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☆ Oil major BP braces itself for shareholder revolt after scaling back its climate targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Dutch group Follow This, a small activist investor and campaign group with stakes in several Big Oil companies, has tabled a resolution at BP's shareholder meeting. It calls on the energy giant to align its climate targets with the landmark Paris climate accord and commit to absolute carbon emissions cuts by 2030. Those emissions cuts, Follow This says, should include emissions generated by customers' use of their oil and gas, known as Scope 3 emissions. Follow This says it expects BP's annual general meeting to be a "contentious" one, warning investors will be "rightfully concerned" about BP dialing back its climate strategy amid an ever-worsening climate crisis. Proxy advisors ISS and Glass Lewis have recommended that shareholders of BP vote against the resolution tabled by Follow This.

☆ Ferrari's Leclerc denies talks with Mercedes: 'Not yet'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 27 (Reuters) - Ferrari's Charles Leclerc denied on Thursday he was talking to rivals Mercedes after a nightmare start to the Formula One season, but his 'not yet' comment was unlikely to dampen speculation. Leclerc has scored only six points from three races so far, retiring twice. Not for the moment," the Monegasque told reporters in Baku when asked about media speculation in Italy that his discussions with former champions Mercedes were an open secret. "For now, I am fully focused on the project I am in today, which is Ferrari and I fully trust and am confident for the future. Asked if Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had called him, Leclerc replied: "No.

☆ Formula One statistics for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 25 (Reuters) - Formula One statistics for Sunday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, the fourth round of the 23-race 2023 world championship:Lap distance: 6.003 km. read moreThe street circuit made its debut in 2016 as the European Grand Prix. Daniel Ricciardo won for Red Bull from 10th on the grid in 2017 and Perez from sixth in 2021. Red Bull have been on pole in every race so far in 2023 and the last four in total. Aston Martin have had three successive podium finishes, a first for the Silverstone-based team in its many incarnations dating back to Jordan Grand Prix.

☆ F1 braced for chaos as sprint season starts in Baku
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Formula One is braced for chaos on the streets of Baku this weekend as Azerbaijan hosts the first sprint race of the season and kicks off a run of five grands prix in six weeks. "It’s absolutely ludicrous to be doing the first sprint race of the year in a street race like Azerbaijan," Red Bull boss Christian Horner told reporters at the previous race in Australia. Verstappen won last year. "We are bringing a new floor to Baku amongst some other aerodynamic and mechanical items," said Alpine technical director Matt Harman. "We then have a further development at the following race in Miami and something further for Imola after that."

☆ Richard Lewis ‘finished with standup’ amid Parkinson’s disease
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —For those wondering where he has been for the last few years, Richard Lewis has an answer. He’s undergone surgeries for his shoulder, back and hips, and has been dealing with another health challenge. “Two years ago I started walking a little stiffly, I was shuffling my feet and I went to a neurologist and they gave me a brain scan and I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease,” Lewis, 75, said in his video. And I’m on the right meds, so I’m cool.”Lewis said he’s “finished with standup,” instead “focusing on writing and acting.” He added that he is happy and doing well. According to the Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s “is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves.”Other celebs who are also living with Parkinson’s disease include singer Neil Diamond and actor Michael J.

☆ The upcoming North Carolina gubernatorial election could be another flashpoint in the nation's sharply divided politics
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

North Carolina GOP Lt. Gov. The 2024 gubernatorial race could feature two major forces in North Carolina government — Democratic state Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican Lt. Gov. "I'm running for governor because we the people of North Carolina need someone who understands us," he told his supporters. Roy Cooper has been an institution in North Carolina Democratic politics. North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell is already in the race, and former Rep. Mark Walker is expected to enter the contest soon.

