DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Health Experts Decry New Zealand's Scrapping of World-First Tobacco Ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Health and tobacco campaigners said on Monday that New Zealand's plan to repeal laws that would ban tobacco sales for future generations threatened lives and put international efforts to curb smoking at risk. A ban on smoking for future generations was subsequently proposed in the United Kingdom, with other countries also considering similar rules. "This is major loss for public health, and a huge win for the tobacco industry – whose profits will be boosted at the expense of Kiwi lives," said Boyd Swinburn, co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa in New Zealand. Incoming Finance Minister Nicola Willis told New Zealand's Newshub Nation that the former government's measures would have significantly reduced tax revenues. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of UK health charity ASH, said that smoking costs public finances nearly double tobacco tax revenues.

Persons: Jan, Boyd Swinburn, Sarah Jackson, Nicola Willis, Deborah Arnott, ASH, Emma Rumney, Ed Osmond Organizations: Labour, Health Coalition Aotearoa, New Zealand's Department, University College London Tobacco and Alcohol Research, Incoming, New Locations: United Kingdom, New Zealand, England

☆ Formerly Philip Morris-backed foundation severs ties with nicotine industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - A research foundation originally set up by Philip Morris International (PMI) (PM.N) will no longer accept any funding from the nicotine industry as it seeks to win credibility with tobacco control advocates, its CEO said. The foundation will now rebrand and find new funders from outside of the industry, Cliff Douglas said in an interview. Douglas, a long-time tobacco control advocate who joined the foundation in October, said he wants to see it re-established as a credible actor in ending smoking. Douglas pointed to a number of tobacco control advocates who have sounded positive about the foundation's new direction. The World Health Organisation says vapes, for example, are harmful to health.

Persons: Philip Morris, Cliff Douglas, Douglas, Deborah Arnott, Yolonda Richardson, Emma Rumney, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Philip Morris International, PMI, Campaign, Tobacco, World Health, Thomson

☆ Imperial Brands expects profit growth next year, raises dividend
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 14 (Reuters) - Imperial Brands (IMB.L) on Tuesday forecast revenue and profit growth next year led by the second half helped by pricing actions and investments in tobacco alternatives. The maker of Winston cigarettes, Backwoods cigars and Golden Virginia rolling tobacco reported an adjusted operating profit of 3.89 billion pounds ($4.78 billion) for the year ended Sept. 30, up from 3.69 billion. Imperial said next year it anticipates low-single-digit revenue growth, while it expects adjusted operating profit close to the middle of its mid-single digit range. This means adjusted operating profit will likely grow by low single digits in the first half, it continued. Imperial raised its annual dividend by 4%, and said its ongoing multi-year share buyback would increase 10% in 2024.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Winston, Stefan Bomhard, Imperial, Eva Mathews, Emma Rumney, Subhranshu Sahu, Jason Neely Organizations: Imperial Brands, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Virginia, Bengaluru, London

LONDON/COPENHAGEN, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Global brewers AB InBev (ABI.BR) and Carlsberg (CARLb.CO) this week played down concerns among some investors that demand for weight-loss drugs may lead to a sharp drop in beer drinking. But AB InBev Chief Executive Michel Doukeris likened the concerns to others, such as how cannabis could disrupt various sectors, which he said were often short-lived. Some clinical trials on rodents have found treatment with GLP-1 agonists reduces alcohol consumption, eases symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and more. AB InBev has a big U.S. business, but earns more revenue in the Middle Americas and has a large footprint in countries like Brazil. Such emerging markets often have lower obesity rates, while weight-loss drugs are unlikely to be available or affordable there any time soon.

Persons: Nordisk's Wegovy, Michel Doukeris, Jacob Aarup, Andersen, Moritz Kronenberger, Janus Henderson, Tom O'Hara, O'Hara, Wegovy, Emma Rumney, Jacob Gronholt, Matthew Scuffham, Alexander Smith Organizations: Global, AB InBev, Carlsberg, Nordisk's, InBev, Reuters, Budweiser, World Health Organization, WHO, Germany's Union Investment, Brewers, Pedersen, Thomson Locations: COPENHAGEN, United States, Brazil, Asia, China, Danish, U.S, London, Copenhagen

