ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

East County News Service

January 4, 2017 (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.

• In response to hacking, Obama orders 35 Russian diplomats kicked out of US (CS Monitor)
• Donald Trump’s call for arms race boggles nuclear experts (NBC)
• New Congress prepares to undo Obamacare, weigh Trump personnel picks (Reuters)
• Trump marks deadly year in Chicago, hints at federal help (The Hill)
• To save books, librarians create fake ‘reader’ to check out titles (Orlando Sentinel)
• Portland, Oregon is taxing taxes on companies with CEOs making 100 times more than employee salaries—and giving the money to the homeless (Business Insider)
• Honda to recall about 650,000 Odyssey minivans in U.S. (Reuters)
• Federal judge halts Obamacare transgender, abortion-related protections nationwide (Buzzflash)
• Police ranks falter amid rise in line-of-duty deaths (CS Monitor)
• Should the Government Track Your Movements? (Reason)
• Actress Debbie Reynolds dies of a stroke, a day after daughter  (Reuters)

WORLD

• Refugees Encounter a Foreign Word: Welcome (New York Times)
• Russia and Turkey announced cease-fire deal in Syria (CS Monitor)
• At least 35 killed in New Year's attack on Istanbul nightclub (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Experts: North Korea’s claim on ICBM tests plausible (Voice of America)
• Blasts in Baghdad Kill at Least 28 at a Busy Market (NPR)
• Could it work? Russia, Turkey, Iran propose splitting Syria into 'zones of influence’ (CS Monitor)
• Report: Netanyahu to be investigated for bribery, fraud  (Times of Israel)

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

U.S.

In response to hacking, Obama orders 35 Russian diplomats kicked out of US (CS Monitor)

In a sweeping response to election hacking, President Barack Obama on Thursday sanctioned Russian intelligence services and their top officials, kicked out 35 Russian officials and shuttered two Russian-owned compounds in the United States.

Donald Trump’s call for arms race boggles nuclear experts (NBC)

…Trump stunned nuclear experts Thursday by proclaiming in a tweet that "the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."  And on Friday, Trump himself weighed in again, saying in a statement to "Morning Joe" host Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC: "Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all."

New Congress prepares to undo Obamacare, weigh Trump personnel picks (Reuters)

A new, Republican-controlled U.S. Congress convenes on Tuesday eager to repeal major portions of President Barack Obama's healthcare law and roll back environmental and financial industry regulations, but could quickly become embroiled in fights over President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet choices.

Trump marks deadly year in Chicago, hints at federal help (The Hill)

President-elect Donald Trump remarked on Monday that 2016 was one of the most violent years in Chicago history, hinting that federal assistance may be necessary to help end the bloodshed in the city.

To save books, librarians create fake ‘reader’ to check out titles (Orlando Sentinel)

Chuck Finley appears to be a voracious reader, having checked out 2,361 books at the East Lake County Library in a nine-month period this year.  But Finley didn't read a single one of the books, ranging from "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck to a kids book called "Why Do My Ears Pop?" by Ann Fullick. That's because Finley isn't real.

Portland, Oregon is taxing taxes on companies with CEOs making 100 times more than employee salaries—and giving the money to the homeless (Business Insider)

In an effort to combat homelessness, the city government in Portland, Oregon has passed a law that raises corporate taxes on companies whose CEOs make significantly more than their employees. Companies will see a 10% increase on their tax rate if the CEO makes 100 times the average employee and a 25% increase if they make 250 times the average salary…

Honda to recall about 650,000 Odyssey minivans in U.S. (Reuters)

Honda Motor Co said on Thursday it will recall nearly 650,000 Odyssey minivans in the United States covering 2011 to 2016 model years because second-row seats may not lock in the event of a crash.

Federal judge halts Obamacare transgender, abortion-related protections nationwide (Buzzflash)

The same federal judge who stopped enforcement of Obama administration’s transgender guidance for schools stopped enforcement of a similar healthcare rule on Saturday.

Police ranks falter amid rise in line-of-duty deaths (CS Monitor)

So far this year, 21 police officers were killed in ambush attacks, the most seen in two decades.

Should the Government Track Your Movements? (Reason)

A battle over license-plate readers is brewing in Virginia.

Actress Debbie Reynolds dies of a stroke, a day after daughter  (Reuters)

Debbie Reynolds, a leading lady in Hollywood musicals and comedies in the 1950s and 1960s, including "Singin' in the Rain," died on Wednesday, her son said, just one day after the death of her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher.

WORLD

Refugees Encounter a Foreign Word: Welcome (New York Times)

How Canadian hockey moms, poker buddies and neighbors are adopting Syrians, a family at a time.

Russia and Turkey announced cease-fire deal in Syria (CS Monitor)

Syria's military said it agreed to a nationwide cease-fire starting Thursday at midnight, adding that it paves the way for reactivating negotiations to end the conflict.

At least 35 killed in New Year's attack on Istanbul nightclub (San Diego Union-Tribune)

An assailant believed to have been dressed in a Santa Claus costume opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul during New Year's celebrations early Sunday, killing at least 35 people and wounding 40 others in what the province’s governor described as a terrorist attack.

Experts: North Korea’s claim on ICBM tests plausible (Voice of America)

North Korea has been working through 2016 on developing components for an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), making the isolated nation's claim that it was close to a test-launch plausible, international weapons experts said on Monday.

Blasts in Baghdad Kill at Least 28 At A Busy Market (NPR)

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a pair of bombings that killed at least 28 and wounded dozens of others Saturday morning in the Iraqi capital.

Could it work? Russia, Turkey, Iran propose splitting Syria into 'zones of influence’ (CS Monitor)

In a move toward compromise, such a deal would allow regional autonomy within a federal structure controlled by President Assad until the next presidential election.

Report: Netanyahu to be investigated for bribery, fraud  (Times of Israel)

Police ask A-G to turn months-long secret inquiry into full-blown investigation as new documents come to light.