☆ Michael Schumacher's family plans to sue a gossip magazine for using AI to produce fake quotes from the F1 legend
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Michael Schumacher's family is taking legal action against German magazine Die Actuelle. The magazine published a fake interview with the racing driver generated by AI. The racing driver was placed in an induced coma after a 2013 skiing accident in the French Alps. The magazine article featured fake quotes created by an AI program called charatcter.ai, in which Schumacher discussed his health and the support of his family. The family confirmed to Reuters that it will be pursuing legal action against Die Actuelle.

☆ Barclays investors urged to reject bonuses for ex-CFO - Glass Lewis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Iain Withers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, April 6 (Reuters) - Investor advisory firm Glass Lewis has recommended shareholders in Barclays (BARC.L) vote against its pay for top bosses because of long-term bonuses awarded to its former finance chief at a time the bank sold billions of pounds of securities in error. Barclays docked the pay of its ex-CFO Tushar Morzaria and its current top executives by a combined 1 million pounds ($1.25 million) in February over the blunder, but Glass Lewis said the deductions for Morzaria did not go far enough. The proxy adviser said it objected to long-term awards that vested last year for 2020, under which Morzaria was awarded nearly 3 million pounds after the deductions, representing 70% of the potential total pot. Reuters attempted to contact Morzaria via Legal & General, who were not immediately available. ($1 = 0.8020 pounds)Reporting by Iain Withers Editing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Barclays investors urged to reject bonuses for ex-CFO
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Iain Withers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SECURITIES BLUNDERBarclays docked the pay of its ex-CFO Tushar Morzaria and its current top executives by a combined 1 million pounds ($1.25 million) in February over the securities blunder. STALEY SCRUTINYBarclays said in a notice last week that recent allegations against Staley regarding his relationship with Epstein were "serious and new". He left Barclays in 2021 after a dispute with British financial regulators over how he described his ties with Epstein. Barclays has said Staley received 2 million pounds in fixed pay during his 12-month notice period, and the bank paid his moving expenses back to the United States. Glass Lewis said investors could be "reasonably satisfied" with the company's disclosures on Staley and welcomed the suspension of his awards.

[1/2] Reporter for U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich appears in this handout picture taken in Moscow, Russia, 2019. The Moscow Times/Handout via REUTERSBRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, April 5 (Reuters) - The United States is working through the process to determine whether Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention by Russia is "wrongful", U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, adding it would soon be completed. The Wall Street Journal has denied Gershkovich was spying. Legislation passed by Congress in 2020 lists 11 criteria to help determine whether a U.S. citizen is "wrongfully detained." The Biden administration has secured the release of at least 25 "wrongfully detained" Americans.

☆ Bill Gates' daughter reportedly paid $51 million for this NYC penthouse—it comes with 3,400 square feet of outdoor space
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bill Gates' eldest daughter, Jennifer Gates, might now be calling a $51 million New York City penthouse home. 443 Greenwich Street is known for being home to other celebrities like Meg Ryan, and Blake Lively and Ryan Reynold. The penthouse apartment is 8,900 square feet and has a 3,400 square-foot outdoor space with a plunge pool. Gates' penthouse apartment is 8,900 square feet and has a 3,400 square-foot outdoor space. 443 Greenwich Street was designed with an indoor courtyard, which is rare for buildings in New York City.

☆ Formula One under scrutiny over balance between safety and entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Stewards had hoped racing would decide the winner but the carnage only served to trigger a third red flag and a processional win behind a safety car for Red Bull's Max Verstappen. DAMAGE BILLSStriking the right balance between safety and sport has long challenged Formula One, which moved to tighten its safety car rules after controversy hit the title-deciding 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Officials no longer have such discretion but the application of safety car rules continues to flummox drivers and team bosses alike. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he was not sure when to expect a standard safety car versus a virtual one or a red flag after incidents. "Standing starts are the most vulnerable part of any grand prix and we did three of them," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

☆ Team by team analysis of the Australian Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

ASTON MARTIN (Fernando Alonso 3, Lance Stroll 4)Alonso's third third-place finish in three races for the team he joined this season from Renault-owned Alpine. The Spaniard started fourth, dropped to fifth but was third by the second red flag. Russell pulled up with his car flaming at the rear on lap 18, triggering a virtual safety car. He had fought back from 11th after pitting during the second safety car period, just before the first red flag. The German was fourth at the final red flag but the positions were reset to the previous grid because no sector had been completed.

