September 16, 2021 MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian real estate developer PIK is considering options to increase its free float, including a secondary share offering, as it approaches the requirements for the MSCI index inclusion, chief executive Sergei Gordeev said on Thursday. “We are considering various options to increase the liquidity and free float of our […]
German railways, train drivers reach pay deal – source
September 16, 2021 BERLIN (Reuters) – German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has reached a pay deal with train drivers, ending a dispute that led to three rounds of strike action over recent weeks, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Both Deutsche Bahn and the GdL train drivers’ union declined to comment ahead […]
Chipmaker TSMC aims for net zero emissions by 2050
September 16, 2021 TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said on Thursday that it aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050, matching a plan announced by President Tsai Ing-wen in April. “TSMC is deeply aware that climate change has a severe impact on the environment and […]
Court win for EU regulators in crackdown on $825 million Belgium tax scheme
September 16, 2021 By Foo Yun Chee and Marine Strauss LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) -Belgium on Thursday lost its fight against an EU regulatory ruling that tax breaks granted to Magnetrol, BP and more than 30 other multinationals constituted an illegal aid scheme after Europe’s top court backed competition enforcers. The ruling by the EU Court of […]
Factbox-What is Lebanon’s Hezbollah?
September 16, 2021 (Reuters) – Hezbollah began importing Iranian fuel to Lebanon via Syria on Thursday, a move the Shi’ite Islamist group says aims to ease a crippling energy crisis but which its opponents say may expose the country to the risk of U.S. sanctions. Organised by Hezbollah, the shipment L1N2QI0CC marks a significant expansion […]
UN envoy meets new Afghan interior minister wanted by U.S.
September 16, 2021 By Alasdair Pal (Reuters) – A U.N. envoy has met Afghanistan’s new interior minister who was for years was one of the world’s most wanted Islamist militants and is now part of a government trying to head off a humanitarian crisis. The meeting between Deborah Lyons, head of the U.N. mission in […]
African genomics startup 54gene raises $25M to expand precision medicine capabilities
Less than 3% of genetic material used in global pharmaceutical research is from Africa. The staggering gap is quite surprising because Africans and people of African descent are reported to be more genetically diverse than any other population. Since launching in 2019, African genomics startup 54gene has been at the forefront of bridging this divide […]
Tanso nabs $1.9M pre-seed to help industrial manufacturers do sustainability reporting
The climate crisis is creating massive demand for data capture as industries grapple with how to decarbonize. Put simply, you can’t cut your carbon emissions if don’t know what they are in the first place. This need to gather data is a big opportunity for startups — and a wave of early companies have already […]
MLB roundup: Padres halt Giants’ 9-game winning streak
September 16, 2021 Fernando Tatis Jr. and Adam Frazier contributed four hits apiece to a 16-hit attack Wednesday night as the visiting San Diego Padres ended the San Francisco Giants’ nine-game winning streak by overcoming four home runs for a 9-6 victory. Jurickson Profar had the Padres’ lone homer, a two-run shot in the seventh […]
Athletics-Salazar’s four-year ban upheld by CAS
September 16, 2021 (Reuters) -American Alberto Salazar, who has coached some of the world’s top long-distance runners, had his four-year suspension for a series of anti-doping rule violations upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it said on Thursday. The 63-year-old, who guided Britain’s Mo Farah to Olympic titles, was banned by the […]
China’s commerce ministry to follow through on consensus reached by Chinese, U.S. leaders
September 16, 2021 BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s commerce ministry said on Thursday that it would follow through on the consensus reached by Chinese and U.S. leaders during a phone call last week, when asked if there has been any progress on trade. Trade teams from both sides have maintained communications, Shu Jueting, ministry spokesperson told […]
Online fashion retailer ASOS aims to be carbon neutral by 2025
September 16, 2021 (Reuters) – British online fashion retailer ASOS Plc said on Thursday it aimed to become carbon neutral in its direct operations by 2025, as part of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. The company would also ensure all of its own-brand products and packaging are made from more sustainable or recycled […]
Virgin Australia to require COVID-19 vaccinations for staff
September 16, 2021 SYDNEY (Reuters) – Virgin Australia said on Thursday it will require all its staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19, in line with domestic rival Qantas Airways Ltd and a growing number of airlines in the Asia-Pacific region. Pilots, cabin crew and airport workers will need to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 15, […]
France to help limit financial hit to Naval Group from cancelled Australia deal
September 16, 2021 PARIS (Reuters) – France will look to ensure any financial hit to Naval Group from a cancelled Australia submarine deal is limited, French Armed Forces Florence Parly said on Thursday. Parly did not rule out France seeking compensation from Australia. “We are studying all avenues,” Parly told French radio RFI when asked […]
Britain’s John Lewis returns to first half profit
September 16, 2021 LONDON (Reuters) – British retailer, the John Lewis Partnership, on Thursday reported a return to first half profit after a COVID-pandemic hit loss last year. The employee-owned group, which runs John Lewis department stores and upmarket supermarket chain Waitrose, said it made a first half profit before exceptional items of 69 million […]
U.S. to struggle to meet Biden’s power grid climate goal -Woodmac
September 16, 2021 WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will struggle to meet President Joe Biden’s climate goal to decarbonize the power grid by 2035 as technology and policy take time to develop, natural resources consultancy Wood Mackenzie said on Thursday. Biden, who took office in January, has reversed many of his predecessor Donald Trump’s […]
Simone Biles condemns U.S. Olympic Committee, FBI for sex-abuse crisis
September 16, 2021 By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Olympic gymnast Simone Biles held back tears on Wednesday, as she told lawmakers how the FBI and U.S. gymnastic and Olympic officials failed to stop the sexual abuse that she and hundreds of other athletes suffered from former doctor Larry Nassar. “To be clear, I blame […]
A16z in talks to back CoinSwitch Kuber in first India investment
A16z is inching closer to making its first investment in a startup in India, the world’s second largest internet market that has produced over two dozen unicorns this year. The Menlo Park-headquartered firm is in final stages of conversations to invest in Indian crypto trading startup CoinSwitch Kuber, three sources familiar with the matter told […]
Liveblocks is an API that lets you add real-time collaboration to your product
Meet Liveblocks, a startup that has been working on a set of APIs so that it’s easier to build a collaborative product. Essentially, it lets you create multiplayer experiences on the web or in your app. The company started with a live presence state API. If you integrate this API in your product, it means […]
Japan cuts economic view on weaker production, spending due to COVID revival
September 16, 2021 By Kantaro Komiya TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan cut its economic view for the first time in four months as a surge in COVID-19 cases disrupted manufacturers’ global supply chains and dampened consumer confidence. In a monthly assessment approved by the cabinet on Thursday, the government pointed to domestic and overseas virus situations […]
