Florida board says it discovers another ’11th hour’ agreement with Disney

By Dawn Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine (Reuters) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ new oversight board has discovered another “11th hour agreement” that allows Walt Disney Co to set its own utility rates at its Orlando theme parks, the board’s chairman said on Wednesday. A Disney subsidiary, which provides utility services to the central Florida district…

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Foreign investors set sights on Turkey after elections

By Orhan Coskun and Birsen Altayli ANKARA (Reuters) – International investors are looking to increase investments in Turkey, notably in mergers and acquisitions, as they anticipate a shift to a more orthodox economic policy after May 14 elections, four government officials and analysts said. Opinion polls show President Tayyip Erdogan facing the greatest electoral challenge…

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Biden’s approval rating edges lower amid economic concerns – Reuters/Ipsos poll

By Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden’s public approval fell to 39% this month, nearing the lowest level of his presidency, as the U.S. economy showed signs of losing steam, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed. The three-day poll, which ended on Sunday, showed a modest decline from last month, when 42% of respondents…

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Fox settles Dominion lawsuit for $787.5 million over US election lies

By Helen Coster and Jack Queen WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -Fox Corp and Fox News on Tuesday settled a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million, averting a trial putting one of the world’s top media companies in the crosshairs over its coverage of false vote-rigging claims in the 2020 U.S. election. The settlement,…

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Brazil’s Lula condemns invasion of Ukraine, touts peace initiative

By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday condemned the violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity by Russia and again called for mediation to end the war, a peace initiative that was criticized by the Ukrainian government. Speaking at a lunch with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Lula said a group…

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Chris Christie joins Trump in bashing DeSantis over Disney clash

By Dan Whitcomb (Reuters) – Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie joined former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday in criticizing a fellow Republican, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, over his feud with the Walt Disney Co.. DeSantis, a likely presidential candidate, fired new salvos this week in his ongoing bid to win more state oversight…

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US government watchdog: health chief Becerra violated Hatch Act

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra violated the Hatch Act by expressing support for Democratic Senator Alex Padilla’s re-election at a public event last year, a U.S. government watchdog said on Tuesday. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel report cited Becerra’s comments that he intended to vote for Padilla while speaking…

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Republicans to block Feinstein substitute on Senate Judiciary – McConnell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Republicans will block Democrats’ plans to temporarily replace Senator Dianne Feinstein on the committee that approves federal judges, the chamber’s top Republican, Mitch McConnell, said on Tuesday. That would make it harder for Democrats to confirm President Joe Biden’s appointments to the federal judiciary until Feinstein, 89, returns to the…

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