By Bryan Mena, CNN Washington (CNN) — It’s been a disappointing few months for American retailers, but the consumer isn’t tapping out quite yet. US retail spending has been mostly flat since the beginning of the year, holding steady in June, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Consumer spending is American’s main economic engine, powering two-thirds
Continue ReadingBy George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — Kylian Mbappé was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player in front of tens of thousands of fans at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday. Los Blancos announced last month that the club had signed Mbappé to a five-year deal, ending the French superstar’s seven-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain. A
Continue ReadingAssociated Press This month some of the world’s best surfers will travel to Tahiti, French Polynesia, to compete for Olympic gold on what is known as one of the heaviest waves in the world. Called Teahupo’o, the wave has unique properties that make it difficult to ride, having claimed the life of at least one
Continue ReadingBy Anna Chernova, Lauren Kent and Rob Picheta, CNN (CNN) — Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen was sentenced to eight years in prison by a Moscow court Monday for criticizing the Russian military, becoming the latest target of a crackdown on critics of the Kremlin. Gessen was convicted in absentia on charges of disseminating “false information”
Continue ReadingAssociated Press NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Police in Kenya have hurled tear gas canisters to break up protests in Nairobi and several other towns and cities, accusing the president of poor governance and demanding his resignation, despite his dismissal of nearly the entire Cabinet last week. Businesses in Nairobi remained closed for fear of a
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — With early voting for the November presidential election set to begin in September in some states, there are signs across the country that groups are trying to affect the outcome by using deceptive means — and in most cases in ways that would benefit Republican Donald Trump. The groups’ aim
Continue ReadingBy Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — The USA Basketball Men’s National Team survived a late Australia fightback in an underwhelming 98-92 victory in an Olympic warmup game on Monday. The US led by as many as 24 points in the third quarter, but the Boomers cut the lead to just 86-80 in the fourth. But
Continue ReadingPARIS (AP) — French prosecutors say the man who stabbed a French soldier on foot patrol outside a big train station in Paris has been taken to a psychiatric hospital. Paris is under a high security alert with just 10 days until the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics. On Tuesday, the Paris Prosecutor’s office
Continue ReadingBy Jack Guy, CNN (CNN) — Jack Black’s comedy rock band Tenacious D has canceled its remaining tour dates after band member Kyle Gass sparked a backlash with an apparent joke about Saturday’s assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. Footage posted on social media from the band’s concert in Sydney on Sunday showed
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — With early voting for the November presidential election set to begin in September in some states, there are signs across the country that groups are trying to affect the outcome by using deceptive means — and in most cases in ways that would benefit Republican Donald Trump. The groups’ aim
Continue ReadingAssociated Press LONDON (AP) — The leader of the Welsh government says he will resign amid a campaign donation scandal. First Minister Vaughan Gething said Tuesday that “I have this morning taken the difficult decision to begin the process of stepping down as leader of the Welsh Labour Party and, as a result, First Minister.”
Continue ReadingBy Alexandra Banner, CNN (CNN) — In the age of social media, viral conspiracy theories often run rampant online and threaten the public’s ability to sort truth from fiction. A number of wild theories about the Trump assassination attempt are now coursing through the minds of voters because a deluge of misinformation remains unchecked on
Continue ReadingAssociated Press LONDON (AP) — A London judge who found that an Australian computer scientist falsely claimed to be the mysterious creator of the bitcoin cryptocurrency says he will refer the case to British prosecutors for possible perjury charges. Judge James Mellor said Tuesday that he will refer evidence from the civil case involving Craig
Continue ReadingAssociated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Some European Union leaders are protesting what they see as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s misuse of the bloc’s rotating presidency by boycotting a meeting hosted by Hungary. Officials are angry that Orbán, a nationalist populist who is seen as having the warmest ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin
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Good Tuesday morning! No relief from the heat is expected yet, as temperatures will continue to linger in the upper 90s to triple digits throughout the week. There is a chance of showers today that could arrive in the afternoon to early evening with possible isolated thunderstorms. Since our region is under a Fire Weather
Continue ReadingBy Tami Luhby and Alicia Wallace, CNN (CNN) — In 2018, Jonathan and Trista Schmier felt the economy was so strong that they could take a big risk. They quit their property management jobs and opened a restaurant, Rustic Burger, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Trista Schmier, who had long dreamed of owning a restaurant, designed
Continue ReadingBy Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN (CNN) — It wasn’t until he moved near to an airfield in the UK over a decade ago that mechanical engineer Ashok Aliseril Thamarakshan began to seriously consider learning to fly a plane. He got his first taste of flying a few years later, when his wife Abhilasha bought him a
Continue ReadingAP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart has spent three years overhauling its mix of adult apparel to make it stylish as well as sensible for middle America. Now, the nation’s largest retailer is seizing the back-to-school shopping season to take another shot at fashion respectability. The company plans to relaunch its 30-year-old brand
Continue ReadingBy Oscar Holland, CNN (CNN) — Move over Lululemon, Berluti and Ralph Lauren. The internet has chosen its new favorite national uniform at the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics: Mongolia’s. Featuring intricately embroidered vests, pleated robes and accessories inspired by traditional attire, the country’s opening and closing ceremony outfits have taken social media by storm since
Continue ReadingAssociated Press DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 60 Palestinians in southern and central Gaza, including a blast that hit an Israeli-declared “safe zone” crowded with thousands of displaced people. The day’s deadliest strike came Tuesday afternoon, hitting near a gas station outside the southern city of Khan Younis
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