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*Johnson wins second round of UK leadership contest. Johnson, the face of the campaign to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum, won 126 of 313 votes, by far the largest number in the second round of voting for Conservative Party leader, with four other candidates also getting through. "Boris Johnson seems so far ahead it's a formality, despite UK political...

Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar are in contact about Ankara's plans to buy a Russian air defence system, and may meet during NATO meetings in Brussels next week, NATO's commander said. Despite the dispute, U.S. and NATO officials are working to preserve their close cooperation with Turkey on military matters, mindful...

By Katie Paul and Anna Irrera. SAN FRANCISCO/ NEW YORK, June 18- Facebook Inc plans to launch a cryptocurrency called Libra next year as part of its wider efforts to expand beyond social networking into e-commerce and global payments. Facebook said it has linked with 28 partners to form Libra Association, a Geneva- based entity governing its new digital coin, which...

SAN FRANCISCO/ NEW YORK, June 18- Facebook plans to launch a cryptocurrency called Libra next year as part of its wider efforts to expand beyond social networking into e-commerce and global payments. Facebook said it has linked with 28 partners to form Libra Association, a Geneva- based entity governing its new digital coin, which it will launch in the first half of...

LONDON, June 18- Signs that arch-Brexiteer Boris Johnson may be a step closer to becoming Britain's next prime minister sent the pound tumbling to a five-month low versus the euro on Tuesday and towards $1.25 as investors worried about the risks of a disruptive Brexit. Once the candidates are whittled down to the final two, the mainly pro- Brexit Conservative...

SAN FRANCISCO/ NEW YORK, June 18- Facebook Inc revealed plans on Tuesday to launch a cryptocurrency called Libra, the latest development in its effort to expand beyond social networking and move into e-commerce and global payments. Facebook has linked with 28 partners in a Geneva- based entity called the Libra Association, which will govern its new digital coin...

BERLIN, June 17- China must open up its markets and create fair rules for German companies, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said ahead of talks in Beijing this week, adding that he would also discuss intellectual property protection and steel overcapacity. Germany also wants China to change, but it hopes to achieve this through talks. "China and the European Union...

*Germany, with its powerful car sector, had been hesitant. BRUSSELS/ BERLIN, June 17- Germany has joined a growing number of EU nations to back going carbon neutral by mid-century, EU documents show, building momentum for the bloc's leaders to agree the ambitious climate goal at a summit this week. Despite a push by eight nations for greater climate ambition- Belgium,...

GENEVA, June 17- China has halted a dispute at the World Trade Organization over its claim to be a market economy, a panel of three WTO adjudicators said on Monday, meaning Beijing must accept continued EU and U.S. Without a WTO ruling in Beijing's favour, the EU and United States can keep imposing duties on cheap imports from China while disregarding its claim that...