ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

October 21, 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:

U.S.

• Hopes dim to avert Medicare premium spike (The Hill)
• U.S. will require recreational drone users to register aircraft (Washington Post)
• Under fire from Donald Trump, Jeb Bush focuses on 9/11 even though hijackers got Florida licenses (International Business Times)
• Paul Ryan’s reluctance could spark speakership scramble (The Hill)
• Apple bans hundreds of i-phone aps that secretly gathered data (CNN)
• Stripping down to the ugly truth about Playboy (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Robert Reich: Why Hillary Clinton is wrong for refusing to reinstate Glass-Seagall (In These Times)

WORLD

• Canada’s liberals sweep to power (BBC)
• Rash of Palestinian stabbing attempts continues over weekend
• Terrorist kills soldier, wounds several others in attack at Beersheba bus station (JPost)
• Palestinian Authority demands end to Israel's 'terrorism, incitement and summary executions' (JPost)
• Michael Gerson: The children among the ruins (Washington Post)

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

U.S.

Hopes dim to avert Medicare premium spike (The Hill)

The window is closing for congressional leaders to avert the double-digit premium hikes that are set to hit 8 million Medicare enrollees next year. Congress has only a handful of weeks to prevent the 52 percent premium hikes — the largest in the program’s history — that will harm seniors and drain state budgets. And with a key deadline missed on Thursday, aides of both parties say a deal between House leaders by year’s end is becoming less likely.

U.S. will require recreational drone users to register aircraft (Washington Post)

Federal regulators said Monday that they will require recreational drone users to register their aircraft with the government for the first time in an attempt to track rogue flying robots that are increasingly posing a threat to aviation safety.

Under fire from Donald Trump, Jeb Bush focuses on 9/11 even though hijackers got Florida licenses (International Business Times)

Defending his brother’s presidency, Jeb Bush has repeatedly declared that George W. Bush “kept us safe.” Focusing on the 9/11 attacks carries unique risks for Jeb Bush as he navigates the politics of national security and immigration -- and not simply because, as Donald Trump pointed out, the attacks occurred on President Bush’s watch. Many of the 9/11 hijackers were able to obtain Florida driver’s licenses or identification cards -- and train freely in the state -- while Jeb Bush was governor.

Paul Ryan’s reluctance could spark speakership scramble (The Hill)

Rep. Paul Ryan runs for Speaker of the House, it will be on his own terms.The Wisconsin Republican has made clear he doesn’t want the top leadership job. But his allies have said he’s reluctantly open to a bid, as long as there are no strings attached and he can win near-unanimous support from the 247-member GOP conference.

Apple bans hundreds of i-phone aps that secretly gathered data (CNN)

Most of the 256 affected apps were made in China, but they were available worldwide on the app store and were downloaded 1 million times, according to app analytics service SourceDNA, which first discovered the problem.

Stripping down to the ugly truth about Playboy (San Diego Union-Tribune)

In noting its decision to drop nude photos of women after 62 years of publication, Playboy magazine gave itself a giant pat on the back this week for having had them in the first place.

Robert Reich: Why Hillary Clinton is wrong for refusing to reinstate Glass-Seagall (In These Times)

Hillary Clinton won’t propose reinstating a bank break-up law known as the Glass-Steagall Act…It’s a mistake politically because people who believe Hillary Clinton is still too close to Wall Street will not be reassured by her position on Glass-Steagall. Many will recall that her husband led the way to repealing Glass Steagall in 1999 at the request of the big Wall Street banks.

WORLD

Canada’s liberals sweep to power (BBC)

Canada's Liberal Party has decisively won parliamentary elections, ending nine years of Conservative rule.

Rash of Palestinian stabbing attempts continues over weekend

A spate of attempted terrorist attacks took place over the weekend in Jerusalem and the West Bank, wounding two Israelis.

Terrorist kills soldier, wounds several others in attack at Beersheba bus station (JPost)

A terrorist armed with a pistol and a knife stormed the Beersheba Central Bus Station on Sunday night, killing IDF soldier Sergeant Omri Levy.... Earlier in the day, Palestinians clashed with the IDF near Bet Hagai in the Mount Hebron region of the West Bank, and two rioters sustained injuries from low-caliber rifle rounds fired by soldiers.  An army spokeswoman said some 200 Palestinians hurled rocks at the army in the area, and that soldiers responded with crowd-dispersal measures and by shooting low-caliber rifle rounds.  

Palestinian Authority demands end to Israel's 'terrorism, incitement and summary executions' (JPost)

The Palestinian Authority on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Israel, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of authorizing “summary executions” of Palestinian “civilians.”…Temporary wall erected between flashpoint Jewish and Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem.

Michael Gerson: The children among the ruins (Washington Post)

…The young can be admirably resilient. But seldom in history have adults managed to traumatize children on so vast a scale. What will be the eventual effect of millions of children torn from their homes, exposed to violence, hardened by loss, deprived (in many cases) of education and introduced to the hatreds and resentments of their elders?