January 16, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM 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.

• Obama to offer most comprehensive gun control in decades (Washington Post)
• Under Construction: The World's Largest Thermal Solar Plant (NPR)
• Can police use your silence against you? Supreme Court to decide. (CS Monitor)
• Computer Users Should Disable Java 7 Owing To Security Flaw, Experts Say (NPR)
• From Corn Belt To Main Street: The Drought's Far-Reaching Grasp (NPR)
• Widow sues psychiatrist in Colo. theater shootings (U-T San Diego)
• For energy solutions, 'think small' (+video)(Christian Science Monitor)
• 'Python Challenge' Asks Floridians To 'Harvest' Snakes (NPR)  

WORLD 

• Northern Irish youths pelt Catholic church in latest "flag riots" (Reuters)
• U.S. Provided 'Technical Assistance' In Botched French Raid, Obama Says (NPR)
• Bad Even For Beijing: Smog Hits Extreme Levels (NPR)
• Shi'ite protests spread across Pakistan after killings (Reuters)
• Palestinian premier urges Arabs to pay pledged aid (U-T San Diego)
• Storm heightens crisis for Syrian refugees (Jerusalem Post)
• Preacher alarms many in Egypt with calls for Islamist vice police (Reuters)

HEALTH

• Women With A Berry-Snacking Habit May Have Healthier Hearts (NPR)
• UCSD team invents brain cell breakthrough (U-T San Diego)
• Flu reaches epidemic level in U.S.: CDC says (Reuters)
• Pap Test May Detect More Than Just Cervical Cancer (NPR)
• FDA requires sleeping pill makers to lower dosage (KXII)
• Diet drinks 'linked' to depression (BBC)
• Does lead poisoning make you violent? (BBC)
• U.S. Ranks Below 16 Other Rich Countries In Health Report (NPR)
• UC San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center Listed among Nation’s Best Heart Hospitals (Scoop San Diego)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

January 10, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM 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.

• Congress less popular than cockroaches (Salon)
• High court to tackle Native American adoption dispute (CNN)
• Congress lets Violence Against Women Act wither away (MSNBC)
• New immigration policy aims to limit family separations (KPBS)
• Disappearing Mule Deer A New Reality Throughout Western U.S. (NPR)
• Gabrielle Giffords takes on the gun lobby (CNN)
• Texas school can force teenager to wear locator chip: judge (Reuters)
• Hillary Clinton released from hospital after treatment of blood clot (Los Angeles Times)
• Fiscal cliff deal sneaks in Wall Street gifts, NASCAR perks (Huffington Post)
• Al Jazeera buys Al Gore’s Current TV (CBS)
• Canadian oil sands pollute nearby lakes. Report is blow to Keystone pipeline.(Christian Science Monitor)
• State Department made "grievous mistake" over Benghazi: Senate report (Reuters)

WORLD

• Indian proposes ban on child labor (Washington Post)
• UN says more than 60,000 dead in Syrian civil war (U-T San Diego)
• Malala's father given diplomatic role in UK(U-T San Diego)
• Protecting Native rights: idle no more  (LA Progressive)
• Biofuels cause pollution, not as green as thought - study (Reuters)
• Online comments hurt science understanding, study finds (Journal of Science)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

October 18, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting 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.

• Fresh signs of U.S. housing recovery (BBC)
• This is the biggest economic story in the world ( Business Insider)
• Man arrested after plotting federal reserve bomb, authorities say (CNN)
• Women’s issues move to forefront after debate (Washington Post)
• Romney’s missteps on Libya may hurt criticism of Obama foreign policy (Washington Post)
• Obama edges Romney in second debate: Poll (CBS)
• Conservatives assail debate moderator Crowley (CBS)

WORLD

• Report: Syria using widely banned cluster bombs (Christian Science Monitor)
• Israel parliament to hold new election (UT San Diego)
• Russia moves to prosecute leader of protests (Reuters)
• Thousands of British troops to leave Afghanistan in 2013 (Reuters)
• Thousands march in Spain to protest austerity (UT San Diego)
• French president proposes banning homework (ABC News)
• Firefox 16: latest upgrade taken offline due to security (BBC)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

September 6, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting 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.

