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Fiat Chrysler is pursuing a marriage with Renault as the car industry shifts to electric vehicles. Pictured: A Renault Zoe seen at the Geneva auto show in March 2019. Photo: Shutterstock.com 

Fiat Chrysler wants 50:50 tie-up with Renault

The Italian-American firm Fiat Chrysler proposed merging with France’s Renault to create the world’s third largest automaker. If the €32.6bn all-share deal is completed, Fiat Chrysler estimated combined cost savings of €5bn a year. Renault said it would study the proposal. Shares in both companies rose after the announcement. Reported by the BBC, Financial Times, Guardian and Reuters.

Canal+ buys M7

Vivendi’s Canal+ acquired M7, a rival pay TV operator based in Kirchberg, for just over €1bn. Reported by Bloomberg, Broadband TV News and the Financial Times.

Chinese banks fined for masking bad debt

Several Chinese banks and asset managers, including a branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, have been fined by Chinese regulators for mis-handling non-performing loans, according to the Financial Times.

Japan mass stabbing

At three people have been killed and 16 injured, including several primary schoolchildren, during a stabbing attack at a bus stop in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo. The suspected knifeman is among the dead. Reported by the BBC, Deutsche Welle and Guardian.

Macron and Merkel tussle over EU top jobs

Following fragmented European Parliament election results, EU leaders have begun the jockeying over European Commission presidency and other key posts, with a major faultline reportedly emerging between France and Germany. Reported by the Financial Times, Guardian and Politico.

Corbyn changes tack on Brexit referendum

The Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn said he now supports a second public vote on Brexit after Labour’s poor showing in European elections. Reported by the Guardian, New Statesman and Telegraph.

Kurz voted out by MPs

Austria’s chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, lost a vote of confidence in the wake of the “Ibizagate” corruption scandal that had previously driven the FPÖ party out of his coalition government. Kurz said he will stand again in the general election expected to be held in September. Reported by the BBC, Deutsche Welle and Financial Times.

Later today

Retail: The Cloche d’Or shopping centre has its grand opening from 9am to 8pm (Delano visited during construction in March). NGO: The Luxembourg Red Cross issues its 2018 annual report. Experience: Members of the blind community host a Dinner in the Dark at Restaurant Quadro Delizioso, in Gasperich, from 7pm to 10pm.

Looking ahead

Wednesday 29 May: Sunset Outdoor Yoga at Kyosk in Kirchberg at 6:30pm. Sunday 2 June: Celebrate World Cider Day in Born.

Transatlantic quality of life comparisons

This is why more Europeans move to the US than Americans move to Europe, according to a Bloomberg columnist

French men’s fashion

GQ takes a look at “French Guy Style” at the Cannes film festival.

Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Aaron Grunwald