Author: Jack Mulligan

Global food markets moved higher again in March, with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reporting the strongest monthly level since last September. The advance was not dramatic enough to suggest an immediate food emergency, but it added to evidence that the war-driven energy shock is beginning to filter into agricultural commodities in a more visible way. The significance of the latest rise lies less in the size of the monthly increase than in what could come next. For now, strong cereal supplies are preventing a sharper jump. But the FAO is warning that if the conflict lasts much…

More than 40 countries launched a new international coalition on Thursday to prepare for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz once the most intense phase of the war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran comes to an end. The initiative reflects the growing pressure on governments worldwide to respond to the economic shock created by the near closure of one of the most important shipping routes on the planet. The group was convened virtually by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and brought together countries from multiple regions, underlining how widely the consequences of the disruption are now being…

Italian football has entered another period of upheaval after federation president Gabriele Gravina resigned in the wake of the national team’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. The decision follows Italy’s penalty defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff, a result that deepened a crisis around one of the game’s most decorated national sides and intensified political and public pressure on the federation’s leadership. Gravina’s departure is significant not only because of the immediate shock of another failed qualification campaign, but because it exposes how little stability Italian football has managed to build since its last…

Apple has reached its 50th anniversary as one of the most influential companies in modern business, but the milestone arrives at a moment that feels less celebratory than strategically revealing. Founded on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, the company has repeatedly transformed itself across five decades, moving from personal computers to music players, smartphones, and digital services. That ability to reinvent has been central to its survival and growth. Now, with artificial intelligence reshaping the technology industry, Apple is once again under pressure to prove it can adapt before the next shift leaves it…

Hershey is moving to revise parts of its confectionery portfolio after criticism over ingredient changes in some Reese’s products sparked unwanted attention around one of its most important brands. The company said it will bring a portion of Hershey’s and Reese’s offerings back in line with their classic milk and dark chocolate recipes by 2027, while also updating KitKat to deliver a creamier chocolate profile and shifting its sweets portfolio toward colors from natural sources. The decision matters because it touches on a sensitive issue for large consumer brands: how far a company can push cost management and product reformulation…

The United Kingdom is assembling a coalition of 35 countries to examine how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Europe and its partners confront one of the most serious threats to global energy shipping in years. The talks come after Iran blocked the vital waterway, leaving hundreds of vessels trapped and disrupting a route that normally carries a major share of the world’s oil, gas and fertilizer flows. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the meeting, to be held on Thursday, will focus on diplomatic and political options to restore freedom of navigation, protect stranded ships and crews, and restart…

Euro zone inflation moved back above the European Central Bank’s 2% target in March, reviving a policy debate that had appeared more settled just weeks ago. Headline inflation across the 21 countries using the euro rose to 2.5% from 1.9% in February, driven largely by a surge in energy costs after the war involving Iran sent oil prices sharply higher. Even so, the reading came in slightly below expectations for 2.6%, while core inflation eased, leaving policymakers with a mixed and increasingly difficult signal. That split matters because it captures the central challenge now facing the ECB. The jump in…

Israel’s parliament has approved the country’s annual budget after an overnight session, handing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a major political victory at a highly sensitive moment. The vote removes the immediate threat of early elections, which would have been triggered automatically if the budget had not passed before April 1, and makes it far more likely that his government will now survive until the fall. The timing is especially important because the budget fight unfolded against the backdrop of active war, missile alerts, and deep domestic frustration over how state resources are being allocated. Israel is absorbing the financial burden…

Max Verstappen’s latest comments have pushed Formula 1 into one of the most uncomfortable debates of its modern era. The four time world champion is no longer merely hinting that his career may be shorter than expected. He now appears to be seriously weighing whether to walk away from the series, either permanently or through a sabbatical, at a point when he is still one of the sport’s defining figures and has not yet turned 29. That makes the issue far bigger than a star driver reacting badly to a difficult spell on track. Verstappen’s frustration is tied to the…

YouTube has started rolling out support for Android Auto on Android, but the update is far more restrained than many users may have hoped. Rather than launching as a full in car app, YouTube is being integrated only through Android Auto’s media controls, giving drivers a narrow set of playback functions while keeping the platform’s broader video experience out of reach. The change still matters because it expands YouTube’s role inside the car and reflects how the service is increasingly used for more than video. Podcasts, interviews, news clips, commentary, and other long form spoken content have turned YouTube into…