        GENERAL NEWS

• The way ahead: U.S. hands of war to Afghan troops (UT San Diego)
• Sorry savers, interest rates set record lows (ABC News)
• Federal  Reserve audit finds $16 trillion in secret loans  (Senator Bernie Sanders, author of amendment requiring the audit)
• Residents impacted by Isaac return home (CBS News)
• National Conference of American Indians opposes Dept. of Interior fast-tracking on renewable energy projects near Colorado River
• Are small businesses being heard this election year? (Entrepreneur)
• Dumped by home insurance after a disaster?  (BankRate.com)
• VA phone calls won’t solve massive problems (The Reno dispatch)

        PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

• Obama’s 2008 promises:  kept or broken? (CBS)
• Democratic convention to make case for 4 more years (BBC)
• Romney and Ryan fault Obama’s economic maneuvers (Los Angeles Times)
• Romney on the offensive (CBS)
• Video: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7420224n&tag=stack
• Obama: GOP ideas “better for the last century” (Yahoo News)
• Video: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-gop-ideas-better-last-century-191555406--election.html
• Obama finds key asset in Bill Clinton’s support (Washington Post)

WORLD

• More than 100,000 Syrians flee in one month (CNN)
• 7.6 quake in Philippines triggers tsunami alert (CNBC)
• Syrian rebels hit back at Assad’s air power (Reuters)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

• Returning migrants boost Mexico’s middle class: net immigration to U.S. now zero (Washington Post)
• Pressure mounts to stop China’s forced abortions (USA Today)
• Syria says could use chemical arms against foreigners (Reuters)
• Tax havens: Super rich ‘hide’ 21 trillion (BBC)
• Murdoch resigns from his British papers’ boards (NY Times)

• Poverty issue missing on presidential campaign trail (OpEd News)
• Offshore jobs play role in campaign and economy (KPBS)
• Romney walks political tightrope on foreign policy (CNN)
• What happens to current nursing home residents if House Budget Resolution becomes law? (Medicare Advocacy)
• White House threatens to veto GOP drilling bill (The Hill)
• Solar trade war hurts Chinese imports (Technology Review)

• Al Jazeera: tests suggest Arafat died of radioactive polonium poisoning (USA Today)
• Mexico’s president-elect may double security spending – aide (Reuters)
• Iran long range missiles attack ‘mock’enemy  bases (ABC news)
• Report describes brutal torture centers in Syria (CNN)

• Obama, Romney campaign to square off over energy (The Hill)
• Congress passes student loan bill (Huffington Post)
• The bomb buried in Obamacare explodes today – Hallelujah! (Forbes)
• More state leaders considering opting out of Medicare expansion (Washington Post)
• Romney campaign enters ‘message mayhem’ on insurance mandate (USA Today)
• The Nation: Guns blamed for started wildfires in parched west  (North County Times)
• This summer is ‘what global warming looks like’ (AP/Associated Press)
• Deadly land hurricane strikes Midwest, Atlantic states  (Accuweather)
• A health care Judas recounts his conversion  (CNN)

• Corporate political efforts don’t guarantee results—study (Reuters)
• Romney energy plan includes drilling virtually every part of U.S. – no protections even for national parks (Think Progress)
• Issa demands documents on green energy loans (Fox News)
• Presidential projections on wind power flawed according to new book (KXXV)
• Justice Department sues Florida over voter purge (Huffington Post)
• Mojave desert: Military wants to limit wind development (Riverside Press Enterprise)
• Sebelius:  Medicare stronger than ever due to healthcare law (The Hill)
• Family net worth drops to level of early ‘90s (NY Times)
• Colorado wildfire moving fast, not contained (BBC)
• California tribes suing to halt construction of wind factory on sacred land (Indian Country Today)
• Open letter asks Obama to meet with Tribal leaders on Ocotillo Express wind project (Indian Country Today)

• Russian protesters demand Putin resignation (CNN)
• U.N.: Syria children tortured, used as human shields (CNN)
• Syria in Civil War, says U.N. official (BBC)
• Solar-powered “super trees” breathe life into Sinagapore urban oasis (CNN)
• Scottish Power (a division of Iberdrola, developer of Tule Wind) tests U.S. tax breaks on interest (Reuters)
• Ruling on wind farm says countryside as important as climate change targets (UK Telegraph)

