September 7, 2021 By Rory Carroll LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Veteran quarterbacks including Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers will look to maintain their dominance amid an influx of new talent in the sport’s most crucial position when the NFL season kicks off this week. A record eight QBs were taken in the first three rounds […]
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Former NFL running back Portis pleads guilty to healthcare fraud
September 7, 2021 (Reuters) – Clinton Portis was among three former National Football League players who have pleaded guilty for their roles in a nationwide scheme to defraud a healthcare program for retired NFL players, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday. Portis, a former running back who was drafted by Denver in 2002 and […]
Soccer-Griezmann double fires France to victory over Finland
September 7, 2021 LYON, France (Reuters) -Antoine Griezmann played chief tormentor as France sprung back into life to end a five-game winless streak by beating visitors Finland 2-0 in a World Cup Group D qualifier on Tuesday. Griezmann struck in each half after his partnership with Karim Benzema bore fruit in satisfying fashion to put […]
Tennis-Crowd pleaser Fernandez rides wave of support to U.S. Open semis
September 8, 2021 By Steve Keating NEW YORK (Reuters) – After the COVID-19 pandemic left the stands empty last year, the U.S. Open has welcomed tennis-starved fans back to Flushing Meadows and Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez has ridden a wave of support all the way to the semi-finals. Harnessing the energy generated by New York’s […]
American Airlines pilots’ union to strike over fatigue, overscheduling
September 8, 2021 (Reuters) – The labor union representing American Airlines pilots said it will begin informational picketing in coming weeks at the carrier’s major hubs to protest their work schedule, fatigue, and lack of adequate accommodation over the summer. The Allied Pilots Association will picket at Miami International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and […]
U.S. House panel sets debate on its portion of $3.5 trillion bill
September 8, 2021 By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. House of Representatives committee this week will attempt to advance sweeping legislation to expand healthcare benefits for the elderly and other social services as part of Democrats’ $3.5 trillion domestic investment plan. The House Ways and Means Committee plans to debate a wide-ranging measure […]
Former Japanese minister Sanae Takaichi to seek party leadership, opening prospect of first female PM
September 8, 2021 By Antoni Slodkowski TOKYO (Reuters) – Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi is set to announce her bid for ruling party leadership on Wednesday, her office said, which if successful would see her become Japan’s first female prime minister. Takaichi has the backing of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, local media […]
Magnitude 7.0 quake strikes Mexico, no reports of serious damage
September 8, 2021 ACAPULCO, Mexico (Reuters) -A powerful earthquake struck southwestern Mexico near the beach resort of Acapulco on Tuesday night, causing rock falls and damaging buildings, though there were no immediate reports of casualties. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said a 7.0 magnitude quake struck 11 miles northeast of the resort of Acapulco, Guerrero. […]
New Zealand marks downward trend in new COVID-19 cases
September 8, 2021 SYDNEY (Reuters) – New Zealand reported a further fall in locally acquired COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, as the largely coronavirus-free nation looks to eradicate an outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant. New Zealand reported 15 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, down from 21 a day earlier, on the first day […]
Dollar near one-week top amid rise in yields, caution before ECB
September 8, 2021 By Kevin Buckland TOKYO (Reuters) – The dollar hovered near a one-week peak on Wednesday against major peers, buoyed by higher Treasury yields and a weaker euro amid caution before a European Central Bank policy decision. The dollar index, which measures the currency against six rivals, was little changed at 92.553, just […]
Factbox-What is the ‘metaverse’ and how does it work?
September 8, 2021 By Joori Roh (Reuters) – The coronavirus pandemic has sparked huge interest in shared virtual environments, or the “metaverse”. Here’s how it works: WHAT IS THE METAVERSE? Metaverse, a term first coined in science fiction, is a combination of the prefix “meta”, meaning beyond, and “universe”. It refers to shared virtual worlds […]
South Korea’s ‘Gen MZ’ leads rush into the ‘metaverse’
September 8, 2021 By Joori Roh SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean engineer Shaun has big plans to develop the parcels of land he has snapped up for millions of won (thousands of dollars) in recent years into long-term moneyspinners. “I’m planning to design my building which is suitable to host K-pop live performances and K-drama […]
Police arrest vice-chairwoman of Hong Kong democracy group
September 8, 2021 HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong police on Wednesday arrested the vice-chairwoman of a pro-democracy group that organises the annual June 4 rally to commemorate those who died in the bloody 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, in the latest blow to the opposition movement. Activist and barrister Chow Hang Tung of the Hong […]
Geely’s ride-hailing unit Cao Cao Mobility raises $589M Series B to upgrade tech and expand fleet
Cao Cao Mobility, the ride-hailing unit of Chinese automaker Geely Automobile Holdings, has announced a $589 million (RMB 3.8 billion) Series B raise that the company says will help it upgrade its technology and expand its fleet, according to a statement released by the company (in Chinese). The raise, which Cao Cao announced on Monday, […]
Indonesia-focused Intudo Ventures closes $115M third fund
Intudo Ventures, the “Indonesia-only” investment firm, announced today it has closed its third fund, totaling $115 million. Called Intudo Ventures Fund III, it was raised in less than three months and oversubscribed. Fund III’s limited partners include Black Kite Investments, the family office of Singaporean businessman Koh Bon Hwee; Wasson Enterprises, the family office of […]
E-commerce aggregator Rainforest raises $20M just months after its last funding
Four months after its last funding announcement, Singapore-based e-commerce aggregator Rainforest has closed a $20 million pre-Series A round led by Monk’s Hill Ventures. Other participants included January Capital, Crossbeam Venture Partners, Amasia and Lo & Behold Group, along with returning investors Nordstar and Insignia Venture Partners. Rainforest announced in May that it had raised […]
As its rivers shrink, Iraq thirsts for regional cooperation
September 8, 2021 By Charlotte Bruneau and Ahmed Rasheed HALABJA, Iraq (Reuters) – “Where we are standing right now, there should be a river,” says Nabil Musa, gesturing at a dried-up riverbed in northern Iraq. For the environmental activist, the reason the once swirling Sirwan river has dwindled to a trickle lies across the border […]
Japan upgrades Q2 GDP on stronger business spending
September 8, 2021 By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Kantaro Komiya TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s economy grew faster than the initially estimated in the April-June quarter, helped by solid capital expenditure, although a resurgence in COVID-19 is undermining service-sector consumption and clouding the economy’s outlook. Revised gross domestic product (GDP) data by the Cabinet Office released on […]
Australia’s Victoria reports easing in COVID-19 cases
September 8, 2021 SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s Victoria state reported on Wednesday 221 new locally acquired cases, down from the year’s record high of 246 a day earlier, as authorities try to ramp up vaccinations to begin easing some tough restrictions. About 62% of people above 16 in the state have had at least one […]
COVID-19 disruption causing many deaths from TB, AIDS in poorest countries, fund says
September 8, 2021 By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) – Hundreds of thousands of people will die of tuberculosis left untreated because of disruption to healthcare systems in poor countries caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a global aid fund said. In a few of the world’s poorest countries, excess deaths from AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) could […]