| UPDATE 3-British PM Johnson to Trump: keep out of UK election Posted: 29 Nov 2019 03:24 PM PST ![UPDATE 3-British PM Johnson to Trump: keep out of UK election]( "UPDATE 3-British PM Johnson to Trump: keep out of UK election") Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday it would be "best" if U.S. President Donald Trump does not get involved in Britain's election when he visits London for a NATO summit next week. Trump waded into the election in October by saying opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn would be "so bad" for Britain and that Johnson should agree on a pact with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.
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| US cryptocurrency promoter charged after advising North Korea Posted: 29 Nov 2019 01:35 PM PST  A prominent American cryptocurrency promoter and former hacker was charged with sanctions violations Friday after he allegedly advised North Korea on using virtual money to avoid international controls. Virgil Griffith, 36, who lives in Singapore and works for the blockchain and cryptocurrency developer Ethereum, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday, the Justice Department said.
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| Two Dead in London Bridge Terror Attack, Police Say: U.K. Update Posted: 29 Nov 2019 12:40 PM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, follow us @Brexit and subscribe to our podcast.Two people were killed in a terrorist attack in the heart of London on Friday. Three others were injured in the stabbing incident just before 2 p.m. in the London Bridge area, on the edge of the capital's financial center. Members of the public wrestled with the suspect before armed police shot him dead.Confirming that two people had died, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick praised the "extraordinary courage" of those who tackled the man. Prime Minister Boris Johnson broke away from the general election campaign to rush back to his Downing Street offices, and will chair an emergency "Cobra" meeting this evening.Key Developments:Police shoot dead male terror suspect after stabbing in London Bridge at about 2 p.m.Two civilians killed in the attack, three being treated in hospital, police saidOfficers say suspect had a hoax bomb strapped to his bodyJohnson returned from his constituency to Number 10 for updates on incident; will chair emergency 'Cobra' meeting at 9:30 p.m.Labour suspends election campaigning in London on FridaySecurity strengthened around British capital, with more armed police deployed after terrorist attackPolice Trying to Identity Victims (8:25 p.m.)Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said officers are still working to identify the people killed in Friday's terrorist attack and that three others are being treated in the hospital. 'Our counter-terrorists detectives will be working around the clock to identify those who have lost their lives, to support all the victims and their families," she said."We will be working as fast as we can to understand who this man is, where he comes from and whether there is anyone else who we need to find quickly," Dick said. She said she expects police cordons to remain in the area "for some time."Dick said the attack started at Fishmonger's Hall, a livery company building on the north side of London Bridge, and said members of the public had shown "extraordinary courage stepping in to tackle this attacker."U.K. Police Confirm Two Dead (8:15 p.m.)U.K. police confirmed two members of the public died in the terror attack on London Bridge. "As well as the suspect, who was shot dead by police, two of those injured in this attack in the London Bridge area have tragically lost their lives," Cressida Dick, Metropolitan Police commissioner, said in a statement outside the London police service's headquarters."My heart goes out to their loved ones and to the three further injured victims who I understand are being treated at hospital," she said. "The empty ideology of terror offers nothing but terror and today I urge everybody to reject that."Johnson Cancels Saturday Campaign Events (7:50 p.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson canceled his planned events for campaigning in the election on Saturday, a Tory official said. He will focus instead on the government's response to the London Bridge attack.The premier will lead a meeting of the government's emergency "Cobra" committee at 9:30 p.m., his office said. He called Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to discuss the incident earlier on Friday.Labour Suspends London Campaigning (6:50 p.m.)Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn suspended his party's campaigning in London for Friday evening as he called on the U.K.'s "democratic process not to be derailed by terror.""We are suspending campaigning in London tonight as a mark of respect for those who suffered in this attack," Corbyn said in an emailed statement. "We will not be cowed by those who threaten us. We must and we will stand together to reject hatred and division."Earlier Conservative leader Boris Johnson suspended his own campaigning for Friday evening.Two People Dead After Attack: BBC (6:36 p.m.)Two members of the public have died after the London Bridge attack, the BBC reported, citing a government source.Earlier the police said several people had been injured during the stabbing at a premises near London Bridge. A spokeswoman for the Met Police was unable to confirm the report.Johnson Praises Civilians Who Stopped Attacker (5:45 p.m.)Boris Johnson vowed to bring all involved in the attack to justice, promising the U.K. will not be intimidated by terrorism."Anybody involved in this crime and these attacks will be hunted down and will be brought to justice," Johnson said in a pooled TV clip. "This country will never be cowed or divided or intimidated by this sort of attack, and our values -- our British values -- will prevail."Johnson said he would stop his own campaigning this evening and he would be reviewing the matter in the next few hours. In the middle of the 2017 election, campaigning was suspended across all parties after a terrorist attack."I urge everyone to be vigilant and one cannot help but think back to what happened in 2017 in a similar part of the city, and I hope people as fast as possible will be able to go back to their business," he said.Mayor Urges Londoners to 'Stand Resolute' (4:55 p.m.)Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called on his city to "stand united and resolute in the face of terror" in the aftermath of the "cowardly and evil" attack.Khan praised the "breathtaking heroism from members of the public who literally ran towards the danger, not knowing what confronted them." he said they didn't know the bomb strapped to the suspect was a hoax. "They really are the best of us, another example of the bravery and heroism of ordinary Londoners running towards danger, risking their own personal safety to try and save others," he said."I'm mayor of the greatest city in the world -- one of our strengths is our diversity," he told journalists outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters. "We do know there are people out there who hate our diversity, who hate what we stand for and are trying to seek to divide us."Khan said the attack on London Bridge "appeared to be an isolated incident," and the police aren't looking for any other suspects.Trump Pledges Support to U.K. (4:40 p.m.)U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the violence on London Bridge and offered his country's full support, a spokesman said."President Trump has been briefed on this morning's attack at the London Bridge and is monitoring the situation," said Judd Deere, deputy press secretary at the White House. "The United States strongly condemns all horrific acts of violence on innocent people, and we pledge our full support to our Ally, the United Kingdom."Trump is due to visit the U.K. next week for a NATO summit.Police: London Bridge Attack Was Terrorism (4:24 p.m.)U.K. police confirmed they had shot dead one male suspect and declared the attack a terrorist incident. "I'm now in a position to confirm that it has been declared a terrorist incident," said Neil Basu, Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner, in a statement outside the London police service's headquarters. "I must stress we retain an open mind as to any motive. It would be inappropriate to speculate further at this time."He added the police believe the item strapped to the body of the suspect was a hoax explosive device.Police Ordered Diners to Flee (4 p.m.)The streets around London Bridge were locked down and armed police cleared restaurants and shops in the area. Officers are treating the incident as terror-related "as a precaution," although the circumstances are still unclear, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.During the incident on Friday, armed officers burst into restaurants in the Borough Market area at London Bridge and urged diners to leave as fast as possible. They shouted "Out, out, out," to people at the Black and Blue bar. Diners walked away with their hands on their heads. Nearby, police shouted to pedestrians to "run."Officers closed off the bridge and evacuated passers-by from the surrounding area. On the north bank of the River Thames, police officers shouted to pedestrians to move back from the bridge 100 meters, and then urged them to take shelter in any nearby building, shouting: "Move inside for your own safety."Incident Revives Memories of 2017 Attack (3:45 p.m.)The same area of London was the scene of a terrorist attack just a few days before the general election in June 2017 in which eight people were killed and 48 injured. Three Islamist terrorists drove a van at pedestrians on the bridge before arming themselves with knives and running into Borough Market, where they stabbed people in restaurants and pubs. Armed police responded and killed the attackers.Johnson returning to Central London (3:35 p.m.)Boris Johnson is returning to his office in central London after police shot a man at London Bridge and a number of people were injured."The prime minister is on his way back to No 10 from his constituency where he will receive further updates on the London Bridge incident," Johnson's spokesman James Slack said in a statement.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also expressed his concern. "Shocking reports from London Bridge. My thoughts are with those caught up in the incident. Thank you to the police and emergency services who are responding," he said on Twitter.Johnson Being Kept Updated on London Incident (3:10 p.m.)Boris Johnson said he's being kept informed about the unfolding incident at London Bridge, in which there have been reports of gunshots and stabbings. Police said they are "currently responding to this incident as though it is terror-related."Armed police locked down the bridge and evacuated the area. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that after being called to a stabbing at a premises nearby, they had detained one man. A number of people have been injured, they said."I'm being kept updated on the incident at London Bridge and want to thank the police and all emergency services for their immediate response," Johnson said on Twitter.Home Secretary Priti Patel also posted on Twitter, saying she's "very concerned by ongoing incident at London Bridge. My thoughts are with all affected." She urged people to follow the advice of the police. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he's in "close contact" with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.Corbyn in Fresh Attack on Billionaires (12:45 p.m.)Jeremy Corbyn opened a new broadside on billionaires opposing his plans for a re-distributive socialist economy after The Daily Mail and General Trust bought the i newspaper in a 50 million pound deal ($64.5 million)."Two billionaire press barons now own half of the top 10 daily newspapers," Corbyn said in a posting on Twitter. "Remember this when they attack Labour's plan to make the super-rich pay their fair share.""We are committed to preserving its distinctive, high quality and politically independent editorial style," DMGT said in a statement on its acquisition of the i newspaper.Free Trade Group Attacks State Aid Proposals (12:20 p.m.)The Adam Smith Institute, a think tank aimed at promoting free trade which had close links with former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, said it was disappointed with Boris Johnson's plan to change state aid rules and procurement provisions to make it easier to support British companies, calling it a "form of Trumpian protectionism.""We shouldn't free ourselves from the European Union in order to just enslave ourselves to the whims of Whitehall," said Matthew Lesh, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute. "Making a profit is a proof of the value added to society, and there must be no business that is too big to fail."Tories Pledge Tougher Foreign Takeover Rules (12:05 p.m.)The Conservatives plan to strengthen protections against foreign takeovers of British companies, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said, in answer to a question about Chinese investment in the U.K."We certainly don't believe that the current provisions which are in place are robust enough," Gove said at a press conference. He said he's undertaken to "strengthen" a unit in his department that examines foreign takeovers, and "strengthen protections in the future."Speaking alongside him, Boris Johnson agreed, before saying the country must strike a "balance" between "continuing to be open to investment from China" and making sure the U.K. doesn't do anything "that prejudices our critical national infrastructure, our security, or do anything that would compromise our ability to cooperate with five-eyes security partners.""Those are the parameters," Johnson said. "I am very, very far from a Sinophobe. I want to have good relations with China, but there are clear difficulties and clear boundaries that we have to set."U.K.'s No-Deal Preparations to Continue (12 p.m.)Boris Johnson confirmed the U.K. will continue to make preparations for a disorderly exit from the European Union. "Of course the preparations will remain extant," he said. "There's no reason to dismantle them."He described the preparations which he put in place prior to the Oct. 31 deadline as being "thoroughly useful" in achieving the deal made with the EU, as it convinced Brussels the U.K. was "in earnest" about leaving.Johnson said he is confident of completing a deal with the EU by the end of 2020 and "sees no reason" to extend that deadline, meaning the U.K. crashing out without a deal is still a possibility.State Aid Plan Compatible With EU: Johnson (11:50 a.m.)Taking questions from the press after his speech, Boris Johnson said that "of course" the U.K.'s new state aid rules (see 11:35 a.m.) would be compatible with those of the European Union, dismissing the idea that they could endanger a new free trade deal with the bloc."Were there to be any issues arising, then as you know, under any big free trade deal, there's a joint committee to arbitrate on whether some unfair subsidy or dispensation has been made," Johnson said. "But it would be a committee of sovereign equals."Johnson later said he believed in competition and in a "level playing field."Tories Vow to Change Public Procurement (11:40 a.m)The Tories vowed to break away from EU state aid rules that the party said have a "chilling effect" on government support for industry, because of the need to wait for "months or years" for decisions on whether measures by member states are permissible or not.Existing rules "mean that the U.K. government cannot take steps to quickly and effectively help companies that are in danger," the Conservative Party said in the statement. New rules will be developed in consultation with British businesses, it said.The Tories promised a new state aid system that sets out clear principles when the government will intervene, based on the U.K.'s needs. Ministers will have "more discretion" over decisions, which they will be able to take within "days." A new government body would be set up to manage the system, the party said.On public procurement, the Tories pledged to ditch "absurdly complex" EU rules with their "pointless tendering requirements." It also promised "simpler and cheaper" regulations that are "geared towards supporting local business and promoting British business." The new system will be in place by Jan. 2021.Tories Announce State Aid Plans (11:35 a.m.)The Conservatives unveiled a package of measures that they described as "immediate steps to realize the benefits of Brexit," including a pledge to overhaul the country's state aid system to make it "faster and easier for the government to intervene to protect jobs when an industry is in trouble."A Tory government will also change public procurement policy to support local businesses and promote a "buy British" approach for public bodies that purchase food, in an effort to back farmers, the party said in an email."People voted to take back control -- and we want to deliver that change," Johnson said in a statement. "One of the crucial ways we will do that is by improving our rules so that we can back British businesses and unleash their true potential."Stuart Tells Labour Voters to Back Johnson (11:30 a.m.)Gisela Stuart, the former Labour MP who helped run the Leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum, urged traditional Labour voters to back the Conservatives in what she called the Dec. 12 "Brexit election.""Voting for Brexit this time does not make me a Tory now or in the future," Stuart said as she stood alongside Johnson and Michael Gove. "Rather, it is the best option."Labour Step Up Pressure Over Johnson Comments (10:40 a.m.)Labour criticized Prime Minister Boris Johnson over past remarks he made about single mothers in a column from the 1990s (See 10 a.m.)"Boris Johnson's refusal to apologize for his hateful comments about single mothers, their children and working class men is an absolute disgrace," Labour's education spokeswoman, Angela Rayner, who has herself been a single mother, said in a statement. "He tried to deny what he wrote, but the evidence is there in black and white for us all to see, proving once again that he's a liar as well as a sexist."Johnson Signals to Trump to Stay Quiet (10:15 a.m.)Ahead of Donald Trump's visit to the U.K. next week, Boris Johnson said the two allies "traditionally" do not get involved in each others' domestic politics -- an apparent signal to the U.S. president not to say anything that could potentially undermine the Conservative Party's election campaign."We have very close relationships with the United States at every level of government, but what we don't do traditionally -- as loving allies and friends -- is get involved in each other's election campaigns," Johnson told LBC radio.The comment comes amid Tory party fears of an intervention by the president in the run-up to the Dec. 12 vote. