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Beijing escalated its months-long pressure campaign against Tokyo on Monday, blacklisting four Japanese government defense research institutes and tightening export controls on dozens of additional entities. China’s Ministry of Commerce added 20 entities to its export control list, including the National Institute for Defense Studies and research centers covering ground, naval, and air systems. Several…

Crude oil prices moved higher and stock futures posted modest gains as military tensions between the United States and Iran continued to escalate with further airstrikes. Markets responded to the ongoing conflict with a cautious but upward bias, as investors weighed the potential impact on global energy supplies and trade routes. Oil prices are particularly…

Micron Technology (MU) has transformed from a money-losing chipmaker three years ago into one of the most profitable companies in the United States. The Boise, Idaho-based memory chip maker posted $41.46 billion in revenue, crushing Wall Street’s consensus estimate of $35.84 billion by a substantial margin. Micron also recorded $28.24 billion in net income, a…

After undergoing gallbladder surgery, one patient returned home only to receive a charitable donation request from the very hospital that treated them. The practice of nonprofit hospitals soliciting funds from their own patients has drawn renewed scrutiny from medical professionals and bioethicists across the country. Nonprofit hospitals frequently contract with market data firms to screen…

Western Asset Management Co. finds itself at the center of renewed investor interest, despite a damaging fraud settlement that reshaped one of America’s most prominent fixed-income franchises. Closed-end bond funds managed by Western Asset Management, commonly known as Wamco, are trading at notable discounts, drawing attention from opportunistic fixed-income investors looking for value in troubled…

Legislation introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden would place a $5,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket spending for enrollees in traditional Medicare Parts A and B. Under the current system, Medicare enrollees are required to pay 20% of their covered medical costs after meeting deductibles, with no upper spending limit in place. That uncapped liability means a…

Financial advisors who work with high-net-worth clients consistently point to one habit that separates disciplined wealth builders from everyone else: the midyear check-in. As the calendar crosses the halfway point, it is a natural moment to assess whether your financial plan is still aligned with your goals and current circumstances. The wealthy rarely leave their…

Germany’s government-appointed pension commission released recommendations this week to gradually raise the retirement age to 70 by 2092, a move drawing global attention. The commission also recommended scrapping a rule that currently allows workers who have contributed 45 years to retire at 63 without financial penalties. Germany’s standard retirement age has already been rising and…

Medicare is opening access to popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for millions of older Americans starting July 1, 2026, marking a significant shift in federal health coverage. The initiative, announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is a short-term pilot program known as the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, running through December 31, 2027. Current federal…

Alzheimer’s disease has become the single most expensive illness in the United States, surpassing the combined costs of cancer and heart disease. The disease is projected to account for more than $350 billion, or roughly 8 percent of total U.S. healthcare spending, in costs to American society. Direct costs tied to Alzheimer’s and other dementias…