Chile central bank maintains interest rate at 0.5%

SANTIAGO, June 16 (Reuters) – Chile’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady at 0.5% on Tuesday, as expected by the market as the country suffers its most painful weeks so far of the coronavirus outbreak.

The world’s No. 1 copper producer has kept its interest rate steady since successive cuts up until late March, when it warned of a “severe” economic contraction as a result of the virus spread. (Reporting by Aislinn Laing Editing by Chris Reese)

Breakingviews – The Exchange: Bruce Flatt

NEW YORK (Reuters Breakingviews) – The office is not dead, though hot-desking may be. The elevator needs a rethink. And don’t rule out the shopping mall. Brookfield Asset Management’s chief executive made these and other predictions for the post-pandemic global economy in a recent chat with Breakingviews editors.

Watch | KTM 390 Adventure first ride and review

Video review of KTM 390 Adventure

With increasing success of its rather stripped-down but sporty models, KTM has made waves in the Indian market. Here we have another one from the KTM stable – the KTM 390 Adventure. So does the new machine on two wheels match up to expectations? And what’s special about it? Watch to find out…

North Korea Moves to Send Troops to Disarmed Areas Near Border

North Korea said it would deploy troops into areas on its side of the border where it had joint projects with South Korea, further escalating tensions with its neighbor a day after destroying a liaison office the two once shared.

The General Staff of the Korean People’s Army will send the troops in the areas around a joint factory park in the western border city of Kaesong, where the liaison office was located, and to the Mount Kumgang tourist area, the official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday, citing a spokesman.

The two Koreas agreed to remove troops from these areas to make way for the joint projects that had once been seen as symbols of reconciliation. Those efforts are now the focal point of a pressure campaign by Kim Jong Un’s regime to have President Moon Jae-in halt activists groups from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border by balloons.

Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader’s sister, “flatly rejected” a request from Moon’s government to send National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong and spy agency chief Suh Hoon as special envoys, KCNA said separately.

Beijing reports 31 new confirmed coronavirus cases

BEIJING – Beijing city on Wednesday (June 17) reported 31 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus amid concerns about a new wave of infections spreading in the Chinese capital.

The new cases discovered on Tuesday exclude three suspected cases and six asymptomatic cases, according to the Beijing Municipal Health Commission.

This story is developing.

COVID-19: Calgary Sikh temple ready to welcome back weddings as Stage 2 allows for more guests

“The committee here and the president did a really good job of protecting people and implementing all the safety aspects,” Sidhu said.

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Suriname President Bouterse Lost May Election, Reuters Says

Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse lost the nation’s May 25 election, Reuters said, citing the nation’s electoral authority.

The opposition VHP party led by Chandrikapersad Santokhi claimed victory after the final results were published after three weeks of counting.

The electoral authority didn’t immediately reply to an email seeking comment, and calls to its headquarters went unanswered.

The VHP said in a post on its Facebook page that it won 20 seats in the 51-seat assembly to 16 for President Desi Bouterse’s NDP party, which would allow it to form a coalition government.

Bouterse, an ally of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, had sought a third five-year term as leader of the tiny South American nation, which is in deep economic crisis despite recent oil finds and investment from Exxon Mobil Corp. Investors are pricing in a high chance of default on the country’s nearly $700 million of overseas debt.

Bouterse was found guilty by a local court last year of the 1982 killings of political opponents. He has denied the charges and is appealing the decision. He has also been convicted in absentia in the Netherlands for cocaine smuggling.

European Economics Preview: France Industrial Output Data Due

Industrial production from France is due on Wednesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.

At 2.00 am ET, consumer price figures are due from Norway and Denmark. Economists forecast Norwegian inflation to rise to 1.1 percent in May from 0.8 percent in April.

At 2.45 am ET, France’s Insee publishes April industrial production data. Output is expected to decline 20 percent on month, following a 16.2 percent decrease in March.

At 3.00 am ET, the Czech Statistical Office is slated to release consumer price data. Inflation is expected to ease to 2.6 percent in May from 3.2 percent in April.

In the meantime, unemployment from Turkey and industrial production from Slovakia are due.

At 5.00 am ET, Greece consumer price data is due. Prices had declined 1.4 percent annually in April.

Macau to require 14-day quarantine for people with recent Beijing travel history

Beijing (Reuters) – Macau’s government said on Wednesday it will require all people who have been to Beijing within two weeks prior to entering the city to be put under 14 days of medical observation at a designated location.

The Macau government said in a notice the measure would be effective as of 1200 local time (0400 GMT) on June 17.