ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

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September 23, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a 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

Politics and election

Indictments and prosecutions

WORLD

North America

Africa

Asia

Europe

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

U.S.

General  news

Federal judge says DACA is illegal in ruling likely headed for Supreme Court(NBC)

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program prevents the deportation of hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

No defensible argument’: Anger boils over at CEO pay (Politico)

The historic UAW strike puts an exclamation point on more than a decade of efforts by Washington lawmakers to narrow the pay gap between top executives and workers.

What's next for Fox as Rupert Murdoch hands reins to Lachlan (Reuters)

Rupert Murdoch has stepped down as the chairman of Fox Corp ….  His son, Lachlan Murdoch, will become the sole chairman of News Corp and continue as the chair and CEO of Fox….putting to rest questions of succession within the Murdoch family.

Home insurers cut natural disasters from policies as climate risks grow (Washington Post)

Some of the largest U.S. insurance companies say extreme weather has led them to end certain coverages, exclude natural disaster protections and raise premiums.

4 reasons why your car insurance premium is soaring  (NPR)

The cost of auto insurance jumped more than 19% during the year ending in August, while overall inflation was 3.7%, according to the Labor Department Wednesday.

After shoppers' habits have changed, malls try to figure out what comes next   (NPR)

Many retailers have cut back their physical presence in the age of online shopping — leaving dying malls in their wake. But by thinking outside the box, some old malls are finding new life

Politics and election

The U.S. federal government is headed into a shutdown. What does it mean, who’s hit and what’s next? (CNBC)

The federal government is heading toward a shutdown that will disrupt many services, squeeze workers and roil politics as Republicans in the House, fueled by hard-right demands for deep cuts, force a confrontation over federal spending. While some government entities will be exempt — Social Security checks, for example, will still go out — other functions will be severely curtailed. Federal agencies will stop all actions deemed non-essential, and millions of federal employees, including members of the military, won’t receive paychecks. Here’s a look at what’s ahead if the government shuts down on Oct. 1.

The sleeper legal fight that could define 2024: Is Trump even eligible to run? (Politico)

Some scholars say Trump is disqualified under the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause. Here’s how the courts might wade in.

Nikki Haley's 2024 White House bid charts hazardous path in isolationist Republican Party (Reuters)

The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is stubbornly bucking traditional political wisdom that foreign policy does not influence American voters in elections…. / Haley acknowledged in an interview with Reuters this week that she is preaching to a divided party, but said she sees her role as educating voters, rather than showing them that she already shared their views.

That Big Poll Showing Trump and Biden Are Evenly Matched? Trump Helped Pay for It.  (New Republic)

A recent Wall Street Journal poll announced that most voters think Joe Biden is too old to be president for a second term—and a 2024 matchup between Biden and Donald Trump would be evenly split. The poll has since been covered across multiple mainstream media outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, and Fox. There’s just one problem: The poll was conducted in part by Trump’s former campaign pollster.

A third party signed up 15,000 voters in Arizona. Democrats worry that's enough for a Biden spoiler (AP)

More than 15,000 people in Arizona have registered to join a new political party floating a possible bipartisan “unity ticket” against Joe Biden and Donald Trump …The very existence of the No Labels group is fanning Democratic anxiety about Trump’s chances against an incumbent president facing questions about his age and record. … No Labels has already secured ballot access in Arizona and 10 other states. Its organizers say they are on track to reach… all 50 states by Election Day.

Trump urges government shutdown in unlikely bid to 'defund' his criminal prosecutions(Reuters)

Former President Donald Trump has urged fellow Republicans in Congress to shut down the government to thwart the federal prosecutions against him… / "Republicans in Congress can and must defund all aspects of Crooked Joe Biden’s weaponized Government," Trump wrote on his Truth Social media site late on Wednesday, calling it "the last chance to defund these political prosecutions against me and other Patriots."

Indictments and prosecutions

Jan. 6 defendants bring cases to Supreme Court. Here's what it could mean for Donald Trump (USA Today)

Three men involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol are asking the Supreme Court to wipe out part of their indictment − and the possibility of an extra 20 years in prison − in the first criminal cases to reach the nation's highest court.

Menendez steps down as Foreign Relations chairman after indictment   (The Hill)

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) will step down from his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following an indictment that was unsealed on Friday…Menendez faces three counts, including conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, a charge for public officials who take bribes in return for official acts, with allegations of bribery linked to his work on the committee.

Hunter Biden indicted on federal gun charges (CBS News)

Hunter Biden, President Biden's son, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to his purchase of a firearm in October 2018 while he was a drug user, according to court filings.

Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro is convicted of contempt of Congress in Jan. 6 investigation (NBC)

Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro was convicted Thursday of criminal contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the plot to overturn the 2020 election. The two counts each carry 30 days to a year in prison, in addition to a maximum fine of $100,000.

