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☆ NBA roundup: Heat best Bucks in injury-riddled Game 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bam Adebayo scored 22 points for the eighth-seeded Heat, who were playing less than 48 hours after qualifying for the playoffs by beating Chicago in a play-in elimination game. He stayed in the game for a bit before going to the locker room and returned briefly early in the second quarter before leaving the game for good. In his sixth career playoff game, Hachimura erupted for a playoff career high in scoring by shooting 11-for-14, including 5 of 6 from beyond the 3-point arc. Kevin Durant had 27 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in his first playoff game for the fourth-seeded Suns. Devin Booker scored 26 points, Torrey Craig added 22 and Deandre Ayton had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Suns.

☆ NBA roundup: Knicks get by Wizards, clinch playoff berth
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

[1/4] Apr 2, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes (6) dribbles against Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. New York led by no fewer than eight and by as many as 20 the rest of the way. Atlanta got 25 points from Dejounte Murray, 18 points and 10 rebounds from John Collins and 14 points and 11 boards from Clint Capela. Dallas also got 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from Doncic and 18 points from Wood. The Rockets' starting backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green combined for 44 points with Green adding seven assists.

☆ Brazil's Lula to announce fiscal framework after China visit, criticizes central bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The new framework is considered crucial to addressing fiscal concerns after Lula secured congressional approval for a multi-billion-real package that bypasses the constitutional spending cap to boost social spending and fulfill campaign promises. However, in an interview with local news website Brasil 247, Lula said it wouldn't make sense to announce the fiscal framework and then travel to China. Reacting to the postponement, interest rate futures closed higher at the short end of the yield curve. During the interview, Lula also criticized the country's central bank, saying that an interest rate of 13.75% - its current level - is "irresponsible," adding he will continue to fight the current level to stimulate the economy. Brazil's central bank has been holding its benchmark interest rate at a six-year high since September and, according to economists polled by Reuters, is expected to maintain it unchanged at the Wednesday meeting.

☆ Portugal's Delta Cafes founder Rui Nabeiro dies at 91
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LISBON, March 19 (Reuters) - Rui Nabeiro, the founder of Portugal's largest roasted coffee retailer Delta Cafes and one of the country's top entrepreneurs, has died at the age of 91, the company said on Sunday. Nabeiro, who died in a hospital in Lisbon "due to breathing problems", founded Delta Cafes in his home town of Campo Maior, Alentejo, in 1961, starting with a small warehouse that roasted only 30 kilos of coffee per day. He always reinvested the profits in innovation to grow his family business and the Delta Cafe now roasts 100 tonnes daily. The company's sales, through both retail and foodservice channels, rose 12% to 460 million euros in 2022, with more than 25% exported to around 40 countries. Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; editing by Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

In U.S. federal court, SHEIN has accused Temu of contracting social-media influencers to make "false and deceptive statements" against SHEIN in their promotions of Temu.com. If Temu loses, Temu could be forced to curtail what so far has been a key marketing strategy. SHEIN seeks to block Temu from using SHEIN's name for marketing, and it wants damages from sales that SHEIN can show came through deceptive or infringing marketing. Social media influencers on TikTok often mention SHEIN in posts about Temu, comparing the companies and their merchandise. In the U.S., Temu is paying social media influencers $100 to $1,000 an hour for content plugging the Temu marketplace on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

☆ Chinese air force bombers show off their growing reach with a long-range drill over the South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Kristin Huang | South China Morning Post | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Chinese H-6K bomber patrolling over islands and reefs in the South China Sea. "Probably, the fighter aircraft [was] deployed from the bases on the artificial islands in the Spratly Islands to support simulated strikes in the South China Sea. "The early warning aircraft can help monitor potential threats in the air, most notably enemy fighter aircraft that may try to shoot down the bomber. The early warning aircraft can also help coordinate activities among the different planes. Although the drill showed the enhanced ability of the Chinese air force, the bomber's capability boosted the threat already posed to US military forces by only a little, Heath said.

☆ Archeologists in China 'burst into laughter' after unearthing a 2,200-year-old flush toilet
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Archeologists in China discovered a flush toilet between 2,200 and 2,400 years old. The ancient toilet is "deceptively advanced" because of the water drainage system. "Everybody at the site was surprised, and then we all burst into laughter," an excavation team member said. He added it was that servants would have had to pour water into the toilet bowl every time it was used. "It is the first and only flush toilet to be ever unearthed in China.

☆ NBA roundup: Kings spoil Mavs' Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Kevin Huerter scored all 15 of his points in the second half, Trey Lyles added 14 points and Harrison Barnes had 13 for the Kings. Mikal Bridges scored 23 points in his Nets debut after being obtained from the Phoenix Suns on Thursday for Kevin Durant. The Hornets' losing streak reached seven games despite LaMelo Ball coming within a rebound of a triple-double. Jokic, who pulled in seven offensive rebounds, scored 40 points in a mid-December home victory against the Hornets. DeMar DeRozan followed with 16 points, and Nikola Vucevic notched a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds.

