Singapore sets first ever sustainable aviation fuel levy

SINGAPORE, Singapore (AP) – Flying in and out of Singapore, home to Southeast Asia’s busiest airport, will get slightly more expensive this year as the city state begins imposing a levy of between 75 cents to $32 per ticket to fund sustainable aviation fuel.

Hollywood groups condemn ByteDance's AI video generator

A new artificial intelligence video generator from Beijing-based ByteDance, the creator of TikTok, is drawing the ire of Hollywood organizations that say Seedance 2.0 “blatantly” violates copyright and uses the likeness of actors and others without permission.

Abduction of Mexican mine workers raises doubts over security improvements

CONCORDIA, Mexico (AP) – Deep in the coastal mountains above the sparkling Pacific resort of Mazatlan, towns spaced along a twisting road appear nearly deserted, the quiet broken only by the occasional passing truck.

Editorials from New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Tax season is here. Here's what you need to know for stress-free filing

NEW YORK (AP) – Tax season is underway and you have until April 15 to file your return with the IRS. If you want to avoid the stress of the looming deadline, start getting organized as soon as possible.

How the rich pass on their wealth. And how you can too

NEW YORK (AP) – Death and taxes may be inevitable. A big bill for your heirs is not. The rich have made an art of avoiding taxes and making sure their wealth passes down effortlessly to the next generation. But the tricks they use – to expedite payouts to heirs and avoid handing money to the government – can also work for people with far more modest estates.

China grants UK and Canada visa-free entry, raising total to 79 countries

BEIJING (AP) – British and Canadian citizens can enter China without a visa, bringing to 79 the number of countries granted visa-free access in a bid to boost tourism and business. China has expanded eligibility for the program significantly in the last two years. Visitors can stay for up to 30 days for business, tourism, exchange programs and to visit family and friends.

Inflation measure falls to nearly five-year low as gas prices and housing costs cool

WASHINGTON (AP) – A key measure of inflation fell to nearly a five-year low last month as apartment rental price growth slowed and gas prices fell, offering some relief to Americans grappling with the sharp cost increases of the past five years.

Anthropic hits $380B valuation as it heightens competition with OpenAI

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic says it is now valued at $380 billion, cementing its position alongside rival OpenAI and Elon Musk’s SpaceX in a trio of the world’s most valuable startups that investors will be watching closely this year to see if they will become publicly traded on Wall Street.