Author: Justin M. Larson

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) gives a press statement at the Willard Hotel.Kay Nietfeld/dpa | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesGermany’s new government has been in power for just over 100 days now, and business leaders say its time to turn policy promises into reality.Chancellor Friedrich Merz campaigned on a pro-business and pro-economic growth platform, vowing reforms and investment that sparked hope in the business community. Optimism was further boosted when coalition negotiations between Merz’s Christian Democratic Union, alongside its sister party the Christian Social Union, and the Social Democratic Party, triggered a major fiscal shift that is set to enable…

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The sanctions target judges Kimberly Prost of Canada and Nicolas Guillou of France, as well as two deputy prosecutors: Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal.This follows earlier measures against four other judges and the ICC prosecutor. Affront to victimsIn a press statement announcing the new round of sanctions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ICC “is a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the United States and our close ally Israel.”The UN-backed court denounced the sanctions as “a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution”.  Furthermore,…

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The logos of Walmart and Sam’s Club are pictured in Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico, January 30, 2025.Raquel Cunha | ReutersWalmart will report quarterly earnings on Thursday, as economists and investors try to gauge how U.S. consumers are responding to President Donald Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on dozens of countries across the globe.Here’s what Wall Street expects for the big-box retailer, according to a survey of analysts by LSEG:Earnings per share: 74 cents expectedRevenue: $176.16 billionAs the largest U.S. retailer, Walmart offers a unique window into the financial health of American households. As higher duties have come in fits and starts…

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What you eat before your workout can have a big impact on your energy, exercise performance, and recovery.  However, your pre-workout snack should be tailored to the type of exercise you’re engaging in.  We spoke with experts to learn exactly what to eat before different types of workouts so you can fuel your body for optimal performance. Thomas Barwick / Getty Images What to Eat Try consuming a balanced meal that contains carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats a few hours before your strength-training workout. If you don’t have time for a meal, consider a carb-focused snack closer to your workout.…

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Several people have been interviewed and equipment seized by police investigating the death of an internet streamer who was known for taking part in extreme online challenges.Raphael Graven, who went by Jean Pormanove, was found dead in Contes, near Nice, on Sunday night. A post-mortem is taking place. Viewers of the Frenchman’s last live stream on the Twitch-like platform Kick had reportedly become concerned about him lying lifeless on a mattress, unresponsive to their comments.”Several interviews with people present at the time of the death have been conducted, but at this stage they have not provided any guidance as to…

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The NHS will roll out a new treatment for advanced bladder cancer which doubles survival time.It’s estimated that 1,250 people a year could benefit from a combination of drugs called enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab. The first is an antibody-drug also known as Padcev, made by Astellas and Pfizer, while the latter is a PD-L1 inhibitor, also known as Keytruda, which is made by Merck.Clinical trials suggest the combo leads to improved survival compared to platinum-based chemotherapy – increasing from an average of around 16 months to almost 34.Researchers also found people survive for longer without their disease worsening, also known…

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President Donald Trump is pursuing an unusual strategy — courting Russian President Vladimir Putin, holding fire on Beijing, all the while turning the screws on a close ally: India. Despite India being one of the earliest nations to engage in negotiations with the Trump administration, there is still no sign of it sealing a deal with the U.S. New Delhi is now also staring at a secondary tariff of 25% or a “penalty” for its purchases of Russian oil that is set to come into effect later this month. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday escalated criticism against India,…

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Judge Frank Caprio, who is known for his heartwarming viral court moments, has died. He was 88.According to a statement shared on his official Facebook page, the former Providence, Rhode Island, judge “passed away peacefully at the age of 88 after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.””Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond,” the statement continued. “His warmth, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.”Judge Frank Caprio smiles as he concludes his…

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Evening view of Marine Drive, Queen’s necklace, Juhu and Chowpatty beachesGrant Faint | The Image Bank | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets were poised for a muted start to the day as investors assessed the four-day losing streak for the S&P 500, led by declines in tech stocks.Investors in the region are awaiting India’s HSBC Composite flash purchasing managers’ index reading for August, which provides an early snapshot of the performance of the private sector economy, expected later in the day. Economists polled by Reuters expect it to come in at 60.5, compared to 61.1 in the month before.Japan’s Nikkei 225 was set to open…

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FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson discusses the hardship over gym cancellations on ‘The Bottom Line.’ The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Wednesday sued the operators of LA Fitness for allegedly making it “exceedingly difficult” for customers to cancel their memberships. Fitness International and Fitness & Sports Clubs — which operate gym chains including LA Fitness, Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club and Club Studio — have illegally charged hundreds of millions of dollars worth of recurring fees through difficult cancellation procedures, according to the Wednesday complaint.FTC DECLARES JULY AS ‘MADE IN THE USA’ MONTH “Gym cancellations have been hard for Americans…

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After a long day of debate, the Texas House of Representatives passed Republican-favored congressional maps Wednesday evening that could flip five districts red by merging Democratic seats in the Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas to form new Republican-leaning seats and by making two Rio Grande Valley districts currently held by Democrats more competitive.Districts currently held by Democratic Reps. Al Green, Marc Veasey, Julie Johnson, Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett are potentially targeted.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference in the State Capitol, August 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas.Brandon Bell/Getty ImagesThe vote came weeks after state Democrats decried…

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The Big Money Show panel discusses President Donald Trumps plan to remodel Jerome Powells Federal Reserve. The minutes of the Federal Reserve’s July meeting released on Wednesday showed that policymakers were more concerned about the risk of inflation from the impact of tariffs than the labor market as they debated interest rate policy. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Fed panel responsible for monetary policy decisions, voted 9-2 to leave the benchmark federal funds rate unchanged for the fifth straight meeting at a range of 4.25% to 4.5% in July. That decision occurred despite the first dual dissent in favor of cutting…

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FOX Business’ Gerri Willis reports on how a tariff war between the U.S. and China can impact retail products and companies that move through global markets. Michael Fiddelke will take the helm as Target’s CEO and join its board of directors in February, more than 20 years after starting his career with the retail giant as an intern. Fiddelke currently serves as chief operating officer of the Minneapolis-based retailer. He will succeed longtime CEO Brian Cornell on Feb. 1, 2026, after the company’s board unanimously elected him to the role, Target announced Wednesday.TARGET NAMES NEW CEO AS RETAILER FIGHTS TO…

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A resident in South Lake Tahoe, California, has tested positive for plague, according to local health officials.The person is believed to have been bitten by an infected flea while camping, officials said.In a separate incident last month, a person in Arizona died from plague.Plague is a disease caused by a type of bacteria that usually results in about seven cases nationally each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.It occurs naturally in areas of the western U.S., where it circulates among wild rodents and other animals. Humans usually get infected through the bite of an infected rodent…

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