The Wall Street Journal - 15 09 2020

2020·14.75 MB·English

****** TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ~ VOL. CCLXXVI NO. 64 WSJ.com HHHH $4.00
DJIA27993.33À327.69 1.2% NASDAQ 11056.65À1.9% STOXX600 368.51À0.1% 10-YR.TREAS. unch., yield0.669% OIL$37.26 g$0.07 GOLD $1,953.10À$15.30 EURO$1.1863 YEN105.73
In Tokyo, Ruling Party Clears Way for Successor to Abe Citi Faces
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shoreuptheirfinancialposi- Oracle Ahead in TikTok Race leftinthehandsofhissucces-
tionsamidthepandemic.B3 sor,JaneFraser,theysaid.
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Mr. Corbat would retire in
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FarmerasCEO.B3
and investors who expected
(cid:2)Appleisexpectedtore- Oracle Corp. is one of the Theemergenceofthisodd- concerns about a Chinese- Oracle isn’t believed to be himtoremaininthejobfora
vealitslatestwatchandan most lucrative but unflashy ballallianceisthelatesttwist owned app possessing the getting a majority stake in fewmoreyears.
updatediPadonTuesday.B4 companiesinSiliconValley,a in six weeks of negotiations dataonAmericanusers. TikTok, according to people The rebuke, which would
providerofbusinesssoftware thatbearlittleresemblanceto Details were scant, and familiar with the matter, de- comeintheformofaconsent
(cid:2)Areboundintechshares
andconsultingservices.Now, regular deal talks, driven by manypeopleclosetothedeal spiteMr.Trump’sdemandthat order, likely would require
helpedmajorindexesre-
U.S.-China tensions, commer- cautioned that much still it get sold. Instead, Byte- Citigrouptodevelopandexe-
coverafterlastweek’spull-
ByGeorgiaWells, cial rivalries and President neededtobedecidedandthat Dance’splaninvolvesaseries cuteaplantofixitsrisksys-
back.TheNasdaq,S&P500
AaronTilley Trump’s personal interven- itcouldstillunravel. of moves to address the na- tems, the people said. Such
andDowgained1.9%,1.3%
andJohnD.McKinnon tions. Thetalkstookmultipleun- tional-securityissueswithout formal regulatory actions
and1.2%,respectively.B9
TikTok parent ByteDance expectedturns,andatvarious having to either sell the U.S. sometimescomewithfinesor
itispoisedtobecometheU.S. Ltd. confirmed on Monday it timesdrewinsomeofthebig- PleaseturntopageA8 stricteroversight,butitisn’t
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partnerforTikTok,thesmash had submitted a proposal to gestnamesinglobalbusiness, clearwhat,ifany,punishment
Chinesesocial-mediaappthat the U.S. government that the includingWalmartInc.,Twit- (cid:2)Dealneedsnational-security wouldbeimposed,theysaid.
has become a staple on the Beijing company says would ter Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s check...............................................A8 “We are completely com-
(cid:2)Eighty-sevenlargewild- smartphones of millions of solve the Trump administra- Google, and featured high- (cid:2)HeardontheStreet:No mitted to improving our risk
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4.6millionacresin10states,
accordingtotheNationalIn-
teragencyFireCenter,leaving Amazon Ramps Up Gulf
atleast35peopledead.A1
(cid:2)Trumpputtheblameon Coast
forestmanagementrather Hiring Plans, Adds Braces
thanclimatechangeforthe
unprecedentedwildfires,
For Sally
whileBidenfocusedon
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manitarianprotectionsfor industries slashing workers few months for all the new
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secondnationwideCovid-19 smallNorthernCaliforniatown rushing to bring some of the tried to cheer herself up by
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fits all.
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CONTENTS Opinion..............A17-19 thesmokewassothickthatit Warning, which indicates ex- bing.
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A2|Tuesday,September15,2020 THEWALLSTREETJOURNAL.
****
U.S. NEWS
States Get a Reprieve on Medicaid Proposal
BYSTEPHANIEARMOUR administrator at the Centers with the decision, but some Theproposalwouldimpose proliferation of payment ar- Under the program’s open-
for Medicare and Medicaid top HHS leaders, including newlimitsoncertainsupple- rangementsthatmaskorcir- endedfundingsetup,Washing-
WASHINGTON—TheTrump Services tweeted on Monday. HHS Deputy Secretary Eric mental payments that states cumvent the rules, where tonguaranteesmatchingfunds
administration said it was “Therefore,CMSiswithdraw- Hargan,hadbeenopposed. givetosomeMedicaidprovid- shadyrecyclingschemesdrive tostatesforqualifyingMedic-
withdrawingaplantotighten ing the rule from the regula- AnHHSspokeswomansaid ers, a change some hospitals uptaxpayercostsandpervert aid expenditures. Federal
federaloversightofhowstates toryagenda.” the agency doesn’t comment and physicians say would thesystem.” spending on the program is
pay for their share of Medic- Thedecisionisbeingcele- oninternaldeliberations. promptsomeproviderstoopt The proposal would have about$400billionayear.An
aidaftersomestatesandmed- bratedbyhospitals,governors Asenioradministrationoffi- outoftheprogram. imposed new reporting re- estimated 74 million people
ical groups said the new rule andotherhealthorganizations cialsaidMs.Vermaadvocated “Drastic cuts in Medicaid quirementsandrestrictionson areonMedicaid.
wouldhavedeprivedthemof that had fiercely lobbied for for the change but was over- duringapandemicwasbeyond financialpracticesmanystates TheNationalGovernorsAs-
billionsofdollarsinfundingin the idea to be shelved. The ruled.CMSspokesmanJohna- thepale,”saidTomNickels,an use to pay for Medicaid. The sociationwarned thattherule
thethroesofthepandemic. movetoscraptheproposalfor thanMonroecalledthat“abla- executivevicepresidentatthe MedicaidFiscalAccountability might lead to cuts to states’
“We’ve listened closely to nowfollowedweeksofdebate tantlyfalsestatement,”adding AmericanHospitalAssociation. Regulation,astheproposalis Medicaidprograms.
concernsthathavebeenraised withinHealthandHumanSer- thatMs.Verma“istheonewho CMS officials had said the known,alsowouldapplytoex- Therule,ifadopted,would
by our state and provider vices,accordingtopeoplefa- suggested more time be dedi- change was needed because tra payments states give to create “major upheaval for
partnersaboutpotentialunin- miliarwiththedecision.White cated to addressing the con- some states’ Medicaid finan- somedoctorsandproviders. states,”accordingtoananaly-
tended consequences of the Houseadvisershadbeenpush- cerns of stakeholders and cial arrangements are decep- Medicaid is a federal-state sis by Manatt Health, a busi-
proposed rule, which require ing for tightening oversight, avoidinganyunattendedconse- tive. In February, Ms. Verma health program for low-in- ness-strategy and consulting
furtherstudy,”SeemaVerma, according to people familiar quencesoftheproposedrule.” said the agency had seen “a comepeopleandthedisabled. firm.
U.S.WATCH
WASHINGTON hasadoctorateineconomics
fromHarvardUniversity.
Inspector General
Thedirectorofthemonetary-
Reviews Kodak Loan affairsdivisionisaparticipantin
meetingsofthecentralbank’s
Aplanned$765millionU.S. rate-settingFederalOpenMarket
loanforEastmanKodakCo.to Committee,taskedwithpreparing
producedrugingredientsisunder briefings,strategiesandtheheav-
reviewbytheinspectorgeneralof ilyscrutinizedpolicystatements
theagencythathelpedputto- deliveredupontheirconclusion.
SS getherthedeal. —NickTimiraos
RE
P Thenewlynamedinspector
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ATE generaloftheU.S.International WISCONSIN
ASSOCI DereavlealogpenmceyncthFairngaendcewCitohrpm.,aakifnegd- Green Party Won’t
GISTER/ lwoaitnhstthoebcuosroinneasvsierussinpacnodnenmecitci,on Get Spot on Ballot
RE toldSen.ElizabethWarren(D., TheWisconsinSupremeCourt
Y
NT Mass.)thathisofficewasopening deniedtheGreenParty’srequest
U
CO areviewoftheloan,accordingto toappearonthestate’sballotin
GE aspokeswomanforMs.Warren. thepresidentialelection,dropping
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RA Theinquiryisthelatestknown atemporaryorderthathadhalted
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HE governmentprobeoftheplanned themailingofballotstovoters.
NE/T transaction.TheSecuritiesand Ina4-3decisionMonday,the
RA ExchangeCommissionbeganan courtsaidthereisn’tsufficient
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DA timephotographygiantdisclosed tialcandidateHowieHawkinsand
ThesunrisingthoughsmokeovercharredfoothillsaboveArcadia,Calif.,inLosAngelesCounty,onMonday. theloan,whileseveralDemo- vicepresidentialcandidateAngela
Winds Add cratic-ledcongressionalcommit- Walkertotheballot.Theruling
last week. But an hour and a homeontheoutskirtsofChico, than190,000acressoutheastof teeshaveannouncedaprobeof notedthatmanyballotsalready
half into his methodical pack- Calif.,DeniseBethunereturned the state capital, Salem, and theagreement.Kodakhassaidit havebeenprintedandsomelikely
To Threat ing,hesaidaneighbordroveby toherhomeinBerryCreekun- hasn’t been at all contained. wouldconductaninternalreview. hadbeenmailed.
and shouted for him to get in derapoliceescortafewdays The nearby Lionshead fire is Ms.Warren’sspokeswoman Theorderendedafewdaysof
histruckandleaveasthefire ago and found almost every- about 5% contained and has saidtheinspectorgeneral,An- uncertaintyforelectionofficialsin
Of Fires wasbearingdown.Ataboutthe thing burned to the ground. burned more than 168,000 thonyZakel,agreedtoopenhis Wisconsin.OnThursday,thecourt
same time, he began hearing The only exceptions were a acres. reviewinresponsetoanAug.20 orderedlocalelectionofficialsto
explosionsofwhatheassumed hammockstrungbetweentwo TheAugustComplexfire,the requestthesenatormadetothe stopmailingballotstovoters
werepropanetanksatnearby treesandavegetablegarden. largestblazeinCaliforniahis- PandemicResponseAccountability temporarily,whileitconsidered
homes. “The tomatoes were still tory, has charred more than Committee.Mr.Zakelsaidhehad theGreenParty’sbid.
ContinuedfromPageOne “As the explosions got ripe,”saidthe51-year-old.Ms. 877,000acresintheMendocino beenintouchwithMs.Warren’s —AlexaCorse
tionscenter. louder, I decided to stop and Bethune and her husband, National Forest, according to officebutwould“notcommenton
RonJarriearrivedatashel- just get out,” he said. He has Larry,managedtopackseveral CalFire.Only28%ofthatwild- ongoingaudits,reviewsorinvesti- SCIENCE
ter in Gridley on Monday stayedonfriends’couchesbe- familyheirloomsbeforeevacu- fire had been contained as of gations.”
Possible Sign of Life
morning in his white Jeep forearrivingattheshelter. ating,includinganantiqueor- Monday.CrewsfromMontana, ADFCspokeswomansaidthe
Cherokee after fleeing on a The Federal Emergency ganandasaddle. Utah, Texas and New Jersey agency“isprovidinganswerstoa Detected on Venus
winding mountain road. The Management Agency brought Ms.Bethune,acancersurvi- were on site assisting Califor- requestforinformationsubmitted
cabin where he lived and supplies to Oregon over the vorwhosuffersfrommuscular nian firefighters in containing bytheInspectorGeneralaspart Aninternationalgroupofsci-
workedasacaretakerwasde- weekend.Firecrewsandequip- sclerosis,saidsheandherhus- thefire,accordingtoCalFire. ofthestandardprocessinre- entistsreportedthedetectionof
stroyedwhenthe264,000-acre mentfromNewJerseyflewto band moved to Berry Creek Five wildfires that are still sponsetoSen.Warren’sletter.” smallquantitiesofagasinthe
NorthComplexfireeviscerated Californiatohelpsuppressthe fromSacramento12yearsago burning in California are al- TheWhiteHousedeclinedto atmosphereofVenustheybelieve
thenearbysmalltownofBerry blazes, according to the state insearchofamorestress-free readyamongthetop20largest comment.Kodak’sspokeswoman couldbeasignofbiologicallife
Creeklastweek. OfficeofEmergencyServices. life.Thecoupleplanstorebuild. firesrecordedinstatehistory. saidthecompanywouldn’tcom- ontheoften-overlookedplanet.
