Airlines agree to screen JFK-bound passengers from Britain for coronavirus December 21, 2020 By Jonathan Allen, David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski NEW YORK (Reuters) -British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic said on Monday they will allow only passengers who test negative for the coronavirus to fly to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The decisions follow a request from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that [...]
Aon’s $30 billion Willis Towers deal in EU antitrust crosshairs December 21, 2020 Aon’s $30 billion bid for Willis Towers Watson to create the world’s largest insurance broker faces a five-month long investigation after EU antitrust regulators voiced concerns that the deal may hurt competition in key markets. The merger of the world’s second and third largest brokers would overtake world No. 1 Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. [...]
Twitter bans harmful false claims about COVID-19 vaccinations December 16, 2020 By Elizabeth Culliford (Reuters) – Twitter Inc said on Wednesday that it will start removing false or misleading tweets about COVID-19 vaccinations that could be harmful, including false claims the vaccines will intentionally cause harm or control populations or that invoke “a deliberate conspiracy.” Twitter’s policy update, announced in a blog post the same week [...]
EU faces Franco-Dutch call for rules to stop ‘greenwashing’ December 15, 2020 By Huw Jones LONDON (Reuters) – French and Dutch securities regulators called on Tuesday for European Union rules to prevent “greenwashing” or inaccurate claims that investments are sustainable and climate-friendly. Several firms provide ratings on a company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks that asset managers use to make “green” investment decisions. The European Commission [...]
Iran executes French-based dissident journalist captured last year December 12, 2020 (Reuters) – Iranian dissident journalist Ruhollah Zam, who was convicted of fomenting violence during anti-government protests in 2017, was executed on Saturday, Iran’s state television reported. France reacted with anger to the hanging of the Paris-based journalist, which it called “barbaric and unacceptable” and said ran counter to Iran’s international obligations. Iran said on Tuesday [...]
Russia says may retaliate after new round of UK sanctions December 12, 2020 MOSCOW (Reuters) – A new round of British sanctions against Russian individuals over alleged human rights abuses in Chechnya is “unfounded” and Moscow may retaliate, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. “Undoubtedly, this politically-charged demarche will have a negative impact on Russian-British interstate relations,” the ministry said, adding Russia “reserves the right to take [...]
‘Powerful’ Arteta will succeed at Arsenal: CEO December 12, 2020 Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has backed under-fire manager Mikel Arteta to turn the Premier League club’s fortunes around after a dismal start to the season. Spaniard Arteta has come under increasing pressure followintg the north London club’s slide down the standings, with Arsenal languishing in 15th after losing five of their last seven league [...]
UK to stop backing overseas oil and gas projects December 12, 2020 Boris Johnson will pledge to end direct government support for overseas fossil fuel projects at a U.N. summit on Saturday, aiming to spur similar moves by other countries to help tackle climate change, his office said. Britain, which is co-hosting the virtual summit ahead of climate negotiations in Glasgow next year, has faced accusations of [...]
EU confirms Brexit-adjusted carbon market permit removals for 2021 December 12, 2020 The European Commission confirmed late on Friday how many pollution permits will be removed from the European Union carbon market in 2021 due to the UK’s departure from the scheme at the end of this year. The carbon market is the EU’s flagship climate policy, forcing power plants, industry and airlines running intra-EU flights to [...]
Swiss freeze assets of Belarus leader Lukashenko December 12, 2020 Switzerland has frozen the financial assets of the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, following the violent aftermath of the elections in the east European country. Lukashenko and son Viktor are among 15 people banned from entering or travelling through Switzerland, the government said. The individuals are alleged to be responsible for the use of violence [...]