US Federal Reserve sees inflation progress but envisions only one rate cut this year
washington — Federal Reserve officials said Wednesday that inflation has fallen further toward their target level in recent months but signaled they expect to cut their benchmark interest rate just once this year. The policymakers’ forecast for one rate cut…
World Bank: Inflation, poverty keep climbing in war-torn Myanmar
Bangkok — Myanmar’s economy shows no signs of recovering from the 2021 military coup, as civil war drives more workers abroad, pushes inflation into triple digits in some parts of the country and pulls it deeper into poverty, a new…
Kenyan group uses old ATMs to dispense free sanitary pads to students
A public-private partnership in Kenya provides female students with free sanitary napkins dispensed from converted ATMs at school. The goal is to provide pads to young women from poor families so they don’t miss school because they are menstruating. Victoria…
US expands sanctions against Russia
The United States widened sanctions on Russia Wednesday, targeting more than 300 new entities and people “whose products and services enable Russia to sustain its war effort and evade sanctions.” A U.S. Treasury Department statement said the list includes dozens…
US inflation cooled in May in sign that price pressures may be easing
WASHINGTON — Inflation in the United States eased in May for a second straight month, a hopeful sign that a pickup in prices that occurred early this year may have passed. The trend, if it holds, could move the Federal…
Despite war, surrogacy in Ukraine keeps flourishing
Before Russia’s invasion, Ukraine was an international surrogacy hub. Relatively low cost and a favorable legal framework led to thousands of babies born every year thanks to Ukrainian surrogate mothers, many of them for overseas parents. Despite the war and…
EU to hit Chinese electric vehicles with increased tariffs
The European Commission said Wednesday it plans to impose increased duties of up to 38% on imported Chinese electric vehicles starting in July, escalating a trade dispute that Brussels sees as part of an effort to protect EU-bloc manufacturers. The…
Life in DPR Korea still ‘daily struggle devoid of hope’ warns human rights chief
Ambassadors held an open meeting on human rights in the country, commonly known as North Korea, convened by Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. China and Russia opposed the meeting and called for a…
Gaza: Hamas, Israel committed war crimes, claims independent rights probe
This was among the conclusions listed in the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, released on Wednesday. “Amid months of losses and despair, retribution and atrocities, the only…
Ukraine Recovery Conference: UN sounds alarm over humanitarian funding
Speaking on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said the UN and partners were continuing to deliver “critical humanitarian assistance”, focusing on communities on the frontlines, but there is “growing concern about the decrease in humanitarian funding…