Written by Econintersect
Early Bird Headlines 19 February 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 administration drafts plan to raise asylum bar, speed deportations (Reuters) The Department of Homeland Security has prepared new guidance for immigration agents aimed at speeding up deportations by denying asylum claims earlier in the process. The new guidelines, contained in a draft memo dated February 17 but not yet sent to field offices, directs agents to only pass applicants who have a good chance of ultimately getting asylum, but does not give specific criteria for establishing credible fear of persecution if sent home. The guidance instructs asylum officers to “elicit all relevant information” in determining whether an applicant has “credible fear” of persecution if returned home, the first obstacle faced by migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border requesting asylum. Three sources familiar with the drafting of the guidance said the goal of the new instructions is to raise the bar on initial screening. The administration’s plan is to leave wide discretion to asylum officers by allowing them to determine which applications have a “significant possibility” of being approved by an immigration court, the sources said. See also Trump administration to expand groups of immigrants to be deported: documents.
Trump attacks ‘dishonest media’ while making false claims at Florida rally (The Guardian) The president returned to the speech lines of his campaign and insisted that the White House is running ‘so smoothly’ despite reports of chaos and infighting.
McCain: Dictators ‘get started by suppressing free press’ (CNN) Sen. John McCain slammed President Donald Trump’s attacks on the media this week by noting dictators “get started by suppressing free press.” It was a startling observation from a sitting member of Congress against the President of the United States, especially considering McCain is a member of Trump’s party. The Arizona Republican sarcastically told NBC News Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press“:
“I hate the press. I hate you especially. But the fact is we need you. We need a free press. We must have it. It’s vital.”
Greece
‘From bad to worse’: Greece hurtles towards a final reckoning (The Guardian) As Greece hurtles towards another full-blown confrontation with the creditors keeping it afloat, and as tensions over stalled bailout negotiations mount, it is a question many are asking.
The country’s epic struggle to avert bankruptcy should have been settled when Athens received €110bn in aid – the biggest financial rescue programme in global history – from the EU and International Monetary Fund in May 2010. Instead, three bailouts later, it is still wrangling over the terms of the latest €86bn emergency loan package, with lenders also at loggerheads and diplomats no longer talking of a can, but rather a bomb, being kicked down the road. Default looms if a €7.4bn debt repayment – money owed mostly to the European Central Bank – is not honoured in July.
Iraq
Iraq begins battle to free western Mosul from IS (BBC News) Iraqi government forces have launched an offensive to liberate the western part of the city of Mosul from so-called Islamic State. Hundreds of military vehicles, backed by air power, rolled across the desert towards the jihadists’ positions early on Sunday. Iraqi forces retook two villages south of the city in the first hours of the operation, a top commander said. The offensive was formally announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Army Staff Lieutenant General Abdulamir Yarallah said in a statement that elite Rapid Response units captured the villages of Athbah and Al-Lazzagah – two villages immediately before Mosul airport.
India
When will the post-demonetisation hardships come to an end for the rural poor? (The Indian Economist) The Indian Economist is a content sharing partner of GEI. The rural poor in India have lived with only a cash economy. They have been devastated by the demonetization program. And the end of hardship seems nowhere in sight.
North Korea
U.S. pushes Beijing to keep up pressure on North Korea (Reuters) Washington urged Beijing to keep pressure on North Korea to return to talks aimed at preventing Pyongyang from making further advances in its weapons program in violation of U.N. resolutions. China’s Commerce Ministry said on Saturday that it would suspend all imports of coal from North Korea starting Feb. 19. The announcement came as part of Beijing’s efforts to implement international sanctions against the country. Earlier this month, Pyongyang tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile, its first direct challenge to the international community since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20. See also next article, under China, below.
China
China’s Message to Trump With North Korea Coal Ban: Let’s Deal (Bloomberg) China’s move to ban all coal imports from North Korea, effectively slicing the country’s exports by about half, came with a message to the U.S. and its allies: It’s time to do a deal.
China grants Trump a trademark he’s been seeking for a decade (CNN Money) The Chinese government has granted President Trump and his business something they had been seeking for more than a decade: trademark protection for the use of the Trump name in the construction industry. Trump fought unsuccessfully in Chinese courts for years to try to gain control of the trademark, but his fortunes changed suddenly last year during the latter stages of his campaign for the White House. China’s trademark review board announced in September it had invalidated a rival claim for the Trump trademark, clearing the way for Trump to move in. In November, soon after the election, it awarded the trademark to the Trump Organization. The trademark was officially registered this week after a three-month notice period for objections expired. The sequence of events makes some ethics experts uncomfortable: Chinese authorities reversed their position as Trump’s political star rose. Norman Eisen, a White House ethics counsel under President Obama said:
“China is going to want concessions from Mr. Trump, and this is now the first in what will be a series of efforts to influence him.”
South China Sea: US carrier group begins ‘routine’ patrols (BBC News) US aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson has started what it calls “routine operations” in the South China Sea, with a fleet of supporting warships. The deployment comes days after China’s foreign ministry warned Washington against challenging Beijing’s sovereignty in the region. China claims several contested shoals, islets and reefs in the area. It has been constructing artificial islands with airstrips in the South China Sea for a number of years.
Australia
Australia’s new normal … as city temperatures hit 47C people shelter from the deadly heat (The Guardian) In Sydney’s baking suburbs, fans have sold out – and fears about the effects of climate change are mounting. Econintersect: 47°C is 117°F.
