July, 2022

• 8 July

  Preparations complete in Mina to receive 1 million Hajj pilgrims

    MINA / WAM The Saudi government departments and authorities responsible for Hajj season 2022 completed their preparations to receive one million pilgrims in Mina to spend Tarwiyah (watering) Day. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Ministry of Hajj has completed its operational plan for this year’s Hajj season. Meanwhile, the Commands of the Hajj Security Forces have …

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• 8 July

  World needs to spend $110bn a year to curb methane releases

  

  Bloomberg The world needs to dramatically ramp up spending tenfold to $110 billion a year to curb methane releases and avoid the worst of climate change, a new study has found. The potent greenhouse gas is responsible for nearly half of net global warming to date, yet just 2% of global climate finance is directed towards curbing releases of the …

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• 8 July

  Gas price surge may slash UK’s cost to hit net-zero emissions

  

    Bloomberg Britain’s path towards zeroing out its greenhouse gas pollution may cost a third less than expected if natural gas prices remain elevated, analysis by government’s fiscal watchdog showed. The Office For Budget Responsibility examined how high fossil-fuel prices would impact the whole-economy cost of the UK reaching its target for net zero emissions by 2050. In 2019, the …

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• 8 July

  VW breaks ground on $20bn battery unit’s first cell plant

  

    Bloomberg Volkswagen AG broke ground on a new battery plant in Germany on Thursday, saying the factory marks the first step in an effort that will generate more than 20 billion euros ($20.4 billion) in revenue annually by the end of the decade. The Salzgitter venture is one of six battery plants VW has planned for Europe. PowerCo, the …

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• 8 July

  France to nationalise debt-laden EDF

    Bloomberg The French government will nationalize its financially struggling nuclear giant Electricite de France SA to help it ride out Europe’s worst energy crisis in a generation and invest in new atomic plants. “The climate emergency requires strong, radical decisions,” Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said during a policy speech in parliament in Paris. “We need to have full control …

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• 8 July

  European gas extends scorching rally as supply fears mount

  

    Bloomberg Natural gas in Europe headed for the longest stretch of daily gains in more than nine months as persistent fears of deeper supply cuts by Moscow spread through the market. Benchmark futures, which have doubled their value over the past month, surged as much as 9% for a seventh day of increases. The crisis has also sent power …

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• 8 July

  British Airways close to union deal as Lufthansa feels strain

  

  Bloomberg British Airways is nearing a possible agreement on pay with check-in staff that could head off a strike and prevent further disruption after the carrier scrapped thousands of flights amid a staffing crunch. Talks with the Unite union have progressed and a deal is close, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named …

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• 8 July

  Germany’s richest man becomes biggest Lufthansa shareholder

  

  Bloomberg Germany’s richest man is now the largest shareholder in Deutsche Lufthansa AG after reinvesting a chunk of a fortune he made in logistics into Europe’s biggest airline. Klaus-Michael Kuehne raised his stake in Lufthansa to 15.01% from 10.01%, according to a filing, overtaking the German government as the carrier’s biggest shareholder. The state has been selling down its interest …

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• 8 July

  Sainsbury’s sales decline over shoppers’ cost of living battle

  

    Bloomberg J Sainsbury Plc held its profit forecast for the full year even as it warned that rising inflation means pressure on household budgets will intensify. Britain’s second-largest supermarket chain stuck to its forecast for the full year of underlying profit before tax of £630 million ($764 million) to £690 million. The grocer’s comparable sales, excluding fuel, fell 4% …

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• 8 July

  Hong Kong ends Covid flight bans that caused travel chaos

  

    Bloomberg Hong Kong’s new leader John Lee suspended a system that banned airlines from flying routes if they carried passengers infected with Covid, raising hopes he’ll ease onerous travel curbs that have damaged the city’s status as a financial hub. Starting from Thursday, the so-called circuit breaker mechanism will end until further notice, the government said in a statement. …

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