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is using Johnson's links to the president and pursuit of a post-Brexit U.S. trade as a central attack line in the campaign, especially on the potential dangers to Britain's state-run National Health Service.Johnson pointed out that former President Barack Obama's intervention in the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign didn't help the government's argument for staying in the European Union. Obama's comments were "not entirely conducive to the good of that cause," he said.Johnson Under Fire for Controversial Comments (10 a.m.)Boris Johnson said the quotation of comments from his newspaper columns about Muslims, black people and single mothers were a "distortion" of his true views. In a 1995 article republished this week, he blamed single mothers for "producing a generation of ill-raised, ignorant, aggressive and illegitimate children.""These are 25 year old quotations culled from articles written before I was even in politics," Johnson said in response to an angry call from a single mother to a phone-in on LBC. "Almost invariably when you look at these articles what the actual piece is saying the opposite of what is claimed." Johnson also refused to say how many children he has and whether he is involved in all of their lives.The description of single mothers was not the first time Johnson's comments have attracted condemnation. He has previously come under fire for referring to black people as "piccaninnies" with "watermelon smiles," while last year he used the terms "bank robber" and "letterbox" to describe Muslim women who wear burqas.Johnson also refused to say whether Jacob Rees-Mogg would still be in his cabinet if he wins the election after the leader of the House of Commons suggested people could have survived the Grenfell Tower fire if they'd shown "common sense" to escape. "I'm not going to get into measuring up the curtains type conversations," Johnson said.Johnson Defends Tory Plans on NHS (9:40 a.m.)During his Q&A appearance on LBC radio, Boris Johnson was repeatedly challenged on his Conservative Party's plans for the National Health Service. He acknowledged that a pledge to add 50,000 nurses actually includes persuading 19,000 to stay in the profession -- a discrepancy that opposition parties have said shows the Tories are misleading voters."I do understand the controversy about this," Johnson said, referring to the 19,000 figure. "The risk is that they will leave the profession and we're putting in the funds to ensure they will stay."Britain's beloved state-run NHS is a key battleground in the election campaign after Labour accused Johnson of using it as a bargaining chip in talks with the U.S. on a post-Brexit trade deal. The prime minister reiterated on Friday that's not the case, calling it "Bermuda Triangle stuff" from Corbyn's party.Johnson was also on the back foot over his widely disputed plan to build 40 new hospitals, with opposition parties arguing the real number is only six. The prime minister was forced to acknowledge that some voters will not regard hospital refurbishments and upgrades as new hospitals. He also said the Conservative manifesto does not include a plan to resolve the crisis in social care because the precise details have not been "thrashed out" -- despite it being a key pledge in his first speech as prime minister.Johnson: Working on 'About a Dozen' Trade Deals (9:15 a.m.)Boris Johnson could not give a figure for how many trade deals the U.K. has ready ahead of its departure from the EU. "I can't give the answer to how many deals are actually formalized," he said in a phone-in with listeners on LBC radio. "There are a number that are virtually ready to go.""I imagine we have about a dozen we're currently working on," he said, naming China, India, New Zealand and Australia as examples.If his Conservative Party wins a working majority, the U.K. will leave the EU on Jan. 31, Johnson said. A trade deal will also be agreed with the bloc by the end of 2020, he said: "I see no reason to go beyond that deadline," he told listeners.Williamson Denies Tory Threat to Channel 4 (9 a.m.)Education Secretary Gavin Williamson denied the Conservative Party is threatening to review Channel 4's broadcasting license following its decision not to allow Cabinet minister Michael Gove to sub in for Boris Johnson in a leaders' debate on climate change on Thursday.Speaking on BBC radio, Williamson said the party has raised a complaint with the broadcasting regulator Ofcom. The row came after Johnson declined to appear in the debate, sending Gove in his place. Channel 4 refused to allow Gove, who appeared at the venue with his own television crew, to take part -- on the basis that the invitation was to the leaders of the political parties."The Conservative Party isn't threatening Channel 4, we're raising a complaint with Ofcom which is perfectly legitimate," Williamson said. "Frankly they reduced the quality of the debate that happened yesterday by refusing to let Michael Gove go on." The Telegraph cited a source in the Tory party it didn't identify as saying Channel 4's public broadcasting license is under threat.McDonnell: Johnson 'Running Scared' (Earlier)Labour economy spokesman John McDonnell said Boris Johnson is "running scared" from scrutiny after the prime minister refused to attend a leaders debate on climate change on Thursday evening. He has also refused to be interviewed by Andrew Neil, who has the reputation of being one of the BBC's most forensic interviewers."The reason he is doing it is because he thinks like, you know, his Bullingdon Club friends, that they're above the rest of us," McDonnell said. "Because he knows that Andrew Neil will take him apart. He's running scared. But even if he does it now, he's played you because he's pushing it later and later beyond the postal vote returns."The Conservatives wrote to OfCom, the media regulator, on Thursday evening to complain that Channel 4, the host of the climate debate, had replaced Johnson with a melting ice sculpture during the debate.Labour is not changing its strategy, McDonnell said, denying reports that the party is switching its focus to leave voting areas after polling showed that it was set to lose seats in its north of England hearltlands.Earlier:The Tories Secretly Fear Trump Could Wreck Johnson's ElectionU.K. Consumer Confidence Lowest Heading Into Election Since 2010Johnson Warns Against Complacency Over Lead: U.K. Campaign TrailTories Riled After Iceblock Replaces U.K. PM in Climate Debate\--With assistance from Alex Morales, Stuart Biggs, Eddie Spence and Kitty Donaldson.To contact the reporters on this story: Greg Ritchie in London at gritchie10@bloomberg.net;Jessica Shankleman in London at jshankleman@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Thomas PennyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Suddenly, the Chinese Threat to Australia Seems Very Real Posted: 29 Nov 2019 12:07 PM PST ![Suddenly, the Chinese Threat to Australia Seems Very Real]( "Suddenly, the Chinese Threat to Australia Seems Very Real") CANBERRA, Australia -- A Chinese defector to Australia who detailed political interference by Beijing. A businessman found dead after telling the authorities about a Chinese plot to install him in Parliament. Suspicious men following critics of Beijing in major Australian cities.For a country that just wants calm commerce with China -- the propellant behind 28 years of steady growth -- the revelations of the past week have delivered a jolt.Fears of Chinese interference once seemed to hover indistinctly over Australia. Now, Beijing's political ambitions, and the espionage operations that further them, suddenly feel local, concrete and ever-present."It's become the inescapable issue," said Hugh White, a former intelligence official who teaches strategic studies at the Australian National University. "We've underestimated how quickly China's power has grown along with its ambition to use that power."U.S. officials often describe Australia as a test case, the ally close enough to Beijing to see what could be coming for others.In public and in private, they've pushed Australia's leaders to confront China more directly -- pressure that may only grow after President Donald Trump signed legislation to impose sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials over human rights abuses in Hong Kong.Even as it confronts the specter of brazen espionage, Australia's government has yet to draw clear boundaries for an autocratic giant that is both an economic partner and a threat to freedom -- a conundrum faced by many countries, but more acutely by Australia.Prime Minister Scott Morrison continues to insist that Australia need not choose between China and the United States. A new foreign interference law has barely been enforced, and secrecy is so ingrained that even lawmakers and experts lack the in-depth information they need.As a result, the country's intelligence agencies have raised alarms about China in ways that most Australian politicians avoid. The agencies have never been flush with expertise on China, including Chinese speakers, yet they are now in charge of disentangling complex claims of nefarious deeds, all vigorously denied by China.In the most troubling recent case, first reported by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, the Australian authorities have confirmed that they are investigating accusations made by Nick Zhao, an Australian businessman who told intelligence officials that he had been the target of a plot to install him in Parliament as a Chinese agent.Zhao, a 32-year-old luxury car dealer, was a member of his local Liberal Party branch. He was a "perfect target for cultivation," according to Andrew Hastie, a federal lawmaker and tough critic of Beijing who was briefed on the case. He told The Age that Zhao was "a bit of a high-roller in Melbourne, living beyond his means."Another businessman with ties to the Chinese government, Zhao said, offered to provide 1 million Australian dollars ($677,000) to finance his election campaign for Parliament. But a few months later, in March, Zhao was found dead in a hotel room. The state's coroner is investigating the cause of death.In a rare statement, Mike Burgess, the head of Australia's domestic spy agency, said Monday that his organization was aware of Zhao's case and was taking it very seriously.The Chinese government, however, called the accusations a sign of Australian hysteria."Stories like 'Chinese espionage' or 'China's infiltration in Australia,' with however bizarre plots and eye-catching details, are nothing but lies," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, said at a regular news briefing Monday.Beijing has similarly dismissed the case that emerged last week, which involves a young asylum-seeker named Wang Liqiang.Wang presented himself to the Australian authorities as an important intelligence asset -- an assistant to a Hong Kong businessman who Wang says is responsible for spying, propaganda and disinformation campaigns aimed at quashing dissent in Hong Kong and undermining democracy in Taiwan.China asserts that he is simply a convicted swindler. On Thursday, a Communist Party tabloid, The Global Times, released video of what it said was Wang's 2016 trial on fraud charges, where a young man confessed to bilking someone out of $17,000.Xiang Xin, the man Wang identified as his former boss, has denied having anything to do with him, or even knowing him.The challenge of the case is just beginning. While some analysts have raised doubts about Wang's assertions, elements in the detailed 17-page account that he gave to the authorities as part of an asylum application are being taken seriously by law enforcement agencies worldwide.Taiwan's Ministry of Justice detained Xiang and another executive with the company Wang said he worked for, China Innovation Investment Limited. Investigators in Taiwan are looking into assertions that their business acted on behalf of Chinese intelligence agencies.Other details in Wang's account -- about the kidnapping of booksellers in Hong Kong, spying on Hong Kong university students, and the theft of military technology from the United States -- are still being examined by Australian officials."Australia's peak intelligence agencies are being put to the test," said John Fitzgerald, a China specialist at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. "It's a tough call, and they cannot afford to get it wrong."What's clear, though, is that they are helping to push the public away from supporting cozy relations. Polls showed a hardening of Australian attitudes about China even before the past week.Now Hastie, the China hawk and Liberal Party lawmaker who chairs Parliament's joint intelligence committee, says his office has been overwhelmed by people across the country who have emailed, called and even sent handwritten letters expressing outrage and anxiety about China's actions in Australia.Questions of loyalty continue to swirl around another Liberal Party member of Parliament, Gladys Liu, who fumbled responses to questions in September about her membership in various groups linked to the Chinese Communist Party.The espionage cases also follow several months of rising tensions at Australian universities, where protests by students from Hong Kong have been disrupted, sometimes with violence, by opponents from the Chinese mainland.Several student activists have told the authorities that they have been followed or photographed by people who appear to be associated with the Chinese Consulate.It's even happened to at least one high-profile former official, John Garnaut. A longtime journalist who produced a classified report on Chinese interference for former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2017, he recently acknowledged publicly that he had been stalked by people who appeared to be Chinese agents -- in some cases when he was with his family.These actions of apparent aggression point to a version of China that Australians hardly know. For decades, Australia has based its relations with Beijing on a simple idea: Let's get rich together. And the mining companies that are especially close to Morrison's conservative government have been the biggest winners.But now more than ever, the country is seeing that for the Communist Party under President Xi Jinping, it's no longer just about wealth and trade."The transactions aren't satisfying them enough; they want more," said John Blaxland, a professor of international security and intelligence studies at the Australian National University. "They want to gain influence over decisions about the further involvement of the United States, about further protestations to Chinese actions in the South China Sea, in the South Pacific, in Taiwan."Blaxland, along with U.S. officials, often points out that Australia's biggest export to China, iron ore, is hard to obtain elsewhere reliably and at the prices Australia's companies charge. That suggests that the country has more leverage than its leaders might think.Hastie, who was recently denied a visa to travel to China as part of a study group that included other members of Parliament, agreed. In an interview, he said the recent revelations were "the first time the Australian public has a concrete example of what we are facing."Now, he added, it's time to adapt.This article originally appeared in The New York Times.(C) 2019 The New York Times Company
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| INSIGHT-Threats, arrests, targeted killings silence Iraqi dissidents Posted: 29 Nov 2019 10:15 AM PST ![INSIGHT-Threats, arrests, targeted killings silence Iraqi dissidents]( "INSIGHT-Threats, arrests, targeted killings silence Iraqi dissidents") After armed men raided the home of Hussein Adel al-Madani and his wife Sara Talib last year, the Iraqi activists spent months of self-imposed exile in Turkey, changed address upon returning home and ceased participating in protests, according to two friends of the couple. On Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi announced his resignation following weeks of protests calling for the removal of a government viewed as corrupt and the powerful Iran-backed paramilitary groups that support it.
