LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a birthday party during the first COVID-19 lockdown in June 2020 when social gatherings indoors were banned, ITV News reported on Monday. Johnson’s office was quoted by ITV as saying in respon…
Oil falls 2% as Fed rate hike talk spooks risk markets
By David Gaffen and Arathy Somasekhar NEW YORK (Reuters) – Oil prices fell about 2% on Monday, hit by investor concerns over the possibility of quicker than expected interest-rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve that took down risk markets such as eq…
Do not assume COVID pandemic reaching ‘end game’, warns WHO
By Emma Farge and Mrinalika Roy GENEVA (Reuters) -The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that it was dangerous to assume the Omicron variant would herald the end of COVID-19’s acutest phase, exhorting nations to stay focused t…
Analysis-Rio Tinto has few options to save Serbia lithium mine, none good
By Clara Denina LONDON (Reuters) – Rio Tinto has only bad options as it tries to salvage its $2.4 billion Serbian lithium project after the country’s leaders bowed to environmentalists and cancelled it last week. The Anglo-Australian miner could sue th…
European stocks mark worst day in over 1-1/2 years on Ukraine risks, Fed worries
By Sruthi Shankar and Anisha Sircar (Reuters) -Europe’s top equities benchmark plummeted nearly 4% on Monday, pulled down by worries about a Russian attack on Ukraine and the possibility of a more hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve this week. The Europe-wide…
Sterling at three-week low as equity slide hurts riskier currencies
By Elizabeth Howcroft LONDON (Reuters) – The British pound fell on Monday to its lowest in three weeks versus the U.S. dollar, as investors sold riskier assets amid expectations of Fed tightening, mounting tensions with Russia and falling stocks. The m…
WikiLeaks’ Assange gets chance to take extradition case to UK’s top court
By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) -WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday was given the chance to challenge at Britain’s highest court a decision allowing him to be extradited to the United States to face 18 criminal charges including breaking a s…
Diasorin CEO indicted in Italy for alleged insider trading -sources
MILAN (Reuters) – The chief executive of Italian diagnostics group Diasorin will go on trial in April for alleged insider trading, one judicial and two legal sources said. A Milan judge indicted Carlo Rosa along with Alessandro Venturi, President of Po…
Stellantis to add 850 jobs at Mulhouse site following strong Peugeot 308 orders -unions
PARIS (Reuters) – Carmaker Stellantis will add 850 jobs at its plant in Mulhouse, eastern France following strong orders for Peugeot’s 308 sedan, labour unions said in a joint statement on Monday. The carmaker plans to set up a third production team at…
British stocks slump in equity rout, Unilever, Vodafone gain
By Shashank Nayar and Ambar Warrick (Reuters) -Britain’s midcap stock index slumped to a 10-month low on Monday as rising concerns over Russia and Ukraine rattled global equities, while reports of dealmaking activity helped Unilever and Vodafone outper…