The66-year-oldsaidhewas But some operations were “Wewentupthereforheal- Compared with this time in mentonpendinginvestigations. Thefindingsneedtobecon-
thankful to be alive after the alreadystretchedthinassimul- ing,andwe’regoingtohelpit 2017, there have been about —RachaelLevy firmedwithadditionalmeasure-
treacherous travel. “It was 30 taneousfiresbrokeout. heal,”Ms.Bethunesaid. 1,500fewerfiresbutmorethan ments,theresearchersandother
feetofflamesononeside,40 “Not only do we have our California has reported 24 doubletheacreageburned,said FEDERALRESERVE expertssaid.
feetontheotherside,andI’m firefighters out there fighting deaths from this year’s wild- Ms.RoundofCalFire. Thegas,knownasphosphine,
Powell Aide to Lead
the piece of toast in the mid- fires,butthey’reactuallyhav- fires,andmorethan3.1million Stateofficialswereencour- isarare,hard-to-detectmolecule
dle,” Mr. Jarrie said as he ing to do their normal 911 acreshaveburnedinthestate. agingresidentstostayindoors Monetary-Affairs Unit typicallyproducedinhighlyinhos-
waitedtocheckintotheshel- emergency responses,” said Atleast10havediedinOregon whenpossibletolimittheirex- pitableenvironmentsthatlackox-
ter, near a parking lot where Lynnette Round, information in nearly a million burned posure to smoke as the wild- TheFederalReservenamed ygen,liketheviolentdepthsof
other evacuees had stuffed officerwiththeCaliforniaDe- acres, while Washington state fires are expected to continue TrevorReeve,asenioradviserto JupiterandSaturn.“Wefounda
trucksandothervehicleswith partmentofForestryandFire hasseenatleastonedeathand producingunhealthytohazard- ChairmanJeromePowell,tothe uniquesignalinVenusforwhich
possessions. Protection,orCalFire.Thede- 806,000acresburned. ous conditions on the West roleofdirectorofitsmonetary- themostlikelyexplanationis
Mr.Jarriesaidthespeedof partment had more than Oregon’s two largest wild- Coast. affairsdivisiononMonday. phosphine,andthemostlikelyex-
thefirecaughtthetownbysur- 40,000 emergency incidents fires,inthecentralpartofthe —AliciaA.Caldwell, Mr.Reevehasservedasthe planationforphosphineseemsto
prisebecauseitdidn’tseemto while fighting these fires, she state, have been burning for JosephDeAvila,KenThomas division’sdeputydirectorsince belife,”saidClaraSousa-Silva,a
bemovingthatfastwhenevac- said. nearly a month. The Beachie andAndrewRestuccia 2017.ThomasLaubach,who MassachusettsInstituteofTech-
uation warnings were issued After staying at her son’s Creek fire has burned more contributedtothisarticle. servedasthedivision’sdirector nologyquantumastrochemistand
since2015,diedonSept.2after oneoftheauthorsofthestudy.
Blazes Become Fodder in Presidential Race beingtreatedforcancer. Theresults,publishedMonday
Mr.ReevejoinedtheFed’s inthejournalNatureAstronomy,
staffofeconomistsin1998and couldturnanewspotlightonto
wasappointedtoitsofficialstaff Earth’ssecond-closestneighbor,
in2006,servinginrolesinitsdi- whosesurfacewasoncemuch
President Trump blamed visionofinternationalfinance coolerandmayhavehadoceans.
poorforestmanagementrather and,later,monetaryaffairs.He —DanielaHernandez
thanclimatechangefortheun-
precedentedwildfiresengulfing CORRECTIONS (cid:2) AMPLIFICATIONS
Western states, while Joe Bi-
denfocusedsquarelyonglobal
warmingandwarnedofwors-
ening natural disasters if Mr. Panelist Kitty Carlisle Notice to readers
TrumpprevailsinNovember. SS votedforCynthiaNixon,who Wall Street Journal staff
RE waspretendingtobeashow- members are working re-
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anindBWAyniKldmerneinwTghtRooenms,taDuseclc.,ia SSOCIATED pathnoecneyTorrunidthtehr.”,edATuVMrinsahgnosawionn“aTpaorpteTiacelrle-l mFpoloeratestleyhsedeunfrdoirnreegsaetdeheaerbcpleoamnfdmuetemunritecs,.
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inWashington K/ FridayaboutMs.Nixonincor- onlybyemailorphone,using
RNI rectlysaidpanelistPeggyCass the contacts below, not via
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Mr. Biden, speaking out-H votedforher. U.S.Mail.
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doorsinhishometownofWil-RE
D
mington, Del., said a spate ofAN ReaderscanalertTheWallStreetJournaltoanyerrorsinnewsarticlesby
Western fires, along with a CaliforniaGov.NewsomandPresidentTrumpheldabriefingMondayatSacramentoMcClellanAirport. [email protected].
summer onslaught of tropical
weather, floods and drought, markedly different approach don’tthinkscienceknows,ac- climateasanissueinthepresi-
wouldbecome“morecommon, Mondayduringabriefingwith tually.” dentialcampaignjust50days THEWALLSTREETJOURNAL
more devastating, and more CaliforniaGov.GavinNewsom, Experts say thinning dense beforeElectionDay.Mr.Biden (USPS664-880)(EasternEditionISSN0099-9660)
(CentralEditionISSN1092-0935)(WesternEditionISSN0193-2241)
deadly”ifthepresidentwona a Democrat, emphasizing the forests is the most effective has said he would rejoin the
Editorialandpublicationheadquarters:1211AvenueoftheAmericas,NewYork,N.Y.10036
secondterm. importance of forest manage- short-termtooltoaddressthe Parisclimateagreementonhis
PublisheddailyexceptSundaysandgenerallegalholidays.
“Ifyougiveaclimatearson- mentandraisingdoubtsabout fires.Thevastmajorityofsci- firstdayinofficeandhaspro- PeriodicalspostagepaidatNewYork,N.Y.,andothermailingoffices.
ist four more years in the thescientificconsensusabout entificexpertsalsosaywarmer moted a $2 trillion plan to Postmaster:SendaddresschangestoTheWallStreetJournal,200BurnettRd.,Chicopee,MA01020.
WhiteHouse,whywouldany- climatechange. weatheracrosstheWestcaused tackle climate change. Polling AllAdvertisingpublishedinTheWallStreetJournalissubjecttotheapplicableratecard,copiesof
one be surprised if we have WhenatopCaliforniaenvi- by climate change has greatly has shown that majorities of whichareavailablefromtheAdvertisingServicesDepartment,DowJones&Co.Inc.,1211Avenueof
theAmericas,NewYork,N.Y.10036.TheJournalreservestherightnottoacceptanadvertiser’sorder.
moreofAmericaablaze?”Mr. ronmentalofficialsaidduring worsenedthefirethreat. Americanswantactiononcli-
Onlypublicationofanadvertisementshallconstitutefinalacceptanceoftheadvertiser’sorder.
BidensaidMonday. the briefing outside Sacra- California, Oregon and matechange.
LetterstotheEditor:Fax:[phone];email:[email protected]
In response to Mr. Biden, mentothatclimatechangewas Washingtonstatearecontend- Mr. Trump, appealing to a
Needassistancewithyoursubscription?
Trumpcampaignspokeswoman acauseofthefires,Mr.Trump ingwithoneoftheirmostdan- conservativebaseskepticalof Byweb:customercenter.wsj.com;Byemail:[email protected]
CourtneyParellasaidtheDem- said,“It’llstartgettingcooler. gerousfireseasonsinhistory. global warming, has rejected Byphone:1-800-JOURNAL(1-800-568-7625)
ocraticcandidatewas“saying Youjustwatch.” Morethan3millionacreshave thescientificcommunity’scon- Reprints&licensing:
Byemail:[email protected]|Byphone:1-800-843-0008
that the Earth will be de- “Iwishscienceagreedwith burned in California, tens of sensusonclimatechangeand
WSJbackissuesandframedpages:wsjshop.com
stroyedifhe’snotelected,”and you,”saidCaliforniaSecretary thousandshavebeenforcedto warned that his opponent’s
Ournewspapersare100%sourcedfromsustainablycertifiedmills.
that “his lurch to the left is for Natural Resources Wade evacuate and nearly three policieswouldleadtotheloss
scaryenough.” Crowfoot. dozenpeoplehavebeenkilled. of manufacturing jobs and GOTATIPFORUS?SUBMITITATWSJ.COM/TIPS
Mr. Trump himself took a Thepresidentresponded,“I Thewildfireshaveelevated higherenergycosts.
THEWALLSTREETJOURNAL. Tuesday,September15,2020|A3
*****
U.S. NEWS
Hurricane
Takes Aim at
Gulf Coast
BYVALERIEBAUERLEIN coulddropupto24inchesof
ANDCOLLINEATON rain over the course of days
along the central Gulf Coast.
HurricaneSallytookaimat Forecasters also expect Sally
thecentralGulfCoastonMon- could trigger a storm surge
day, as thousands of people from the Mississippi River
prepared for heavy rain and DeltainLouisianatotheFlor-
potentially deadly flooding idaPanhandle,triggeringlife-
fromNewOrleansandBiloxi, threateningflooding.
Miss.,totheAlabama-Florida Sally was about 130 miles
stateline. southeast of Biloxi Monday
Sally, with maximum sus- nightandwasmovingslowly
tained winds of 100 miles an overwarmGulfwaters,which
hour,strengthenedtoaCate- were expected to fuel the RS
gory 2 storm and was ex- storm’sstrengthening. UTE
RE
pected to make landfall NewOrleansMayorLaToya N/
N
around the Mississippi-Ala- Cantrellsaidthecitywasstag- FLY
bamastatelineearlyWednes- ingrescueequipmentandboats N
day,accordingtotheNational in anticipation of possible HLEE
HurricaneCenter. floodingandtweetedarequest AT
K
Forecasters said the storm thatpeoplestayindoorsforthe CityofNewOrleansworkerLouisMarreroboardedupbusinessesintheFrenchQuarteronMonday.
durationofthestorm.Munici-
NamedstormsintheAtlantic palcourtsandotherofficesin madelandfallasaCategory1 ductionintheGulfofMexicoon In advance of Sally, Royal ingrefineryoperations.
basinthroughSept.14ofeach New Orleans were closed on storm and stalled for days Monday, but the impact was Dutch Shell PLC said it had It has already been an un-
year Monday, and streetcars and over eastern North Carolina. considerablysmallerthanLaura. curtailed some output at its usuallybusyhurricaneseason,
busesstoppedrunningatnoon, “Bepreparedforcatastrophic It was more powerful and hit Olympus,MarsandAppomat- which lasts from June to No-
20
accordingtothemayor. flooding,”hesaidinatweet. fartherwest,closertotheheart tox offshore platforms, while vember.Therearefournamed
Hurricanes AlongtheBiloxibeachfront LouisianaGov.JohnBelEd- ofU.S.energyinfrastructure. Chevron Corp. had evacuated storms,ararityatonetime,in
Other onMonday,waterwasalready wards said there were no Offshore energy producers andshutitsBlindFaithandPe- the Atlantic region: Paulette,
15
rising halfway to U.S. 90, planstoevacuatetheNewOr- havecurbedoilproductionin troniusplatforms.BPPLCsaid Sally,TeddyandVicky.
knownlocallyasBeachBoule- leans area, including the the Gulf of Mexico by about it had evacuated nonessential The National Oceanic and
vard, according to city emer- 12,000 people in hotels there 21%,orabout396,000barrels personnelfromitsNaKikaand Atmospheric Administration
10
gency officials. They asked whoareevacueesfromHurri- a day, the Bureau of Safety ThunderHorseplatforms. said this season it expects to
residents to prepare for 24 caneLaura,whichdevastated and Environmental Enforce- TheLouisianaOffshoreOil seeasmanyas10hurricanes—
hoursofrainandfloodingthat LakeCharles,La.,lastmonth. ment said Monday. They had Port,oneofthenation’slarg- of which three to six are ex-
5 would occur over two high- He asked residents to stay shutaboutaquarterofthere- est crude-export terminals, pectedtoberatedamajorhur-
tidecycles. vigilant.“Ifoneofthosebands gion’snatural-gasoutput. hassuspendedmarineopera- ricaneofCategory3orhigher.
Meteorologist and author ofrainsettlesoverLouisiana, Gulfoperatorshadshutas tions,accordingtoitswebsite. The prediction is based on
0 EricHolthaussaidSally’srap- floodingwillbeaproblem,”he muchas1.56millionbarrelsa Phillips 66 said it had be- warmer ocean temperatures
2005 ’10 ’15 ’20 idlyintensifyingwindsareter- said in a news conference day, or about 84% of the off- gun shutting its Alliance Re- andweakertradewindsinthe
rifying, but the bigger threat Monday. shore region’s crude produc- finery south of New Orleans main development region of
Note:2020stormsthroughTropicalStorm mayberainfall,akinto2018’s Sally forced energy compa- tion, ahead of Hurricane overtheweekend.ValeroEn- thetropicalAtlanticandCarib-
VickyonSept.14
Source:NationalHurricaneCenter Hurricane Florence, which niestoshutdownsomeoilpro- Laura,BSEEdatashow. ergyCorp.saiditwasassess- beanSea,forecastershavesaid.
Court Rules a Protection for Immigrants Can End
BYMICHELLEHACKMAN grantsfromcountriesdeemed immigrantsfromthesixcoun- toarequestforcomment.The wehavehurricanes,there’sso Mr.Arulananthamsaidthey
too dangerous to return to, triesstandtobeimpacted,ac- JusticeDepartmentsaiditwas much going on,” said Wilna would ask the full Ninth Cir-
WASHINGTON—TheTrump typically because of war or cording to the Congressional pleasedwiththedecision. Destin, a TPS holder from cuittoreviewthedecision.
administrationcanwinddown natural disaster. The Trump ResearchService. The Bush and Obama ad- Haiti who fled on a boat and ImmigrantswithTPSfrom
humanitarian protections for administration during 2017 Judge Consuelo Callahan, ministrations routinely re- has lived in the U.S. for 20 the six countries involved in
hundredsofthousandsofim- and 2018 terminated TPS for whowrotethedecisionforthe newed the six countries’ TPS years with her children. “For the litigation will keep their
migrants from at least four the four countries as well as court, said immigration law everysixto18months. me,it’sanotherdisaster.” workauthorizationsandlegal
countries, a federal appeals HondurasandNepal. prohibitscourtsfromreview- The Trump administration AhilanT.Arulanantham,se- protectionsthroughMarch5,
court in California ruled on TPSholdersfromElSalva- ingtheprocesstheexecutive hassaidthatconditionsinthe niorcounselwiththeACLUof 2021. After that date, they
Monday. dor, Haiti, Nicaragua and Su- branch uses to determine six countries have since im- SouthernCaliforniaandoneof would need a different legal
In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. dan and their children sued whenacountryshouldbedes- proved,andthatpreviousad- the lawyers who argued the statustoremainintheU.S.
