US lawmakers introduce bill to combat normalization with Syria’s Assad

By Daphne Psaledakis and Maya Gebeily WASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) -A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday intended to bar the American government from recognizing Bashar al-Assad as Syria’s president and to enhance Washington’s ability to impose sanctions – a warning to other countries normalizing relations with Assad. The bill, first reported by…

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US House Republicans raise ‘deep concern’ on TikTok content decisions

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The chair of a U.S. House of Representatives committee on China’s Communist Party and other lawmakers on Thursday raised “deep concern” and sought answers over reports Chinese-owned short video app TikTok censored an account that posted content from a film about pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai. Representative Mike Gallagher…

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Insulin makers testify on Capitol Hill over prices

By Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Leaders of major insulin makers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) traded blame for the life-saving drug’s high price on Wednesday while testifying at a U.S. Senate committee hearing on making it more affordable. PBMs negotiate with drugmakers for rebates and lower fees on behalf of employers and other clients,…

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Hindenburg shorts Icahn Enterprises bonds as battle with billionaire heats up

(Reuters) -Billionaire investor Carl Icahn came under pressure again on Thursday as short seller Hindenburg Research began shorting bonds in Icahn Enterprises LP (IEP) and said Icahn’s firm has failed to address every key issue it had raised. Hindenburg’s latest move comes after IEP reported a surprise loss on Wednesday and said it was contacted…

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Deposit outflows after SVB collapse concentrated among ‘super-regionals’ – New York Fed study

By Howard Schneider WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Deposit withdrawals from U.S. banks following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank were concentrated in around 30 “super-regional” institutions in the $50 billion to $250 billion range, similar to SVB, New York Fed researchers concluded in a newly released study. Deposits among thousands of “community and smaller regional banks……

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A year on, family and friends say no justice for slain Al Jazeera journalist

By Lara Afghani and Henriette Chacar JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A year after Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot while covering an Israeli army raid, family and friends say her killers are yet to be held responsible. Abu Akleh, one of the most recognizable journalists covering Israeli-occupied territories, was shot dead on May 11,…

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Pirelli sees end of Golden Power process on governance agreement after early June

MILAN (Reuters) -Pirelli said on Thursday it expected Italy would conclude its review of governance agreements involving the holding in the tyre maker by China’s Sinochem after early June, pushing it to further postpone the appointment of its new board. Earlier this year, Pirelli said Sinochem, its largest shareholder, with a 37% stake, notified Italy’s…

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