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| Husband of jailed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe begs Boris Johnson for 'Christmas miracle' return Posted: 29 Nov 2019 09:01 AM PST  The husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has pleaded with Boris Johnson to deliver a "Christmas miracle" and help free the jailed British-Iranian charity worker. Richard Ratcliffe, in a letter to the prime minister released this week, said he felt Mr Johnson had made "placebo promises" to see that 40-year-old Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was released, which he has not kept. Mr Ratcliffe said he sent the letter to Mr Johnson two weeks ago but has not received a reply. He said the prime minister has ignored all pleas for contact since entering No 10, despite promising as Foreign Secretary to "leave no stone unturned". Now he feels he has no choice but to go public with his most heart-rending appeal yet in the three-and-a-half years since his wife's arrest by Iranian authorities on espionage charges. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman charity worker, has been mentally suffering in prison in Tehran Credit: Family handout "Enough is enough. How can this be allowed to happen without the PM explaining what he is doing about it? If you take responsibility for the country you have to take responsibility for obvious mistakes," he writes. "Our story defines what a British passport is worth on your watch," Mr Ratcliffe said. "The job of a PM is not just to make headlines, but in the end to make a difference. That starts with protecting citizens at their most vulnerable, home and abroad." He said Mr Johnson was responsible for the imprisonment of more British-Iranian dual nationals in Iran. At least three Iranians holding British nationality have been arrested by Tehran in the last year, as relations worsened with the Islamic Republic. In his letter he revealed his wife is now so desperate she has spoken of taking an overdose. "Nazanin says how she no longer wants to live through what they are doing to her," he wrote. "Those in power do not care enough to solve it, and she cannot keep going like this. She has lost hope, lost everything, in bottomless waiting." Five-year-old Gabriella Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her father Richard during a press conference at the Houses of Parliament, following Gabriella's return to the UK so she can attend school. Credit: PA The Ratcliffe family made the decision to bring daughter Gabriella, five, home to London from Tehran, where she had been living with her grandparents and paying visits to her mother in Evin prison. She has been enrolled in a school near their home in Hampstead, north London, and in a new photograph appeared happy as she sat on her father's shoulders.
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| Ilhan Omar's Republican opponent was banned from Twitter after suggesting the congresswoman should be tried for treason and hanged Posted: 29 Nov 2019 09:00 AM PST  The Republican campaign promoted a wild conspiracy theory that Omar had illegally shared sensitive government information with Qatar and Iran.
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| UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson replaced by block of melting ice at climate change debate Posted: 29 Nov 2019 08:55 AM PST  Major political party leaders in Britain participated in a debate on climate change, but two were noticeably missing -- and replaced. Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the Conservative Party and leader of the Brexit Party Nigel Farage were not on the stage for Thursday night's Channel 4 debate.
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| Iraqi prime minister to resign amid protests Posted: 29 Nov 2019 08:23 AM PST ![Iraqi prime minister to resign amid protests]( "Iraqi prime minister to resign amid protests") Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Friday announced his resignation following Wednesday's firebombing of the Iranian consulate in Najaf and weeks of antigovernment protests that have left hundreds dead, The New York Times reports. In a statement, Mahdi said that his decision would allow Iraq to "preserve the blood of its people, and avoid slipping into a cycle of violence, chaos and devastation," although his successor has not been named. At least 400 protesters have been killed since the beginning of October, with 40 shot dead by security forces in three cities Thursday and early Friday. The demonstrators, a mix of educated, urban idealists and working-class Shiite Muslims, have been protesting perceived government corruption, as well as unemployment and what they see as Iran's influence over the country.More stories from theweek.com Democrats are running into Trump's economic buzzsaw 5 gut-bustingly funny cartoons about politics and Thanksgiving How The Crown keeps Queen Elizabeth at a distance
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| Officials close schools in Iranian capital because of smog Posted: 29 Nov 2019 07:55 AM PST ![Officials close schools in Iranian capital because of smog]( "Officials close schools in Iranian capital because of smog") Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reports that authorities in the capital Tehran have decided to close down all kindergartens, schools and universities because of high levels of air pollution. The Friday report quotes Tehran Province Deputy Gov. Mohammad Taghiizade as saying a special committee made the decision following days of high air pollution levels that are expected to get higher on Saturday, the first working day of the week in Iran.
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| Gas station strike paralyzes Lebanon as crisis deepens Posted: 29 Nov 2019 07:37 AM PST  Angry motorists blocked roads with their vehicles in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon on Friday, creating traffic jams to protest a strike by owners of gas stations demanding an increase in gasoline prices as the local currency drops and the nation slides deeper into a financial crisis. The road closures around Lebanon came as President Michel Aoun headed a meeting of the country's top economic officials to discuss the rapidly deteriorating economic and financial situation in the country. Nationwide protests that began Oct. 17 over widespread corruption and mismanagement have worsened Lebanon's worst economic and financial crises since the 1975-90 civil war ended, as did the resignation of the government late last month.
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| UK PM calls in referendum team for Brexit election pitch Posted: 29 Nov 2019 07:13 AM PST  Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a pitch to Brexit-backing opposition voters Friday alongside a former Labour member of his 2016 referendum team, insisting only a vote for him in next month's election would get Britain out of the EU. Johnson has promised that if this happens, he will take Britain out of the European Union on January 31, and deliver a new trade deal by the end of next year. "If there's a Conservative majority government, we can deliver the change that people voted for," he said.
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| Support the Guardian – and help us highlight the rise of digital inequality Posted: 29 Nov 2019 07:00 AM PST  Automating Poverty, our year-long project about the takeover of welfare systems by algorithms and AI, was funded with reader donations raised last year * Help us cover the critical issues of 2020. Make a contributionA woman goes through the process of finger-scanning for the Aadhaar system at a registration centre in Delhi. Photograph: Saumya Khandelwal/ReutersIn countries across the world, algorithms and artificial intelligence are taking over welfare payments systems. Governments often make these changes quietly, with little public debate or accountability. But they affect millions, with serious – and possibly even fatal – results.In our special project Automating Poverty, we cast a light on the way digital innovation is threatening the poor.Our correspondent Rebecca Ratcliffe travelled 1,300km from Delhi to the east of India to investigate the country's vast biometrics scheme, Aadhaar. She interviewed the family of Motka Manjhi, who died from starvation after his food subsidies were stopped because his thumbprint wasn't recognised by the Aadhaar biometrics database.In Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes reported on the families who are informed by text message that their payments are suspended, sometimes in error and with no human to complain to.In the UK, Robert Booth and Sarah Marsh spent the best part of six weeks digging into the automation of welfare systems.After publishing our series, we received scores of emails from social scientists, government officials and welfare recipients around the world. Writers from India, Spain, the UK, the US and other countries shared their experiences.At the United Nations general assembly in New York, the Guardian mediated a panel discussion on the human rights challenges of the digital age.Automating Poverty is one of the reporting projects we funded with the $1m in reader donations we raised during our end-of-year drive last winter.Now through January, we hope to raise $1.5m to fund more journalism like this in 2020. With your help, we will continue to fight for the progressive values we hold dear – democracy, civility, truth.Please consider making a contribution. And as always, thanks for reading.
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| Israeli army kills Gaza teen, militants respond with rocket Posted: 29 Nov 2019 06:38 AM PST ![Israeli army kills Gaza teen, militants respond with rocket]( "Israeli army kills Gaza teen, militants respond with rocket") Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian teen Friday near the Gaza-Israel frontier and Palestinian militants fired a rocket into southern Israel in the evening, apparently in response to the fatal shooting. The Israeli military said a projectile had been fired from Gaza but there were no reports of casualties or damage. In response, Israeli aircraft struck a vacant training site for Hamas, the militant Islamic group ruling Gaza.
