The clock is ticking for global food systems as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten to choke off the flow of fuel and crucial fertilizers needed for the next planting season - also raising the risk of higher food prices and a new wave of inflation, the Food and Agriculture Organization has warned. A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has done little to restore confidenc
U.S. Central Command forces prepared to start clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as two Navy destroyers conducted operations. The USS Frank E. Peterson and the USS Michael Murphy transited the strait and operated in the Persian Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. "Today, we began th
New nighttime maps based on NASA satellite imagery are upending assumptions, revealing a world where artificial brightening and dimming have intensified over the past decade. The findings show intense flaring over major oil and gas fields in the United States, while factors such as rural electrification and energy conservation are changing how billions around the world experience the night. "Unlo
Oil prices fell back to under $100 Tuesday as hopes of a second round of US-Iran peace talks came alive with President Donald Trump saying that Iran had contacted U.S. officials regarding a potential deal to end hostilities. Brent crude oil price decreased by nearly 1 percent to $98.61 a barrel, while the US-traded WTI fell by more than 2 percent to $96.59. "I can tell you we've been called by
The UN's Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence - the first global body of its kind - is gearing up for its inaugural in-person summit. Tasked with navigating the volatile intersection of innovation and ethics, this group of world-leading experts is launching a landmark study into the forces transforming modern life. The Panel has been mandated to produce an annua
President Donald Trump has made a scathing attack of Pope Leo XIV over his stance on the Middle East war and U.S. immigration policy. In a lengthy, strongly worded statement posted on Truth Social Sunday evening, he called Pope Leo "WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy." The head of the Catholic church last week had openly denounced Trump's threat that "a whole civilization will die ton
Oil prices rose above $100 per barrel on Monday as the U.S. military announced that it will implement a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz beginning 10 a.m. ET Monday, as ordered by President Donald Trump, after the weekend peace talks in Pakistan failed. US Central Command said its forces will begin enforcing the blockade impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian por
More than 63,000 knives and weapons have been taken off UK's streets under the Keir Stamer government, resulting in knife homicides in the country falling by 27 percent, according to the Home Office. Also, knife-point robberies and hospital admissions for stabbings are down by 10 percent and 11 percent,...
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection has announced a new initiative to strengthen cybersecurity across the digital asset industry. The initiative will provide timely, actionable cybersecurity information to eligible U.S. digital asset...
The White House says more than three million illegal migrants have left the United States during President Donald Trump's second term. Calling it the largest reduction in illegal immigration in modern U.S. history, it said no illegal migrants have been released at the border for 11 straight months. Since Trump returned to office, his administration has launched the most aggressive and successfu
First Lady Melania Trump has called on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Jeffrey Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered on the survivors of his sex trafficking. In a surprise announcement at the White House Thursday, she denied links to Epstein, and told reporters that any such claims with the American financier and convicted sex offender "need to end today.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to observe a 32-hour ceasefire during Orthodox Easter. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has ordered Russian troops to stop hostilities "in all directions" this weekend - from 4 PM local time Saturday through midnight Easter Sunday. "We proceed on the basis that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation," the Kremlin said in a stat
April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.