NinthCircuitCourtofAppeals, theadministration,sayingthe ignatedforTPS,meaningthe ministrations treated TPS, casefortheplaintiffs,saidthe TPSholdersfromElSalva-
based in San Francisco, re- decisionswereunlawful.Mon- plaintiffs in the suit couldn’t whichwascreatedin1990,as court’s finding that the gov- dor, whose president negoti-
verseda2018lowercourtrul- day’srulingisalsolikelytoaf- challengetheTrumpadminis- adefactopermanentstatus. ernment’sTPSdecisionscan’t ated a deal in October with
ingthatblockedtheadminis- fectTPSholdersfromHondu- tration. Judge Callahan, who Plaintiffs in the case and bereviewedbycourtsisdan- PresidentTrump,willbegiven
tration from phasing out rasandNepalwhoinFebruary was appointed by President other immigration advocates gerous. “If a future adminis- a year after the wind down
Temporary Protected Status, 2019 filed a separate lawsuit GeorgeW.Bush,alsosaidthe criticizedthedecision,saying trationmorefavorabletoim- takeseffect.
knownasTPS,forimmigrants that was put on hold the fol- plaintiffswerelikelytofailon it would upend the lives of migrantsweretograntTPSto Therulingisthelatestina
fromElSalvador,Haiti,Nica- lowing month pending the their argument that the ad- hundredsofthousandsofim- everyone from Mexico or ev- string of court victories for
raguaandSudan. outcome of the case decided ministrationshowedracialan- migrants, who are estimated eryonefromChinatosweeten the Trump administration on
TPS gives the secretary of Monday.Therulingislikelyto imus in its decision to end to be parents to at least sometradedeal,inwaysthat immigrationpolicy,following
HomelandSecuritytheauthor- eventuallybeappealedtothe protectionsforthecountries. 250,000U.S.citizenchildren. have nothing to do with the a pattern of lower courts
itytoprovidelegalprotections SupremeCourt. The Department of Home- “I’m just shocked because statute, no court could stop blockinghispoliciesonlytobe
and work permits to immi- Together, about 300,000 land Security didn’t respond already we have coronavirus, them,”hesaid. reversedbyhighercourts.
Rochester Mayor Fires
Chief Over Man’s Death
BYBENCHAPMAN Mr.Prude,aBlackman,died
inahospitalsevendaysaftera
The mayor of Rochester, March23incident,inwhichof-
N.Y.,firedthecity’spolicechief, ficers restrained him and
suspended its corporation placed a spit hood over his
counsel and communications head after responding to re-
SS director,andrequestedtheJus- portsofapersonactingerrati-
PRE tice Department review the cally.Aspithoodisarestrain-
OCITED cgirtoyw’sinpgolcircietidciespmaratnmdepnrtoatemsitds ipnoglicdeetvoicperesvoemnettsiommeesounseefdrobmy
ASS overtheasphyxiationdeathof bitingorspitting.
NE/ DanielPrude. Mr. Prude’s death, which
ONLI Mayor Lovely Warren said wasruledahomicide,became
R
STE Monday that she asked the public after his family held a
NCA JusticeDepartmenttolookat Sept. 2 news conference and
NP/LA aRlolcbhoedsyte-cramPoelricaefoDoetpaagretmfreonmt pforootvaigdeedofptohleiciencbidoednyt-.camera
N/L officers that involved use-of- Seven other officers in-
R
BU forcearrestsinthepastthree volved in the death of Mr.
K
AC years. PrudeweresuspendedonSept.
DYBL The decision to fire Chief 3. Mr. Prude’s death has also
AN La’RonSingletarycameaftera sparked days of Black Lives
DemonstratorsgatheredinLancaster,Pa.,onSunday.‘Thishasbeenaheartbreakingdayforourcity,’MayorDaneneSoracesaid. managementreviewofthere- Matterprotests.
sponse to the death of Mr. Messrs.SingletaryandCur-
Lancaster Police Shooting Sparks Protest Prude,Ms.Warrensaid. tin couldn’t be reached for
“Thisinitiallookhasshown comment.
whatsomanyhavesuspected, InatweetMonday,Mr.Roj
thatwehaveapervasiveprob- saidheacceptedMs.Warren’s
BYKRISMAHER DistrictAttorney’soffice. jects, according to police and wasn’tmakingadetermination lemintheRochesterPoliceDe- disciplinary action. “I person-
TheLancasterCityBureauof videotakenatthescene.Dem- aboutwhetherbureaupolicies partment,”shesaid. ally believe that Mr. Prude
Prosecutors in Lancaster, Police released body camera onstratorsthrewtrafficbarri- hadbeenfollowedoriftheuse Mr. Singletary announced wouldbealivetodayifthere-
Pa.,saidtheywereinvestigat- footageonSundaythatshowed cades,plantersandtrashcans of force had been justified. his resignation last week, but sponding officers recognized
ing a fatal shooting by police amanrunningoutofahouse across an access ramp at the Prosecutorssaidtheinvestiga- was meant to continue in his his humanity, and acted with
on Sunday and pursuing and chasing an officer while station,andteargaswasused tion into the shooting was in duties until the end of the compassionandrestraint,”Mr.
chargesagainstpeoplewhoen- holding a knife. The officer, after protesters failed to dis- theearlystages. month.MarkSimmons,adep- Rojsaid.
gaged in subsequent protests whowastheonlyofficeronthe perse,thedepartmentsaid. Policesaidprotestersdam- uty police chief, will serve as A lawyer representing Mr.
thatincludedsettingfiresand scene at the time, started to “This office fully supports aged numerous buildings and actingchieffor30daysstart- Prude’s family didn’t respond
damagingproperty. runaway,turnedandfiredsev- therighttogatherandpeace- businesses, in addition to the ingMonday,aCityHallspokes- toarequestforcomment.
Shortly after 4 p.m. Sun- eral shots, killing the man, as fullyprotest,however,theriot- clashes at the police station. mansaid. Ms.Warrensaidshealsodi-
day, police in the city of seeninvideofootagereleased ous behavior exhibited last The department said Monday Ms. Warren said the city’s rectedthecity’sOfficeofPublic
60,000about70mileswestof bythepolicedepartment. night is completely unaccept- afternoon that eight people corporationcounsel,TimCur- Integritytoinvestigatewhether
Philadelphia went to the Policeidentifiedthemanas ableandwillnotbetolerated,” were arrested on charges re- tin,andcommunicationsdirec- anycityemployeesviolatedpol-
home of a woman who had 27-year-oldRicardoMunoz. Lancaster County District At- latedtoarsonandrioting. tor,JustinRoj,weresuspended iciesorethicalstandardsinthe
said in a 911 call that her Sundaynight,morethan100 torneyHeatherAdamssaidon “Thishasbeenaheartbreak- for 30 days without pay for caseofMr.Prude.NewYorkAt-
brotherwasbeingaggressive protestersgatheredoutsidethe Monday. ingdayforourcity,”Lancaster failingtoact,informandfollow torneyGeneralLetitiaJamesis
withhermotherandtryingto Lancaster police station and Thedistrictattorney’soffice Mayor Danene Sorace said policyinthecircumstancessur- alreadyinvestigatingthedeath.
breakintoherhouse,accord- squared off against officers, saidwhenitreleasedtheoffi- Sunday following the fatal rounding the death of Mr. —JimmyVielkind
ing to the Lancaster County throwing rocks and other ob- cer’sbody-cameravideothatit shooting. Prude. contributedtothisarticle.
A4|Tuesday,September15,2020 THEWALLSTREETJOURNAL.
P W L C 10 11 12 H T G K R F A M 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 O I X X
U.S. NEWS
Start of First Debate Is Race’s Key Moment
thiskeyquestionmaybe hasthestrengthandmental themiddleoftheelectorate. usingmostprominentlyto PeterHartisaDemocratic
moreimportantthanwhat- acuityatage77totakeon Putbluntly,thenegativester- showthatMr.Reaganwasa pollsterwhohasbeenfollow-
eversubstantivewrangling thepresidency,andthatheis eotypeofRonaldReaganwas dangerousideologue,accus- ingpresidentialcampaigns
followsacrossthreesched- incontrolofaDemocratic thathewasashallowand inghimofplanningtocut forhalfacentury,andhe
uleddebates. Partymovingtotheleft,not uninformedwarmonger. Medicare,Mr.Reaganre- seesparallels.“Everythingup
Why?BecauseMr.Trump theotherwayaround.The Solotsofvotersalready spondedwithashakeofhis tonowhasbeenashadow
istryingtodosomethingno Trumpcampaignisbusy knewbythefallofthatyear headandabemusedlookand play,inwhichvotersare
CAPITAL JOURNAL presidentinmodernhistory sowingdoubtsonthose thattheydidn’treallywant themostmemorablelineof lookingatwhatIcallanindi-
haseverattempted:winre- fronts.ThefirstdebateisMr. tovoteforasecondCarter thedebate:“Thereyougo rectimageofJoeBiden,”
By Gerald F. Seib electionwhenhisjob-ap- Biden’sbestchancetoerase term,buttheyalsoneededto again.”Thatistosay,there saysMr.Hart,whohelpscon-
provalinthevenerableGal- them. beassureditwassafetogo yougo,misrepresentingmy ducttheJournal/NBCNews
luppollhasneverbeenabove Theclassicexampleofthis withachallengerabout positionsagain.Hecame pollalongwithRepublican
Themostimportant30 50%.Astunning44%of dynamiccamein1980.By whomtheyalsowereuneasy. acrossaslikableratherthan BillMcInturff.“Andwhen
minutesofthisyear’spresi- Americanssaidinthemost thispointthatyear,Jimmy Intheoneandonlydebate scary. he’sintheringwithDonald
dentialcampaignhaven’tar- recentWallStreetJournal/ Carterwasanunpopular Votershadgottenpermis- Trump,votersaregoingto
rivedyet. NBCNewspollthattheyhave presidentseenbymanyas siontocrossovertotheRea- makeadetermination.And
TheywillcomeSept.29,in “verynegative”feelingsto- notquiteuptothejob—orat JoeBidencangive ganline.Astheysay,therest thedeterminationis:Ishe
thefirsthalf-hourofthefirst wardhimpersonally. leastasnottherightmanfor washistory.Mr.Reagan readytobepresidentofthe
presidential C atoughjobataturbulent votersafeelingthat trailedMr.Carterbythree UnitedStates?”
debate.Thatis learly,alotofAmeri- momentinhistory.HisGallup it’ssafetomove pointsamonglikelyvotersin F
thecrucialpe- cansdon’tparticularly job-approvalratingstoodat theGallupsurveyjustbefore orhispart,Mr.Trump
awayfromTrump.
riodwhenJoe likethepresident,and 37%inmid-September. thedebate.Hemoved willmerelybetryingto
Bidenwill manydecidedlongagothey Yettherewereequallysig- promptlyintoathree-point “allowpeopletosay,‘I
havehisbest simplywon’tvoteforhim. nificantdoubtsabouthis pollinglead.Buttherushto don’tlikeTrump,butImay
chanceto Yet,Mr.Trumpalsoproved challenger,Republicannomi- Mr.Reaganhadonlybegun. havetovoteforhim.’”
showhe’suptothejob,and in2016thattherealsoare neeRonaldReagan.Mr.Rea- betweenthetwomajor-party ByElectionDay,hewonbya Thebottomline,saysMr.
givewaveringvoterswho plentyofothervoterswho ganalsowasseenasold— contendersthatfall,which whopping10percentage Hart,isthis:“Weknowthat
don’treallylikePresident maynotlikehimpersonally, thoughhisageof69then camejustaweekbeforethe points. ifthiselectionisareferen-
Trumpafeelingthatit’ssafe yettheywillvoteforhim wouldmakehimalmostspry election,Mr.Reaganper- Intriguingfootnote:Ironi- dumonDonaldTrump,he
tomoveawayfromhimand anyway,particularlyifthey bytoday’sstandards—and, formedwellenoughtogive cally,thatdebate,likethis loses.”TheBidendebate
towardtheDemocrats.That thinkthealternativeisworse. moreimportant,asapoliti- themthatassurance.Heof- year’sfirstTrump-Bidende- challengeistomakesureit
willbemerelyafirstimpres- Mr.Biden’smissionisto cianwhosestaunchconserva- feredacalmdemeanor.When bate,washeldinCleveland. remainsareferendumonthe
sion,ofcourse,yetinthis convincesuchvotersthathe tiveviewsmadehimseem Mr.Carterwheeledoutthe Historyplaysfunnytricks incumbent,notonthechal-
casetheinitialimpressionon isasafealternative—thathe slightlydangeroustosomein chargethatDemocratswere sometimes. lenger.
U.S. to Deny
Biden Pitches Highest Spending in Decades
Requests for
BYJACOBM.SCHLESINGER JoeBiden’s2020multi-trillion-dollarplatformincludeshistorically Biofuels Law
ANDELIZACOLLINS highallocationsforeducation,housingandinfrastructure.
