ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

East County News Service

May 17, 2016 (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.

• EPA issues new rule on methane (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• White House to issue sweeping decree on school restroom access (Sacramento Bee)
• Declassified documents detail 9/11commisison’s inquiry into Saudi Arabia (Guardian)
• Is Phoenix airport breaking up with TSA?(CS Monitor)
• Feds Gave $2.2 Billion Worth of Military Gear to Local Police Departments Since 2006 (Reason)
• Hillary Clinton’s big benefactor has trade links with Iran (Newsweek)
• My pen pal, Donald Trump, or the art of the squeal (City Journal)

WORLD

• Venezuela Opposition March in Caracas Broken Up by Tear Gas(Bloomberg)
• As War Dangers Multiply, Doctors Without Borders Struggles To Adapt (NPR)
• Brazil rebuffs Latin American leftists over Rousseff suspension (Reuters)
• Mexico City emits new pollution alert for high ozone levels (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Islamic state attacks gas plant north of Baghdad, killing 11 (Reuters)
• Russia 'behind German parliament hack' (BBC)
• Kidnapped son of ex-PM of Pakistan heads home after surprise rescue (CS Monitor)
• Dozens killed in Ethiopia landslides, flooding amid rains (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Suicide Bombings In Baghdad Kill More Than 85 People (NPR)

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

U.S.

EPA issues new rule on methane (San Diego Union-Tribune)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a new ruling Thursday cracking down on methane emissions from oil and natural gas wells, but it's unclear how much it will affect California.

White House to issue sweeping decree on school restroom access (Sacramento Bee)

Administration to issue decree Friday to every public school district in U.S. Educators to be told to let transgender students use bathroom matching gender identity; ruling will not have force of law, but non-compliant districts could face penalties

Declassified documents detail 9/11commisison’s inquiry into Saudi Arabia (Guardian)

Newly released files may show connections between low-level Saudi officials and a terrorist support network in southern California led to the 9/11 attacks.

Is Phoenix airport breaking up with TSA?(CS Monitor)

International airports in San Francisco, Kansas City and Bozeman, Mont. (near Yellowstone) have already opted out of TSA, according to TSA's website. These airports and 19 others still provide security under federal oversight, but private companies handle their pre-boarding and baggage screening.

Feds Gave $2.2 Billion Worth of Military Gear to Local Police Departments Since 2006 (Reason)

Since 2006, the federal government has supplied local police departments across the U.S. with roughly $2.2 billion in military equipment, including armored vehicles, helicopters, machine guns, and even 5,638 bayonets, according to a newly released report from the pro-government transparency group Open the Books.

Hillary Clinton’s big benefactor has trade links with Iran (Newsweek)

Enemies of Hillary Clinton waiting to discredit her bid for the White House are likely to seize on news that one of the biggest benefactors to the Clinton Foundation has been trading with Iran and may be in breach of US sanctions imposed on the country. Ukrainian oligarch Victor Pinchuk, 54, has courted the Clintons for at least nine years – in the United States, the Alps and Ukraine.

My pen pal, Donald Trump, or the art of the squeal (City Journal)

Before Donald Trump became a master of the 140-character tweet, he carried on a vigorous, often combative campaign of correspondence with his critics through the letters-to-the-editor columns of newspapers and magazines. As a financial journalist and columnist who has spent decades writing about business and politics in New York City, I was once the object of one of Trump’s acerbic missives.

WORLD

Venezuela Opposition March in Caracas Broken Up by Tear Gas (Bloomberg)

Venezuelan security forces fired teargas and pepper spray at protesters Wednesday, injuring opposition leader Henrique Capriles and forcing a march to turn back from central Caracas.

As War Dangers Multiply, Doctors Without Borders Struggles To Adapt (NPR)

More airstrikes. More kidnappings. How will the medical aid group protect its workers, patients and hospitals in a more threatening world?

Brazil rebuffs Latin American leftists over Rousseff suspension (Reuters)

Brazil's interim government dismissed criticism by leftist countries in Latin America, including Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia, over the impeachment process of Dilma Rousseff, who was suspended as president by the senate.

Mexico City emits new pollution alert for high ozone levels (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Mexican authorities have issued a new smog alert for the capital after ozone levels rose above 150 percent of acceptable limits.

Islamic state attacks gas plant north of Baghdad, killing 11 (Reuters)

An Islamic State attack on a state-run gas plant in Baghdad's northern outskirts on Sunday killed at least 11 people, including policemen, and forced two power stations it supplied to suspend electricity production.

Russia 'behind German parliament hack' (BBC)

Germany's domestic intelligence agency accuses Russia of being behind a series of cyber attacks on German state computer systems.

Kidnapped son of ex-PM of Pakistan heads home after surprise rescue (CS Monitor)

A US-Afghan raid in Pakistan on a suspected al Qaeda compound resulted in the unexpected rescue of the kidnapped son of a former Pakistani prime minister.

Dozens killed in Ethiopia landslides, flooding amid rains (San Diego Union-Tribune)

A state-affiliated broadcaster in Ethiopia says at least 50 people have been killed in flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains.

Suicide Bombings In Baghdad Kill More Than 85 People (NPR)

The Islamic State has claimed that it carried out three attacks in different parts of the Iraqi capital. Two of the bombings targeted checkpoints, while another hit a crowded outdoor market.