The World Health Organization has classified the worldwide monkeypox outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern”, putting it on par with diseases such as Covid-19, Ebola and polio. It is the highest possible designation under international health regulations, and was last deployed for Covid-19 more than two years ago. The WHO does not
China has issued stark private warnings to the Biden administration about the upcoming trip to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, triggering alarm bells among White House officials who oppose her visit. Six people familiar with the Chinese warnings said they were significantly stronger than the threats that Beijing has
It is human nature to prioritise the near term over the far off, and to care more about what is proximate than remote. For many of those in the west, the consequences of climate change, though known to be serious, have been something that were largely experienced by other people, or would be felt by
The Covid-19 pandemic caused chaos in the U.S. housing market, with prices skyrocketing, inventories dwindling and intense bidding wars. Then came record inflation, which drove the price of everything higher. The U.S. Federal Reserve, though, is waging an intense fight against rising prices, using interest rates as its primary weapon. A side effect of raising
Ukraine accused Russia of firing missiles at its key grain exporting port of Odesa on Saturday, a day after Moscow signed a deal allowing Kyiv to resume grain exports in a bid to alleviate the growing global food crisis. Two Kalibr cruise missiles hit Odesa’s port and two others were shot down by Ukrainian air
This article is an onsite version of our Europe Express newsletter. Sign up here to get the newsletter sent straight to your inbox every weekday and Saturday morning. Welcome back. A record-breaking heatwave, the end of the Mario Draghi era in Italy, the Conservative party leadership race in the UK — it’s been quite a
Whether you are looking for adventure or seeking tranquility, there is an undeniable allure to Big Sky Country’s stunning natural landscape with its snow-capped mountains and rolling green fields. After all, it is here where some of the country’s most famous national parks can be found, along with state treasures like Lone Pine State Park,
Set on the Mediterranean Sea, the busy port of Valencia, Spain, has a lively historic center. This newly renovated flat is in the heart of the city next to the town hall with its iconic clock tower and baroque features, the art nouveau Estación del Norte railway station and other landmark buildings. The walkable area
Your browser does not support playing this file but you can still download the MP3 file to play locally. In this week’s episode, we delve into the positions and policies of the two final candidates in the contest to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and UK prime minister. Who is likely to win the
Liz Truss, Tory leadership contender, vowed on Friday to review all EU law retained on the British statute book by the end of 2023, and to scrap measures deemed to be holding back the City of London. The foreign secretary promised a “red tape bonfire” if she became prime minister, including reform of the Mifid
British holidaymakers should expect more delays at the UK’s port of Dover this weekend after a ferocious Anglo-French row broke out over the management of post-Brexit border controls on the English Channel. The port declared a “critical incident” on Friday after French border police provided what Dover said was a “woefully inadequate” number of passport
As it became clear this week that Mario Draghi would resign as Italian prime minister, the hashtag #poveraItalia — poor Italy — trended on social media. Why, anguished Italians were asking, are we discarding a statesman of rare quality when our often misgoverned country is most in need of wise, efficient and principled leadership? Why
Rishi Sunak, who wanted to leave the EU before that cause was popular, is trailing with the Conservative grassroots. Liz Truss, who campaigned with some vigour to remain, polls better among them. This oddity takes explaining. One theory cites his not being white. Another his reluctance to promise tax cuts. Yet a third his mutiny
Marivi Wright’s “vacation from hell” began when Air France’s computer systems went down and staff had to check in passengers on her flight from New York to Europe by hand. She missed two connecting flights as she flew through Paris to Spain to visit her 83-year-old mother, landing in Malaga 12 hours late. Her luggage
The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee passed a binding plebiscite on Puerto Rico’s status Wednesday but immediately faced opposition by some United States-based diaspora groups. The bill would offer Puerto Rico voters three options: statehood, independence, or sovereignty in free association with the United States. The current status — remaining a territory —
The dismissal of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s lawsuit to block the Treasury Department from clawing back some pandemic relief money highlights both the complexities of state compliance with federal guidance and the antagonism that exists between certain states and the Biden administration. But while Ducey was unable to make his case in federal court this
Investors will be greeted Monday with the smallest new-issue calendar year-to-date ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee’s July meeting where rates are anticipated to be hiked at least three-quarters of a point. To end the week, munis were firmer, underperforming the extended U.S. Treasuries rally where yields again fell double-digit basis points. Equities ended
Russia’s central bank has cut interest rates in a surprise move that it said was in response to a slowdown in inflation and an improved GDP forecast. The decision to cut rates to 8 per cent on Friday, from 9.5 per cent in June, suggests that the central bank believes Russia is weathering the storm
A clash over tax and economic policy has dominated the early tussles between former chancellor Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss in their bids to become Conservative leader and the next UK prime minister. As the second phase of the leadership contest got under way this week, with two candidates facing a vote by
The U.S. dollar has been the world’s dominant currency for three-quarters of a century, and though it may not be apparent to inflation-wracked Americans, the currency maintains more purchasing power than most of its major rivals. That’s helpful to U.S. consumers, though it comes at a cost. Inflation is diminishing the value of the euro,
As the U.S. airline industry appears to shake off the lingering effects of the pandemic, experts expect a rapid return to profitability and previously predicted growth. After a staggering 96% drop in the volume of domestic air travel shortly after the adoption of travel restrictions in March of 2020, passenger flight rates have rebounded to