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Might Xi Jinping’s star be burning too bright?

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President Xi Jinping’s command at this month’s Communist Party gathering was so complete that President Trump likened him to a ‘king.’ But some China analysts are wondering whether Xi has overreached. Xi dominated the stage, literally and figuratively, at the party’s 19th Congress, which ended this week in Beijing. He consolidation of power has nearly erased the collective leadership style ...

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Europe needs to deal with existing stock of non-performing loans

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Financial regulators in the European Union are grappling on several fronts with problems in their banking system. They’ve made some progress, but there’s a pattern: The proposals fall short. Plans for EU-wide deposit insurance have been watered down. The system for resolving failing banks is underfunded. And now controversy has arisen over new rules for dealing with bad loans — ...

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A welcome compromise on dealing with wildfires

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Having burned through almost 14,000 square miles of western forest, killed dozens of people, and cost federal agencies almost $3 billion, this year’s extensive wildfires have had one positive effect: They’ve gotten Democrats and Republicans in Congress finally to act. Senators from Washington, Oregon and Idaho have introduced legislation that would let timber companies clear brush and harvest trees from ...

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