June, 2020

• 24 June

  S Africa willing to cede control of airline

  Bloomberg South Africa’s government plans to retain a minority shareholding in South African Airways, the national airline that has been in bankruptcy protection for the last six months, while ceding management control to its investors, an official said. “We are not obsessed with control,” Kgathatso Tlhakudi, deputy director-general at department of public enterprises, said in an interview on Johannesburg-based Radio ...

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• 24 June

  Putin shows military might at WWII parade ahead of key vote

  

  Bloomberg President Vladimir Putin put Russia’s military strength on display on Wednesday in a parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany, braving the coronavirus pandemic ahead of a referendum that may allow him to rule until 2036. The spread of the virus forced Putin to delay his annual May 9 Victory Day ...

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• 24 June

  EU may opt to keep Americans out once borders open again

  

  Bloomberg The European Union may decide to keep the door shut to Americans when officials convene on Wednesday to discuss whom to let in as the bloc eases controls on its external borders. Diplomats from the 27-nation EU in Brussels are scheduled to discuss the criteria for lifting a curb on non-essential travel to the bloc as of July 1. ...

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• 24 June

  Kim freezes military moves against Seoul in U-turn

  

  Bloomberg Kim Jong-un ordered the suspension of military actions against South Korea, a move that could ease tensions after North Korea blew up a liaison office built by Seoul and warned of further provocations. Kim “took stock of the prevailing situation and suspended the military action plans against the south” during a military commission meeting for his ruling Worker’s Party ...

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• 24 June

  Trump meets Duda in first visit since March

  

  Bloomberg President Donald Trump was expected to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday in his first encounter with a foreign leader since the coronavirus pandemic prompted global lockdowns in March, in a visit both leaders hope provides a political boost for looming elections. The Polish president is travelling to Washington just days before he seeks re-election in the hope ...

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• 24 June

  China, India’s timeline on border clashes differs

  

  Bloomberg China’s defense ministry urged India to work with Beijing to ease tensions along their disputed border, while recounting its version of the events that lead to the deadly clashes between troops high in the Himalayas last week. Indian soldiers crossed the border on May 6 to construct barriers that blocked Chinese troops, which led to an escalation of tensions, ...

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• 24 June

  US targets $3.1 billion of EU, UK imports for new tariffs

  

  Bloomberg The US is weighing new tariffs on $3.1 billion of exports from France, Germany, Spain and the UK, adding to an arsenal of measures the Trump administration is using against the European Union that could spiral into a wider transatlantic trade fight later this summer. The US Trade Representative wants to impose new tariffs on European exports, while increasing ...

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• 24 June

  UK mall landlords worried as $3.1bn rent comes due

  

  Bloomberg British shopkeepers slowly emerging from three months of forced closure have a new problem on their hands: the rent is due. Third quarter rents on the country’s commercial properties are billed with about $3.1 billion owed by retailers alone, according to the British Property Federation. While mall landlords eventually got about half the rent owed for second quarter, government ...

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• 24 June

  Volkswagen explores offer for Europcar

  Bloomberg Volkswagen AG is exploring an offer for Europcar Mobility Group, according to people familiar with the matter. Shares of the rental-car company soared. Volkswagen’s considerations are at an early stage, said the people, who asked to not be identified because the matter isn’t public. The carmaker could opt to not proceed with an offer, they said. Europcar shares rose ...

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• 24 June

  Facebook dealt blow as German court strikes business model

  

  Bloomberg Facebook Inc. suffered a setback in a key challenge to its business model as Germany’s highest civil court said it has “no doubt” that the social network misuses its dominant market position. Judges at a hearing ruled that Facebook must comply with a strict order curbing the network’s leeway in tracking users’ browsing and smartphone apps even as it ...

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