Analysis-Fintech lenders tighten lending standards, bolstering debt financing

By Hannah Lang and Matt Tracy (Reuters) – U.S. financial technology companies are tightening their lending standards, a move that has bolstered their access to debt financing from Wall Street investors, according to industry executives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many fintechs began lending to borrowers with imperfect credit, but Wall Street investors were comfortable buying…

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Talks on repatriating Ukrainian children from Russia under way since at least April -source

KYIV (Reuters) – Talks being mediated by Saudi Arabia and Turkey on the repatriation of Ukrainian thousands of children taken to Russia since Moscow’s invasion have been under way since at least April, a source with knowledge of the discussions said on Wednesday. The source confirmed a Financial Times report that Riyadh and Istanbul were…

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Wildfires in Greece raze forests, spur evacuations; allies send aid

By Stamos Prousalis and Stelios Misinas ATHENS (Reuters) – Fires raged across Greece on Wednesday, destroying forests on Rhodes and gutting homes close to Athens as a new heatwave loomed and threatened to further stoke tinderbox conditions across the country. Firefighters backed with air water bombers battled a resurgence of flames west of Athens which…

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U.S. economist withdraws from top EU antitrust post after French backlash

By Foo Yun Chee and Benoit Van Overstraeten BRUSSELS (Reuters) – A U.S. economist chosen for a senior European Union antitrust job pulled out on Wednesday after her appointment triggered criticism from the president of France and some EU lawmakers. Fiona Scott Morton, chief economist at the U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama administration,…

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Turmoil in Thailand as rivals derail election winner’s PM bid

By Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat BANGKOK (Reuters) -The leader of Thailand’s election-winning Move Forward Party met fresh obstacles in his prime ministerial bid on Wednesday, as a court suspended him as a lawmaker and rivals successfully scuttled his re-nomination in parliament. U.S.-educated liberal Pita Limjaroenrat has an extremely difficult path to the top job…

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US SEC accepts six spot bitcoin ETF proposals for review

By Hannah Lang (Reuters) – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has accepted applications to create spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds from six firms including BlackRock for review, the first step in the agency’s process for deciding whether or not to approve the latest round of proposals. The SEC also formally acknowledged applications from Bitwise,…

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Pakistan’s Imran Khan to face charges of exposing official secrets – minister

By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan will open criminal proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan on charges of exposing official secrets, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday, the latest in a string of cases the former premier has been facing. The case is related to diplomatic correspondence between Washington and Islamabad, which Khan…

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US Senate Democrats pursue Supreme Court ethics legislation

By John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senate Democrats are pursuing legislation this week that would set a binding ethics code for the U.S. Supreme Court following revelations that some conservative justices have failed to disclose luxury trips and real estate transactions – a measure facing an uphill battle thanks to Republican opposition. Senate Judiciary Committee…

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Bain Capital raises $1.15 billion for first fund dedicated to insurance investments

By David French (Reuters) – Bain Capital has raised $1.15 billion for its first fund dedicated to investing in the insurance industry, as the private equity firm aims to create and invest in companies in the sector, a senior executive told Reuters. The fund exceeded its initial $750 million target through backing from high-net-worth individuals,…

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