Written by Econintersect
Early Bird Headlines 10 December 2019
Econintersect: Here are some of the headlines we found to help you start your day. For more headlines see our afternoon feature for GEI members, What We Read Today, published Monday, Wednesday and Friday, which has many more headlines and a number of article discussions to keep you abreast of what we have found interesting.
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Key Articles
Global
- Asia stocks mixed as China consumer inflation jumps in November (CNBC) Major Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday as Chinese inflation data showed a surge in consumer prices in November. Mainland Chinese stocks recovered from an earlier slip to finish their trading day higher. The U.S. dollar index was last lower at 97.618 but up from an earlier low of 97.589. Oil prices slipped in the afternoon of Asian trading hours, with international benchmark Brent crude futures shedding 0.19% to $64.13 per barrel. U.S. crude futures also declined 0.2% to $58.90 per barrel. Spot gold was up 0.12% to $1,461.15 per ounce. U.S. gold futures settled down 0.2% at $1,464.9.
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U.S.
- The interminable debate over investigations and the investigators (Fox News) The 476-page report finds no evidence of political bias or intentional misconduct, but finds 17 ‘significant errors or omissions’ in FISA applications; David Spunt reports from the Justice Department.
- Attorney General William Barr releases scathing statement on inspector general’s FISA report (Fox News) AG Barr gives “his opinion”:
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- 4 takeaways from the Horowitz report on the Russia investigation (The Washington Post) Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s long-awaited report on the origins of the Russia investigation is out. See also FBI was justified in opening Trump campaign probe, but case plagued by ‘serious failures,’ inspector general finds. The 4 key takeaways:
- A triple rebuke to Trump’s conspiracy theories
- FISA reform lies ahead
- Durham’s major statement (see next article)
- Meet the Trump supporters behind the probe
- Statement of U.S. Attorney John H. Durham (The United States District Attorney’s Office District of Connecticut) Full statement:
“I have the utmost respect for the mission of the Office of Inspector General and the comprehensive work that went into the report prepared by Mr. Horowitz and his staff. However, our investigation is not limited to developing information from within component parts of the Justice Department. Our investigation has included developing information from other persons and entities, both in the U.S. and outside of the U.S. Based on the evidence collected to date, and while our investigation is ongoing, last month we advised the Inspector General that we do not agree with some of the report’s conclusions as to predication and how the FBI case was opened.”
- ‘Extortion’: Bush White House lawyer wants to ‘haul in’ Ivanka, Jared, Don Jr. (MSNBC) Former White House Ethics Lawyer Richard Painter (Bush ’43’) joins MSNBC Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber to discuss House Democrats’ marathon impeachment hearing. Painter argues the hearings made a strong case for impeaching Trump for “extortion and bribery” and for “obstruction of justice in the Russia investigation,” but adds he should also be impeached for the “unconstitutional emoluments, foreign benefits, and foreign government payments that the Trump family has been receiving.”
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Finland
- At 34, Finland’s Sanna Marin Set To Become World’s Youngest Sitting Prime Minister (NPR) Sanna Marin is set to become Finland’s third female prime minister – and its youngest – leading a coalition of four other parties, all headed by women. At just 34, she will also stand out on the world stage by being the world’s youngest sitting prime minister.
Marin was nominated Sunday by her Social Democratic party after its leader, Antti Rinne, stepped down after losing the confidence among his coalition government over his handling of a postal strike.
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China
- According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, pork prices rose 110% from a year ago in November.
- Overall, China’s consumer inflation rose 4.5% in November from a year earlier.
- The country’s producer prices fell 1.4% from a year ago in November.
- Overall, demand-side pressures remain lackluster, as non-food inflation was close to a three-year low, said economists.
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Other important articles
U.S.
- House Democrats expected to unveil articles of impeachment Tuesday (The Hill)
- A free pass for Trump? GOP presses edge in key battlegrounds (Associated Press)
- Nearly 65% of the US will feel below-freezing temperatures this week (CNN)
- Failed charter schools cost federal government almost $505M in nine years: report (The Hill)
EU
- EU trade deals must not contradict climate goals, says MEP (The Guardian)
UK
- UK employers ‘pause’ job hiring as demand falls to seven-year low (The Guardian)
- Boris Johnson is playing with fire in Northern Ireland (CNN)
- Tories accused of lying to distract from photo of boy on hospital floor (The Guardian)
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Czech Republic
- Six shot dead in Czech hospital attack (Reuters)
France
Ukraine
Russia
Iran
Afghanistan
India
- North-east India gripped by protests over citizenship bill excluding Muslims (The Guardian)
- U.S. panel eyes sanctions for Indian minister over citizenship curb for Muslims Reuters)
China
- China steps up US soybean purchases as trade talks drag on (CNBC)
- Congress Wants to Ban Chinese Buses, Railcars in Defense Bill (The Wall Street Journal)
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