ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

October 11, 2018 (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.

• Dow drops over 500 points, with stock market extending slide following Wednesday's plunge (USA Today)
• Kavanaugh sworn in as Supreme Court justice after divided Senate votes for confirmation (Washington Post)
• Haley resigns as U.N. Ambassador (AP)
• Hurricane Michael caused estimated $8 billion in insurance losses (Time)
• Last surviving prosecutor at Nuremberg trials says Trump's family separation policy is ‘crime against humanity’ (UK Independent)

WORLD

• Missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi tortured, dismembered in Saudi consulate, report says (USA Today)
• UNRWA pulls some staff from Gaza amid threats (CNN)
• Interpol's President Is Reported Missing In China, Prompting Inquiry
• Espionage scandals show Russian army's growing clout (Reuters)
• Ex-Guatemala vice president sentenced to 15-1/2 years in prison (Reuters)
• U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley leaving administration 'at the end of the year’ (ABC 6 )

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

U.S.

Dow drops over 500 points, with stock market extending slide following Wednesday's plunge (USA Today)

The Dow plunged 500 points on Thursday, exacerbating a 800-point drop the day before that marked the blue-chip average's largest rout since February.

Kavanaugh sworn in as Supreme Court justice after divided Senate votes for confirmation (Washington Post)

The Senate confirmed Brett M. Kavanaugh as the 114th Supreme Court justice on Saturday by one of the narrowest margins in history amid mass protests, ending a vitriolic battle over his nomination and solidifying a conservative majority on the court. 

Haley resigns as U.N. Ambassador (AP)

U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is leaving the administration at the end of the year, she and President Donald Trump announced Tuesday. She gave no reason for her departure after two years, though there is speculation she will return to government or politics at some point.

Hurricane Michael caused estimated $8 billion in insurance losses (Time)

… Michael made landfall as a 155 mph, Category 4 storm Wednesday afternoon in Mexico Beach, Florida. The hurricane left a path of destruction through the Florida Panhandle and entered Georgia as a Category 3 storm.

Last surviving prosecutor at Nuremberg trials says Trump's family separation policy is ‘crime against humanity’ (UK Independent)

He asks: "What could cause more great suffering than what they did in the name of immigration law?"

WORLD

Missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi tortured, dismembered in Saudi consulate, report says (USA Today)

Turkish officials have told the U.S. that they have proof that a missing Washington Post columnist was tortured, murdered and dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month, the Post reported...the case may strain U.S.-Saudi relations and threaten to block billions of dollars in arms sales to America's strong ally in the Middle East.

UNRWA pulls some staff from Gaza amid threats (CNN)

 The United Nations agency responsible for looking after Palestinian refugees has pulled some of its international [non-essential] staff out of Gaza, amid threats and ongoing protests against the agency as its faces a multimillion-dollar shortfall.

Interpol's President Is Reported Missing In China, Prompting Inquiry

Interpol President Meng Hongwei has been reported missing after leaving France for a trip to his native China, triggering a police investigation and search for the official, who hasn't been seen since Sept. 29. Meng's whereabouts are unknown. But the South China Morning Post, citing an anonymous source, reports that he was "taken away" by Chinese authorities immediately after he arrived in China. No reason was given for any potential investigation into the official.

Espionage scandals show Russian army's growing clout (Reuters)

Russia's military spies are being mocked abroad as bunglers but the army's influence over Kremlin foreign policy is growing and there is little likelihood it will halt its "black operations".

Ex-Guatemala vice president sentenced to 15-1/2 years in prison (Reuters)

Former Guatemalan Vice President Roxana Baldetti was sentenced to 15-1/2 years in prison on Tuesday for fraud, influence peddling and illicit association related to a government contract to clean up a polluted lake, in the first of several cases she faces.

U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley leaving administration 'at the end of the year’ (ABC 6 )

President Donald Trump said Tuesday U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is leaving the administration "at the end of the year."