FederalspendingasashareofGDP,selectedcategories Exemptions
Joe Biden won the Demo-
craticpresidentialnomination Biden’splatform Currentlaw
runningasamoderate,reject-
ing the big-government plans 2.0% EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE HOUSING BYLINDSAYWISE
of progressive rivals as unaf- ANDANDREWRESTUCCIA
fordable.
Inthegeneralelectioncam- 1.5 WASHINGTON—TheTrump
paign,hehasrolledouthisown administration will deny oil
multi-trillion-dollar platform refiners’ retroactive requests
that a new study finds wouldRESS 1.0 forexemptionsfromU.S.bio-
P
push long-term WashingtonD fuellaws,aboonforIowa,the
spendingtoitshighestlevelinATE leadingproducerofbiofuels.
decades. SSOCI 0.5 ThefederalRenewableFuel
The former vice presidentY/A Standardrequiresthatoilrefin-
has proposed a total of $5.4SK eriesblendbillionsofgallonsof
N
trillion in new spending overMA 0 biofuelsintofueleachyearor
thenext10years,accordingtoSE payacompliancefee.Smallre-
K 2000 ’10 ’20 ’30 ’00 ’10 ’20 ’30 ’00 ’10 ’20 ’30
ananalysispublishedMondayRIC fineries can apply for waivers
by the Penn Wharton BudgetPAT Notes:Datafor2020andlaterareprojections.Infrastructuredataincluderesearchanddevelopmen basedonfinancialhardship.
Model,anonpartisangroupat JoeBidenaddressingwildfiresMondayfromWilmington,Del. Source:PennWhartonBudgetModel TheEnvironmentalProtec-
theUniversityofPennsylvania’s tion Agency said it will deny
WhartonSchool.Thatincludes wing. “I’ve talked to Joe on a fessorwhooverseesthebudget but those appear to double- in 2019, but well below the so-called gap-filling petitions
historicallyhighallocationsfor number of occasions and I modelproject.Hewasreferring count campaign proposals re- jumpto30%thisyearamidthe seeking retroactive exemp-
sectors from education and thinkherecognizesthesuffer- to the losing 1972 Democratic peated at different times for pandemic. tionsfor2011-2018.“Thisdeci-
healthtochild-careandhous- ing that is taking place out presidentialcandidatewhoran differentpurposes.TheWhar- Itisalsobelowthelevelof sionfollowsPresidentTrump’s
ing. there right now,” says Mr. on a liberal platform that in- tonestimatesattempttoadjust governmentspendinginmost promisetopromotedomestic
Mr.Biden’sproposedbudget Sanders. “I believe he is pre- cludedaguaranteedminimum forthatduplication. oftheworld’sdevelopedcoun- biofuel production, support
ismorethandoublethatofHil- pared to respond to that pain incomeforallAmericans. TheBidencampaignsaidit tries—andfarshortoftheso- our nation’s farmers, and in
lary Clinton, the 2016 Demo- oncehe’selectedpresident.” couldn’t confirm the accuracy cial democracies of Europe, turnstrengthenourenergyin-
craticnominee.Itisafraction Ifenacted,theBidenbudget of the Wharton numbers, nor where the public sector in dependence,”EPAAdministra-
ofthe$30trillionto$50tril- wouldelevatefederalspending Hisproposed would it make public its own manycountriesequalsroughly torAndrewWheelersaid.
lion spending plans that pro- to24%ofgrossdomesticprod- costestimates. halfofGDP. Monday’sdecisionissignifi-
budgetismorethan
gressive Sens. Bernie Sanders uct by 2030, according to the PresidentTrumphasn’tlaid Aides say the former vice cant for Sen. Joni Ernst (R.,
andElizabethWarrenlaidout Whartonstudy.Outsidetwobig doublethatof out a detailed second-term president remains committed Iowa),whohasbeenlobbying
duringtheDemocraticprimary. crisis-drivenspendingspikes— agendathatcouldbesubjectto to avoiding an expansion of thepresidenttodenythewaiv-
HillaryClinton.
Butsinceeffectivelysealingthe the budgets swollen by the a similar accounting analysis, governmentdebt,insteadpay- ers as she campaigns for re-
nomination in March, Mr. Bi- 2009 financial crisis and the theWhartonanalystssaid.But ingforallofhisproposedper- election.Ms.Ernst’sDemocratic
den’s plan has grown in re- 2020pandemic—thatwouldbe the Republican has indicated manent spending increases opponent,TheresaGreenfield,
sponse to the pandemic, the thebiggestfederalbudgetgo- thathisfiscalpolicywouldtilt throughtaxhikesorspending hasbeenhittingherhardonthe
lockdowns, and the resulting ingbackmorethanhalfacen- TheWhartonteambasedits more toward tax cuts than cuts.Mr.Trumphasfueledre- issue.Ms.Greenfieldnotedlast
recession. tury,accordingtoWharton. estimates on the Biden cam- spendingincreases. cord-highbudgetdeficits,even monththeEPAwasconsidering
Theplanalsoreflectsanod “Thisisthelargestproposed paign’spublicproposals,andon If fully enacted, the Biden beforetheemergencyspending dozensmorewaiversandcriti-
toMr.Sanders,whohasprod- spending increase by a presi- discussions with Biden aides. plan would mean federal promptedbythepandemic,by cizedMs.Ernstforsupporting
dedMr.Bidentomovecloserto dential nominee since George Other analysts have come up spendingwouldequalnearlya enactingin2017a$1.5trillion Mr. Wheeler’s nomination to
hisagendatohelpsolidifythe McGovern,” says Kent Smet- with higher tallies for Mr. Bi- quarterofalleconomicactivity tax cut without offsetting leadtheEPA.Mr.Wheelerisa
support of the progressive ters,aWhartoneconomicspro- den’sproposedtotalspending, intheU.S.Thatisupfrom21% spendingreductions. formercoalindustrylobbyist.
Regulators RevlonInc.—wasseenasevi- Bankingregulatorsrequire
dence of weaknesses in the banks to track customers
system,thepeoplesaid. acrossalloftheiroperations.
To Rebuke Mr.Corbat,whohasrunthe The idea is to catch crimes
banksince2012,hadbeenex- like money laundering and
pected to retire sometime avoid errors that could harm
Citigroup around 2022. Citigroup ele- customers.WhileCitigroupis
vated Ms. Fraser last year to abletokeeptabsoncustomers
president and put her in across its businesses, regula-
charge of its consumer bank, torsworrythatitsmishmash
ContinuedfromPageOne establishingherasthefront- ofsystemsmakesitvulnerable
and control environment,” a runnertosucceedMr.Corbat. tocostlyandpotentiallydam-
Citigroup spokeswoman said, Mr. Corbat was quietly agingmissteps,peoplefamil-
citing the bank’s efforts to planning a 2021 exit but iarwiththemattersaid.
strengthen controls, infra- hadn’t discussed the exact S Citigroupinrecentmonths
R
structure and governance. timingwithMs.Fraserorthe UTE has tried to highlight its ef-
“However,whilewehavemade board, some of the people RE forts to shore up its systems
significant and demonstrable said. Over the Labor Day NE/ and convince regulators it is
Y
O
pearos,gwreessreicnogeancizheotfhathtewseeaarre- wreeteirkeenadft,ehrecdloesciidnegdohuetw20ou2l0d, HKILC tInakJinagnuthareyir,acoCnicteigrnrosuspereioxuecsluy-.
G
not yet where we need to be in part because of the work A tivetoldBloombergNewsthe
D
andthathastochange.” neededtoaddressregulators’ CLO bankwouldhire2,500coders
Citigroup’s shares closed concerns,thepeoplesaid. CitigroupCEOMichaelCorbat toworkonthetechnologyun-
down5.6%to$48.15onMon- InmemostoCitigroupstaff derpinningitsinvestment-and
day after The Wall Street Thursday,bothMr.Corbatand to improve its anti-money- corporate-bankingbusinesses,
Journalreportedtheexpected Ms.Fraseracknowledgedthat launderingprocesses.TheOCC withaneyetowardimproving
regulatory action. The KBW the bank needs to transform fined it in 2017 for failing to the bank’s ability to use the
NasdaqBankIndexrose1.8%. its internal systems for risk complywiththe2012order. datatheygenerate.
For years, regulators have andcompliance. At issue now is the infra- In June, it named a new
privatelypressedCitigroupand Mr. Corbat is widely cred- structure underpinning its compliance chief and hired
Mr.Corbattofixthebank’srisk itedwithsharpeningthebank’s broaderrisksystems,alegacy KarenPeetz,theformerpresi-
systems, according to people focus and reducing its sprawl of a string of deals in the dentofBankofNewYorkMel-
familiarwiththematter.Apub- duringhiseightyearsasCEO. 1990s that transformed the lonCorp.,tofillthenewroleof
lic rebuke would significantly Yetthebankhaslongstruggled bank into a financial super- chiefadministrativeofficer.Ms.
ratchet up the pressure. The to convince regulators that it market.Forinstance,manyof Peetzwasgivenauthorityover
Fed and the OCC have many wasmovingfastenoughtoad- Citigroup’s various busi- broadbanksafetyprojects,in-
tools at their disposal to ad- dresstheirconcerns. nesses—commercial banking, cludingthoseaimedatimprov-
dressproblemsoutofthepub- The Federal Reserve gave credit cards, corporate-advi- ingdataandanti-money-laun-
lic eye. A consent order indi- Citigroup in 2014 a failing soryservices,tonameafew— deringefforts.Atthetime,Mr.
catesthatthosemethodsdidn’t gradeonitsannualstresstest, runontheirownindependent Corbat said she would bring
achievethedesiredresults. citing the bank’s gaps in as- systems that have their own “consistency and clarity” to
Regulators have faulted sessingriskinitscapitalplan- methodsfortrackingcustom- dealingswithregulators.
Citi’smanagementfornotgiv- ning. The bank revamped its ers and transactions. There Mr.Corbathassaidthein-
ing priority to the risk-man- risk models and hired more arehundredsofidentification vestments,whichtotal$1bil-
agementoverhaul,thepeople compliance employees. It systems inside the bank. A lion this year alone, would
said. A recent high-profile hasn’tfailedthetestsince. customerdoingbusinesswith makeCitigroupsaferandmore
flub—Citigroup’s accidental Citigroup is still operating severalpartsofthebankcould competitive.
$900millionpaymenttocred- under consent orders from have different identification —ChristinaRexrode
itors of cosmetics company 2012and2013thatrequiredit codesforeachone. contributedtothisarticle.
THEWALLSTREETJOURNAL. Tuesday,September15,2020|A5
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A6|Tuesday,September15,2020 ** THEWALLSTREETJOURNAL.
U.S. NEWS
Virus Bills Highlight
Coverage Disparities
BYROBBIEWHELAN been laid off. Like nearly 28 herhusbandlivedcomfortably
million other Americans, he inSuffern,N.Y.,onahousehold
Across America, bills for hadnohealthinsurance. incomeofabout$85,000.She
Covid-19treatmentarecoming One Monday morning, he taught wellness classes to se-
due, and some patients are started feeling a fever, body niorcitizens;hewasanassis-
payinglargeout-of-pocketfees achesandchills.Hetestedpos- tantmanagerataHiltonprop-
despiteafederalsafetynetset itive and spent a week at ertyinNewYorkCity.
N
uptohelpthemavoidsuchfi- ShelbyBaptistMedicalCenter Thenewcoronavirusbegan NSE
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treatmentsarethedirectresult tal, resulting in out-of-pocket linDonovan,aseniordirector CLOC
ofaCovid-19diagnosis. costsof$876.Afriendsetupa attheNationalPatientAdvo- Clockwisefromtop:JonathanPerezhadout-of-pocketcostsof$876forfollow-upcareandachestX-ray.
“There’salotofconfusion, GoFundMe campaign to help cacyFoundation. KaishaBuchanan,picturedwithherson,receivedalettersayingshedidn’toweanythingforhertreatment.
and a lot of patients are covercosts. Covered:Low-IncomeMed- MichelleVernezzespent30daysinintensivecare;hertotalout-of-pocketcostsareroughly$600sofar.
scrambling,” says Jack Hoad- Vulnerable:SomeMedicare icaidHolders DawnChristensen’sout-of-pocketcostshavebeenmorethan$4,000.
ley, a researcher at George- Beneficiaries In theory, patients who
town University’s Health Pol- The six million Americans haveinsurancethroughMedic- providerforher5-year-oldson. aches. The next day, she no- lator for 16 days, spent 30
icy Institute who has studied coveredbyMedicarebutwho aid,thehealthinsurancepro- Shealsosuffersfromtype-2di- ticedherurinewasthecolorof daysinintensivecareandre-
billing.“Butwhatthey’vetried don’t have supplementary in- gram for 72.5 million low-in- abetesandhypertension. Coca-Cola, which she recog- ceived three blood transfu-
to create is a sort of patch- surance plans to cover cost- comeAmericans,shouldn’tbe She was discharged and nizedfromherworkatanin- sions. She later spent weeks
work universal health-care sharing, copayments and pre- required to pay anything for calledbacktoworkbyherem- ternal-medicineclinicasapo- hooked up to a dialysis ma-
systemforthisonedisease.” scriptions“arethepeoplewho Covid-19 treatment, says Ms. ployeronJune15,beforeshe tentialsignofkidneyfailure. chinefor24hoursaday.She
TheWallStreetJournalin- aremostatriskofcatastrophic Donovan. had fully recovered from the Herhusband,RonVernezze, washospitalizedfor52daysin
tervieweddozensofCovid-19 health expenses,” says Tricia KaishaBuchanan,a29-year- infectionandwhilestillhaving drovehertotheAuroraMedi- total.Butwhenitcomestothe
patients and identified four Neuman of the Kaiser Family oldpreschoolteacherinFlint, respiratory problems. Within calCenterinnearbyKenosha. bills, Ms. Vernezze considers
keygroupsthatexperiencethe Foundation. Mich.,wenttotheERinMay weeks, she received a letter Shehasnomemoryofthe25 herselfoneoftheluckyones.
financial ramifications of in- Medicare, the government after developing problems sayingshedidn’toweanything daysthatfollowed. Herencounterwithcorona-
fectionindifferentways. healthplanthatcoversseniors breathing.Shetestedpositive forhertreatment. After testing positive, she viruscostmorethan$836,000.
