Golf merger:Â Government regulators in the U.S. as well as overseas are reported to be reviewing what’s known about the merger of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) and Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf operation that was announced yesterday. The regulators want to determine whether the merger creates a monopoly and is a violation of antitrust laws. The agreement to merge and create a new golf tour was announced after about a year of the two golf associations fighting each other, including filing various lawsuits. The Saudi’s LIV Golf has been staging events at Donald Trump’s golf courses following the PGA’s decision to no longer do business with Trump.
Dam destruction:Â Russia continues to deny involvement in the destruction of a dam in a part of Ukraine that the Russians occupy. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have lost access to clean drinking water and electricity following the destruction of the Kahkovka Dam. The floodwaters are expected to rise by another three feet before beginning to recede.
Air pollution:Â New York City now has the second worst air pollution in the world, led only by New Delhi, India, as a result of smoke from Canadian wildfires being pushed to the southeast. The air pollution rating was determined by the Swiss air quality consulting company IQAir. As of this morning, Canada had more than 400 fires burning with 240 still out of control. The smoke from Canada has reached as far south as South Carolina.
CNN chief is out:Â Warner Bros Discovery, which owns the news network CNN, announced this morning that Chris Licht, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, is leaving the company. Licht has been under sharp criticism in the industry and among CNN staffers for scheduling the recent Town Hall broadcast with Donald Trump and the failure of a streaming service that CNN had launched. The magazine The Atlantic recently had run an unflattering profile of Licht. A group of CNN executives will lead the company while a replacement for Licht is being recruited.
Pope undergoes surgery:Â Pope Francis underwent abdominal surgery in Rome today. Today’s surgery was believed to be related to colon surgery the Pope underwent about two years ago. A Vatican spokesman said the Pope was expected to make what was termed a full functional recovery.
Extreme Republicans flex political muscle:Â Far-right Republicans in the House of Representatives forced a halt in House business yesterday in an attempt to embarrass House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and display their political clout. They vow to do it again. The Republican extremists have been open about their dissatisfaction with the debt ceiling and budget agreement McCarthy reached with President Biden. They say McCarthy violated agreements he made with them in exchange for their votes that allowed him to become speaker.
Cover photo of Chris Licht by Arforv / Wikimedia Commons
