of bank notes to skirt sanctions[24] (Reuters)

In December, the U.S. Treasury said the Iranian government had obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in bank notes using front companies.

What is intellectual privacy, and how yours is being violated[18] (CS Monitor)

It’s the notion that in a free society, anyone should be able to read, learn, and debate without being monitored and recorded. Americans have long cherished this freedom, but author Neil Richards says it’s being threatened by pervasive online tracking of digital habits and social media discussions. 

FBI Hangs Whistleblowers Out to Dry, Says Government Watchdog[19] (Reason)

The FBI takes up to 10 years to handle whistleblower retaliation complaints, warns the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Opposition Grows To Nicaragua Canal Connecting Atlantic And Pacific[20] (NPR)

The canal would allow passage for the largest ships on the water, but cut through wetlands, forests and the region’s largest freshwater lake — and environmentalists worry about the consequences.

Unidentified attackers hack US blogger to death in Dhaka[21] (AP)

A prominent U.S. blogger, known for his writing against religious fundamentalism, has been hacked to death by unidentified attackers in Bangladesh’s capital, police said Friday.

Pew Study On Religion Finds Increased Harassment Of Jews[22] (NPR)

A quarter of all countries — home to 75 percent of the world’s population — are coping with high levels of religious intolerance, and harassment of Jews has risen for the seventh straight year.

 

 

Endnotes:
  1. United Airlines warns pilots after four safety incidents: http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/Reuters/domesticNews/%7E3/cVxb-Omm0LU/story01.htm
  2. Among CEOs, women are outnumbered by men named John: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/final-note/among-ceos-women-are-outnumbered-men-named-john
  3. Engineer pleads guilty in U.S. to trying to take jet materials to Iran: http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/Reuters/domesticNews/%7E3/rMGcS-dWg6M/story01.htm
  4. U.S. charges three with conspiring to support Islamic State: http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/Reuters/domesticNews/%7E3/MwR_bkKfmpE/story01.htm
  5. Ohio man accused of providing support for Middle East terror: http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/Reuters/domesticNews/%7E3/xomaylEdT0E/story01.htm
  6. Ex-CIA chief David Petraeus pleads guilty to mishandling classified materials: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2015/0303/Ex-CIA-chief-David-Petraeus-pleads-guilty-to-mishandling-classified-materials
  7. Education Department Terminates Contracts With Debt Collectors Accused Of Wrongdoing: http://link.huffingtonpost.com/4cb49b90b61807701fa3ad2c2bzfb.4ob4/VPEl3EmOzqEnAb7IBd129
  8. Dare to Dream: IRS Subject of Criminal Probe Over Missing Emails: http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/reason/HitandRun/%7E3/20_S4sivCzk/dare-to-dream-irs-subject-of-criminal-pr
  9. Nemtsov killing follows slaying of other Kremlin critics: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/feb/28/nemtsov-killing-follows-slaying-of-other-kremlin/
  10. Police capture Mexico’s most-wanted drug lord ‘La Tuta’ Gomez: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2015/0227/Police-capture-Mexico-s-most-wanted-drug-lord-La-Tuta-Gomez
  11. Islamist militants shell two Libyan oilfields, port pipeline damaged: http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/Reuters/worldNews/%7E3/zxW1zB4sKA8/story01.htm
  12. Brickbat: The Swedish Way of Life: http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/reason/HitandRun/%7E3/SiO4xtx1ARc/brickbat-the-swedish-way-of-life
  13.  Sanctioned North Korea shipping firm still active, renamed ships – U.N. panel: http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/Reuters/worldNews/%7E3/VlzYM1D7HqY/story01.htm
  14. UNICEF: Hundreds of South Sudanese boys believed abducted: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/feb/28/unicef-hundreds-of-south-sudanese-boys-believed/
  15. Why are mysterious drones flying around Paris landmarks?: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2015/0225/Why-are-mysterious-drones-flying-around-Paris-landmarks
  16. With wary eye on Russia, Lithuania to reintroduce the draft: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2015/0224/With-wary-eye-on-Russia-Lithuania-to-reintroduce-the-draft
  17. Exclusive: Iran smuggles in $1 billion of bank notes to skirt sanctions: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2F2015%2F02%2F24%2Fus-iran-dollars-exclusive-idUSKBN0LS1LV20150224&ei=d2fuVODnE-rasASYl4DgAg&usg=AFQjCNHyXAIcp-XzguUCRpahRqzHZeT7ig&bvm=bv.86956481,d.cWc
  18. What is intellectual privacy, and how yours is being violated: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Passcode/Passcode-Voices/2015/0225/What-is-intellectual-privacy-and-how-yours-is-being-violated
  19. FBI Hangs Whistleblowers Out to Dry, Says Government Watchdog: http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/reason/HitandRun/%7E3/8fDD7DngsxI/fbi-hangs-whistleblowers-out-to-dry-says
  20. Opposition Grows To Nicaragua Canal Connecting Atlantic And Pacific: http://www.npr.org/2015/02/26/389321590/opposition-grows-to-nicaragua-canal-connecting-atlantic-and-pacific?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=world
  21. Unidentified attackers hack US blogger to death in Dhaka: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/feb/26/unidentified-attackers-hack-us-blogger-to-death/
  22. Pew Study On Religion Finds Increased Harassment Of Jews: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/02/26/389250366/pew-study-on-religion-finds-increased-harassment-of-jews?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=world
  23. recruiting people: http://www.thelocal.se/20150221/swedish-migrant-assistants-recruited-for-isis
  24. Exclusive: Iran smuggles in $1 billion of bank notes to skirt sanctions: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2F2015%2F02%2F24%2Fus-iran-dollars-exclusive-idUSKBN0LS1LV20150224&ei=d2fuVODnE-rasASYl4DgAg&usg=AFQjCNHyXAIcp-XzguUCRpahRqzHZeT7ig&

