Top News Stories for Today – Oct 10, 2018
Top News Stories for Today – Oct 10, 2018
US’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley resigns
United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley resigned on Tuesday, and will leave her post at the end of the year. President Trump said Haley told him six months ago that she would want a “break” after two years in the administration, and praised her as “fantastic” in a joint press announcement. Haley shot down rumors of a presidential bid, saying she was “not running” in 2020.
Her resignation was reportedly a shock to many top officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. A successor will be announced in the next “two or three weeks,” said Trump, “maybe sooner.” The former South Carolina governor said “nothing is set” in her future career. Axios, Bloomberg
Second Trump-Kim summit
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be held after US congressional elections on Nov. 6. He said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had very good talks with Kim over the weekend and that three or four locations were being considered.
Trump and Kim held a historic first summit in Singapore on June 12 at which Kim pledged to work toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. His actions have fallen short, however, of Washington’s demands for a complete inventory of its weapons and facilities and irreversible steps to give up its nuclear arsenal, which could threaten the United States. VOA
Hurricane Michael strengthens to category 4
Hurricane Michael has become an “extremely “angerous” Category 4 storm, the National Hurricane Center said early Wednesday, projecting that it will make landfall in either the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area midday Wednesday.
A Category 4 hurricane has maximum sustained winds of at least 130 mph, and experts warn of a dangerous storm surge. Hurricane Michael is moving north at 12 mph, and it will be only the fourth major hurricane — Category 3 or higher — to hit the Florida Panhandle since 1950. After the storm makes landfall, it is expected to weaken as it moves across the southeastern United States. CBS News, USA Today
Dangerous undercurrents threaten global economy
One of the most comprehensive studies of the state of banking and markets since the financial crisis warns that “dangerous undercurrents” are a rising threat to the world economy. The International Monetary Fund’s Financial Stability Report says that although banks are far safer than they were in 2008 there are new risks. Trade tensions are growing, the IMF says, and inequality has risen. Further moves towards a trade war could “significantly harm global growth”.
Other threats to trade, such as a disorderly Brexit, could also “adversely affect market sentiment”, the IMF argues. The US-based organization says that a “no-deal” departure from the European Union could lead to fragmentation in European money markets, meaning that finance cannot flow around the system so efficiently. BBC
Missing Saudi journalist in Turkey
A senior Turkish official told The New York Times on Tuesday that security officials have determined that missing Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last Tuesday on orders of the royal court. Khashoggi was at the consulate to pick up a document he needed to get married, and was killed within two hours of his arrival, the official said.
Turkey says 15 Saudi agents arrived in Instanbul on two charter flights the same day Khashoggi went to the consulate, and left a few hours later. One of those agents was an autopsy expert, the official told the Times, and security officials believe he helped with dismembering Khashoggi’s body. Saudi Arabia denies killing Khashoggi. The New York Times, The Washington Post
Google announces new gadgets
Google announced Tuesday a slate of new hardware, including the latest models of their Pixel smartphone. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will start at $799 and $899 respectively, with both phones getting a screen size upgrade. The devices, which ship Oct. 17, have two front-facing cameras and come with advanced photography software.
Google also announced the Google Home Hub, a smart screen device that is essentially the company’s version of Amazon’s Echo Show and Facebook’s Portal, although unlike its competitors, it does not contain a camera. The Home Hub retails for $149 and ships Oct. 22. Additionally, the Pixel Slate was also unveiled; this Chrome OS tablet has a 12.3 inch display. It starts at $599 and ships later this year. The Verge, CNN
Where there is no freedom of Expression and no rule of Law, dictators are brave to commit any crimes free in seclusive secret.So in order to silence all criticism, dictators first target to create usually is closure of law freedom of speech and no rule of law.