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Top US economist quits EU job after Macron speaks out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:03:52 GMT

American economist Fiona Scott Morton won’t take up a job she was offered as the European Commission’s chief competition economist after a political backlash culminating in criticism from French President Emmanuel Macron about the choice of a non-EU candidate for the role.“Given the controversy that has arisen because of the selection of a non-European to fill this position, and the importance that the Directorate General has the full backing of the European Union as it enforces, I have determined that the best course of action is for me to withdraw and not take up the Chief Economist position,” Scott Morton said in a letter published by European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager on Twitter Wednesday morning.Scott Morton’s decision to withdraw comes as the College of Commissioners was due to discuss her appointment on Wednesday, after five commissioners raised concerns about Vestager and President Ursula von der Leyen’s pick for the ...

Finally, UK inflation comes off the boil

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:03:52 GMT

Inflation in the U.K. finally came off the boil in June, bringing relief to consumers, the government — and to the Bank of England. The consumer price index rose 0.1 percent on the month and was up 7.9 percent from a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday. That was down from a headline rate of 8.7 percent in May and, crucially, the first time in five months the numbers had not exceeded market expectations.Although falling energy prices contributed most to the improved picture, the slowdown in price increases was broad-based, with the ONS reporting no major gains in prices for specific goods or services. Food prices, which have become the focal point of popular anger at the highest inflation in over 40 years, inched higher, but their annual gain slowed to 17.4 percent from 18.4 percent in May. The ONS’ measure of core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy elements, fell more moderately, to 6.9 percent from 7.1 percent in May. However, lea...

Russia launches intense night attacks across Ukraine and targets the southern port city of Odesa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:03:52 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched an intense series of nighttime air attacks sending drones and missiles toward places across Ukraine, targeting the southern port city of Odesa for a second night in a row, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday. Meanwhile, Russian emergency officials in Crimea said that over 2,200 people were evacuated from four villages because of a fire at a military facility. The fire also caused the closure of an important highway, according to Sergey Aksyonov, the Russia-appointed head of the region, which was annexed in 2014. He did not specific a cause for the fire at the facility in Kirovsky district, which came two days after an attack on a bridge linking Russia to the peninsula that the Kremlin has blamed on Ukraine. “A difficult night of air attacks for all of Ukraine,” Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said in a statement on Telegram. Ukrainian authorities reported more drones and missiles sent against more parts of Ukraine than...

FIFA can’t guarantee federations will pay promised $30,000 per player at Women’s World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:03:52 GMT

FIFA President Gianni Infantino could make no guarantee Wednesday that the member federations will distribute the $30,000 payments promised to every player at the Women’s World Cup. He said at a news conference ahead of the tournament opener that he’s engaging with member federations on the issue. The payments are made the national federations, which are expected to pay the players. But there is no mechanism to directly pay the players the money, which could be life-changing for some. “We are moving of course in the right direction, we have been consulting with associations, with players, to try to go in the right path,” Infantino said. “We have issued these recommendations, but we have an association of associations. So whatever payments we do, we will go through the associations and then the associations will, of course, make the relevant payments to their own players. We are in touch with all the associations.”FIFA had previously confirmed that the 732 players partici...

As Macron’s criticism reverberates, US economist says she won’t take top EU job

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:03:52 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — One day after French President Emmanuel Macron criticized her appointment because of her nationality, the American candidate to become one of the European Union’s chief economists will now not take up the position because of the political controversy it stirred, the bloc announced Wednesday. In a letter to the EU’s executive Commission released early Wednesday, Yale economics professor Fiona Scott Morton wrote that she had “determined that the best course of action is for me to withdraw and not take up the Chief Economist position.” EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who had pushed through the decision to appoint an American to such a high-level position, said, “I accept this with regret and hope that she will continue to use her extraordinary skillset to push for strong competition enforcement.” Macron had not been the only one to criticize the unusual move to take on an American for such a post but his criticism had the most impact. On Tuesday, h...