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| 10 things you need to know today: November 29, 2019 Posted: 29 Nov 2019 06:28 AM PST ![10 things you need to know today: November 29, 2019]( "10 things you need to know today: November 29, 2019") 1.President Trump made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Thursday to spend part of Thanksgiving with U.S. troops. During the visit, Trump's first to Afghanistan, he announced that the U.S. and the Taliban have reopened peace talks. He said he believes the Taliban want a truce in America's longest war. "We're meeting with them," Trump said. "And we're saying it has to be a ceasefire." Trump had cut off talks with the Taliban in September and canceled a secret meeting between Taliban and Afghan leaders after a flurry of violence. During Trump's 3 1/2 hours at Bagram Air Field, Trump also served turkey to U.S. soldiers, who cheered him when he entered the dining hall. About 12,000 American troops remain in Afghanistan. [The Associated Press] 2.Police restored school administrators' control of Hong Kong Polytechnic University on Friday, declaring that there were no pro-democracy protesters left on the wrecked campus after a two-week siege. Police arrested hundreds of protesters during the showdown. On Thursday, a team of about 400 officers conducted a sweep of the university, and found nearly 4,000 firebombs, 921 gas canisters, and 588 containers of chemicals, including acid and other corrosive liquids. The transfer of control back to school officials marked the end of one of the most intense clashes between protesters and police in a month of escalating unrest following the death of a student who fell from a parking structure during a police operation. [The New York Times, South China Morning Post] 3.North Korea on Thursday launched two short-range projectiles into the waters off its east coast, South Korea's military said. "Our military expresses its strong regret over (the launches) and urges (North Korea) to immediately stop acts that escalate military tensions," said Maj. Gen. Jeon Dong Jin, a senior operations officer at Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The missile test came three days after North Korea said its soldiers had held artillery drills near a disputed sea boundary. The latest missile launches were the 13th public weapons test conducted by North Korea this year as Pyongyang pushes for a new U.S. proposal to resume stalled talks on trading nuclear concessions for sanctions relief. [The Associated Press, The Washington Post] 4.The European Parliament on Thursday passed a symbolic measure declaring a "climate emergency." The move raises pressure on member states to take action to curb emissions blamed for climate change ahead of a United Nations climate summit starting Dec. 2 in Spain. In recent months, hundreds of regional and local administrations have approved similar declarations, but Thursday's vote was significant because the European lawmakers who passed the measure represent 500 million people. "Five years ago, no one would have expected the European Parliament to declare a climate emergency, so there's some progress," said Sebastian Mang of Greenpeace. Dissenters in the 429-225 vote objected to the use of the word "emergency," suggesting the use of "urgency" instead. [The Washington Post, Reuters] 5.The holiday shopping season kicks off on Friday with traditional Black Friday sales. Many retailers got a jump on the competition by getting started with deep discounts on Thanksgiving Day, and analysts forecast data to show that online shoppers spent a record $4 billion on Thanksgiving. The total had already reached $2.1 billion as of 5 p.m. Thursday, a 20.2 percent increase compared to the same point last year. Demand was so high on Thursday that Costco's website and app were briefly hampered by heavy traffic. Black Friday is continuing to evolve, as many stores try to snag a bigger share of holiday sales by cutting prices days or even weeks before what used to be a one-day shopping frenzy. Shoppers are expected to spend up to $731 billion in November and December, roughly 4 percent more than in the same period last year. [USA Today, MarketWatch] 6.Powerful winter storms hammered parts of the country on Thursday, complicating Thanksgiving travel. Heavy snow forced the closure of Interstate 5, a major highway in Southern California, leaving dozens of vehicles stuck with snow still falling. The highway, which joins Southern California with the rest of the state, was reopened later in the day, but forecasters warned more snow and rain could fall in the area. A so-called bomb cyclone, with a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure, brought up to four feet of snow in some mountainous areas in the Pacific Northwest. The winter storm was expected to move east, bringing snow and high winds across much of the West before continuing toward the Great Plains late on Friday. [Reuters] 7.Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union and a key witness in the impeachment inquiry against President Trump, on Thursday reiterated his denial of sexual misconduct allegations made by three women in an article jointly published Wednesday by ProPublica and Portland Monthly magazine. In the article, Sondland said the claims were "concocted" for "political purposes." One of the women said Sondland backtracked on plans to invest in her business after she rejected his advances during a tour of a hotel he owns. Another accuser, a work associate, said Sondland exposed himself to her. The third, who is 27 years younger than Sondland, said he forcibly kissed her when they met to discuss a possible job. One of the accusers, Nicole Vogel, owns Portland Monthly. The alleged incidents took place years ago, before Sondland was named as Trump's E.U. ambassador. [The Wall Street Journal, ProPublica] 8.Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Hong Kong on Thursday to express appreciation for two U.S. laws supporting human rights in the Chinese-ruled semi-autonomous city. President Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act on Wednesday. It requires an annual review to confirm that the former British colony still has enough autonomy to justify its special trade status. "I guess Trump wanted to give us a Thanksgiving present, and we're glad to accept," said Wong Yiu-chung, a Lingnan University politics professor who attended the rally. Chinese officials on Thursday angrily condemned the U.S. measures as "an epitome of gangster violence," and an act of foreign meddling intended to hurt China's economic growth. [Los Angeles Times] 9.Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday urged President Trump to avoid commenting on Britain's upcoming election during next week's NATO summit in London. "The best (thing) when you have close friends and allies like the U.S. and the UK is for neither side to get involved in each other's election," Johnson told LBC radio. Johnson pushed for the early election hoping to break a stalemate over Britain's planned exit from the European Union. Trump has already made controversial comments in the vote, saying in October that Johnson should join forces with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage and that the opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn would be "so bad" for the country. [Reuters] 10.Acclaimed American free-solo rock climber Brad Gobright died in a fall while on a well-known path on a rock known as El Sendero Luminoso, or the Shining Path, in northern Mexico's Potrero Chico national park, Mexican authorities said. His body was recovered Thursday. Gobright and a climbing partner, Aidan Jacobson, fell about 20 feet to a ledge after their rope got stuck, but Jacobson landed in a bush, which broke his fall. "It was basically a blur," Jacobson, 26, told Outside magazine. "He screamed. I screamed. I went through some vegetation, and then all I remember is seeing his blue Gramicci shirt bounce over the edge." Gobright fell nearly 985 feet to his death, which the State Department confirmed in a statement, saying, "We offer our sincerest condolences to his family on their loss." [CNN, The New York Times]More stories from theweek.com Democrats are running into Trump's economic buzzsaw 5 gut-bustingly funny cartoons about politics and Thanksgiving How The Crown keeps Queen Elizabeth at a distance
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| Merkel's Fate Rests With Disgruntled Members of Coalition Partner Posted: 29 Nov 2019 06:16 AM PST  (Bloomberg) -- A week after Angela Merkel's own party survived a blistering leadership battle, it's now her allied Social Democrats that threaten to blow up the governing coalition with the election of a new leader.Pummeled by repeated electoral defeats, the SPD has struggled for some time over whether to abandon the coalition with Merkel's Christian Democratic-led bloc or to limp on in the unloved alliance until elections scheduled for 2021 at the latest.The opposing factions face each other in an election campaign to lead the party, which comes to a close on Friday. The candidates representing the "remainers" are a duo made up of Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and Klara Geywitz. Siding with the "exiters" are Norbert Walter-Borjans, a former state finance chief and left-wing lawmaker Saskia Esken. The result of the vote will be announced Saturday evening and the winner confirmed at a party convention a week later.Germany's Coalition on the Cusp of Collapse: What's Next?The crises bedeviling Germany's ruling parties coincides not only with Merkel's final phase in office but also with the rise of far-right populists and environmentalist to rival them. Another bout of political uncertainty could hamper Germany's response in a possible economic crisis as well as its presidency of the European Council in the second half of next year.Investors will be watching the result of Saturday's elections. Centrist, and particularly Socialist parties throughout Europe have been struggling as well. The head of the Austrian Social Democratic party, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, is under pressure after losing an election in which she couldn't score against a scandal-ridden right wing. Voices asking for her head got louder when she fired dozens of party officials to help stem its growing debt.Scholz and Geywitz have argued that despite the pain of compromise, the party is achieving more from the cabinet bench than it would in opposition. Walter-Borjans and Esken, who favor increased spending and taxing the rich, have championed a restive party base that wants to return the party to its working-class roots.Under the lead of the victorious tandem the party will formally evaluate its alliance with Merkel's CDU at the Dec. 6-8 convention.Both staying and leaving come with risks. Polling well below the 20.5% support it garnered in 2017, the SPD could see its parliamentary base shrink dramatically in a possible snap election. Sitting tight may simply lead to a further loss in support.The SPD has 13%, half the support garnered by Merkel's bloc and well behind the 22% for the Greens, according to a YouGov survey from Wednesday.Rather than a straight vote on breaking up the coalition, party leaders may opt to set out conditions for staying, such as a departure from balanced-budget policies, an increased minimum wage, or more spending on social welfare. The CDU-led bloc could enter into a prolonged negotiating process or find itself unable to fulfill the SPD's conditions.Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who temporarily defused critics seeking to sideline her, told party delegates in Leipzig last week that she would refuse to renegotiate the coalition agreement that the two factions completed in March 2018.UnacceptableShould Walter-Borjans and Esken win, demands on Merkel could include a call to scrap fiscal discipline and impose a minimum wage of 12 euros ($13.20) -- almost surely red lines for Merkel's camp, according to Manfred Guellner, the director at Berlin-based pollster Forsa."That would be unacceptable for the CDU and the grand coalition would sooner or later break apart," Guellner said in an interview.Depending on the details of the demands, the coalition could rumble on for weeks or months, even if some of the coalition members run out of patience."All day long the SPD asks itself 'do I want all this here'," Jens Spahn, the 39-year-old CDU health minister and conservative flag-bearer, said in Leipzig. "My simple expectation is that whoever leads the SPD after this convention, that they decide what they want."Read more:Germany's Finance Minister Advances to Run-Off for Party ChiefGermany's Balanced Budget May End Finance Minister's CareerMerkel Party Leader's Ultimatum Contains Rebels, For Now(Adds reference to investors in fifth paragraph)\--With assistance from Arne Delfs and Boris Groendahl.To contact the reporters on this story: Birgit Jennen in Berlin at bjennen1@bloomberg.net;Patrick Donahue in Berlin at pdonahue1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net, Raymond ColittFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Time Is Running Out for Trump's North Korean Diplomacy, Analysts Say Posted: 29 Nov 2019 06:12 AM PST  SEOUL, South Korea -- The clock is ticking.Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, has said that the United States has until the end of the year to make a new proposal to create a breakthrough in stalled negotiations on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.The looming deadline -- which North Korea has issued repeated warnings about -- carries the implicit threat that the country could return to its alarming behavior of the past by ending its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear tests and launching long-range missiles capable of hitting U.S. cities. On Thursday, it launched two short-range rockets, its 13th rocket or missile test since May."Today, we sit on top of a live volcano," said Robert L. Carlin, a former nuclear negotiator at the State Department and longtime North Korea observer, describing a rapidly deteriorating situation on the peninsula during a lecture this month at Yonsei University in Seoul, the South Korean capital. "We don't have a lot of time to back away."In the past month, North Korea has warned that the Trump administration should not even "dream of" discussing denuclearization without first ending its "hostile" policies, including smothering economic sanctions. It swore "shocking punishment" if Washington were to ignore the year-end deadline.Senior American diplomats do not appear to share that urgency. To them, it's just posturing."I don't remember a time limit being set. Is this the North Koreans?" David R. Stilwell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told reporters in Tokyo last month, admitting to being unaware of the deadline. "But I would say that the North Koreans do one thing a lot, and that's bluff."When Washington has addressed the January deadline, it has called it an "artificial" time limit. And that leaves analysts fearing the outbreak of another crisis on the Korean Peninsula.North Korea has not been explicit about what might happen after Dec. 31, except that Kim has warned of finding a "new way" if Washington persists with sanctions and tries to force an unpalatable denuclearization deal.Some analysts say the deadline shows how badly Kim wants a deal so that he can finally deliver on a promise to his people to lift sanctions and rebuild the country's ailing economy. North Korea's increasingly urgent statements in recent weeks are designed to pressure Washington to return to the negotiating table with a more flexible proposal, they say."The North Koreans are telling the United States: 'We will have to do something very bad unless you do something for us by the end of the year, so please help us stop ourselves,' " Kim Hyung-ki, a former vice unification minister of South Korea, said during a forum in Seoul last month.Kim's "new way" could mean resuming tests of nuclear devices and intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, analysts say. Trump has often bragged about the testing moratorium, citing it as his biggest achievement in his on-off diplomacy with Kim. Recently, the United States and South Korea decided to postpone a joint air force exercise that has alarmed the North.If North Korea launches another long-range missile, it will set off more United Nations sanctions. It would also invite harsh reaction from Washington, perhaps even a return to the type of "fire and fury" threats Trump once used as the United States and North Korea appeared to be hurtling to the brink of war.With its increasingly strident demands in recent weeks, North Korea is playing a delicate game in denying itself an escape hatch from Kim's year-end deadline. And it comes as Washington is consumed by the impeachment hearings, which limits Trump's room for diplomacy with the North.That combination makes the situation volatile, escalating the risk that either side could miscalculate, officials and analysts worry."We could see a possibility of going back to some of the more provocative steps that preceded the start of this diplomacy," Stephen E. Biegun, Washington's special representative for North Korea, said last week during a confirmation hearing on his nomination as deputy secretary of state. "I think that would be a huge mistake and a missed opportunity by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."Other analysts say Kim would most likely first take actions that do not breach the moratorium on nuclear or long-range missile tests but would still deliver a strong message to Washington. That could include restarting plutonium-producing nuclear reactors in Yongbyon, about 60 miles north of Pyongyang, the capital, or launching short- or medium-range missiles.A nuclear or ICBM test would also provoke China at a time when Kim needs its help more than ever to blunt the pain of international sanctions. Last year, 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited North Korea, a 50% increase from 2017, providing badly needed cash for Pyongyang, according to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency in Seoul, citing Chinese customs data.If Kim ends his diplomacy with Trump, he could, at least in the short term, "muddle through with the help of China," said Lee Jung-chul, a North Korea expert at Soongsil University in Seoul. "It will be difficult for the North to attempt a provocation, given the importance of its relations with China."North Korea has not specified what it seeks in demanding that Washington drop its "hostile policy." It has long indicated that it wants international sanctions lifted and an end to joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. In the past, it has also called for the United States to end its military presence in and around South Korea.But in recent statements, North Korea has only hardened its demands, further dimming the prospects for dialogue.It said it had already taken enough confidence-building steps, such as the test moratorium, the shutting down of its underground nuclear test site and its return of American remains from the Korean War. It said Trump should expect no more gifts "he can boast of" and that he should instead keep the promises he made in his Singapore summit last year with Kim, like ending regular joint military exercises with South Korea that the North sees as war preparations.Analysts worry that with talks having stalled, North Korea will continue to produce more nuclear fuel and warheads. As its nuclear arsenal increases, the cost of denuclearization continues to rise."You might argue, how can we reward a bad guy like North Korea?" said Jun Bong-geun, acting president of the government-run Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security in Seoul. "But sanctions and pressure alone have never worked on North Korea. You also have to offer incentives."This article originally appeared in The New York Times.(C) 2019 The New York Times Company