☆ Philip Morris lifts profit forecast on higher pricing, ZYN growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 19 (Reuters) - Philip Morris International (PMI) on Thursday raised its annual profit forecast as its third quarter earnings beat expectations thanks to higher cigarette prices, demand for its heated tobacco products, and rapid growth of its oral nicotine product ZYN. PMI's core smoke-free tobacco product, however, is its IQOS heated tobacco device and the tobacco sticks used with it. The company said heated tobacco shipment volumes had increased 18% during the quarter, but its full-year forecast assumed these would be lower than previously expected. It said this was due to a delayed market launch in Taiwan, limited growth in Russia and Ukraine and inventory uncertainty in Europe amid incoming regulations on heated tobacco flavours. PMI also tempered its revenue expectations for the full year.

Persons: Philip Morris, Dado Ruvic, ZYN, Jacek Olczak, IQOS, Juveria Tabassum, Emma Rumney, Chizu Nomiyama, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Philip Morris International, REUTERS, Swedish, PMI, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine

Bottles of Ricard's aniseed-flavoured beverage are pictured at the Ricard manufacturing unit in Lormont, near Bordeaux, France February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS/LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - French spirits maker Pernod Ricard (PERP.PA) said on Thursday it expected to grow sales over the coming year, despite a difficult first quarter marred by big drops in sales in the United States and China. Pernod struggled as a tough economy in China dampened demand and amid inventory adjustments in the United States, where sales are also normalising after a post-COVID surge. "I am confident that we can deliver broad-based and diversified sales growth in FY24," Ricard said in a statement. But, he continued, it's not clear to what degree there will have been improvement in the economic environment hurting Pernod's performance right now.

Persons: Regis, Pernod Ricard, PERP.PA, Pernod, Alexandre Ricard, Ricard, Martell, Mumm, Pernod's, Bernstein, Trevor Stirling, it's, Helene de Tissot, Dominique Vidalon, Emma Rumney, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Mark Potter Organizations: Ricard, REUTERS, Diageo, Thomson Locations: Lormont, Bordeaux, France, LONDON, United States, China, India, Americas, Paris, London

☆ Big Tobacco turns to rooibos tea to counter upcoming ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Emma Rumney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Tobacco companies have yet to publish any research showing the health implications of rooibos or other zero-tobacco sticks, Simonavicius added. PMI (PM.N) CEO Jacek Olczak told shareholders that its zero-tobacco sticks could avoid the regulatory scrutiny that tobacco products face. BAT's zero-tobacco sticks are not subject to current EU tobacco rules, the company told Reuters. That means it can sell rooibos sticks in flavours like peppermint and tropical fruit even after a ban on flavoured heated tobacco products is implemented across the bloc later this month. Across the European Union, heated tobacco products must be taxed at a minimum of 20% of the retail price, though national governments can go higher.

Persons: Erikas Simonavicius, Simonavicius, Philip Morris, Jacek Olczak, Jefferies, Owen Bennett, Bennett, Phil Gorham, Gorham, Fabienne, Morningstar's Gorham, Shabab, Emma Rumney, Matt Scuffham, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Big Tobacco, British American Tobacco, Union, Tobacco, BAT, Reuters, King's College, King's College London . Tobacco, Philip Morris International, PMI, Rivals Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco International, Morningstar, EU, Dunhill, Lucky, European Union, University College London . Tobacco, Thomson Locations: Cape, Germany, Greece, King's College London

☆ Absolut Vodka and Coke's Sprite to combine in canned cocktail
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A Coca-Cola logo is pictured during an event in Paris, France, March 21, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Absolut Vodka and lemonade drinkers will soon be able to sip their preferred cocktail from a can, after drinks makers Pernod Ricard (PERP.PA) and Coca-Cola (KO.N) agreed to a pre-mixed version made from the spirit combined with Sprite. France's Pernod and Coke said on Monday the Absolut & Sprite canned cocktail will be launched in select European markets, including Britain, the Netherlands and Spain, from early 2024. The cans will feature two of the world's most recognisable trade marks, the companies said. Reporting by Emma RumneyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Pernod Ricard, Coke, Jack Daniels, Emma Rumney Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Britain, Netherlands, Spain

