HELSINKI (Reuters) – Some 3,000 workers at Finnish forestry group UPM went on strike on Saturday, shutting plants, the company said on Saturday. Three unions representing paper workers, managerial staff and electricians had previously warned they would strike if a new agreement about wages and working conditions was not reached before the previous agreement ended…

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways said on Saturday two of its aircrew whom have tested positive for the Omicron variant were sacked for breaching medical surveillance regulations. Cathay said five of its aircrew had tested positive following their return to Hong Kong from duty, and investigation into the cases…

By Kate Abnett and Simon Jessop (Reuters) -The European Union has drawn up plans to label some natural gas and nuclear energy projects as “green” investments after a year-long battle between governments over which investments are truly climate-friendly. The European Commission is expected to propose rules in January deciding whether gas and nuclear projects will…

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany wants to use its presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) to support the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen efforts to improve climate protection, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Saturday. “Germany has taken over the G7 presidency for 2022 – the G7 countries stand for freedom, democracy…

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany has pulled the plug on three of its last six nuclear power stations as it moves towards completing its withdrawal from nuclear power as it turns its focus to renewables. The government decided to speed up the phasing out of nuclear power following Japan’s Fukushima reactor meltdown in 2011 when an…

TOKYO (Reuters) – The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd are set to cooperate with the United States and Bill Gates’ venture company to build a high-tech nuclear reactor in Wyoming, the daily Yomiuri reported on Saturday. The parties will sign an agreement as early as January for JAEA and Mitsubishi…

By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) – Thousands of flights within the United States and internationally were delayed or canceled on Friday, adding to the travel disruptions during the holiday week due to adverse weather and rising cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant. Over 3,090 flights were canceled globally as of early Friday evening, including nearly 1,550…

By Katanga Johnson and Tommy Wilkes WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) – Equities around the globe traded little changed on Thursday as oil prices fell and the U.S. dollar dipped against most major currencies although it has had its best year since 2015 with a 6.7% rise. With several markets in Asia and Europe closed on Friday, trading…

By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed NEW YORK (Reuters) -Investors have piled into traditionally defensive stocks in the last weeks of the year, spurring a rally some believe may lose steam early in 2022. The S&P 500’s top performing sectors this month are consumer staples, real estate investment trusts, healthcare and utilities. Each of the sectors, which…

By Abhijith Ganapavaram (Reuters) – Spirit Airlines Inc flight attendants are receiving double pay on any work through Jan. 4, their union said, as the budget carrier scrambles to keep its schedules intact after U.S. airlines were hammered by a week of mass cancellations. The holiday season has been marred by delayed or canceled flights,…