US Producer prices shot up 6%, adding pressure on companies to hike prices

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. wholesale inflation came in hot last month. Producer prices rose 6% from a year earlier, the highest point in more than three years, as the Iran war pushes up energy prices and intensifies pressure on companies to pass along their rising costs to consumers.

Cisco leads Wall Street and the Dow back to 50,000

NEW YORK (AP) - The U.S. stock market rose to more records after Cisco Systems joined the parade of companies reporting fatter profits. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8% Thursday to set an all-time high for a second straight day. The Dow Jones rose 0.7% and finished a day above the 50,000 level. The Nasdaq composite added 0.9% to its own record.

FDA chief's resignation widens leadership gap at health department

WASHINGTON (AP) – When the week began, several senior positions at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were already sitting empty.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Latest Updates

BEIJING (AP) – China’s Xi Jinping warned President Donald Trump on Thursday that their two countries could clash over Taiwan if the issue is not handled properly, an unusually harsh admonition that stood in contrast to the American leader’s praise for his counterpart.

Meta launches WhatsApp 'incognito' mode to address privacy

LONDON (AP) – Meta Platforms said Wednesday it’s rolling out an “incognito” mode for WhatsApp users to have private conversations with its AI chatbot, a move intended to ease privacy concerns about sensitive information that users share in chats.

Tensions flare near Strait of Hormuz as ship is seized and another sunk

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – A ship anchored off the United Arab Emirates was seized and taken toward Iran and another – a cargo ship near Oman – sank after being attacked, authorities said Thursday, as tensions escalated near the Strait of Hormuz.

5 people convicted in connection with Matthew Perry's death

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The wide-ranging prosecution in the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry is coming to a close. Five people have pleaded guilty for various roles in supplying the actor with ketamine, the drug that killed him at age 54 in 2023. Three of them have been sentenced. The last two will be sentenced in the coming days.

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

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

US deportations to El Salvador double as Bukele aligns himself with Trump

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) – The number of people deported to El Salvador from the U.S. nearly doubled in the first months of 2026, according to official figures, coming as Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has positioned himself as an ally willing to help the Trump administration accelerate deportations, a central priority.