☆ NBA roundup: Thunder spoil LeBron James' record night
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Feb 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) moves the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and dished out eight assists for the Thunder, while Jalen Williams added 25 points. He became the first player in franchise history with three straight 40-point games and scored 13 of his points in the fourth. Dejounte Murray had 19, Trae Young had 16 points and 16 assists, John Collins scored 15 points and Clint Capela added 13. Jackson led the charge with support from Ja Morant, who finished with a game-high 34 points, and Brandon Clarke, who came off the bench for 13 points.

Carminatti led as chief geologist the discovery in 2006 of one of the world's largest offsfhore oil deposits this century, the pre-salt. The salt barrier alone was more profound than any well that Petrobras, the world's leader in deep-water exploration, had drilled before. The pre-salt area is now responsible for more than 70% of Brazil's daily production of near 4 million barrels of oil and gas. Past CEOs have failed to convince him to take a post as head of a division in the company. Petrobras experts have compared the oil deposits in the region those of nearby Guyana.

Companies Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras FollowHOUSTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The new Chief Executive of Brazil's Petrobras, Jean Paul Prates, has picked geologist Mario Carminatti to head the oil company's exploration and production division, people with knowledge of the information said on Friday. Petrobras said in a securities filing it had not received official statements regarding the nomination of any executive. He won praise for the pre-salt discovery, pressing on with drilling though the salt barrier that alone was deeper than any well that Petrobras, the world's leader in deep-water exploration, had drilled before. The pre-salt area is now responsible for more than 70% of Brazil's daily production of near 4 million barrels of oil and gas. Carminatti is currently involved in an almost $3 billion exploration effort in a new frontier North of Brazil, the Equatorial Margin.

☆ NBA roundup: Damian Lillard scores 60, moves up 3-pointer list
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Jerami Grant added 19 points and Anfernee Simons had 16 points and nine assists, which won its second game in a row. 76ers 137, Nets 133Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, Joel Embiid added 26 points and 10 rebounds and host Philadelphia defeated Brooklyn. Rui Hachimura scored 12 points in his Lakers debut after he was acquired in a trade with the Washington Wizards on Monday. Pat Connaughton had 19 points and 12 rebounds and Khris Middleton added 10 points for the Bucks. Mathurin went for a game-high 26 points, but Banchero's Magic came out on top thanks to a strong start.

☆ NBA roundup: Celtics run win string to nine by edging Raptors
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Reserves Grant Williams and Malcolm Brogdon added 25 and 23 points for the Celtics. Gary Trent Jr. added 22 points, Precious Achiuwa had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Scottie Barnes scored 10 points. Jrue Holiday led Milwaukee with 28 points and 10 assists, while Bobby Portis Jr. had 23 points and 11 rebounds. Franz Wagner added 20 points, Paolo Banchero notched 15, and Wendell Carter Jr. went for 11 points and nine rebounds. Montrezl Harrell had 17 points and seven rebounds and Georges Niang also scored 17 points for the 76ers.

☆ NBA roundup: Bucks survive scare, finally solve Hawks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Jaren Jackson Jr. (21 points, 12 rebounds) and Steven Adams (11 points, 18 rebounds) recorded double-doubles. Jakob Poeltl (17 points, 12 rebounds) added his ninth double-double of the season. Bojan Bogdanovic supplied 27 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Killian Hayes had 18 points and nine assists. Jaden Ivey contributed 18 points and eight assists and Hamidou Diallo also scored 18 points. Immanuel Quickley scored 11 points off the bench for the Knicks, who have won five of their last six games overall.

[1/2] Security forces operate as supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, outside Brazil’s National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, January 8, 2023. The battalion of troops assigned to guard the presidential palace did not respond either until rioters had entered and trashed the palace, according to a Reuters witness. Four on-duty staffers from the National Security Adviser's office (GSI) were quickly overwhelmed inside the presidential palace and their office ransacked. Presidential Chief of Staff Rui Costa said the government now faces the challenge of undertaking a "decontamination" of the security forces and holding those responsible accountable. "This excessive participation of the military and military police in politics is progressively leading to ideological contamination of the forces," Costa said.

The government of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva bolstered security measures nationwide as flyers appeared on pro-Bolsonaro social media calling for mass demonstrations in Brazilian cities to "retake power." Ricardo Cappelli, the federal official in charge of public security in the capital since Sunday, said all security forces had been mobilized to prevent protests and that there would be no repeat of rioting. So far, 727 of the over 1,500 involved in Sunday's riots have been imprisoned. The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Moraes's arrest warrant for Anderson Torres, Bolsonaro's former justice minister who oversaw public security in Brasilia during Sunday's riots. The former president, whom Lula has blamed for inflaming the protests, did not mention Sunday's riots.

