Asked about Trump firing, German minister says institutions must be independent

By Maria Martinez WASHINGTON (Reuters) -State institutions should be independent and free from politics, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Monday when asked about U.S. President Donald Trump’s firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “I consider this political approach to be wrong and believe that it is right for independent…

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Berkshire Hathaway’s shares fall after $3.8 billion write-down, operating profit weakness

By Pritam Biswas (Reuters) -Class A shares of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway fell more than 3% in afternoon trading on Monday, as investors fretted over a $3.8 billion write-down and a dip in quarterly operating profit that the firm disclosed on Saturday.  The write-down of Berkshire Hathaway’s 27.4% stake in Kraft Heinz, its second for…

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    House Democrats sue Trump administration for blocking their access to ICE facilities

    By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) -Twelve Democratic members of Congress sued the Trump administration on Wednesday, accusing immigration officials of blocking their access to detention facilities housing noncitizens. In a complaint filed in Washington, D.C., federal court, the House lawmakers challenged a new Department of Homeland Security policy requiring seven days’ notice for visits, and deeming…

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    US hits Iranian shipping network with major new sanctions

    By Gram Slattery and Ryan Patrick Jones WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Treasury Department announced fresh sanctions on Wednesday on over 115 Iran-linked individuals, entities and vessels, in a sign the Trump administration is doubling down on its “maximum pressure” campaign after bombing Tehran’s key nuclear sites in June. The sanctions broadly target the shipping interests…

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