ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

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May 7, 2015 (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:

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

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

NATIONAL

NSA phone surveillance not authorized: U.S. appeals court

(Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Thursday said a National Security Agency program that collected the records of millions of Americans' phone calls was not authorized by Congress.

How Utah reduced homelessness by more than 90 percent

(CS Monitor) -- Utah cut its chronically homeless population by more than 90 percent. A shift from emergency relief to a prevention approach is saving Utah and other states money and reduces homelessness. 

U.S. government to pay New Mexico $73 million over radiation leak

(Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department will pay New Mexico $73 million in road and other infrastructure projects for violations by an underground nuclear waste dump and nuclear research lab that led to a radiation leak last year, officials said on Thursday.

Exclusive: U.S. boosts bird flu emergency funds as Hormel cuts jobs

(Reuters) - The U.S. government approved the use of an additional $330 million in emergency funds to help contain the worst avian influenza outbreak in U.S. history, as infected bird cases soared and hundreds of Minnesota poultry workers learned they would lose their jobs.

Small town evacuated after oil train derails in North Dakota

(Reuters) - A BNSF train carrying crude oil owned by Hess Corp derailed and caught fire in North Dakota on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of a nearby small town just days after the United States and Canada announced reforms to improve the safety of such shipments.

Ferry service between US and Cuba to resume

(CS Monitor) -- A ferry service has received a license to operate between the United States and Cuba. Before the Cuban revolution ferries ran daily between Florida and Cuba, bringing American tourists to Havana's hotels and beaches.

Power Problems: Puerto Rico's Electric Utility Faces Crippling Debt

(NPR) -- The island's power authority owes $9 billion. Power costs are already high, but bondholders are pushing for rate hikes. That may deter employers, which would further hurt the territory's weak economy.

Surveillance planes spotted in the sky for days after West Baltimore rioting

(Washington Post) -- A previously secret, multi-day campaign of overhead surveillance by city and federal authorities during a period of historic political protest and unrest... has prompted the American Civil Liberties Union to demand answers about the legal authority for the operations and the reach of the technology used. Civil libertarians have particular concern about surveillance technology that can quietly gather images across dozens of city blocks — in some cases even square miles at a time — inevitably capturing the movements of people under no suspicion of criminal activity into a government dragnet.

INTERNATIONAL

European Union wants new rules for its digital economy

(APM Marketplace) -- The European Commission, the EU's governing executive body, is proposing a range of new rules to standardize everything from e-commerce to telecom among its 28 member states.

Virtual Volunteers Use Twitter And Facebook To Make Maps Of Nepal

(NPR) -- After the earthquake struck, they began using social media to find out the extent of the damage, who needs help — even where aid groups are setting up shop.

Rocket-propelled grenade forced down Mexican helicopter

(AP) -- A drug cartel that unleashed a wave of attacks in the western Mexican state of Jalisco used a rocket-propelled grenade to force down a military helicopter, a security official said Monday.

On becalmed sea, Italy rescues nearly 4,000 migrants in 24 hours

(CS Monitor) -- Italy's coast guard reported that more boats have begun sailing from North Africa as the crossing is smoother. The rescues took place over the course of one day and involved many vessels.... / The relentless flood of migrants is continuing this year after 170,000 were rescued at sea by Italy in 2014 — a 277 percent increase over the numbers in 2013.

More than 50 Thai police punished over human trafficking links

(Reuters) - More than 50 Thai police officers have been punished over suspected links to human trafficking networks, the country's police chief said on Thursday, after the prime minister ordered a probe into the discovery of trafficking camps near the Malaysian border.

German spies curb Internet snooping for U.S. after row: media

(Reuters) - Germany has halted its Internet surveillance for the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) in response to a row over the BND intelligence agency's cooperation with Washington, German media reported on Thursday.

Kenya Pushes For Close Of Word's Largest Refugee Camp

(NPR) -- Kenya wants to shut down a sprawling Somali refugee camp it views as a vector for Islamist extremists. Refugee officials say shutting down the camp would violate international law.

Israel veterans group alleges Israeli misconduct in Gaza war

(AP) -- An Israeli group that collects testimonies from combat soldiers published accounts Monday from last year's Gaza war alleging indiscriminate fire killed Palestinian civilians.

Africa's richest economy surviving on borrowed cash

(AP) -- Africa's richest economy is borrowing money to pay salaries as it struggles through a "difficult cash crunch" brought on by halved oil prices, Nigeria's finance minister revealed Tuesday.

 


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