By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) – The Sackler family owners of Purdue Pharma LP reached a deal with nine attorneys general to pay up to $6 billion in cash to resolve widespread litigation alleging that they fueled the opioid epidemic, bringing the OxyCon…
U.S. Secret Service takes two men into custody in Washington’s Georgetown neighborhood
By Peter Eisler WASHINGTON (Reuters) – More than a half dozen U.S. Secret Service officers on Thursday took two men into custody from a car in Washington’s Georgetown neighborhood and removed what seemed to be an assault-style rifle from the vehicle, a…
U.S. Supreme Court nixes CIA contractors’ testimony on Guantanamo detainee
By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that two former CIA contractors cannot be questioned in a criminal investigation in Poland over their role in interrogating Abu Zubaydah, a suspected high-ranking al Qae…
U.S. Senate panel votes to advance FCC, FTC nominees
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee voted Thursday to send President Joe Biden’s nominees to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to the Senate floor for confirmation votes. U.S. Sena…
Saudi crown prince plays the oil card in quest for U.S. recognition
By Marwa Rashad, Samia Nakhoul and Ghaida Ghantous DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s crown prince says he simply doesn’t care whether Joe Biden misunderstands him. The prince is instead looking to his oil power to deliver his goals, according to sources…
Oil hits almost decade high before Iran throttles the rally
By Shadia Nasralla LONDON (Reuters) – Oil prices climbed to almost $120 a barrel on Thursday, their highest in nearly a decade, as sanctions disrupted Russian oil sales but the rally lost some of its fizz on rising prospects for an Iran nuclear deal th…
Banks, IKEA, vodka-maker shun Russia as corporate exits increase
By Anna Ringstrom, Tassilo Hummel and Gwladys Fouche (Reuters) – French bank Societe Generale said it was working to cut its risks in Russia, fearing a tit-for-tat response by Moscow to Western sanctions, as more companies from vodka maker Diageo to IK…
Yacht seized as U.S. ramps up oligarch sanctions so Putin ‘feels the squeeze’
By Tassilo Hummel, Alasdair Pal and Steve Holland PARIS (Reuters) – French authorities seized four cargo vessels and one luxury yacht linked to oligarchs as the United States and other governments ramped up sanctions on Russia’s super-rich on Thursday …
U.S. Democrats, Republicans joust over Biden’s $32.5 billion Ukraine, COVID aid proposal
By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration on Thursday unveiled a $32.5 billion emergency plan to help Ukraine respond to Russia’s military invasion and provide more money to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking a new partisan bat…
Arkansas teachers settle with Allianz over fund debacle
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – A pension fund for teachers in Arkansas has settled with Allianz and dropped its lawsuit over losses in a multibillion-dollar trading debacle at the German insurer’s funds arm, according to a court document. The Arkansas Teacher R…