Bedugul Coffee: Wednesday Morning Briefing: GOP claims victory in North Carolina election

Highlights

GOP claims victory in North Carolina election Republican Dan Bishop won a special U.S. congressional election in North Carolina, turning back a vigorous Democratic challenge to save a longtime stronghold for President Donald Trump’s party.

U.S. schools seek to snuff out vaping Students caught vaping in school can expect a lot more than a warning or detention in one North Texas district starting this fall. They will be forced to attend a special, isolated disciplinary school for a month.

China exempts 16 types of U.S. goods China announced its first batch of tariff exemptions for 16 types of U.S. products, days ahead of a planned meeting de-escalate the two countries' bruising tariff dispute.

With Bolton's departure, an Iran hawk leaves the chessboard John Bolton’s departure from the White House removes an obstacle to the possibility of U.S.-Iranian nuclear talks. But the odds of such a dialogue leading anywhere remain low, current and former U.S. officials said.

Brexit crisis deepens as court rules parliament suspension unlawful Scotland’s highest court of appeal ruled that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament was unlawful, deepening the uncertainty over Britain’s departure from the European Union.

World

Canada's Trudeau kicks off tough re-election campaign Admired abroad for his progressive policies but damaged by scandals at home, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicks off a six-week re-election campaign with opinion polls suggesting his hold on power will be weakened.

Netanyahu announces plan to annex West Bank's Jordan Valley Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to annex the Jordan Valley, a large swathe of the occupied West Bank, if he wins a closely contested election just a week away.

Hong Kong protesters pause to mark Sept. 11 Hong Kong activists called off protests in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and denounced a Chinese state newspaper report that they were planning ‘massive terror’ in the Chinese-ruled city.

Business

Tepid reaction for Apple's new iPhones in China

A lower price tag and new features may not be enough for Apple to win customers for its newly-launched iPhone 11 series in China, the world’s largest smartphone market that is already crowded with cheaper and feature-packed rival handsets.

5 min read

Hong Kong Exchanges proposes $39 billion London Stock Exchange takeover

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing has made an unsolicited $39 billion takeover bid for the London Stock Exchange, an offer contingent on the LSE ditching its acquisition of data company Refinitiv.

2 min read