ClutchFunding:TheUnin- andthedisabled,doesn’thave for Covid-19, and other tests MostlyCovered:PrivateIn- developed a secondary bacte- Hertotalout-of-pocketcosts
sured out-of-pocket spending limits showed problems with her suranceHolders rialinfectionthatwasattack- sofar:$602.66incopayments
Jonathan Perez got sick at and hasn’t suspended its 20% heart,bloodpressureandkid- InMay,MichelleVernezze,a ing her lungs, kidneys, heart, to see an infectious-disease
theendofJune.A31-year-old cost-sharingforCovid-19. neys. 43-year-oldnursefromBristol, pancreasandimmunesystem. specialist and for an echocar-
Marine veteran in Hoover, Beforethepandemic,Dawn Ms. Buchanan earns about Wis.,wokeupwithafever,sore Shewasputintoaninduced diogram. Her insurance pro-
Ala., Mr. Perez had recently Christensen,52yearsold,and $18,000ayearandisthesole throat, dry cough and body comaandattachedtoaventi- videriscoveringtherest.
Arizona Cases, Deaths Fall Sharply
Testing Maker Probes
False-Positive Results
BYALLISONPRANG as mask mandates. He later Arizona’sdailynewcases tomorethan4,000byAug.6.
limitedbarstotakeoutandde- As of Sept. 9, more than
5,000
Asrecentlyasmid-July,Ar- liveryserviceandputcapacity 5,200Arizonanslosttheirlives BYANNAWILDEMATHEWS lengesurroundingthefederal
izona was in the midst of a restrictionsonrestaurants. toCovid-19,theillnesscaused effort to broaden testing in
full-blown coronavirus out- “Itreallyhasallowedusto bythenewcoronavirus. Becton Dickinson & Co. is nursing homes, as they and
4,000
break. It repeatedly logged bemuchmoremuscular,”said Mr. Ducey attributed the investigating reports from other long-term-care centers
more than 3,000 cases a day, FranciscoGarcía,PimaCounty’s riseinthestate’snumbersear- nursing homes that federally are tied to more than 70,000
7-day
puttingitinacategoryalong- chiefmedicalofficer,referring 3,000 average lier this summer to people provided rapid coronavirus- Covid-19-related deaths na-
side more populous states to the governor’s June order gathering inside and in large testing equipment from the tionwide,accordingtoaWall
suchasTexas,FloridaandCal- giving local municipalities groups,andsaidtheimprove- company is producing false- StreetJournalsurveyofstate
ifornia as the hottest of the more power. Pima County in- ment came from breaking up positiveresultsinsomecases. andfederaldata.Thepushre-
2,000
nation’shotspots. cludesthecityofTucson. big gatherings, encouraging So far, the number of re- latestoanewregulatoryman-
Twomonthslater,Arizonais Mr. Ducey has encouraged people to wear masks, and ports is small, nursing-home date from the Centers for
tellingadifferentstory. people to wear masks, but 1,000 temporarily shutting down industry officials said. The Medicare and Medicaid Ser-
The number of newly re- hasn’timplementedastatewide bars and other places where AmericanHealthCareAssocia- vicesrequiringregulartesting
ported cases in the state fell mandate. In July, mayors of peoplecongregate. tion,atradegrouprepresent- ofnursing-homestaffers.
72%inAugust,comparedwith someofthestate’sbiggestcit- 0 Schoolreopeningspresenta ingnursinghomes,saidithas Nursing homes have said
a month earlier, according to ies, including Phoenix, sent a new challenge. Many K-12 heard from roughly a dozen theyarestrugglingtogetrefill
F M A M J J A S
datafromJohnsHopkinsUni- letter to the governor asking schools started this year with facilities that had seen a sig- testsforthefederallysupplied
versity.Overthatsameperiod, for a more coordinated ap- Sources:JohnsHopkinsUniversity distance learning. Among col- nificantnumberoffalseposi- rapid-testing machines that
the number of deaths in the proach to handling the pan- leges,ArizonaStateUniversity tives and a similar number they received, and they are
statefellbyroughlyone-third. demic. derexpired,thingsworsenedas reopenedforin-personclasses withjustoneortwo. alsoworriedaboutcostsand,
Arizona’s apparent turn- “We wanted to make the peoplestartedventuringout. onAug.20,andtheUniversity False-positive test results in some places, conflicting
around contrasts with what bestdecisionsthatwouldsave Arizona hit a daily high of of Arizona in Tucson, which are a particularly significant guidance from state regula-
happened in those other hot- themaximumamountoflives 4,877newcasesonJuly1.Hos- starteditssemesterAug.24,is riskinnursinghomes,because tors.
spot states, whose conditions whileprioritizinglivesbutalso pitalizations continued climb- offeringamixofonlineandin- aresidentwronglybelievedto A spokesman for Becton
have improved but not as livelihoods,”Mr.Duceysaidin ingthereafter,reachingahigh personclasses. haveCovid-19couldbeplaced Dickinson said “a small num-
much.ReportedcasesinFlor- an interview. “And there was of 3,517 on July 14, with 970 Assomerestrictionsarere- in an area dedicated to in- ber of nursing homes in the
ida, California and Texas toomuchgame-playingaround people in intensive care, ac- laxed, and reopened universi- fectedpatients,potentiallyex- U.S. are reporting multiple
dropped54%,21%and29%,re- mayors that only wanted to cordingtodatafromtheCovid ties experience case clusters, posing an uninfected person. false-positiveresults”fromits
spectively,lastmonth. lock everything down, and I TrackingProject. thestate’ssuccessagainstthe “It’senoughtowarranttak- Veritortestingequipment.The
Healthexpertsandofficials wasn’t going to allow that to Arizona’s death toll topped virusmightnotlastlong,said ing it seriously,” said David company said it immediately
attribute Arizona’s improve- happen when it wasn’t in the 1,000 on June 5, roughly 2½ KaceyErnst,professorandpro- Gifford, chief medical officer contacted the sites and is in-
menttoahostofissues,such bestinterestofsavinglives.” monthsafterthefirstcoronavi- gramdirectorofepidemiology of AHCA. It isn’t clear if the vestigating the situation to
asGov.DougDucey’sdecision Inthespring,thestate,like rusdeathwasrecordedinthe at the University of Arizona. false positives are more fre- obtainadditionaldetails.The
in mid-June to allow cities, many others, avoided serious state.ByJuly9,thedeathtoll “Withthosethingsallcoincid- quentthanexpected,hesaid. reports don’t reflect findings
towns and counties to enact problems.Butintheweeksaf- had doubled to more than ing, our downturn may be Thegroupalerteditsmembers inthecompany’sstudies,the
morerestrictivemeasures,such terthestate’sstay-athome-or- 2,000.Itroughlydoubledagain short-lived,”shesaid. abouttheconcernwithBecton spokesmansaid.Thecompany
Dickinson machines on Mon- hasfilleditsinitialfederalor-
Amazon day. der,andnowcanrestockdis-
opened this year in Canada That stands in contrast to such as its cloud computing KatieSmithSloan,chiefex- tributorswithtestkits.
and the U.S., it said. Amazon other companies and indus- and advertising businesses, ecutiveofLeadingAge,which HHS was recently made
Set to Hire hasmorethan600facilitiesin tries that are cutting tens of continue to see fast growth, representsnonprofitproviders aware of the issue with false
theU.S.,accordingtologistics thousands of jobs. Amid a creating further job opportu- of aging services, said, “Re- positivesandiscloselymoni-
consultant MWPVL Interna- slump in passenger demand, nities. ports of false positives are toringthesituation,anagency
100,000 tional. U.S.airlinesshedabout50,000 Amazonsaiditisstillcom- troublingandaddtothemany spokeswomansaidinastate-
Amazon has experienced a jobs in the first half of the pleting plans on whether it challengesnursinghomeshave ment.TheFoodandDrugAd-
wave of orders this year as yearalone.Traditionalretail- will need to hire seasonal tonavigate.” ministration is also looking
coronavirus restrictions ers like J.C. Penney, Neiman workers for the coming holi- The Department of Health intotheissue,shesaid.HHSis
pushed millions more people Marcus Group Inc., J.Crew dayseason.Thecompanytypi- and Human Services said in working to ensure nursing
ContinuedfromPageOne toward online shopping. Re- Group Inc. and others have callyadds staff in the run-up JulythatitwouldshipQuidel homes have priority for test
paying at least $15 an hour tailers like Walmart and Tar- filedforbankruptcy. to the season, which is the Corp. and Becton Dickinson kits,andhastakenseveralac-
and including benefits and get Corp. as well as e-com- Amazon,whichaccountsfor peak shopping period for re- rapid-testing machines and a tionstoprovide“extremeclar-
signingbonusesofasmuchas merce companies such as more than a third of online tailers. limited supply of test kits to ityandnoroomformisunder-
$1,000 in some cities. Hiring Instacart Inc. have also seen U.S.sales,hasrecordedrecord An Amazon spokeswoman around14,000nursinghomes standingormisinterpretation”
forthejobshasalreadybegun. immense growth online and profits during the pandemic. saidthecompanywasableto nationwide. on the role of the tests, she
The positions are all nonsea- hired hundreds of thousands Thecompanypostedarecord make the 100,000 positions Quidelmachineshavegone said.
sonal,Amazonsaid. ofworkers. $88.9billioninsalesduringits nonseasonal because of sus- to fewer facilities, and the The Becton Dickinson
The company also said it Amazon added 175,000 second quarter, and profit taineddemandthisyear. company said it had not re- equipmentisusedtoperform
would open 100 operational warehouse workers in March doubledyear-over-yearto$5.2 Amid the rising sales, the ceived any reports of false- point-of-care antigen tests
buildingsthismonthalone,in- andApril,125,000ofwhomit billion. company’s shares are up al- positive results from nursing that don’t have to be sent to
cludingfulfillmentcenters,de- saiditwouldkeep.Lastweek, Inthesamequarter,italso most 70% this year. That has homes that got its testing labs for processing. Antigen
liverystations,sortingcenters thecompanysaiditwasinthe spentmorethan$9billionin takenitsmarketcapitalization equipmentfromHHS. tests focus on virus proteins,
andothersites.Thatwilladd processoffilling33,000corpo- capital projects. The com- toaround$1.6trillion,behind The concern about false whilemoleculartestslookfor
tomorethan75othersalready ratepositions. pany’s nonretail segments, onlyAppleInc. positives is the latest chal- thevirus’sgeneticmaterial.
THEWALLSTREETJOURNAL. Tuesday,September15,2020|A7
You might not outrun a train,
or leap over buildings.
You might not be a superhero.
But you are superhuman.
You built civilizations,
and started industries.
You.
The pioneer, the inventor, the dreamer.
And when the going got tough,
you became the teacher,
the volunteer, the healer.
All while moving the economy,
and the world, forward.
Imagine what you could do
if technology pulled out all the stops,
so you can become
all that you can become.
You’re made for bigger things.
A8|Tuesday,September15,2020 THEWALLSTREETJOURNAL.
****
U.S. NEWS
Oracle-TikTok Deal Needs Security Check
BYKATYSTECHFEREK
ForCfius,Concerns TreasurySecretarySteven
WASHINGTON—Oracle Mnuchinsaidwouldoccurin
AboutDataAbound
Corp.’s bid to become the thiscase.
“trusted technology partner” Thepresident,however,has
forthepopularChinese-owned thepowertooverrideCfiusde-
TikTokappmaynotbeastan- TheCommitteeonForeign cisions.
dard-issue business deal, but InvestmentintheU.S.,or Inrecentyears,Cfiushas
it is increasingly the sort of Cfius,isbestknownforre- increasinglylookedatdeals
arrangementthatundergoesa viewingproposedforeigntake- thatinvolvedaccesstoper-
national-security review, ac- oversofU.S.businessesthat sonaldataofU.S.citizens—not
cordingtolawyerswhoadvise couldweakenU.S.security, onlyfortechnologyplatforms
companiesinsuchcases. suchasacquisitionsofcompa- butforinsurers,health-care
Treasury Secretary Steven nieswhosetechnologyhasmil- companiesandhospitality
MnuchinsaidMondaythatthe itaryapplications. firms.
Oraclebidwouldbereviewed LedbytheTreasuryDe- Panelistsonthecommittee
bytheCommitteeonForeign partment,Cfiusalsoincludes sometimeswillgiveagreen
Investment in the U.S., a na- representativesfromtheState lighttodealsthattheycon-
OL
tional security panel that is O Department,thePentagon,the sidertroublingonanational-
P
bestknownforreviewingout- SS DepartmentofHomelandSe- securityfrontifthecompanies
rightforeigntakeoversofU.S. PRE curityandotheragencies.It involvedareabletoconvince
companies. OTT/ deliberatesinprivate,some- themthatthoseconcernscan
TheOracledeal,bycompar- SC timesmakingitsrecommenda- bemitigated.
