Wednesday Morning Briefing: Democratic presidential hopefuls denounce Trump over Syria

Democratic debate

2020 Democrats slam Trump over Syria. Democratic presidential hopefuls denounced President Donald Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops back from northern Syria, saying in an Ohio debate he had endangered America’s longtime Kurdish allies while empowering foes Russia and Syria. The 12 Democrats meeting in the fourth presidential debate night found a unifying message right off the bat: Trump is a corrupt president who must go.

The Democratic presidential contenders head back to the campaign trail after a debate that featured repeated attacks on surging progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren and exposed the party’s divisions on issues like healthcare and taxes. High-profile progressives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar threw their support behind Bernie Sanders’ campaign for president as the senator held his own during a three-hour debate just weeks after suffering a heart attack.

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Exclusive: U.S. carried out secret cyber strike on Iran in wake of Saudi oil attack. The United States carried out a secret cyber operation against Iran in the wake of the Sept. 14 attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, which Washington and Riyadh blame on Tehran, two U.S. officials have told Reuters.

Trump vetoes measure to end his emergency declaration on border wall. Donald Trump has vetoed a joint resolution of Congress that sought to terminate his declaration of a national emergency on the southern border with Mexico, the White House said. Trump used the very first veto of his presidency in March to strike down a similar measure that had cleared the House and Senate. Congress was unable to muster the two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override that veto and is not expected to do so this time.

Trump’s national security adviser heaped pain and grief on the parents of a British teenager killed in a car crash by trying to hold a meeting at the White House between them and a U.S. diplomat’s wife who was involved, the parents’ lawyer said. Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn were invited to a surprise meeting with the U.S. president at his office where they were further shocked to learn that Anne Sacoolas, the American woman involved in the fatal crash, was in the building.

Asia

Khmer Riche: For some members of Cambodia’s elite, Cypriot passports are part of a wider life of luxury that could undermine Prime Minister Hun Sen’s self-styled image as the humble leader of a party representing ordinary Cambodians. Read the full Reuters investigation.

'Defiant message' as North Korea's leader rides a white horse on sacred mountain. Aides to Kim Jong Un are convinced the North Korean leader plans “a great operation”, state media. In the photos released by state news agency KCNA, Kim is seen riding alone on a large white horse through snowy fields and woods on Mt Paektu, the spiritual homeland of the Kim dynasty. It was unclear what the operation might involve, but Kim has often made trips to the sacred mountain at times of major policy endeavors. Analysts say the symbolism underscores North Korea standing up to international sanctions and pressure over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Hong Kong leader forced to abandon address and offers no olive branch. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam had to abandon her policy speech in the legislature because of jeering lawmakers but later offered no direct olive branch to protesters, hoping instead to ease resentment by building public housing.

When a river in Japan’s Fukushima prefecture overflowed at the height of Typhoon Hagibis, 700 homes were flooded, many belonging to elderly residents too frail to clean up and repair their water-logged houses. Fukushima is no stranger to disaster. In 2011, the area was struck by an earthquake that unleashed a tsunami on the coast and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.But as Japan’s population ages, the resilience of residents to deal with hardship in the disaster-prone country appears to be eroding.

Business

U.S. 'deeply concerned' about untrackable China ships carrying Iran oil

The White House is warning Chinese shipping companies against turning off their ships’ transponders to hide Iranian oil shipments in violation of U.S. sanctions, two senior administration officials said.

5 Min Read

MGM to sell Bellagio, Circus Circus resorts for about $5 billion

MGM Resorts International said it would sell its Bellagio and Circus Circus resorts in Las Vegas in separate deals valued at about $5 billion, as the U.S. casino operator seeks to monetize its real estate assets and bolster its balance sheet.

2 min read

Undercover entrepreneurs: fearful Mexican tech startups shun spotlight

In Mexico’s burgeoning startup scene, publicity is the last thing many entrepreneurs want. Unlike plenty of their P.R.-hungry counterparts in Silicon Valley, Mexican startup founders often decline media interviews, avoid public announcements and suppress details of financial success. One big reason: they do not want to attract criminals.

7 min read

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