☆ Australian GP: Max Verstappen holds off Lewis Hamilton for victory after wild finish to chaotic race
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia. Max Verstappen held off Lewis Hamilton to claim a maiden Australian Grand Prix victory after a chaotic race, which finished with a processional safety-car lap following a wild late restart. Verstappen looked to be cruising to a comfortable win having reclaimed the lead after losing out to George Russell and Hamilton during a frantic opening, but Kevin Magnussen's crash and an ensuing second red flag of the race set up a two-lap sprint to the finish from a standing start. A third red flag followed, along with further confusion and controversy as there was a long wait before the FIA decided to restore the order from before the restart because the cars had not made it far enough around the track before for the new classification to be confirmed before the red flag came out. That meant that Alonso returned to third, but Sainz was left devastated as a five-second penalty for causing the collision saw him relegated to 12th, leaving Ferrari pointless after Charles Leclerc's first-lap retirement.

☆ Verstappen wins Australian Grand Prix after red flag chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Verstappen wins his second race of the seasonHamilton finishes runner-up ahead of AlonsoRace interrupted by red flags, crashesMELBOURNE, April 2 (Reuters) - Max Verstappen was crowned Australian Grand Prix winner on Sunday after two late red flags and a slew of crashes threw the race into chaos before the Red Bull driver was allowed a processional victory lap around Albert Park. That allowed Verstappen to claim his second win of the season ahead of Hamilton with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso third. Red Bull have now claimed all three grand prix wins in the new season, a record for the team, resuming their dominance after their runaway success in 2022. The Dutchman now has 69 points in the championship race, 15 ahead of team mate Sergio Perez. Verstappen opened up a big gap before the late red flags saw the race turn from procession to drama and back again.

MELBOURNE, April 2 (Reuters) - World champion Max Verstappen and team mate Sergio Perez were among drivers to criticise the officiating at a chaotic Formula One Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, which finished under a safety car after the race was restarted three times. Red Bull's Verstappen told reporters the decision to restart the race from the grid a second time, for what should have been a two-lap sprint to the finish, led to multiple collisions that took four cars out of the race. "They (race officials) created the problems themselves at the end of the day." F1 has boomed in popularity after a thrilling 2021 season was decided by a controversial officiating decision on the final lap of the last race. "The whole point of red flagging, it feels like it was just to put on a show," McLaren's Lando Norris, who finished sixth, told reporters.

☆ Verstappen takes pole for Red Bull at Australian Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

MELBOURNE, April 1 (Reuters) - Max Verstappen took pole position for Red Bull at the Formula One Australian Grand Prix on Saturday. Mercedes driver George Russell joins Verstappen on the front row for Sunday's race at Albert Park after making the second-fastest lap, with Lewis Hamilton to start third. Red Bull's Sergio Perez will start from the back of the grid after skidding off track and beaching himself in gravel in the first session of qualifying. Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Masi's door open to Mercedes but Wolff won't be knocking
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The choice is theirs," Masi told News Corp media. "I've always had an open door policy and will always have an open door policy, since the moment that I arrived in this F1 paddock and that continues." Hamilton said on Thursday he had no plans to meet Masi and was only focussed on his future. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff echoed Hamilton, saying he wanted to leave the past behind. "No," he said when asked if he would meet Masi.

☆ Verstappen fastest in first practice at Australian Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, March 31 (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Max Verstappen topped the timesheets for Red Bull before taking a late spin at Albert Park in an eventful first free practice at the Australian Grand Prix on Friday. The Dutchman lapped the lakeside circuit in one minute, 18.790 seconds, nearly half a second quicker than second fastest Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, as two red flags disrupted the session. A second red flag cut the session short by a few minutes as Williams rookie Logan Sargeant came to a halt on track-side grass with an apparent power failure. Verstappen finished his session with a bit of drama, taking a big spin at turn four to ruin his tyres. But he squeezed in a fast lap between the red flags to sandwich himself between Verstappen and Perez's times.