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| Johnson Tries ‘Trumpian Protectionism’ to Woo Labour Brexit Vote Posted: 29 Nov 2019 06:07 AM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, follow us @Brexit and subscribe to our podcast.Boris Johnson's plans for Brexit are taking a protectionist turn as he seeks to woo voters in the opposition Labour Party's former industrial heartlands ahead of next month's general election.On Friday, the U.K. prime minister announced he would relax state-aid rules, give companies more protection against foreign takeovers and encourage government bodies to buy British.The plans will likely disappoint those Conservative supporters who hoped Brexit would allow them to forge a lightly regulated economy, and could also make it harder for Johnson to sign a trade agreement with the European Union by the end of 2020. The bloc puts strict limits on state aid to prevent unfair competition, and has no reason to make an exception for the U.K."We shouldn't free ourselves from the EU in order to just enslave ourselves to the whims of Whitehall," said Matthew Lesh, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute, a think tank aimed at promoting free trade which was closely linked to former Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He branded Johnson's plans a "form of Trumpian protectionism."Despite riling some allies, the prime minister's message on state aid and favoring British companies may help win support in Labour-held seats in England's north and midlands he needs for a parliamentary majority. Even as opinions polls show him well on course to do so, many of these local races still look set to to be close.Deal PressureJohnson, who pledged again to leave the EU by the end of January, needs to reach a deal with the U.K.'s biggest trading partner by the time current arrangements expire at the end of next year. But the further Britain departs from the bloc's labor, environment and state-aid standards, the harder it will be to reach an agreement that will give U.K. companies access to the European market.The Conservatives said the EU's current state-aid rules have a "chilling effect" because governments have to wait for the European Commission to approve any measures, delaying measures "to quickly and effectively help companies that are in danger."The Tories promised a new system that sets out clear principles for government intervention, based on the U.K.'s needs. Ministers will have "more discretion" over decisions, which they will be able to take within "days." A new government body would be created to manage the system, the party said.Taking questions from the press after a speech in London, Johnson said that "of course" the new rules would be compatible with those of the EU, adding that, even with the new rules, he is committed to keeping a "level playing field" -- a key requirement for the bloc.'Sovereign Equals'"Were there to be any issues arising, then as you know, under any big free trade deal, there's a joint committee to arbitrate on whether some unfair subsidy or dispensation has been made," Johnson said. "But it would be a committee of sovereign equals.""I wonder when the penny will drop for that small minority who voted for Brexit because they thought it meant less red tape, lower tax, less government intervention and Britain as a 'Singapore in the North Sea' -- they're getting the opposite," former Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne tweeted.The promise on takeovers follows a spate of controversial acquisitions of British companies, including defense contractor Cobham Plc and satellite operator Inmarsat Plc, by overseas bidders -- a trend fueled in part by a decline in the pound since the Brexit referendum. Meanwhile, China's Huawei Technologies Co. is vying to be part of Britain's future mobile communications network -- something the U.S. has opposed.Asked specifically about Chinese investment, Johnson said the U.K. must strike a "balance" between "continuing to be open to investment from China" and making sure nothing happens "that prejudices our critical national infrastructure, our security, or do anything that would compromise our ability to cooperate with five-eyes security partners."On public procurement, the Tories pledged to ditch "absurdly complex" EU rules with their "pointless tendering requirements." The parties also promised "simpler and cheaper" regulations that are "geared toward supporting local business and promoting British business."\--With assistance from Alex Morales, Greg Ritchie and Tim Ross.To contact the reporter on this story: Edward Evans in London at eevans3@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Stuart Biggs, Thomas PennyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Iraqi Premier Vows to Quit in Bow to Raging Monthslong Protests Posted: 29 Nov 2019 05:30 AM PST ![Iraqi Premier Vows to Quit in Bow to Raging Monthslong Protests]( "Iraqi Premier Vows to Quit in Bow to Raging Monthslong Protests") (Bloomberg) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi pledged to hand in his resignation to parliament a day after some of the worst violence during two months of anti-government protests.The announcement sparked celebrations in the capital, Baghdad, and rallies in the southern city of Basra as protesters welcomed the apparent climb down. Mahdi, who's backed by neighboring power Iran, had offered to quit earlier but that time insisted he'd only go once lawmakers agreed on a replacement.On Friday, the prime minister said that once he resigns, parliament can "review its options and act to preserve the interests of Iraq." The alternative could be a "vortex of violence, chaos and destruction," he said.His move followed a call from an influential Shiite cleric for lawmakers to promptly hold "free and honest" elections to prevent the OPEC member from slipping into deeper chaos.Sheikh Ahmed Al-Safi, who speaks on behalf of Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, also renewed calls for officials to end the violent crackdown against protesters a day after security forces killed at least 25 people and wounded scores more in the southern city of Nassiriya, and demonstrators burned Iran's consulate in holy city of Najaf.Iraq will "pay dearly" for any delay by parliament in holding elections that "express the people's will," Al-Safi said in a Friday sermon.At least 380 people have died in clashes between security forces and protesters since Oct. 1, Ali Al-Bayyati, a member of Iraq's independent High Human Rights Commission, said in a text message.Violence Against Iraqi Protesters Is Rising, Rights Group SaysIraqis, mostly from the Shiite majority population, are protesting against government corruption, poor services, and wide-ranging Iranian political influence, calling for an overhaul of the ruling class.The turmoil in Iraq, along with sustained rallies that removed the prime minister of Lebanon, pose a particular challenge to Iran, which wants to protect the significant sway it holds over politics in both countries.Abdul-Mahdi, a former finance minister, was picked by rival Shiite Muslim groups as a consensus candidate following parliamentary elections in 2018, but has struggled to form a strong government and start the nation's recovery from a devastating war with Islamic State jihadists.(Releads with PM announcing intent to resign.)To contact the reporters on this story: Khalid Al-Ansary in Baghdad at kalansary@bloomberg.net;Souhail Karam in Rabat at skaram10@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Lin Noueihed at lnoueihed@bloomberg.net, Mark Williams, Stuart BiggsFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Iraqi PM offers resignation after security forces carry out 'bloodbath' killing of protesters Posted: 29 Nov 2019 05:12 AM PST  Iraq's embattled prime minister offered his resignation on Friday, following the bloodiest day in weeks of unrest. Adel Abdel Mahdi, who took up the post of premier last year, said he would submit to the parliament a formal letter requesting my resignation to "preserve the blood" of Iraqis. Demonstrators greed the news with cheers, throwing rice and dancing to music in Baghdad's Tahrir (Liberation) Square. "Long live the revolution, long live the heroes. Thank you to the people," one protester said over a loudspeaker. Mr Mahdi's decision came hours after Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's top Shia Muslim cleric, gave a sermon urging lawmakers to reconsider their support for the government, in a major boost to Iraqi demonstrators who have taken to the streets against a ruling class. "It's our first victory, and we're hoping for many more," shouted one demonstrator. "It's also a victory for the martyrs who fell," he said. An Iraqi anti-government protester waves a national flag close to a concrete barricade amidst clashes with security forces along the capital Baghdad's Rasheed street Credit: AFP Mr Mahdi's resignation was one of the protesters' demands, but it is unlikely to see them leave the streets after the crackdown by security forces. More than 45 were reported dead in just a 24-hour period between Wednesday and Thursday night, in an unprecedented level of violence against protesters by the government. Some 26 people were killed in the southern city of Nasiriyah after security forces tried to clear one of the main bridges into the city, 12 were killed in the holy city of Najaf and four in the capital, Baghdad. The demonstrations are the largest the country has seen in decades, but also the deadliest, with nearly 400 people killed and more than 15,000 wounded since they began last month. Iraq's "enemies and their apparatuses are trying to sow chaos and infighting to return the country to the age of dictatorship ... everyone must work together to thwart that opportunity," Mr Sistani said. The government "appears to have been unable to deal with the events of the past two months" and "parliament, from which the current government emerged, must reconsider its choices and do what's in the interest of Iraq," he said, urging them to stop killing protesters. Iraqi protesters carry the Iraqi national flag and shout slogans shortly after the resignation of Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel-Mahdi Credit: REX The unrest in Iraq's south was unleashed after protesters stormed the Iranian consulate in Najaf late on Wednesday, accusing the neighbouring country of propping up Iraq's government. Tehran demanded Iraq take decisive action against the protesters, saying it was "disgusted" by developments. In response, Mr Mahdi, who has received Iran's support, ordered military chiefs to deploy in several provinces to "impose security and restore order" - but chaos reigned instead. Men in civilian clothes opened fire at demonstrators and tribal fighters deployed in the streets in their defence. "We had blocked off the roads and bridges over the past four days and security forces moved in on us to try to open up the bridges. They opened fire leading to a bloodbath," said Hussein, a 32-year-old lawyer from Nasiriyah. "What's happening in Nasiriya is unbelievable. Nothing justifies this use of violence against us. We, the people, are extremely angry. Our blood is boiling. Our brothers were killed unjustifiably. Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International's Middle East research director, also used the word "bloodbath" to describe the crackdown in Nasiriyah and accused security forces of "appalling violence against largely peaceful protesters".
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| The Latest: 4 more anti-government Iraqi protesters killed Posted: 29 Nov 2019 04:44 AM PST  Iraqi officials say four protesters were killed amid ongoing violence in Baghdad and southern Iraq, hours after Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi announced his intention to resign. Security and hospital officials say one protester was killed and 18 wounded Friday by security forces who fired live rounds and tear gas to repel them on Baghdad's historic Rasheed Street, near the strategic Ahrar Bridge. Officials say three protesters were shot dead by security forces in the southern city of Nasiriyah, bringing the total killed there to six on Friday.
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| North Korea may deploy ‘super-large’ rocket launcher soon Posted: 29 Nov 2019 04:38 AM PST  North Korea said Friday the latest test-firing of its "super-large" multiple rocket launcher was a final review of the weapon's combat application, a suggestion that the country is preparing to deploy the new weapons system soon. South Korea's military earlier said North Korea fired two projectiles, likely from the same "super-large" rocket launcher, on Thursday. It expressed "strong regret" over the launches and urged North Korea to stop escalating tensions.
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| UK's Johnson says will keep no-deal Brexit preparations in place Posted: 29 Nov 2019 03:50 AM PST ![UK's Johnson says will keep no-deal Brexit preparations in place]( "UK's Johnson says will keep no-deal Brexit preparations in place") British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday he wanted to keep in place preparations the government has made for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. Johnson added he was confident that Britain would get a free trade deal with the European Union by the end of 2020 which would eliminate the risk of a Brexit shock for the economy.
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| Portugal's students march for climate as Greta visit delayed Posted: 29 Nov 2019 03:24 AM PST ![Portugal's students march for climate as Greta visit delayed]( "Portugal's students march for climate as Greta visit delayed") Students took to the streets in eight cities across Portugal on Friday to call for action on climate change, but Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was unable to join them because she was held up by bad weather in mid-Atlantic. Thunberg had been due to join the students' strike in Lisbon, but her journey back from a U.N. Climate Conference in New York by sailboat was hit by heavy winds, delaying her arrival by a few days, she told social media followers. "We wish she'd been here, but the movement has to carry on without her - we've got to send our message and pressure politicians ahead of the climate summit," Marianna Louca, 14, told Reuters.
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| China Poses a Challenge to the Heart of Europe Posted: 29 Nov 2019 02:51 AM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Want to receive this post in your inbox every day? Sign up for the Balance of Power newsletter, and follow Bloomberg Politics on Twitter and Facebook for more.Perhaps best known for its chocolate, fries and beer, Belgium is instead gaining a reputation as a center of espionage, with China a key player.Belgium's intelligence agency says the country now hosts as many or more spies than during the Cold War. That's due to its location at the heart of Europe and the fact Brussels is home to the European Union and NATO.Spying is the extreme end of Chinese interference in areas from academia to politics that's aided by a relaxed attitude to the risks among Belgium's establishment. The country's broken political system — it still has no federal government six months after elections — gives regional politicians control over Chinese investments in areas including technology and logistics.The Belgian malaise contrasts with the EU's more assertive attitude. New commission President Ursula von der Leyen has a clear and realistic view of Beijing, according to a senior EU diplomat who sees the tide turning toward a more united European stance on China.Germany will attempt to foster that unity next year when it hosts the first-ever summit of the EU's 27 national leaders and President Xi Jinping. For Brussels, 2020 looks like it's going to be a year of facing up to China's risks as well as its rewards.Global HeadlinesThanksgiving surprise | Donald Trump made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan to meet with the country's president and U.S. soldiers, saying that peace talks with the Taliban have resumed amid a push for a cease-fire with the militant group. Trump confirmed he'd like to cut troop levels to about 8,600 from 12,000 now — but without diminishing operational duties.Read more about how Trump's trip was kept a closely guarded secret.Election peril | U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is leading opinion polls but, as he heads into the final campaign stretch for the Dec. 12 election, he could be facing his biggest danger yet. As Tim Ross reports, Trump's brief visit to London next week — to mark NATO's 70th anniversary — has senior Conservatives worried for a whole host of reasons.Leading Europe | Commission chief von der Leyen wants to prepare the EU's transition to a low-carbon economy and boost Brussels' geopolitical influence. But as Nikos Chrysoloras and Jonathan Stearns explain, she faces a fragmented European Parliament, an unforgiving global environment and the perennial challenge of securing approval from the bloc's governments.A week after German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party survived a blistering leadership battle, her allied Social Democrats are threatening to blow up the coalition with the election of a new leader.Allies at odds | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could hit up the leaders of France, Germany and the U.K. for money next week to keep housing Syrian refugees in Turkey, when he sees them on the sidelines of the NATO meeting. There will be plenty to talk about — Turkey is at odds with its NATO allies over its recent military offensive in northeastern Syria and its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.Legacy lost | The rioting in Chile has burned President Sebastian Pinera's political agenda to the ground. Just 18 months after the billionaire leader took office his flagship policies, including pledges to expand the private pension system, cut taxes for the rich and clamp down on crime have been ditched, reversed or revised under pressure from the biggest street protests in decades.What to WatchHong Kong police have lifted their blockade on a local university — after seizing 3,989 petrol bombs and 1,339 explosives — clearing a campus that had been besieged for nearly two weeks. Italian police arrested 19 far-right extremists suspected of trying to form a new Nazi party, confiscating rifles, crossbows, swords and knives, as well as Nazi flags and photos of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. Sri Lanka's new government wants to cancel its predecessor's $1.1 billion, 99-year lease of a port to a Chinese venture, underscoring the wider controversy dogging Xi's Belt and Road initiative.Pop quiz, readers (no cheating!). Apple sparked anger this week after some versions of its Maps application began showing what? Send us your answers and tell us how we're doing or what we're missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net.And finally … For more than three decades, Amit Shah has been a behind-the-scenes soldier to the cause of India's Hindu right. Now he's emerging from the shadows. As Bibhudatta Pradhan writes, Shah's increasingly public profile — after having helped Prime Minister Narendra Modi secure a second landslide election win — has raised questions about whether he might succeed Modi. \--With assistance from Muneeza Naqvi, Jon Herskovitz and Karen Leigh.To contact the author of this story: Alan Crawford in Berlin at acrawford6@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Winfrey at mwinfrey@bloomberg.net, Kathleen HunterRosalind MathiesonFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| CORRECTED-UPDATE 2-British PM Johnson to Trump: keep out of UK election Posted: 29 Nov 2019 02:38 AM PST ![CORRECTED-UPDATE 2-British PM Johnson to Trump: keep out of UK election]( "CORRECTED-UPDATE 2-British PM Johnson to Trump: keep out of UK election") Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday it would be "best" if U.S. President Donald Trump does not get involved in Britain's election when he visits London for a NATO summit next week. Trump waded into the election in October by saying opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn would be "so bad" for Britain and that Johnson should agree a pact with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.
