EU eyes pandemic exit with 70 per cent of population administered first dose August 3, 2021 Despite protests against coronavirus restrictions rocking the streets of Paris and Berlin last weekend, the EU’s quiet move towards an exit from the pandemic continues apace. The European Union surpassed its target of injecting at least one jab into the arms of 70 per cent of its population by the end of July. And according [...]
Belarus athlete granted Polish visa after refusing to return home August 2, 2021 Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who refused her team’s orders to board a flight home from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has been granted a humanitarian visa by the Polish government. The sprinter, 24, entered the Polish embassy in Tokyo earlier today after spending a night in secure accommodation at Haneda airport under Japanese police protection. Tsimanouskaya [...]
Meggitt shares keep flying high after Parker’s £6bn bid to buy August 2, 2021 British engineering firm Meggitt saw its shares rocket nearly 60 per cent on the London Stock Exchange this morning after US tech firm Parker tabled some £6.3bn for the firm. Shares were up an eyewatering 59.5 per cent just after opening but steadied to 54.6 per cent in its afternoon trading at 725.4p per share. [...]
Climate change activists occupy Zurich’s financial district August 2, 2021 Police this morning began clearing a group of Climate Strike activists occupying the heart of Zurich’s financial district. Around 200 activists from the Climate Strike Switzerland group gathered outside the UBS and Credit Suisse headquarters to protest the financing of environmentally damaging fossil fuel projects. According to “Rise Up for Change”, a group bringing together [...]
China securities watchdog seeks closer cooperation with US after Didi crackdown August 2, 2021 The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has said it will enhance communication with its US counterpart on overseas listing after US regulators tightened disclosure for Chinese companies. The Chinese securities regulator said it had noticed the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) new disclosure requirements for Chinese companies’ listings. It added the two sides should [...]
SoftBank-backed Policybazaar files for IPO amid Indian digital economy boom August 2, 2021 Online insurance marketplace Policybazaar is to embark on an initial public offering that could rally $809m if it secures the loftier end of its price range. The SoftBank-backed startup follows a string of other tech-based emerging companies preparing to ride India’s booming digital economy wave. Policybazaar will sell off new shares, according to a public notice published [...]
Hong Kong singer Anthony Wong arrested over election rally performance August 2, 2021 Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog has arrested Cantonpop singer Anthony Wong Yiu-ming and former lawmaker Au Nok-hin for breaching electoral law by singing at a pro-democracy campaign rally three years ago. Wong, 59, and Au, 34, are both charged with engaging in corrupt conduct by providing entertainment to induce others to vote at the Legislative Council [...]
Jack Dorsey’s Square to snap up Australian rival Afterpay for £21bn August 2, 2021 Payments firm Square is set to snap up buy now, pay later company Afterpay for some £21bn, in the biggest buyout of an Australian firm to date. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, who also co-founded Square, said that the payments company and Afterpay have a “shared purpose”. The deal will peg the merging companies as a [...]
Bumble offers employees unlimited paid leave – as long as the work gets done July 30, 2021 Dating app Bumble has said its employees can take unlimited paid leave providing their manager approves it. It is understood that the app, which employs some 700 people, will allow time off so long as the work is still completed. The policy move follows the firm’s decision to shut down its office for a week [...]
Microsoft in talks to back pandemic bruised Indian hotel chain Oyo July 30, 2021 Microsoft is in late-stage talks to invest in Indian budget hotel chain Oyo, according to reports, after a bruising 18 months for the business. The backing would value the startup at around $9bn, sources said, although the investment figure is not yet known. The deal may close as soon as Friday, one source said. The [...]