US inflation eases as food costs cool
US prices rose 3.4% in the year to July, slightly lower than the 3.5% in the year to June, new figures show. Month to month, inflation rose 0.1%, mainly due to an increase in housing costs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Even small moves in rent…
Faced with ageing population, Vietnam seeks to curb falling birthrate – Focus
Vietnam, a country of more than 100 million people, is facing a sharp decline in its birthrate. Once known for large families, the nation’s fertility rate has fallen to just 1.9 children per woman. This figure worries the government, which for…
Israeli settlers besieging Palestinian families in West Bank village
Israeli settlers have been besieging two Palestinian families in their homes in the occupied West Bank since Sunday, with the families saying their supplies were running out and rights groups urging the authorities to step in. On Wednesday Israeli…
Solar eclipse: A rare show with scientific secrets
We’re just hours away from a rare total solar eclipse, with parts of northern Spain set to briefly turn from day to night as the Moon blocks out the Sun. Millions more will see a partial eclipse across Europe, Canada, the northern US and northwest…
Singapore and South Korea pull Trader Joe’s seasoning containing poppy seeds
Singapore and South Korea have pulled Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning from e-commerce platforms because it contains poppy seeds. While they do not naturally contain opiates, poppy seeds are banned in both countries because they can…
Key US primary races take shape
Tuesday was primary election day in six US states, with both major parties holding runoffs in several races. In Minnesota, the progressive Lieutenant Governor defeated Representative Angie Craig in the Democratic Senate primary, while Wisconsin’s…
David Crowley defeats Francesca Hong in Wisconsin governor primary
David Crowley is projected to have won a primary election to become the Democrat’s candidate for Wisconsin governor, in a surprise result that halts a winning streak for the party’s left wing. With almost all votes counted in the Midwestern…
Millions gear up for first total eclipse since 2006
A total solar eclipse will sweep across northern Spain on August 12 in one of Europe’s most anticipated astronomical events of the decade. From the Sun’s corona to animal behaviour and human emotions, these rare celestial events continue to…
Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran to step down in February
N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Group, has said that he will not seek reappointment when his term ends in February. The 63-year-old said the decision came after the board of Tata Sons could not reach a resolution on a five-year extension of his…
‘The first of our lives’: Thousands in Spain rush for best spot to watch total solar eclipse (3/4)
On the eve of Wednesday’s total solar eclipse, Spain, which is set to offer some of the best views in mainland Europe, was buzzing with excitement. Thousands of people were travelling to find the best location to witness a rare few minutes – sometimes…