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.