Written by Econintersect
Early Bird Headlines 24 February 2020.
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
- South Korea stocks drop nearly 4% as country raises coronavirus alert to ‘highest level’ (CNBC) Stocks in South Korea led losses among major Asian markets on Monday after the country raised its coronavirus alert to the “highest level” following a rapid spike in cases over the weekend. The U.S. dollar index was last up for the day at 99.606 but lower than highs around 99.9 last week. Oil prices fell in the afternoon of Asian trading hours, with international benchmark Brent crude futures down 2.58% to $56.99 per barrel. The U.S. crude futures contract also dropped 2.49% to $52.05 per barrel. Spot gold was up 1.1% at $1,661.86 per ounce by 0304 GMT, after climbing to $1,678.58 earlier in the session. Bond proices soarde (yields tumbled). The 10-year treasury hit 1.39%, the lowest yield since 05-10 July 2016 and the second lowest level in history.
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U.S.
- Bernie Sanders, powered by diverse liberal coalition, forces a reckoning for Democrats (The Washington Post) Bernie Sanders has seized a commanding position in the Democratic presidential race, building a diverse coalition that is driving his liberal movement toward the cusp of a takeover of a major political party.
The senator’s ascendancy, though years in the making, is forcing a sudden reckoning in the Democratic Party’s hierarchy, as centrist politicians and their wealthy benefactors grapple with the upheaval brought by an electorate not only hungry to defeat President Trump, but also clamoring for radical change.
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- Here’s who’s winning the race for the 2020 Democratic nomination (Business Insider) Between February and June 2020, all 50 US states and seven US territories will hold a Democratic primary election or caucus to allocate delegates to the candidates, which began with the Iowa caucuses on February 3.
The Democratic nomination isn’t decided by who wins the most votes, but by which candidates receive the most delegates – people selected by each campaign from every state or district – to represent them at the Democratic National Convention, taking place July 13-16 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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India
- Tens of thousands of Indians pack into stadium to greet Trump (Reuters) Tens of thousands of people packed into a stadium in western India to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday as he began his first official visit to the country at a time when relations that have been buffeted by a trade dispute.
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China
- Coronavirus: cases have not yet peaked, Xi Jinping tells Politburo (South China Morning Post) This follows report of decloning new cases just one day earlier. See video below.
- Battles still to be fought at the epicentre of the epidemic, president says
- Hubei province revises daily numbers up to 631 new cases following reports of jails hit by epidemic
- Recent downward trend on mainland reversed as 118 further deaths reported
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Other important articles
Global
- As Pandemic Looms, World’s Top Disease Fighter Engages Xi (Bloomberg) Wuhan street scene during ongoing lockdown.
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- Track the Coronavirus Outbreak on Johns Hopkins Live Dashboard (MedPage Today)
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U.S.
- AOC’s war on fellow Democrats likely to eliminate her House seat (New York Post) Don’t be surprised when the established Democrats who’ll control redistricting after the 2020 Census do their best to eliminate her seat.
- From single early states to a sprawling national race: The presidential candidates face their new reality. (The Washington Post)
- Dueling Narratives Emerge From Muddied Account of Russia’s 2020 Interference (The New York Times)
- Trump claims Schiff leaked intel on Russia interfering to help Sanders (New York Post)
UK
- Assange’s fate hangs in balance as UK court considers U.S. extradition bid (Reuters) A British court begins hearings on Monday to decide whether Julian Assange should be extradited to the United States almost a decade after his WikiLeaks website enraged Washington by leaking secret U.S. documents.
Italy
Egypt
- Egypt executes militant Ashmawy after being convicted over attacks – sources (Reuters) Egypt on Monday executed Hisham al-Ashmawy, described as the country’s most dangerous Islamist militant, after he was convicted by a military court of orchestrating several attacks.
Iran
Malaysia
- Malaysian PM Mahathir submits resignation in shock move, leaves government in limbo (Reuters) Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has submitted a letter of resignation to the country’s king, his office said on Monday, leaving the government in limbo amid talk of forming a new governing coalition.
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North Korea
China
- Don’t buy China’s story: The coronavirus may have leaked from a lab (New York Post) Hat tip to Sig Silber.
- Were these six Chinese trespassers confused tourists or spies? The FBI wants to know. (NBC News) Tourists have been taking pictures and videos inside Mar-a-Lago (pictured below)and Florida military bases.
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Canada
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Mexico
- How the American dream died on the world’s busiest border (The Guardian) It is a place where worlds converge, a vast melting pot of different peoples, all in search of a better life. Yet the US-Mexico border is also, increasingly, a focal point for human suffering.
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