• Almost half of new vets seek disability (AP)
• Romney tells vets dangerous world demands powerful military (Reuters)
• Op-ed by President Obama: Keeping faith with our veterans (White House)
• How Memorial Day glosses over the real horrors of war (AlterNet)

• Iberdrola drops two wind projects  (Tribune-Democrat)
• Help wanted, but not for mid-level jobs (NPR)
• More relatives, friends caring for kids (Reuters)
• Democrats to offer a ‘lifeline’ for single payer healthcare (ThinkProgress)
• Romney hits magic number for GOP nomination (CNN)
• Military campaign money favors Obama (USA Today)

• Official: 160 girls poisoned at Afghan school (CNN)
• U.S. officials among the targets of Iran-aimed assassination plots (Washington Post)
• Syria condemned for massacre (BBC)
• Iran hit by new cyber-weapon “Flame” (Jerusalem Post)
• Sudyei dispute, Sudan to ‘withdraw troops’ (BBC)

• Perfect recipe for wildfires as season starts early (NBC)
• With Santorum’s exit, Romney shifts focus (Washington Post)
• FDA details clot risk on birth control pills (USA Today)
• Romney blames Obama for women job losses actually caused by GOP (Rawstory)
• Obama: We could call the Buffet rule the Reagan rule (CBS news)
• Hill insider trading bill signed
• Where is George Zimmerman? Treyvon Martin shooting (CBS News)
• Apple, publishers accused of fixing e-book prices (Reuters)

• Defiant North Korea begins injecting fuel into rocket (Reuters)
• Syria pledges truce, if rebels hold fire (Reuters)
• Warnings over medical implant hacks (BBC)
• No sign of tsunami after powerful Indonesia quake (KPBS)
• Haitian orphans long wait is over (Fox)
• China braces for next act in leadership drama (Reuters)
• Norway’s mass killer Breivik found sane (BBC) 

• ‘9-11 planners’ set for Guantanamo Bay trial (BBC)
• Stocks resume their strong ride (Wall Street Journal)
• Bankrupt meat processor cites “pink slime” uproar (Reuters)
• With autism rising, researchers step up search for a cause (USA Today)
• Romney sweeps Tuesday primary contests (CNN)
• Arizona bill would declare pregnancy begins two weeks before conception (RawStory)
• Does a chocolate habit help you learn? (NPR)

• Bombing shatters Mogadishu bid to showcase peace (Seattle Times)
• Like the U.S., Europe wrestles with healthcare (NPR)
• Invisible Children to release “Kony 2012” sequel today (10 News)
• Greek pensioner left suicide note of economic despair (VOA)
• U.N. spells out Syria peace plan deadline amid skepticism (LA Times) 

March 9, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting 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: 

• Strong solar storm to hit earth Thursday (BBC)
• Election irregularities reported across Russia (NPR)
• Syria’s deputy oil minister defects from Assad (Reuters)
• Satellite images show buildup in Syria (New York Times) 

• Romney wins Ohio, 4 other Super Tuesday states (Sacramento Bee)
• Seattle’s first urban food forest will be open to foragers (NPR)
• Where women stand on the political race (NPR)
• All the ads pulled from Rush Limbaugh’s show (Yahoo! News)
• Green firms get fed cash, give executives bonuses, fail (ABC)
• Big Pharma’s role in the contraception debate (Daily Beast)
• BP Settlement sells out victims: deal buries evidence of oil company willful negligence (GregPalast.com)
• Deaths from dangerous gut bacteria hit historic highs (NPR)
• Cash mobs profit locally owned stores (PRI)

February 9, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting 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:  

General news  

• Group urges FTC action on Google privacy (USA Today)
• Dems fight back against GOP in contraception battle (CBS)
• Forgetting a key lesson of Watergate? (CNN)
• Child labor for Victoria’s Secret cotton examined by U.S. (Bloomberg Business)
• U.S. Brigadier General dies in Afghanistan (CNN) 

• Santorum sweeps Minnesota, Missouri, Colorado (CNN)
• Mitt Romney wins overwhelming victory in Nevada caucuses (Washington Post) 

• NATO vs. Syria (American Conservative)
• Syrians storm embassies after uprising's worst violence (Reuters)
• Activists: Syrian assault leaves 250 dead (NPR)
• U.N. vote on Syria fails (NPR)
•  ‘Hezbollah will hit Israel if Syria attacked’ (Jerusaleum Post)
• Iran vows to hit any country that stages attack (San Diego UT)
• Thousands stranded by rising floodwaters in Australia (CNN) 

