Headline News from The Associated Press
AP Headline News - May 15 2024 17:00 (EDT)
(upbeat music) - AP News, I'm Haeopan Juani. AP correspondent Deepi Hajjala reports on the ongoing celebrity blockout over the war in Gaza. - Some social media users are calling for a blockout of celebrities and influencers on social media platforms. They are condemning the celebrities for not speaking out enough for the suffering that's going on in the ground in Gaza. The boycott or the blockout started roughly about a week ago in the wake of the Met Gala last Monday. The contrast between the opulence and the fabulousness of the celebrities and the Israeli government starting their military operation in Rafa really raised a lot of concern and outrage. What you're seeing now is that people are choosing to block celebrities who they think they need to hear more from. It's been a range of celebrities. Pretty much any celebrity you can think of probably has somebody blocking them, both in the U.S. as well as in other countries around the world as more people have gotten involved. It's along the lines with a lot of the protests we've been seeing like the campus protests that have been taking place over the last month. - In an AP interview, Asia Society, China expert Orville Shell says China will view most anything President Biden does regarding Taiwan as provocative. - It's a delicate balancing act that I think Biden is doing pretty well to say to China, no, if you move on Taiwan, there will be consequences. But on the other hand, keeping the door open and not being unnecessarily provocative. - Secretary of State Antony Blinken says his meeting with Ukraine's foreign minister included discussions on air defense systems in light of the Russian offensive in the Khargqiv region. - We're rushing ammunition, armored vehicles, missiles, air defenses, rushing them to get to the front lines, to protect soldiers, to protect civilians. This is AP News. For the first time this year, inflation has eased a bit. AP correspondent Sagar Magani reports. - Inflation eased last month for the first time this year. The Labor Department says consumer prices were up 0.3% from March to April, down slightly from the previous month. The year-over-year measure shows prices tick down to 3.4%. So-called core prices fell to the lowest level in three years. After three months of elevated readings, the new report may reassure the Federal Reserve that inflation could be resuming its trend down to the Fed's 2% target. The central bank's key interest rate is at a 23-year high. Chair Jerome Powell said yesterday it will stay there as long as needed to fully beat inflation. Sagar Magani, Washington. U.S. stocks rallied to reports on hopes that inflation is heading back in the right direction. And pay up in joining AP News. - An official message from Medicare. - A new law is helping me save more money on prescription drug costs. Maybe you can save too. With Medicare's extra help program, my premium is 0. And my out-of-pocket costs are low. Who should apply? Single people making less than $23,000 a year, or married couples who make less than $31,000 a year. Even if you don't think you qualify, it pays to find out. Go to ssa.gov/extrahelp. - Paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. - After countless steps and more than a few miles, your dog drives you forward one last time to make that final climb. And as the rising sun peeks out from the horizon, you know incredible happens here because it starts here, with a fuel that makes it all possible. Pro-Plan Sport. Discover advanced nutrition made to fuel strength and stamina and active dogs like yours at proplan sport.com. - Summer is meant to be easy. It's meant to be savored. So don't spend your summer Friday waiting in line for ice coffee. Satisfy your ice coffee craving in your own kitchen with mispresso. Create consistently delicious ice coffee that's never watered down at the touch of a button. This summer, craft your own double espresso over ice, or brew a smooth 12-ounce cold brew-style coffee over ice for the perfect afternoon refresher. Be your own barista, making exceptional ice coffee at home with mispresso. Meant to be iced, meant to be simple. Visit mispresso.com. - When you need to work quickly and confidently, you need Grammarly. It's a trusted AI writing partner that helps you get work done faster with better writing. And it works where you work across 500,000 apps and websites. 96% of users agree. Grammarly helps them craft more impactful writing. Get AI writing support that works where you work. Sign up and download for free at grammarly.com/podcast. That's grammarly.com/podcast. Grammarly, easier said, done.