Town Hall News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Contracts to buy U.S. previously owned homes increased for a third straight month in February, raising cautious optimism that the housing market slump could be bottoming out. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said on Wednesday its Pending Home Sales Index, based on signed contracts, rose 0.8% last month to the highest level since August. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast contracts, which become sales after a […]

(Refiles to fix typo in first paragraph) ROME (Reuters) -Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party has presented a bill in parliament to separate retail and investment banks – a move that, if approved, would force a radical overhaul of the country’s banking sector. The proposal by the Brothers of Italy (FdI) party comes in the wake of the collapse of U.S. tech lender Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the emergency […]

By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) – Fidelity National Financial Inc will pay $3.5 million to settle New York Attorney General Letitia James’ claims that the largest U.S. title insurer illegally conspired with rivals not to solicit each other’s employees. Under an agreement made public on Wednesday, Fidelity also agreed to end all “no-poach” agreements within 30 days, and cooperate with James’ probe into the title insurance industry. James said […]

By Martin Petty (Reuters) – Myanmar’s ruling military is forging ahead with plans to hold an election, despite conflict raging across the country in the wake of a coup two years ago and major parties unable or unwilling to take part. WHY HOLD AN ELECTION AFTER STAGING A COUP? The army has ruled Myanmar for five of the past six decades and in the 10 years prior to the coup […]

By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) – Fidelity National Financial Inc will pay $3.5 million to settle New York Attorney General Letitia James’ claims that the largest U.S. title insurer illegally conspired with rivals not to solicit each other’s employees. Under an agreement made public on Wednesday, Fidelity also agreed to end all “no-poach” agreements within 30 days, and cooperate with James’ probe into the title insurance industry. James said […]

KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s sports ministry condemned on Wednesday what it said was a partial change of position by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in international competitions as neutrals. “The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine condemns the partial change of the position of the International Olympic Committee regarding the non-admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes,” the Ukrainian ministry said in […]

AP sources: Two groups formally submit bids for Commanders PHOENIX (AP) — Dan Snyder’s departure from the NFL is moving closer to reality. A group led by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales and another group led by Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos have submitted fully financed bids for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Two people confirmed the bid from Harris. Both spoke to […]

Senate: Credit Suisse still helps rich Americans evade taxes GENEVA (AP) — U.S. lawmakers say Credit Suisse has kept allowing wealthy Americans to dodge tax payments. The Senate Finance Committee said Wednesday that a two-year investigation found that the embattled Swiss bank violated a 2014 plea agreement for allowing tax evasion by its clients. The committee pointed to a possible criminal conspiracy tied to nearly $100 million in secret offshore […]

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rebuffed President Joe Biden’s suggestion that the premier “walks away” from a contentious plan to overhaul the legal system, saying the country makes its own decisions. The exchange was a rare bout of public disagreement between the two close allies and signals building friction between Israel and the U.S. over Netanyahu’s judicial changes, which he postponed after massive protests. Asked […]