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| Iraqi prime minister to resign in wake of deadly protests Posted: 29 Nov 2019 02:29 AM PST  A day after more than 40 protesters were killed by security forces, Iraq's prime minister announced Friday that he would submit his resignation to parliament, a step that carried uncertainty for the entire government and stirred fears of a possible political crisis. The move by Adel Abdul-Mahdi came 13 months after he took office and followed calls by Iraq's top Shiite cleric for lawmakers to withdraw support. At least four protesters were killed in the hours after the announcement in continuing violence in Baghdad and southern Iraq.
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| UK PM Johnson implores Trump: please avoid the election Posted: 29 Nov 2019 02:02 AM PST ![UK PM Johnson implores Trump: please avoid the election]( "UK PM Johnson implores Trump: please avoid the election") Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was best if U.S. President Donald Trump did not get involved in Britain's upcoming election when he visits London for a NATO summit next week. "What we don't do traditionally as loving allies and friends, what we don't do traditionally, is get involved in each other's election campaigns," said Johnson, whose Conservative Party has a commanding lead in the polls ahead of the Dec. 12. Trump has already waded into the election, saying in October left-wing opposition leader Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, would be "so bad" for Britain and that Johnson should do a pact with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.
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| Vatican returns relic from Jesus’ manger to Holy Land Posted: 29 Nov 2019 01:50 AM PST  Christians on Friday celebrated the return to the Holy Land of a tiny wooden relic they believe was part of Jesus' manger nearly 1,400 years after it was sent to Rome as a gift to the pope. The thumb-sized relic was unveiled to worshippers Friday at the Notre Dame church in Jerusalem for a day of celebrations and prayer. On Saturday, it will be sent to its permanent home at the Franciscan Church of St. Catherine, next to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the West Bank holy site where tradition says Jesus was born.
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| Germany Eyes Tough Rules on Foreign Investment Amid China Worry Posted: 29 Nov 2019 01:28 AM PST ![Germany Eyes Tough Rules on Foreign Investment Amid China Worry]( "Germany Eyes Tough Rules on Foreign Investment Amid China Worry") (Bloomberg) -- Terms of Trade is a daily newsletter that untangles a world embroiled in trade wars. Sign up here. Chancellor Angela Merkel's government plans to tighten restrictions on foreign takeovers amid growing concerns China is scooping up Germany's technology jewels.Economy Minister Peter Altmaier on Friday proposed setting up a government committee that could take action in the case of an unwanted foreign bid. State-owned bank KfW, for example, could temporarily buy a stake in the target company to stop an unsolicited acquisition.Altmaier also proposed expanding reviews for investments by non-European Union companies that exceed a 10% stake in a company and pose a security risk. The rule, which so far applied only to defense and critical infrastructure, should also apply to areas of new technology, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and robotics."Our economic model can only survive if we strengthen it," Altmaier told reporters in Berlin. "We will in the future look more closely at planned investments in robotics and biotechnology."Altmaier's proposals have yet to be vetted by Merkel and her cabinet. While Germany is trying to sidestep a trade conflict between the U.S. and China, its government is also under pressure to curtail Chinese inroads into Germany's industrial heartland. That includes calls at home and abroad to restrict Chinese equipment supplier Huawei Technologies Co. from participating in the country's planned 5G network.Germany has stepped up protectionist measures since the takeover of robot maker Kuka AG by China's Midea Group Co. in 2016. That led Merkel's government to rethink its tools for shielding technology companies and securing German competitiveness. Last year Merkel's cabinet stopped a Chinese bid for the first time by vetoing the potential purchase of machine-tool manufacturer Leifeld Metal Spinning AG.To contact the reporter on this story: Birgit Jennen in Berlin at bjennen1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net, Raymond Colitt, Iain RogersFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| PM Johnson says UK would walk away from US trade talks if NHS was on the table Posted: 29 Nov 2019 01:08 AM PST ![PM Johnson says UK would walk away from US trade talks if NHS was on the table]( "PM Johnson says UK would walk away from US trade talks if NHS was on the table") British Prime Minister said he would walk out of post-Brexit trade talks with the United States if it was a pre-condition that Britain's state-run National Health Service (NHS) was on the table in discussions. "I can tell you were the United States, or any other country, to insist on that as condition of talks we would simply walk out." (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Michael Holden.
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| Johnson seeks to focus UK election on Brexit, not his flaws Posted: 29 Nov 2019 01:06 AM PST  Prime Minister Boris Johnson struggled Friday to move Britain's election debate away from questions about his character and onto Brexit, promising to bolster protection for British businesses and farmers once the country has left the European Union. Johnson tried to brush aside criticism of his past comments about single mothers and his current refusal to submit to the same amount of televised scrutiny as other party leaders. At a news conference, Johnson claimed Brexit had been "delayed, diluted, denied" by obstructive politicians.
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| U.S. to Negotiate Carbon Trades Under Climate Pact Shunned by Trump Posted: 29 Nov 2019 01:00 AM PST ![U.S. to Negotiate Carbon Trades Under Climate Pact Shunned by Trump]( "U.S. to Negotiate Carbon Trades Under Climate Pact Shunned by Trump") (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump may be withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, but the U.S. is still going to be a force at the negotiating table as international leaders gather in Madrid next week to map out rules for carbon trading as a way to limit greenhouse gas emissions.Despite Trump's rejection of the global agreement to cut carbon emissions, U.S. officials have long advocated emissions-trading schemes on the world stage and the government wants a say in the structure of those carbon markets -- a key issue before delegates at the annual United Nations climate summit that begins Monday.The transparency and accountability of such markets is a top priority for the U.S. government and businesses such as airlines and oil companies that may have to offset their own emissions through carbon trading."Even though one might not care about climate, you don't want countries to be able to cheat," said Brad Schallert, deputy director of international climate coordination for the World Wildlife Fund, which supports global action to thwart climate change. "That is something in the long-term interest of the U.S."The U.S. government is dispatching a small team of career diplomats and officials to the climate talks, largely mirroring the delegation that attended last year's summit in Poland. They will also be joined by representatives of some businesses and state and local governments.But unlike the past two years, where the Trump administration played a contrarian role and held discussions to promote clean coal, the U.S. is not planning a similar side event in Madrid. And, in another shift, political appointees from the Trump administration also won't be attending, according to two people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named before a formal announcement.The U.S. team is set to be led by two career officials from the State Department: climate negotiator Kim Carnahan and Marcia Bernicat, a principal deputy assistant secretary, the people said.Secretary of State Michael Pompeo emphasized earlier this month that the U.S. will "continue to offer a realistic and pragmatic model" and highlight the role of innovation and open markets during international climate discussions.While Trump has begun exiting the Paris pact, that withdrawal won't be official until Nov. 4, 2020 -- the day after the next U.S. presidential election. Other countries still welcome U.S. negotiators in the talks, according to longtime climate summit-goers, because the diplomats bring expertise to the discussions and their participation could help forge rules that would be palatable to the U.S. should a future president seek to change course. Democratic presidential contenders have widely vowed to rejoin the pact.Oil and gas companies that unsuccessfully lobbied the Trump administration to remain in the Paris agreement have a vested interest in the negotiations, said Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "They are supportive of emissions trading and other mechanisms because in the event there ever is a domestic binding climate regime in the United States, that would give them flexibility to reduce the costs on their own facilities of compliance," he said.Official negotiations will focus on one of the thorniest aspects of the 2015 Paris agreement: how to use markets to help slash greenhouse gas emissions. In Article 6 of the 2015 pact, countries agreed to create a new system for trading allowances covering greenhouse gases, but negotiators are still haggling over the details.New carbon markets could allow countries to sell emissions credits generated from programs that curb greenhouse gases, such as upgrading the efficiency of industrial plants, paring pollution from air conditioning systems, developing renewable power installations and planting trees.About half of countries in the Paris agreement are counting on such emissions trading to help fulfill their carbon-cutting promises. But environmentalists want to make sure the system isn't undermined by loopholes and double counting.Many environmental advocacy groups also want to limit credits to projects that wouldn't have happened otherwise -- responding to a major criticism of an earlier carbon-trading regime that came out of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. They are fighting a push by Brazil to allow unused credits from the older system to be grandfathered in to the new approach."The U.S. has been fairly helpful on Article 6, in terms of pushing for robust accounting standards and safeguards against double counting and raising skepticism about the proposal from Brazil," said Meyer, of the Union of Concerned Scientists. "If we get it right, it can facilitate higher ambition and get us closer to being on track for the Paris temperature goals. If we get it wrong, it can really blow a hole in the integrity of the Paris commitments, and that would be a disaster."The U.S. government's active role negotiating international carbon market rules is tethered to a related effort to curb emissions from airlines, said Elliot Diringer, executive vice president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Even though Trump is withdrawing from the Paris agreement, the U.S. remains part of the International Civil Aviation Organization and supports its plan to offset plane pollution by planting trees, investing in clean energy and taking other steps to curb emissions.The aviation program "is somewhat predicated on the Paris agreement accounting system to guard against double counting reduction units, so the U.S. has an interest in seeing that system put in place," Diringer said.Continued U.S. involvement at climate talks also reflects the country's longstanding connection to United Nations action on the issue. The U.S. will retain a seat at the Conference of Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the underlying 1992 environmental treaty.The official U.S. delegation will be buttressed by scores of other Americans representing local governments, corporations and advocacy groups arguing that the U.S. is still committed to fighting climate change and meeting its Paris agreement pledge to cut carbon dioxide emissions 26% to 28% from 2005 levels by 2025. Panel discussions and other events also are planned to highlight ways businesses and local governments are curbing emissions.Representatives from oil companies Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP Plc and electric utilities PNM Resources and DTE Energy are set to attend alongside the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, the mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and other elected officials.Some of the U.S. activities planned in Madrid are supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Michael Bloomberg, the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News."Despite what our federal government's position is on the Paris agreement and climate change more broadly, there's quite a bit of action going on that is making an impact," said Elan Strait, director of U.S. climate campaigns for the World Wildlife Fund. "If these actors work together and scale up what they are doing, the U.S. target under Paris is actually within striking distance, and that's the message they can take to the climate talks."To contact the reporter on this story: Jennifer A. Dlouhy in Washington at jdlouhy1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Jon Morgan at jmorgan97@bloomberg.net, Elizabeth Wasserman, Justin BlumFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Iraqi protesters regroup after bloody crackdown Posted: 29 Nov 2019 12:22 AM PST  Iraqi protesters regrouped Friday in protest-hit cities in the country's south after a deadly crackdown by authorities killed dozens in one of the bloodiest days in two months of anti-government demonstrations. Nearly 45 people were killed and hundreds wounded across the south on Thursday, according to medical sources, a day after the torching of Iran's consulate in the shrine city of Najaf. At least 16 of them died in Najaf, where on Friday a massive funeral procession wound its way through the streets of the holy city, carrying coffins.
