ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

October 13, 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.

• Steve Scalise drops out of speaker’s race as House GOP faces leadership crisis (CNN)
• White House calls top lawmakers over to discuss Israel aid package (Politico)
• Hollywood writers ratify new contract with studios (CNBC)
• Candidates’ differences on Ukraine reflect stark divide within GOP (Washington Post)
• Student loan payments restart in October. Here's what borrowers should know (CNN)
• Major tests await conservative US Supreme Court in new term (Reuters)
• Pro-Palestinian events across the U.S. trigger outrage from many politicians  (NPR)
• At least 11 American citizens killed in Israel, Biden says (Reuters)
• RFK Jr. goes independent. Does that hurt Biden or Trump? (Politico)
• US Senator Bob Menendez charged with acting as unregistered agent of Egypt (Reuters)
• A new bill could reduce the fees shop owners are charged when customers swipe a card  (NPR)

WORLD

Israel-Palestine War

• Israel-Gaza attacks: Netanyahu forms emergency government and war cabinet (BBC)
• Israel orders siege of Gaza Strip (Washington Post)
• UN says nearly 200,000 displaced in Gaza, water shortages expected (Reuters)
• Israel festival revelers shot at point-blank range, video shows (CNN)
• Israel War Map Shows Areas Reclaimed by IDF  (Newsweek)
• Fate of more than 100 Israeli hostages consumes, unifies a terrorized nation (Washington Post)
• At least 40 babies killed, beheaded in Israeli kibbutz outside Gaza Strip, reports say  (NBC)
• Major airlines halt flights to Israel after Hamas attack (CBS)

Other world news

• Afghanistan earthquake: More than 1,000 dead as villagers dig for survivors  (BBC)
• Russian Black Sea fleet commander killed in Crimea, Ukraine claims( Guardian)
• China and Syria announce 'strategic partnership' after its leaders met in Beijing (NPR)
• UK firm sold thousands of unverified jet engine parts, CFM says (Reuters)
• 'Half the village is gone': Ukraine hamlet reels after missile strike (Reuters)
• Hungary, Poland rail at EU migration policy as bloc leaders meet (Reuters)

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

U.S.

Steve Scalise drops out of speaker’s race as House GOP faces leadership crisis (CNN)

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced he was dropping out of the speaker’s race Thursday after House Republicans failed to coalesce behind him in the aftermath of Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster.,, While there was some belief on Capitol Hill that the brutal assault on Israel over the weekend might prompt Republicans to quickly select a leader – House lawmakers were given a classified briefing on Israel on Wednesday before the conference vote for speaker – the deep divisions in the conference that led to McCarthy’s removal last week have now left the quest for a new speaker at a standstill.

White House calls top lawmakers over to discuss Israel aid package (Politico)

Lawmakers to include top House appropriators and members of Foreign Affairs panel.

Hollywood writers ratify new contract with studios (CNBC)

The Writers Guild of America has officially ratified its new three-year contract with Hollywood studios.,,, Now it’s the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists’ turn. The actors guild began negotiations with the likes of Disney, Paramount, Netflix, Universal and Warner Bros. Discovery last week. “Until the studios make a deal that addresses the needs of performers, WGA members will be on the picket lines, walking side-by-side with SAG-AFTRA in solidarity,” said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, president of Writers Guild of America East.

Candidates’ differences on Ukraine reflect stark divide within GOP (Washington Post)

The increasingly stark divide within the Republican Party on Ukraine was apparent onstage Wednesday at the second GOP presidential primary debate, as candidates sparred over whether to continue supporting the Eastern European country’s efforts to defend itself against an ongoing Russian invasion.

Student loan payments restart in October. Here's what borrowers should know (CNN)

For the first time in more than three years, federal student loan borrowers will be required to pay their monthly student loan bills starting in October.

Major tests await conservative US Supreme Court in new term (Reuters)

Monday marks the first day of the U.S. Supreme Court's new term as it prepares to tackle major cases involving gun rights, the power of federal agencies, social media regulation and Republican-drawn electoral districts, and considers taking up a dispute over the availability of the abortion pill.

Pro-Palestinian events across the U.S. trigger outrage from many politicians  (NPR)

Pro-Palestinian events followed Hamas' incursion into Israel. But they were happening as images were televised and shared on social media of Israeli civilians being killed and kidnapped by Hamas.

At least 11 American citizens killed in Israel, Biden says (Reuters)

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed in Israel following the weekend's attacks by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Washington believes it is likely U.S. citizens are also among those being held hostage by Hamas…

RFK Jr. goes independent. Does that hurt Biden or Trump? (Politico)

Recent polling shows he’d be the most formidable independent candidate since Ross Perot… Kennedy’s support so far is coming roughly evenly from Biden and former President Donald Trump. But third-party candidacies can be unpredictable, and Kennedy’s anti-vaccination stance gives him more room to draw from Republicans than Democrats.