Speaking to reporters, Rui Costa, also a minister in Lula's cabinet, said government meetings were scheduled for Tuesday and the Finance Ministry and Management Ministry will announce measures this week. Hundreds of supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed and vandalized the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace on Sunday. The attacks on state institutions are considered the worst since the country's return to democracy in the 1980s. The minister participated in emergency meetings with Lula and others on Monday. Reporting by Bernardo Caram; Editing by Steven Grattan, Andrea Ricci and Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ NBA roundup: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets end Celtics' winning streak
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Jan 1, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY SportsJanuary 2 - Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, and the Denver Nuggets won their eighth consecutive home game by beating the Boston Celtics 123-111 on Sunday night. The Celtics, who entered the contest with a four-game winning streak, fell to 11-6 on the road. Morant scored nine of his points in the fourth quarter, as the Grizzlies held the Kings to 21 points. Domantas Sabonis posted his 13th straight double-double with 18 points and 14 boards, while Malik Monk also contributed 18 points.

☆ NBA roundup: Zion Williamson's career night propels Pelicans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY SportsDecember 29 - Zion Williamson scored his team's final 14 points as part of a career-high 43-point night as the host New Orleans Pelicans came from behind to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-118 on Wednesday night. Trey Murphy III added 21 points, CJ McCollum scored 20, Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Naji Marshall scored 12 points as New Orleans won its fourth straight. Nikola Jokic had 40 points, Bones Hyland scored 20, Michael Porter Jr. 19 and Zeke Nnaji 14 for the Nuggets. Saddiq Bey poured in 28 points and added eight rebounds and four assists, while Bojan Bogdanovic had 14 points with five assists. LeBron James matched Butler for a game-high of 27 points, and also added nine rebounds with six assists, but committed six turnovers.

☆ The US is releasing doses of flu medicine from the national stockpile amid a surge in cases
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Sarah Braner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

HHS said today that states can now access the national stockpile of Tamiflu, a flu antiviral. There's a shortage of the medicine, thanks to a rough start to this flu season. This comes as flu season continues to sweep across the US, with thousands of hospitalizations. States were given access to their own stockpiles last week, according to the statement. Rui Vieira/PA Images via Getty ImagesThis flu season is intense—and it started early.

REUTERS/Adriano MachadoBRASILIA, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Brazil's leftist President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday picked a trusted ally, former Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad, as his finance minister, ending days of speculation over a key ministerial appointment. Lula is set to take office on Jan. 1 after narrowly defeating far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in October. After the nomination of Haddad, a stalwart of Lula's Workers Party (PT), Brazil's real , fell as much as 1.3% against the dollar before paring losses. As the mayor of Brazil's largest city from 2013 to 2016, Haddad renegotiated its debt with the federal government, reducing it by about 50 billion reais. Since losing his re-election bid as mayor in 2016, Haddad has described himself as a college professor on Twitter.

☆ Tech layoffs in Southeast Asia mount as unprofitable startups seek to extend their runways
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Lauryn Ishak | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesMore tech startups in Southeast Asia laid off workers this year, as macro headwinds widened losses and venture capitalists pushed startups to extend their runways. Jia Jih Chai RainforestThey join Sea Group and other companies in the region in downsizing headcount. Sea Group, according to local media, laid off more than 7,000 employees over the past six months. Tech startups in Southeast Asia are still largely unprofitable, with names like Sea Group and Grab amassing billions of losses annually. Existing investors in the company are also actively advising founders to prepare for winter, Jussi Salovaara, Antler's co-founder and managing partner for Asia, told CNBC.

☆ Lula to start job interviews for Petrobras overhaul, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Sabrina Valle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Lula, who takes office on Jan. 1, has already signaled plans for a dramatic overhaul of Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4.SA), as the company is formally known. Into the dustbin, according to Lula and his advisers: the company's privatization. To pull off that reboot of Petrobras strategy, Lula plans for sweeping turnover in the company's first- and second-tier management ranks, said people familiar with his thinking. SHORT LISTAs of last week, Lula had not had any direct conversations with candidates for the top Petrobras job, according to people familiar with the matter, although a short list has taken shape. Lula's advisers also say Petrobras should steer more of its profits into investments rather than its generous recent dividends.

☆ NBA roundup: Jimmy Butler lifts Heat past Hornets in OT
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Nov 10, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) reacts after making a shot against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsNovember 11 - Jimmy Butler posted 35 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to lead the host Miami Heat to a 117-112 overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night. Butler also made 13 of 15 free throws, including going 1-for-1 in an overtime period that saw the Heat go 9-for-9 from the line. The Hornets, who have lost seven straight games, were led by Kelly Oubre's season-high 29 points on 11-for-20 shooting, including 7-for-13 on 3-pointers. Luka Doncic recorded 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Mavericks, who have lost two in a row.

☆ Dozens of fired Meta employees are writing heart-wrenching 'badge posts' on social media
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Meta employees who were laid off this week are writing "badge posts" on LinkedIn to share memories. A "badge post" is a tradition where departing Meta employees post their ID with a goodbye message. "Not the badge post I ever imagined doing," former Meta technical sourcer Kate Greentree wrote on LinkedIn. Not all "badge posts" from former Meta staff were so positive, however. Here's a round-up of LinkedIn "badge posts" uploaded by people who were laid off from Meta:

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