☆ Britain proposes ban on cigarettes for younger generations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Smoking costs Britain's health services 17 billion pounds ($20.6 billion) a year, he said, adding the government also needed to act on youth vaping. Campaign group Action on Smoking and Health welcomed Sunak's plans, adding they could hasten the day when smoking was obsolete. Imperial Brands (IMB.L), which makes Winston cigarettes and Golden Virginia rolling tobacco, also warned the ban threatened "unintended consequences". REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGRADUAL IMPACTThe smoking policy would need to pass a free vote in Britain's parliament. Shares in Imperial Brands fell 3.2% to their lowest since March 2022, while shares in BAT, which has a lower exposure to the British cigarette market, were down 1.2% by 1357 GMT.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak's, Winston, Phil Noble, Owen Bennett, Bennett, Emma Rumney, Michael Holden, Sachin Ravikumar, Alex Richardson Organizations: Conservative Party, Health, Tobacco Manufacturers Association, Imperial Brands, Dunhill, British, Tobacco, REUTERS, Japan Tobacco, Benson, Hedges, Jefferies, BAT, Thomson Locations: MANCHESTER, England, Virginia, Liverpool, Britain's, Britain, Europe, New Zealand, Denmark

☆ Tobacco firm BAT sells Russian business to local management
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A woman poses with a cigarette in front of BAT (British American Tobacco) logo in this illustration taken July 26, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - British American Tobacco (BATS.L) said on Thursday it entered into a deal to sell its Russian and Belarusian businesses to a consortium led by members of BAT Russia's management team. The company controlled just under 25% of the Russian tobacco market at the time. BAT, which had previously been in talks with its local distributor over a sale, said it had now formally entered into an agreement to sell the business to a consortium led by its local management team, in compliance with local and international laws. The company took a 957 million pound impairment related to the transfer of its Russian business in July 2022.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Emma Rumney, Yadarisa, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: BAT, British, Tobacco, REUTERS, American Tobacco, BAT Russia's, Lucky, European, Thomson Locations: Russia, United States, European Union, Ukraine, Belarus, London

☆ IKEA stores owner Ingka plans recycling expansion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ingka Investments' Peter van der Poel told a panel at the Reuters IMPACT conference in London that a recycling initiative in the Netherlands would be expanded to markets including France, Belgium and Scandinavia. "The thing here is to understand in many markets in Europe, still incineration is incentivised (over) recycling. Ingka Investments is the investment arm of Ingka Group, which owns and operates the majority of IKEA stores. Investing in what it calls the circular economy, which includes recycling, is part of Ingka's sustainable investment portfolio, alongside renewable energy and forests. Van der Poel says this is viable because Ingka has an investment horizon of "generations", out to 100 years.

Persons: Anna Ringstrom, Peter van der Poel, Van der Poel, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Emma Rumney, Simon Jessop, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Ingka, Ingka Investments, Reuters IMPACT, Investments, IKEA, Thomson Locations: Stockholm, Sweden, Europe, London, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Scandinavia, North America

REUTERS/John Muchucha Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Fossil fuel subsidies hampering green energy rolloutMore clarity needed on rules for carbon marketsCalls echo Africa Climate Summit on faster actionLONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Ditch fossil fuel subsidies, agree the rules for carbon markets and provide more finance to emerging markets. That was the clear message from business leaders at the Reuters IMPACT conference in London on Wednesday about what they say needs to happen at the forthcoming COP28 climate summit. The meeting of world leaders in Dubai beginning late November is seen as a crucial test of countries' willingness to accelerate action to limit global warming, with efforts so far doing little to stem global carbon emissions. Despite this, failure to remove fossil fuel subsidies would make it harder to expand renewable energy in some countries, Ingka's van der Poel said. "My concern is that we have very little hopes for that ambition to be raised during COP28," she said.

Persons: John Muchucha, Peter Van der Poel, Anél Bosman, Ingka's van der Poel, Helena Viñes, Preeti Srivastav, Andy Griffiths, Richa Naidu, William James, Helen Reid, Simon Jessop, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters IMPACT, Ingka Investments, Africa Climate Summit, Nedbank Corporate, Investment Banking, Sustainable Finance, Asahi Europe, Diageo, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, London, Dubai, Africa

LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - As they endeavour to meet lofty sustainability goals, companies from Japan's Asahi (3333.T) to retailer John Lewis face challenges like confusion among suppliers, tough legislation, and friction with top management over costs, executives said. But the upfront cost of investments needed to curb emissions can cause friction within companies. WORKING TOGETHERWhile regulation plays a role in helping companies meet their goals, some feel it also acts as a constraint. Managing suppliers plays a major role in companies meeting sustainability goals but doing so can prove difficult. Some companies are going so far as to work with rivals to exchange best practices on issues such as decarbonising their value chains.

