Page 2 - International News

US inflation rises to 3.8% in April, erodes Americans' spending power

A key inflation gauge accelerated in April to the highest level in three years, the latest sign that spiking gas prices and higher food costs are squeezing Americans' finances. Inflation jumped to 3.8% in April compared with a year ago, the Commerce Department said Thursday, up from 3.5% in March and the highest since May 2023. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.4%, down from the 0.7% jump in March. The report showed that prices have risen for many items in addition to gas, indicating that inflation could persist and pose problems for congressional Republicans in this year's midterm elections. Inflation is also notably above the Federal Reserve's target of 2%, which means Fed policymakers may decide to forego any cuts to their key short-term interest rate this year. Some officials have signalled that their next move could be a hike rather than a cut. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core inflation rose to 3.3% in April from 3.2% the previous month. It is the highes

Ukraine to buy 20 new Gripen jets, Sweden to donate older jets sooner

Ukraine's air force is made up of a mixture of ‌Soviet-made and western aircraft. Gripen is seen as a cost-efficient alternative to fighters like the more advanced American F-

Nasa unveils 3-phase plan for permanent moon base; 3 missions this year

At a press conference, Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman said the Moon Base programme would help the US master the skills needed to live and operate in the moon's harsh environment.

US regulators poised to approve Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros

The Department of Justice staff attorneys seemed swayed by arguments from top Paramount executives that the deal would not hurt other studios and creative talent

1 dead, 9 missing in chemical tank implosion at Washington state mill

The implosion of a chemical tank at a pulp and paper mill in Washington state on Tuesday killed one person and nine others are unaccounted for, authorities said. Emergency responders were still working on recovery efforts at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company in Longview, the Longview Fire Department said. Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein later told a news conference that it was unclear how many workers had been killed. Asked how many remained missing, he replied: "We have information on that, but we are not releasing that information." Among those injured was a responding firefighter. Authorities said some victims had suffered burns or inhalation injuries, and that the severity of the injuries ranged from minor to critical. There was no immediate threat to the public, they said. The statement, issued more than four hours after the tank imploded at 7:15 am, said crews were continuing recovery operations and that no identifying information would be released about victims

Sonny Rollins, giant of the jazz saxophone, signs out at 95

Even by the standards of a music that prizes individuality, Rollins stood out, as both a musician and a personality

Shifting US geopolitical priorities are affecting Quad's relevance

The war in West Asia has added to the Quad nations' concerns.

Missile and drone strikes kill 8 in Russia, Ukraine amid escalation

The strikes follow one of the heaviest Russian bombardments of ‌Kyiv since the start of the four-year war, ​after Moscow vowed on Saturday to retaliate

Toshifumi Suzuki, father of Japan's convenience stores, dies at 93

Toshifumi Suzuki pioneered the use of data to tailor inventory and built a business model centred on ready-to-eat meals and rapid inventory turnover

Uber offers €33/share for Delivery Hero as takeover battle heats up

Delivery Hero rebuffed the €33 a share ballpark figure, the FT said, adding that several investors signaled they would seek a price above €40 a share

Trump flexes grip over GOP with Massie's defeat in Kentucky primary

A former Navy SEAL and farmer, Gallrein, 68, is a relative newcomer to politics. He ran a low-key campaign by refusing to debate Massie and generally avoiding the press

UK Health Min Streeting quits, calls for PM Starmer's ouster

His announcement fell short of forcing the launch of a formal leadership contest but piles the pressure on the British leader who has so far weathered a drip feed of demands for him to step down

UK Health Secretary Streeting prepares to challenge Starmer for top post

In the event of a contest sparked by Streeting, allies of Starmer said it was likely the premier would attempt to stand against him

UK PM defies calls to resign even as revolt within Labour party grows

All eyes were on a clutch of senior party figures, such as health minister Wes Streeting who has made little secret of his ambition to become prime minister one day

AI partnerships surge across Formula One teams, reshape racing strategy

AI can be a key tool enabling teams to navigate new regulations and new cost cap rules, now set at $215 million

Bard College Prez to retire after scrutiny of relationship with Epstein

The longtime president of Bard College announced his retirement Friday, months after it was revealed that he had a much deeper relationship with Jeffrey Epstein than was previously known. Leon Botstein, who has been president of the small, liberal arts college in New York for a half century, will retire at the end of June, he wrote in an email provided to The Associated Press by Bard. In the note, Botstein, 79, didn't mention the scrutiny of his ties to Epstein, except to say that he had waited to announce his retirement publicly until the completion of an independent review of his relationship with the notorious sex offender. He said he would remain on Bard's faculty as a teacher and musician. Botstein was not accused of any involvement in Epstein's exploitation and abuse of girls and women. But he was among a long list of prominent and notable men and women who maintained friendly relationships with him for years, despite his status as a convicted sex offender. A trove of docume

Anthropic announces Claude Security beta for enterprise customers

AI-powered tool enables enterprises to scan codebases for vulnerabilities and generate patches, with global tech and consulting partners supporting deployment

BOE holds rates at 3.75%, warns Iran war may need forceful rate hikes

The Bank of England held interest rates at 3.75 per cent and flagged risks to inflation from the Iran conflict, particularly through higher energy and food costs

Elon Musk testifies at trial that OpenAI's nonprofit status gave it 'halo'

OpenAI has said it created a for-profit entity to allow it to buy computing power and pay top scientists

Govt fixes OCI card application fee at $275, scraps 6-mth stay rule

The government has fixed the application fee for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card at USD 275, payable in equivalent Indian rupees for applications in India or local currency when applying through Indian missions abroad, officials said Tuesday. A fee of USD 25 will be charged for reissuance of an OCI card with a change of particulars, reissuance when the cardholder turns 20 years of age, and for renunciation of the OCI card. Reissuance in case of loss of the card will attract a USD 100 fee, according to a post on X by the Bureau of Immigration. Now, the fee for fresh OCI cards will be USD 275, payable in the equivalent local currency where the application is made -- in rupees for applications filed within India, officials said. Earlier, eligible applicants had to pay Rs 15,000 for an OCI card when applying from India. The Home Ministry has also introduced several changes to the OCI application process. The earlier mandatory requirement of a six-month continuous stay in India