America will always stand

(KHN) A brand of specialty mozzarella cheeses. A collection of natural-gas storage terminals. And America's top-selling emergency contraception. At a moment when half of US states stand poised to outlaw or sharply curtail abortion services, the last-ditch pill for women aiming to stave off an unwanted pregnancy rests in the unlikely stewardship of two private equity firms whose varied investment portfolios include Italian foods, vineyard management and children's cough medicine. Got long Covid? Seniors should prepare to go slow Kelso & Co. and Juggernaut Capital Partners bought Plan B One-Step from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. for $675 million in 2017 as the Israeli-based pharmaceutical giant was selling off its global women's health business. In the years since, the drug has become America's most widely used over-the-counter emergency contraception and — at an average cost of $45 per dose — one of the highest-priced over-the-counter … [Read more...] about Future of America’s most popular emergency contraception is complicated by misinformation

Harris County, Texas, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, President Joe Biden’s pick to run U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), withdrew Sunday. Biden nominated Gonzalez in April 2021 and he quickly faced questions from Republicans who voiced concerns that he had opposed an ICE screening database. The voluntary database allows for inmates to be screened to determine immigration status, and Gonzalez ultimately opted to end the program for his office in 2017, the Houston Chronicle reported at the time. (RELATED: Texas County Approves $2.5 Million Of Taxpayer Money For Illegal Immigrant Defense Fund) Gonzalez wrote Biden a letter detailing his decision to withdraw from consideration for the position, The Washington Post reported on Monday. In addition to questions over his decisions as Harris County sheriff, Gonzalez’s nomination was stalled amid unconfirmed allegations of domestic violence, ABC 13 reported . “ I arrive at this difficult decision with the understanding … [Read more...] about Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Biden’s ICE Nominee, Withdraws

- A + A (June 28):Investors caught in the web of international sanctions that pushed Russia into default on bond payments are faced with the choice of seeking recompense now, or biding their time. Sanctions aimed at punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine shut it out of the world’s financial system, blocking its ability to transfer funds to creditors. It missed payments in late May, and a final deadline to remedy the situation expired on Sunday, creating what the bond documents call an “event of default”. Holders of at least 25% of the outstanding notes can come together to declare the debt fully and immediately repayable, “without any further formality” — a process known as accelerating the debt — according to the documents governing the relevant bond contracts. They may be in no rush. Claims only become void three years on from the payment date, the bonds’ terms show. There’s the chance that if international penalties against President Vladimir Putin’s … [Read more...] about Russia’s foreign bond investors left caught in sanctions web