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| Sudan overturns moral policing law, disbands ex-ruling party Posted: 28 Nov 2019 11:28 PM PST ![Sudan overturns moral policing law, disbands ex-ruling party]( "Sudan overturns moral policing law, disbands ex-ruling party") Sudan's transitional government announced Friday it overturned a moral policing law that criminalized revealing clothing for women and drinking alcohol and moved to dissolve the country's former ruling party, fulfilling two major demands from the country's pro-democracy protesters. Rights groups say the Public Order Act targets women and is a holdover from the three-decade rule of toppled autocrat Omar al-Bashir. "This law is notorious for being used as a tool of exploitation, humiliation & violation of rights," Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok tweeted in reference to the overturned law.
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| Surge in new voters sparks talk of UK election ‘youthquake’ Posted: 28 Nov 2019 11:16 PM PST  In a British election dominated by Brexit, young voters who had no say in the country's decision to leave the European Union could hold the key to victory. It has long been a truth in British politics that young people vote in lower numbers than older ones. According to official figures, 3.85 million people registered to vote between the day the election was called on Oct. 29 and Tuesday's registration deadline — two-thirds of them under 35.
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| Sabbath buses barrel through Israel’s religious-secular rift Posted: 28 Nov 2019 11:04 PM PST  Tel Aviv has taken a major step to cement its status as Israel's secular mecca, launching public transportation services on the Jewish sabbath and redrawing the lines in the country's culture wars between religious and secular citizens. The defiant move circumvents the law and upends a decades-long status quo keeping public transit largely off the streets from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday throughout most of the country. "This is a revolution," said Nitzan Horowitz, the head of the dovish, secular Democratic Union party.
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| Johnson Warns Against Complacency Over Lead: U.K. Campaign Trail Posted: 28 Nov 2019 10:57 PM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, follow us @Brexit and subscribe to our podcast.Boris Johnson will try to recapture the spirit of the 2016 referendum on Friday as he seeks to convince Brexit supporters he still needs their votes even though polls show him on course for election victory next month.Johnson warned against complacency late Thursday, saying there is still a risk of a coalition government led by Jeremy Corbyn, even after polling analysis suggested the Labour party could lose districts it has held for decades.Must Read: The Tories Secretly Fear Trump Could Wreck Johnson's ElectionFor more on the election visit ELEC.Coming up:Labour economy spokesman John McDonnell will tour TV and radio studios from 7:15 a.m. to promote plans for regional investment.At 11:15 a.m. Johnson and Michael Gove will appear alongside each other at a press conference in London. The event is a reprise of the two men's appearance the morning after the Brexit referendum.Johnson is also due in on a LBC radio phone in at 9 a.m.Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson to speak in Cardiff at 2:30 p.m. on interfaith relations and policing.The BBC will hold a 7-way party debate at 7 p.m., which both Johnson and Corbyn won't take part in.Polls:YouGov: Conservatives on course for 43% (359 seats), Labour 32% (211 seats), Liberal Democrats 14% (13 seats), SNP 3% (43 seats), Brexit Party 3% (0 seats)There is a 71% chance of a Conservative majority, according to bookmaker Ladbrokes.Here's a summary of recent pollsCatching Up:Johnson refused to appear alongside other party leaders in a TV debate on climate change Thursday evening. The Tories accused Channel 4 News of breaking impartiality rules after it used a melting ice sculpture to replace the Conservative leader.The prime minister said he would walk away from a trade deal with the U.S. if President Donald Trump insists on the National Health Service being part of the negotiations.U.K. consumer confidence is at the lowest level going into a general election since 2010.The Institute for Fiscal Studies said neither Conservatives nor Labour have credible spending plans.The Markets:The pound was little changed at 1.2917 per dollar at 6:41 a.m. in London.Burnt by pollster prognostications in recent years, traders are holding tight to hedges even as Wednesday's YouGov poll projected the biggest Tory majority in more than three decades.To contact the reporter on this story: Thomas Penny in London at tpenny@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Chris Kay, Guy CollinsFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day Posted: 28 Nov 2019 10:18 PM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on what's moving European markets in your inbox every morning? Sign up here.Good morning. Morgan Stanley has placed foreign-exchange traders on leave, U.K. consumers aren't too confident and Donald Trump took a surprise trip. Here's what's moving markets.Concealing LossesU.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley has fired or placed on leave at least four foreign-exchange traders for concealing losses of up to $140 million, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The alleged mismarking, involving placing a value on securities which doesn't reflect their actual worth, is being investigated by the bank and is said to involve emerging-market currencies. It's another black eye for American banks this week following Citigroup Inc. being slapped with a fine from U.K. regulators for reporting failures.Shifting OddsU.K. consumer confidence will head into the election at the lowest level prior to a poll since 2010, which took place in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The odds are now tilting further in the direction of the Conservatives following this week's closely-watched YouGov poll pointing to a big majority for the Tories. Some more data emerged this week that may catch the eye, showing net migration to the U.K. from the European Union has fallen to the lowest level since 2003. But even if the odds are in Boris Johnson's favor, traders are staying cautious and keeping hedges in place just in case there's another big surprise.Surprise VisitPresident Donald Trump made a surprise trip to visit troops in Afghanistan for Thanksgiving to announce talks with the Taliban aimed at securing a cease-fire. He met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, discussed reducing troop numbers and made a speech that touched variously on stock-market highs and hero military dogs. All in all, a new foreign policy push from the president to add to the radar. On another front, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday and may be planning bigger moves, so his plate will be full.Disgruntled PartnerIt will be an important weekend for German politics as the campaign to lead the Social Demcrats, the disgruntled coalition partner to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, comes to a close. The results will arrive on Saturday, but if the vote goes the way of the faction that wants out of the coalition, it would threaten the state of the current government and create political turmoil the country could live without as its economy suffers in the shadow of the trade war.Coming Up…Asian stocks slipped on the final trading day of the month with Hong Kong absorbing the heaviest hit. European stock futures also point to an open in the red. It is relatively quiet on the earnings front but there is plenty of European data to watch for, including GDP for France and Italy, inflation in the euro area and German unemployment. And, it's Black Friday, potentially a make-or-break time for many struggling retailers and sure to produce plenty of memes of shoppers battling for bargains as the day progresses.What We've Been ReadingThis is what's caught our eye over the past 24 hours. Financial warnings signs for China are flashing everywhere. The best and worst places in Europe for financial well-being. Russia's running out of space for its sugar. A suicide has sparked a reckoning for the K-pop industry. Canadian town Asbestos is changing its name. How Belgium becomes Europe's den of spies. Would renaming climate change spur more action?Like Bloomberg's Five Things? Subscribe for unlimited access to trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and gain expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close.Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal. Find out more about how the Terminal delivers information and analysis that financial professionals can't find anywhere else. Learn more.To contact the author of this story: Sam Unsted in London at sunsted@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Phil Serafino at pserafino@bloomberg.netFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Brussels Edition: Von der Leyen’s Big Plans, Germany’s Future Posted: 28 Nov 2019 09:24 PM PST ![Brussels Edition: Von der Leyen's Big Plans, Germany's Future]( "Brussels Edition: Von der Leyen's Big Plans, Germany's Future") (Bloomberg) -- Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every weekday morning.Ursula von der Leyen has big plans for the Brussels bubble. She wants her new-look European Commission to be less inward-looking and provincial, shifting its focus to geopolitics and a zero-carbon future. But any ambitious proposals face an uphill battle at the fractious EU Parliament, not to mention the perennial challenge of winning approval from the bloc's governments. Ahead of Sunday's change of guard at the EU executive, here's what von der Leyen plans and why it won't be easy.What's HappeningGoing Up | The first pickup in euro-area inflation in five months is on its way, with data due today expected to show price growth accelerated in November. But it's largely driven by fuel, and underlying price pressures are still subdued. That shows the challenge for Christine Lagarde, who's hinted that one of her first moves could be a review of why the ECB has fallen far short of its inflation goal for years.Judgment Day | In a vote that could decide the future of Germany's ruling coalition, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz will find out tomorrow if members of his Social Democratic Party have elected him co-leader. Scholz's main challenger, Norbert Walter-Borjans, has hinted he may pull the SPD out of government, triggering a fresh bout of political turbulence in Europe's biggest economy.Week Ahead | A key piece of the euro's missing architecture could move a step closer next week, if the bloc's finance chiefs manage to make some progress on the highly contentious issue of common deposit insurance. While technical talks have so far only confirmed entrenched differences, officials hope the discussion could yield a long-sought compromise.Aviation Tax | EU finance ministers are also set to endorse a revamp of energy-taxation laws that could end exemptions for jet fuel while promoting cleaner forms of energy, according to a draft communique. The move would come as the bloc steps up efforts to reduce transport emissions, one of its biggest challenges as it weighs a commitment to climate neutrality by 2050.Gold Rush | Gold is the new obsession for nationalist leaders in Europe's east these days. Demand for the precious yellow metal mirrors steps by Russia and China to diversify reserves exceeding $3 trillion away from the dollar amid flaring geopolitical tensions with the U.S.Apologies | Due to a technical glitch, yesterday's newsletter failed to reach your inboxes. If you want to catch up and read about the EU's outgoing trade champion you can find it here.In Case You Missed ItData Probe | A year ago, the European Parliament slammed Facebook Inc. over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Now it's embroiled in a privacy scandal of its own after using U.S. software company NationBuilder to process data about more than 300,000 people.Climate Spending | European heavy industries will need massive investment if the continent is to reach a goal of being carbon neutral in three decades. That's according to a report by a high-level EU advisory group, which warned that the bloc's industry can't be competitive against foreign rivals unless it takes measures and spends on new technologies.NATO Review | Emmanuel Macron urged NATO leaders to review the alliance's strategy when they meet in London next week and said it should focus on the threat from terrorism rather than Russia. His comments come after he alarmed European allies by declaring he wants improved relations with Vladimir Putin despite Russia's aggression in Ukraine.Spies 'n Fries | Belgium may seem an unlikely destination for a Chinese agent. In fact, it's a den of spies. Host to EU institutions and NATO, Brussels is an alluring draw card for aspiring espionage-makers.Spanish Slack | The reforms Spain enacted seven years and four governments ago still get cited admiringly by officials in Frankfurt and Brussels as a good example. But political stasis in the euro zone's fourth-biggest economy increasingly threatens to leave one of the region's most dysfunctional labor markets to fester.Chart of the DayGermany and Austria topped a ranking of financial wellbeing in Europe, with Greece and Lithuania taking the bottom spots. Swedish debt collector Intrum AB surveyed consumers on their ability to pay bills on time, freedom from credit, savings and financial literacy to launch its new Financial Wellbeing Barometer that ranks 24 European countries.Today's AgendaAll times CET.11 a.m. Handover between outgoing EU Council President Tusk and incoming President Michel11 a.m. Eurostat publishes flash estimate for euro-area November inflation and October unemployment12 p.m. NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg gives news conference ahead of alliance meeting12:30 Last midday briefing of the current Commission with outgoing President JunckerEU antitrust chief Vestager in Copenhagen, delivers speech at Danish Competition AuthorityLike the Brussels Edition?Don't keep it to yourself. Colleagues and friends can sign up here. We also publish the Brexit Bulletin, a daily briefing on the latest on the U.K.'s departure from the EU. For even more: Subscribe to Bloomberg All Access for full global news coverage and two in-depth daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close.How are we doing? We want to hear what you think about this newsletter. Let our Brussels bureau chief know.