UK inflation falls by more than anticipated to 15-month low of 7.9%; may limit interest rate hikes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:03:52 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Inflation in the U.K. has fallen by more than anticipated to a 15-month low, official figures showed Wednesday, a development that may ease the pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates sharply over the coming months, to the potential relief of struggling households.The Office for National Statistics said that inflation, as measured by the consumer prices index, fell to 7.9% in the year to June from 8.7% the previous month. Most economists had expected a more modest decline to 8.2%.The statistics agency said the falling of fuel prices was the biggest driver behind the drop, while food price inflation also pared back, though they remained historically high. Despite the decline, inflation is still running far higher than the Bank of England’s target rate of 2%. As a result, the central bank is expected to raise its main interest rate further at its upcoming meeting in early August. However, the bigger-than-expected fall may mean it only raises it by a...

Climate and violence hobble Nigeria’s push to rely on its own wheat after the hit from Russia’s war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:03:52 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Abubakar Salisu was terrified when he discovered arid sand in the middle of his farmland, rendering a broad strip unfit for crops. Now, extreme heat is killing his wheat before it is ready for cultivation.Wheat normally requires heat, but in the last three years, farmers in Nigeria’s far north, part of Africa’s Sahel region that largely produces the country’s homegrown food, have seen an “alarming” increase in heat — much more than required, said Salisu, a local leader of wheat farmers in Kaita, Katsina State. Plus, rain is irregular.“The unpredictable rain pattern is affecting us because wheat is planted immediately after the rainy season, but sometimes we will plant it thinking the rain has stopped, only to have it start again, thereby spoiling the seeds,” said Salisu, 48.The vicious heat and rain cycle, worsened by climate change, has contributed to his wheat yield dropping in half.He is not alone — others in northern areas ripped apart by violen...

A look at other Americans who have crossed into North Korea over the years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:03:52 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. and U.S.-led United Nations Command say they are working to resolve the situation involving a U.S. soldier who ran into North Korea at a border village. The incident involving Private 2nd Class Travis King comes at a time of high tensions on the Korean Peninsula.The pace of both North Korea’s weapons demonstrations and U.S.-South Korean military exercises has intensified lately in a cycle of tit-for-tat.Other Americans have crossed into North Korea over the years, including a few U.S. soldiers. Some of the Americans were motivated by evangelical zeal or simply attracted by the mystery of a severely cloistered police state fueled by anti-U.S. hatred. Other Americans were detained after entering North Korea as tourists. In one tragic case, it ended in death.Here’s a look at other Americans who entered North Korea in the past years:CHARLES JENKINSBorn in Rich Square, N.C., Charles Jenkins was one of the few Cold War-era U.S. soldiers who fled to...

Tropical Storm Calvin Approaches Hawaii; Dangerous World Heat; Chicago temp Outlook

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:03:52 GMT

WIDE TUESDAY AFTERNOON (Chicago time) GOES WEST VIEW of Tropical Storm Calvin bearing down on Hawaii's Big IslandCloser view of Tropical Storm Calvin with its 45 mph sustained winds headed for Hawaii's Big Island.Active watches, warnings and advisories out of the National Weather Service-Honolulu office TuesdayHourly SIMULATED RADAR panels produced by the National Weather Service's new HAFS model--this panel for 5pm Hawaii time Tuesday8pm Hawaii time Tue11pm Hawaii time Tue2am Hawaii time Wed5am Hawaii time Wed8am Hawaii time Wed11am Hawaii time Wed2pm Hawaii time Wed5pm Hawaii time Wed8om Hawaii time WedOfficial NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecast track for Trop Storm CalvinHAFS wind forecast 11pm Hawaii time Tue nightWind forecast 2am Hawaii time5am Hawaii time winds Wed8am Hawaii time Wed winds11am Hawaii time wind forecast2pm Wed windsWAVE HEIGHT FORECAST off the European Centre model for 2am Hawaii time WedPeak wave height forecast for 2am Hawaii time WedMajority of C...

Protection of journalists in the EU: MEPs back rules to stop abusive legal cases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:03:52 GMT

Under draft legislation endorsed last week in plenary, journalists, media organisations, human rights defenders, activists, researchers and artists will be protected in the EU from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), the aim of which are to intimidate and penalise them. With 498 votes to 33 and 105 abstentions, MEPs adopted their negotiating position on new rules to protect those working on matters of public interest like fundamental rights, the activities of public officials or corruption allegations.Cross-border application and protection safeguardsThe new rules should apply in cross-border cases when the defendant, claimant and court are not based in the same country or when the act of public participation - be it a press article, social media post, video, piece of research, or artwork - has relevance for more than one member state and can be accessed electronically. The draft directive foresees safeguards for victims of SLAPPs, including the possibility of ...