October 5, 2021 By Clare Jim HONG KONG (Reuters) – As investors were abuzz on Tuesday with cash-strapped China Evergrande Group’s possible sale of a stake in a unit to raise as much as $5 billion, more Chinese property developers grappled with ratings downgrades on worries about their ability to repay debt. Evergrande is facing […]
Biden aides to tell Israelis U.S. will pursue ‘other avenues’ if Iran diplomacy fails
October 5, 2021 By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Top U.S. officials will tell their Israeli counterparts on Tuesday that the Biden administration remains committed to diplomacy with Iran, but if necessary would be prepared to pursue “other avenues” to ensure Tehran does not acquire a nuclear weapon, a senior U.S. official […]
Top U.S. envoy brought up Khashoggi in talks with Saudis -US official
October 5, 2021 WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. delegation led by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan brought up the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in talks with leading Saudi Arabian officials last week, a senior U.S. official said on Monday. Sullivan, Middle East envoy Brett McGurk and other U.S. officials met in Riyadh […]
French senators to visit Taiwan amid soaring China tensions
October 5, 2021 TAIPEI (Reuters) – A group of French senators including a former defence minister will visit Taiwan this week, the island’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, with the visit coming at a time of soaring tensions between Taipei and Beijing and despite China’s opposition. Their trip comes after China flew almost 150 warplanes […]
China risks slower growth without more market competition – U.S. study
October 5, 2021 BEIJING (Reuters) – China risks slower growth if it does not do enough to spur market competition by allowing the private sector to play a bigger role in the economy and greater two-way flow in cross-border investments, a report showed on Tuesday. “Without a market-oriented shift, China will struggle to maintain a […]
Taiwan Sept exports set to rise for 15th straight month: Reuters poll
October 5, 2021 TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s exports likely rose for a 15th straight month in September, a Reuters poll showed, boosted by strong demand for electronics goods as the global economy traces its path back to recovery. Taiwan, a global hub for chip production and a key Apple Inc supplier, is one of Asia’s […]
Amazon and Google set to attend White House forum on quantum technology
October 5, 2021 By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc, Google and Microsoft Corp are expected to join a Biden administration conference on Tuesday focused on quantum technologies as the U.S. government works to head off hacking threats and corner a burgeoning growth industry. The White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) […]
Taiwan president warns of ‘catastrophic’ consequences if it falls to China
October 5, 2021 TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan falling to China would trigger “catastrophic” consequences for peace in Asia, President Tsai Ing-wen wrote in a piece for Foreign Affairs published on Tuesday, and if threatened Taiwan will do whatever it takes to defend itself. Taiwan, which is claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has faced […]
FoundersHK, created to strengthen Hong Kong’s startup ecosystem, holds its first demo day
FoundersHK was created to strengthen Hong Kong’s startup community, which has weathered more than two years of political turmoil, along with the COVID-19 pandemic. Today the non-profit, which started as an events and mentoring network, held the first demo day of FoundersHK Accelerate, its equity-free accelerator program, which was created to help prepare Hong Kong […]
Kobo refreshes e-reader line with Sage and Libra 2, adding Bluetooth and stylus support
A pair of new e-readers from Kobo iterate on the company’s high-end options, adding Bluetooth audiobook and stylus support to the now familiar asymmetrical design of its larger devices. The Sage and Libra 2 also gain a new charging cover so you only have to plug the device in every few months rather than every […]
Singapore parliament approves law to tackle foreign interference
October 5, 2021 SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore’s parliament has approved a law that gives broad powers to the government to deal with foreign interference that has sparked concern from the opposition and experts about its wide scope and limits on judicial review. The small and open city-state, which says it is vulnerable to foreign meddling, […]
NBA-Curry happy Wiggins handled ‘responsibilities’ by taking COVID vaccine
October 5, 2021 (Reuters) – Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry said he is pleased Andrew Wiggins handled his “responsibilities” as a team member by receiving a COVID-19 vaccination head of the NBA season. Unvaccinated players will have to comply with a long list of restrictions to play this season and the NBA previously denied Wiggins’ […]
Tennis-Thiem says he doesn’t need wrist surgery
October 5, 2021 (Reuters) – World number eight Dominic Thiem said he will not require surgery on a wrist injury that has ruled him out for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old suffered the injury in June at the Mallorca Open and had to skip Wimbledon and was unable to defend his U.S. Open […]
Soccer-Ferguson says Ronaldo should have started against Everton
October 5, 2021 (Reuters) – Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said Cristiano Ronaldo should have started last weekend’s 1-1 home draw with Everton instead of being brought on as a second-half substitute by current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Ronaldo came on just before the hour mark with United leading 1-0 but Everton grabbed an […]
Japan chief cabinet secretary Matsuno says rising oil prices would hurt corporate profits
October 5, 2021 TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s new chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Tuesday the government is watching oil prices as rises would hurt corporate profits and increase the burden on households. He declined to comment on a fall in Japanese stock prices to a one-month low, saying markets move according to daily […]
Asian stocks fall to near 1-year low as oil prices stoke inflation worries
October 5, 2021 By Anshuman Daga SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Asian shares suffered heavy losses early on Tuesday following a broad sell-off on Wall Street, as markets fretted about the impact of multi-year high oil prices at a time when supply chain disruptions are already putting pressure on economic activity. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares […]
Paris landmark sheds its wrapper as art installation ends
October 5, 2021 PARIS (Reuters) – After a month wrapped in silvery-blue plastic as part of an art installation, Paris landmark the Arc de Triomphe was returning to its familiar form on Monday as work to dismantle the wrapping got underway. The plan to encase the 19th century arch was originally conceived by the late […]
Australia to buy Merck’s COVID-19 pill, Victoria cases hit record
October 5, 2021 By Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will buy 300,000 courses of Merck & Co’s experimental antiviral pill, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday, as Victoria logged the highest number of daily COVID-19 infections of any state in the country since the pandemic began. Molnupiravir, which would be the first oral […]
Citi appoints Pang to head clean energy banking in Asia
October 5, 2021 HONG KONG (Reuters) – Citigroup has appointed William Pang as the head of its Natural Resources and Clean Energy Transition (NRCET) Investment Banking unit in Asia, according to a statement from the bank. Pang joined Citi in 2015 and will continue to lead infrastructure investment banking in Asia, the statement said. NRCET […]
Tesla ordered to pay over $130 million to Black former worker over racism -WSJ
October 5, 2021 (Reuters) – A federal jury on Monday has ordered Tesla Inc to pay more than $130 million in damages to a Black former worker named Owen Diaz, finding he was subjected to a racially hostile work environment, the Wall Street Journal reported https://on.wsj.com/3mifGPa. The jury determined that the company failed to take […]
