EU Low Carbon Energy - Coal: HSBC pulls the plug on coal as a viable source of - Cecilia Jamasmie

HSBC has joined an increasing list of large banks by announcing Friday it would not longer finance coal-fired plants, oil sands and arctic drilling

The move, announced by Europe’s largest bank at its annual meeting as part of its new energy policy, seeks to head off criticism from investors who want the institution’s actions to be aligned with the Paris

Agreement, a global pact to limit greenhouse gas emissions and curb rising temperatures.

Daniel Klier, HSBC’s sustainability boss, said the decision reflected the bank’s ambition to help its customers make the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Read more: HSBC pulls the plug on coal | MINING.com

Spain - Swiss relations : Tit for Tat - Banking Industry: HSBC whistleblower held in Swiss-Spanish extradition saga

 Whistleblower Herve Falciani, a former HSBC employee who exposed massive tax evasion via Swiss accounts, was Wednesday arrested in Spain but released again on Thursday. Falciani had fled to Spain to avoid jail in Switzerland. The arrest of the whistleblower comes at a sensitive time in Swiss-Spanish relations when Swiss courts are considering a Spanish extradition request for Catalan separatist Marta Rovira, who fled to Switzerland earlier this year.

Read more: HSBC whistleblower held in Swiss-Spanish extradition saga