ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

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May 23, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to 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.

Supreme Court backs employers over workers in first of two major labor cases (USA Today)

The Supreme Court dealt an initial blow to millions of workers Monday in the first of two major disputes this term pitting corporations against labor unions. In a 5-4 decision controlled by the court's conservative wing, the justices ruled that employers have the right to insist that labor disputes get resolved individually, rather than allowing workers to join together in class-action lawsuits.

Bowing to pressure, White House to host bipartisan briefing on Russia investigation (The Hill)

The White House is planning a separate meeting for bipartisan House and Senate leaders to receive classified information related to the Russia investigation, bowing to pressure over a decision to exclude Democrats from a highly anticipated Thursday briefing.

How good is it for the class of 2018? (Marketplace)

The class of 2018 is entering the most favorable job market for new college graduates since the Great Recession. In many parts of the country, employers report growing labor shortages, and on-campus recruitment to fill entry-level positions has been brisk.

Trump admin moves to ban federally funded clinics from giving abortion referrals (The Hill)

The Trump administration on Tuesday announced new restrictions that would bar health clinics that refer patients for abortions or share space with abortion providers from receiving federal funds under a decades-old family planning program.

Future of fire: What if our forests don’t come back?  (Outside)

New Mexico's Bandelier National Monument holds clues to what may happen to forests affected by massive fires

Kilauea's Wrath Threatens Power Plant — And Hawaii's Most Powerful Industry (NPR)

In the weeks since the Kilauea volcano began belching lava into Hawaii's residential areas, the fiery flow has destroyed dozens of structures and covered scores of acres on the Big Island. But authorities fear its destructive reach could ravage at least two more cornerstones of the state: its power supply and, a little less tangibly, its all-important tourism industry… the Hawaii County Civil Defense agency announced that lava from nearby fissures had begun to encroach on the southern edge of one of the state's key sources of power, the Puna Geothermal Venture….

Little difference between gun owners, non-gun owners on key gun policies (MedicalXpress)

A new national public opinion survey from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds widespread agreement among gun owners and non-gun owners in their support for policies that restrict or regulate firearms.

Texas school had a shooting plan, armed officers, and practice. Still, 10 people died. (Washington Post)

…They thought they were a hardened target, part of what’s expected today of the American public high school in an age when school shootings occur with alarming frequency. And so, a death toll of 10 was a tragic sign of failure and needing to do more, but also a sign, to some, that it could have been much worse.

Judge rules Trump can’t block users on Twitter (The Hill)

A federal district court judge on Wednesday ruled that President Trump can't block people from viewing his Twitter feed over their political views.

WORLD

Dozens of foreign ISIS brides sentenced to death in Iraq (New York Post)

Dozens of foreign ISIS brides are being sentenced to death in Iraq as the country exacts its revenge after three years of jihadi occupation. Pleading that they themselves are victims, the women were given 10 minutes to beg for their lives before judges decide their sentence.

Mexican truckers travel in fear as highway robberies bleed economy  (Reuters)

lancing constantly at his rear-view mirror, truck driver “El Flaco” journeys the highways of Mexico haunted by the memory of when he was kidnapped with his security detail by bandits disguised as police officers two years ago.

Lawmakers Propose to Extend Putin's Term Limits as President  (NPR)

A president cannot be elected to more than two consecutive terms, according to the country's constitution. The proposed amendment would allow for a third consecutive term.  The measure, posted online and addressed to State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, a former Putin aide, said that a "complex external political situation" makes it important to have "continuity of state power."

U.S. cautions citizens in China after 'abnormal' sound incident  (Reuters)

An American citizen working at the U.S. consulate in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has reported suffering from “abnormal” sounds and pressure leading to a mild brain injury, the U.S. embassy said on Wednesday and China said it was investigating the incident.

French authorities foil possible ricin plot by Egyptian-born student (CBC)

France said on Friday it had thwarted a possible ricin attack after intercepting messages on the secure social media platform Telegram and a source in the Paris prosecutor's office said an Egyptian-born student was in police custody.  ….said the student possessed "instructions on how to build ricin-based poisons."

Fires break out in several towns by Gaza border (JPost)

Fires broke out in the kibbutzes of Kfar Aza and Sa'ad near the Gaza Strip border, Israeli media reported Friday afternoon.  The cause of the fires seems to be Molotov cocktails attached to kites flown into Israel over the Gaza border.

Venezuela's Maduro re-elected amid outcry over vote (Reuters)

Venezuela's leftist leader Nicolas Maduro won a new six-year term on Sunday, but his main rivals disavowed the election alleging massive irregularities in a process critics decried as a farce propping up a dictatorship.


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Comments

Texas shooting

Another horrifying event - kids killing kids. The apparent "New Normal". Why aren't schools using metal detectors?