Los Angeles (AFP) – Parts of Yellowstone will remain closed for the rest of the year because of extensive flood damage, managers say, with the oldest national park in the United States completely shuttered Wednesday. Roads have been washed out in the n…
US panel recommends Covid vaccines for youngest children
Washington (AFP) – A panel of experts convened by the US Food and Drug Administration unanimously recommended Covid-19 vaccines Wednesday for children under five, the final age group awaiting immunization in most countries. Formal authorizations should…
US Fed announces biggest interest rate hike since 1994
Washington (AFP) – The US Federal Reserve announced the most aggressive interest rate increase in nearly 30 years on Wednesday, and said it is prepared to do so again next month in an all-out battle to drive down surging inflation. The super-sized 0.75…
US supermarket shooter charged with federal hate crimes
New York (AFP) – The US Justice Department announced federal hate crimes charges Tuesday against Payton Gendron, the 18-year-old who shot dead 10 African Americans at a Buffalo, New York supermarket in May. The charges say Gendron was motivated by raci…
Floods, fires, heat waves: US struggles with climate catastrophes
Los Angeles (AFP) – Raging floods, devastating fires, powerful thunderstorms and a dangerous heat wave affecting a third of the population: the United States was being walloped Tuesday by climate-related catastrophes. A series of slow motion disasters …
No, Happy the elephant isn’t a person, New York’s top court says
New York (AFP) – As intelligent as she is, Happy the elephant doesn’t meet the definition of a “person” and is therefore not being illegally confined in the Bronx Zoo, New York’s top court ruled Tuesday in a closely watched case for animal rights. The …
Biden blames Republicans, Russia for soaring inflation
Philadelphia (AFP) – President Joe Biden on Tuesday blamed Republicans and the Russian invasion of Ukraine for soaring US inflation, in a bid to deflect voter anger over his inability to keep prices down. Speaking to trade unions in Philadelphia on the…
Mobster’s WWII Medal of Freedom going under the hammer
Los Angeles (AFP) – A Medal of Freedom awarded to a notorious mobster by then-US President Harry S. Truman is set to go under the hammer in California. The honor — a forerunner to the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom — was bestowed by Truman…
Russia plans evacuations from chemical plant in battleground Ukraine city
Lysychansk (Ukraine) (AFP) – Russia said it would establish a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from a chemical plant in Severodonetsk starting Wednesday as Ukrainian forces wage a desperate battle for control of the city. The industrial hub …
Fed begins meeting with massive hike possible amid price surge
Washington (AFP) – US central bankers opened their two-day policy meeting Tuesday amid a blistering inflation surge that has ignited predictions the Federal Reserve will approve the biggest interest rate hike in more than 27 years. Fed Chair Jerome Pow…