US Senate panel rips into Saudi involvement in PGA Tour-LIV Golf tie-up

By Diane Bartz and Frank Pingue WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal tore into a “repressive” Saudi regime on Tuesday and called the PGA Tour’s framework agreement with the country’s Public Investment Fund an attempt by Saudi Arabia’s government to “buy influence” in U.S. sports. Blumenthal delivered his harsh criticism during a three-hour hearing where…

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With Trump way ahead in 2024 Republican polls, Iowa becomes do-or-die for DeSantis

By James Oliphant, Gram Slattery and Alexandra Ulmer WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ campaign is making a high-risk bet that it can halt Donald Trump’s march to the Republican presidential nomination by winning the key state of Iowa next January, despite the former president’s commanding lead in polls and growing questions about DeSantis’…

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UK economy shows strains and gains, complicating BoE’s job

By William Schomberg LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s economy is showing some signs of strain from the Bank of England’s 13 back-to-back interest rate increases, but the jobs market is still generating inflationary heat and consumers have not reined in their spending sharply. The BoE is expected to keep on raising borrowing costs as it tries…

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Trans advocates in Russia brace for proposed gender surgery ban

(Reuters) – Elle Solomina is 36, but she says her life truly began in 2021, when she changed her gender to female in her official Russian identification documents. The IT worker is now watching the path she took to self-acceptance crumble, as Russia is poised to outlaw gender changes in IDs and gender-affirming medical care,…

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In message to Russia, G7 unveils long-term security pledge for Ukraine

By John Irish and Niklas Pollard VILNIUS (Reuters) – G7 countries on Wednesday unveiled an international framework for the long-term security of Ukraine to boost its defences against Russia and deter Moscow from future aggression, officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was meeting leaders of NATO at a summit of the 31-member Western alliance, a…

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Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision deal gets US judge go-ahead, UK softens opposition

By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Microsoft cleared major hurdles to its plan to buy videogame maker Activision Blizzard on Tuesday, after a U.S. judge gave a thumbs-up to the $69 billion deal and a British regulator suggested it could reconsider its opposition. Activision shares surged 10% on the day, as the U.S. and Britain have…

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Factbox-Denied a NATO invitation, Ukraine still reaps rewards at summit

VILNIUS (Reuters) -NATO leaders at this week’s summit in Vilnius said Ukraine should be able to join the military alliance at some point in the future but dashed Kyiv’s hopes for an immediate invitation. The guarded statement on Ukraine’s path into NATO irked President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. But after 16 months of war since Russia launched…

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G7 nations unveil security framework for Ukraine

VILNIUS (Reuters) – G7 countries announced on Wednesday an international framework that paves the way for long-term security assurances for Ukraine to boost its defences against Russia and deter Moscow from future aggression. In a joint declaration, which other nations can join, the United States, Germany, Japan, France, Canada, Italy and Britain, as well as…

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