CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) – A China policy giving Africa’s biggest economies tariff-free access to its market for the next two years came into effect Friday while its economic rival the United States seeks to impose new import taxes under President Donald Trump’s push for protectionism.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Pentagon said Friday that it has reached deals with seven tech companies to use their artificial intelligence in its classified computer networks, allowing the military to tap into AI-powered capabilities to help it fight wars.

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

WASHINGTON (AP) – A key inflation measure jumped in March as gas prices soared, the latest sign that the Iran war is pushing up the cost of living and delaying any interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

SAO PAULO (AP) – The long-awaited trade deal between South American bloc Mercosur and the European Union took effect Friday, at least provisionally. The initiative creates a trans-Atlantic market estimated at $22 trillion with 720 million potential consumers, and some nations expect to boost their exports by more than 10% by 2038, once it is fully implemented.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – Soaring oil prices from the Iran war pushed inflation higher in Europe in April, as growth continued to underperform in a worrying combination both for consumers and policymakers at the European Central Bank.

HONG KONG (AP) – The price of Brent crude oil surged past $125 a barrel early Thursday as stalled U.S.-Iran talks raised doubts over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a permanent end to the Iran war.

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, has said he wants to bring “regime change” to the central bank, but if confirmed by the Senate he will find a Fed already transformed by the White House’s attacks.