August, 2019

• 24 August

  Indonesia cuts internet in Papua over rioting

  Bloomberg Indonesia’s government extended the suspension of mobile-data services in Papua and West Papua provinces after riots broke out in the region, the country’s cabinet secretariat said, citing the Communications and Information Ministry. The ministry cited a high volume of hoaxes, false information, racial and provocative messages being distributed in the area as the reason for the suspension. The ministry ...

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• 24 August

  Thailand says producers leaving China offer hope for its economy

  

  Bloomberg Thai officials glimpse a silver lining in the US-China trade war as companies such as Sony Corp. move production to Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. At least 10 firms are in the process of relocating some production to Thailand from China, according to the National Economic & Social Development Council. More than a dozen others could potentially choose Thailand, it ...

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• 24 August

  US, Japan reach agreement on trade deal framework: Reports

  

  Bloomberg The US and Japan agreed on a broad framework for a trade deal that will keep US tariffs on Japanese automobiles in place for now, while removing barriers to beef exports to Japan, Japanese media reported. Robert Lighthizer, the US Trade Representative, and Japan Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reached an agreement in Washington, the Nikkei and Kyodo News reported, ...

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• 24 August

  US using fentanyl feud as political weapon: China

  Bloomberg The US is politicising the issue of illicit Chinese exports of fentanyl and using it as a weapon against China, said country’s narcotics regulator. Liu Yuejin, deputy head of China’s National Narcotics Control Commission, rebutted accusations from the US that China is not doing enough to curb the flow of fentanyl beyond its borders. Some American politicians “are up-ending ...

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• 24 August

  US raises tariffs on China ahead of G-7

  

  Bloomberg President Donald Trump escalated the trade war with China and moved further away from a deal to resolve frictions, announcing a wave of higher tariffs even as he prepared to set off for a gathering of world leaders. In an announcement, tweeted after major indices on Wall Street sank, Trump said existing 25% tariffs on some $250 billion in ...

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• 24 August

  Allianz buys $738mn insurer in Brazil

  Bloomberg Allianz SE agreed to pay 667 million euros ($738 million) for the general-insurance assets of SulAmerica, a deal that will make the German firm Brazil’s second-largest provider of motor insurance. Europe’s largest insurer will combine the new assets with its existing Brazilian subsidiary to create a business with 1.5 billion euros of gross written premiums, according to a company ...

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• 24 August

  Tesla agrees to buy LG batteries for its vehicles made in China

  

  Bloomberg Tesla Inc. agreed to buy batteries from South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd. to be used in electric vehicles produced out in China, according to people familiar with the matter. Batteries made by LG Chem will be used initially in Model 3 cars manufactured in the plant near Shanghai, Tesla’s first outside of the US. LG Chem batteries will also ...

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• 24 August

  ‘German Chancellery sees mild recession’

  

  Bloomberg The German Chancellery now also expects Europe’s largest economy to slip into a mild recession in the third quarter, news magazine Der Spiegel reports. Gross domestic product contracted by 0.1% in the second quarter, and Angela Merkel’s economic advisers expect a similar result in the period between July and September. Economists at the German central bank had been making ...

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• 24 August

  UK to plow $370 million into delivery drones, flying taxis

  

  Bloomberg The UK announced a $370 million investment aimed to spur the development of greener flights for people and goods. The government will put 125 million pounds into the initiative, which will to supplement 175 million pounds from industry, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said in a statement late Friday. The intention is to support new technologies including freight-carrying drones, ...

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• 24 August

  Smart cities need to spend more on security tech’

  Bloomberg The world’s largest cities need to invest billions of additional dollars into their infrastructure in order to secure citizen data, new research suggests. Of the roughly $135 billion expected to be spent globally on cybersecurity for critical city infrastructure in 2024, 44% will be split across data protection provisions for energy, health care, public security, transport, water and waste ...

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