Mar 29, 2018

Barclays to pay $2 billion settlement in mortgage fraud suit

Barclays bank in central London. Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images

The Justice Department announced Thursday that Barclays has agreed to pay a $2 billion fine, settling an investigation into its handling of mortgage-backed securities between 2005 and 2007.

The details: The civil suit alleged Barclays was responsible for multi-billion dollar losses to investors through a fraudulent scheme, and claimed the company misled investors about the quality of mortgage loans. The DOJ's announcement added that, despite paying $2 billion in civil penalties, Barclays disputes the claims.

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Ursula Perano

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court expands religious freedoms in schools, employment

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The Supreme Court ended its term with a series of rulings on religion's role in schools, the workplace and access to health care.

Why it matters: The decisions elevated protections for people and employers of faith, while curtailing those of religion teachers, the nonreligious taxpayer and women who rely on their workplaces' health care plans for contraception.

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Axios

Updated 3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. ET: 12,573,041 — Total deaths: 561,865 — Total recoveries — 6,915,740 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. ET: 3,213,902 — Total deaths: 134,420 — Total recoveries: 983,185 — Total tested: 38,919,421 — Map.
Public health: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: "Please wear a mask to save lives" — Fauci hasn't briefed Trump on the coronavirus pandemic in at least two months — We're losing the war on the coronavirus.
Food: How the coronavirus pandemic boosted alternative meat.
Sports: Charge of "money grab" by college football.
World: India reimposes lockdowns as coronavirus cases soar.
🎧 Podcast: Rural America has its own coronavirus problem.

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Mike Allen

4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Don Jr. plans convention-week Biden book

Cover via Don Jr.

Donald Trump Jr., in quarantine since girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle tested positive for the coronavirus, says he's used the time to finish a book that he'll self-publish the week of the Republican convention, at the end of August.

What he's saying: Don Jr., whose controversial blasts connect with President Trump's base, told me in a phone interview that "Liberal Privilege" will be his effort to paint a picture of Joe Biden and his record that the press ignores.