\--With assistance from Zoe Schneeweiss and Nikos Chrysoloras.To contact the author of this story: Viktoria Dendrinou in Brussels at vdendrinou@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: David Merritt at dmerritt1@bloomberg.net, Iain RogersFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| The Tories Secretly Fear Donald Trump Could Wreck Boris Johnson’s Election Posted: 28 Nov 2019 09:00 PM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, follow us @Brexit and subscribe to our podcast.A few hours in the genteel English countryside next week could be the biggest risk to Boris Johnson in the final stretch of his election bid.The British prime minister will interrupt his campaign to briefly host NATO leaders at a luxury resort with a golf course and spa. Despite the tranquil surroundings, those close to Johnson fear the gathering at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire could turn into a train wreck that hurts his bid for power.The potential catalyst for their nightmare scenario? Johnson's close ally, Donald Trump.Ahead of the Dec. 12 election, the U.S. president may yet become the most dangerous weapon in the armory of British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose Labour Party aims to oust Johnson's Conservatives. Corbyn's argument is simple: Johnson and Trump are right-wing soul mates who collectively pose an unprecedented threat to the U.K.'s cherished National Health Service.If Johnson wins a majority in parliament and completes the U.K.'s exit from the European Union, he will rush towards a free trade deal with the U.S. in which the NHS will be up for sale, Corbyn says. That, he claims, will lead to higher prices for drugs and ruin forever the free-to-use healthcare that Britons have come to expect.Despite denials from the Conservatives that the NHS would be on the chopping block, it's a potent narrative with voters—one that has troubled Johnson's senior team since long before the election campaign started. And now Trump will materialize on British soil just 10 days before the election.Trump lands in London on Monday. He'll be greeted by the usual anti-Trump protesters, and Corbyn is certain to make the most of any pictures of Trump and Johnson standing shoulder to shoulder.Privately, though, what senior Tories worry about the most is that Trump will go off script. One senior official confided that this was the biggest risk facing the election operation. The president can't be trusted to stop himself weighing in with ill-judged comments, the official said.A cabinet minister endorsed those concerns. Another senior official said measures were being taken to minimize the risk, though they didn't say how this would be possible given Trump's penchant for speaking his mind at all hours on Twitter, or for going off topic when he holds media briefings.And there are good reasons for the Conservatives to be anxious.On his previous visit to London in June, Trump gifted Corbyn an attack line by suggesting at a briefing with Johnson's predecessor Theresa May that access to the NHS for U.S. companies would be one of the things "on the table" in trade talks after Brexit.Following the inevitable outcry, Trump issued a clarification, saying the NHS was not something he'd be seeking to exploit. But the damage had been done.Labour received another boost on Oct. 31 when Trump gave a surprise interview to his friend Nigel Farage, the veteran far-right politician who leads the Brexit Party. He ditched the convention of political neutrality in a foreign election to warmly endorse the "fantastic" Johnson, while warning Corbyn would be "so bad" for the U.K.During the interview, Trump urged Johnson and Farage to join forces to defeat Corbyn and complete Brexit. He also tried to make amends for his earlier comments by saying he did not want the NHS to be on the table for a future trade deal."I think Trump actually pole axed Corbyn," Farage said in an interview this month. "Corbyn says the NHS will be sold to the Americans, Trump says it's not even on the table."Yet Tory advisers were aghast. By mentioning the NHS again, even in a denial, the president ensured it stayed prominent in the public consciousness.And while Farage is a fan, there is some evidence that Britons increasingly are not. Most people questioned by YouGov earlier this year saw a trade deal with the U.S. as worthwhile, but a separate survey found that fewer thought the government should try to work with Trump than did so when he first became president.According to YouGov polling conducted since the start of the election campaign, the NHS is the single most important domestic policy priority for voters. While Brexit is the top issue for the country, healthcare is second. It is a measure of the sanctity of the NHS that more than half of ordinary taxpayers (53%) would be willing to pay more to fund investment in it. Fewer than a third (31%) of people opposed higher taxes to do so, the research showed.Founded 71 years ago, the $200 billion a year NHS has become a rallying point among Labour supporters and left-wing politicians. Corbyn regularly addresses rallies of healthcare workers. Doctors and nurses have urged people to vote against the Conservatives to protect the NHS from privatization or funding cuts.Since Johnson became prime minister in July, he has been on a mission to recover lost ground on the NHS. Barely a week has passed without a visit to a hospital, sleeves rolled up and tie tucked for hygiene purposes into his shirt. But senior Conservatives are concerned he remains vulnerable to Labour's attacks.One cabinet minister said that even in a safe Tory seat Johnson is not wholly trusted, with voters likely to question his claims to be spending billions on building new hospitals. Another warned that whatever the truth of Labour's arguments, voters are listening to what Corbyn is saying.The minister was furious at publicity given to Corbyn's claim this week to have unearthed a document purportedly showing a secret government plan to sell the NHS, when Tories say the paper proved nothing.According to the minister, the Conservatives' internal polling shows voters don't buy Corbyn's argument the NHS would be for sale if Johnson struck a trade deal with Trump. But the Labour leader's point has still cut through. Voters know the NHS debate is not finished.If, as expected, Corbyn tries to use the NATO summit to attack Johnson for his links to Trump, Tories plan to retaliate: By stressing the Labour leader's weakness on national security (he's a lifelong anti-war campaigner) and his reluctance to support NATO.The Tories are taking other measures, too. When Trump arrives at the country estate, don't expect him to be welcomed with fanfare or a public hug from Johnson. A joint press conference is not on the agenda for now. This is one presidential visit that will be kept as low key as Johnson's nervous aides can manage.To contact the author of this story: Tim Ross in London at tross54@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Rosalind Mathieson at rmathieson3@bloomberg.net, Flavia Krause-JacksonFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Could Naval Mines Win Iran A War Against the United States? Posted: 28 Nov 2019 08:30 PM PST  Low cost and low tech, Iran could sink a U.S. Navy warship.
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| What’s Wrong With Europe and How Its New Chief Plans to Fix It Posted: 28 Nov 2019 08:00 PM PST  (Bloomberg) -- The incoming president of the European Union's executive arm has her work cut out for her.Over the next five years at the helm of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen wants to lay the foundations for the bloc's transition to a low-carbon economy and make Brussels less inward-looking, by shifting its focus on geopolitics.Any ambitious legislative proposals by the commission will face an uphill battle thanks to the fragmented EU Parliament, an unforgiving global environment and the perennial challenge of securing approval from the bloc's governments.Here's what von der Leyen plans to do, and why it won't be easy:Climate PolicyObjective: Make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.Challenge: First von der Leyen will need to get all EU governments on board, including coal-reliant Poland and a small group of its east European allies. Then she will have to find tools to mobilize trillions of euros to finance the transition, which will affect everything from energy production to transport and farming.Post-Brexit TalksObjective: Get a comprehensive and balanced agreement to cement the EU's relationship with the U.K. after Brexit.Challenge: Securing a deal that's beneficial to the EU over the long term, particularly in the areas of trade and security, while not giving the U.K. everything it wants. It'll be crucial to keep the 27 governments united, a task that will become even trickier when their competing priorities are laid bare.Dealing With TrumpObjective: Navigate an increasingly hostile transatlantic relationship.Challenge: The U.S. is the bloc's most important ally, and relations between the two regions have deteriorated dramatically since Donald Trump took office three years ago.The president has called the EU a "foe" that's "almost as bad as China, just smaller." He has also threatened to hit the bloc with tariffs on its auto exports, which would ignite a new front in the global trade war.In addition to the trade conflict, the U.S. plans to leave the Paris climate accord next year, while Trump has hectored European allies over their defense spending and even flirted with the idea of leaving the North Atlantic Treaty Organization all together.Global TradeObjective: Preserve the World Trade Organization system.Challenge: Meeting U.S. demands for a WTO revamp while countering American and Chinese practices that are undermining the organization. With the WTO threatened by U.S. protectionism, a looming appellate-body deadlock as a result of Washington's refusal to consider new appointments and communist China's trade distortions, the task is as urgent as it is formidable.Objective: Expand the EU's trade-policy arsenal, possibly by empowering the bloc to sanction countries (read the U.S. under Trump) that both impose illegal commercial barriers and block the WTO's dispute-settlement process.Challenge: Persuade EU capitals that such an initiative wouldn't ultimately hurt their bilateral ties with big trade partners outside the bloc. While trade is among the most centralized EU policies, member nations can be reluctant to expand the bloc's powers in this area because doing so could mean even less national control.Economic PolicyObjective: Complete the European Monetary Union.Challenge: There's not too much von der Leyen's team can do at the moment to complete the euro's architecture, because the next steps mainly lie in the hands of euro-area nations. And they seem to be making some progress on common deposit insurance, something the commission has urged for repeatedly. However, it's unlikely they'll agree on anything like what Brussels originally had in mind.Meanwhile, other initiatives she is keen to push, such as a European unemployment reinsurancescheme, have received a lukewarm response from the bloc's governments.Financial RegulationObjective: Fix Europe's fragmented banking and capital markets.Challenge: These two projects have remained unfinished as national governments repeatedly held up steps to strike down barriers that banks and other financial firms face in the EU's common market. The so-called banking union has pitted fiscally conservative countries like Germany against the more highly indebted ones in southern Europe, meaning a difficult compromise will have to be brokered.As for Europe's capital markets -- which are severely underdeveloped compared with to the U.S. -- the task is to stop tinkering around the edges and undertake meaningful reforms in sensitive areas like insolvency laws and taxes.Data ProtectionObjective: Turn straw into gold -- or unused data into "innovation" -- with a framework to encourage governments and companies to pool data that they can squeeze insights from.Challenge: Von der Leyen wants to go further than even the EU's tough new data-protection clauses, which give regulators the powers for the first time to fine companies as much as 4% of global annual sales for serious data violations.Data rules in Europe are already a minefield, with some companies struggling to apply a complicated new regulation on personal data. Thierry Breton, the EU's incoming data commissioner, will be tasked with creating some safe spaces to share non-personal information, skirting antitrust rules that don't allow rivals to swap some sensitive data. It's unclear whether there's gold in Europe's data hills and if a new legal framework will really unlock vast economic value.Artificial IntelligenceObjective: Unveil AI legislation within 100 days of taking office.Challenge: The commission still needs to figure out precisely what problems it wants to address with any new rules, which could hit a wide range of industries. One hundred days is an especially ambitious timeline to unveil a legislative proposal, especially if the EU wants to launch a so-called impact assessment -- which would allow outside experts and companies to provide feedback on potential policies.That may be why von der Leyen didn't stress the timeline in her confirmation speech at the European Parliament on Wednesday.EU EnlargementObjective: Von der Leyen wants the EU to keep its door open to further expansion.Challenge: Emmanuel Macron has blocked the start of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia and is seeking a reform of the entire enlargement process before any such talks can begin. But France's proposals are seen by many as too vague to form a basis for the commission to kick-start an overhaul of the process and little more than an excuse to stop accession talks all together.\--With assistance from Nikos Chrysoloras, Stephanie Bodoni, Alexander Weber, Viktoria Dendrinou, Ian Wishart, Natalia Drozdiak, Ewa Krukowska and Aoife White.To contact the reporters on this story: Nikos Chrysoloras in Brussels at nchrysoloras@bloomberg.net;Jonathan Stearns in Brussels at jstearns2@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Chad Thomas at cthomas16@bloomberg.net, Andrew Blackman, Richard BravoFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Tories Riled After Iceblock Replaces U.K. PM in Climate Debate Posted: 28 Nov 2019 05:44 PM PST ![Tories Riled After Iceblock Replaces U.K. PM in Climate Debate]( "Tories Riled After Iceblock Replaces U.K. PM in Climate Debate") (Bloomberg) -- The U.K. Conservative Party accused Channel 4 News of breaking impartiality rules after the broadcaster used a melting ice sculpture of a globe to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson who failed to attend a live climate change debate on Thursday night.The news program had asked the leaders of the key political parties to take part in the debate ahead of the Dec. 12 election but Johnson and Brexit Party head Nigel Farage chose not to attend. This prompted Channel 4 to replace the two politicians with ice sculptures rather than the empty chairs as is usually the case.The decision by Johnson, who is expected to lead the Conservatives into a comfortable majority, drew derision on social media. Hashtags such as WheresBoris and borisisacoward trended in the U.K. as online users vented frustration with Johnson's choice to refrain from debating on a topic that is seen to be one of the greatest issues for generations to come.The Conservatives complained to broadcast regulator Ofcom, calling the news program's action "a provocative partisan stunt" which had the potential to be seen as a political opinion in its own right. Unlike in the U.S., television broadcasters in Britain face strict rules on being politically impartial during election periods and can face fines if they do not comply.The party's director of communications Lee Cain, who wrote the complaint, said Channel 4 News prevented senior Cabinet Minister Michael Gove from representing Johnson. Gove, who showed up without invitation for the debate, accused Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of blocking his attempt to join them in a separate tweet.Channel 4 News editor Ben de Pear shot back, saying the channel had made it clear that the debate could only involve party leaders. He later told the Guardian that the two ice sculptures represented the emergency on planet Earth and were a visual metaphor for the Conservative and Brexit parties who declined the broadcaster's invitations for the debate.Michael Gove @michaelgoveTonight I went to Channel 4 to talk about climate change but Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon refused to debate a Conservative climatedebatehttp://twitter.com/michaelgove/statuses/1200166068741902337Sent via Twitter for iPhone.View original tweet.Broadcasters have faced an uphill task to convince Johnson to take part in interviews and debates. Johnson has so far avoided taking part in a sit-down with tough BBC interviewer Andrew Neil.\--With assistance from Thomas Penny.To contact the reporter on this story: Melissa Cheok in Singapore at mcheok2@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Niluksi Koswanage at nkoswanage@bloomberg.net, Siraj DatooFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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