Persons: John Lewis, Preeti Srivastav, Mark Chadwick, Marija Rompani, Asahi's Srivastav, they're, Andy Griffiths, we're, Jay Doyle, Richa Naidu, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Asahi, Asahi Europe, International, Reuters IMPACT, Diageo, ITV's, Thomson Locations: London, British

☆ China's Sunwoda plans $274.7 mln Hungarian battery plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, July 27 (Reuters) - China's Sunwoda Electronic (300207.SZ) plans to build a power battery factory in Hungary for electric vehicles, with initial investment of up to 1.96 billion yuan ($274.71 million), as Chinese battery makers expand in the European market. Sunwoda, a smaller player among Chinese battery makers, counts Xpeng (9868.HK), Mercedes (MBGn.DE) and Guangzhou Automobile Group (601238.SS) among its biggest clients. Its move comes as Chinese battery suppliers shake up Europe's e-mobility supply chains by setting themselves up on the continent. Chinese market leader Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) (300750.SZ) is building a 7.3 billion euro ($8.13 billion) battery plant, also in Hungary, following its first European production site in Germany. ($1 = 7.1380 Chinese yuan renminbi)($1 = 0.8977 euros)Reporting by Ethan Wang, Zhang Yan and Ryan Woo; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Emma RumneyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sunwoda, Ethan Wang, Zhang Yan, Ryan Woo, Christian Schmollinger, Emma Rumney Organizations: Shenzhen Stock Exchange, HK, Mercedes, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Amperex Technology, EVE Energy, Energy, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Hungary, Germany, Thailand

Often dubbed "Russia's Google", Yandex has struggled to balance domestic pressures with the interests of its Western investors since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Yandex's net income fell to 9.6 billion roubles ($106.8 million) while its adjusted earnings before income, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell 4% to 24.7 billion roubles. Revenue continued to grow, however, gaining 55% to 182.5 billion roubles, Yandex said. Yandex's Dutch-registered holding company is advancing plans to divest ownership and control of most of Yandex Group with a corporate restructuring. U.S. sanctions imposed last week on Alexei Kudrin, the former finance minister now spearheading Yandex's restructuring efforts, could hamper those plans.

Persons: Yandex, Alphabet's, Alexei Kudrin, Gleb Stolyarov, Alexander Marrow, Jason Neely, Emma Rumney Organizations: Google, Yandex, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Yandex's, U.S

☆ Randstad flags tougher job market, earnings beat forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Olivier Sorgho | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 25 (Reuters) - Randstad (RAND.AS), the world's biggest staffing firm, on Tuesday flagged weaker demand in a "challenging" jobs market, even as it beat expectations for second-quarter core earnings. "We've had an enormous surge in demand post-COVID ... from there we have sort of gradually seen demand pull back," he added. The company's shares recouped early losses to rise 3.5% by 1013 GMT, as its quarterly core profit beat market forecasts. Underlying earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) fell 12% to 271 million euros ($299.8 million), but exceeded the 260 million seen in a company-provided poll. An employer survey from the World Economic Forum earlier this year found that employment could decrease 2% by 2027.

Persons: Sander van't Noordende, We've, Marc Zwartsenburg, Randstad, van't Noordende, Olivier Sorgho, Jacqueline Wong, Milla Nissi, Emma Rumney Organizations: ING, Economic, Thomson Locations: U.S, Britain, China, North America, Europe, Northern Europe, Asia, Pacific, America, Gdansk

☆ Crypto exchange Rain to target UAE asset managers after winning licence
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Hadeel Al Sayegh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, July 25 (Reuters) - Middle Eastern crypto exchange Rain said on Tuesday its Abu Dhabi unit obtained a license to operate a virtual assets brokerage and custody service for clients in the United Arab Emirates. Local asset managers have been hesitant to work with crypto firms without a domestic licence, he continued, adding they will now feel more comfortable after it obtained regulatory approval. Rain, which has units registered in Bahrain and Turkey, said it would use the proceeds on regional expansion. The UAE has been trying to attract some of the world's biggest crypto firms. It has also been trying to develop virtual asset regulation to attract new forms of business as economic competition heats up in the Gulf region.

