Today’s Opinion
Climate crisis contributing to chocolate market meltdown, research finds
Scientists say more-frequent hotter temperatures in west African region are part of reason for reduced harvests and price rises The climate crisis drove weeks of high temperatures in the west African region responsible for about 70% of global cacao production, hitting harvests and probably causing further record chocolate prices, researchers have said. Farmers in the…
Trump funding freeze could leave communities on their own as climate threats grow
By Michael Copley Removing lead paint and pipes. Cleaning up contaminated land. Monitoring pollution. Making houses more energy efficient. Installing solar panels in low-income neighborhoods. Those are some of the projects across the country that were cut off from federal funding when the Trump administration paused spending approved earlier by Congress. The sweeping move is…
Federal Reserve’s Jerome Powell says there’s no need to rush on interest rate cuts
Scott Horsley Don’t expect interest rates to fall any time soon. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told a Senate Committee Tuesday that with a strong job market and with inflation still elevated, he and his colleagues “do not need to be in a hurry” to cut interest rates. Powell also fielded questions about President Trump’s…
Trump says he will impose a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel imports
Scott Horsley President Trump says he plans to announce a 25% tax on all imported steel and aluminum, extending a trade battle he launched during his first term in the White House. The move has the potential to give a helping hand to domestic steel and aluminum makers, while also raising costs for businesses and…
China Strikes Back After Trump Imposes 10% Tariff on Goods
Trump Tariffs After a 10 percent tariff on Chinese products took effect on Tuesday, China announced retaliatory measures, including tariffs and an investigation of Google. By Ana Swanson and Chris Buckley Ana Swanson reported from Washington and Chris Buckley from Bangkok. Follow live updates on President Trump’s tariffs and the global fallout. Beijing responded swiftly…
World Indie Games: A New Era of Crowdfunding for Independent Developers
In the ever-evolving world of game development, crowdfunding has emerged as a game-changer, enabling independent studios and solo developers to bring their creative visions to life. Traditional funding models often impose high barriers to entry, forcing developers to seek publishers or private investors, which can lead to compromises in artistic vision and project autonomy. Crowdfunding,…
New Game Card “Beat”
🎮 BEAT Party Game Card: The Game That Takes Truth to the Limit is Now on Kickstarter If you’ve ever felt that a simple “Truth or Dare” wasn’t enough, BEAT Party Game Card is here to revolutionize how we play with the truth. This bold and exciting board game, created by Monkey Republic Games, has…
Former German President Horst Köhler dies at 81
By The Associated Press BERLIN — Horst Köhler, a onetime head of the International Monetary Fund who became a popular German president before stunning the country by resigning abruptly in a flap over comments about the country’s military, has died. He was 81. Köhler, who was head of state from 2004 to 2010, died Saturday…
Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary is Howard Lutnick. Here’s what to know
Alina Selyukh We’re following the confirmation hearings for the incoming Trump administration. See our full politics coverage, and follow NPR’s Trump’s Terms podcast or to stay up to date. Who: Howard Lutnick Nominated for: Commerce Secretary You might know them from: Lutnick is a billionaire investor and long-time Wall Street CEO. What does this role do: The Commerce Department is responsible for enforcing…