Source URL: https://webvibrantamerica.com/ecm-world-watch-national-and-global-news-1/

ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

by ECM | June 11, 2013 8:41 pm

 

 

June 11, 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

 

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

 

U.S.

Reports on surveillance of Americans fuel debate over privacy, security[1] (Reuters)

The debate over whether the government is violating citizens’ privacy rights while trying to protect them from terrorism escalated dramatically on Thursday amid reports that authorities have collected data on millions of phone users and tapped into servers at nine internet companies

White House defends surveillance as world digests leaker’s motives[2] (CNN)

he White House said Monday it welcomes a debate over the electronic surveillance programs exposed by a National Security Agency contractor, even as federal agents began building a case against the self-proclaimed leaker.

U.S. farmer lawsuit filed against Monsanto over GMO wheat[3]  (Reuters) – American wheat farmers and a food safety advocacy group filed a lawsuit Thursday against biotech seed developer Monsanto Co, accusing the company of failing to protect the U.S. wheat market from contamination by its unauthorized wheat. The petition, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, seeks class-action status to represent other farmers It says were harmed by lower wheat prices as some foreign buyers have shied away from U.S. wheat.

Supreme Court bars retroactive use of sentencing guidelines[4] (Washington Post)

A divided Supreme Court ruled Monday that tougher sentencing guidelines passed after someone commits a crime cannot be used to justify a longer sentence for the defendant.

Chrysler refuses to recall 2.7 million Jeep SUVs[5]   (CNN)

Chrysler Group says Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that federal safety regulators say is at risk of fire in rear-end crashes are safe.

Senate passes five-year farm bill[6] (The Hill)

The Senate on Monday approved a five-year farm bill in a 66-27 vote. More than 15 Republicans joined most Democrats in supporting the bill, which would cut $24 billion from farm spending over 10 years, including a $4 billion reduction to food stamps. Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) and Jack Reed (R.I.) were the only Democrats who voted against the bill.

White House defends top officials’ use of ‘secret’ accounts[7] (Christian Science Monitor)

…an Associated Press investigation showed that some of the president’s top political appointees are using “secret” government e-mail accounts in a bid to avoid unwanted messages.

WORLD

East Africans told to resettle: Are these ‘land grabs’ or progress?[8] (Christian Science Monitor)

In Ethiopia, a plan known as ‘villagization’ has freed up vast tracts for foreign corporations and brought a storm over methods of development at the World Bank.

Masai herders appear victims of land deal with Dubai hunting firm[9] (Christian Science Monitor)

Tanzania plans to move Maasai families off ancestral land, claiming environmental necessity to protect wildebeest.

Mexico says it rescues 165 migrants kidnapped near U.S. border[10] (Reuters)

(Reuters) – Mexican troops have rescued 165 people, mostly Central Americans including children and pregnant women, who were kidnapped by a gunman in Mexico’s northeast and held captive less than a mile from the U.S. border, the government said on Thursday.

In Gaza, Hamas Targets Palestinian Informants In Crackdown[11] (NPR)

Palestinians convicted of working for Israel’s security forces face harsh punishment, which can include vigilante justice. Hamas, the Islamic group that runs the Gaza Strip, has been waging a campaign to crack down on Palestinian collaborators, or informants.

Most Europeans, especially the French, unhappy about EU: survey[12] (Reuters)

(Reuters) – Nearly two-thirds of French people think the European Union is headed in the wrong direction and more than half disapprove of President Francois Hollande’s leadership, according to a widely-watched survey released on Wednesday.

Anti Khamenei slogans chanted at large Iran protest[13] (Jerusalem Post)

Tens of thousands of people attended the funeral of Ayatollah Jalaluddin Taheri in Iran’s second largest city….  Taheri, who died on Sunday at 87, was a pro-reformist Friday prayer leader in Isfahan who resigned from his post in protest, and was a vocal opponent of the Iranian hardliners in power, according to the report.  Protesters at the funeral chanted “shame on the dictator” and called for lifting house arrest on reformist and opposition leaders, Saudi news outlet Al-Arabiya reported. 