Persons: Coinbase, Yehia Badawy, Badawy, Kleiner Perkins, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Emma Rumney Organizations: United, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Global, Coinbase Ventures, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Abu, United Arab, The Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Silicon Valley, Bahrain, Turkey, Gulf

HONG KONG, July 20 (Reuters) - Fans from Hong Kong and around the world gathered at the feet of a Bruce Lee statue on Thursday to pay tribute to the late kung fu legend on the 50th anniversary of his untimely death. Those who traveled to Hong Kong for the anniversary included people from mainland China, Asia and Europe. "I have loved Bruce Lee since I was very young," said Bruce Shin from South Korea who sported a brush cut and large framed sunglasses, imitating Lee. HKTB2016 REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File PhotoLee's contributions to martial arts and popular culture have inspired legions of global fans. said Wong Yiu-keung, the chairman of the local Bruce Lee Club.

Persons: Bruce Lee, Hong, Lee, Bruce Shin, Shin, Mei Zhiyong, HKTB2016, Tyrone Siu, Chun, Kung Fu, Ip, Wong Yiu, Bruce Lee Club, Sophie Uekawa, James Pomfret, Emma Rumney Organizations: Harbour, South Korea, HKTB2016 REUTERS, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Asia, Europe, South, San Francisco, British, Japan

BANGKOK, July 20 (Reuters) - Chinese automakers dominated Southeast Asia's fast-growing electric vehicle market, selling three out of every four EVs in the first quarter, research firm Counterpoint Research said on Thursday. Thailand - the main regional auto manufacturing hub - is driving the transition, with the country accounting for almost 79% of all EVs sold in Southeast Asia in the first quarter, Counterpoint said. "Chinese auto groups are experiencing rapid growth and outpacing their competitors in the SEA (Southeast Asia) region, with their market share increasing from 38% a year ago to nearly 75%," Counterpoint analyst Abhilash Gupta said. With Chinese EV offerings expanding, Counterpoint said the share of EVs as a percent of total vehicle sales in Southeast Asia could reach 6% by the end of 2023. Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are the largest auto markets in Southeast Asia.

Persons: Abhilash Gupta, Devjyot Ghoshal, Emma Rumney Organizations: Research, Great Wall, Chinese EV, SEA, Hozon New Energy Automobile, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Chinese, Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar

☆ Exclusive: Microsoft hit with EU antitrust complaint by German rival
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, July 20 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O) was hit with an EU antitrust complaint by German rival alfaview on Thursday, the second so far over its bundling of video app Teams into its Office product. The U.S. software giant has been on the EU competition enforcer's radar since 2020, when Salesforce-owned (CRM.N) workspace messaging app Slack complained about the tying of Teams with Office. Alfaview, based in Karlsruhe in south-western Germany and with a 500-strong workforce, said it had filed a similar complaint to the European Commission. Microsoft added Teams to Office 365 in 2017 for free, with the app eventually replacing Skype for Business. Alfaview urged the EU antitrust watchdog to open a formal investigation, saying remedies offered by its U.S. rival to the Commission were insufficient.

Persons: alfaview, Slack, Niko Fostiropoulos, Alfaview, Foo Yun Chee, David Evans, Emma Rumney Organizations: Microsoft, Regulators, EU, European Commission, U.S ., Skype, Business, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, U.S, Karlsruhe, Germany

☆ Dubai invites pitches for IPOs of taxi, parking assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Hadeel Al Sayegh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The RTA is targeting the first of the two potential public share sales, in the Dubai Taxi Corporation, to take place around December or January, said the sources, declining to be named as the matter is not public. It has appointed Rothschild & Co to advise on a strategic review of its assets, which include its taxi and public parking businesses, Reuters reported on July 7, citing sources familiar with the matter. Dubai raised nearly $8.5 billion from five IPOs last year, fuelled by a government privatisation plan to list 10 state-linked companies to boost stock market activity. Companies in the region raised $21.9 billion through IPOs last year, more than half the total for the wider Europe, Middle East and Africa region, Dealogic data shows. Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh; Editing by Jan Harvey, John Stonestreet and Emma RumneyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rothschild, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Jan Harvey, John Stonestreet, Emma Rumney Organizations: Transport Authority, Reuters, RTA, Dubai Taxi Corporation, Co, Nol, Dubai, Emirates, Companies, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Dubai's, Dubai, Europe, Middle East, Africa