US Senator Bob Menendez charged with acting as unregistered agent of Egypt (Reuters)

Prosecutors pursuing a corruption case against U.S. Senator Bob Menendez on Thursday brought a new criminal charge against him that he conspired to act as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government. The new charge was included in a revised indictment filed against the New Jersey Democrat in federal court in New York that includes four counts against Menendez. His trial on corruption charges will begin in May.

A new bill could reduce the fees shop owners are charged when customers swipe a card  (NPR)

Retailers have long complained about so-called "swipe fees" on credit cards. And now there's a showdown in Congress that pits retailers against the credit card industry. What's at stake for shoppers?

WORLD

Israel-Palestine War

Israel-Gaza attacks: Netanyahu forms emergency government and war cabinet (BBC)

Israel's prime minister and a leading opposition figure have agreed to form a temporary emergency government. Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz have also agreed to form a "war management cabinet" to deal with the conflict

Israel orders siege of Gaza Strip (Washington Post)

9 U.S. citizens among those killed; Hamas says it has struck 5 Israel cities, including Jerusalem and Tel.

UN says nearly 200,000 displaced in Gaza, water shortages expected (Reuters)

The United Nations humanitarian office said on Tuesday that nearly 200,000 people or nearly a tenth of the population, have fled their homes in Gaza since the start of hostilities and is poised for shortages of water and electricity due to a blockade.

Israel festival revelers shot at point-blank range, video shows (CNN)

Gaza militants who attacked an all-night music festival in southern Israel shot and killed revelers at point-blank range, then looted their belongings, new car dashcam video verified by CNN reveals. The video began circulating on social media on Sunday and – alongside footage of harrowing kidnappings from the same event – has been scrutinized by horrified families desperate for news of loved ones missing since a series of coordinated attacks triggered Israel’s declaration of war on Sunday. Israeli officials counted at least 260 bodies near the site of the Nova festival.

Israel War Map Shows Areas Reclaimed by IDF  (Newsweek)

Israel said it has regained control over the Gaza border, as a new map showed the areas where it has reclaimed territory from Hamas militants.

Fate of more than 100 Israeli hostages consumes, unifies a terrorized nation (Washington Post)

The families of Israelis thought to be held captive inside Gaza are growing ever more desperate for information as a full-scale war looms.

At least 40 babies killed, beheaded in Israeli kibbutz outside Gaza Strip, reports say  (NBC)

Dozens of babies were reportedly found dead, including some that had been beheaded, in an Israeli kibbutz Tuesday after the terrorist organization Hamas stormed the community. Several journalists were let in to the Kfar Aza kibbutz, located just outside the Gaza Strip, to see the aftermath of the attacks by Hamas.

Major airlines halt flights to Israel after Hamas attack (CBS)

Several major airlines have canceled flights to Ben Gurion International Airport after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a large-scale surprise attack on Israel Saturday, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured. United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines all announced that they have temporarily suspended flights to and from the international airport near Tel Aviv.

Other world news



Afghanistan earthquake: More than 1,000 dead as villagers dig for survivors  (BBC)

…The 6.3-magnitude quake struck Saturday morning in Herat province, a barren landscape dotted with mud brick homes. Villagers are still using shovels and bare hands to search for more than 500 people missing, the UN says.

Russian Black Sea fleet commander killed in Crimea, Ukraine claims( Guardian)

Ukraine has claimed it killed Adm Viktor Sokolov, the commander of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, along with 33 other officers, in one of Kyiv’s boldest attacks yet on the occupied peninsula of Crimea. The Ukrainian military said Friday’s attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol was timed to coincide with a meeting of naval officials. “…. Another’105 occupiers were wounded. The headquarters building cannot be restored,” the special forces said on the Telegram messaging app.

China and Syria announce 'strategic partnership' after its leaders met in Beijing (NPR)

Syria's president visited China for the first time in nearly 20 years as he looks to end his international isolation and as Beijing seeks to deepen its influence in the Middle East.

UK firm sold thousands of unverified jet engine parts, CFM says (Reuters)



Jet engine maker CFM International said on Wednesday thousands of engine components may have been sold with forged paperwork by a British distributor, as the fallout from a probe into falsely certified parts reached London's High Court.  European regulators have said they are investigating reports that some parts supplied by the London-based firm without valid certificates had been found inside CFM56 engines, which power some Airbus and Boeing jets.

'Half the village is gone': Ukraine hamlet reels after missile strike (Reuters)

As dozens of people gathered in the local cafe for a meal to honour a soldier who died in the war against Russia, a missile struck, killing at least 52 people.  It was one of the most deadly attacks during 20 months of fighting….

Hungary, Poland rail at EU migration policy as bloc leaders meet (Reuters)

The EU summit in the Spanish city of Granada is seeking ways to bring down the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe outside of regular border crossings, something Italy, Spain and Germany are especially concerned about….  But the bloc remains at odds about how to share out the task of providing for those who make the journey.