ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

December 6, 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 a  variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Michael Cohen's Trump Tower revelation could implicate Trump in a bribery scheme involving Russia (NBC News)
• Trump presidency could hinge on whether he knew of plan to give $50 million penthouse gift to Putin (USA Today)
• Mueller: Flynn gave ‘substantial assistance’ to probe, deserves little to no prison (Politico)
• Attorneys General Drop Subpoenas on Trump Organization, Fed Agencies (Courthouse News)
• Nation bids goodbye to Bush with high praise, cannons, humor (AP)
• George H.W. Bush's Oval Office note revealed who he truly was (Jewish World Review)
• Senators accuse Saudi crown prince of complicity in Khashoggi murder (Washington Post)
• Aftershocks rattle cleanup efforts after powerful Alaskan earthquake  (Reuters)
•  Six charts on the immigrants who call the U.S. home (BBC)

WORLD

• A new president takes power in Mexico (Medium)
• Mexico's new president announces US migration deal - and thanks 'friend Jeremy Corbyn' for attending ceremony (UK Telegraph)
• France considers ‘all options’ to quell violent protests (CNN)
• Special Report: How Iran spreads disinformation around the world (Reuters)
• Ukraine bars entry to Russian men of combat age, EU sees renewal of sanctions on Russia (Reuters)

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

U.S.

Michael Cohen's Trump Tower revelation could implicate Trump in a bribery scheme involving Russia (NBC News)

Trump’s concealment of his efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow raise a series of serious questions…. Trump’s repeated lies about negotiations to build his dream tower could have left him susceptible to Russian blackmail attempts… Just as importantly, however, Trump’s concealment of his efforts to build the Trump Tower may suggest a criminal conspiracy that hasn’t gotten widespread attention yet.

Trump presidency could hinge on whether he knew of p lan to give $50 million penthouse gift to Putin (USA Today)

One aspect of Michael Cohen’s blockbuster plea deal hasn’t received as much attention as it deserves. It is the possibility that the Trump Organization and others, perhaps even including the president himself, might have violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Mueller: Flynn gave ‘substantial assistance’ to probe, deserves little to no prison (Politico)

Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, provided “substantial assistance” to the ongoing investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election…The filing …includes this tantalizing description…”The defendant provided firsthand information about the content and context of interactions between the transition team and the Russian government…”

Attorneys General Drop Subpoenas on Trump Organization, Fed Agencies (Courthouse News)

Attorneys general for the District of Columbia and Maryland dropped hundreds of  pages of subpoenas Tuesday evening demanding financial records tied to the Trump Organization… The subpoenas come on the heels of a Monday ruling by U.S. District Judge Peter Messite, who approved a schedule for discovery of evidence related to allegations that President Donald Trump violated the Constitution’s emoluments clause by allowing foreign and domestic government entities to spend money at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C….Several of the subpoenas also demand all state and federal income tax return records.

Nation bids goodbye to Bush with high praise, cannons, humor (AP)

The nation bid goodbye to George H.W. Bush with high praise, cannon salutes and gentle humor Wednesday, celebrating the life of the Texan who embraced a lifetime of service in Washington and was the last president to fight for the U.S. in wartime. Three former presidents looked on at Washington National Cathedral as a fourth — George W. Bush — eulogized his dad as “the brightest of a thousand points of light.”

George H.W. Bush's Oval Office note revealed who he truly was (Jewish World Review)

By Bill Clinton -- On Jan. 20, 1993, I entered the Oval Office for the first time as president. As is the tradition, waiting for me was a note from my predecessor, George Herbert Walker Bush. It read:

Senators accuse Saudi crown prince of complicity in Khashoggi murder (Washington Post)

Senators emerged from a closed-door briefing with the CIA director on Tuesday and accused the Saudi crown prince of complicity in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi… “If the Crown Prince went in front of a jury, he would be convicted in 30 minutes,” said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Aftershocks rattle cleanup efforts after powerful Alaskan earthquake

(Reuters) - Aftershocks from Friday’s powerful Alaskan earthquake continued to pound the area around Anchorage on Saturday, as workers strove to patch up buckled roads and residents began cleaning up damage around their homes and businesses.  The 7.0 magnitude quake struck Friday morning about 8 miles (13 km) north of Anchorage…

Six charts on the immigrants who call the U.S. home (BBC)

The US is a country shaped by immigration - but at many times in its history, there has been controversy over new arrivals. A closer look at those who call the country home reveals the great changes that have taken place and the contribution immigrants make.

WORLD

A new president takes power in Mexico (Medium)

There are moments in history that seem to be a turning point. For Mexico the transition of power between the government of Enrique Pena Nieto and Manuel Lopez Obrador may be one of those. The ceremony followed the mechanism that has happened for many decades. However, this time there was no violence. What we have is hope.

Mexico's new president announces US migration deal - and thanks 'friend Jeremy Corbyn' for attending ceremony (UK Telegraph)

Mexico’s new president has unveiled a plan to address US-bound migration, signing an agreement with Central American leaders within hours of donning the presidential sash.

France considers ‘all options’ to quell violent protests (CNN)

The French government is considering "all options" to control protests against rising fuel prices that have turned violent in Paris over the last three weeks, a spokesman said Sunday.  Speaking on France's Europe 1 radio, spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said the government is thinking about steps to prevent "serious outbursts of violence," including introducing a state of emergency. More than 400 people were arrested and 133 injured in Paris on Saturday in clashes between police and protesters with the "gilets jaune" or "yellow vest" movement.. An estimated 36,000 people demonstrated in Saturday's protests across the country Saturday, marking the third consecutive week of such demonstrations...

Special Report: How Iran spreads disinformation around the world (Reuters)

 Website Nile Net Online promises Egyptians "true news" from its offices in the heart of Cairo's Tahrir Square, "to expand the scope of freedom of expression in the Arab world."

Ukraine bars entry to Russian men of combat age, EU sees renewal of sanctions on Russia (Reuters)

 Ukraine on Friday banned Russian men of combat age from entering the country, a move introduced under martial law after Russia fired on and captured three Ukrainian naval ships off Crimea last weekend.