• Blind doctor can see again (Jerusalem Post)

January 18, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting 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:  

• Obama seeks to revamp government, focus on exports (Reuters)
• Limits on military funeral protests advance (San Diego Union Tribune)
• USDA says it will close 259 offices to save $150 million (San Diego UT)
• Tea Party may get rebuffed in tax cut showdown (Reuters)
• Cantor: US allies have doubts about policies to control Iran (The Hill) 

• Huntsman drops out, endorses Romney (CNN)
• Romney takes some heat over Bain Capital’s actions (Winona Daily News, South Carolina)
• Judge rejects Republican candidates requests to be on Virginia ballot (Fox News)
• Mitt Romney’s lies (US News & World Reports)
• Which presidential candidates have earned the defense industry’s support? (RawStory)
• CNN Poll: Ron Paul tied with President Obama (CNN) 

• Government says Hezbollah profits from U.S. cocaine market via link to Mexico drug cartel (Propublica) 
• U.S. warns Iran over military posturing (CBS News)
• It’s official: S&P announces mass downgrade of Eurozone countries (Business Insider)
• Iran says nuclear expert killed by bomb attach (NPR)
• Russian ship stopped with arms bound for Syria (NPR)
• Shiite and Sunni: what are the differences? (Christian Science Monitor)
   

• Research provides diabetes hope (BBC)
• New tuberculosis strain thwarts all antibiotics (NPR)
• Lights at night not a bright idea (Jerusalem Post)

 
Update February 4, 2012 -- The Department of Defense still has not listed the death of Jay Polk, nor has any notice of his death been published in New Iberia, Louisiana, where he claimed to live.  A source informs ECM further that his name has not been provided for addition to a memorial for special forces soldiers. Thus it now appears he was not killed in service to his country and likely fabricated the "report" of his death and possibly his military service as well. Now a blog site claims to have obtained military records showing a Jamond Polk was thrown out of the military at Fort Jackson. We do not know if this is the same Jay Polk referenced below, but include this information for anyone who may be able to confirm or disprove the connection: 

http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=28611. If anyone has evidence of his whereabouts or can confirm/disprove his claims of military service, please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org. 

We are leaving this story posted, with this disclaimer, because the research on special forces operations includes numerous well documented links on that issue  even if Polk's tale is a hoax.  

By Nadin B. Abbott

January 17, 2012 (San Diego)— On January 2, a soldier in San Diego claiming links to Special Forces posted on his Facebook page that he was deploying to Syria. This tantalizing piece of information startled readers, leading many to ask: does our country have troops in Syria and if so, why?

January 12, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting 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. economy creates 200,000 jobs in December: 6^th month of gains in a row as unemployed drops to 8.5% (BBC)
• South Carolina in spotlight after Romney win in New Hampshire (CNN)
• Richard Cordray appointment turns “lights on” at consumer bureau (Los Angeles Times)
• Obama recess appointments anger GOP (CNN)
• President Obama has made far fewer recess appointments than any recent president (ThinkProgress)
• Tweak in rules to ease a path to green card (New York Times)
• Families of dead Blackwater contractors settle suits (San Diego Union-Tribune)
   

• Assad promises victory, Syria accused of war crimes (Reuters)
• Iran Court sentences American to death (Washington Post)
• Japan to issue new limits on atomic reactor use (NPR)
• Wholesale approval of genetically engineered foods: Obama administration disappoints, angers public (Cornucopia)
• Egypt Islamists win nearly two-thirds of seats (Jerusalem Post)
   

• Experimental magnetic pulses may help heal a brain after stroke (NPR)
• New ‘seek and destroy’ method to fight cancer (Jerusalem post)
• Study: parasitic fly could explain bee die-off (NPR)

July 6, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.

• Obama to meet Congress leaders Thursday on debt
• Syrians stage mass protest in Hama
• Mexican gangs threaten to behead DEA agents
• Southern Sudan to become newest nation
• Greece officially bans flotilla ships from departing
• Cuba plans limited housing and auto market
• Poland takes over EU presidency at time of crisis
• After 90 years, graft threatens China's communists