☆ Britain's John Lewis has lost its soul, says Mary Portas
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, March 25 (Reuters) - British retail consultant and television personality Mary Portas has written an open letter to the John Lewis Partnership accusing the group of losing its soul for considering a change to its longstanding model of employee ownership. "Somehow, in recent years, you've let go of the soul," wrote Portas, known as the "Queen of Shops" due to her efforts to save the UK high street. She accused John Lewis of "chasing the new. But here's the thing: that's not what we really want from John Lewis". John Lewis' Chairman Sharon White wrote back to Portas insisting she would ensure the partnership not only survives, but thrives.

☆ Piquet ordered to pay $950,000 for racist, homophobic comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 25 (Reuters) - Brazil's triple Formula One champion Nelson Piquet must pay 5 million Brazilian Reals ($953,050) in moral damages for racist and homophobic comments against Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, a Brazilian court ruled on Friday. In an interview in November 2021, Piquet used a racial slur referring to the seven-time world champion, when commenting on Hamilton's British Grand Prix crash with Max Verstappen. Hamilton called for action to change "archaic mindsets" after footage of the interview surfaced on social media last June. In another clip which surfaced later, Piquet used racist and homophobic language against Hamilton in a podcast interview when describing how Hamilton missed out on the 2016 championship to Nico Rosberg. The charges were brought by four human rights groups, including Brazil's National LGBT+ Alliance, which wanted Piquet to pay 10 million Brazilian Reals for alleged moral damages.

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - China is "very carefully" watching how Washington and the world respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but has not yet crossed the line of providing lethal aid to Moscow, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. "The stakes in Ukraine go well beyond Ukraine. However, he said he did not believe that China has been providing lethal aid to Moscow. "As we speak today, we have not seen them cross that line," Blinken told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, the first of four times he will testify to congressional committees this week. "The post-Cold War world is over, and there is an intense competition under way to determine what comes next," Blinken said.

☆ F1 needs Perez to keep performing at his best
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - Sergio Perez may have had his best race yet in Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix but Formula One desperately needs the Mexican to keep it up in a season turning into a tale of two Red Bull team mates. Verstappen won 15 of the 22 races last year to Perez's two triumphs. "We've had those years where we were as strong, but it's a meritocracy," the Austrian told reporters when asked about the sport's popularity taking a hit if Red Bull kept winning everything. Perez agreed: "I think we did a great job," he said of the race in Jeddah. "I don't know if it's my best weekend so far with the team, but I'm sure Melbourne will be even better."

☆ Perez wins Saudi GP as Verstappen goes from 15th to second
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"That safety car again tried to take the victory away from us in Jeddah but not this time," said Perez, who started on pole last year but was caught out by a safety car deployment and ended up fourth. "I was on for victory last year so finally I got it," added the Mexican, who now has five career wins and finished 5.355 seconds clear despite the safety car cutting his early advantage. It took Perez four laps to take charge with the Mexican meeting no resistance as he swept past for the lead, but he could not relax. When the safety car period ended on lap 20, Verstappen was pushing Russell for third and took the place three laps later. Verstappen went second, 5.6 seconds behind Perez, at the half-distance but the gap stayed constant with the Red Bulls in a race of their own.

☆ Perez on pole in Saudi Arabia as Verstappen hits trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"You really feel the Formula One cars coming alive in this place and maximising that lap was very important," said Perez of what was also his second career pole. "Every session was going really well, every time we were on the track the car was working really well. Mercedes' George Russell and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz will share the second row with Canadian Lance Stroll fifth for Aston Martin and Esteban Ocon sixth for Renault-owned Alpine. Seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton, winner in Saudi Arabia in 2021, will start seventh for Mercedes. "It was really, really on the limit," he said.

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