N
ison,involvesanarrangement RI tionstothepresident—as —KatyStechFerek
E
with TikTok to move data on TreasurySecretaryStevenMnuchinonMondaysaidCfiuswouldreviewtheOraclebidforTikTok.
American users to Oracle’s
cloud-computing infrastruc- tensiveapplicationthatCfius propagandaandthattheplat- agreedthattheyshouldmoni- cordingtoTreasuryfigures. concerns.Lastyear,thepanel
ture in the U.S. to prevent it haslookedatcloselyandiden- form’s moderators could be tor deals for privacy-related Insomeofthosedeals,they ordered another Chinese in-
from being shared with the tifiedconcernswith,”saidDa- censoringcontenttoappease concerns almost immediately required businesses involved vestortogiveupitsinterestin
Chinesegovernment. maraChambers,aWashington, Beijing. afterward, according to sev- inthetransactionstolimitthe Grindr,adatingapporiginally
Attorneyswhoadvisecom- D.C.-based national-security TikTok has denied that it eral former panelists. And transfer of intellectual prop- gearedtowardgaymen,over
paniesandinvestorsundergo- lawyer with the Vinson & El- wouldcompromisethedataof soonafter,panelistsgavecare- ertyandtradesecrets,ensure concernsthepersonaldatait
ing national-security reviews kinslawfirmwhosaidsome- its users, or use its site to ful scrutiny to several deals that only a few authorized collectscouldbeexploitedby
say the panel is increasingly times the panel will require spreadpropaganda. that raised privacy concerns haveaccesstokeytechnology Beijingtoblackmailindividu-
dealing with matters that in- ongoingmonitoringandaudit- The Cfius panel’s focus on about the information that or require that U.S. citizens alswithsecurityclearances.
volvedataprivacy,aswellas ingofadeal. privacy concerns sharpened couldflowbacktoChina,they handle certain products and Otherdealsthatraisedpri-
dealsthatinvolveminorityin- Cfiushasbeeninvestigating after2015,whenU.S.officials added. services,thereportsaid. vacyconcernsinvolvedinsur-
vestments, private-equity in- risks related to TikTok’s Chi- announced that hackers had Panelists often allow deals Ms.Savagesaidthatwhen anceandhospitality.
vestments and limited part- nese owner, Beijing-based penetrated databases of the that they consider troubling panelists are trying to figure Earlierthismonth,amajor
nershipstructures. ByteDanceLtd.,formonths. U.S.OfficeofPersonnelMan- onanational-securityfrontto outifsafeguardsfordataare U.S.hoteloperatorhasagreed
“There’salotofexperience U.S. officials say they are agementcontainingrecordsof go through if the companies strong enough, they will as- to purchase hotel property
and models to use in situa- concerned that TikTok could personnel files and security- involved can convince them sesswhatkindofdataisona management software firm
tionswherethereisn’tanout- pass on data it collects from clearance forms for current that those concerns can be techplatform,whereitresides StayNTouchInc.,a$46million
right 100% purchase,” said Americansstreamingvideosto andformerU.S.officials.The mitigated.Lastyear,thepanel and where the potential ac- dealthatcametogetherafter
lawyerChristineSavageofthe China’sauthoritariangovern- breachamountedtooneofthe adopted mitigation measures quirerislocated. Mr.Trumpsaidthecompany’s
King&SpaldingLLPlawfirm ment. They also are increas- largest-evertheftsofU.S.gov- withrespectto33dealsthey Butinsomecases,panelists existing Chinese ownership
inWashington,D.C. ingly concerned that the app ernmentrecords. hadinvestigated,roughly12% couldn’t find safeguards posesathreattoU.S.national
“Thisisn’tthefirstdata-in- might be spreading Chinese MembersoftheCfiuspanel of the year’s total deals, ac- strong enough to ease their security.
Unusual
saidonSept.10.“Sowe’llei-
ther close up TikTok in this
Talks Spur country for security reasons,
orit’llbesold.”
For weeks it appeared Mi-
Alliance crosoftwasintheleadonne-
gotiations,anditappearedto
be close to a deal in late Au-
gust. The dynamic changed
whentheChinesegovernment
ContinuedfromPageOne saiditwouldrequireapproval
operationsoutrightorsurren- foranytransferofChinesein-
dertheprizedalgorithmsthat tellectualproperty,whichwas
powertheappandmakeitso believedtocoverTikTok’sal-
compelling to users, the peo- gorithms.
ple said. Some of the people That was a blow to Micro-
also said Oracle would have soft,whichwantedtousethe
accesstoviewthealgorithm’s algorithms to push further
sourcecodeandhowitworks. intosocialmedia,gamingand
Among other things, the video. Once Beijing got in-
ByteDance proposal will in- volved,thatstrengthenedOra-
volveexpandingTikTok’sU.S. cle’s hand, because the com-
offices to become the global panyisinterestedprimarilyin
headquartersandhavingOra- winningTikTokasacustomer
clecertifythesecurityofthe foritscloudbusiness,saidthe
app’sdata,thepeoplesaid. S personfamiliarwiththetalks,
W
Oracle was originally NE where businesses rent space
broughtintothenegotiations G onsomeoneelse’sservers.
R
to provide an alternative to BE WorkingwithTikTokwould
M
MicrosoftCorp.,arivalbidder OO burnishOracle’scloudcreden-
with Walmart as a partner, S/BL tials, in part because the
saidonepersonfamiliarwith RRI video-heavynatureoftheapp
O
thetalks.TheU.S.investment M makes it an especially de-
firms Sequoia Capital and AUL mandinguser,saidRayWang,
P
GeneralAtlantic,whichareex- D founderoftheSiliconValley-
VI
istinginvestorsinByteDance, DA basedadvisoryfirmConstella-
wentinsearchofatechcom- Oracleco-founderLarryEllison,whosecompanyisvyingforadealwithTikTok,hostedafundraiserforMr.Trumpthisyearathishouse. tionResearchInc.
panywithclosetiestothead- “Oracle is showing it can
PopularDemand
ministration and settled on dealthatappearstobesome- sonfamiliarwiththematter. runthetoughestworkloadsin
Oracle,thepersonsaid. thing less than that, or ban- WeeklyactiveTikTokusers Shareofpubliccloudservices InastatementonMonday, the public cloud, and that’s
Oracleco-founderLarryEl- ning an app that is hugely intheU.S. Oracle confirmed that it was whatit’sgoingafter,”saidMr.
lison hosted a fundraiser for popular. part of the ByteDance pro- Wang.“Videorequiresastable
Mr. Trump this year at his Apersonfamiliarwiththe 60million 14% Amazon posalandnotedthatit“hasa andmassivelyelasticcloud.”
house,andChiefExecutiveSa- mattersaidthatTikTokwould Web 40-yeartrackrecordproviding Oraclecurrentlylagsfarbe-
fra Catz also worked on the committoadding25,000jobs 12 Services secure, highly performant hind cloud leaders including
50
executive committee for the in the U.S. It isn’t clear Microsoft technologysolutions.” Amazon.com Inc. and Micro-
Trump transition team in whether that would be one 10 Mr.Trumphasn’tplayeda soft. It mainly provides busi-
2016. way of meeting Mr. Trump’s 40 centralroleintheinternaldis- ness customers software to
otherunusualdemandforthe 8 cussionsaboutTikTok,aper- helpruntheirbusiness.
sale—thatitresultinasizable son familiar with the matter Thecloudhasbecomemore
Cloud jolt 30
paymenttotheU.S.Treasury. said, adding that the issue important to Oracle because
6
ForOracle,thearrangement ByteDanceisconfidentthe isn’tamonghisbiggestpriori- customersfavorrentingserver
couldgiveajolttoitsefforts steps it is taking will ade- 20 ties during the re-election timeandsoftwareandcutting
4
totransformitsdatabasebusi- quatelymeettheU.S.requests. campaign. back on the kind of spending
ness into a major player in “Trump wanted a big se- Oracle The president, the person on in-house technology that,
cloud computing, one of the cureAmericancompany,”said 10 2 said, has at times expressed fordecades,underpinnedsales
mostdynamicareasintech. onepersonfamiliarwithByte- skepticism that bringing in a forthecompany.
PresidentTrump’sthreatto Dance’s thinking. “We got 0 0 newcompanytooverseeTik- Amazon popularized the
banTikToktriggeredthecor- that.” Tok’s U.S. operations would cloud-computingmodelandis
J F M A M J J A S 2017 ’18 ’19
porateracetosaveit,andhe Microsoft,Oracle’schiefri- adequatelyaddresstheadmin- theleaderinso-calledpublic-
will be the ultimate decider. val in the bidding, believed Sources:AppAnnie(users);IDC(marketshare) istration’s national-security cloudinfrastructure,with45%
Hehastheauthoritytoover- any deal that didn’t involve concerns. marketshare,aheadofMicro-
rule any recommendation transfer of the algorithms partner who took a lead role Mnuchinisseenastheleader soft,witharound18%,accord-
madetohimbytheU.S.Com- would fall short of the U.S. lobbying on TikTok’s behalf, of the latter camp, according ing to research firm Gartner
Trump threat
mitteeonForeignInvestment government’sdemand,accord- hasdonatedtensofthousands to the people in contact with Inc.,whichdoesn’tcountOra-
intheU.S.thatoverseescross- ing to some people familiar ofdollarstoRepublicancandi- the White House, and Sen. Mr. Trump on July 31 said cleinitstop-fivevendors.Or-
borderdeals,althoughitisun- with the company’s thinking, dates this election season Lindsey Graham and others he planned to block TikTok’s aclewasslowtoembracethe
usualforapresidenttoweigh asdidsomecybersecurityex- alongwithhiswife,including likewise have made the case platformfromoperatinginthe cloudasittriedtoprotectits
in. After weeks of saying he perts. The person familiar to the president’s re-election that banning TikTok would U.S.,thenissuedanexecutive legacybusiness.
wouldacceptonlyanoutright withByteDance’sthinkingsaid campaign.Mr.Leonealsoheld orderdoingsooneweeklater. To Jefferies analyst Brent
sale of TikTok’s U.S. opera- Microsoftatvarioustimesap- areceptionathisSiliconVal- “AsfarasTikTokisconcerned, Hill, the deal with TikTok
tionstoanAmericancompany, pearedcontentwithstructures ley home for Secretary of Thetalkstook we’rebanningthemfromthe shows the pressure Oracle is
Mr.Trumpmustweighthepo- thatwouldn’trequiretransfer StateMikePompeoinJanuary. UnitedStates,”hetoldreport- under.“Oracleisbeggingfora
unexpectedturns
litical calculus of accepting a ofthealgorithms. Ms. Catz’s relationship to ers. cloud win,” he said. “Micro-
Oracle’sMr.EllisonandMs. Mr.TrumpcouldgiveOraclea anddrewinbig Mr. Trump signed a presi- soft, Amazon and Google are
Catz have been vocal about legupingettingthedealap- dentialorderAug.14thatset taking massive share away
namesinbusiness.
their concerns about China, proved,accordingtopeoplein a 90-day deadline for any fromthem.”
Craftedingold&platinum andhaverepeatedlyraisedthe contactwiththeWhiteHouse. transaction to be completed. Snagging the TikTok busi-
issuewithmembersofthead- Oraclehasworkedfordecades Thatorder,issuedinconjunc- nesshelpslegitimizeOracle’s
Rush!
ministration even before the withtheU.S.government,in- tionwithanotheroneforthe cloud, said Ed Anderson, an
Service
Available TikTokdramaensued,saidone cluding multiple contracts backfire politically among Chinese social-media app analyst at Gartner. “It’s en-
personfamiliarwiththemat- withthenational-securityes- youngconservatives. WeChat,wouldbarAmericans couraging to see Oracle ag-
ter. tablishment. Mr. Mnuchin and senior fromdownloadingtheappson gressivelypursuingthecloud.”
Sequoia Capital used its A divide remains in the staffersattheCommerceDe- theirsmartphones,andisseen Still, he said, the company is
own connections to push the White House between the partment worked to bring as politically perilous due to unlikelytocatchtheleadAm-
administrationtoallowTikTok China hawks who believe Mr. Commerce Secretary Wilbur the popularity of the TikTok azonandMicrosofthavebuilt.
to continue operating in the Trumpshouldfollowthrough Ross on board. Messrs. app. —GordonLubold,Rolfe
ImmortalizeYourAnniversary U.S.,saypeoplefamiliarwith on his threat to ban the app MnuchinandRossdecidedto “We’ll see what happens. Winkler,MichaelC.Bender,
inRomanNumerals! the discussions. Doug Leone, andthosewhofavoradeal. pursuetheOracleoptiondur- It’ll either be closed up or andAndrewRestuccia
JOHN-CHRISTIAN.COM 888.646.6466 the firm’s global managing Treasury Secretary Steven ingacallonFriday,saidaper- they’ll sell it,” Mr. Trump contributedtothisarticle.
THEWALLSTREETJOURNAL. Tuesday,September15,2020|A9
WORLD NEWS
Xinjiang Japan Feels Tug From China, U.S.
