India's viral Cockroach Party launches nationwide youth protests

NEW DELHI (AP) – India’s viral Cockroach Janta Party launched a nationwide protest campaign on Thursday with hundreds of students and young supporters gathering in the western city of Pune in the youth movement’s latest show of strength.

Average US long-term mortgage rate rises to 6.52%, just below high for year

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate ticked up this week to just below its high for the year, the latest sign that borrowing costs on home loans remain elevated relative to where they were before the war with Iran started.

Europe's central bank raises rates to fight inflation from Iran war

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – The European Central Bank on Thursday became the first major central bank to raise interest rates in response to the Iran war as policymakers around the world including new U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh wrestle with how to confront the inflation fed by sharply higher oil prices.

Editorials from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Anthropic announces 'Claude Corps' to teach nonprofits to use AI more effectively

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Anthropic will donate $150 million to launch a fellowship program that places coaches with nonprofits around the country to help them use artificial intelligence more effectively in their work.

What to know about the stabbing that set off fiery riots in Northern Ireland

LONDON (AP) – A savage knife attack on a Northern Ireland street set off two nights of fiery riots stoked by anti-migrant rhetoric. The suspect, a 30-year-old Sudanese man who had claimed asylum in the United Kingdom, has been charged with attempted murder, threatening to kill a second person and carrying a knife.

China hits Philippine defense chief with entry ban over South China Sea remarks

BEIJING (AP) – The Philippines defense secretary and his family have been banned from entering China over comments he has made about Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

Foreign workers paid less than $2 an hour to build new US Consulate in Milan

MILAN (AP) – Foreign workers building a sprawling $350 million American Consulate in Milan were paid less than $2 an hour after being promised fair wages, according to Associated Press interviews with five former employees and a review of their employment letters and pay stubs.

Afghanistan confirms death toll of 13 civilians in Pakistani airstrikes

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said Thursday it had documented the deaths of 13 civilians, mainly children and women, from Pakistani airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan the previous day, confirming the death toll given by Afghan authorities.