Another contaminated water leak at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant[14] (Reuters)

(Reuters) – The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant said it had found another leak of contaminated water on Wednesday, piling pressure on the utility to curb the problem as it seeks permission to release water to the sea.

15 dead in European flooding, thousands evacuated[15] (UT San Diego)

At least 15 people have died and four others are missing in the floods that have ravaged central Europe, authorities said Wednesday as swollen rivers surged downstream toward Germany.

Egypt prosecutor orders trial for leading activists[16] (Reuters)

 Egypt’s public prosecutor ordered a group of political activists to stand trial on Wednesday on charges they incited violence near the Muslim Brotherhood’s headquarters in March, a case that has hardened rights activists’ fears of a crackdown.

Convictions put Egypt’s beleaguered NGOs into deeper chill (+video)[17] (Christian Science Monitor)

In a case that has sent a chill over Egypt’s civil society, an Egyptian court convicted 43 nonprofit workers, including more than a dozen Americans, of illegally operating non-governmental organizations and accepting unauthorized foreign funds, sentencing them to up to five years in prison.

Pakistan PM Sharif sworn in, calls for end to drone strikes[18] (Reuters)

 Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, formally elected by parliament on Wednesday, again called for an end to U.S. drone strikes aimed at militants which many view as a breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty..

Not Everyone Cheers Turkey’s Move To Tighten Alcohol Rules[19] (NPR)

Among the many reasons for ongoing riots in Turkey: A recent law restricting the advertising and sale of alcohol. Secular Turks see the new rules as the latest effort by the ruling AK Party to impose religious values on the population.

Putin orders crackdown on Islamists, police detain 300 people[20] (Reuters)

(Reuters) – Russian police rounded up 300 people at a Muslim prayer room in Moscow on Friday after President Vladimir Putin ordered a crackdown on radical Islamists ahead of next year’s Winter Olympics.

Endnotes:
  1. Reports on surveillance of Americans fuel debate over privacy, security: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/domesticNews/~3/PVQWEWdubDI/story01.htm
  2. White House defends surveillance as world digests leaker’s motives: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/10/politics/nsa-leak/index.html
  3. U.S. farmer lawsuit filed against Monsanto over GMO wheat: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/scienceNews/~3/M5H1gRfr5z0/story01.htm
  4. Supreme Court bars retroactive use of sentencing guidelines: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-bars-retroactive-application-of-sentencing-guidelines/2013/06/10/733eae16-d205-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html
  5. Chrysler refuses to recall 2.7 million Jeep SUVs: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDEQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2013%2F06%2F04%2Fautos%2Fchrysler-recall-refusal%2Findex.html&ei=9Y-1UcVPro_IAeH-gKAN&usg=AFQjCNEH_BZa9LYWnpdAT7qoUbTE7EMIaw&bvm=bv.47534661,d.aWc
  6. Senate passes five-year farm bill: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/304585-senate-votes-66-27-to-pass-a-five-year-farm-bill
  7. White House defends top officials’ use of ‘secret’ accounts: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2013/0604/Obama-email-flap-White-House-defends-top-officials-use-of-secret-accounts?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+feeds/usa+(Christian+Science+Monitor+%7C+USA)
  8. East Africans told to resettle: Are these ‘land grabs’ or progress?: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/world/~3/YIcHzKsmL6g/East-Africans-told-to-resettle-Are-these-land-grabs-or-progress
  9. Masai herders appear victims of land deal with Dubai hunting firm: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/world/~3/5y6oi8Bfrpo/Masai-herders-appear-victims-of-land-deal-with-Dubai-hunting-firm
  10. Mexico says it rescues 165 migrants kidnapped near U.S. border: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/OzkjqnlRgj0/story01.htm
  11. In Gaza, Hamas Targets Palestinian Informants In Crackdown: http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/06/04/186975387/in-gaza-hamas-targets-palestinian-informants-in-crackdown?ft=1&f=1004
  12. Most Europeans, especially the French, unhappy about EU: survey: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/zfKL_4P6qlo/story01.htm
  13. Anti Khamenei slogans chanted at large Iran protest: http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=315495&R=R3
  14. Another contaminated water leak at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/Jmqd8GiOCRo/story01.htm
  15. 15 dead in European flooding, thousands evacuated: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jun/05/15-dead-in-european-flooding-thousands-evacuated/
  16. Egypt prosecutor orders trial for leading activists: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/8hPbJAAobao/story01.htm
  17. Convictions put Egypt’s beleaguered NGOs into deeper chill (+video): http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/world/~3/NJlCbKm38sY/Convictions-put-Egypt-s-beleaguered-NGOs-into-deeper-chill-video
  18. Pakistan PM Sharif sworn in, calls for end to drone strikes: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/prkYUSFjDdc/story01.htm
  19. Not Everyone Cheers Turkey’s Move To Tighten Alcohol Rules: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/07/187334924/not-everyone-cheers-turkeys-move-to-tighten-alcohol-rules?ft=1&f=1053
  20. Putin orders crackdown on Islamists, police detain 300 people: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/XtFBKdKnOVk/story01.htm

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