ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

July 4, 2019 (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.

• Tanks, fighters readied for Trump's July 4th celebration but taxpayer cost not being disclosed (ABC news)
• Judge orders swift action to improve conditions for migrant children in Texas (New York Times)
• Hispanic caucus: Detained migrants being told to ‘drink from toilets’ (NBC 7)
• Winners and losers from two nights of Democratic debates (The Hill)
• Court blocks federal funds for parts of border wall in California, New Mexico (Fox 5)
• Trump administration ending in-person interpreters at immigrants’ first hearings (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Digital jail: how electronic monitoring is driving defendants into debt (Pro Publica)
• Taking migrant children from parents is illegal, U.N. tells U.S. (New York Times)
• Bank of America to cut ties with companies that help run immigrant detention centers, private prisons (USA Today)
• Cast of Hollywood stars perform live reading of the Mueller Report (CBS)

WORLD

• Deadly India Heat Wave Temperature Reaches 123 Degrees in Second-Driest Pre-Monsoon Spell in 65 Years (Weather Channel)
• A strange, wavy jet stream is blasting Europe with heat. Scientists say this could be the 'new normal.' (NBC 7)
• Iran poised to press ahead with uranium enrichment despite Trump warning (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Russia plans to tow a nuclear power station to the Arctic. Critics dub it a 'floating Chernobyl' (CNN)
• Russia behind GPS failures over Ben Gurion airport, Israelis believe (CNN)

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

U.S.

Tanks, fighters readied for Trump's July 4th celebration but taxpayer cost not being disclosed (ABC news)

Two heavily-armored Bradley Fighting Vehicles were being moved into place next to a stage at the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday to be on "static display" during President Donald Trump's "Salute to America," as part of the president's effort to reshape the annual July Fourth celebration on the National Mall…Trump was set to give a speech at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in front of the Lincoln Memorial, showcasing the U.S. military, and multiple fighters and other aircraft were preparing for flyovers …Trump tweeted on Tuesday, "The Pentagon & our great Military Leaders are thrilled to be doing this & showing to the American people, among other things, the strongest and most advanced Military anywhere in the World. ..But one thing that’s not known is how much the military’s participation will cost taxpayers.

Judge orders swift action to improve conditions for migrant children in Texas (New York Times)

A federal judge has ordered a mediator to move swiftly to improve health and sanitation at Border Patrol facilities in Texas, where observers reported migrant children were subject to filthy conditions that imperiled their health.

Hispanic caucus: Detained migrants being told to ‘drink from toilets’ (NBC 7)

"When we went into the cell, it was clear that the water was not running ... in fact, one of the women said that she was told by an agent to drink from the toilet," said Rep. Joaquin Castro.

Winners and losers from two nights of Democratic debates (The Hill)

The first Democratic presidential primary debates concluded on Thursday after an explosive night of heavyweight fights that reshaped the race for the nomination. Here are the winners and losers after two hot nights in South Florida: 

Court blocks federal funds for parts of border wall in California, New Mexico (Fox 5)

…According to a news release from California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, the US District Court for Northern California ruled in favor of a challenge to President Donald Trump’s attempt to move billions from the Defense Department budget toward building a border wall in El Centro, California, and New Mexico. Trump’s move was done as part of his national emergency declaration in February.

Trump administration ending in-person interpreters at immigrants’ first hearings (San Francisco Chronicle)

The Trump administration is preparing to replace in-court interpreters at initial immigration court hearings with videos informing asylum seekers and other immigrants facing deportation of their rights, The Chronicle has learned. The administration portrays the change as a cost-saving measure for an immigration court system bogged down under a growing backlog. But advocates for immigrants are concerned the new procedure could jeopardize their due-process rights, add confusion and potentially make the system less efficient by causing more of them to go underground or appeal cases.

Digital jail: how electronic monitoring is driving defendants into debt (Pro Publica)

Ankle bracelets are promoted as a humane alternative to jail. But private companies charge defendants hundreds of dollars a month to wear the surveillance devices. If people can’t pay, they may end up behind bars.

Taking migrant children from parents is illegal, U.N. tells U.S. (New York Times)

The Trump administration’s practice of separating children from migrant families entering the United States violates their rights and international law, the United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday, urging an immediate halt to the practice. The administration angrily rejected what it called an ignorant attack by the United Nations human rights office and accused the global organization of hypocrisy.

Bank of America to cut ties with companies that help run immigrant detention centers, private prisons (USA Today)

Bank of America announced Wednesday that it would no longer finance operators of immigrant detention centers and private prisons…"The private sector is attempting to respond to public policy and government needs and demands in the absence of long standing and widely recognized reforms needed in criminal justice and immigration policies,” the statement read.

Cast of Hollywood stars perform live reading of the Mueller Report (CBS)

The 448-page report compiled by special counsel Robert Mueller's office apparently translates into a 10-act play that takes 18 actors to perform — including Annette Bening, Kevin Kline, John Lithgow, Alfre Woodard, Justin Long, and Alyssa Milano. On Monday, these stars and more performed a live reading of "The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in 10 Acts," a stage production based on the Mueller report. …The play, written by Robert Schenkkan, is being billed on the Law Works website as a historic live play "ripped from the pages of the Mueller. Schenkkan is a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning screenwriter and playwright.

WORLD

Deadly India Heat Wave Temperature Reaches 123 Degrees in Second-Driest Pre-Monsoon Spell in 65 Years (Weather Channel)

A deadly heat wave has sent temperatures above 120 degrees in northern India, triggering heat stroke and warnings of water shortages, as the country experiences its second-driest pre-monsoon spell in 65 years.

A strange, wavy jet stream is blasting Europe with heat. Scientists say this could be the 'new normal.' (NBC 7)

Global warming is crimping the ribbon of air that controls weather systems in the Northern Hemisphere, intensifying extreme weather around the world.

Iran poised to press ahead with uranium enrichment despite Trump warning (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Despite dire warnings from the United States, Iran will immediately accelerate its enrichment of uranium in violation of the international nuclear accord it signed four years ago, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday.The step is the latest in Iran’s gradual walk away from the deal it forged with six global powers that President Trump jettisoned last year, and it comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated.

Russia plans to tow a nuclear power station to the Arctic. Critics dub it a 'floating Chernobyl' (CNN)

Next month, a floating nuclear power plant called the Akademik Lomonosov will be towed via the Northern Sea Route to its final destination in the Far East, after almost two decades in construction. It's part of Russia's ambition to bring electric power to a mineral-rich region.

Russia behind GPS failures over Ben Gurion airport, Israelis believe (CNN)

Israeli officials believe Russia is responsible for disturbances to the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal covering the airspace at Israel's Ben Gurion airport, Israeli radio reported Thursday.