Companies
Premier’ssuccessor
Are Hit
willstepintomiddleof
tensionsbetweenits
With Bans
twobiggestpartners
BYKATYSTECHFEREK BYPETERLANDERS
WASHINGTON—TheTrump TOKYO—Yoshiyuki Kasai,
administrationbannedcotton longtimebossofJapan’sbig-
apparel, computer parts and gest bullet-train line, says he
otherimportsfromcompanies thinks Tokyo’s alliance with
and suppliers that allegedly theU.S.comesfirstandChina
relied on forced and impris- needstohearthatmessage.If
onedlaborersinChina’sXinji- Beijingdoesn’tlikeit,hesays,
angregion. toughluck.
U.S. Customs and Border Hiroaki Nakanishi, head of
ProtectionofficialsonMonday Japan’s most powerful busi-
S
issued orders for agents to nessfederation,sayshethinks W
hold shipments from four thatattitudeisself-defeating. NE
G
commercialentities,onetrain- Afterallitsworktobuildties BER
ing center and an industrial withChina,Tokyoshouldplay OM
O
park that they suspect have nicewhereitcan,hesays. BL
handled goods made with The clashing views of two PA/
SI
forcedlabor,citingthepower topexecutives,eachapolitical HE/
of a 1930s law that declared heavyweight,suggestthechal- ATIC
theimportationofthosegoods lenge for Japan’s next prime D
S
illegal. ministerinnavigatingtheten- OLA
“Thescourgeofforcedlabor sions between the U.S. and NIC
practices used in China is an China.YoshihideSuga,thede YoshihideSugaonMondaywontheleadershipracefortherulingLiberalDemocraticParty,assuringhimofbecomingprimeminister.
unconscionable assault on in- facto No. 2 in Shinzo Abe’s
nocentpeopleandathreatto government since 2012, on supplying Huawei and other Japan’sexportstoChina called for “efforts to promote suchadegreethatinapinch,
American producers,” said Monday won the leadership Chinesecompanieswithparts, everlastingfriendshipbetween you can throw it all out and
¥15trillion
MarkMorgan,actingcommis- race for the ruling Liberal ifthosepartsuseU.S.technol- the two peoples of China and stillbeOK,”hesaid.
sioner of U.S. Customs and Democratic Party, assuring ogy. And deal making with Japan,”officialmediareported, Askedtonamepeoplewho
Border Protection, during a himofsucceedingMr.Abeas Chinaisgettingtrickier,asTo- while delivering veiled warn- hethinksunderplaytheChina
press conference on Monday, primeministeronWednesday. kyobeveragemakerKirinHold- ingstotheU.S.andMr.Trump. risk,Mr.KasaisingledoutMr.
addingthattheorderscameaf- Mr.Abe,leadingtheworld’s ingsCo.foundinAugustwhen Beijingmustbesetstraight, Nakanishi, 74, the business
tertwoyearsofinvestigation. third-largesteconomybehind U.S.allyAustralianixedKirin’s 10 saidthe79-year-oldMr.Kasai, federationchiefwhoisalsoa
U.S. officials have con- the U.S. and China, built a sale of an Australian dairy former president and now former chief executive of Hi-
demned Chinese leaders in strong friendship with Presi- businesstoaChinesecompany. chairmanemeritusofCentral tachiLtd.HitachibuiltJapan’s
Beijing over alleged human- dentTrumpandimprovedties “We are entering a quite JapanRailwayCo.HeandMr. first bullet train cars for the
rights abuses that have un- with Beijing. But Mr. Suga difficult phase,” said Toshiba AbehaddinnerinJulyonone Tokyo-Osaka line now oper-
folded against the mostly likely will find it harder to Corp.’sheadofcorporatestrat- of the prime minister’s final ated by Mr. Kasai’s company,
MuslimUighurminoritypopu- maintainthebalancingact. egy, Masaharu Kamo, citing 5 nightsoutbeforeanintestinal but unlike the railway, it has
lation in northwest China in Mr.Sugahaslittleforeign- national security risks. “We ailmentforcedhimtoresign. developed a big China busi-
recentyears.Theregionpro- affairs experience beyond as- have to look at every single “Wehavetogoinlockstep ness, selling elevators, medi-
ducesasizableportionofthe sisting Mr. Abe. Asked Satur- itemthatistradedwithChina, withtheU.S.,”Mr.Kasaisaidin cal systems and much else.
world’s cotton, which some dayatadebateabouthisChina not simply each deal on its aninterview.“IfChinathinksit Mr.Nakanishi“doesn’tunder-
watchdoggroupssayrelieson stance,heavoidedtakingone. own but whether it will have candivideJapanandtheU.S., stand geopolitics,” Mr. Kasai
0
forcedorprisonlabortohar- His dilemma is shared by aneffectonourcompany.” it will try every trick in the said.
vestitorturnitintoyarnand U.S. allies around the world Japanisdeeplyentwinedin ’11 ’13 ’15 ’17 ’19 book to do it, and Japanese TheformerHitachiCEOsaid
fabricbothinfactoriesnearby suchasGermanythatrelyon Chinese business. Exports to Note:¥10trillion=$94billion politics will fall into disarray hedidn’tclaimtobeanexpert
andinneighboringcountries. American military might for China, which totaled nearly Source:Japan’sMinistryofFinance fromChineseintervention.” in geopolitics, but he said he
A representative for the protection while leaning on $140billionin2019,havebeen Mr. Kasai said he advised understood the history of
Chinese Embassy cited past Chinaforeconomicgrowth. helping Japan recover from saidMiekoNakabayashi,apro- Mr. Abe to disinvite Mr. Xi, Japan’stieswiththecontinen-
statementsfromChineseoffi- Japan and other U.S. allies thecoronavirusdownturnand fessoratWasedaUniversity. who had been scheduled to talpowernextdoor.Headvised
cials,whomaintainthatoper- haveagreednottouseequip- arerunningaboveyear-earlier Beijing has sent signals it visitTokyoinAprilbeforethe against letting the politics of
ators in the region abide by ment from China’s Huawei levels, according to Japan’s hopes to enlist Tokyo against coronavirusintervened,andhe themomentoverridethesuc-
international labor laws, and TechnologiesCo.intheirnext- MinistryofFinance. Mr. Trump. When China on suggestedJapanesecompanies cesses of decades in building
that government activities in generationtelecommunications “There are lots and lots of Sept.3markedthe75thanni- shouldtrimtheirChinaexpo- business partnerships. “My
the region are aimed at pre- networks. U.S. sanctions are privatecompaniesthatcannot versaryofWorldWarII’send, sure to avoid being manipu- viewonChinaisquitedifferent
ventingterrorism. hitting Japanese companies afford to go against China,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping lated.“Itshouldbelimitedto fromMr.Kasai’s,”hesaid.
Branstad Plans to Step Down
As American Envoy to Beijing
THE FASTEST,
BYCHUNHANWONG
ANDLIZALIN
MOST SECURE
HONG KONG—Terry Bran-
stadissteppingdownasU.S.
ambassadortoChina,endinga
more-than-three-year tenure PLATFORM FOR
at the forefront of Washing-
ton’sincreasinglystrainedre-
lationshipwithBeijing. OL NEXT-GEN APPS
Secretary of State Mike PO
PompeothankedMr.Branstad RESS
inaseriesoftweetsonMonday, N/P AND DATA.
sayingtheenvoyhad“contrib- BEI
uretleadtitoonsresboaltahnactinigt Uis.Sr.e-Csuhlitnsa- HIEFEL
SC
oriented,reciprocal,andfair.” K
R
Mr.Branstad,aRepublican MA
WELCOME TO THE 4TH
whosesixtermsasgovernorof TerryBranstad,aformergovernorofIowa,isdepartingafterseveral
Iowaovertwostintsmadehim monthsinwhichrelationsbetweentheU.S.andChinaworsened.
the longest-serving governor INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.
inU.S.history,isduetoleave sothatitisfairandreciprocal cityofChengdu.
BeijinginearlyOctoberandre- and can fuel positive growth The 73-year-old American
turntoIowa,theU.S.Embassy in both countries,” Mr. Bran- envoy found himself at the
in Beijing said. He spoke to stadsaid. center of another diplomatic
PresidentTrumpbyphonelast Mr. Branstad’s tenure has spat last week when Mr.
weektoconfirmhisdecisionto been slightly longer than PompeoaccusedChina’sCom-
retire,theembassysaid. those of his recent predeces- munist Party of acting hypo-
Mr.Branstad’sson,Eric,is sors. News of his departure critically in deciding not to
an adviser to Mr. Trump’s comesasSeanStein,thehead publishanop-edbyMr.Bran-
Iowacampaign,andtheelder oftheU.S.ConsulateinShang- stad in the party’s flagship
Mr. Branstad is expected to hai,alsoleaveshispost. newspaper, People’s Daily,
supportMr.TrumpandRepub- The exits follow several whichdescribedthearticleas
lican Sen. Joni Ernst in 2020 months during which U.S.- “full of loopholes and seri-
racesinIowa.Mr.Trumptold Chinarelationsquicklydeterio- ouslyinconsistentwithfacts.”
Ms.Ernstinaphonecallthat rated,asthetwogovernments Beijing also imposed what
Mr.Branstadis“cominghome imposedtit-for-tatdiplomatic itcalledreciprocalrestrictions
fromChina’causehewantsto restrictions on each other on American diplomats in
campaign,”accordingtoare- China after Washington an-
cording of the call Ms. Ernst nouncedfreshcurbsonactivi-
postedonSaturdayonTwitter. Theambassador ties of Chinese diplomats in
Theprocessofappointinga theU.S.thismonth.
hadenjoyedlong
newambassadortoChinaisex- Mr.Branstadwasthegover-
pectedtotakemonths.Robert tieswithChinese nor of Iowa when Mr. Trump
Forden,theU.S.deputychiefof inDecember2016pickedhim
leaderXiJinping.
missioninBeijing,willoversee ashisenvoytoBeijing.China’s
theembassyaschargéd’affaires Foreign Ministry had wel-
untilanewenvoyarrives,aper- comedMr.Branstadasan“old
sonbriefedonthemattersaid. friendoftheChinesepeople,”
A spokesman for China’s whilearguingoverdifferences beforehearrivedinBeijingin
Foreign Ministry said Beijing relatedtotrade,technological June2017totakeuphispost.
hasn’treceivedanynotification competition and geopolitical Mr.Branstadhadpreviously
onMr.Branstad’sdeparture. influence. The coronavirus traveledtoChinaontrademis-
Mr. Branstad had only re- pandemic also strained ties sions and enjoyed longstand-
centlyreturnedtoChinaafter and, for several months this ingtieswithChineseleaderXi
a visit to Washington, where year,lefttheU.S.government Jinping. As Iowa governor in
hehadmeetingswithU.S.gov- withabare-bonespresence. 1985,Mr.BranstadhostedMr.
ernmentofficials,apersonfa- Relations hit their lowest Xi—thenaruralcountychief—
miliarwiththemattersaid.He pointindecadesthissummer on his first trip to the U.S.,
thanked staff at U.S. diplo- when the Trump administra- wherehevisitedtolearnabout
matic missions in China dur- tionabruptlyorderedtheclo- Americanagriculture.
AdaptiveNetworking•EdgeCloud•ConnectedSecurity•Collaboration
inganinternalmeetingatthe sure of China’s consulate in Mr.Branstadhassoughtto
embassy on Monday, the em- Houston,promptingBeijingto usehisconnectionswithMr.Xi
bassysaid.“Wearerebalanc- retaliate by shutting the U.S. toadvanceMr.Trump’spriori- Servicesnotavailableeverywhere.©2020LumenTechnologies.AllRightsReserved.
ingtheU.S.-Chinarelationship consulateinthesouthwestern tiesintradetalkswithBeijing.
A10|Tuesday,September15,2020 THEWALLSTREETJOURNAL.
WORLD NEWS
Putin Vows Support for Belarus President
BYANNM.SIMMONS Foundation, a public-opinion with a state loan of $1.5 bil-
and research think tank. “It’s lion. He also said the two
MOSCOW—Russian Presi- importanttoshowthat[Rus- countrieswouldconductjoint
dentVladimirPutinpledgedfi- sia]hasastakeinBelarusian military events almost
nancial and military support politics,currentorfuture,de- monthlyforayear.
for Belarus President Alexan- stroying the stereotype that Mr. Lukashenko thanked
derLukashenko,signalingMos- the fragments of the Soviet Mr.Putinforhiscommitment
cow’s intention to bolster its empire are scattering from in showing that “the Belaru-
embattledjuniorpartner—sup- Russia.” sian borders are the borders
portthatcouldultimatelybind Equally critical, Mr. Treis- oftheUnionState,andnoone
MinskmoretightlytoRussia. man said, is avoiding “the isallowedtorattletheirweap-
Mr. Lukashenko met with spectacle of an authoritarian onsthere.”
