SYDNEY, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Argentina Rugby Union (UAR) has rescinded its sanction against captain Pablo Matera and two players who posted racial and xenophobic comments on social media but they were left out of the team for Saturday's Tri-Nations match against Australia.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is carrying out sweeping inspections on food importers, supermarkets, e-commerce platforms and restaurants to prevent the spread of coronavirus through imported cold chain products, the country's market regulator said on Wednesday.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's health ministry on Wednesday reported 11,251 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 800 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 1,133,613 cases and 107,565 deaths.

DALLAS, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Boeing Co's 737 MAX staged its first post-grounding flight with media on board on Wednesday, as carriers seek to demonstrate to passengers that the redesigned jet is safe after a 20-month safety ban.

LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's Congress approved on Wednesday the partial withdrawal of funds from its state-run pension system as a lifeline for Peruvians still reeling from the economic impact of the coronavirus.

BRASILIA, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Brazil's health regulator Anvisa said on Wednesday it was open to approving COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use and outlined the requirements for companies looking to do so.

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The United States could begin sharing sensitive intelligence with Honduras about inbound flights carrying drugs, U.S. officials told Reuters, even as the Central American country faces scrutiny from Washington over drug-related corruption.

MEXICO CITY, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday said his chief of staff Alfonso Romo was leaving his post, in a move that follows increasingly public criticism from the high-ranking aide about the government's policies toward the private sector.

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil reported 49,863 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, and 698 new deaths from COVID-19, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.