ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

July 30, 2014 (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.

• House votes to sue Obama (The Hill)
• House approves V.A. healthcare overhaul (KPBS)
• General Motors sued on behalf of hundreds of plaintiffs (CBS)
• Peters blasts House move to sue President Obama (Times of San Diego)
• Federal judge rules DC ban on handguns unconstitutional (Reuters)  
• What's happened since Detroit turned off delinquent residents' taps  (Marketplace)

WORLD

• Ebola: Liberia shuts all schools to tackle outbreak  (BBC)
• Hamas attacks by tunnel rattle Israelis on Gaza border (+video) (CS Monitor)
• Hamas and North Korea in secret arms deal (The Telegraph)
• Somalian jihadist group Al-Shabab calls for attacks on Jewish targets worldwide (JPost)
• U.S. evacuates Libya embassy after 'free-wheeling militia violence'  (Reuters)
• Barrel Bomb Attacks Devastate Iraqi Families (NPR)
• UN report finds Islamic State is undergoing a 'Syrian-ization' (CS Monitor)
• Putin sends a message? Opposition leaders get prison for staging riots (+video) (CS Monitor)

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

U.S.

House votes to sue Obama (The Hill)

The House voted Wednesday to rebuke President Obama by passing a resolution authorizing a lawsuit against his use of executive power. The 225-201 vote fell along party lines, with five Republicans voting against the measure. No Democrats supported it.

House approves V.A. healthcare overhaul (KPBS)

The House has approved a compromise bill to refurbish the Veterans Affairs Department and improve veterans' health care. The 420-5 vote Wednesday sends the bill to the Senate, where approval is expected by the end of the week. The $16.3 billion measure is intended to help veterans avoid long waits for health care, hire more doctors and nurses to treat them and make firing senior executives at the VA easier.

General Motors sued on behalf of hundreds of plaintiffs (CBS)

A Texas lawyer has filed a lawsuit against General Motors (GM) on behalf of 658 people who were injured or killed in crashes allegedly caused by faulty ignition switches.

Peters blasts House move to sue President Obama (Times of San Diego)

Rep. Scott Peters blasted Wednesday’s House resolution authorizing a precedent-setting lawsuit against President Obama as a “waste of America’s time and money.”

Federal judge rules DC ban on handguns unconstitutional (Reuters)  

A federal judge on Saturday overturned Washington D.C.'s ban on carrying handguns outside the home, saying it was unconstitutional.

What's happened since Detroit turned off delinquent residents' taps  (Marketplace)

Detroit threatened residents behind on their water bills in March: Pay up, or we’ll shut you off. The story has been building up ever since. Here's what you need to know: The threat applies to about half the city's water customers.

WORLD

Ebola: Liberia shuts all schools to tackle outbreak  (BBC)

Liberia's government has announced that it is closing down all schools across the country to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

Hamas attacks by tunnel rattle Israelis on Gaza border (+video) (CS Monitor)

Hamas soldiers have infiltrated Israel four times since the latest conflict began. Evidence of still functioning tunnels indicates Israel's Gaza offensive isn't close to being over.

Hamas and North Korea in secret arms deal (The Telegraph)

 Hamas militants are attempting to negotiate a new arms deal with North Korea for missiles and communications equipment that will allow them to maintain their offensive against Israel, according to Western security sources.

Somalian jihadist group Al-Shabab calls for attacks on Jewish targets worldwide (JPost)

Al-Shabab spokesman calls upon Muslims to stand up and take revenge for their Muslim brothers in Gaza.

U.S. evacuates Libya embassy after 'free-wheeling militia violence'  (Reuters)

 The United States evacuated its embassy in Libya on Saturday, driving diplomats across the border into Tunisia under heavy military escort after escalating clashes broke out between rival militias in Tripoli..

Barrel Bomb Attacks Devastate Iraqi Families (NPR)

 Human rights groups are accusing the Iraqi government of indiscriminate bombing. Baghdad officials deny that and note they're fighting a Sunni insurgency that commits mass executions and suicide bombings.  Yet rights workers say civilians are being killed by government attacks with so-called barrel bombs — the crude weapons made famous in Syria's current conflict

UN report finds Islamic State is undergoing a 'Syrian-ization' (CS Monitor)

"What began with a lot of foreign fighters, now you have authentic Syrian citizens," Pinheiro told reporters. "We are seeing more Syrians coming to ISIS than before."  He said there was an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 foreign fighters with various groups battling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's troops.

Putin sends a message? Opposition leaders get prison for staging riots (+video) (CS Monitor)

Human rights advocates say Sergei Udaltsov and Leonid Razvozzhayev, each of whom were sentenced Thursday to 4-1/2 years in prison, were railroaded by Russian authorities to deter civil activism.