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Bloomberg The looming dissolution of Thailand’s highest-profile opposition party is set to strengthen the military-backed government’s grip on power as authorities signal their next move against the movement’s popular leader. The Future Forward party of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the third-largest in parliament, faces a trial as early as January for funding violations that it denies. Separately, Thanathorn and one other party ...

Bloomberg The Chinese government is trying to set the economy up for a stronger start to 2020, with a multi-pronged policy push ranging from easier monetary settings to freer trade. The latest pledge came when Premier Li Keqiang signalled that further cuts in the amount of cash that banks have to park as reserves will be forthcoming. In theory, that ...

Bloomberg Thailand will narrow its inflation target from next year as consumer-price growth remains subdued in the Southeast Asian nation. The central bank’s new goal is to keep annual headline inflation within a 1%-3% range, compared with 1%-4% previously, Narumon Pinyosinwat, a government spokeswoman, said on Tuesday in Bangkok following a cabinet meeting that approved the change. Speaking to reporters ...

Bloomberg BMW AG is being scrutinised by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its sales reporting practices, months after the regulator extracted a penalty from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV over similar issues. The German automaker has been contacted by the SEC and will cooperate fully with its investigation, Phil DiIanni, a spokesman, said by phone. The agency doesn’t ...

Bloomberg Media mogul Shari Redstone and other Viacom Inc directors were accused by a pension fund of selling out the entertainment company’s shareholders by ramming through an $11.7 billion merger with CBS Corp. Redstone, who also is CBS’s controlling shareholder, and her colleagues on Viacom’s board “expropriated potentially billions of dollars from Viacom’s minority stockholders” by agreeing to a deal ...

Bloomberg London commercial real estate deals look set to pick up in 2020, with the political uncertainty that has plagued the market for more than three years finally starting to lift. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has a commanding majority in Parliament after his Conservative Party’s election triumph, allowing him to push through his Brexit deal and make good on ...

FREETOWN / WAM Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, has led a delegation from the UAE on an official working visit to the Republic of Sierra Leone, to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two friendly countries. During his meeting with President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Dr. Al Jaber conveyed the greetings ...

Dubai / WAM Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), launched an online system for handling right-of-way application permits. The system covers main and subsidiary road diversions, using part of the right-of-way, designs of external pavements, and heavy vehicle movement as well as some other services to individuals. “The new system marks a paradigm shift in delivering services to the public ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) on Monday announced that Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi has produced one million tonnes of alumina since operations began in April. Al Taweelah alumina refinery is now expected to reach sustained production at its nameplate capacity during the first half of 2020. The refinery is expected to produce some two million ...

Dubai / Emirates Business The Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai Exports in a bid to boost business opportunities, foreign trade and the volume and value of exports. The MoU aims to reinforce Dubai’s position as a global destination for quality exports from various economic and service sectors, and free zones ...