Trump withdraws acting DHS secretary Chad Wolf's nomination after he pushed the president to denounce the violence at the Capitol

• President Donald Trump withdrew the formal nomination of Chad Wolf, the acting secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, on Thursday.
• The move comes an hour after Wolf called on Trump to denounce the violence that occured at the US Capitol on Wednesday.
• "I implore the President and all elected officials to strongly condemn the violence that took place yesterday," Wolf said in a statement.
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President Donald Trump on Thursday withdrew his nomination for Chad Wolf, the acting secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, to become the permanent head of the agency.

The move came roughly an hour after Wolf called on the Trump to denounce the violence that broke out at the US Capitol on Wednesday.

"I implore the President and all elected officials to strongly condemn the violence that took place yesterday," Wolf said in a statement.

Wolf has served as acting secretary since November 2019 and oversaw the response of federal agents to the Black Lives Matter protests. During the protests, some of which became riots, Wolf said he had the authority to deploy federal agents to American cities "whether they like us there or not."

Tesla Starts Selling China-made Model Y SUVs : Reports

Luxury electric car maker Tesla has started selling China-made Model Y sport-utility vehicles and set the starting price for the SUV at 339,900 yuan or about $52,000, according to reports.

The company reportedly set the starting price for Model Y Performance SUV at 369,900 yuan.

China provides subsidies for electric vehicles as the country seeks to combat pollution from petrol or diesel vehicles. The Model 3 sedan qualifies for the subsidy, while the Model Y doesn’t.

Tesla also launched a modified Model 3 sedan that remained at a post-subsidy price of 249,900 yuan for the basic version, the reports said.

Barr calls Trump conduct amid Capitol riot a 'betrayal of his office and supporters'

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Former Attorney General William Barr says President Donald Trump’s conduct as a violent mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol was a "betrayal of his office and supporters."

In a statement to The Associated Press, Barr said Thursday that "orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress is inexcusable."

Barr was one of Trump’s most loyal and ardent defenders in the Cabinet.

MULVANEY, TOP WHITE HOUSE STAFFERS QUIT, SOME UPSET OVER CAPITOL CHAOS

His comments come a day after angry and armed protesters broke into the U.S. Capitol, forcing Congress members to halt the ongoing vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s election and then flee from the House and Senate chambers.

Barr resigned last month amid lingering tension over the president’s baseless claims of election fraud and the investigation into Biden’s son.

European Economics Preview: Eurozone Economic Confidence Data Due

Economic confidence and flash consumer prices from euro area and factory orders from Germany are due on Thursday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.

At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is slated to issue Germany’s factory orders for November. Economists forecast orders to fall 1.2 percent on month, in contrast to a 2.9 percent rise in October.

At 2.30 am ET, the Federal Statistical Office is set to publish Swiss retail sales for November.

At 3.00 am ET, retail sales and unemployment figures from Hungary are due.

At 4.00 am ET, the European Central bank is scheduled to release economic bulletin.

At 4.30 am ET, IHS Markit publishes the UK construction Purchasing Managers’ survey results. The index is forecast to rise to 55.0 in December from 54.7 in November.

At 5.00 am ET, the European Commission releases euro area economic sentiment survey results. The index is expected to rise to 90 in December from 87.6 in November.

Flash consumer prices and retail sales figures are due from Eurostat. Eurozone consumer prices are forecast to drop 0.2 percent on year in December, following a 0.3 percent fall in November. Economists expect sales to fall 3.4 percent on month in November, reversing a 1.5 percent rise a month ago.

In the meantime, Italy’s preliminary consumer price data is due. EU harmonized consumer prices are seen falling 0.3 percent annually in December, the same rate as reported in November.

South Africa in ‘Advanced Stage’ Talks With J&J About Vaccines

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South Africa is in advanced talks with Johnson & Johnson about a deal to receive the U.S. drugmaker’s coronavirus vaccine candidate, part of a wider effort to inoculate two-thirds of the population by the end of the year.

“Negotiations between both parties are now at an advanced stage, and developments will be announced soon,” the Department of Health said in a statement on Thursday.

J&J’s vaccine has yet to gain regulatory approval, but South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. has agreed to manufacture doses in the country if it’s given the green light.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize earlier announced South Africa’s first 1.5 million vaccines will be delivered by The Serum Institute of India Ltd. this month and in February. They will be used to protect health workers.