Monthly global news headlines rewiew is published by Mia Heiskanenat Nordic Business Reportwebsite.
European heatwave sets new June temperature records
Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic record their highest ever recorded temperatures for June due to heat wave in Western and Central Europe. France records its highest ever temperature of 45.9 °C in Gallarques-le-Montueux. In Spain authorities report two deaths connected to the extreme heat. The worst wildfire in 20 years burns more than 5,000 hectares in Spain at the south of Province of Tarragona in Catalonia.
Social media
YouTube grounds hate speech
You Tube announces a new policy regarding hate speech and harassment on the video sharing platform, saying it will specifically ban videos that include neo-nazi and supremacist content.
Twitter suspends political propaganda
Twitter has removed thousands of accounts run by the Iranian government, to spread propaganda and fake news on the social media platform. It has also removed over a hundred accounts linked to the Catalan independence movement and accounts related to Venezuela.
Business
Chinese telecommunications and electronics company Huawei cancels its new laptop launch. A Huawei executive said the company has been “unable to supply the PC” because of the U.S. trade blacklist and may have to scrap the project.
Boeing sells 200 of its 737 MAX planes to International Airlines Group, the first sale of the controversial airliners since two fatal crashes and subsequent worldwide groundings earlier this year.
International politics
Finland preparing for Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Finland’s third EU Presidency period begins on 1 July 2019. The presidency of the Council rotates in an established order among the EU Member States every six months. The presidency is responsible for taking forward the Council’s work on EU legislation and policy initiatives in the Council and for ensuring the continuity of the EU agenda. In addition, the presidency represents the Council in relations with the other EU institutions, particularly with the Commission and the European Parliament.
Danes vote for change
The center-left Social Democrats win 48 of the 179 seats in the Danish Parliament Folketing. Current Liberal Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen concedes defeat, paving the way for Social Democrat leader Mette Fredriksen, who at 41 is to be the country’s youngest prime minister.
Macron, May, Trudeau and Trump honor D-Day
President of France Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and Presiedent of the United States Donald Trump mark the 75th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy France, paying tribute to Allied World War II veterans.
Trump meets Xi and Jong-Un
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet at the G20 summit and reach a deal that will allow American companies to sell non-sensitive technology to Huawei while China will buy food and agricultural products from the United States. Trump meets North Korea´s leader Kim Jong-un at the Korean Demilitarized Zone being the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea.
May resigns – next steps
UK Prime Minister Theresa May resigns as Leader of the Conservative Party, paving the way for a new Prime Minister to be elected. How will the UK´s next Prime Minister be chosen?
The first televised debate between Conservative Party candidates for Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the UK takes place in London. Front runnner Boris Johnson refuses to attend.
Concerns arouse over Angela Merkel´s health
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she’s “fine” following two bouts of shaking in public that have sparked concerns about her health.
