EU microplastics ban needs to aim smaller, advisers say - Reuters

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A draft EU ban on microplastics would allow industry to use even smaller particles in cosmetics, detergents and paints, which could be more damaging than the tiny pieces of plastic already clogging up the natural world, campaigners and some EU advisers say.

FILE PHOTO: Recycled, shredded plastic is pictured on a dinner plate, equivalent to the amount of microplastic a person could consume in a year, based on a recent study by WWF International, in this illustration photo taken October 10, 201

Factbox: A look at Walmart, Microsoft's past collaborations - Reuters

(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp and Walmart Inc are together bidding for TikTok’s U.S. assets, competing with Oracle Corp for a piece of the popular short-video app.

FILE PHOTO: Walmart's logo is seen outside one of the stores ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. November 27, 2019. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski

The companies have signed a five-year cloud computing deal, invested to expand into newer regions and collaborated on other


'Wake-up call': World Bank hopes Lebanese blast will spur reform - Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The World Bank has estimated that a huge explosion at Beirut port caused as much as $4.6 billion in damage to homes and infrastructure, and the bank’s regional head said this should be a catalyst for reforms to unlock reconstruction funds.

FILE PHOTO: A member of the French military works at the damaged site of the massive blast in Beirut's port area, in Beirut, Lebanon August 31, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool/File Photo

UAE tells World Court Qatar cannot invoke anti-bias treaty in blockade row - Reuters

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates argued on Monday that the World Court lacks jurisdiction to hear a case filed against it by neighbouring Qatar accusing Abu Dhabi of violating a U.N. anti-discrimination treaty.

The row dates from 2017 when the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a boycott on Qatar, severing diplomatic and transport ties and accusing it of supporting terrorism. The countries closed their airspace to Qatari aircraft.

Doha denies allegations of supporting terrorism.

Hearings this week at


Apple and Tesla shares surge after stock splits kick in - Reuters

(Reuters) - High-flying shares of Apple Inc and Tesla Inc surged again on Monday as stock splits took effect and attracted more buying from investors.

FILE PHOTO: The Apple logo is seen on the Apple store at the Marche Saint Germain in Paris, France July 15, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Apple jumped over 4% and Tesla rallied 10%, elevating the electric car maker’s market capitalization to over $440 billion, making it more valuable than companies including


Apple and Tesla shares surge after stock splits kick in - Reuters

(Reuters) - High-flying shares of Apple Inc and Tesla Inc surged again on Monday as stock splits took effect and attracted more buying from investors.

FILE PHOTO: The Apple logo is seen on the Apple store at the Marche Saint Germain in Paris, France July 15, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Apple jumped over 4% and Tesla rallied 10%, elevating the electric car maker’s market capitalization to over $440 billion, making it more valuable than companies including


Google says Denmark is reviewing its taxes there - Reuters

FILE PHOTO: A Google logo is shown at one of the company's office complexes in Irvine, California, United States, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish tax authorities have initiated a review of Google’s accounts in Denmark to determine whether the tech giant has any outstanding tax obligation, the company said on Monday.

Google’s Danish unit, Google Denmark Aps, said in its financial report for 2019 that tax


Japan looks to AI as coronavirus challenges go-and-see quality control mantra - Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) - At a factory south of Japan’s Toyota City, robots have started sharing the work of quality-control inspectors, as the pandemic accelerates a shift from Toyota’s vaunted “go and see” system which helped revolutionise mass production in the 20th century.

A self-driving vehicle with parts is pictued at Ricoh?fs photocopier components factory in Atsugi, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan July 13, 2020. Picture taken July 13, 2020.
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Brent hits five-month high on Abu Dhabi supply cuts, China data - Reuters

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil rose on Monday, with Brent touching the highest in five months, underpinned by a 30% cut in Abu Dhabi crude supplies and encouraging Chinese data even as global demand struggles to return to pre-COVID levels in a well supplied market.

FILE PHOTO: The sun sets behind a crude oil pump jack on a drill pad in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S. November 24, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo

Brent


Shares in telecom firm SoftBank Corp fall 3% as parent slashes stake - Reuters

FILE PHOTO: SoftBank Group Corp Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son speaks at SoftBank World 2017 conference in Tokyo, Japan, July 20, 2017. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Shares in wireless carrier SoftBank Corp ( 9434.T ) fell 3% on Monday after parent SoftBank Group Corp ( 9984.T ) said it would sell up to 22% of the telco’s shares, which could slash its holding in