News

October 6, 2021 By Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam and Jorge Silva KABUL (Reuters) – Hundreds of Afghans flocked to the passport office in Kabul on Wednesday, just a day after news that it would re-open this week to issue the documents, while Taliban security men had to beat back some in the crowd in efforts to […]

October 6, 2021 By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union said on Wednesday it would scrutinise its power market design and consider proposals to revamp EU regulation, as the bloc seeks to keep its plans to tackle climate change on track amid record-high energy costs. European electricity and gas prices have rocketed higher […]

October 6, 2021 VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis said on Wednesday he was saddened and shamed by the Catholic Church’s inability to deal with sexual abuse of children in France and that the Church must make itself a “safe home for everyone”. “I would like to express to the victims my sadness, sorrow for […]

October 6, 2021 AYUTTHAYA, Thailand (Reuters) – Several temples in Thailand’s historic city of Ayutthaya were underwater on Wednesday, as heavy monsoon rains flooded provinces across the country. More than 40 temples in Ayutthaya, home to ancient Buddhist temples, ruins, and monuments, have been affected by the floods, the city administration said. At one of […]

October 6, 2021 BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Greens said on Wednesday they wanted to move to three-way talks with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and liberal Free Democrats (FDP) on forming a new coalition government following a national election late last month. Greens co-leader Robert Habeck told reporters his party “is proposing to the FDP […]

Wayve, a U.K.-based self-driving startup that is notable for its use of deep learning and cameras rather than more-costly Lidar and other sensors to guide vehicles, is gearing up for its next stage of development with a strategic backer in its pocket. Today Ocado — the online grocer that also powers online grocery systems for […]

If there’s a sector that has seen the biggest uptick in the number of startups and venture capital in emerging markets since the start of last year, it has to be the digitization of mom and pop stores. Today, a new activity takes us to Morocco, where YC-backed company Chari just raised a $5 million […]

October 6, 2021 DUBLIN (Reuters) – A final text of a global corporate tax overhaul is due to be circulated to negotiating countries later on Wednesday, Ireland’s foreign minister said, adding that the Irish government hoped to sign up. An updated draft this week dropped “at least” from a proposed minimum global corporate tax rate […]

October 6, 2021 BENGALURU (Reuters) – Sequoia Capital-funded Mobile Premier League (MPL) was among the first few gaming startups that began blocking access to users in the Indian state of Karnataka on Wednesday following a ban on online gaming. The law, which came into effect late on Tuesday, bans online games involving betting and wagering, […]

October 6, 2021 PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodian leader Hun Sen on Wednesday ordered the justice ministry to amend the constitution to bar holders of the country’s top posts, including the prime minister, from being citizens of other nations. On his Facebook page, Hun Sen said the prime minister, upper and lower houses speakers and […]

October 6, 2021 A look at the day ahead from Dhara Ranasinghe. U.S. and European bond yields are up sharply, stock market futures are deep in the red and oil is holding near multi-year highs. Yes, it’s going to be one of those days. Inflation angst continues to grip world markets with U.S. and German […]

October 6, 2021 By Huw Jones LONDON (Reuters) – Stablecoins would have to comply with the same safeguards as their more traditional competitors in payments under proposals from regulators on Wednesday as authorities get to grips with a rapidly evolving sector. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to have a stable value relative to traditional currencies, or […]

October 6, 2021 PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodian leader Hun Sen on Wednesday ordered the justice ministry to amend the constitution to bar holders of the country’s top posts, including the prime minister, from being citizens of other nations. On his Facebook page, Hun Sen said the prime minister, upper and lower houses speakers and […]

October 6, 2021 By James Davey LONDON (Reuters) -Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, raised its full-year outlook as it reported a 16.6% rise in first-half core retail profit and increased sales despite labour and supply chain disruption and tough COVID-19 related comparisons a year ago. The group said on Wednesday its strong first-half performance had enabled […]

October 6, 2021 By Paresh Dave (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s Google cut fuel use and traffic delays by 10% to 20% at four locations in Israel by using artificial intelligence to optimize signal lights and it next plans to test the software in Rio de Janeiro, the company said on Wednesday. The early-phase research project […]

October 6, 2021 COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Danish hearing aid and headset maker GN Store Nord said on Wednesday it would acquire gaming gear company Steelseries from Nordic private equity company Axcel in a deal worth 8 billion Danish crowns ($1.25 billion). “We have for some time searched for the right way for GN to enter the […]

October 6, 2021 LONDON (Reuters) -Travel company TUI Group said it would raise 1.1 billion euros ($1.27 billion) in equity to help pay down its pandemic debt, as it reported a jump in holiday bookings in late summer. Germany-based TUI has taken on loans of over 4 billion euros and been bailed out multiple times […]

October 6, 2021 (Reuters) – European stocks tumbled more than 1% on Wednesday as a surge in oil prices intensified concerns over higher inflation, while investors moved out of high-growth tech stocks into banking shares. After a late-session rally on Tuesday, the pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 1.2%, with the tech sector down more than […]

October 6, 2021 PARIS (Reuters) – French luxury group Kering, Richemont’s Cartier, and the Responsible Jewellery Council have teamed up to set environmental targets for watches and jewellery activities, challenging labels in the industry to commit to them too. The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of environmental issues among consumers, especially from the younger generations, […]

October 6, 2021 By Robin Emmott and Sabine Siebold BRDO, Slovenia (Reuters) – European Union leaders failed to overcome divisions over whether to develop an independent defence force despite anger at the chaotic withdrawal of Western forces from Afghanistan and new impetus from France after it was excluded from a U.S. geostrategic pact. Leaders meeting […]