Written by Econintersect
Early Bird Headlines 01 January 2017
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, which has many more headlines and a number of article discussions to keep you abreast of what we have found interesting.
U.S.
Trump: I ‘know things that other people don’t know’ about hacking (The Hill) President-elect Donald Trump declared Saturday that he knows “things that other people don’t know” about Russian hacking allegations, suggesting FBI and CIA reports leave room for doubt over Russia’s meddling in the U.S. election. See next article.
Trump Ends The Year Again Disputing U.S. Intelligence On Russian Hacking (The Huffington Post) When asked what, specifically, he knew about alleged Russian hacking that others did not, Trump said he would reveal his insights into the controversy in due time. “You’ll find out Tuesday or Wednesday,” he said.
Obama Signs Executive Order requiring President of United States to be Taxpayer (The New Yorker) If you are wondering what is going on here, the author is satirist Andy Borowitz.
Trump’s team draws target on federal regulations (The Hill) President-elect Donald Trump is stocking his administration with businessmen and regulatory reformers who are intent on cutting through what they see as red tape from Washington. Carl Icahn, the billionaire investor, will oversee the Trump administration’s regulatory reform efforts. He will be joined by several other Wall Street investors and corporate executives who have first-hand experience dealing with government rules.
Low Approval of Trump’s Transition but Outlook for His Presidency Improves (Pew Research Center) Nearly a month after Donald Trump’s election as president, the public views his transition to the White House less positively than those of past presidents-elect. And while expectations for Trump’s presidency have improved since before his victory, about as many Americans say Trump will be a poor or terrible president as a good or great one. But all this is an improvement over October.
4. Retrospective views of the campaign (Pew Research Center) So far there is little buyers’ remorse over the election (first graphic below). But, though only 54% voted against Donald Trump, 60% were either disappointed or angry that he won in November (second graphic below). So we have some hypocrites here because people who apparently didn’t care enough to vote are complaining that they care. Can’t have it both ways, in our opinion – either you care enough to vote or you can’t complain about the outcome.
UK
Isis plotting chemical attack on UK (The Sunday Times) The terrorist group Isis is plotting to carry out “mass casualty” chemical weapons attacks against Britain, the minister responsible for national security has warned. Ben Wallace said Isis had used chemical weapons in Syria and Iraq and intelligence chiefs believe it has an “aspiration” to use them on home soil. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Wallace said security chiefs had recently carried out exercises to deal with what he called the country’s “worst fear“. Speaking after the US imposed sanctions on Russia for seeking to influence the presidential election result, Wallace warned that terrorist groups, Russian agents and cyber-conmen had all launched a concerted campaign to recruit “traitors” in government, the military and leading businesses.
Turkey
35 killed by ‘Santa’ gunman in nightclub (The Sunday Times) A New Year’s Eve gun attack on an Istanbul nightclub by an assailant dressed in a Santa suit left at least 35 people dead early today. Dozens were wounded. The Reina nightclub, an upmarket venue popular with celebrities and westerners, was packed with about 600 revellers when the gunman burst in at around 1.30am local time and opened fire.
Syria
The Winners and Losers in the New Syrian Ceasefire (The New Yorker) For now, Russia has “won” Syria. It is a big personal boon for Putin. The U.S. is the big loser, along with most NATO allies, except for Turkey, which on balance is a net winner. And of course Bashar Assad is a winner – he has outlasted Barack Obama.
Russia
Obama’s Sanctions and Putins Skilled Propaganda (The New Yorker) Obama’s preëlection reticence to point out Russian interference for fear of politicizing the intelligence and his comfortable certainty of a Clinton victory will be regarded as two of the most significant errors of his Presidency. His announcement that the United States would expel thirty-five Russian diplomats, shutter two Russian facilities in the United States, bolster corporate security, and take other unspecified actions was greeted by prominent Republicans with what would be considered faint praise in any other context but sounds like an ode in this time of extreme antagonism between the political parties. The Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham released a joint statement noting that Obama’s actions were “long overdue” and vowing to take even stronger measures to insure that Russia is punished. Paul Ryan opted to be bipartisan in the least generous way possible, stating that the Administration’s actions were both overdue and “an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia.” In the meantime, Putin’s magnanimous decision not to expel American diplomats and to further extend a friendly invitation to their children to an annual winter party has been an inspired propaganda move. He all but told the world, “When Obama goes low, we go high.”
Philippines
‘The Goldberg plan’ to oust Duterte (The Volatilian) According to this article, the U.S. administration of Barack Obama is seeking regime change in the Philippines – that, according to a leaked document purportedly outlining a plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte and replace him with a US-friendly puppet. And the draftsman of the plot is none other than recently replaced US ambassador to the Philippines, Philip Goldberg.