Mr. Putin on Monday for the government next to Russia Healsoexpressedtheneed
firsttimesincetheAug.9Be- adoptingmoredemocraticrule forMinsk“tostaycloserwith
laruspresidentialelection,in with a leader being over- ourolderbrotherandcooper-
Russia’sBlackSearesortcity thrown under pressure from ateonallissues,includingthe
of Sochi. Mr. Lukashenko OCK the streets,” he said. “Putin economy.”
claimedvictoryinthatballot, ST doesn’t want to support the “A gradual merging of the
R
bnueitththeerofrpepeonsiotriofnaisra,yspsaitrkwinags HUTTE ftahlaltocfanLbuekapslhayeendkoasinavaictwoaryy idnofmraisntarnuccetuorevearnpdeirnscornenaeslining
S
mass demonstrations that A/ totheprotesters.” the Belarusian state” is al-
P
have called for the longtime N/E Mr. Putin could exact con- ready under way, Mr. Treis-
leadertostepdown. MLI cessions such as faster eco- man said, adding that it was
Thecrisishaslikelymadeit KRE nomicintegration,acommon a“kindofcreepingannexation
more difficult for the Belarus RussianPresidentVladimirPutin,right,onMondaymetwithBelarusPresidentAlexanderLukashenko. currencyandmoresignificant withoutmilitaryforce,without
leader to resist the Kremlin’s Russianmilitaryinfrastructure troopsontheground,butwith
longstandingeffortstodrawits demonstrations,haveleftthe Sovietera.Mr.Lukashenkohas port and he knows that what installedinBelarus,someana- allthelinesofpowerincreas-
smaller neighbor more tightly Belarus leader—in power for largely rejected that, wary of happens in future is going to lystssaid. ingly ending up in Moscow
intoitsorbit,someanalystssay. 26years—politicallyexposed. risking his country’s sover- depend much more on Putin Moscow has already ratherthaninMinsk.”
Mr. Putin pledged Russia’s “Putin really has Lukash- eignty. thanonhim.” launchedwhatsomeanalysts OnMonday,Belarusianop-
continuedcommitmenttoeco- enko where he’s always But Mr. Lukashenko may TheKremlinhasassembled describedasa“hybridannexa- position leader Svet-
nomicanddefenseagreements wantedhim.He’sweak,depen- nowbeforcedtoacceptRus- a contingent of law-enforce- tion”ofBelarus.Thisincludes lana Tikhanovskaya con-
already forged between the dent,”saidDanielTreisman,a sia’s greater influence in ex- ment officials to help in Be- expandedinfluenceoversecu- demnedMoscow’sdecisionto
twocountries,whilepromising professor of political sci- changeforMoscow’spolitical larus if protests spiral out of rityforces,whichcouldoccur supporttheBelarusianpresi-
support for Mr. Lukashenko’s ence and Russia specialist at support to prevent him from control,althoughtheextentto if Moscow deploys security dent.
permanenceinpower. the University of California, beingtoppled.Thatcouldput whichMoscowisreadytoin- forcestohelpMr.Lukashenko, “IwanttoremindVladimir
“We see Belarus as our LosAngeles. thefateofBelarusinMr.Pu- tervene to save Mr. Lukash- andkeepingBelarusboundto Putinthatwhateveryouagree
closestally,”Mr.PutintoldMr. For years, Mr. Putin has tin’s hands, several analysts enkoisuncertain. Russiathroughfinancialobli- onduringthemeetinginSochi
Lukashenko. touted smaller neighbor Be- said. “Thekeygoalistoprevent gationsandotherconcessions, will not have a legal force,”
But the protests and pres- larusasabrothernation,try- “Hecan’teventhinkabout a situation in which Moscow suchassubsidizedgasprices. shesaidfromexileinLithua-
surefromtheWest,whichhas ingtocoaxitintojoiningRus- looking to the West…to pres- will look like a loser,” said On Monday, during talks nia. “The Belarusian people
condemned Mr. Lukashenko’s siaaspartofalarger,unified surePutin,”Mr.Treismansaid. MikhailVinogradov,president withMr.Lukashenko,Mr.Pu- didn’tsupportLukashenkoin
heavy-handedresponsetothe state,astheywereduringthe “So, he relies on Putin’s sup- of the St. Petersburg Politics tinagreedtoprovideBelarus theelection.”
Candidates Loyal
To Kremlin Pace
Local Elections
BYTHOMASGROVE WCIOM,whichnamestheRus-
sian government among its
MOSCOW—Candidatesloyal top clients, on the organiza-
toRussianPresidentVladimir tion’s Telegram channel.
Putinsweptregionalandlocal “Therewasalmostnohopefor
elections over the weekend, new(political)forces.”
demonstrating the Kremlin’s The contests serve as a
gripontheleversofpowerde- bellwetherforRussianpolitics
spite pockets of support for ahead of next year’s parlia-
Alexei Navalny’s opposition mentaryelections.Theyindi-
movementafteranattempton cate that the opposition may K
OC
hislifesidelinedhiminAugust. struggle to make significant ST
R
lishPerdelibmyisntaartyenreewsuslatsgenpcuiebs- imneronat’dssowdensppiatetchtyheregcoovredrnin- HUTTE
S
Mondayshowedbroadsupport handling the impact of the A/
P
forthepro-PutinUnitedRus- coronavirus pandemic and a Y/E
sia party. Political analysts slideinlivingstandards. SK
said the Covid-19 pandemic Opposition candidates did, ILNIT
and an economic shock however,winimportantsym- GEI
R
prompted by accompanying bolicvictories.IntheSiberian SE
lockdownsandaslumpinoil cityofTomsk,whereMr.Na- AwomancastaballotinamunicipalelectionatherMoscowhomeonSunday,asthepro-PutinUnitedRussiapartydrewbroadsupport.
prices produced a clamor for valnywaspoisonedwithwhat
stability,playingtooneofMr. Germandoctorssaywasamil- otheropposition-alignedcan- ing ill during a flight from citiessuchasMoscowandSt. whether he was poisoned at
Putin’scorestrengthsoverhis itary-gradenerveagent,candi- didates were set to join they Tomsk to Moscow. His sup- Petersburg.Europeanofficials all,threateningtoturnthein-
20yearsinpower,andunder- dates aligned with his move- citycouncilwhileinTambov, porters say they believe Mr. havesaidtheuseofNovichok, cidentintoanotherflashpoint
miningsupportforchange. ment won control of the city they won 16 out of 18 seats, Putin or his operatives were a Soviet-era chemical nerve betweenRussiaandtheWest.
“After the shocks of the council, said Leonid Volkov, Mr. Navalny’s spokeswoman involved in poisoning him at agent,stronglyindicatesthat Mr. Navalny’s supporters
firsthalfof2020,voterswant anotherofMr.Navalny’sallies. KiraYarmyshsaidonTwitter. the airport in Tomsk, a city thepoisoningwastheworkof said the weekend’s wins in
stability and calm, trusting State agencies didn’t provide Mr. Navalny, who has long wherehehadbeenworkingto Russianstateactors. Tomskandelsewhereshowed
tried and true candidates,” namesofindividualwinners. beentheKremlin’smostvocal build political networks for The Kremlin denies it had thathisstrategyposedavia-
saidValeryFyodorov,headof In Novosibirsk, Navalny critic, was evacuated to Ger- the opposition and show it anyconnectiontoharmingMr. ble threat to the Kremlin
Moscow-based pollster supporter Sergei Boyko and manyfortreatmentafterfall- had support beyond the big Navalnyandhascastdoubton acrossRussia.
Israeli Lockdown to Disrupt Holidays U.S. Talks Offer Qatar
Chance to Ease Spats
BYFELICIASCHWARTZ ConfirmeddailyCovid-19 Changeinvisitsto frastructuretoofferdeliveries.
ANDDOVLIEBER cases,seven-dayaverage retail/recreationsites ThefirstclosureinAprilcost
himabout$35,000,andhere- BYWILLIAMMAULDIN Inthepastthreeyears,Qa-
Schoolsopenedwithoutrestrictions Streetshops,hairdressersreopen
TEL AVIV—Religious lead- ceived a little over $4,000 in tar has seen much of its own
ersandbusinessownersinIs- 3(cid:2)500 25% compensation from the gov- A high-level meeting be- trade and travel blocked by
raelarerushingtopreparefor ernment. He expects to lose tween officials from the U.S. countriesintheregion—Saudi
3(cid:2)000
asecondnationwidelockdown 0 $29,000duringthisclosure. and Qatar this week offers a Arabia,theUnitedArabEmir-
thatissettoupendtheJewish 2(cid:2)500 “Everybusinessispayinga chancefortheMiddleEastern ates,BahrainandEgypt—ina
holidays, as health workers price.I’mnodifferentandI’m countrytohealariftwithits dispute that has soured rela-
–25
2(cid:2)000
brace for a new wave of paying a high price,” Mr. neighbors and could solidify tionsandledtorestrictionson
Covid-19infections. 1(cid:2)500 Galkowyczsaid.“IhopeIcan oneofWashington’srelation- Qatari pilgrims’ visits
–50
Thelockdown—whichisex- survive,”hesaid. shipsinthevolatileregion. to Mecca, Ambassador al-
pected to last through Rosh 1(cid:2)000 Underthelockdownregula- Secretary of State Mike Thanisaid.
Hashana,YomKippurandSuk- –75 tions, restaurants must be Pompeo, Treasury Secretary ThecountriesaccuseQatar
500
kot—is in response to Israel closed but can still deliver. Steven Mnuchin and Com- of facilitating financial sup-
dealingwithoneoftheworst 0 –100 Bars,hotels,gymsandenter- merce Secretary Wilbur portforMiddleEastterrorist
daily coronavirus-infection March May July Sept. March May July Sept. tainment and cultural sites Ross met leading Qatari offi- groups, a charge Qatari offi-
ratespercapitaintheworld. willremainshut.Privatecom- cialsonMondaytokickoffthe cialsdeny,amongotheraccu-
New cases are hovering at *Comparedwithmedianvalueforcorrespondingdayoftheweek,Jan.3–Feb.6period. panies can stay open if they U.S.-QatarStrategicDialogue. sations.
CasesdataasofSept.13
morethan3,000aday.Some Sources:JohnsHopkinsCSSE(cases);GoogleCommunityMobilityReports(mobility) don’treceivethepublic.Peo- Framework agreements on “Ilookforwardtoprogress
health officials warn Israel’s ple must stay within about cultureandeconomiccooper- on this issue,” Mr. Pompeo
hospitals could be over- inimprovisedsettings. alettertoitscongregants. one-third of a mile of their ationwillbesignedbytheU.S. saidinopeningremarksatthe
whelmed during the coming Rabbi Shimon Rabinowitz, InBneiBrak,amajorultra- homesunlessshoppingfores- andaQataridelegationledby forum.
fluseason. anofficialintheultra-Ortho- Orthodox center, synagogue sential goods or seeking es- Deputy Prime Minister Mo- PresidentTrumpspokewith
“If something will not be doxtownKfarChabad,saidhis employeesusednylondrapes sentialservices. hammedbinAbdulrahmanal- SaudiArabia’sKingSalmanon
doneveryquickly,wewillhave town usually has 10 different tosectionoffsynagogueareas Some Israelis say they are Thani and Finance Minister Sept. 6 and called for an end
touseextremescenarios,”said congregations that gather in toallowgroupsof10toisolate hoping to apply lessons AliShareefal-Emadi,saidQa- totheriftamongPersianGulf
MichaelHalberthal,thegeneral synagogues for the Rosh Ha- themselvesfromoneanother. learned from the previous tar’s ambassador to the U.S., neighbors.Fewexpectanim-
directorandchiefexecutiveof shanaholidayfornearlyday- The expected three-week lockdown. MeshalbinHamadal-Thani. mediate resolution, but the
Rambam Hospital in Haifa. longservices.Thisyear,heis shutdown is likely to deal a ShiraTober,33,whoworks Qatar,atinycountryonthe Trumpadministrationiseager
“We will have to obviously preparing for 100 microcon- significantblowtomanybusi- at an education-technology ArabianPeninsulawithtremen- toworkonthedispute.
stopsomeofthecarethatwe gregations,toconformtoso- ness owners who haven’t re- company,saidshehasstarted dous gas reserves, has carved In one possible outcome,
aregivingtothenon-Covid-19 cial-distancingregulations. covered from the first lock- to map walking routes from outanoutsizerole,asaninter- theU.S.couldpersuadeSaudi
patientsinthehospital.” In the current climate, down, which began in mid- her house that comply with mediary in regional rifts, ArabiatoenditsbanonQatari
Israel’shigh-holidayseason someserviceswon’tproceed. March. All of the initial the government’s 500-meter through its Al Jazeera media flights over the king-
is usually one where large Jerusalem’sGreatSynagogue, shutdown’s restrictions were directive,particularlyaftershe outlet and as the host of the dom,someanalystssay.
families congregate together renownedforitsrareuseofa liftedbymid-May. struggled with her work-life largest U.S. air base in the re- OfficialsfromtheU.A.E.are
and synagogues are often choir, will close its doors for NatanGalkowycz,68years balancethefirsttimearound. gion. Mr. Pompeo visited alsoinWashingtonthisweek
filled with hundreds to thou- thefirsttimesinceopeningin old,owneroftheBraziliancui- “I’m going to need to find the capital, Doha, over the forthesigningofapactbro-
sands of people. Concerns 1958.“Animportantfactorin sinerestaurantMides,located creative ways to make sure weekendtobacknewtalksthere keredbytheTrumpadminis-
about the new coronavirus this decision is the lack of in a small farming village in thatIcangetsunshine,sothat betweentheTalibanandtheAf- trationtonormalizerelations
that causes Covid-19 are dra- knowledge,theconfusion,and Israel’ssouth,saidhewillhave I can feel a little bit active,” ghangovernment.Qatar,while withIsrael,offeringU.S.offi-
matically altering this year’s the debates between experts to close his business for the she said. “I know if I am just notformallyrecognizingIsrael, cials an opportunity to raise
prayers,wheregatheringswill and the changes in regula- wholethreeweeksbecausehe confined to my home it can hascooperatedwithIsraelisand theriftwithQatariandEmir-
beconfinedtosmallergroups tions,”thesynagoguewrotein doesn’thavethenecessaryin- leadtoadownwardspiral.” helpedmediatedisputes. atidiplomats.