Papal envoy to discuss repatriation of Ukrainian children with Biden

By Philip Pullella and Costas Pitas VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, assigned by Pope Francis to help bring peace to Ukraine, will discuss repatriating children who Kyiv and others say have been deported by Russia with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington as part of a three-day visit. Zuppi will meet Biden…

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Casino’s board approves talks with Kretinsky

By Mathieu Rosemain PARIS (Reuters) -Casino’s board approved moving forward with talks on Monday with Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky over a plan to inject 1.2 billion euros ($1.35 billion) of new money in the distressed French retailer, the group said. Kretinsky’s attempt to gain control of Casino, France’s sixth-largest retailer, appears to be getting closer…

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Plaintiffs ask US Supreme Court to temporarily halt Microsoft, Activision merger

By John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A group of individual plaintiffs on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to temporarily halt Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the largest in the history of the videogame industry. The bid by the plaintiffs was separate from a request by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to pause…

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World economy in a difficult place but not destined to stay there – World Bank chief

GANDHINAGAR, India (Reuters) – The world economy is in a difficult place but it is not destined to stay there, World Bank President Ajay Banga said on Monday. The World Bank last month cut its 2024 forecast for global economic growth to 2.4% from 2.7% earlier, citing global monetary tightening. “The fact is that the…

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UN Security Council to hold first talks on AI risks

LONDON (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council will hold its first formal discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) this week in New York, with Britain to call for an international dialogue about its impact on global peace and security. Governments around the world are considering how to mitigate the dangers of emerging AI technology, which…

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US stocks rise on earnings outlook, global shares dip on China data

By Herbert Lash NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. stocks rose on Monday on expectations corporate earnings will exceed forecasts, but global shares and the dollar traded little changed after data showed the Chinese economy grew slower than anticipated. China overnight reported growth of 0.8% in the second quarter, above the 0.5% forecast, but the annual pace…

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End of Black Sea grains deal promises pain for Africa’s neediest

By Abdi Sheikh and Aaron Ross MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Russia’s announcement that it was withdrawing from a pact that allowed Ukrainian grains to leave Black Sea ports sent a shiver through poorer countries, many of which are already reeling from inflation, climate shocks and conflict. The Black Sea grains deal, brokered by the United Nations…

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Oil dips over 1.5% on demand fears after weak Chinese data

By Arathy Somasekhar HOUSTON (Reuters) -Oil dropped by more than 1.5% on Monday after weaker than expected Chinese economic growth raised doubts over the strength of demand in the world’s second biggest oil consumer, and a partial restart of halted Libyan output also pressured prices. China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 6.3% year-on-year in the…

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Microsoft granted two-month pause of UK appeal over Activision deal

By Sam Tobin and Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) -Microsoft’s appeal against Britain’s block on its $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard was formally paused by a London tribunal on Monday, to give the parties more time to resolve the dispute. Microsoft, Activision and Britain’s competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), had all asked…

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