Updated - Squid Business

CFPB sues Comerica Bank over allegations of failing disabled and older Americans

(Reuters) -Regional lender Comerica Bank faces allegations it systematically mistreated millions of mostly disabled and older customers and could pay penalties under new civil enforcement action, the U.S. watchdog agency for consumer finance announced on Friday. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said it was suing Comerica for failing 3.4 million “Direct Express” card holders — …

CFPB sues Comerica Bank over allegations of failing disabled and older Americans Read More »

Exclusive-Iran dramatically accelerating uranium enrichment to near bomb grade, IAEA says

By Alexander Cornwell, Francois Murphy and John Irish MANAMA/VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran is “dramatically” accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% level that is weapons grade, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told Reuters on Friday. The International Atomic Energy Agency later confirmed in a confidential report …

Exclusive-Iran dramatically accelerating uranium enrichment to near bomb grade, IAEA says Read More »

EU, Mercosur heave free trade deal over the line but potential obstacles loom large

By Lucinda Elliott, Lisandra Paraguassu and Philip Blenkinsop MONTEVIDEO/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc dragged a long-delayed free trade deal over the line on Friday, announcing an agreement – at least in principle – on the pact that has deeply divided nations in Europe. In a press conference in Montevideo, …

EU, Mercosur heave free trade deal over the line but potential obstacles loom large Read More »

FTSE 100 logs worst day in over three weeks

(Reuters) -Britain’s FTSE 100 logged its steepest one-day fall in three weeks on Friday, led by losses in precious metals and mining and utilities, while Direct Line jumped after Aviva agreed to buy the insurer, lifting the mid-cap index. The blue-chip FTSE 100 ended down 0.5%, while the midcap FTSE 250 was up 0.3%. Both …

FTSE 100 logs worst day in over three weeks Read More »

US judge upholds Naval Academy’s race-conscious admissions policies

By Nate Raymond (Reuters) -A federal judge on Friday ruled that the U.S. Naval Academy may continue to consider race when evaluating candidates to attend the elite military school, even after the U.S. Supreme Court last year barred civilian colleges from employing similar affirmative action policies. U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett in Baltimore rejected arguments …

US judge upholds Naval Academy’s race-conscious admissions policies Read More »

Exclusive-BP seeks buyers for US natural gas pipeline system stake, sources say

By Sarah McFarlane, David French and Ron Bousso LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) – BP is seeking buyers for a stake in its U.S. natural gas pipeline network, four people with knowledge of the matter said. The British energy company could raise up to $3 billion from the sale, two of the people said, with one of …

Exclusive-BP seeks buyers for US natural gas pipeline system stake, sources say Read More »

STOXX closes up; French stocks outperform on expectations of new budget

By Joao Manuel Vicente Mauricio and Johann M Cherian (Reuters) -European shares eked out gains on Friday, with French stocks logging their biggest daily rise in three weeks as investors factored in a potential budget despite ongoing political uncertainty, while also parsing an upbeat U.S. jobs report. The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.1%, logging …

STOXX closes up; French stocks outperform on expectations of new budget Read More »

Cricket-Sri Lanka fight back to trail South Africa by 116 runs

GQEBERHA, South Africa (Reuters) -Opener Pathum Nissanka led Sri Lanka’s fight back against hosts South Africa on Friday as they closed the second day of the second test on 242-3, trailing by 116 runs. Nissanka was dropped when he was on 22 and went on to punish the South African bowlers, helping to blunt a …

Cricket-Sri Lanka fight back to trail South Africa by 116 runs Read More »

Fireworks light up pro-EU protests in Georgia

By Felix Light TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgia’s capital Tbilisi has resounded with the crackle of fireworks late into the night for the past week – their eruptions becoming a symbol of the large pro-EU protests that have plunged the South Caucasus country into crisis. With riot police using water cannon, tear gas and mass arrests …

Fireworks light up pro-EU protests in Georgia Read More »

Putin says new Oreshnik hypersonic missile could be deployed in Belarus

By Lucy Papachristou and Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia could deploy its new Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missile on the territory of its ally Belarus in the second half of next year. Putin was responding to a request from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at a summit in Minsk, where …

Putin says new Oreshnik hypersonic missile could be deployed in Belarus Read More »