Ex-Proud Boys leader sentenced to 22 years for role in US Capitol attack (Reuters)

Enrique Tarrio was given the longest sentence so far handed down in connection with the Jan. 6 riots despite not being present at the U.S. Capitol Building that day.  "This was a calculated act of terrorism," federal prosecutors said during a sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. "He practiced, and he endorsed the use of misinformation." Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy…

 

WORLD

North America

Canada says it suspects India involved in Sikh leader murder (Reuters)

Canada said on Monday it had credible information linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia in June and said it had expelled a senior Indian intelligence official.  The announcement marks a significant worsening of bilateral ties at a time when India is already unhappy that Canadian authorities are not cracking down on Sikh protesters who want their own independent homeland.

Mexico ends its federal ban on abortion, but a patchwork of state restrictions remains (AP)

A Mexican Supreme Court decision to end the federal ban on abortion extended a regional trend of increasing access to the procedure, but left in place a patchwork of varying state restrictions. The high court on Wednesday threw out all federal criminal penalties for abortion, in a ruling that will require the federal public health service to offer the procedure to anyone who requests it.

Cuba uncovers human trafficking of Cubans to fight for Russia in Ukraine   (Reuters)

Cuba has uncovered a human trafficking ring that coerced its citizens to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine, its foreign ministry said, adding that Cuban authorities were working to "neutralize and dismantle" the network.

Africa

Exclusive: EU temporarily holds back food aid in Somalia after UN records widespread theft (Reuters)

The European Union executive has temporarily suspended funding for the World Food Programme (WFP) in Somalia, two senior EU officials told Reuters on Monday, after a U.N. investigation found widespread theft and misuse of aid, which had been meant to avert a famine.

US, Norway to launch Africa agriculture fund, commit $70 million (Reuters)

The United States and Norway will pledge a total of $70 million on Monday to launch a fund, reported here for the first time, to help farmers and agricultural businesses in Africa, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) spokesperson said.

How Arab fighters carried out a rolling ethnic massacre in Sudan (Reuters)

It was a rolling ethnic killing campaign that lasted for weeks. The target: the city’s darker-skinned Masalit tribe, for whom West Darfur is their historical homeland. The Arab attackers, multiple survivors said, often referred to the Masalit as “anbai,” meaning slave…The militiamen, survivors said, were particularly focused on killing Masalit men and boys, seen as potential fighters. 

Morocco’s reluctance to accept quake aid baffles foreign governments (Washington Post)

Governments far and wide have offered aid to Morocco following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that has left more than 2,500 people dead and thousands injured and displaced…. Countries including France, Germany, Italy and the United States, along with the United Nations, said they were waiting to provide any help they could after Friday’s devastating earthquake in the High Atlas Mountains.  The Moroccan Interior Ministry said in a statement Sunday that it would initially accept search-and-rescue teams only from Britain, Qatar, Spain and the United Arab Emirates…

Libya floods wipe out quarter of city, 10,000 missing (Reuters)

More than 1,000 people were killed and at least 10,000 were missing in Libya in floods caused by a huge Mediterranean storm that burst dams, swept away buildings and wiped out as much as a quarter of the eastern coastal city of Derna.

Asia

Hong Kong, Shenzhen deluged by heaviest rain on record (Reuters)

The heaviest rain since records began 140 years ago drenched Asian financial hub Hong Kong on Friday, killing two people and injuring more than 100, media reported, as unusually wet weather caused by typhoons brought more disruption to southern China.

Europe

U.S. to give Ukraine long-range missiles (BBC)

US President Joe Biden plans to give Ukraine advanced long-range missiles to help Kyiv with its ongoing counter-offensive, US media report. They quote US officials familiar with the issue as saying Ukraine will get some ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 190 miles (300km). This would enable Kyiv to hit Russian targets deep behind the front line.

Ukraine hits HQ of Russia's symbolic Black Sea navy (BBC)

A Ukrainian missile strike has hit the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet in Crimea… Footage on social media shows plumes of smoke over the building in Sevastopol. The fleet is an important target for Kyiv and is seen as the best of Russia's navy. Ukraine has hit several targets in Crimea recently, including an air-defence system and two naval vessels.

Sand dredging is 'sterilizing' ocean floor, UN warns (Reuters)

Around 6 billion tons of marine sand is being dug up each year in a growing practice that a U.N. agency said is unsustainable and can wipe out local marine life irreversibly.  Sand is the most exploited natural resource in the world after water but its extraction for use in industries like construction is only loosely governed, prompting the U.N. to pass a resolution last year to promote more sustainable mining.

Boats, helicopters rescue hundreds after storm in Greece  (Reuters)

Helicopters winched people from rooftops and military personnel used rubber boats to rescue families from floodwaters up to 3 metres deep in central Greece on Friday after a devastating rainstorm killed at least 10 people.  Storm Daniel, which meteorologists said was the worst to hit the country since records began in 1930, pummelled Greece for three days, leaving a trail of ruin after a record summer heatwave that had touched off huge wildfires.

 


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