Australia’s AMP fined $16 million for charging fees to deceased clients

(Reuters) -Troubled Australian wealth manager AMP Ltd will pay a court-mandated penalty of A$24 million ($16.3 million) for billing dead clients for insurance and financial advice, effectively drawing the curtains to a scandalous saga dating back to 2018. The allegations first came to light when a public inquiry exposed systemic wrongdoing at the company, including…

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EU’s Michel calls for ‘stable and constructive’ cooperation with China

By Katya Golubkova HIROSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) – European Council President Charles Michel said on Friday it was in the EU’s interest to maintain “stable and constructive” cooperation with China, as the Group of Seven countries met to consider China’s “economic coercion” and other concerns. G7 leaders, gathering in the Japanese city of Hiroshima from Friday,…

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North Korea criticises US, South Korea military drills as ‘nuclear blackmail’

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea accused the U.S. and South Korea of ramping up “nuclear blackmail” with joint military drills, pledging to take corresponding action against what it called “warmongers’ madness,” state media KCNA said on Friday. U.S. and South Korean forces have been staging an intensified series of annual springtime exercises…

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Japan, France leaders vow to strengthen ties as Paris eyes more access

By John Irish and Sakura Murakami HIROSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) – Japan and France on Friday said they wanted to deepen bilateral cooperation after agreeing earlier this month to accelerate discussions for a joint military exercise framework with Paris hoping to push for reciprocal access agreements. Speaking ahead of a Group of Seven leaders summit in…

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US weighs suit against Korean Air’s planned acquisition of Asiana -Politico

WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department is considering suing to block Korean Air’s planned acquisition of Asiana Airlines, Politico reported on Thursday. The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating the November 2020 deal for roughly two years, and is concerned that it will hurt competition on overlapping routes to the United States, the report…

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Ecuador’s top court paves the way for early national elections

By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuador’s Constitutional Court on Thursday paved the way for early legislative and presidential elections, rejecting a series of cases brought by opposition politicians to block President Guillermo Lasso’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly. Members of opposition parties, along with social organizations, had presented six separate cases to the court,…

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Canada’s antitrust regulator sues Cineplex over alleged misleading ticket prices

(Reuters) -Canada’s competition regulator said on Thursday it was suing Cineplex Inc for advertising movie tickets at a lower price than what many consumers actually have to pay. “We’re taking action against Cineplex because misleading tactics like drip pricing only serve to deceive and harm consumers,” said Commissioner of Competition Matthew Boswell. Competition Bureau Canada…

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