USA

China maintains tariffs must be reduced for phase one trade deal with U.S

Editorial Bureau December 5, 2019

BEIJING- Tariffs must be cut if China and the United States are to reach an interim agreement on trade, the Asian nation’s commerce ministry said on Thursday, sticking to its stance that some U.S. tariffs must be rolled back for a phase one deal. “The Chinese side believes that if

USA

Legal experts called by Democrats tell Congress that Trump’s actions are impeachable

Editorial Bureau December 5, 2019

WASHINGTON- Three legal experts told U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival amounted to impeachable offences, in a hearing that laid the groundwork for formal charges to be filed against the president. Democrats on the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee said they may look beyond

USA

Warren calls for Larry Page testimony, despite change of guard at Alphabet

Editorial Bureau December 5, 2019

United States Senator Elizabeth Warren said on Wednesday that she still expects Larry Page to testify in Congress, a day after he stepped down as chief executive of Alphabet Inc, Google’s parent company. “We do still expect you to testify before Congress,” she said in a tweet . She added that while Google co-founder Page’s […]

USA

Biden says he would consider Harris for vice presidential slot

Editorial Bureau December 5, 2019

WASHINGTON- A day after U.S. Senator Kamala Harris ended her 2020 presidential bid, former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination, said on Wednesday he would consider her as a potential running mate. Biden, with whom Harris clashed during a Democratic debate earlier this year, praised her after a campaign event […]

USA

Trump calls Canada’s Trudeau ‘two-faced’ over jaw-dropping video remarks

Editorial Bureau December 5, 2019

WATFORD, England- U.S. President Donald Trump called Justin Trudeau “two-faced” on Wednesday after the Canadian Prime Minister appeared to be caught on camera joking about his press appearances during a chat with other leaders at a NATO summit in Britain. Trudeau was filmed at a Buckingham Palace reception for NATO leaders on Tuesday evening describing […]

Europe

German manufacturing downturn drags into final quarter

Editorial Bureau December 5, 2019

BERLIN- German industrial orders fell unexpectedly in October as demand at home and from outside the euro zone weakened, suggesting a manufacturing downturn will continue to hold back growth in Europe’s largest economy in the final quarter. Contracts for German-made goods were down 0.4% from the previous month, the Statistics Office said on Thursday. That […]

Europe

Australia to trim government as PM demands policy delivery

Editorial Bureau December 5, 2019

SYDNEY- Australia will cut the number of government departments next year to focus on the continuity of policy and improving service, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday. Government departments will be cut to 14 from Feb. 1, 2020, down from 18 now, Morrison told reporters in Canberra. “I want a public service that is […]

Europe

Fires ring Sydney, blanketing city in thick smoke

Editorial Bureau December 5, 2019

SYDNEY- Firefighters were on Thursday battling several blazes ringing Sydney, leaving Australia’s most populous city blanketed by smoke that is expected to linger for days. Bushfires have killed at least four people and destroyed more than 400 homes since the start of November. Fires are still burning in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and […]

Europe

Moncler shares jump after report of Kering interest

Editorial Bureau December 5, 2019

PARIS/MILAN- Shares in luxury puffer coat maker Moncler surged over 11% on Thursday, after a report of potential takeover interest from French conglomerate Kering. Shares in the Gucci owner were marginally up by 0.65% in early trading on the Paris bourse, after Bloomberg reported on Wednesday evening that the companies had held exploratory talks about […]

Europe

Euronext to buy control of Nordics power market firm Nord Pool

Editorial Bureau December 5, 2019

PARIS- Euronext has agreed to buy a controlling stake in Nordic-focused power market firm Nord Pool, boosting the European stock market operator’s presence in the region after its takeover of the Oslo stock exchange earlier this year. Euronext said on Thursday it would buy 66% of Nord Pool’s share capital and voting rights. The deal […]