U.S. court blocks Florida law restricting drag performances

By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Friday blocked a new Florida law restricting drag performances, the third time this month that federal courts have enjoined laws backed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that concern gender or LGBTQ matters. In all three cases, the issues supported by DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, lost…

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Biden slams Republicans on abortion rights a year after Roe repeal

By Nandita Bose and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday marked the one-year anniversary of a Supreme Court ruling overturning the right to an abortion by telling a rally of abortion-rights supporters that Republicans will regret their efforts to limit reproductive rights. “The majority wrote, ‘Women are not without an…

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Biden to sign executive order expanding access to contraception

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday will sign an executive order designed to protect and expand access to contraception, after a Supreme Court ruling last year overturning the constitutional right to abortion raised fears that birth control could also face restrictions.     Biden senior adviser Jen Klein told reporters that the order will…

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Canada clamps down on cruise liners dumping sewage, green groups want more

By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada on Friday banned cruise ships from dumping sewage and dirty water close to shore, and said it would impose fines of up to C$250,000 ($190,000) for offending vessels. A range of anti-pollution measures introduced on a voluntary basis in April 2022 will become obligatory with immediate effect, Transport Minister…

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US business borrowing for equipment up 1% in May, ELFA survey shows

(Reuters) – U.S. companies borrowed 1% more in May compared to a year earlier to finance equipment investments, industry body Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) said on Friday. The companies signed up for new loans, leases and lines of credit worth $9.5 billion last month, up from $9.4 billion a year ago. “We have…

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Moderna seeks US FDA authorization for updated COVID vaccine

(Reuters) -Moderna said on Thursday it has completed a submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking authorization for its updated COVID-19 vaccine to target the XBB.1.5 subvariant. The submission from the company follows the FDA’s advice last week to manufacturers that are updating their COVID-19 vaccines to develop monovalent shots to target XBB.1.5….

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California, other states join FTC bid to block Amgen deal

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The states of California, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Washington and Wisconsin have joined a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit to stop Amgen’s $27.8 billion deal to buy Horizon Therapeutics, according to a court filing on Thursday. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said his state had joined the lawsuit because…

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