ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

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February 18, 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.

Cyber hackers steal more than $1 billion from banks (APM Marketplace) -- An international group of hackers has allegedly stolen more than a $1 billion from banks around the world, one of the largest bank heists ever.  

 Social Security debate reignites (The Hill)

Social Security is surging to the forefront of the political debate ahead of the race for the White House in 2016.

Jimmy Carter: Women’s rights the fight of my life (CNN)

Jimmy Carter has seen a lot in his 90 years. As a son of the South, a governor and president, and as a man who spent decades tackling problems head-on, he knows the world is not perfect. It has too many people without a voice and without hope, too many examples of suffering and injustice.There are so many wrongs to right. Yet among them, Carter is putting one ahead of all others: Violence and injustice against girls and women.

Homeless People Each Share One Thing About Themselves That Will Surprise You (22Words)

For a simple but profound project, Rethink Homelessness invited several of Orlando’s homeless residents to tell the rest of us one fact from their lives that, if we walked past them, we would never expect. As you can imagine, the results are poignantly humanizing…

Study Suggests Recession, Recovery Have Not Left The Rich Richer (NPR)

 Conventional wisdom is that income inequality has gotten worse in the years since the financial crisis, but new research by a George Washington University professor says that's not what the data show.

US to provide assistance in fight against Boko Haram (CS Monitor)

 The US military has said it will provide intelligence and equipment to support the multinational force battling the militant islamists. The campaign's military commanders have complained of coordination problems and language barriers.

Islamic State targeted in 14 airstrikes by U.S., allies: task force (Reuters)

The United States and its allies have staged six airstrikes around the Syrian town of Kobani, where Kurdish forces have been pushing back Islamic State forces, a joint task force statement said on Tuesday.

U.S., Turkey reach tentative pact on training Syrian rebels (Reuters)

The United States and Turkey have reached a tentative agreement on training and equipping moderate Syrian opposition groups and expect to sign the pact soon, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.

WORLD

Canadian police say Valentine's Day mass shooting plot foiled (Reuters)

Canadian police said on Friday they foiled a plot in which at least two people allegedly planned to commit a mass shooting in the East Coast province of Nova Scotia on Valentine's Day.

Malawi bans child marriage, lifts minimum age to 18 (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

 Malawi has passed a law banning child marriage, raising the minimum age to 18 in a country where half of girls end up as child brides.

Defiant Danes march after gunman attacks Copenhagen (Reuters)

 Tens of thousands of Danes gathered at torch-lit memorials around the country on Monday, commemorating victims of deadly attacks on a synagogue and an event promoting free speech that shocked a nation proud of its record of safety and openness.

Copenhagen attacks challenge soft Nordic approach to radicals (Reuters)

 Known for a soft approach to security that emphasizes helping radical Muslim youths with housing and jobs, Denmark may face pressure after the Copenhagen attacks to prioritize tougher laws and more resources for the police....  Denmark's approach is typified by initiatives like a de-radicalization program that began in the second largest city Aarhus and was rolled out last year across the country... Neighboring Sweden may pass a law this year to criminalize travel to take part in conflict as well as the organizing and funding of such activities....  

Shooting Victim at Copenhagen synagogue was a young Jew (Danmarks Radio)

 Police were at the synagogue, when someone shot and killed a young member of the Jewish community.  It was a young member in the 30s of the Jewish Society, who was shot in the head and died in front of the synagogue in Krystalgade in Copenhagen shortly before 01 Sunday night.  …There is a heightened threat by other Jewish institutions in Denmark school, and Jewish Society will Sundays through consider whether it is a good idea that children show up at Caroline School on East of Copenhagen Monday morning.

Libyan plane returns to Tripoli after Egypt closes airspace (Reuters)

 A Libyan commercial plane bound for Istanbul was forced to return to Tripoli on Tuesday after Egypt banned overflying its airspace, Tripoli airport and the Libyan airline said. Egypt launched air strikes on Monday on suspected targets of Islamic State in Libya, a day after the group released a video showing the beheading of Egyptian Coptic Christians..

Women in India fight sexual harassment with smartphones (CS Monitor)

Interest in phone apps with SOS buttons to alert contacts and websites to report sexual harassment has surged as more women challenge the view that they have a lower status than men

50 Russian tanks roll into Ukraine to aid rebels (CS Monitor)

As Putin held peace talks in Minsk, Belarus, tanks, missiles, and armored vehicles entered eastern Ukraine to bolster rebel forces.

Nicaragua's New Canal Could Be Environmental Disaster, Report Says (NPR)

Scientists believe the project, which is reportedly underway already, could destroy a million acres of rainforest and contaminate Central America's largest source of drinking water.

Foiled Australia attackers vowed to 'strike necks and kidneys' of victims (Reuters)

Two men behind what Australian police called a foiled attack linked to Islamic State referred in a seized video to "stabbing the kidneys and striking the necks" of their intended victims, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Thursday.

Islamic State fighters seize western Iraqi town: officials (Reuters)

 Islamic State insurgents took control on Thursday of most of the western Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi, threatening an air base where U.S. Marines are training Iraqi troops, officials said.

Backlash After Students at University Demand Jews De-register (JWR)

 The Students Representative Council (SRC) and Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) at Durban University of Technology in South Africa has stirred outrage at home and abroad after a local newspaper, the Daily News, reported they had demanded that Jewish students, especially those who “do not support the Palestinian struggle,” leave the school.

Israel eases restrictions for businesses in blockaded Gaza (AP)

 Israel has announced new steps to bring relief to Gaza Strip residents and promote the rehabilitation of areas devastated during last year's war with Hamas, the Islamic militants that rule the territory. The Israeli military said Tuesday it is increasing the number of permits issued to Gaza merchants which allow them to enter the West Bank and Israel for business. It said it would also allow an increase in the export of textiles and furniture.

 


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