☆ Sri Lanka parliament passes anti-corruption bill without vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COLOMBO, July 19 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's parliament approved an anti-corruption bill on Wednesday, aimed at improving governance in the crisis-hit country and meeting requirements linked to a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The legislation was passed without a vote in the 225-member parliament. "The bill is passed with amendments," Sri Lanka parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told lawmakers after more than two dozen pages of amendments were included into the draft legislation during the morning session. The Anti-Corruption Bill increases the powers and resources allocated to Sri Lanka's Bribery and Corruption Commission, which is mandated with carrying out major investigations. "We welcome the law, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating," said Sankhitha Gunaratne, Deputy Executive Director, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL).

Persons: Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Sankhitha Gunaratne, Uditha Jayasinghe, Himani Sarkar, Christian Schmollinger, Emma Rumney Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, United Nations, Sri, Corruption Commission, Sri Lanka, Thomson Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Asia

The new plant is expected to be built in Somerset, south-west England, while Jaguar Land Rover's UK factories are based near Birmingham, central England. With an initial output of 40 gigawatt hours, Britain said the factory would provide almost half of the battery production needed by 2030. The Faraday Institution has projected UK battery demand to reach over 100 GWh a year by that time. "With this strategic investment, the Tata Group further strengthens its commitment to the UK," Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said in the statement. "Almost every car producing nation in the world (is) offering a lot of incentives in order to ensure that they preserve the integrity of their car industry," he said.

Persons: Danish Siddiqui, Rishi Sunak's, Sunak, N Chandrasekaran, Mike Hawes, Andy Palmer, Aston Martin, Jeremy Hunt, wouldn't, Alistair Smout, Sarah Young, William James, Paul Sandle, Emma Rumney Organizations: Tata Motors, REUTERS, Danish, India's Tata Group, Rover, Tata, BBC, European Union, Nissan, Rover's, Faraday, Tata Group, EV, BBC Radio, Britain, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, Britain, Spain, Somerset, England, Birmingham, United States, Europe, China, EU

☆ ICC ruling opens way to investigation on killings in Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In a ruling on July 18, the ICC appeals judges rejected an attempt by the Philippines to block an investigation into the bloody anti-narcotics campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte. A majority of judges rejected all four points of Manila's appeal, including that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the Philippines and that authorities there were conducting their own investigation. "The ICC appeals judges' ruling marks the next step toward justice for victims of 'drug war' killings and their families," Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said in a statement. The decision left some of the families of drug war victims in tears after they watched the court proceeding online. But appeals judges ruled prosecutors still had jurisdiction over the alleged crimes because they occurred when the Philippines was still an ICC member.

Persons: Rodrigo Duterte, Harry Roque, Roque, Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, Bryony Lau, Kristina Conti, HRW's Lau, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Anthony Deutsch, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Neil Jerome Morales, Eloisa Lopez, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Emma Rumney, Alex Richardson Organizations: Criminal Court, ICC, Philippine, Human Rights Watch, Duterte, Police, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, MANILA, Philippines, Manila, Asia, Amsterdam

☆ Miss Netherlands' first transgender winner becomes target of hate speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, July 13 (Reuters) - Rikkie Valerie Kolle, the first transgender woman to be crowed Miss Netherlands, once saw her success in the pageant as a symbol of her nation's openness. Kolle, 22, said she became a target of hate speech after winning the 94-year-old competition last week. If she wins she will be the first transgender woman to claim that title. [1/5]Rikkie Valerie Kolle, a transgender woman who was crowned Miss Netherlands, puts on her makeup in Voorthuizen, Netherlands July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw"I thought we were really accepting.... in the Netherlands, but the hate comments show the other side of our society.

Persons: Valerie Kolle, Kolle, Piroschka van de, Anthony Deutsch, Emma Rumney Organizations: Miss, Miss Universe, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Miss Netherlands, Voorthuizen, Netherlands

Search resuls for: "Emma Rumney"

25 mentions found